bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pre-Pandemic Cross-Reactive Immunity against SARS-CoV-2 among Siberian Populations
Authors: Shaprova Olga N. , Shanshin Daniil V. , Kolosova Evgeniia A. , Borisevich Sophia S. , Soroka Artem A. , Merkuleva Iuliia A. , Nikitin Artem O. , Volosnikova Ekaterina A. , Ushkalenko Nikita D. , Zaykovskaya Anna V. , Pyankov Oleg V. , Elchaninova Svetlana A. , Shcherbakov Dmitry N. , Ilyicheva Tatiana N.
Published: December 2023

In December 2019, a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, was found to in Wuhan, China. Cases of infection were subsequently detected in other countries in a short period of time, resulting in the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020. Questions about the impact of herd immunity of pre-existing immune reactivity to SARS-CoV-2 on COVID-19 severity, associated with the immunity to seasonal manifestation, are still to be resolved and may be useful for understanding some processes that precede the emergence of a pandemic virus. Perhaps this will contribute to understanding some of the processes that precede the emergence of a pandemic virus. We assessed the specificity and virus-neutralizing capacity of antibodies reacting with the nucleocapsid and spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 in a set of serum samples collected in October and November 2019, before the first COVID-19 cases were documented in this region. Blood serum samples from 799 residents of several regions of Siberia, Russia, (the Altai Territory, Irkutsk, Kemerovo and Novosibirsk regions, the Republic of Altai, Buryatia, and Khakassia) were analyzed. Sera of non-infected donors were collected within a study of seasonal influenza in the Russian Federation. The sample collection sites were located near the flyways and breeding grounds of wild waterfowl. The performance of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the collected sera included the usage of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 protein antigens: full-length nucleocapsid protein (CoVN), receptor binding domain (RBD) of S-protein and infection fragment of the S protein (S5-6). There were 183 (22.9%) sera reactive to the S5-6, 270 (33.8%) sera corresponding to the full-length N protein and 128 (16.2%) sera simultaneously reactive to both these proteins. Only 5 out of 799 sera had IgG antibodies reactive to the RBD. None of the sera exhibited neutralizing activity against the nCoV/Victoria/1/2020 SARS-CoV-2 strain in Vero E6 cell culture. The data obtained in this study suggest that some of the population of the analyzed regions of Russia had cross-reactive humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 before the COVID-19 pandemic started. Moreover, among individuals from relatively isolated regions, there were significantly fewer reliably cross-reactive sera. The possible significance of these data and impact of cross-immunity to SARS-CoV-2 on the prevalence and mortality of COVID-19 needs further assessment.
Antibiotic Potentiation as a Promising Strategy to Combat Macrolide Resistance in Bacterial Pathogens
Authors: Paul Deepjyoti , Chawla Meenal , Ahrodia Taruna , Narendrakumar Lekshmi , Das Bhabatosh
Published: December 2023

Antibiotics, which hit the market with astounding impact, were once called miracle drugs, as these were considered the ultimate cure for infectious diseases in the mid-20th century. However, today, nearly all bacteria that afflict humankind have become resistant to these wonder drugs once developed to stop them, imperiling the foundation of modern medicine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a surge in macrolide use to treat secondary infections and this persistent use of macrolide antibiotics has provoked the emergence of macrolide resistance. In view of the current dearth of new antibiotics in the pipeline, it is essential to find an alternative way to combat drug resistance. Antibiotic potentiators or adjuvants are non-antibacterial active molecules that, when combined with antibiotics, increase their activity. Thus, potentiating the existing antibiotics is one of the promising approaches to tackle and minimize the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Several natural and synthetic compounds have demonstrated effectiveness in potentiating macrolide antibiotics against multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. The present review summarizes the different resistance mechanisms adapted by bacteria to resist macrolides and further emphasizes the major macrolide potentiators identified which could serve to revive the antibiotic and can be used for the reversal of macrolide resistance.
Research on the Influence of Geotextile and Elastic Cushion on the Static Performance of Ballastless Track on Long-Span Cable-Stayed Bridges
Authors: Cai Jiasheng , Chen Jinjie , Wang Jianxi , Shi Xianfeng , Wang Rui , Yang Yadi
Published: December 2023

The elastic cushion is mostly used between the layers of ballastless tracks laid on a large-span cable-stayed bridge with a main span of more than 300 m. The rubber material is easy to harden and age, the geotextile has good acid-alkali resistance and antiwear performance, and the feasibility of geotextile application on the large-span cable-stayed bridge can be explored. The coupling model of a long-span cable-stayed bridge and the ballastless track was established to analyze the longitudinal mechanical characteristics of the seamless line, the deformation of the track structure, and the separation of the track plate and base plate under different loads. The results show that the application of geotextile or elastic cushion has little effect on the longitudinal mechanical properties of seamless lines. Compared to the elastic cushion, laying the geotextile increases the longitudinal stress of the slab by 0.13 Mpa, 0.025 Mpa, and 0.06 Mpa under different types of loads. The strength calculation of the seamless track is within the safety range. Laying elastic cushion can restrain the generation of separation under vertical loads, but there is no effect laying elastic cushion under temperature loads and braking loads, and the height of separation was less than 0.4 mm. The stress and deformation of the ballastless track do not exceed the standard when applying geotextile; it is feasible to apply geotextile on ballastless tracks on a large-span cable-stayed bridge. The next step is to study the vehicle–bridge–track dynamic response when elastic cushion and geotextile are laid.
Multi-Physics and Multi-Objective Optimization for Fixing Cubic Fabry–Pérot Cavities Based on Data Learning
Authors: Zhao Hang , Meng Fanchao , Wang Zhongge , Yin Xiongfei , Meng Lingqiang , Jia Jianjun
Published: December 2023

