bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coloring Inside (and Sometimes Outside) the Lines: Teaching a Course on Gerrymandering and Redistricting at Fairfield University
Authors: Kapoor Nick
Published: May 2024

This article presents an overview of the development and teaching of a course on gerrymandering and redistricting at Fairfield University in the Spring 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters. The course structure and outline, which incorporates documentaries, simulations, guest speakers, and active learning activities, are discussed in detail. The students engage in map portfolio projects and act as consulting groups for state legislatures, gaining practical experience in redrawing maps and analyzing their impact. The article includes feedback from student surveys, highlighting their increased knowledge and interest in gerrymandering, as well as suggestions for improvement. Overall, this article underscores the significance of the course in fostering a deeper understanding of redistricting processes, their impact on democracy and public policy, and innovative ways to get students engaged in their learning through the learning of what can be a niche and esoteric topic.
Incubating interdisciplinary biodesigners in the lab and the studio
Authors: Gough Phillip , Faulkner Annabel , Ghattas Chloe , Iatropolous Margaret , McLean Amy , Sanchez Virginia , Hepburn Leigh-Anne , Tomitsch Martin , Poronnik Philip
Published: May 2024

Biodesign is an inherently interdisciplinary pursuit, where design and scientific knowledge and practices are come together to benefit human and planetary wellbeing. To grow a biodesigner requires nurturing disciplinary knowledge, providing interdisciplinary exposure and creating effective boundary objects. However, research in education has noted that the term interdisciplinary itself is poorly defined. The approach at our university intends to build interdisciplinary knowledge that goes beyond the school in which students have been enrolled. The benefits of inter- and transdisciplinary education include building capability for critical thinking, creation of third spaces for learning at knowledge boundaries, and simulating professional experiences. This paper uses the incubator, an important resource in many biodesign projects, as a metaphor for examining two knowledge cultures of science and design. We examine the critical venues of learning from two distinct knowledge fields that come together in biodesign: the Design Studio and the Scientific Lab. These learning spaces are separately used to build epistemic fluency and have been separately studied in domains of science and design education. Using a co-constructed stories (CCS) process, we reflect on the program and speculate on transformational education to grow a biodesigner. Through the reflections of students and educators, we examine the Problem-based Learning approaches that were employed through the interdisciplinary biodesign classes. The stories created through this process offer new pathways for teaching and learning biodesign in an undergraduate tertiary program, showing new ways to combine and understand different kinds of scientific and design knowledge.
PENGELOLAAN MEDIA SOSIAL INSTAGRAM HUMAS KPKNL BEKASI DALAM MEMBANGUN CITRA INSTITUSI
Authors: Saputro Akbar
Published: May 2024

Semakin pentingnya media sosial untuk saran penyebaran informasi telah mengubah cara informasi disebarluaskan dan dimanfaatkan. Penggunaan media sosial telah menjadi fenomena besar dalam era digital ini, di mana platform-platform seperti Instagram telah menjadi salah satu alat komunikasi yang paling berpengaruh dan popular untuk membangun dan memperkuat citra institusi di mata masyarakat. Dalam konteks organisasi, penggunaan media sosial menjadi sangat penting untuk membangun citra positif dan interaksi yang lebih dekat dengan masyarakat, informasi tersebar dengan cepat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui Pengelolaan Media Sosial Instagram Humas KPKNL Bekasi Dalam Membangun Citra Institusi. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif dimana data wawancara diolah menggunakan analisis tekstual dari sudut pandang informan melalui interpretasi makna. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan Kantor Pelayanan Kekayaan Negara Dan Lelang Bekasi, hanya menggunakan Instagram dan website sebagai media publikasi kehumasan, kehumasan KPKNL Bekasi dan hal ini dapat dikatakan kehumasan KPKNL Bekasi dalam menjalankan fungsi kehumasannya belum berjalan secara optimal dikarenakan hanya menggunakan media social Instagram sebagai kekuatan utama dalam publikasi kehumasan melalui social media.
Kata kunci: Citra institusi, Humas, Instagram, Media Sosial, Organisasi.
PERUBAHAN POLA KOMUNIKASI KELUARGA DI ERA DIGITAL
Authors: Agustina Adelia Putri
Published: May 2024

