bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling the role of HIF in the regulation of metabolic key genes LDH and PDH: Emergence of Warburg phenotype
Authors: Spinicci Kévin , Jacquet Pierre , Powathil Gibin , Stéphanou Angélique
Published: August 2022

Oxygenation of tumors and the effect of hypoxia on cancer cell metabolism is a widely studied subject. Hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF), the main actor in the cell response to hypoxia, represents a potential target in cancer therapy. HIF is involved in many biological processes such as cell proliferation, survival, apoptosis, angiogenesis, iron metabolism, and glucose metabolism. This protein regulates the expressions of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), both essential for the conversion of pyruvate to be used in aerobic and anaerobic pathways. HIF upregulates LDH, increasing the conversion of pyruvate into lactate which leads to higher secretion of lactic acid by the cell and reduced pH in the microenvironment. HIF indirectly downregulates PDH, decreasing the conversion of pyruvate into acetyl coenzyme A, which leads to reduced usage of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in aerobic pathways. Upregulation of HIF may promote the use of anaerobic pathways for energy production even in normal extracellular oxygen conditions. Higher use of glycolysis even in normal oxygen conditions is called the Warburg effect. In this paper, we focus on HIF variations during tumor growth and study, through a mathematical model, its impact on the two metabolic key genes PDH and LDH, to investigate its role in the emergence of the Warburg effect. Mathematical equations describing the enzyme regulation pathways were solved for each cell of the tumor represented in an agent‐based model to best capture the spatio‐temporal oxygen variations during tumor development caused by cell consumption and reduced diffusion inside the tumor. Simulation results show that reduced HIF degradation in normoxia can induce higher lactic acid production. The emergence of the Warburg effect appears after the first period of hypoxia before oxygen conditions return to a normal level. The results also show that targeting the upregulation of LDH and the downregulation of PDH could be relevant in therapy.
Molecular Metallocorrole–Nanorod Photocatalytic System for Sustainable Hydrogen Production
Authors: Dong Kaituo , Le Trung‐Anh , Nakibli Yifat , Schleusener Alexander , Wächtler Maria , Amirav Lilac
Published: August 2022

Invited for this month′s cover is the group of Lilac Amirav at Technion—Israel Institute of Technology. The image shows the sustainable solar‐driven photocatalytic generation of hydrogen from water using a molecular metallocorrole–nanorod photocatalytic system. The Research Article itself is available at 10.1002/cssc.202200804.
The global burden of disease attributable to high fasting plasma glucose in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: An updated analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Authors: Liang Ruyi , Feng Xiaobing , Shi Da , Yang Meng , Yu Linling , Liu Wei , Zhou Min , Wang Xing , Qiu Weihong , Fan Lieyang , Wang Bin , Chen Weihong
Published: August 2022

Aims

High fasting plasma glucose (HFPG) is an independent risk factor for several adverse health outcomes and has become a serious public health problem. We aimed to evaluate the spatial pattern and temporal trend of disease burden attributed to HFPG from 1990 to 2019 using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019.

Materials and Methods

Using data from GBD 2019, we estimated the numbers and age‐standardized rates of deaths and disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) attributed to HFPG by calendar year, age, gender, country, region, Socio‐demographic Index (SDI), and specific causes. The joinpoint regression analysis was used to assess the temporal trends of deaths and DALYs from 1990 to 2019.

Results

In 2019, globally, the numbers of deaths and DALYs attributable to HFPG were approximately 6.50 million and 172.07 million, respectively, with age‐standardized rates of 83.00 per 100,000 people and 2104.26 per 100,000 people, respectively. From 1990 to 2019, the global numbers of deaths and DALYs attributed to HFPG have over doubled. The age‐standardized rate of DALYs showed an increasing trend, particularly in males and in regions with middle SDI or below. The leading causes of the global disease burden attributable to HFPG in 2019 were diabetes mellitus, ischaemic heart disease, stroke, and chronic kidney disease.

Conclusions

HFPG is an important contributor to increasing the global and regional disease burden. Necessary measures should be taken to curb the growing burden attributed to HFPG, particularly in males and in regions with middle SDI or below.
Recovered frog populations coexist with endemic Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis despite load‐dependent mortality
Authors: Hollanders Matthijs , Grogan Laura F. , Nock Catherine J. , McCallum Hamish I. , Newell David A.
Published: August 2022

Novel infectious diseases, particularly those caused by fungal pathogens, pose considerable risks to global biodiversity. The amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Bd) has demonstrated the scale of the threat, having caused the greatest recorded loss of vertebrate biodiversity attributable to a pathogen. Despite catastrophic declines on several continents, many affected species have experienced population recoveries after epidemics. However, the potential ongoing threat of endemic Bd in these recovered or recovering populations is still poorly understood. We investigated the threat of endemic Bd to frog populations that recovered after initial precipitous declines, focusing on the endangered rainforest frog Mixophyes fleayi. We conducted extensive field surveys over 4 years at three independent sites in eastern Australia. First, we compared Bd infection prevalence and infection intensities within frog communities to reveal species‐specific infection patterns. Then, we analyzed mark‐recapture data of M. fleayi to estimate the impact of Bd infection intensity on apparent mortality rates and Bd infection dynamics. We found that M. fleayi had lower infection intensities than sympatric frogs across the three sites, and cleared infections at higher rates than they gained infections throughout the study period. By incorporating time‐varying individual infection intensities, we show that healthy M. fleayi populations persist despite increased apparent mortality associated with infrequent high Bd loads. Infection dynamics were influenced by environmental conditions, with Bd prevalence, infection intensity, and rates of gaining infection associated with lower temperatures and increased rainfall. However, mortality remained constant year‐round despite these fluctuations in Bd infections, suggesting major mortality events did not occur over the study period. Together, our results demonstrate that while Bd is still a potential threat to recovered populations of M. fleayi, high rates of clearing infections and generally low average infection loads likely minimize mortality caused by Bd. Our results are consistent with pathogen resistance contributing to the coexistence of M. fleayi with endemic Bd. We emphasize the importance of incorporating infection intensity into disease models rather than infection status alone. Similar population and infection dynamics likely exist within other recovered amphibian‐Bd systems around the globe, promising longer‐term persistence in the face of endemic chytridiomycosis.
Postfire futures in southwestern forests: Climate and landscape influences on trajectories of recovery and conversion
Authors: Coop Jonathan D.
Published: August 2022

