bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Targeting the transmembrane cytokine co-receptor neuropilin-1 in distal tubules improves renal injury and fibrosis
Authors: Li Yinzheng , Wang Zheng , Xu Huzi , Hong Yu , Shi Mengxia , Hu Bin , Wang Xiuru , Ma Shulin , Wang Meng , Cao Chujin , Zhu Han , Hu Danni , Xu Chang , Lin Yanping , Xu Gang , Yao Ying , Zeng Rui
Published: July 2024

Neuropilin-1 (NRP1), a co-receptor for various cytokines, including TGF-β, has been identified as a potential therapeutic target for fibrosis. However, its role and mechanism in renal fibrosis remains elusive. Here, we show that NRP1 is upregulated in distal tubular (DT) cells of patients with transplant renal insufficiency and mice with renal ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury. Knockout of Nrp1 reduces multiple endpoints of renal injury and fibrosis. We find that Nrp1 facilitates the binding of TNF-α to its receptor in DT cells after renal injury. This signaling results in a downregulation of lysine crotonylation of the metabolic enzyme Cox4i1, decreases cellular energetics and exacerbation of renal injury. Furthermore, by single-cell RNA-sequencing we find that Nrp1-positive DT cells secrete collagen and communicate with myofibroblasts, exacerbating acute kidney injury (AKI)-induced renal fibrosis by activating Smad3. Dual genetic deletion of Nrp1 and Tgfbr1 in DT cells better improves renal injury and fibrosis than either single knockout. Together, these results reveal that targeting of NRP1 represents a promising strategy for the treatment of AKI and subsequent chronic kidney disease.
Dysregulated gene subnetworks in breast invasive carcinoma reveal novel tumor suppressor genes
Authors: Agarwal Shivangi , Parija Monalisa , Naik Sanoj , Kumari Pratima , Mishra Sandip K. , Adhya Amit K. , Kashaw Sushil K. , Dixit Anshuman
Published: July 2024

Breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA) is the most malignant and leading cause of death in women. Global efforts are ongoing for improvement in early detection, prevention, and treatment. In this milieu, a comprehensive analysis of RNA-sequencing data of 1097 BRCA samples and 114 normal adjacent tissues is done to identify dysregulated genes in major molecular classes of BRCA in various clinical stages. Significantly enriched pathways in distinct molecular classes of BRCA have been identified. Pathways such as interferon signaling, tryptophan degradation, granulocyte adhesion & diapedesis, and catecholamine biosynthesis were found to be significantly enriched in Estrogen/Progesterone Receptor positive/Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 negative, pathways such as RAR activation, adipogenesis, the role of JAK1/2 in interferon signaling, TGF-β and STAT3 signaling intricated in Estrogen/Progesterone Receptor negative/Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 positive and pathways as IL-1/IL-8, TNFR1/TNFR2, TWEAK, and relaxin signaling were found in triple-negative breast cancer. The dysregulated genes were clustered based on their mutation frequency which revealed nine mutated clusters, some of which were well characterized in cancer while others were less characterized. Each cluster was analyzed in detail which led to the identification of NLGN3, MAML2, TTN, SYNE1, ANK2 as candidate genes in BRCA. They are central hubs in the protein–protein-interaction network, indicating their important regulatory roles. Experimentally, the Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR and western blot confirmed our computational predictions in cell lines. Further, immunohistochemistry corroborated the results in ~ 100 tissue samples. We could experimentally show that the NLGN3 & ANK2 have tumor-suppressor roles in BRCA as shown by cell viability assay, transwell migration, colony forming and wound healing assay. The cell viability and migration was found to be significantly reduced in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines in which the selected genes were over-expressed as compared to control cell lines. The wound healing assay also demonstrated a significant decrease in wound closure at 12 h and 24 h time intervals in MCF7 & MDA-MB-231 cells. These findings established the tumor suppressor roles of NLGN3 & ANK2 in BRCA. This will have important ramifications for the therapeutics discovery against BRCA.
A chemometric approach to assess the oil composition and content of microwave-treated mustard (Brassica juncea) seeds using Vis–NIR–SWIR hyperspectral imaging
Authors: Hamad Rajendra , Chakraborty Subir Kumar
Published: July 2024

The wide gap between the demand and supply of edible mustard oil can be overcome to a certain extent by enhancing the oil-recovery during mechanical oil expression. It has been reported that microwave (MW) pre-treatment of mustard seeds can have a positive effect on the availability of mechanically expressible oil. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) was used to understand the change in spatial spread of oil in the microwave (MW) treated seeds with bed thickness and time of exposure as variables, using visible near-infrared (Vis–NIR, 400–1000 nm) and short-wave infrared (SWIR, 1000–1700 nm) systems. The spectral data was analysed using chemometric techniques such as partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and regression (PLSR) to develop prediction models. The PLS-DA model demonstrated a strong capability to classify the mustard seeds subjected to different MW pre-treatments from control samples with a high accuracy level of 96.6 and 99.5% for Vis–NIR and SWIR-HSI, respectively. PLSR model developed with SWIR-HSI spectral data predicted (R2 > 0.90) the oil content and fatty acid components such as oleic acid, erucic acid, saturated fatty acids, and PUFAs closest to the results obtained by analytical techniques. However, these predictions (R2 > 0.70) were less accurate while using the Vis–NIR spectral data.
The features analysis of hemoglobin expression on visual information transmission pathway in early stage of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Li Xuehui , Tang Pan , Pang Xinping , Song Xianghu , Xiong Jing , Yu Lei , Liu Hui , Pang Chaoyang
Published: July 2024