The Fabry–Pérot (FP) cavity is the essential component of an ultra-stable laser (USL) for gravitational wave detection, which couples multiple physics fields (optical/thermal/mechanical) and requires ultra-high precision. Aiming at the deficiency of the current single physical field optimization, a multi-physics and multi-objective optimization method for fixing the cubic FP cavity based on data learning is proposed in this paper. A multi-physics coupling model for the cubic FP cavity is established and the performance is obtained via finite element analysis. The key performance indices (V, wF, wF) and key design variables (d, l, F) are determined considering the features of the FP cavity. Different data learning models (NN, RSF, KRG) are established and compared based on 49 sets of data acquired by orthogonal experiments, with the results showing that the neural network has the best performance. NSGA-II is adopted as the optimization algorithm, the Pareto optimal front is obtained, and the optimal combination of design variables is finally determined as {5,32,250}. The performance after optimization proves to be greatly improved, with the displacement under the fixing force and vibration test both decreased by more than 60%. The proposed optimization strategy can help in the design of the FP cavity, and could enlighten other optimization fields as well.
A Digitalization Algorithm Based on the Voltage Waveform of the Multifunction Vehicle Bus
Authors: Li Yangtao , Liang Haiquan , Tan Xiaodong
Published: December 2023

The MVB is a kind of widely used vehicle-level bus, which is crucial for the normal operation of trains. However, the MVB bus contains device node terminals and the topology is complex, which makes fault location difficult. The voltage waveform of the MVB physical layer can reflect the electrical characteristics and fault characteristics of a network in real time and has the value of assisting the diagnosis of MVB network faults. Based on the characteristics of the MVB physical-layer voltage waveform, this paper studies the optimal sampling rate and feature-extraction algorithm of the MVB voltage waveform and the combination of the data of the data-link layer to assign accurate timestamps to waveform data, and finally presents a design for an MVB dual-mode data-acquisition platform with multiple sampling rates/test conditions. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can accurately extract waveform feature information under the optimal sampling rate of 62.5 MHz, which makes the collection of MVB voltage waveform data more reliable and practical.
Parallel-Based Corpus Annotation for Malay Health Documents
Authors: Hafsah  , Saad Saidah , Zakaria Lailatul Qadri , Naswir Ahmad Fadhil
Published: December 2023

Named entity recognition (NER) is a crucial component of various natural language processing (NLP) applications, particularly in healthcare. It involves accurately identifying and extracting named entities such as medical terms, diseases, and drug names, and healthcare professionals are essential for tasks like clinical text analysis, electronic health record management, and medical research. However, healthcare NER faces challenges, especially in Malay, in which specialized corpora are limited, and no general corpus is available yet. To address this, the paper proposes a method for constructing an annotated corpus of Malay health documents. The researchers leverage a parallel source that contains annotated entities in English due to the limited tools available for the Malay language, and it is very language-dependent. Additional credible Malay documents are incorporated as sources to enhance the development. The targeted health entities in this research include penyakit (diseases), simptom (symptoms), and rawatan (treatments). The primary objective is to facilitate the development of NER algorithms specifically tailored to the healthcare domain in the Malay language. The methodology encompasses data collection, preprocessing, annotation of text in both English and Malay, and corpus creation. The outcome of this research is the establishment of the Malay Health Document Annotated Corpus, which serves as a valuable resource for training and evaluating NLP models in the Malay language. Future research directions may focus on developing domain-specific NER models, exploring alternative algorithms, and enhancing performance. Overall, this research aims to address the challenges of healthcare NER in the Malay language by constructing an annotated corpus and facilitating the development of tailored NER algorithms for the healthcare domain.
Heat Storage as a Way to Increase Energy Efficiency and Flexibility of NPP in Isolated Power System
Authors: Lebedev Vladimir , Deev Andrey
Published: December 2023