Southwestern ponderosa pine forests are vulnerable to fire‐driven conversion in a warming and drying climate, yet little is known about what kinds of ecological communities may replace them. To characterize postfire vegetation trajectories and their environmental determinants, plant assemblages (361 sample plots including 229 vascular plant species, surveyed in 2017) were sampled within eight burns that occurred between 2000 and 2003. I used nonmetric multidimensional scaling,k‐means clustering, principal component analysis, and random forest models to assess relationships between vegetation pattern, topographic and landscape factors, and gridded climate data. I describe seven postfire community types, including regenerating forests of ponderosa pine, aspen, and mixed conifers, shrub‐dominated communities of Gambel oak and mixed species, and herb‐dominated communities of native bunchgrasses and mixtures of ruderal, native, and nonnative species. Forest recovery was generally associated with cooler, mesic sites in proximity to forested refugia; shifts toward scrub and grassland types were most common in warmer, dryer locations distant from forested refugia. Under future climate scenarios, models project decreases in postfire forest recovery and increases in nonforest vegetation. However, forest to nonforest conversion was partially offset under a scenario of reduced burn severity and increased retention of forested refugia, highlighting important management opportunities. Burning trends in the southwestern United States suggest that postfire vegetation will occupy a growing landscape fraction, compelling renewed management focus on these areas and paradigm shifts that accommodate ecological change. I illustrate how management decisions around resisting, accepting, or directing change could be informed by an understanding of processes and patterns of postfire community variation and likely future trajectories.
Laboratory measures of boldness correlate with ecological niche in threespine stickleback
Authors: Theódórsson Benedikt Kári , Ólafsdóttir Guðbjörg Ásta
Published: August 2022

Research on among individual variation in behavior has increased rapidly in recent years. It is intuitively appealing that variation in the behavior of individuals has ecological consequences, for example, on trophic niche. Bold individuals, with a tendency to be explorative and risk‐tolerant, can be less likely to alter their foraging behavior based on context and, therefore, forage more consistently. Stable isotopes are a useful tool to retrospectively estimate ecological niche and have been found to correlate with foraging behavior in the wild and can be used to extend studies to further examine the ecological or evolutionary relevance of animal personality measured in the laboratory. We examined if common behavioral traits related to ecological niche in the wild using a rapid behavioral assay and δ13C and δ15N stable isotopes from fin and muscle, reflecting ecological niche for the previous weeks and months. We found that bolder stickleback (and females) were enriched in δ13C compared with shyer stickleback (and males) but the covariation of gender and stable isotope values complicate inferences. Nevertheless, the current results highlight the long‐term ecological importance of among individual variation in behavior and are among the first to support a correlation between laboratory measures of behavior and ecological niche in the wild and to document gender differences in stable isotope values of fish.
An optimization under uncertainty in system equations and applications to robust AC optimal power flow
Authors: Suzuki Ryohei , Yasuda Keiichiro , Aiyoshi Eitaro
Published: August 2022

This paper presents a formulation of an optimization of uncertain systems and the solution technique. The optimization under uncertainties is formulated as an optimization problem which includes unknown variables in equality constraints called system equations as well as in an objective function and inequality constraints. As countermeasures against the uncertainties, a min‐max criterion is applied to the objective function and robustness criteria are introduced to the inequality constraints. By differentiating state variables satisfying the equality constraints from the decision variables, we reformulate the optimization problem based on the worst‐case scenario of the state variables corresponding to the uncertain variables and we propose a “constraints‐relaxation procedure” based method considering the equality constraints to solve the reformulated problem. In this method, a constraints‐relaxed problem is solved corresponding to a finite number of samples of uncertain variables. Furthermore, a new sample of uncertain variables is sequentially generated corresponding to the inequality constraint which the solution violates most, together with state variables satisfying the system equations at the new worst‐case scenario. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is illustrated by numerical examples including robust AC optimal power flow considering distributed energy resources.
Rapid colonization of the post‐burn environment improves egg survival in pyrophilic ground beetles
Authors: Bell Aaron J. , Calladine Kiara S. , Wardle David A. , Phillips Iain D.
Published: August 2022