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized primarily by cognitive impairment. The motivation of this paper is to explore the impact of the visual information transmission pathway (V–H pathway) on AD, and the following feature were observed: Hemoglobin expression on the V–H pathway becomes dysregulated as AD occurs so as to the pathway becomes dysfunctional. According to the feature, the following conclusion was proposed: As AD occurs, abnormal tau proteins penetrate bloodstream and arrive at the brain regions of the pathway. Then the tau proteins or other toxic substances attack hemoglobin molecules. Under the attack, hemoglobin expression becomes more dysregulated. The dysfunction of V–H pathway has an impact on early symptoms of AD, such as spatial recognition disorder and face recognition disorder.
Sex contribution to average age at onset of Huntington’s disease depends on the number of (CAG)n repeats
Authors: Stanisławska-Sachadyn Anna , Krzemiński Michał , Zielonka Daniel , Krygier Magdalena , Ziętkiewicz Ewa , Sławek Jarosław , Limon Janusz ,   REGISTRY investigators of the European Huntington’s Disease Network (EHDN)
Published: July 2024

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder caused by the extension of the CAG repeats in exon 1 of the HTT gene and is transmitted in a dominant manner. The present study aimed to assess whether patients’ sex, in the context of mutated and normal allele length, contributes to age on onset (AO) of HD. The study population comprised a large cohort of 3723 HD patients from the European Huntington’s Disease Network’s REGISTRY database collected at 160 sites across 17 European countries and in one location outside Europe. The data were analyzed using regression models and factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) considering both mutated allele length and sex as predictors of patients’ AO. AO, as described by the rater’s estimate, was found to be later in affected women than in men across the whole population. This difference was most pronounced in a subgroup of 1273 patients with relatively short variants of the mutated allele (40–45 CAG repeats) and normal alleles in a higher half of length distribution—namely, more than 17 CAG repeats; however, it was also observed in each group. Our results presented in this observational study point to sex-related differences in AO, most pronounced in the presence of the short mutated and long normal allele, which may add to understanding the dynamics of AO in Huntington’s Disease.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01590589.
High-resolution elevation models of Larsen B glaciers extracted from 1960s imagery
Authors: North Ryan , Barrows Timothy T.
Published: July 2024

Accelerated warming since the 1950s has caused dramatic change to ice shelves and outlet glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula. Long observational records of ice loss in Antarctica are rare but essential to accurately inform mass balance estimates of glaciers. Here, we use aerial images from 1968 to reveal glacier configurations in the Larsen B region. We use structure-from-motion photogrammetry to construct high-resolution (3.2 m at best) elevation models covering up to 91% of Jorum, Crane, Mapple, Melville and Flask Glaciers. The historical elevation models provide glacier geometries decades before the Larsen B Ice Shelf collapse in 2002, allowing the determination of pre-collapse and post-collapse elevation differences. Results confirm that these five tributary glaciers of the former Larsen B Ice Shelf were relatively stable between 1968 and 2001. However, the net surface elevation differences over grounded ice between 1968 and 2021 equate to 35.3 ± 1.2 Gt of ice loss related to dynamic changes after the ice shelf removal. Archived imagery is an underutilised resource in Antarctica and was crucial here to observe glacier geometry in high-resolution decades before significant changes to ice dynamics.
Exploring the feasibility of Zr-based metal–organic frameworks for the recovery of Sb (V) and Sb (III) from mining waste
Authors: Bu Daolu , Yang Hu , Zhang Haibo , Wang Liang , Wang Jiao , Liao Jie
Published: July 2024

The present study investigates the efficacy of newly developed Zr-based metal–organic frameworks, specifically MIP-206, and its amine-modified counterpart, MIP-206-NH2, for the re-covery of antimony (Sb) from both synthetic and actual mining wastewater. Batch method studies were employed to examine the effect of waste media pH, Sb concentration, process kinetics, and the performance of the regeneration solution. MIP-206-NH2 exhibited impressive separation capabilities, achieving 102.18 mg/g and 63.23 mg/g for Sb (V) and Sb (III), respectively. In contrast, the pristine MIP-206 reached maximum values of 26.26 mg/g for Sb (V) and 16.95 mg/g for Sb (III). The separation process was well-described by the Langmuir equation, and the kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model. Although the amine modification resulted in a decrease in the surface area of MIP-206 from 1345.21 to 1169.86 m2/g, SEM and XRD analyses confirmed that the structural integrity of MIP-206-NH2 remained unchanged. In terms of reusability, MIP-206-NH2 maintained up to 90% of its separation performance over 9 cycles, while MIP-206 demonstrated effectiveness for 7 cycles. The regeneration solution exhibited a capacity of approximately 0.63 mol/L for Sb (V) and 0.71 mol/L for Sb (III). Furthermore, MIP-206 and MIP-206-NH2 demonstrated successful application in selectively separating Sb from real mining wastewater.
Effect of age-related extended high frequency hearing loss on the subjective impressions of dental drill noise
Authors: Yamada Tomomi , Kuwano Sonoko , Ebisu Shigeyuki , Hayashi Mikako
Published: July 2024