This paper considers a thermal accumulator using phase transition materials as a way to increase the energy efficiency and maneuverability of nuclear power plants. A low-power nuclear power plant is the object of this study. Such nuclear power plants have a great potential for widespread implementation as sources of thermal and electrical energy for facilities of mineral and raw material as well as fuel and energy complexes located in distant regions. The main principles of development of low-power nuclear power plants are revealed. So, in the development of low-power nuclear power plants, experience in the creation and operation of shipboard nuclear power installations is widely used. The problems of NPP operation in daily maneuvering modes within an isolated power system are revealed. A method for improving the energy efficiency and maneuverability of nuclear power plants is proposed, in particular, through the use of thermal accumulators with a phase change material directly in the NPP circuit. A method of assessment of the dimensions of the heat accumulator and the amount of heat accumulating material is presented. A method of assessment of the efficiency of the accumulator application scheme is presented. The thermal scheme of a promising low-power nuclear power plant with an RITM-200 reactor is compiled. A scheme for switching on a heat accumulator with a phase change material to a scheme for regenerative heating of a turbine is proposed. The heat storage material selection is made, the main elements and characteristics of such an accumulator are determined, and the parameters of the heat transfer fluid’s movement through the accumulator are determined. A mathematical model of the heat exchange in an accumulator based on the finite difference method is compiled, and the simulation results are presented. The results of the experimental verification of the model are presented. As a result of the calculation of NPPs’ thermal schemes in the standard version and the version with a heat accumulator, the power increase in the turbine plant due to the application of accumulated heat in the accumulator discharge mode is determined.
Unconventional Extraction Methods of Oleaginous Yeast Cell Pretreatment and Disruption
Authors: Fabiszewska Agata , Pakulska Anna , Zieniuk Bartłomiej , Wierzchowska Katarzyna , Jasińska Karina , Małajowicz Jolanta , Nowak Dorota
Published: December 2023

Extraction is one of the most commonly used methods for obtaining and purifying chemical compounds for commercial usage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of unconventional permeabilization and cell disruption methods on the yield of lipid extraction from cells of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. Batch cultures in a medium with molasses and waste post-frying oil were carried out. The biomass was subjected to pulsed electric field (PEF), high-pressure processing (HPP), ultrasounds (US), and several conventional processing techniques with chemical and mechanical agents (glass beads, acetone, Triton and Tween surfactants). The effectiveness of the applied methods, either on cell permeabilization or cell disruption, was investigated by analyzing the oil and total protein extraction yield and oil leaching efficiency, as well as by using microscope images. The PEF and US treatments proved to be effective permeabilization methods as a step of sample pretreatment for extraction. These unconventional physical methods could efficiently increase intracellular lipid extraction yield in solvent applications.
Generative LLMs in Organic Chemistry: Transforming Esterification Reactions into Natural Language Procedures
Authors: Vaškevičius Mantas , Kapočiūtė-Dzikienė Jurgita , Šlepikas Liudas
Published: December 2023

This paper presents a novel approach to predicting esterification procedures in organic chemistry by employing generative large language models (LLMs) to interpret and translate SMILES molecular notation into detailed procedural texts of synthesis reactions. Esterification reaction is important in producing various industrial intermediates, fragrances, and flavors. Recognizing the challenges of accurate prediction in complex chemical landscapes, we have compiled and made publicly available a curated dataset of esterification reactions to enhance research collaboration. We systematically compare machine learning algorithms, ranging from the conventional k-nearest neighbors (kNN) to advanced sequence-to-sequence transformer models, including FLAN-T5 and ChatGPT-based variants. Our analysis highlights the FLAN-T5 model as the standout performer with a BLEU score of 51.82, suggesting that the model has significant potential in enhancing reaction planning and chemical synthesis. Our findings contribute to the growing field of AI in chemistry, offering a promising direction for enhancing the efficiency of reaction planning and chemical synthesis.
Superelastic Shape Memory Alloy Honeycomb Damper
Authors: Cao Sasa , Hu Fulong , Zhang Guixin
Published: December 2023

The relative displacements between the girders and piers of isolated bridges during intense earthquakes are usually so large that traditional restrainers cannot accommodate the resulting deformation. A novel superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA) honeycomb damper (SHD) is proposed as a means to combine the large strain capacity of SMA and the geometrical nonlinear deformation of honeycomb structures. As a result, the large deformation capacity of the novel damper satisfies the requirements for bridge restrainers. The proposed device consists of a superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA) honeycomb structure, which enables a self-centering capability, along with steel plates that serve to prevent the buckling of the SMA honeycomb. An examination of the SHD was undertaken initially from theoretical perspectives. A multi-cell SHD specimen was subsequently manufactured and evaluated. Following this, numerical simulation analyses of the SHDs using a three-dimensional high-fidelity finite element model were employed to examine the experimental results. In the end, a technique for improving the SHD was suggested. The results indicate that the SHD is able to demonstrate superior self-centering capabilities and stable hysteretic responses when subjected to earthquakes.
Preparation and Performance of Ultra-Fine High Activity Composite Micronized Powder from Multi-Solid Waste
Authors: Wang Penghuai , Ming Yang , Chen Ping , Huang Dengke , Zhu Qiyang , Ren Hao , Li Xinheng
Published: December 2023