Pola komunikasi dalam keluarga memiliki dampak signifikan terhadap hubungan antar anggota keluarga dan perkembangan psikososial anggota keluarga. Dengan berkembangnya teknologi informasi dan komunikasi, terutama di era digital saat ini, pola komunikasi keluarga mengalami perubahan yang cukup signifikan. Era digital telah membawa perubahan mendasar dalam cara manusia berinteraksi dan berkomunikasi. Secara mikro perubahan ini mempengaruhi hubungan sosial dalam keluarga. Perubahan sistem komunikasi ini diikuti bersamaan dengan bertambahnya penggunaan media. Penelitian ini akan fokus pada keluarga di Kelurahan Bahagia, Kecamatan Babelan, Pondok Ungu Permai Kota Bekasi, karena dinamika keluarga di wilayah perkotaan cenderung lebih terpengaruh oleh perkembangan teknologi. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian adalah deskriptif kualitatif. Wawancara dilakukan kepada informan dua pasangan suami istri warga Pondok Ungu Permai, Sunarto dan Devi dan pasangan suami istri Andi dan Ani. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa teknologi digital dapat memberikan dampak positif pada komunikasi keluarga, memudahkan interaksi jarak jauh, memungkinkan berbagi informasi secara cepat, dan membantu memantau anak.
Comparative analysis of corneal parameters in simple myopic anisometropia using Scheimpflug technology
Authors: Wang Di , Chang Yue , Nan Weijin , Zhang Yan
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the differences in binocular corneal parameters and their interrelation with binocular biometric parameters asymmetry in patients with simple myopic anisometropia, thereby elucidating the influence of myopia process on various corneal parameters.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 65 patients with anisometropia in monocular myopia were included. They were divided into low anisometropia group: 3.00D<Δ spherical equivalent (SE)≤−1.00D (Δ represents the difference between the two eyes, i.e., myopic data minus emmetropic data) and high anisometropia group: ΔSE ≤ −3.00D. Corneal and ocular biometric parameters were measured using Pentacam, Corvis ST, and IOL Master 700. Statistical analyses focused on the binocular corneal parameters asymmetry, using the contralateral emmetropia as a control.

Results

The mean age of participants was 18.5 ± 1.3 years, with the average SE for myopia and emmetropia being −2.93 ± 1.09D and −0.16 ± 0.41D, respectively. The central corneal thickness (CCT), flat keratometry (Kf), keratometry astigmatism (Ka), total corneal aberration (6 mm) (TOA), surface variance index (ISV), vertical asymmetry index (IVA), stress-strain index (SSI), and first applanation stiffness parameter (SPA1) and ambrosia relational thickness-horizontal (ARTh) showed significant differences between anisometropic fellow eyes (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in ΔIVA, Δ the difference between the mean refractive power of the inferior and superior corneas (I-S), Δ deviation value of Belin/Ambrósio enhanced ectasia display (BAD-D), Δ deformation amplitude ratio max (2 mm) (DAR)and Δ tomographic biomechanical index (TBI) (p < 0.05) in two groups. Asymmetry of corneal parameters was correlated with asymmetry of ocular biometric parameters. Anisometropia (ΔSE) was positively correlated with ΔIVA (r = 0.255, p = 0.040), ΔBAD-D (r = 0.360, p = 0.006), and ΔSSI (r = 0.276, p = 0.039) and negatively correlated with ΔDAR (r = −0.329, p = 0.013) in multiple regression analysis. Δ mean keratometry (Km), Δ anterior chamber depth (ACD), and Δ biomechanically corrected intraocular pressure (bIOP) were also associated with binocular corneal differences.

Conclusion

Compared to contralateral emmetropia, myopic eyes have thinner corneas and smaller corneal astigmatism. Myopic corneas exhibit relatively more regular surface morphology but are more susceptible to deformation and possess marginally inferior biomechanical properties. In addition, there is a certain correlation between anisometropia and corneal parameter asymmetry, which would be instrumental in predicting the development of myopia.
Cellular interactions and microenvironment dynamics in skeletal muscle regeneration and disease
Authors: Rodríguez Cristina , Timóteo-Ferreira Filipa , Minchiotti Gabriella , Brunelli Silvia , Guardiola Ombretta
Published: May 2024

Skeletal muscle regeneration relies on the intricate interplay of various cell populations within the muscle niche—an environment crucial for regulating the behavior of muscle stem cells (MuSCs) and ensuring postnatal tissue maintenance and regeneration. This review delves into the dynamic interactions among key players of this process, including MuSCs, macrophages (MPs), fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs), endothelial cells (ECs), and pericytes (PCs), each assuming pivotal roles in orchestrating homeostasis and regeneration. Dysfunctions in these interactions can lead not only to pathological conditions but also exacerbate muscular dystrophies. The exploration of cellular and molecular crosstalk among these populations in both physiological and dystrophic conditions provides insights into the multifaceted communication networks governing muscle regeneration. Furthermore, this review discusses emerging strategies to modulate the muscle-regenerating niche, presenting a comprehensive overview of current understanding and innovative approaches.
Evaluation of functional group compatibility and development of reaction-accelerating additives in ammonium salt-accelerated hydrazinolysis of amides
Authors: Choi Jeesoo , Nawachi Anna , Saito Natsuki , Kondo Yuta , Morimoto Hiroyuki , Ohshima Takashi
Published: May 2024

Functional group compatibility in an amide bond cleavage reaction with hydrazine was evaluated for 26 functional groups in the functional group evaluation (FGE) kit. Accurate and rapid evaluation of the compatibility of functional groups, such as nitrogen-containing heterocycles important in drug discovery research, will enhance the application of this reaction in drug discovery research. These data will be used for predictive studies of organic synthesis methods based on machine learning. In addition, these studies led to discoveries such as the unexpected positive additive effects of carboxylic acids, indicating that the FGE kit can propel serendipitous discoveries.
Fabrication and characteristics of multifunctional hydrogel dressings using dopamine modified hyaluronic acid and phenylboronic acid modified chitosan
Authors: Han Yanting , Cao Jing , Li Man , Ding Peng , Yang Yujie , Okoro Oseweuba Valentine , Sun Yanfang , Jiang Guohua , Shavandi Amin , Nie Lei
Published: May 2024