Fear and anxiety among patients are sometimes evoked in dental clinics due to the sound of dental drills. This study aimed to explore the impact of age-related hearing loss in the extended high frequency (EHF) range above 8 kHz on individuals' subjective discomfort towards dental drill noise. After measuring pure-tone audiometric thresholds at both conventional and extended high frequencies, we used a psychoacoustic approach to evaluate subjective impressions of four dental drill sound stimuli, which featured varying frequency components, in 62 participants (aged 12–67 years). We found a significant decrease in hearing sensitivity within the EHF range as age increased, with notable differences in hearing thresholds at 14 kHz between teenage and older adults exceeding 65 dB. Furthermore, significant differences were observed between younger and older (above 40 years) participants in the subjective impressions of dental drill noise, emphasizing age as a critical factor in the perception of high frequency components. Consequently, age may influence the unpleasantness of dental drilling noise. Compared to older individuals, young participants may exhibit increased fear of dental procedures owing to physiological factors. These results underscore the need for age-appropriate noise control strategies in dental clinics to mitigate anxiety and improve patient comfort.
Modelling the lymphatic metastatic progression pathways of OPSCC from multi-institutional datasets
Authors: Ludwig Roman , Schubert Adrian Daniel , Barbatei Dorothea , Bauwens Lauence , Hoffmann Jean-Marc , Werlen Sandrine , Elicin Olgun , Dettmer Matthias , Zrounba Philippe , Pouymayou Bertrand , Balermpas Panagiotis , Grégoire Vincent , Giger Roland , Unkelbach Jan
Published: July 2024

The elective clinical target volume (CTV-N) in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is currently based mostly on the prevalence of lymph node metastases in different lymph node levels (LNLs) for a given primary tumor location. We present a probabilistic model for ipsilateral lymphatic spread that can quantify the microscopic nodal involvement risk based on an individual patient’s T-category and clinical involvement of LNLs at diagnosis. We extend a previously published hidden Markov model (HMM), which models the LNLs (I, II, III, IV, V, and VII) as hidden binary random variables (RVs). Each represents a patient’s true state of lymphatic involvement. Clinical involvement at diagnosis represents the observed binary RVs linked to the true state via sensitivity and specificity. The primary tumor and the hidden RVs are connected in a graph. Each edge represents the conditional probability of metastatic spread per abstract time-step, given disease at the edge’s starting node. To learn these probabilities, we draw Markov chain Monte Carlo samples from the likelihood of a dataset (686 OPSCC patients) from three institutions. We compute the model evidence using thermodynamic integration for different graphs to determine which describes the data best.The graph maximizing the model evidence connects the tumor to each LNL and the LNLs I through V in order. It predicts the risk of occult disease in level IV is below 5% if level III is clinically negative, and that the risk of occult disease in level V is below 5% except for advanced T-category (T3 and T4) patients with clinical involvement of levels II, III, and IV. The provided statistical model of nodal involvement in OPSCC patients trained on multi-institutional data may guide the design of clinical trials on volume-deescalated treatment of OPSCC and contribute to more personal guidelines on elective nodal treatment.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Staphylococcus aureus infections in pediatric patients admitted with community acquired pneumonia
Authors: Ai Ling , Fang Liang , Zhou Chanjuan , Liu Beizhong , Yang Quan , Gong Fang
Published: July 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly transformed the infection spectrum of various pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infections among pediatric patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP). We retrospectively reviewed pediatric CAP admissions before (from 2018 to 2019) and during (from 2020 to 2022) the COVID-19 pandemic. The epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of S. aureus isolates were examined to assess the pandemic’s effect. As a result, a total of 399 pediatric CAP patients with S. aureus infections were included. The positivity rate, gender, and age distribution of patients were similar across both periods. There was a marked reduction in respiratory co-infections with Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to 2019. Additionally, there were significant changes in the resistance profiles of S. aureus isolates to various antibiotics. Resistance to oxacillin and tetracycline increased, whereas resistance to penicillin, gentamicin, and quinolones decreased. Notably, resistance to erythromycin significantly decreased in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains. The number of S. aureus isolates, the proportion of viral co-infections, and the number of resistant strains typically peaked seasonally, primarily in the first or fourth quarters of 2018, 2019, and 2021. However, shifts in these patterns were noted in the first quarter of 2020 and the fourth quarter of 2022. These findings reveal that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the infection dynamics of S. aureus among pediatric CAP patients, as evidenced by changes in respiratory co-infections, AMR patterns, and seasonal trends.
Lifetime cost analysis of concrete barriers and steel guardrails
Authors: Nemati Alireza , Haas Meridian , Torick David , Nazari Shima
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the lifetime costs associated with concrete barriers and steel guardrails. We introduce a cost analysis methodology that incorporates critical factors such as construction costs, maintenance costs, exposure risks during maintenance activities, and the costs imposed to traveling public through the increased traffic and the crash outcomes. We integrate various parameters including economic factors, road geometry, general weather condition, and traffic mix to estimate a location-dependent cost for each type of barrier accurately. A software tool, named CalBarrier, was developed during this study to carry out the calculations and the comparison of lifetime cost of aforementioned barriers. An inherent strength of this research is its reliance on recent real data extracted from various databases of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), ensuring precision and relevance in accounting for various influential factors. Drawing insights from Caltrans practices and interviews with their personnel, this study emphasizes the intricate decision-making process involved in mitigating safety risks and reducing operational expenses. Although our data originates from California, the methodology for life cycle cost analysis, and our software are applicable for regions with different socio-economic conditions by deploying user input costs, making our findings a valuable resource for other areas facing comparable challenges.
Empagliflozin rescues pro-arrhythmic and Ca2+ homeostatic effects of transverse aortic constriction in intact murine hearts
Authors: Wen Qiang , Zhang Rui , Ye Kejun , Yang Jun , Shi Hangchuan , Liu Zhu , Li Yangpeng , Liu Ting , Zhang Shiyu , Chen Wanpei , Wu Jingjing , Liu Weichao , Tan Xiaoqiu , Lei Ming , Huang Christopher L.-H. , Ou Xianhong
Published: July 2024