The composite micronized powder is prepared by using blast furnace slag (BFS), water-quenched manganese slag (WQMS), manganese tailing slag (MTS) and desulfurization gypsum (DG) and grinding aid (GA) through orthogonal test optimization design. The effect of the doping amount of each solid waste on the fluidity, activity at different ages and resistance to chloride ion penetration of the composite micropowder was studied systematically, and the exothermic characteristics of hydration of the composite micropowder with the optimal ratio were tested. The results showed that the amount of MTS dosing was the most significant factor among the four factors on the activity index of composite micronized powder at 7 d and 28 d. The activity index at 28 d decreased and then increased with the increase in MTS dosing; the amount of BFS dosing was the most significant factor affecting the fluidity and chloride ion permeation resistance of composite micronized powder. With an increase in BFS dosing, the fluidity ratio of composite micronized powder increased and then decreased; the electric flux of the matrix decreased, and the chloride ion permeation resistance increased. The optimal ratio of composite powder with the highest 28 d activity is 35% BFS, 30% MTS, 0.3% GA, 5% DG and 30% WQMS. The hydration rate and cumulative heat release of the slurry prepared with the optimal ratio of composite micronized powder to cement (1:1) are lower than those of pure cement slurry. The microstructure of the mortar test block prepared with a 1:1 composite of cement is more compact than that of the pure cement mortar test block, and the pores are fewer.
Efficacy and Safety Assessment of Nasal Spray Containing Sodium Hyaluronate and Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in Otolaryngological Disorders
Authors: Motta Marisa Francesca , Pulitano Giuseppe , Potenza Maria , Buriani Giampaolo , Di Maio Umberto , Amone Fabio , Nobile Vincenzo , Parisi Ortensia Ilaria
Published: December 2023

Otolaryngological disorders encompass a broad spectrum of conditions that affect the ear, nose, and throat. These conditions often lead to significant discomfort, a reduced quality of life, and the necessity for effective and well-tolerated therapeutic interventions. This article aims to provide an efficacy and safety assessment of VIARINOX®, a patented technology designed to remove mucus residue from nasal passages in both children and adults, targeting nasal congestion. The study focused on evaluating the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities and the barrier effect of the patented technology. This evaluation involved chemical assays centered on free radical inhibition and assays conducted on reconstructed respiratory epithelium inserts, where damage was induced using LPS. The results obtained indicate that, owing to the presence of sodium hyaluronate, methylsulfonylmethane, and N-acetyl cysteine, this technology could serve as a pharmacological tool for treating otolaryngological disorders and as a preventive measure against the risk of microbial contamination.
4D Models Generated with UAV Photogrammetry for Landfill Monitoring Thermal Control of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Landfills
Authors: Sedano-Cibrián Javier , de Luis-Ruiz Julio Manuel , Pérez-Álvarez Rubén , Pereda-García Raúl , Tapia-Espinoza Jonathan Daniel
Published: December 2023

The management of the increasing volume of municipal solid waste is an essential activity for the health of the environment and of the population. The organic matter of waste deposited in landfills is subject to aerobic decomposition processes, bacterial aerobic decomposition, and chemical reactions that release large amounts of heat, biogas, and leachates at high temperatures. The control of these by-products enables their recovery, utilization, and treatment for energy use, avoiding emissions to the environment. UAVs with low-cost thermal sensors are a tool that enables the representation of temperature distributions for the thermal control of landfills. This study focuses on the development of a methodology for the generation of 3D thermal models through the projection of TIR image information onto a 3D model generated from RGB images and the identification of thermal anomalies by means of photointerpretation and GIS analysis. The novel methodological approach was implemented at the Meruelo landfill for validation. At the facility, a 4D model (X,Y,Z-temperature) and a 13.8 cm/px GSD thermal orthoimage were generated with a thermal accuracy of 1.63 °C, which enabled the identification of at least five areas of high temperatures associated with possible biogas emissions, decomposing organic matter, or underground fires, which were verified by on-site measurements and photointerpretation of the RGB model, in order to take and assess specific corrective measures.
Race and Politics in Eighteenth-Century Mexico City: Architecture and Urbanism at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Authors: Burke Juan Luis
Published: December 2023

This article analyzes the urban and architectural transformations in the Villa de Guadalupe, the site where the cult of the Virgin of Guadalupe originated, in present-day Mexico City, on behalf of Creole architects, urban planners, and clerics. The article argues that members of Mexico City’s Creole elite played a critical role in fabricating a fervent cult of a dark-skinned Madonna while orchestrating dramatic changes to the site of the apparitions, which transformed it from a humble Indigenous village into the religious and spiritual heart of New Spain. The essay focuses its attention on the town’s urban and architectural changes during the eighteenth century, which is when the village of Guadalupe was transformed into a veritable “villa”, a special designation for an urban establishment in the early modern Hispanic world, which vested it with certain legal autonomy. The story of the urban and architectural transformations and innovations at this site is fascinating, given the ambition on behalf of Mexico City’s Creoles to appropriate it and its success in promoting it as the source of Mexico City’s and New Spain’s claims to exceptionality by divine designation. The Virgin Mary’s appearances to a humble young Indigenous man in an impoverished Native village near Mexico City, which became the spiritual center of New Spain, became a potent narrative wielded by the Creole elite, as they sought to assert their political claims in the face of staunch opposition from Spanish-born administrators and clergy. At the Villa de Guadalupe, as this essay reveals, Creole elites tested their political, urban planning, and architectural skills, asserting their cultural and political relevance in 18th-century Mexico City.
Germ Line/Multipotency Genes Show Differential Expression during Embryonic Development of the Annelid Enchytraeus coronatus
Authors: Kostyuchenko Roman P. , Nikanorova Daria D. , Amosov Artem V.
Published: December 2023