Many insects are drawn to the heat, ash, and smoke produced by forest fires and arrive in large numbers at recent burns, often while the fire is still active. Some of these insects are pyrophilic and reproduce exclusively in the immediate aftermath of fire but are rarely, if ever, collected from unburnt habitats. Numerous observations made at active fires note an apparent preference among some pyrophilic insects to oviposit exclusively in the burnt portions of trees, raising broader questions about the adaptive benefits of reproduction in the post‐burn environment. Here, we tested whether the reproductive output of pyrophilic ground beetles (i.e.,Sericodaspp.) increased in heat‐sterilized soils. In the first experiment, the eggs ofSericoda quadripunctatawere reared in three types of soil collected from burnt forests: recently burnt soil (collected 1–2 weeks after the fire), soil collected 1 year after burn, and soil from an unburnt patch of forest adjacent to the fire. Daily monitoring through a dissecting microscope documented extensive predation of eggs by soil microarthropods (mites, springtails, and nematodes), especially in 1‐year‐old and unburnt soil treatments. This led to a second experiment that included the same three treatments and an additional fourth soil treatment: recently, burnt soil reheated to 100°C for 2 h (i.e., reheated soil). In this experiment, male and female pairs (n = 100) ofSericoda obsoletawere reared for 14 days in jars containing 90 g of soil corresponding to each of the four soil treatments. Reproductive output, measured as the number of larvae produced by each breeding pair, was significantly higher in the reheated soil, suggesting that heat sterilization and removal of soil‐dwelling predators improved egg survival. Our findings suggest that pyrophily in insects may have evolved as a means of increasing reproductive output in the post‐burn environment through access to heat‐sterilized ovipositing substrates. Furthermore, the abrupt disappearance ofSericodaand other pyrophilic insects following fire may be explained by suboptimal reproductive conditions as the burn is colonized by other organisms and by local emigration in favor of other recent burns on the landscape.
Single and Double Layer of Monoclinic VO2 Ink‐Based Printed and Interdigitated Supercapacitors
Authors: Alhebshi Nuha A. , Vaseem Mohammad , Minyawi Bashaer A. , AlAmri Amal M. , Shamim Atif
Published: August 2022

Screen printing has received significant attention for manufacturing energy storage devices. However, preparing high‐quality inks is still one of the main challenges. Herein, a homogenous and stable ink based on the monoclinic phase of VO2(M) microparticles has been synthesized by a simple hydrothermal process in only 6 h and through nontoxic solutions. The VO2 ink is printed on Kapton substrate in a single‐layer as well as in a double‐layer arrangement (1‐LP and 2‐LP). The printed 1‐LP VO2 electrode delivers a maximum areal capacitance of 20 mF cm−2 with a small equivalent series resistance of 4 Ω without conducting additives. The interdigitated full‐cell VO2 supercapacitor adequately employs the electric double‐layer and Faradic redox mechanisms in 1.4 V, which is the highest operating voltage reported for symmetric supercapacitors based on pure vanadium oxide electrodes in aqueous inorganic electrolytes. Moreover, the maximum areal energy of the 2‐LP supercapacitor is 0.8 μWh cm−2 at an areal power of 21.0 μW cm−2, which is larger than the 1‐LP (0.2 μWh cm−2 at 17.5 μW cm−2). This improvement is attributed to the homogenously printed double layer of the porous VO2 microparticles. Integrating such supercapacitors into thin‐film electronics could develop portable devices.
Inverted Hysteresis in n–i–p and p–i–n Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: García-Rodríguez Rodrigo , Riquelme Antonio J. , Cowley Matthew , Valadez-Villalobos Karen , Oskam Gerko , Bennett Laurence J. , Wolf Matthew J. , Contreras-Bernal Lidia , Cameron Petra J. , Walker Alison B. , Anta Juan A.
Published: August 2022

A combination of experimental studies and drift‐diffusion modeling has been used to investigate the appearance of inverted hysteresis, where the area under the J–V curve for the reverse scan is lower than in the forward scan, in perovskite solar cells. It is found that solar cells in the p–i–n configuration show inverted hysteresis at a sufficiently high scan rate, whereas n–i–p solar cells tend to have normal hysteresis. By examining the influence of the composition of charge transport layers, the perovskite film crystallinity and the preconditioning treatment, the possible causes of the presence of normal and inverted hysteresis are identified. Simulated current–voltage measurements from a coupled electron–hole–ion drift‐diffusion model that replicate the experimental hysteresis trends are presented. It is shown that during current–voltage scans, the accumulation and depletion of ionic charge at the interfaces modifies carrier transport within the perovskite layer and alters the injection and recombination of carriers at the interfaces. Additionally, it is shown that the scan rate dependence of the degree of hysteresis has a universal shape, where the crossover scan rate between normal and inverted hysteresis depends on the ion diffusion coefficient and the nature of the transport layers.
Thermoelectric Clothing for Body Heat Harvesting and Personal Cooling: Design and Fabrication of a Textile‐Integrated Flexible and Vertical Device
Authors: Elmoughni Hend M. , Atalay Ozgur , Ozlem Kadir , Menon Akanksha K.
Published: August 2022