We explored physiological effects of the sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor empagliflozin on intact experimentally hypertrophic murine hearts following transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Postoperative drug (2–6 weeks) challenge resulted in reduced late Na+ currents, and increased phosphorylated (p-)CaMK-II and Nav1.5 but not total (t)-CaMK-II, and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger expression, confirming previous cardiomyocyte-level reports. It rescued TAC-induced reductions in echocardiographic ejection fraction and fractional shortening, and diastolic anterior and posterior wall thickening. Dual voltage- and Ca2+-optical mapping of Langendorff-perfused hearts demonstrated that empagliflozin rescued TAC-induced increases in action potential durations at 80% recovery (APD80), Ca2+ transient peak signals and durations at 80% recovery (CaTD80), times to peak Ca2+ (TTP100) and Ca2+ decay constants (Decay30–90) during regular 10-Hz stimulation, and Ca2+ transient alternans with shortening cycle length. Isoproterenol shortened APD80 in sham-operated and TAC-only hearts, shortening CaTD80 and Decay30–90 but sparing TTP100 and Ca2+ transient alternans in all groups. All groups showed similar APD80, and TAC-only hearts showed greater CaTD80, heterogeneities following isoproterenol challenge. Empagliflozin abolished or reduced ventricular tachycardia and premature ventricular contractions and associated re-entrant conduction patterns, in isoproterenol-challenged TAC-operated hearts following successive burst pacing episodes. Empagliflozin thus rescues TAC-induced ventricular hypertrophy and systolic functional, Ca2+ homeostatic, and pro-arrhythmogenic changes in intact hearts.
Detection and quantification of C-terminally tagged proteins by in-gel fluorescence
Authors: Fuchs Adrian C. D.
Published: July 2024

The analysis of recombinant proteins in complex solutions is often accomplished with tag-specific antibodies in western blots. Recently, I introduced an antibody-free alternative wherein tagged proteins are visualized directly within polyacrylamide gels. For this, I used the protein ligase Connectase to selectively attach fluorophores to target proteins possessing an N-terminal recognition sequence. In this study, I extend this methodology to encompass the detection and quantification of C-terminally tagged proteins. Similar to the N-terminal labeling method, this adapted procedure offers increased speed, heightened sensitivity, and an improved signal-to-noise ratio when compared to western blots. It also eliminates the need for sample-specific optimization, enables more consistent and precise quantifications, and uses freely available reagents. This study broadens the applicability of in-gel fluorescence detection methods and thereby facilitates research on recombinant proteins.
Peroxiredoxin 1 inhibits streptozotocin-induced Alzheimer’s disease-like pathology in hippocampal neuronal cells via the blocking of Ca2+/Calpain/Cdk5-mediated mitochondrial fragmentation
Authors: Park Junghyung , Won Jinyoung , Yang Eunyeoung , Seo Jincheol , Cho Jiyeon , Seong Jung Bae , Yeo Hyeon-Gu , Kim Keonwoo , Kim Yu Gyeong , Kim Minji , Jeon Chang-Yeop , Lim Kyung Seob , Lee Dong-Seok , Lee Youngjeon
Published: July 2024

Oxidative stress plays an essential role in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced abnormal brain insulin signaling and oxidative stress play crucial roles in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-like pathology. Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are associated with protection from neuronal death induced by oxidative stress. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying Prxs on STZ-induced progression of AD in the hippocampal neurons are not yet fully understood. Here, we evaluated whether Peroxiredoxin 1 (Prx1) affects STZ-induced AD-like pathology and cellular toxicity. Prx1 expression was increased by STZ treatment in the hippocampus cell line, HT-22 cells. We evaluated whether Prx1 affects STZ-induced HT-22 cells using overexpression. Prx1 successfully protected the forms of STZ-induced AD-like pathology, such as neuronal apoptosis, synaptic loss, and tau phosphorylation. Moreover, Prx1 suppressed the STZ-induced increase of mitochondrial dysfunction and fragmentation by down-regulating Drp1 phosphorylation and mitochondrial location. Prx1 plays a role in an upstream signal pathway of Drp1 phosphorylation, cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) by inhibiting the STZ-induced conversion of p35 to p25. We found that STZ-induced of intracellular Ca2+ accumulation was an important modulator of AD-like pathology progression by regulating Ca2+-mediated Calpain activation, and Prx1 down-regulated STZ-induced intracellular Ca2+ accumulation and Ca2+-mediated Calpain activation. Finally, we identified that Prx1 antioxidant capacity affected Ca2+/Calpain/Cdk5-mediated AD-like pathology progress. Therefore, these findings demonstrated that Prx1 is a key factor in STZ-induced hippocampal neuronal death through inhibition of Ca2+/Calpain/Cdk5-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction by protecting against oxidative stress.
On comparative analysis of a two dimensional star gold structure via regression models
Authors: Hanif Muhammad Farhan , Mahmood Hasan , Ahmad Shahbaz , Fiidow Mohamed Abubakar
Published: July 2024

In this research, the star gold structure with beta graphene is thoroughly examined. We mainly focus on computing degree-based topological indices, which provide information about the network’s connectivity and complexity as well as structural features. In addition, we compute an entropy measure to represent the uncertainty, information richness, and degree of unpredictability in the network. Furthermore, this study explores the relationships between topological descriptors and entropy using regression models that are logarithmic, linear, and quadratic. By merging these regression models, we uncover hidden patterns and understand the underlying ideas governing the network’s behaviour. Our findings shed light on the connection between topological indices and entropy. This work improves our understanding of star gold structure dynamics and provides a visual framework for interpreting their behaviour.
A comprehensive health assessment approach using ensemble deep learning model for remote patient monitoring with IoT
Authors: R Gayathri , S Maheswari , Mathivanan Sandeep Kumar , Shivahare Basu Dev , Chandan Radha Raman , Shah Mohd Asif
Published: July 2024