The healing of damaged skin is a complex and dynamic process, and the multi-functional hydrogel dressings could promote skin tissue healing. This study, therefore, explored the development of a composite multifunctional hydrogel (HDCP) by incorporating the dopamine modified hyaluronic acid (HA-DA) and phenylboronic acid modified chitosan (CS-PBA) crosslinked using boric acid ester bonds. The integration of HA-DA and CS-PBA could be confirmed using the Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. The fabricated HDCP hydrogels exhibited porous structure, elastic solid behavior, shear-thinning, and adhesion properties. Furthermore, the HDCP hydrogels exhibited antibacterial efficacy against Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Subsequently, the cytocompatibility of the HDCP hydrogels was verified through CCK-8 assay and fluorescent image analysis following co-cultivation with NIH-3T3 cells. This research presents an innovative multifunctional hydrogel that holds promise as a wound dressing for various applications within the realm of wound healing.
A study on the construction of destination image for China’s county-level integrated media centers: a case study of four counties in Fuzhou
Authors: Lin Hanzheng , Wen Hongyan , Ma Zhuokai
Published: May 2024

With the growing significance of social media in disseminating destination images, short videos have emerged as the primary channel through which tourists acquire destination information. In China, local governments at all administrative levels have begun to explore how to portray a more accurate and diverse destination image through short video platforms, which has become a pressing issue today. This study utilizes a combination of manual analysis (subject terms classification) and computer-assisted techniques (key-frame extraction and text mining) to examine the short videos posted on the TikTok (Douyin) platform by the integrated media centers of Minhou County, Yongtai County, Minqing County, and Lianjiang County in Fuzhou City, China. The objective is to explore the shared characteristics and variations in the dimensional aspects of destination images. The findings reveal that the short video contents released by the governmental new media accounts in these four counties primarily highlight three dimensions: stakeholders, urban infrastructures, and regional landscapes. These dimensions are evident in both descriptive texts and visual symbols. However, in terms of the presented destination image, a notable degree of homogeneity is observed, and there is a lack of emphasis on uncovering and presenting the cultural dimensions, thus failing to reflect the distinctive local characteristics fully. Consequently, it is essential for local integrated media centers to thoroughly explore the cultural uniqueness of their respective regions and enhance the development of thematic dimensions in creating short video content. This approach will effectively strengthen tourists’ association with and perception of destination images.
Case Report: A rare transthyretin mutation p.D58Y in a Chinese case of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy
Authors: Lin Jibin , Peng Jiangtong , Lv Bingjie , Cao Zheng , Chen Zhijian
Published: May 2024

Hereditary transthyretin amyloid (ATTRv) cardiomyopathy (CM) is caused by mutations in the TTR gene. TTR mutations contribute to TTR tetramer destabilization and dissociation, leading to excessive deposition of insoluble amyloid fibrils in the myocardium and finally resulting in cardiac dysfunction. In this article, we report a case of a Chinese patient with transthyretin mutation p.D58Y and provide detailed information on cardiac amyloidosis, including transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and SPECT imaging for the first time. Our report aims to provide a better understanding of ATTR genotypes and phenotypes.
Endovascular intervention with intravascular ultrasound guidance of very early dissection complication in transplant renal artery: a case report and literature review
Authors: Vu Vu Hoang , Nguyen Nghia Thuong , Nguyen Chinh Duc , Nguyen Khang Duong , Truong Binh Quang
Published: May 2024

Background

Transplant renal artery dissection (TRAD) is a rare and serious event that can cause allograft dysfunction and eventually graft loss. Most cases are managed by operative repair. We report a case of TRAD in the early postoperative period, which was successfully managed with intravascular ultrasound-assisted endovascular intervention.

Case presentation

A 38-year-old man underwent HLA-compatible living kidney transplantation. The allograft had one renal artery and vein, which were anastomosed to the internal iliac artery and external iliac vein, respectively. Doppler ultrasonography performed a day after the operation showed an increase in systolic blood velocity, with no observed urine output and raising a suspicion of arterial anastomotic stenosis. Angiography showed a donor renal artery dissection distal to the moderately stenosed anastomosis site with calcified atherosclerotic plaque confirmed by IVUS. The transplant renal artery lesion was intervened with a stent. After the intervention, Doppler US revealed that the blood flow of the renal artery was adequate without an increase in the systolic blood velocity. Urine output gradually returned after 3 weeks, and serum creatinine level was normalized after 2 months.

Conclusions

Transplant recipients commonly have atherosclerosis and hypertension, which are risk factors for arterial dissection. Our case showed that endovascular intervention can replace surgery to repair very early vascular complications such as dissection and help patients avoid high-risk operations. Early diagnosis and IVUS-assisted intervention with experienced interventionists can save allograft dysfunction.
Association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and pubertal timing: 6–14-year-old children and adolescents in the NHANES 2015–2016
Authors: Liu Ziqin
Published: May 2024

Background

The association between 25(OH)D and pubertal timing has not been well studied. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between 25(OH)D levels and pubertal timing in children.