Germ line development and the origin of the primordial germ cells (PGCs) are very variable and may occur across a range of developmental stages and in several developmental contexts. In establishing and maintaining germ line, a conserved set of genes is involved. On the other hand, these genes are expressed in multipotent/pluripotent cells that may give rise to both somatic and germline cells. To begin elucidating mechanisms by which the germ line is specified in Enchytraeus coronatus embryos, we identified twenty germline/multipotency genes, homologs of Vasa, PL10, Piwi, Nanos, Myc, Pumilio, Tudor, Boule, and Bruno, using transcriptome analysis and gene cloning, and characterized their expression by whole-mount in situ hybridization. To answer the question of the possible origin of PGCs in this annelid, we carried out an additional description of the early embryogenesis. Our results suggest that PGCs derive from small cells originating at the first two divisions of the mesoteloblasts. PGCs form two cell clusters, undergo limited proliferation, and migrate to the developing gonadal segments. In embryos and juvenile E. coronatus, homologs of the germline/multipotency genes are differentially expressed in both germline and somatic tissue including the presumptive germ cell precursors, posterior growth zone, developing foregut, and nervous system.
Antiviral Functions of Type I and Type III Interferons in the Olfactory Epithelium
Authors: Zedan Ahmad , Winters Ashley D. , Yu Wei , Wang Shuangyan , Ren Ying , Takeshita Ashley , Gong Qizhi
Published: December 2023

The olfactory neuroepithelium (OE) is one of the few neuronal tissues where environmental pathogens can gain direct access. Despite this vulnerable arrangement, little is known about the protective mechanisms in the OE to prevent viral infection and its antiviral responses. We systematically investigated acute responses in the olfactory mucosa upon exposure to vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) via RNA-seq. VSVs were nasally inoculated into C57BL/6 mice. Olfactory mucosae were dissected for gene expression analysis at different time points after viral inoculation. Interferon functions were determined by comparing the viral load in interferon receptor knockout (Ifnar1−/− and Ifnlr1−/−) with wildtype OE. Antiviral responses were observed as early as 24 h after viral exposure in the olfactory mucosa. The rapidly upregulated transcripts observed included specific type I as well as type III interferons (Ifn) and interferon-stimulated genes. Genetic analyses demonstrated that both type I and type III IFN signaling are required for the suppression of viral replication in the olfactory mucosa. Exogenous IFN application effectively blocks viral replication in the OE. These findings reveal that the OE possesses an innate ability to suppress viral infection. Type I and type III IFNs have prominent roles in OE antiviral functions.
Virophages Found in Viromes from Lake Baikal
Authors: Potapov Sergey Anatoljevich , Belykh Olga Ivanovna
Published: December 2023

In this study, a previously little-studied group of viruses—virophages—was searched for and identified in the viromes of the ancient oligotrophic Lake Baikal. Virophages are small dsDNA viruses that parasitize giant viruses (e.g., Mimiviridae), which in turn affect unicellular eukaryotes. We analyzed eight viromes obtained from the deep-water areas of three basins of Lake Baikal and the shallow-water strait Maloye More in different seasons. The sequences of virophages were revealed in all viromes and were dominant after bacteriophages and algal viruses. Sixteen putative complete genomes of virophages were assembled, all of which contained four conserved genes encoding major capsid protein (MCP), minor capsid protein (mCP), maturation cysteine protease (PRO), and FtsK-HerA family DNA-packaging ATPase (ATPase). The MCP-based cluster analysis showed a sequence separation according to seasons, and a dependence on the geographical localization was not detected.
The Impact of Obesity on Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Kaazan Patricia , Seow Warren , Yong Shaanan , Heilbronn Leonie K. , Segal Jonathan P.
Published: December 2023

Obesity is prevalent in the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) population, particularly in newly developed countries where both IBD and obesity in the general population are on the rise. The role of obesity in the pathogenesis of IBD was entertained but results from available studies are conflicting. It does, however, appear to negatively influence disease course whilst impacting on our medical and surgical therapies. The pro-inflammatory profile of the visceral adipose tissue might play a role in the pathogenesis and course of Crohn’s Disease (CD). Interestingly, isolating the mesentery from the surgical anastomosis using a KONO-S technique significantly decreases anastomotic recurrence rate. Anti-obesity therapy is not widely used in IBD but was suggested as an adjunctive therapy in those patients. In this review, we aimed to highlight the epidemiology of obesity in IBD and to describe its influence on disease course and outcomes.
Management Strategies in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy across the Spectrum of Ventricular Involvement
Authors: Maniar Yash , Gilotra Nisha A. , Scheel Paul J.
Published: December 2023