The goal of this research is to create an ensemble deep learning model for Internet of Things (IoT) applications that specifically target remote patient monitoring (RPM) by integrating long short-term memory (LSTM) networks and convolutional neural networks (CNN). The work tackles important RPM concerns such early health issue diagnosis and accurate real-time physiological data collection and analysis using wearable IoT devices. By assessing important health factors like heart rate, blood pressure, pulse, temperature, activity level, weight management, respiration rate, medication adherence, sleep patterns, and oxygen levels, the suggested Remote Patient Monitor Model (RPMM) attains a noteworthy accuracy of 97.23%. The model's capacity to identify spatial and temporal relationships in health data is improved by novel techniques such as the use of CNN for spatial analysis and feature extraction and LSTM for temporal sequence modeling. Early intervention is made easier by this synergistic approach, which enhances trend identification and anomaly detection in vital signs. A variety of datasets are used to validate the model's robustness, highlighting its efficacy in remote patient care. This study shows how using ensemble models' advantages might improve health monitoring's precision and promptness, which would eventually benefit patients and ease the burden on healthcare systems.
Evolving dispersal ability causes rapid adaptive radiation
Authors: Yamasaki Takeshi , Kobayashi Yutaka
Published: July 2024

Despite a long history of research since Darwin, the mechanism underlying rapid adaptive radiation remains poorly understood. All theories constructed to date require special assumptions, so none can comprehensively explain actual cases found in wide-ranging taxonomic groups. Here, we propose a simple theoretical solution to this problem. Namely, we extend the classical archipelago model of adaptive radiation into a more realistic model by adding one assumption, namely, the evolvability of dispersal ability, which is well supported empirically. Our individual-based simulations with evolvable dispersal ability showed that environmental heterogeneity among islands (or island-like habitats) led to an evolutionary decrease in dispersal ability. However, when islands are rather evenly distributed, as is often the case in actual archipelagos where adaptive radiation has been reported, the decline in dispersal ability that began in some island populations was quickly halted by the continuous influx of immigrants from other islands. The process of reduction in dispersal ability in these island populations was resumed almost synchronously when the dispersal ability began to decrease on the final island, which had maintained high dispersal ability and continued to release migrants for the longest duration. Then, a rapid loss of dispersal ability followed in all island populations. In short, the frequent simultaneous evolution of multiple allopatric incipient species was an inevitable consequence of the properties of ordinary archipelagos in our simulations. This study strongly suggests that the seemingly complex process of rapid radiation is driven by a simple mechanism of evolutionary reduction in dispersal ability.
Stable chalcogenide Ge–Sb–Te heterostructures with minimal Ge segregation
Authors: Bertelli Marco , Sfuncia Gianfranco , De Simone Sara , Diaz Fattorini Adriano , Calvi Sabrina , Mussi Valentina , Arciprete Fabrizio , Mio Antonio M. , Calarco Raffaella , Longo Massimo
Published: July 2024

Matching of various chalcogenide films shows the advantage of delivering multilayer heterostructures whose physical properties can be tuned with respect to the ones of the constituent single films. In this work, (Ge–Sb–Te)-based heterostructures were deposited by radio frequency sputtering on Si(100) substrates and annealed up to 400 °C. The as-deposited and annealed samples were studied by means of X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, scanning transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The heterostructures, combining thermally stable thin layers (i. e. Ge-rich Ge5.5Sb2Te5, Ge) and films exhibiting fast switching dynamics (i. e. Sb2Te3), show, on the one side, higher crystallization-onset temperatures than the standard Ge2Sb2Te5 alloy and, on the other side, none to minimal Ge-segregation.
Explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) for predicting the need for intubation in methanol-poisoned patients: a study comparing deep and machine learning models
Authors: Moulaei Khadijeh , Afrash Mohammad Reza , Parvin Mohammad , Shadnia Shahin , Rahimi Mitra , Mostafazadeh Babak , Evini Peyman Erfan Talab , Sabet Babak , Vahabi Seyed Mohammad , Soheili Amirali , Fathy Mobin , Kazemi Arya , Khani Sina , Mortazavi Seyed Mohammad , Hosseini Sayed Masoud
Published: July 2024