Textiles offer the ideal platform to develop thermoelectric (TE) clothing for body heat harvesting and personal thermoregulation. Herein, textiles used in everyday clothing are adapted to fabricate a flexible and vertical TE device architecture. Selective laser patterning is used to create cavities for embedding bulk inorganic Bi2Te3legs into a knitted polyester fabric used in next‐to‐skin sportswear. The device thermal design is optimized using fabric layering to accommodate longer legs up to 0.8 mm, and a flexible 3D‐printed heat sink is integrated to maximize heat dissipation to the ambient. Using flexible copper foil to connect the legs with a low‐temperature soldering paste, a stable and ultralow device electrical resistance (<1 Ω) is achieved, which is unprecedented for wearable textile‐based TE devices. The developed prototype demonstrates power generation of up to 3.8 μW using body heat, and it provides a cooling effect of 1 °C for personal thermoregulation. Furthermore, the prototype withstands a tensile strain up to 20%, over 1000 bend cycles (at a 23 mm radius comparable with the curvature of the human wrist), and ten wash cycles, thereby demonstrating viability for TE clothing. Strategies for optimization are also presented to enable further performance enhancements using all textile‐compatible processes.
Pore Structure Modification of Pitch‐Derived Hard Carbon for Enhanced Pore Filling Sodium Storage
Authors: Zhang Xu , Chen Weilun , Peng Jiayu , Guo Yixuan , Cheng Lianghu , Chen Nian , Du Rui , Huang Yunhui , Xue Lihong , Zhang Wuxing
Published: August 2022

The pore structure of hard carbon has an important influence on its sodium storage performance. Herein, pitch‐derived hard carbons with different pore structures have been prepared via the combination of physical activation and vapor carbon coating. It reveals that the open pores favor the slope capacity while the closed pores can promote the plateau capacity, which consolidates the pore‐filling mechanism of hard carbon during the sodium storage in the plateau region. HC1400‐5 h@PP with rich closed micropores can deliver a reversible specific capacity of 299.1 mAh g−1 with initial Coulombic efficiency of 81.1%. The plateau capacity accounts for 66.6% of the total capacity. Ex situ Raman and galvanostatic intermittent titration investigations show that there exists an energy barrier for the Na deposition in the closed pores, leading to the rapid decay of plateau capacity at a high current density.
Performance Analysis and Optimization of a Novel Combined Cooling, Heating, and Power System‐Integrated Rankine Cycle and Brayton Cycle Utilizing the Liquified Natural Gas Cold Energy
Authors: Sun Wenyi , Shang Liyan , Pan Zhen , Liu Peisheng , Cui Xinshuo , Zhu Jian , Sun Xiangguang
Published: August 2022

For realizing efficient utilization of liquified natural gas cold energy and high‐temperature flue gas waste heat, herein, a combined cooling, heating, and power system using Peng–Robinson property package in Aspen HYSYS software, which includes a three‐stage parallel Rankine cycle (RC) in series with single‐stage RC and a supercritical CO2 (S‐CO2) Brayton cycle, is proposed. The system performance is evaluated using the first law of thermodynamics, second law of thermodynamics, specific energy costing method, and exergoenvironment analysis method. The influences of the pump 1 outlet pressure, turbine 3 inlet temperature, working fluid R23 mass flow rate, compressor 1 outlet pressure, CO2 liquefaction pressure, and ambient temperature on system performance are investigated. The nondominated sorting whale optimization algorithm and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal situation are applied to optimize the multiobjective system performance, and the payback periods of system before and after optimization are calculated. The analysis indicates that under the initial conditions, the thermal efficiency, exergy efficiency, total product unit cost, and sustainability index of the system are 41.68%, 48.50%, 112.293 $ GJ−1, and 1.75, respectively. After optimization, exergy efficiency increases by 2.4% and exergoeconomy decreases by 8.277 $ GJ−1.
Revolutionized learning: Education policy and digital reform in the eurozone
Authors: Shehaj Albana
Published: August 2022

Education reform has emerged as the main policy priority during the global pandemic. Given the effect of education on individual well‐being and macrolevel socioeconomic growth, countries have undertaken a variety of policy measures to offset the negative ramifications of the health outbreak on learning processes. This article examines policy conditions that shape disparities in education policy and learning outcomes across eurozone countries. It argues that sustaining robust education systems in the postpandemic era calls for policy initiatives that strengthen digital literacy and ensure equitable learning opportunities for all student demographics. Examining pre‐existing education policy and digital literacy, I argue that strengthening partnerships among education stakeholders and making efficient use of resources effectively sets eurozone countries on a path to education recovery. Policy measures that advance the digitalization of learning infrastructures have the capacity to increase human capital and narrow postpandemic socioeconomic disparities among eurozone countries.
Successful treatment with MEK‐inhibitor in a patient with NRAS‐related cutaneous skeletal hypophosphatemia syndrome
Authors: Carli Diana , Cardaropoli Simona , Tessaris Daniele , Coppo Paola , La Selva Roberta , Cesario Claudia , Lepri Francesca Romana , Pullano Verdiana , Palumbo Martina , Ramenghi Ugo , Brusco Alfredo , Medico Enzo , De Sanctis Luisa , Ferrero Giovanni Battista , Mussa Alessandro
Published: August 2022