Improved disease recognition through family screening and increased life expectancy with appropriate sudden cardiac death prevention has increased the burden of heart failure in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM). Heart failure management guidelines are well established but primarily focus on left ventricle function. A significant proportion of patients with ACM have predominant or isolated right ventricle (RV) dysfunction. Management of RV dysfunction in ACM lacks evidence but requires special considerations across the spectrum of heart failure regarding the initial diagnosis, subsequent management, monitoring for progression, and end-stage disease management. In this review, we discuss the unique aspects of heart failure management in ACM with a special focus on RV dysfunction.
Analytic Validation of Optical Genome Mapping in Hematological Malignancies
Authors: Pang Andy W. C. , Kosco Karena , Sahajpal Nikhil S. , Sridhar Arthi , Hauenstein Jen , Clifford Benjamin , Estabrook Joey , Chitsazan Alex D. , Sahoo Trilochan , Iqbal Anwar , Kolhe Ravindra , Raca Gordana , Hastie Alex R. , Chaubey Alka
Published: December 2023

Structural variations (SVs) play a key role in the pathogenicity of hematological malignancies. Standard-of-care (SOC) methods such as karyotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), which have been employed globally for the past three decades, have significant limitations in terms of resolution and the number of recurrent aberrations that can be simultaneously assessed, respectively. Next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based technologies are now widely used to detect clinically significant sequence variants but are limited in their ability to accurately detect SVs. Optical genome mapping (OGM) is an emerging technology enabling the genome-wide detection of all classes of SVs at a significantly higher resolution than karyotyping and FISH. OGM requires neither cultured cells nor amplification of DNA, addressing the limitations of culture and amplification biases. This study reports the clinical validation of OGM as a laboratory-developed test (LDT) according to stringent regulatory (CAP/CLIA) guidelines for genome-wide SV detection in different hematological malignancies. In total, 60 cases with hematological malignancies (of various subtypes), 18 controls, and 2 cancer cell lines were used for this study. Ultra-high-molecular-weight DNA was extracted from the samples, fluorescently labeled, and run on the Bionano Saphyr system. A total of 215 datasets, Inc.luding replicates, were generated, and analyzed successfully. Sample data were then analyzed using either disease-specific or pan-cancer-specific BED files to prioritize calls that are known to be diagnostically or prognostically relevant. Sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility were 100%, 100%, and 96%, respectively. Following the validation, 14 cases and 10 controls were run and analyzed using OGM at three outside laboratories showing reproducibility of 96.4%. OGM found more clinically relevant SVs compared to SOC testing due to its ability to detect all classes of SVs at higher resolution. The results of this validation study demonstrate the superiority of OGM over traditional SOC methods for the detection of SVs for the accurate diagnosis of various hematological malignancies.
Predicting Histologic Grade of Meningiomas Using a Combined Model of Radiomic and Clinical Imaging Features from Preoperative MRI
Authors: Park Jae , Quang Le , Yoon Woong , Baek Byung , Park Ilwoo , Kim Seul
Published: December 2023

Meningiomas are common primary brain tumors, and their accurate preoperative grading is crucial for treatment planning. This study aimed to evaluate the value of radiomics and clinical imaging features in predicting the histologic grade of meningiomas from preoperative MRI. We retrospectively reviewed patients with intracranial meningiomas from two hospitals. Preoperative MRIs were analyzed for tumor and edema volumes, enhancement patterns, margins, and tumor–brain interfaces. Radiomics features were extracted, and machine learning models were employed to predict meningioma grades. A total of 212 patients were included. In the training group (Hospital 1), significant differences were observed between low-grade and high-grade meningiomas in terms of tumor volume (p = 0.012), edema volume (p = 0.004), enhancement (p = 0.001), margin (p < 0.001), and tumor–brain interface (p < 0.001). Five radiomics features were selected for model development. The prediction model for radiomics features demonstrated an average validation accuracy of 0.74, while the model for clinical imaging features showed an average validation accuracy of 0.69. When applied to external test data (Hospital 2), the radiomics model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) of 0.72 and accuracy of 0.69, while the clinical imaging model achieved an AUC of 0.82 and accuracy of 0.81. An improved performance was obtained from the model constructed by combining radiomics and clinical imaging features. In the combined model, the AUC and accuracy for meningioma grading were 0.86 and 0.73, respectively. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential value of radiomics and clinical imaging features in predicting the histologic grade of meningiomas. The combination of both radiomics and clinical imaging features achieved the highest AUC among the models. Therefore, the combined model of radiomics and clinical imaging features may offer a more effective tool for predicting clinical outcomes in meningioma patients.
Risk Assessment of Psychotropic Drugs on Mitochondrial Function Using In Vitro Assays
Authors: Rosell-Hidalgo Alicia , Eakins Julie , Walker Paul , Moore Anthony L. , Ghafourian Taravat
Published: December 2023