Methods

Participants aged 6–14 years who had available nutritional and serum sex hormone (total testosterone (TT) and estradiol (E2)) information (n =1318) were included. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the associations between 25(OH)D and sex steroid hormones among children in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015–2016. Puberty was indicated by high levels of steroid hormones (TT≥50 ng/dL in men, E2≥20 pg/ml in women) or menarche.

Results

Serum 25(OH)D and pubertal status showed the same trend in both males and females. In the male population, the OR values of serum 25(OH)D between 50 and <75 and ≥75 nmol/L were 0.52 (0.25, 1.08) and 0.64 (0.23, 1.75), respectively, compared with serum 25(OH)D<50 nmol/L. The OR of serum 25(OH)D ≥50 nmol/L compared with <50 nmol/L was 0.54 (0.26, 1.10), and the P value was statistically significant (P=0.048). In the female population, when the serum 25(OH)D concentration was <50 nmol/L, the ORs corresponding to a serum 25(OH)D concentration between 50 and <75 and ≥75 nmol/L were 0.53 (0.29, 0.98) and 0.50 (0.19, 1.30), respectively. The OR of serum 25(OH)D≥50 nmol/L compared with <50 nmol/L was 0.52 (0.19, 0.96), and the P value was statistically significant (P=0.037).

Conclusions

A lower 25(OH)D level was associated with earlier puberty in both girls and boys. There was a negative association between 25(OH)D concentrations and pubertal timing.
Optimal management of electric vehicle charging loads for enhanced sustainability in shared residential buildings
Authors: Almutairi Abdulaziz , Albagami Naif , Almesned Sultanh , Alrumayh Omar , Malik Hasmat
Published: May 2024

Demand management of electric vehicles (EVs) in shared residential parking lots presents challenges for sustainable transportation systems. Especially, in shared parking lots where multiple EVs share the same parking space, such as residential apartments. This is challenging due to involvement of various factors such as limited number of chargers, limited capacity of transformer, and diverse driving behavior of EV owners. To address this issue, this study proposes an optimal demand management framework that addresses limited chargers, transformer capacity, and diverse driving behavior to promote sustainable EV integration. By estimating driving behavior, energy consumption, and utilizing a linear programming-based optimization model, power allocation to EVs is optimized based on multiple factors. A satisfaction index is introduced to measure the satisfaction level of the EV community, further emphasizing user-centric sustainability. Performance analysis includes factors such as power usage, charger utilization, and community satisfaction. The performance of the proposed method is compared with a conventional method and the proposed method increase the satisfaction index of the community by up to 10%. In addition, sensitivity analysis is used to explore the impact of factors like charger availability, EV penetration, and transformer capacity limits. Results show that with 3% EV penetration, satisfaction levels exceed 75%, reaching over 80% with five chargers and 6% EV penetration.
GLT8D2 is a prognostic biomarker and regulator of immune cell infiltration in gastric cancer
Authors: Wang Han , Zheng Jiabin , Ma Qingyang , Zhang Junchang , Li Yong
Published: May 2024

Because of the considerable tumor heterogeneity in gastric cancer (GC), only a limited group of patients experiences positive outcomes from immunotherapy. Herein, we aim to develop predictive models related to glycosylation genes to provide a more comprehensive understanding of immunotherapy for GC. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data and corresponding clinical outcomes were obtained from GEO and TCGA databases, and glycosylation-related genes were obtained from GlycoGene DataBase. We identified 48 differentially expressed glycosylation-related genes and established a prognostic model (seven prognosis genes including GLT8D2, GALNT6, ST3GAL6, GALNT15, GBGT1, FUT2, GXYLT2) based on these glycosylation-related genes using the results from Cox regression analysis. We found that these glycosylation-related genes revealed a robust correlation with the abundance of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs), especially the GLT8D2 which is associated with many TILs. Finally, we employed immunohistochemistry and Multiplex Immunohistochemical to discover that GLT8D2 serves as a valuable prognostic biomarker in GC and is closely associated with macrophage-related markers. Collectively, we established a prognostic model based on glycosylation-related genes to provide a more comprehensive understanding of prediction for GC prognosis, and identified that GLT8D2 is closely correlated with adverse prognosis and may underscore its role in regulating immune cell infiltration in GC patients.
Enhancing ASPP2 promotes acute liver injury via an inflammatory immunoregulatory mechanism
Authors: Zhang Xiangying , Xu Ling , Fan Zihao , Gao Yao , Tian Yuan , Cao Yaling , Chen Dexi , Ren Feng
Published: May 2024

Background

Acute liver injury (ALI), which is a type of inflammation-mediated hepatocellular injury, is a clinical syndrome that results from hepatocellular apoptosis and hemorrhagic necrosis. Apoptosis stimulating protein of p53-2 (ASPP2) is a proapoptotic member of the p53 binding protein family. However, the role of ASPP2 in the pathogenesis of ALI and its regulatory mechanisms remain unclear.