Cutaneous skeletal hypophosphatemia syndrome (CSHS) is caused by somatic mosaic NRAS variants and characterized by melanocytic/sebaceous naevi, eye, and brain malformations, and FGF23‐mediated hypophosphatemic rickets. The MEK inhibitor Trametinib, acting on the RAS/MAPK pathway, is a candidate for CSHS therapy. A 4‐year‐old boy with seborrheic nevus, eye choristoma, multiple hamartomas, brain malformation, pleural lymphangioma and chylothorax developed severe hypophosphatemic rickets unresponsive to phosphate supplementation. The c.182A > G;p.(Gln61Arg) somatic NRAS variant found in DNA from nevus biopsy allowed diagnosing CSHS. We administered Trametinib for 15 months investigating the transcriptional effects at different time points by whole blood RNA‐seq. Treatment resulted in prompt normalization of phosphatemia and phosphaturia, catch‐up growth, chylothorax regression, improvement of bone mineral density, reduction of epidermal nevus and hamartomas. Global RNA sequencing on peripheral blood mononucleate cells showed transcriptional changes under MEK inhibition consisting in a strong sustained downregulation of signatures related to RAS/MAPK, PI3 kinase, WNT and YAP/TAZ pathways, reverting previously defined transcriptomic signatures. CSHS was effectively treated with a MEK inhibitor with almost complete recovery of rickets and partial regression of the phenotype. We identified “core” genes modulated by MEK inhibition potentially serving as surrogate markers of Trametinib action.
Drug‐related problems among hospitalized hypertensive and heart failure patients and physician acceptance of pharmacists' interventions at a teaching hospital in Ghana
Authors: Amankwa Harrison Mark , Marfo Afia F. A. , Buabeng Kwame O. , Nkansah Florence A. , Boateng Dorcas P. , Ankrah Daniel N. A.
Published: August 2022

Background

Hypertensive and heart failure patients frequently require multiple drug therapy which may be associated with drug‐related problems (DRPs).

Aim

To determine the frequency, types, and predictors of DRPs, and acceptance of pharmacists' interventions among hospitalized hypertensive and heart failure patients.

Method

It was a prospective cross‐sectional study at the internal medicine department wards of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) between January and June 2019 using a validated form (the pharmaceutical care form used by clinical pharmacists at the medical department). DRPs were classified based on the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE) Classification scheme for DRPs V8.02. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis.

Results

A total of 247 DRPs were identified in 134 patients. The mean number of DRPs was 1.84 (SD: 1.039) per patient. Most DRPs occurred during the prescribing process (40.5%; n(DRPs) = 100), and the highest prescribing problem was untreated indication (11.7%; n = 29). Other frequent DRPs were medication counseling need (25.1%; n = 62), administration errors 10.1%(n = 25), drug interaction (10.5%; n = 26), and “no” or inappropriate monitoring (10.5%; n = 26). The number of drugs received significantly predicted the number of DRPs (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 9.85; 95% CI: 2.04–47.50; p < 0.001). Clinical variables were significant predictors of number of DRPs (diabetic status: AOR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.18–0.98, p < 0.05; statin use: AOR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.14–0.81, p < 0.05; antiplatelet use: AOR: 5.95, 95% CI: 2.03–17.48, p < 0.01). Average acceptance of interventions by physicians was 71.6% (SD: 11.7). Most (70.6%; n = 48) accepted interventions were implemented by physicians (resolved).

Conclusion

DRPs frequently occur, with most problems identified in the prescribing process. Medication counseling was frequently needed. Patients' number of drugs and clinical factors predicted the occurrence of DRPs. Physicians accepted and implemented most interventions. Our findings suggest that clinical pharmacists have an important role in cardiovascular patient care, but this study should be replicated in other hospitals in Ghana to corroborate these findings.
Automated screening of glaucoma stages from retinal fundus images using BPS and LBP based GLCM features
Authors: Patel Rajneesh Kumar , Kashyap Manish
Published: August 2022

Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the retinal nerve fibers are irreversibly damaged. Early identification of glaucoma is essential because it may slow the progression of the illness. The clinical treatments and medical imaging methods that are currently available are all manual and require expert supervision. An automated glaucoma diagnosis system that is fast, accurate, and helps to reduce the load on professionals is necessary for mass screening. In our proposed work, a novel approach based on bit‐plane slicing (BPS), local binary pattern (LBP), and gray‐level co‐occurrence matrix (GLCM) is used. First, fundus images are separated into channels like red, green, and blue, and these separated channels are split into plans using BPS. Then, LBP images are obtained from selected green channel images. Second, we extract features based on GLCM from LBP images. Finally, using a least‐squares support vector machine classifier, the higher ranked features are employed to classify glaucoma stages. According to the findings of the experiments, our model outperformed state‐of‐the‐art approaches for glaucoma classification. Using 10‐fold cross‐validation, this model achieved an improved classification accuracy of 95.04%, specificity of 96.37%, and sensitivity of 93.77%. We conducted many relative experiments with deep learning and traditional machine learning‐based models to test our proposed methodology. Compared to existing glaucoma classification approaches, the new method has been shown to be more efficient.
Co‐recrystallization induced self‐catalytic Li2S cathode fully interfaced with sulfide catalyst toward a high‐performance lithium‐free sulfur battery
Authors: Li Zejian , Luo Chong , Zhang Siwei , Sun Guoming , Ma Jiabin , Wang Xinliang , He Yan‐Bing , Kang Feiyu , Yang Quan‐Hong , Lv Wei
Published: August 2022

Lithium sulfide (Li2S) is a promising cathode for a practical lithium‐sulfur battery as it can be coupled with various safe lithium‐free anodes. However, the high activation potential (>3.5 V) together with the shuttling of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) bottleneck its practical uses. We are trying to present a catalysis solution to solve both problems simultaneously, specially with twinborn heterostructure to shoot off the trouble in interfacial contact between two solids, catalyst and Li2S. As a typical example, a Co9S8/Li2S heterostructure is reported here as a novel self‐catalytic cathode through a co‐recrystallization followed by a one‐step carbothermic conversion. Co9S8 as the catalyst effectively lowers the Li2S activation potential (<2.4 V) due to fully integrated and contacted interfaces and consistently promotes the conversion of LiPSs to suppress the shuttling. The obtained freestanding cathode of Co9S8/Li2S heterostructures encapsulated in three‐dimensional graphene shows a high capacity, reaching 92.6% of Li2S theoretical capacity, high rate performance (739 mAh g−1 at 2 C), and a low capacity fading (0.039% per cycle at 1 C over 900 cycles). Even under a high Li2S loading of 12 mg cm−2 and a low E/S ratio of , 86% of theoretical capacity can be utilized.