The need for intubation in methanol-poisoned patients, if not predicted in time, can lead to irreparable complications and even death. Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques like machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) greatly aid in accurately predicting intubation needs for methanol-poisoned patients. So, our study aims to assess Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) for predicting intubation necessity in methanol-poisoned patients, comparing deep learning and machine learning models. This study analyzed a dataset of 897 patient records from Loghman Hakim Hospital in Tehran, Iran, encompassing cases of methanol poisoning, including those requiring intubation (202 cases) and those not requiring it (695 cases). Eight established ML (SVM, XGB, DT, RF) and DL (DNN, FNN, LSTM, CNN) models were used. Techniques such as tenfold cross-validation and hyperparameter tuning were applied to prevent overfitting. The study also focused on interpretability through SHAP and LIME methods. Model performance was evaluated based on accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, F1-score, and ROC curve metrics. Among DL models, LSTM showed superior performance in accuracy (94.0%), sensitivity (99.0%), specificity (94.0%), and F1-score (97.0%). CNN led in ROC with 78.0%. For ML models, RF excelled in accuracy (97.0%) and specificity (100%), followed by XGB with sensitivity (99.37%), F1-score (98.27%), and ROC (96.08%). Overall, RF and XGB outperformed other models, with accuracy (97.0%) and specificity (100%) for RF, and sensitivity (99.37%), F1-score (98.27%), and ROC (96.08%) for XGB. ML models surpassed DL models across all metrics, with accuracies from 93.0% to 97.0% for DL and 93.0% to 99.0% for ML. Sensitivities ranged from 98.0% to 99.37% for DL and 93.0% to 99.0% for ML. DL models achieved specificities from 78.0% to 94.0%, while ML models ranged from 93.0% to 100%. F1-scores for DL were between 93.0% and 97.0%, and for ML between 96.0% and 98.27%. DL models scored ROC between 68.0% and 78.0%, while ML models ranged from 84.0% to 96.08%. Key features for predicting intubation necessity include GCS at admission, ICU admission, age, longer folic acid therapy duration, elevated BUN and AST levels, VBG_HCO3 at initial record, and hemodialysis presence. This study as the showcases XAI's effectiveness in predicting intubation necessity in methanol-poisoned patients. ML models, particularly RF and XGB, outperform DL counterparts, underscoring their potential for clinical decision-making.
Agreement and repeatability of scotopic pupil size measurement with the 2WIN-S portable refractor in Chinese adults
Authors: Zhou Yibing , He Xingru , Liu Ziming , Xu Ling , Li Liangzhe , Chen Jiayan , Zhao Jiahui , Li Ruyi , Yan Chunhong , Yu Cui , Yu Fei , He Wei , Qin Guanghao , Yu Sile
Published: July 2024

To assess the agreement and repeatability of scotopic pupil size measurement using 2WIN-S (Adaptica, Padova, Italy) portable refractor in Chinese adults. This prospective non-randomized open-label controlled study assessed the scotopic pupil size of 100 right eyes using OPD-Scan III (Optical path difference) (Nidek Technologies, Gamagori, Japan) and 2WIN-S. OPD-Scan III and 2WIN-S measure pupil size using infrared light and detector, while 2WIN-S measures bilateral eyes simultaneously, OPD-Scan III measures unilateral eyes individually. Participants were first measured once using OPD-Scan III and two consecutive measurements were performed using 2WIN-S after 15 min of rest interval. The primary outcome was to evaluate the agreement between 2WIN-S and OPD-Scan III, and the secondary outcome was to evaluate the repeatability of 2WIN-S. Scotopic pupil size of 100 right eyes of 100 adults (28 male and 72 female) aged 18–53 years (mean 36 ± 12 years) was assessed using OPD-Scan III and 2WIN-S, respectively. The mean scotopic pupil size of OPD-Scan III and 2WIN-S was recorded to be 6.24 ± 0.88 mm and 6.27 ± 0.81 mm, respectively. For the mean scotopic pupil size of OPD-Scan III and 2WIN-S the difference was − 0.03 mm (95%CI − 0.10 to 0.04 mm), p = 0.445, the 95% limits of agreement (LOA) was − 0.71 to 0.66 mm. ICC between the two devices was 0.92 (95% CI 0.88–0.94) (ICC > 0.9 indicates excellent consistency). Coefficients of repeatability (CoR) of 2WIN-S was 0.37, which has a high repeatability. For the mean scotopic pupil size of 2WIN-S of the repeated measurements, the difference was -0.04 mm (95%CI − 0.08 to 0.01 mm), p = 0.019, the 95% limits of agreement (LOA) was − 0.41 to 0.32 mm, with a narrow LOA. However, the majority of the variations were less than ± 0.50 mm (98% of scotopic pupil size measurements were below this threshold), within the clinically acceptable range (± 0.50 mm). Our study showed excellent agreement between 2WIN-S and OPD-Scan III (ICC > 0.9) and a good repeatability of 2WIN-S (CoR = 0.37). This study suggests a novel technique for measuring pupillary responses in low light conditions, which can be considered an alternative to OPD-Scan III in clinical settings.
Assessment of carbonized himalayan chir pine biomass as an eco-friendly adsorbent for effective removal of industrial dyes
Authors: Prasad Brijesh , Goswami Rekha , Mishra Abhilasha , Gill Fateh Singh , Juyal Sakshi , Asrani Anjas , Jain Ankur , Sahu Rajesh , Gupta Munish Kumar , Bajaj Mohit , Zaitsev Ievgen
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the use of carbonized Himalayan Chir Pine Biomass, known as Chir Pine Activated Carbon (CPAC), as an eco-friendly and cost-effective adsorbent for efficient industrial dye removal, with a focus on environmental sustainability. By applying different additive treatments, four adsorbents (C1, C2, C3, and C4) were formulated. CPAC was synthesized through pyrolysis and characterized using various analytical techniques including FE-SEM, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The adsorption capacity of CPAC was evaluated using Malachite Green (MG) dye as a model contaminant. FE-SEM images revealed high porosity (~ 10 µm) and a high surface area (119.886 m2/g) as confirmed by BET testing. CPAC effectively removed MG dye within 30 min at a solution pH of 7. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models indicated both monolayer and multilayer adsorption, while kinetic models suggested chemisorption. The regeneration efficiency was assessed using 0.1 N HCl over five consecutive cycles, with C4 demonstrating a high regeneration tendency of 85% and only a 9% reduction in adsorption ability after the fifth cycle. The developed CPAC shows excellent potential for use in the textile, paper, and leather industries for industrial dye adsorption, contributing to the protection of aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, CPAC can be utilized in other water and air purification applications.
Validity of predictive equations for total energy expenditure against doubly labeled water
Authors: Prado-Nóvoa Olalla , Howard Kristen R. , Laskaridou Eleni , Zorrilla-Revilla Guillermo , Reid Glen R. , Marinik Elaina L. , Davy Brenda M. , Stamatiou Marina , Hambly Catherine , Speakman John R. , Davy Kevin P.
Published: July 2024