Methods

The expression of ASPP2 were compared between liver biopsies derived from patients with CHB, patients with ALI, and normal controls. Acute liver injury was modelled in mice by administration of D-GalN/LPS. Liver injury was demonstrated by serum transaminases and histological assessment of liver sections. ASPP2-knockdown mice (ASPP2+/−) were used to determine its role in acute liver injury. Mouse bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) were isolated from wildtype and ASPP2+/- mice and stimulated with LPS, and the supernatant was collected to incubate with the primary hepatocytes. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blot were used to analyze the expression level of target.

Results

The expression of ASPP2 was significantly upregulated in the liver tissue of ALI patients and acute liver injury mice. ASPP2+/- mice significantly relieved liver injury through reducing liver inflammation and decreasing hepatocyte apoptosis. Moreover, the conditioned medium (CM) of ASPP2+/- bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) protected hepatocytes against apoptosis. Mechanistically, we revealed that ASPP2 deficiency in BMMs specifically upregulated IL-6 through autophagy activation, which decreased the level of TNF-α to reduce hepatocytes apoptosis. Furthermore, up-regulation of ASPP2 sensitizes hepatocytes to TNF-α-induced apoptosis.

Conclusion

Our novel findings show the critical role of ASPP2 in inflammatory immunoregulatory mechanism of ALI and provide a rationale to target ASPP2 as a refined therapeutic strategy to ameliorate acute liver injury.
Synthetic BSA-conjugated disaccharide related to the Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3 capsular polysaccharide increases IL-17A Levels, γδ T cells, and B1 cells in mice
Authors: Akhmatova Nelli K. , Kurbatova Ekaterina A. , Zaytsev Anton E. , Akhmatova Elina A. , Yastrebova Natalya E. , Sukhova Elena V. , Yashunsky Dmitriy V. , Tsvetkov Yury E. , Nifantiev Nikolay E.
Published: May 2024

The disaccharide (β-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranoside represents a repeating unit of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3. A conjugate of the disaccharide with BSA (di-BSA conjugate) adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide induced — in contrast to the non-adjuvanted conjugate — IgG1 antibody production and protected mice against S. pneumoniae serotype 3 infection after intraperitoneal prime-boost immunization. Adjuvanted and non-adjuvanted conjugates induced production of Th1 (IFNγ, TNFα); Th2 (IL-5, IL-13); Th17 (IL-17A), Th1/Th17 (IL-22), and Th2/Th17 cytokines (IL-21) after immunization. The concentration of cytokines in mice sera was higher in response to the adjuvanted conjugate, with the highest level of IL-17A production after the prime and boost immunizations. In contrast, the non-adjuvanted conjugate elicited only weak production of IL-17A, which gradually decreased after the second immunization. After boost immunization of mice with the adjuvanted di-BSA conjugate, there was a significant increase in the number of CD45+/CD19+ B cells, TCR+ γδ T cell, CD5+ В1 cells, and activated cells with MHC II+ expression in the spleens of the mice. IL-17A, TCR+ γδ T cells, and CD5+ В1 cells play a crucial role in preventing pneumococcal infection, but can also contribute to autoimmune diseases. Immunization with the adjuvanted and non-adjuvanted di-BSA conjugate did not elicit autoantibodies against double-stranded DNA targeting cell nuclei in mice. Thus, the molecular and cellular markers associated with antibody production and protective activity in response to immunization with the di-BSA conjugate adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide are IL-17A, TCR+ γδ T cells, and CD5+ В1 cells against the background of increasing MHC II+ expression.
The role of galectins in mediating the adhesion of circulating cells to vascular endothelium
Authors: Souchak Joseph , Mohammed Norhan B. B. , Lau Lee Seng , Dimitroff Charles J.
Published: May 2024

Vascular cell adhesion is a complex orchestration of events that commonly feature lectin–ligand interactions between circulating cells, such as immune, stem, and tumor cells, and endothelial cells (ECs) lining post-capillary venules. Characteristically, circulating cell adherence to the vasculature endothelium is initiated through interactions between surface sialo-fucosylated glycoprotein ligands and lectins, specifically platelet (P)- or endothelial (E)-selectin on ECs or between leukocyte (L)-selectin on circulating leukocytes and L-selectin ligands on ECs, culminating in circulating cell extravasation. This lectin–ligand interplay enables the migration of immune cells into specific tissue sites to help maintain effective immunosurveillance and inflammation control, the homing of stem cells to bone marrow or tissues in need of repair, and, unfortunately, in some cases, the dissemination of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to distant metastatic sites. Interestingly, there is a growing body of evidence showing that the family of β-galactoside-binding lectins, known as galectins, can also play pivotal roles in the adhesion of circulating cells to the vascular endothelium. In this review, we present contemporary knowledge on the significant roles of host- and/or tumor-derived galectin (Gal)-3, -8, and -9 in facilitating the adhesion of circulating cells to the vascular endothelium either directly by acting as bridging molecules or indirectly by triggering signaling pathways to express adhesion molecules on ECs. We also explore strategies for interfering with galectin-mediated adhesion to attenuate inflammation or hinder the metastatic seeding of CTCs, which are often rich in galectins and/or their glycan ligands.
A physics-informed machine learning approach for predicting acoustic convergence zone features from limited mesoscale eddy data
Authors: Xu Weishuai , Zhang Lei , Li Maolin , Ma Xiaodong , Wang Hua
Published: May 2024