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Developmental events in the lung of the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica): Morphological, histochemical and electron‐microscopic studies
Authors: Mostafa Heba , Hussein Manal T. , Abd‐Elnaeim Mahmoud
Published: August 2022

The lung of birds is the most complex and efficient gas exchanger in the air‐breathing vertebrates. A total number of 27 normal Japanese quail embryos during the pre‐hatching period were used. The current work aimed to investigate the histomorphological, histochemical and ultrastructural changes of the lung at different stages of development using light and electron microscopy. The results showed that the respiratory primordium was observed on the 2nd embryonic day (ED) as a ventral out‐pouching of the primitive foregut into the surrounding mesenchyme. The first evidence of the lung buds appeared on the 3rd ED. On the 4th ED, the buds increased in size. In addition, the secondary bronchi budded from the epithelial lining of the primary bronchus into the surrounding mesenchyme. On the 6th ED, the number of the secondary bronchi increased and began to give rise small tubules (parabronchi). On the 7th ED, telocytes (TCs) were seen extensively in relation to the undifferentiated mesenchymal cells (UMC) and surrounding the developing bronchi and blood vessels. On the 8th ED, the number of the small‐diameter, smooth‐walled parabronchi (PR) was considerably increased. On the 9th ED, anastomosing of the developing parabronchi was observed forming large diameter ones and the open‐type endocrine cells in the parabronchial wall were observed. On the 10th ED, deep costal impressions on the lung tissue were seen, the atrial primordia could be observed and the primordia of all air sac were developed. In conclusion; morphogenesis and differentiation of the developing lung epithelium depend on epithelial‐mesenchyme interaction.
The activity of cytokines in dental pulp
Authors: Yan Li , Lihua Liu , Sha Zhang , Hongli Wu , Wu Zhong , Guijun Tian , Kai Zhang , Yahui Luo
Published: August 2022

Background

After binding to their corresponding receptors, cytokines mediate a variety of biological activities. However, the activity of cytokines in dental pulp has not been studied at the single cell level.

Methods

The cytokines activity of dental pulp was analyzed through CytoSig with the single cell sequencing data of dental pulp.

Results

In total, 43 cytokine signalling pathways were analyzed with CytoSig. The activity of TRAIL, NO, IL3, CXCL12 and IL1A was high in the majority of cells in dental pulp. NO, TRAIL, CXCL12, BMP4 and BMP6 had higher activity in dental pulp stem cells, whereas CXCL12, BMP4, BMP6, BMP2 and IFN1 were the cytokines with high activity in pulp cells.

Conclusions

Our findings show the landscape of cytokine activity in dental pulp.
Modeling habitat use and potential distribution of kit fox in the Trans‐Pecos, Texas
Authors: Hewitt Matthew O. , Karelus Dana L. , Harveson Louis A. , Martin Russell L. , Harveson Patricia Moody
Published: August 2022

Management of a species requires knowledge of their distribution and the environmental factors that influence their use of an area. The kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) is a small fox species endemic to the threatened desert grasslands of the western United States and northern Mexico. Little information exists on the status and distribution of kit fox in Texas, USA; however, researchers have documented population declines in the closely related swift fox (Vuples velox) in the Texas Panhandle. Therefore, our objectives were to survey areas of potential kit fox habitat using remote trail cameras to determine use and detection rates for kit fox, evaluate and quantify environmental effects on habitat use, and map potential distribution of kit fox habitat throughout the Trans‐Pecos using results from the preceding occupancy analysis. We conducted camera surveys at 732 baited sites from March 2018 to March 2020, with each survey lasting 14 days on average (~10,248 camera‐days). We detected kit fox at 99 of 732 camera survey sites. We divided surveys into 3‐day sampling occasions and fit single‐season occupancy models to test for an effect of sampling occasion and season on detection and for effects of slope, elevation, shrub height, shrub canopy cover, percent litter, percent herbaceous cover, and bare ground on habitat use. Overall detection was 0.31 ± 0.001 (SE) and was influenced by sampling occasion and season, with detection being highest during November to February and earlier in the survey. Mean probability of use for sites was 0.17 ± 0.01 (range = 0.00–0.85) and was influenced by 4 environmental covariates, with the greatest probability of use in areas with gentler slopes, lower elevations, shorter shrubs, and a greater percentage bare ground. We used the most supported model to make a map of predicted habitat use across the Trans‐Pecos region and showed evidence of model fit. Our work provides detailed baseline information on the distribution and environmental relationships of kit fox in the region and can be used to assist with future research and monitoring efforts.
Molecular and immune targets in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Galambus Justine , Tsai Kenneth Y.
Published: August 2022