Variations in physical activity energy expenditure can make accurate prediction of total energy expenditure (TEE) challenging. The purpose of the present study was to determine the accuracy of available equations to predict TEE in individuals varying in physical activity (PA) levels. TEE was measured by DLW in 56 adults varying in PA levels which were monitored by accelerometry. Ten different models were used to predict TEE and their accuracy and precision were evaluated, considering the effect of sex and PA. The models generally underestimated the TEE in this population. An equation published by Plucker was the most accurate in predicting the TEE in our entire sample. The Pontzer and Vinken models were the most accurate for those with lower PA levels. Despite the levels of accuracy of some equations, there were sizable errors (low precision) at an individual level. Future studies are needed to develop and validate these equations.
Determination of 465 psychoactive substances, drugs and their metabolites in urine by LC-MS/MS
Authors: Czarny Jakub , Musiał Jadwiga , Powierska-Czarny Jolanta , Raczkowski Michał , Galant Natalia , Buszewski Bogusław , Gadzała-Kopciuch Renata
Published: July 2024

Due to the emergence of novel psychoactive substances on the drug market, there is a growing demand for analytical methods allowing identification and determination of as many psychoactive substances as possible in the shortest possible time.
Designed-by-purpose power sources: a cardboard primary battery for smart packaging
Authors: Navarro-Segarra Marina , Ibrahim Omar A. , Martin-Fernandez Iñigo , Tortosa Carles , Ormaetxea Joseba M. , Baumann Manuel , Weil Marcel , Esquivel Juan Pablo
Published: July 2024

Battery life-cycle reconceptualization under a design-by-purpose approach to power IoT devices and then be recycled with paper and cardboard waste stream, addressing future technological needs of society from an environmentally conscious perspective.
Stereoregular polymerization of phenylacetylene using alkynyl and methyl rhodium(i) complexes with functionalized phosphine ligands: linear vs. branched poly(phenylacetylene)s
Authors: Angoy Marta , Jiménez M. Victoria , Vispe Eugenio , Podzimek Stepan , Pérez-Torrente Jesús J.
Published: July 2024

Alkynyl rhodium(i) complexes with functionalized phosphine ligands efficiently catalyze the polymerization of phenylacetylene to give a highly stereoregular linear poly(phenylacetylene) with a fraction of high molecular weight branched polymer.
Artificial vitriols: a contemporary interpretation of historical ingredients
Authors: Montanari Giacomo , Marchini Marianna , Martelli Matteo , Maini Lucia
Published: July 2024

“Vitriol” is a term that appeared during the Middle-Ages to indicate a wide range of ingredients widely used both in medicinal and alchemical recipes.
Preparation and characterization of palladium nanoparticle-embedded carbon nanofiber membranes via electrospinning and carbonization strategy
Authors: Gong Man , Li Xiaomin , Hu Lei , Xu Hang , Yang Changshu , Luo Yuhan , Li Shu , Yin Chuanqiang , Gan Min , Zhou Lang
Published: July 2024

The preparation of PI-derived Pd-CNMs using an electrospinning and carbonization strategy.
Synthesis and mutagenic risk of avanafil's potential genotoxic impurities
Authors: Sun Yunkai , Wu Xiaoxia , Zuo Pei , Liu Zhao , Miao Xuepei , Liu Jian , Wen Hairuo
Published: July 2024

Imp-E and Imp-F with altering hydrazide-structure were synthesized, which were determined to be negative for genotoxicity and could be controlled as class 5 in ICH M7.
The determination of 11 sulfonamide antibiotics in water and foods by developing a N-rich magnetic covalent organic framework combined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Ma Ling , Gu Yue , Guo Liqiang , Wang Ke
Published: July 2024

A type of magnetic COF with exposed N-containing groups acting as adsorption sites was designed and synthesized. The magnetic COF was combined with UPLC-MS/MS to establish a rapid method for the determination of 11 SAs residues in samples.
Recent developments in speciation and determination of arsenic in marine organisms using different analytical techniques. A review
Authors: Sadee Bashdar Abuzed , Galali Yaseen , Zebari Salih M. S.
Published: July 2024

Various available techniques and separation methods are vital for measurement of arsenic species in marine samples.
Modulating acid sites in Y zeolite for valorisation of furfural to get γ-valerolactone
Authors: Jayakumari Malu Thayil , Krishnan Cheralathan Kanakkampalayam
Published: July 2024

Controlled thermal treatment enhances catalytic activity of Y zeolite in valorization of furfural.
Solar photocatalysts: non-metal (C, N, and S)-doped ZnO synthesized through an industrially sustainable in situ approach for environmental remediation applications
Authors: Joy Amala , Viswanathan Mangalaraja R. , Vijayan Baiju K. , Silva Claudia G. , Basheer Irfana , Sugathan Sreejamol , Mohamed Peer A. , Solaiappan Ananthakumar , Shereef Anas
Published: July 2024