Mesoscale eddies are prevalent mesoscale phenomena in the oceans that alter the thermohaline structure of the ocean, significantly impacting acoustic propagation patterns. Accurately predicting acoustic convergence zone features has become an urgent task, especially when data are limited in deep-sea mesoscale eddy environments. This study utilizes physics-informed machine learning to identify and predict the acoustic convergence zone features of mesoscale eddies under limited data conditions. Initially, a method based on convex hull ratio was utilized to identify mesoscale eddies from the JCOPE2M reanalysis dataset and AVISO data in the Kuroshio‐Oyashio Extension. Subsequently, by integrating physical models and ray acoustics, relevant features of mesoscale eddies and convergence zones are extracted. Then, K-fold cross-validation and sparrow search algorithms are employed to select the optimal machine learning algorithm, ensuring high model accuracy. The resulting model requires only a thermohaline profile near the eddy center and sea surface height to predict convergence zone features within the mesoscale eddy environment, achieving a MAE of approximately 1.00 km and an accuracy (within 3 km) exceeding 95%. Additionally, leveraging physics-informed machine learning methods contributes to a maximum reduction of 0.82 km in MAE and an improvement in accuracy by 2.80% to 11.92% compared to models without physical information input. Finally, the model’s validity and reliability in the actual ocean environment are verified by cross-validating it with data from various sea regions" in bright yellow and Argo profiling float data. The findings provide novel insights into acoustic propagation in mesoscale eddy environments and subsequent ocean acoustic research.
Bulk and amino acid isotope evidence of supplementary food sources besides euphotic production for a deep-sea coral community in the South China Sea
Authors: Luo Zhongyuan , Chen Lingdi , Jia Guodong
Published: May 2024

Deep-sea coral communities, rich in various zoobenthos, have been discovered in the South China Sea (SCS) in recent years. Yet little is known about the trophic structure of these communities. In this study, we applied bulk isotope and compound-specific isotope analysis of amino acids (CSIA-AAs) to explore feeding strategies and estimate the trophic positions (TPs) and isotopic baseline for 6 deep-sea gorgonians and 7 other zoobenthos collected from a deep-sea coral community in the SCS. Bulk carbon and nitrogen isotope values (δ13C and δ15N) suggested that the zoobenthos in the community have a variety of food sources. Amino acids δ15N results indicated that the TP is 2.3 ± 0.2 (mean ± 1σ) for the deep-sea gorgonians and varies from 2.0 ± 0.3 (sponge) to 3.5 ± 0.5 (starfish) for other zoobenthos. The δ15N values of phenylalanine revealed variable isotopic baselines ranging from +3.0 ± 0.9‰ to +11.7 ± 0.5‰, reflecting the incorporation of nitrogen from sources not limited to surface primary producers. Taken together, our data suggest that zoobenthos in the deep-sea coral community are mostly omnivorous, and their diet does not come solely from export production from the sea surface, with symbiotic bacteria as a potential important source.
Deep learning based retinal vessel segmentation and hypertensive retinopathy quantification using heterogeneous features cross-attention neural network
Authors: Liu Xinghui , Tan Hongwen , Wang Wu , Chen Zhangrong
Published: May 2024

Retinal vessels play a pivotal role as biomarkers in the detection of retinal diseases, including hypertensive retinopathy. The manual identification of these retinal vessels is both resource-intensive and time-consuming. The fidelity of vessel segmentation in automated methods directly depends on the fundus images' quality. In instances of sub-optimal image quality, applying deep learning-based methodologies emerges as a more effective approach for precise segmentation. We propose a heterogeneous neural network combining the benefit of local semantic information extraction of convolutional neural network and long-range spatial features mining of transformer network structures. Such cross-attention network structure boosts the model's ability to tackle vessel structures in the retinal images. Experiments on four publicly available datasets demonstrate our model's superior performance on vessel segmentation and the big potential of hypertensive retinopathy quantification.
DiffraGAN: a conditional generative adversarial network for phasing single molecule diffraction data to atomic resolution
Authors: Matinyan S. , Filipcik P. , van Genderen E. , Abrahams J. P.
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Proteins that adopt multiple conformations pose significant challenges in structural biology research and pharmaceutical development, as structure determination via single particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is often impeded by data heterogeneity. In this context, the enhanced signal-to-noise ratio of single molecule cryo-electron diffraction (simED) offers a promising alternative. However, a significant challenge in diffraction methods is the loss of phase information, which is crucial for accurate structure determination.

Methods

Here, we present DiffraGAN, a conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN) that estimates the missing phases at high resolution from a combination of single particle high-resolution diffraction data and low-resolution image data.

Results

For simulated datasets, DiffraGAN allows effectively determining protein structures at atomic resolution from diffraction patterns and noisy low-resolution images.