Mitochondria are potential targets responsible for some drug- and xenobiotic-induced organ toxicities. However, molecular mechanisms of drug-induced mitochondrial toxicities are mostly unknown. Here, multiple in vitro assays were used to investigate the effects of 22 psychotropic drugs on mitochondrial function. The acute extracellular flux assay identified inhibitors of the electron transport chain (ETC), i.e., aripiprazole, phenytoin, and fluoxetine, an uncoupler (reserpine), substrate inhibitors (quetiapine, carbamazepine, buspirone, and tianeptine), and cytotoxic compounds (chlorpromazine and valproic acid) in HepG2 cells. Using permeabilized HepG2 cells revealed minimum effective concentrations of 66.3, 6730, 44.5, and 72.1 µM for the inhibition of complex-I-linked respiration for quetiapine, valproic acid, buspirone, and fluoxetine, respectively. Assessing complex-II-linked respiration in isolated rat liver mitochondria revealed haloperidol is an ETC inhibitor, chlorpromazine is an uncoupler in basal respiration and an ETC inhibitor under uncoupled respiration (IC50 = 135 µM), while olanzapine causes a mild dissipation of the membrane potential at 50 µM. This research elucidates some mechanisms of drug toxicity and provides some insight into their safety profile for clinical drug decisions.
Autologous Faecal Microbiota Transplantation to Improve Outcomes of Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Results of a Single-Centre Feasibility Study
Authors: Li Anna , Bowen Joanne M. , Ball Imogen A. , Wilson Sophie , Yong Angelina , Yeung David T. , Lee Cindy H. , Bryant Robert V. , Costello Samuel P. , Ryan Feargal J. , Wardill Hannah R.
Published: December 2023

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a curative approach for blood cancers, yet its efficacy is undermined by a range of acute and chronic complications. In light of mounting evidence to suggest that these complications are linked to a dysbiotic gut microbiome, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility of faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) delivered during the acute phase after HSCT. Of note, this trial opted for FMT prepared using the individual’s own stool (autologous FMT) to mitigate the risks of disease transmission from a donor stool. Adults (>18 years) with multiple myeloma were recruited from a single centre. The stool was collected prior to starting first line therapy. Patients who progressed to HSCT were offered FMT via 3 × retention enemas before day +5 (HSCT = day 0). The feasibility was determined by the recruitment rate, number and volume of enemas administered, and the retention time. Longitudinally collected stool samples were also collected to explore the influence of auto-FMT using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. n = 4 (2F:2M) participants received auto-FMT in 12 months. Participants received an average of 2.25 (1–3) enemas 43.67 (25–50) mL total, retained for an average of 60.78 (10–145) min. No adverse events (AEs) attributed to the FMT were identified. Although the minimum requirements were met for the volume and retention of auto-FMT, the recruitment was significantly impacted by the logistical challenges of the pretherapy stool collection. This ultimately undermined the feasibility of this trial and suggests that third party (donor) FMT should be prioritised.
SNPs-Panel Polymorphism Variations in GHRL and GHSR Genes Are Not Associated with Prostate Cancer
Authors: Merabet Nesrine , Ramoz Nicolas , Boulmaiz Amel , Bourefis Asma , Benabdelkrim Maroua , Djeffal Omar , Moyse Emmanuel , Tolle Virginie , Berredjem Hajira
Published: December 2023

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major public health problem worldwide. Recent studies have suggested that ghrelin and its receptor could be involved in the susceptibility to several cancers such as PCa, leading to their use as an important predictive way for the clinical progression and prognosis of cancer. However, conflicting results of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with ghrelin (GHRL) and its receptor (GHSR) genes were demonstrated in different studies. Thus, the present case–control study was undertaken to investigate the association of GHRL and GHSR polymorphisms with the susceptibility to sporadic PCa. A cohort of 120 PCa patients and 95 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Genotyping of six SNPs was performed: three tag SNPs in GHRL (rs696217, rs4684677, rs3491141) and three tag SNPs in the GHSR (rs2922126, rs572169, rs2948694) using TaqMan. The allele and genotype distribution, as well as haplotypes frequencies and linked disequilibrium (LD), were established. Multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) analysis was used to study gene–gene interactions between the six SNPs. Our results showed no significant association of the target polymorphisms with PCa (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, SNPs are often just markers that help identify or delimit specific genomic regions that may harbour functional variants rather than the variants causing the disease. Furthermore, we found that one GHSR rs2922126, namely the TT genotype, was significantly more frequent in PCa patients than in controls (p = 0.040). These data suggest that this genotype could be a PCa susceptibility genotype. MDR analyses revealed that the rs2922126 and rs572169 combination was the best model, with 81.08% accuracy (p = 0.0001) for predicting susceptibility to PCa. The results also showed a precision of 98.1% (p < 0.0001) and a PR-AUC of 1.00. Our findings provide new insights into the influence of GHRL and GHSR polymorphisms and significant evidence for gene–gene interactions in PCa susceptibility, and they may guide clinical decision-making to prevent overtreatment and enhance patients’ quality of life.
Serum Phosphorus and Calcium as Biomarkers of Disease Status in Acromegaly
Authors: Sawicka-Gutaj Nadia , Derwich-Rudowicz Aleksandra , Biczysko Aleksandra , Turchyn Solomiya , Ziółkowska Paulina , Ziemnicka Katarzyna , Gut Paweł , Nijakowski Kacper , Ruchała Marek
Published: December 2023