Nanocrystalline, non-metal (C, N, and S)-doped ZnO spherical clusters are successfully synthesized through a sustainable thermo-evolution method. Solar photocatalysts with high catalytic efficiency in the order C-ZnO < N-ZnO < S-ZnO are prepared.
Study of the correlation between the magnetic and electrical properties of the La0.6Sr0.4MnO3 compound
Authors: Gharsallah H. , Jeddi M. , Bejar M. , Dhahri E. , Nouari S.
Published: July 2024

In this work, we investigated the relationship between the electrical and magnetic properties of the superparamagnetic (SPM) La0.6Sr0.4MnO3 (S1C0) compound prepared by the sol–gel method.
Synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity of novel bis(indolyl)methanes sourced from biorenewable furfurals using gluconic acid aqueous solution (GAAS) as a sustainable catalyst
Authors: Naik C. Prajwal , G. B. Ashoka , Seikh Asiful H. , Dutta Saikat
Published: July 2024

Novel bis(indolyl)methanes has been synthesized in satisfactory isolated yields using carbohydrate-derived 5-substituted-2-furaldehydes as renewable reactants and gluconic acid aqueous solution as a sustainable catalyst.
Study on the adsorption performance of modified high silica fly ash for methylene blue
Authors: Guo Xuying , Zhao Zilong , Gao Xinle , Dong Yanrong , Fu Honglei , Zhang Xiaoyue
Published: July 2024

Based on the high silica content and adsorption characteristics of fly ash, two novel adsorbents, namely mesoporous silica-based material (MSM) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-modified fly ash (SDS-FA), were prepared.
In situ self-assembled near-infrared phototherapeutic agent: unleashing hydrogen free radicals and coupling with NADPH oxidation
Authors: Bu Yingcui , Yu Zhi-Peng , Lu Zhou , Wang Haoran , Deng Yu , Zhu Xiaojiao , Zhou Hongping
Published: July 2024

The in situ self-assembled phototherapeutic agent d-ST can generate hydrogen free radicals (H˙) as well as couple with the oxidation of NADPH under near infrared light irradiation, which effectively elevated the therapeutic performance.
Lipid membranes supported by polydimethylsiloxane substrates with designed geometry
Authors: Rinaldin Melissa , ten Haaf Sebastiaan L. D. , Vegter Ernst J. , van der Wel Casper , Fonda Piermarco , Giomi Luca , Kraft Daniela J.
Published: July 2024

We present a strategy for obtaining membranes on substrates with tunable geometry and stiffness for biological and material science studies.
Predicting polymer solubility from phase diagrams to compatibility: a perspective on challenges and opportunities
Authors: Ethier Jeffrey , Antoniuk Evan R. , Brettmann Blair
Published: July 2024

Advances in physical models and data science are improving predictions of polymer–solvent phase behavior and we discuss the different approaches taken today and the remaining barriers to making broadly useful predictions.
Damping the jump of coalescing droplets through substrate compliance
Authors: Pal Gopal Chandra , Agrawal Manish , Siddhartha Saladi Satya , Sharma Chander Shekhar
Published: July 2024

Coalescence induced droplet jumping can be damped by using substrate compliance, without compromising superhydrophobicity. This effect can reduce droplet scattering across applications and manifest on compliant natural superhydrophobic surfaces.
Rational interface-enriched defects induce excellent thermoelectric performance of sandwich-type Ca3Co4O9 textured composites
Authors: Shi Zongmo , Han Zhen , Huang Wei , Xu Jie , Liu Yuan , Zhang Ying , Chen Chanli , Wei Jian , He Geping , Zhang Junzhan
Published: July 2024

Interface-enriched defects were constructed through a multilayer co-firing method, enlarging charge carrier transport channels in textured composites. At 1073 K, a maximum ZT of approximately 0.493 was achieved.
Strategies for suppressing dark current of perovskite photodiodes towards reliable optoelectronic applications
Authors: Wang Yue , Song Qing , Li Deli , Liu Yang , Wang Yang , Chen Yonghua
Published: July 2024

Understanding the components and mechanisms of dark current in metal halide perovskite-based photodiodes (MHPPDs) and implementing techniques to suppress it enable achieving significantly enhanced performance and stability.
Ca18Na3Y(PO4)14:Eu2+,Mn2+: a novel single-phase dual-emission phosphor and its spectral modulation by Mg2+ for plant lighting and WLEDs
Authors: Ye Zhibin , Zhang Ziwang , Yang Nan , Li Zhuo , Huang Weijie , Shi Jianxin
Published: July 2024

The luminescent properties of Ca18Na3Y(PO4)14:Eu2+,Mn2+ and its spectral modulation by Mg2+ for plant lighting and WLEDs are discussed.
Unveiling the significance of adduct formation between thiocarbonyl Lewis donors and diiodine for the structural organization of rhodanine-based small molecule semiconductors
Authors: Sanna Anna Laura , Acca Simone , Podda Enrico , Mascia Antonello , Pintus Anna , Aragoni M. Carla , Lippolis Vito , Ricci Carlo , Cosseddu Piero , Arca Massimiliano , Sforazzini Giuseppe
Published: July 2024

Rhodanine vinyl bithiophene was reacted with molecular iodine to give a 1 : 1 stoichiometric charge-transfer adduct whose crystals, structurally and spectroscopically characterized, exhibited remarkable stability and enhanced conductivity.
Non-contact computer vision enables analysis of the dynamic performance of naphthalene diimide electrochromic films
Authors: Murray Nicholas R. , McCabe Timothy J. D. , Reid Marc , Draper Emily R.
Published: July 2024

Non-contact multi modal analysis of naphthalene diimide chromic films using Kineticolor computer vision software.