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common skin cancer and often confers a good prognosis. Though surgery is the gold standard of treatment, unresectable or metastatic disease can necessitate systemic therapy. Of systemic agents, there is increasing interest in the use of immunotherapies and targeted therapy. Further study into the driver mutations in cSCC has identified opportunities for targeted therapy. In this review, we discuss both current and investigational immune and molecular targets of therapy for cSCC.
Two implementations of 120 GHz transformer cross‐coupled oscillator based on cascode structure in 55 nm CMOS technology
Authors: Yang Shenghui
Published: August 2022

Two oscillators are designed and fabricated, focusing on the output power and tuning range in the terahertz band. The first one is a transformer cross‐coupled oscillator based on the cascode structure, and the second one is a self‐mixing transformer cross‐coupled oscillator. Higher output power is obtained by using transformer coupling instead of direct or capacitive coupling. Using the frequency mixing principle, a wider tuning range is obtained. Both chips are processed by 55 nm CMOS technology. The measured frequency tuning range is 115.9–129.1 and 110.8–128.0 GHz, respectively. The measured peak value of output power is 3.2 and −14.3 dBm, respectively.
Combination anti‐obesity medications to effectively treat bariatric surgery weight regain at an academic obesity center
Authors: Wong Gunther , Garner Erica M. , Takkouche Sahar , Spann Matthew D. , English Wayne J. , Albaugh Vance L. , Srivastava Gitanjali
Published: August 2022

Background

Combination anti‐obesity medications (AOMs) to treat postoperative bariatric surgery weight regain have limited data on their use in the clinical setting. Understanding the optimal treatment protocol in this cohort will maximize weight loss outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective review of bariatric surgery patients (N = 44) presenting with weight regain at a single academic multidisciplinary obesity center who were prescribed AOM(s) plus intensive lifestyle modification for 12 months.

Results

Age: 28–76 years old, 93% female, mean weight 110.2 ± 20.3 kg, BMI 39.7 ± 7.4 kg/m2, presenting 5.2 ± 1.6 years post‐bariatric surgery [27 (61.4%), 14 (31.8%), and 3 (6.8%) laparoscopic Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB), laparoscopic vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), and open RYGB, respectively], with 15.1 ± 11.1 kg mean weight gain from nadir. Mean weight loss after medical intervention at 3‐, 6‐, and 12‐month time points was 4.4 ± 4.6 kg, 7.3 ± 7.0 kg, and 10.7 ± 9.2 kg, respectively. At 12 months, individuals prescribed 3 or more AOMs lost more weight than those prescribed one (−14.5 ± 9.0 kg vs. −4.9 ± 5.7 kg, p < 0.05) irrespective of age, gender, number of comorbidities, initial weight or BMI, type of surgery, or GLP1 use. RYGB patients lost less weight overall (7.4% vs. 14.8% VSG respectively; p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Combination AOMs may be needed to achieve optimal weight loss results to treat post‐operative weight regain.
Shape memory properties of 3D‐printed self‐expandable poly(lactic acid) vascular stents with long‐chain branched structures
Authors: Jiafeng Li , Pengfei Jiang , Jianwei Yang , Tiantang Fan , Hongbo Yang , Junhui Sui , Lu Cao
Published: August 2022

The shape memory properties (SMP) of long‐chain branched poly(lactic acid) (b‐PLA) vascular stent prepared through 3D‐printed technologies are studied by comparison with PLA. SMP is expected to endow vascular stent smart properties of self‐expanding stent, which could self‐expand and support the stenosis after reaching the lesion. The shape recovery rate of the b‐PLA samples at 60°C reaches to 93%, which is much higher than that of the PLA samples with 26%. The two‐cycle deformation‐recovery test of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) shows that the shape recovery rate of b‐PLA samples at 60°C reaches 98% in the first and second cycle, suggesting the good SMP. Meanwhile, the 3D‐printed b‐PLA vascular stent could recover to initial shape within 22 s, while the PLA vascular stent could not recover to initial shape after shape deformation at 60°C. Furthermore, Two‐dimensional wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction analysis (2D‐WXRD) diffraction results confirm that both PLA and b‐PLA samples exhibit two bright diffraction spots of (200)/(100) plane, and 2D‐SAXS scattering patterns changed from uniform scattering rings to the spindle‐shaped pattern after shape deformation. After shape recovery at 60°C, the 2D‐WXRD diffraction and two‐dimensional small‐angle X‐ray scattering analysis (2D‐SAXS) scattering patterns of the PLA samples remain no change, while b‐PLA samples recover to initial patterns and exhibit diffuse diffraction rings and uniform scattering rings, respectively, long period (Lac) decrease and lamellae thickness (Lc) maintain constant. The above results verify the excellent SMP of b‐PLA vascular stent as well as self‐expandable properties, which mainly ascribing to the combined action of branched entanglement points and lamellae as stationary phase. Besides, cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8) assays, cell live/dead staining and cell nuclei/cytoskeleton staining prove the good cell compatibility of b‐PLA stent before and after SMP.
Diverse mutations and structural variations contribute to Notch signaling deregulation in paediatric T‐cell lymphoblastic lymphoma
Authors: Salmerón‐Villalobos Julia , Ramis‐Zaldivar Joan Enric , Balagué Olga , Verdú‐Amorós Jaime , Celis Verónica , Sábado Constantino , Garrido Marta , Mato Sara , Uriz Javier , Ortega M. José , Gutierrez‐Camino Angela , Sinnett Daniel , Illarregi Unai , Carron Máxime , Regueiro Alexandra , Galera Ana , Gonzalez‐Farré Blanca , Campo Elias , Garcia Noelia , Colomer Dolors , Astigarraga Itziar , Andrés Mara , Llavador Margarita , Martin‐Guerrero Idoia , Salaverria Itziar
Published: August 2022

Background

T‐cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T‐LBL) is an aggressive neoplasm closely related to T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T‐ALL). Despite their similarities, and contrary to T‐ALL, studies on paediatric T‐LBL are scarce and, therefore, its molecular landscape has not yet been fully elucidated. Thus, the aims of this study were to characterize the genetic and molecular heterogeneity of paediatric T‐LBL and to evaluate novel molecular markers differentiating this entity from T‐ALL.