Acromegaly is a chronic disease caused by the hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH), leading to changes in the growth of visceral tissues and glucose impairment. Serum biomarkers that correlate with disease status are still unclear. This study aims to assess the potential of phosphorus and calcium as biomarkers in the clinical evaluation of patients with acromegaly and clarify their relationship with SAGIT and other common biomarkers. We retrospectively analyzed data from 306 medical records of patients with acromegaly hospitalized between 2015 and 2020. Factors such as patient biometrics, duration of disease, SAGIT score, tumor size, GH, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), calcium, phosphorus, parathormone, and vitamin D were analyzed concerning current disease status (naïve, non-remission, remission). The results showed that serum phosphorus significantly correlated with IGF-1 and SAGIT scores for patients with active acromegaly. Specifically, the best predictor for the remission of acromegaly was a phosphorus level < 3.98 mg/dL and serum calcium levels < 9.88 mg/dL. Based on logistic regression, the higher the serum phosphorus level, the lower the odds of achieving remission (an increase in one unit leads to a decrease in the chance of about 80%). In conclusion, phosphorus and calcium can be effective biochemical markers for predicting disease status in acromegaly.
Towards the Application of a Label-Free Approach for Anti-CD47/PD-L1 Bispecific Antibody Discovery
Authors: Grevtsev Artem S. , Azarian Alexandra D. , Misorin Alexey K. , Chernyshova Daria O. , Iakovlev Pavel A. , Karbyshev Mikhail S.
Published: December 2023

The engineering of bispecific antibodies that exhibit optimal affinity and functional activity presents a significant scientific challenge. To tackle this, investigators employ an assortment of protein assay techniques, such as label-free interaction methodologies, which offer rapidity and convenience for the evaluation of extensive sample sets. These assays yield intricate data pertaining to the affinity towards target antigens and Fc-receptors, instrumental in predicting cellular test outcomes. Nevertheless, the fine-tuning of affinity is of paramount importance to mitigate potential adverse effects while maintaining efficient obstruction of ligand–receptor interactions. In this research, biolayer interferometry (BLI) was utilized to probe the functional characteristics of bispecific antibodies targeting cluster of differentiation 47 (CD47) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antigens, encompassing affinity, concurrent binding to two disparate antigens, and the inhibition of ligand–receptor interactions. The findings derived from BLI were juxtaposed with data from in vitro signal regulatory protein-α (SIRP-α)/CD47 blockade reporter bioassays for two leading bispecific antibody candidates, each demonstrating distinct affinity to CD47.
Recent Advances in Nanowire-Based Wearable Physical Sensors
Authors: Gu Junlin , Shen Yunfei , Tian Shijia , Xue Zhaoguo , Meng Xianhong
Published: December 2023

Wearable electronics is a technology that closely integrates electronic devices with the human body or clothing, which can realize human–computer interaction, health monitoring, smart medical, and other functions. Wearable physical sensors are an important part of wearable electronics. They can sense various physical signals from the human body or the surrounding environment and convert them into electrical signals for processing and analysis. Nanowires (NW) have unique properties such as a high surface-to-volume ratio, high flexibility, high carrier mobility, a tunable bandgap, a large piezoresistive coefficient, and a strong light–matter interaction. They are one of the ideal candidates for the fabrication of wearable physical sensors with high sensitivity, fast response, and low power consumption. In this review, we summarize recent advances in various types of NW-based wearable physical sensors, specifically including mechanical, photoelectric, temperature, and multifunctional sensors. The discussion revolves around the structural design, sensing mechanisms, manufacture, and practical applications of these sensors, highlighting the positive role that NWs play in the sensing process. Finally, we present the conclusions with perspectives on current challenges and future opportunities in this field.
Tamm Plasmon Polariton Biosensors Based on Porous Silicon: Design, Validation and Analysis
Authors: Rong Guoguang , Sawan Mohamad
Published: December 2023

Tamm Plasmon Polariton (TPP) is a nanophotonic phenomenon that has attracted much attention due to its spatial strong field confinement, ease of mode excitation, and polarization independence. TPP has applications in sensing, storage, lasing, perfect absorber, solar cell, nonlinear optics, and many others. In this work, we demonstrate a biosensing platform based on TPP resonant mode. Both theoretical analyses based on the transfer matrix method and experimental validation through nonspecific detection of liquids of different refractive indices and specific detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (N-protein) are presented. Results show that the TPP biosensor has high sensitivity and good specificity. For N-protein detection, the sensitivity can be up to 1.5 nm/(µg/mL), and the limit of detection can reach down to 7 ng/mL with a spectrometer of 0.01 nm resolution in wavelength shift. Both nonspecific detection of R.I. liquids and specific detection of N-protein have been simulated and compared with experimental results to demonstrate consistency. This work paves the way for design, optimization, fabrication, characterization, and performance analysis of TPP based biosensors.