Discussion

Our findings suggest that combining single particle cryo-electron diffraction with advanced generative modeling, as in DiffraGAN, could revolutionize the way protein structures are determined, offering an alternative and complementary approach to existing methods.
Association between physical frailty and cortical structure in middle-aged and elderly people: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Zhang Xin , Wang Zhen , Zou Jing , Zhang Le , Ning Jing-Hua , Jiang Bei , Liang Yi , Zhang Yu-Zhe
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Physical weakness is associated with cortical structures, but the exact causes remain to be investigated. Therefore, we utilized Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to uncover the underlying connection between frailty and cortical structures.

Methods

The Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) on frailty pooled data from publicly available sources such as the UK Biobank and included five indicators of frailty: weakness, walking speed, weight loss, physical activity, and exhaustion. GWAS data on cerebral cortical structure were obtained from the ENIGMA consortium, and we assessed the causal relationship between hereditary frailty and cortical surface area (SA) or cortical thickness (TH). Inverse variance weighting (IVW) was used as the primary estimate, and heterogeneity and multidimensionality were monitored by MR-PRESSO to detect outliers. Additionally, MR-Egger, Cochran’s Q test, and weighted median were employed.

Results

At the aggregate level, there was no causal relationship between frailty and cortical thickness or surface area. At the regional level, frailty was associated with the thickness of the middle temporal lobe, parahippocampus, rostral middle frontal lobe, lower parietal lobe, anterior cingulate gyrus, upper temporal lobe, lateral orbital frontal cortex, pericardial surface area, rostral middle frontal lobe, upper temporal lobe, rostral anterior cingulate gyrus, lower parietal lobe, and upper parietal lobe. These results were nominally significant, and sensitivity analyses did not detect any multidirectionality or heterogeneity, suggesting that the results of our analyses are reliable.

Discussion

The results of our analyses suggest a potential causal relationship between somatic weakness and multiple regions of cortical structure. However, the specific mechanisms of influence remain to be investigated. Preliminary results from our analysis suggest that the effects of physical frailty on cortical structures are influenced by various factors related to frailty exposure. This relationship has been documented, and it is therefore both feasible and meaningful to build on existing research to explore the clinical significance of the relationship.
ADCY3: the pivotal gene in classical ketogenic diet for the treatment of epilepsy
Authors: Lin Mingxing , Gong Jiayin , Wu Luyan , Lin Xin , Zhang Yuying , Lin Wanhui , Huang Huapin , Zhu Chaofeng
Published: May 2024

Objective

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder characterized by recurrent epilepsy episodes. As a non-pharmacological treatment, the ketogenic diet has been widely applied in treating epilepsy. However, the exact therapeutic mechanism of the ketogenic diet for epilepsy remains unclear. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms of the ketogenic diet in regulating fatty acid metabolism and activating the ADCY3-initiated cAMP signaling pathway to enhance neuronal inhibition and thereby treat epilepsy.

Methods and results

Meta-analysis reveals that the ketogenic diet is superior to the conventional diet in treating epilepsy. Animal experiments demonstrate that the ketogenic diet is more effective than the conventional diet in treating epilepsy, with the best results achieved using the classic ketogenic diet. Transcriptome sequencing analysis identifies six essential genes, among which ADCY3 shows increased expression in the ketogenic diet. In vivo experiments confirm that the activation of the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway by ADCY3 enhances neuronal inhibition and improves epilepsy control.

Conclusion

Clinical observations indicate that the ketogenic diet improves patient epilepsy episodes by regulating the ADCY3-initiated cAMP signaling pathway.
Predicting the recurrence of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage using a machine learning model
Authors: Cui Chaohua , Lan Jiaona , Lao Zhenxian , Xia Tianyu , Long Tonghua
Published: May 2024

Background

Recurrence can worsen conditions and increase mortality in ICH patients. Predicting the recurrence risk and preventing or treating these patients is a rational strategy to improve outcomes potentially. A machine learning model with improved performance is necessary to predict recurrence.

Methods

We collected data from ICH patients in two hospitals for our retrospective training cohort and prospective testing cohort. The outcome was the recurrence within one year. We constructed logistic regression, support vector machine (SVM), decision trees, Voting Classifier, random forest, and XGBoost models for prediction.

Results

The model included age, NIHSS score at discharge, hematoma volume at admission and discharge, PLT, AST, and CRP levels at admission, use of hypotensive drugs and history of stroke. In internal validation, logistic regression demonstrated an AUC of 0.89 and precision of 0.81, SVM showed an AUC of 0.93 and precision of 0.90, the random forest achieved an AUC of 0.95 and precision of 0.93, and XGBoost scored an AUC of 0.95 and precision of 0.92. In external validation, logistic regression achieved an AUC of 0.81 and precision of 0.79, SVM obtained an AUC of 0.87 and precision of 0.76, the random forest reached an AUC of 0.92 and precision of 0.86, and XGBoost recorded an AUC of 0.93 and precision of 0.91.