Procedure

Thirty‐three paediatric T‐LBL patients were analyzed using an integrated approach, including targeted next‐generation sequencing, RNA‐sequencing transcriptome analysis and copy‐number arrays.

Results

Copy number and mutational analyses allowed the detection of recurrent homozygous deletions of 9p/CDKN2A (78%), trisomy 20 (19%) and gains of 17q24‐q25 (16%), as well as frequent mutations of NOTCH1 (62%), followed by the BCL11B (23%), WT1 (19%) and FBXW7, PHF6 and RPL10 genes (15%, respectively). This genetic profile did not differ from that described in T‐ALL in terms of mutation incidence and global genomic complexity level, but unveiled virtually exclusive 17q25 gains and trisomy 20 in T‐LBL. Additionally, we identified novel gene fusions in paediatric T‐LBL, including NOTCH1–IKZF2, RNGTT–SNAP91 and DDX3X–MLLT10, the last being the only one previously described in T‐ALL. Moreover, clinical correlations highlighted the presence of Notch pathway alterations as a factor related to favourable outcome.

Conclusions

In summary, the genomic landscape of paediatric T‐LBL is similar to that observed in T‐ALL, and Notch signaling pathway deregulation remains the cornerstone in its pathogenesis, including not only mutations but fusion genes targeting NOTCH1.
Alternative method for microenzymatic inhibition activities monitoring fromBaccharis trimeraextracts by CZE‐UV
Authors: Campos Guilherme P. , Lima Nerilson M. , Campos Juliana S. , Micke Gustavo A. , de Oliveira Marcone A. L.
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Capillary zone electrophoresis with direct UV detection (CZE‐UV) was used to investigate the hypothesis about the extract ofBaccharis trimeraenzymatic activities as an analytical approach to monitoring the phenomenon.

Objective

The aim of this work was to investigate enzymatic bioactivities of the hydroalcoholic and infusion extracts ofB. trimerathrough screening evaluation of the inhibition of the enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and α‐glycosidase (α‐GLY).

Method

An alternative approach using CZE‐UV to hydroalcoholic and infusion extracts ofB. trimeramonitoring was applied to evaluate the inhibition ability of the enzymes AChE and α‐GLY. The result of the reaction of acetylthiocholine (AThCh) with AChE was thiocholine (TCh) and acetic acid, and from the amount of TCh generated, the AChE inhibition was calculated. For the inhibition study of the two enzymes, the reactions of the extracts were optimised to be performed in situ, inside the capillary column, and the introduction of the solutions was performed through ordered sequential plug injections.

Results

Samples extracted with 70% ethanol presented 7.80% inhibition for AChE and 0.51% for α‐GLY, while samples extracted with 96% ethanol resulted in 6.89% inhibition for AChE and no inhibition activity for α‐GLY.

Conclusion

In the present work, the potentialities of CZE‐UV for the study of hydroalcoholic and infusion extracts ofB. trimerawere demonstrated. The experimental results were useful for the calculation of the percentage of the inhibition activities of the AChE and α‐GLY enzymes.
Plant phenotyping with limited annotation: Doing more with less
Authors: Nagasubramanian Koushik , Singh Asheesh , Singh Arti , Sarkar Soumik , Ganapathysubramanian Baskar
Published: August 2022

Deep learning (DL) methods have transformed the way we extract plant traits—both under laboratory as well as field conditions. Evidence suggests that “well‐trained” DL models can significantly simplify and accelerate trait extraction as well as expand the suite of extractable traits. Training a DL model typically requires the availability of copious amounts of annotated data; however, creating large‐scale annotated dataset requires nontrivial efforts, time, and resources. This limitation has become a major bottleneck in deploying DL tools in practice. Self‐supervised learning (SSL) methods give exciting solution to this problem, as these methods use unlabeled data to produce pretrained models for subsequent fine‐tuning on labeled data and have demonstrated superior transfer learning performance on down‐stream classification tasks. We investigated the application of SSL methods for plant stress classification using few labels. We select a plant stress classification problem to test the effectiveness of SSL, as it is a fundamentally challenging problem due to (a) disease classification which depends on the abnormalities in a small number of pixels, (b) high data imbalance across different classes, and (c) fewer annotated and available plant stress images than in other domains. We compared seven SSL approaches spanning four broad classes of SSL methods on soybean [Glycine maxL. (Merr.)] plant stress dataset and report that pretraining on unlabeled plant stress images significantly outperforms transfer learning methods using random initialization for plant stress classification. In summary, SSL‐based model initialization and data curation improves annotation efficiency for plant stress classification tasks and will circumvent data annotation challenges associated with DL methods.