Conclusion

The machine learning models performed better in predicting ICH recurrence than traditional statistical models. The XGBoost model demonstrated the best comprehensive performance for predicting ICH recurrence in the external testing cohort.
Effect of catheter needle caliber on polidocanol foam stability in foam sclerotherapy
Authors: Azmoun Sajjad , Liu Yiran , Tursun Medina , Liu Shaohua
Published: May 2024

Background

Although sclerotherapy is widely used to treat vascular malformations (VMs), it is associated with several challenges. One significant issue is the insufficient understanding of the influence of various factors on the stability of polidocanol (POL) foam used in sclerotherapy.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the effect of the catheter needle caliber on foam stability when using POL with or without hyaluronic acid (HA) for the treatment of VMs.

Methods and materials

The Tessari method generated sclerosant foam using POL both with and without HA. We used catheters and syringe needles of various calibers, and the resulting foam was transferred into new syringes to facilitate a comparison of foam stability. Foam half-life (FHT) was utilized as a metric to assess foam stability.

Results

The study found that narrower needle calibers produced a more stable foam when POL was used alone; however, no significant effect was observed when HA was added. Furthermore, when the foam was expelled using catheters and syringe needles of the same size, no noticeable changes in the stability were observed.

Conclusion

When choosing needles of varying calibers, their effect on foam stability should be carefully considered, particularly when the foam contains HA.
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation may benefit from the addition of N-acetylcysteine to facilitate motor learning in infants of diabetic mothers failing oral feeds
Authors: Jenkins Dorothea D. , Garner Sandra S. , Brennan Alyssa , Morris Jessica , Bonham Kate , Adams Lauren , Hunt Sally , Moss Hunter , Badran Bashar W. , George Mark S. , Wiest Donald B.
Published: May 2024

Objective

This study aims to determine if pretreating with enteral N-acetylcysteine (NAC) improves CNS oxidative stress and facilitates improvement in oromotor skills during transcutaneous auricular nerve stimulation (taVNS) paired with oral feedings in infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs) who are failing oral feeds.

Methods

We treated 10 IDMs who were gastrostomy tube candidates in an open-label trial of NAC and taVNS paired with oral feeding. NAC (75 or 100 mg/kg/dose) was given by nasogastric (NG) administration every 6 h for 4 days, then combined with taVNS paired with 2 daily feeds for another 14 days. NAC pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were determined from plasma concentrations at baseline and at steady state on day 4 of treatment in conjunction with magnetic resonance spectroscopic (MRS) quantification of CNS glutathione (GSH) as a marker of oxidative stress. We compared increases in oral feeding volumes before and during taVNS treatment and with a prior cohort of 12 IDMs who largely failed to achieve full oral feeds with taVNS alone.

Results

NAC 100 mg/kg/dose every 6 h NG resulted in plasma [NAC] that increased [GSH] in the basal ganglia with a mean of 0.13 ± 0.08 mM (p = 0.01, compared to baseline). Mean daily feeding volumes increased over 14 days of NAC + taVNS compared to the 14 days before treatment and compared to the prior cohort of 12 IDMs treated with taVNS alone. Seven IDMs reached full oral feeds sufficient for discharge, while three continued to have inadequate intake.

Conclusion

In IDM failing oral feeds, NAC 100 mg/kg/dose every 6 h NG for 4 days before and during taVNS paired with oral feeding increased CNS GSH, potentially mitigating oxidative stress, and was associated with improving functional feeding outcomes compared to taVNS alone in a prior cohort. This represents a novel approach to neuromodulation and supports the concept that mitigation of ongoing oxidative stress may increase response to taVNS paired with a motor task.
Short-latency prepulse inhibition of the trigeminal blink reflex
Authors: Shingaki Megumi , Itoh Yasushi , Borgil Bayasgalan , Kida Tetsuo , Inui Koji
Published: May 2024

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is a well-established phenomenon wherein a weak sensory stimulus attenuates the startle reflex triggered by a subsequent strong stimulus. Within the circuit, variations in target responses observed for PPI paradigms represent prepulse-induced excitability changes. However, little is known about the mechanism of PPI. Here, we focused on short-latency PPI of the trigeminal blink reflex R1 signal with an oligosynaptic reflex arc through the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus and the facial nucleus. As the facial nucleus is facilitatory to any input, R1 PPI is the phenomenon in the former nucleus. Considering that GABAergic modulation may be involved in PPI, this study investigated whether the PPI mechanism includes GABA-A equivalent inhibition, which peaks at approximately 30 ms in humans. In 12 healthy volunteers, the reflex was elicited by electrical stimulation of the supraorbital nerve, and recorded at the ipsilateral lower eyelid by accelerometer. Stimulus intensity was 1.5 times the R1 threshold for test stimulus and 0.9 times for the prepulse. The prepulse–test interval (PTI) was 5–150 ms. Results showed significant inhibition at 40-and 80–150-ms PTIs but not at 20-, 30-, 50-, 60-, and 70-ms PTIs, yielding two distinct inhibitions of different time scales. This corresponds well to the early and late components of inhibitory post synaptic potentials by GABA-A and GABA-B receptor activation. Thus, the data support the contribution of inhibitory post synaptic potentials elicited by the prepulse to the observed PPI. As inhibitory function-related diseases may impair the different inhibition components to varying degrees, methods deconvoluting each inhibitory component contribution are of clinical importance.