bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Paleosol-derived paleoclimate and paleoenvironment reconstruction of the Rukwa Rift Basin, Tanzania: implications for faunal dispersal in the Miocene–Pliocene
Authors: Orr Theresa J. , Roberts Eric M. , Bird Michael I. , Mtelela Cassy , O'Connor Patrick M. , Stevens Nancy J.
Published: June 2023

The East African Rift System records a key interval in the evolution of modern African ecosystems, documenting significant floral changes and faunal dispersals in the context of environmental shifts. To date, Miocene-to-Pliocene data from eastern Africa have been derived primarily from richly fossiliferous rift basins along the far north of the Eastern Branch of the rift, with more limited windows emerging from the Malawi Rift and more recently, coastal Mozambique. Here, we present the first quantitative paleoclimate data for the Miocene–Pliocene transition from the Western Branch of the East African Rift System, based on analyses of paleosols from the Rukwa Rift Basin. Paleosols derived from the fossiliferous late Miocene–early Pliocene lower Lake Beds succession in southwestern Tanzania preserve a shallow lacustrine setting grading into a system of alluvial fans and braided rivers with abundant floodplain deposits. Paleoclimate reconstructions using bulk geochemistry and clay mineralogy reveal a highly seasonal, semiarid, mesic climate during the late Miocene, with increased moisture availability in the early Pliocene resulting in a shift to subhumid conditions. Stable-carbon-isotope composition of pedogenic carbonates document a woodland/bushland/shrubland paleoenvironment across the Miocene–Pliocene transition. Results support the presence of Pliocene subhumid to humid habitats, dominated by woody vegetation offering shade, food, and water for faunal dispersal along an inland corridor connecting northern segments of the East African Rift System with southern Africa.
Malignant A-to-I RNA editing by ADAR1 drives T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia relapse via attenuating dsRNA sensing
Authors: Pham Jessica , Isquith Jane , Rivera Maria , Zhang Haoran , Zhou Qingchem , Sasik Roman , Mark Adam , Ma Wenxue , Holm Frida , Fisch Kathleen , Kuo Dennis , Jamieson Catriona , Jiang Qingfei
Published: June 2023

Leukemia initiating cells (LICs) are regarded as the origin of leukemia relapse and therapeutic resistance. Identifying direct stemness determinants that fuel LIC self-renewal is critical for developing targeted approaches to eliminate LICs and prevent relapse. Here, we show that the RNA editing enzyme ADAR1 is a crucial stemness factor that promotes LIC self-renewal by attenuating aberrant double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) sensing. Elevated adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing is a common attribute of relapsed T-ALL regardless of molecular subtypes. Consequently, knockdown of ADAR1 severely inhibits LIC self-renewal capacity and prolongs survival in T-ALL PDX models. Mechanistically, ADAR1 directs hyper-editing of immunogenic dsRNA and retains unedited nuclear dsRNA to avoid detection by the innate immune sensor MDA5. Moreover, we uncovered that the cell intrinsic level of MDA5 dictates the dependency on ADAR1-MDA5 axis in T-ALL. Collectively, our results show that ADAR1 functions as a self-renewal factor that limits the sensing of endogenous dsRNA. Thus, targeting ADAR1 presents a safe and effective therapeutic strategy for eliminating T-ALL LICs.
Residual Energy and Expected Transmission count based routing protocol for Industrial Internet of Things
Authors: D Anitha , P Latha
Published: June 2023

Low-power and Lossy Networks (LLN) are sensors with limited energy and resources. Sensors deployed in application environment generate large amounts of data. Routing the data with high reliability is a challenging one in LLN. Routing Protocol for Low-power and Lossy Networks (RPL) is the routing protocol designed for the Internet of Things (IoT). RPL selects the route based on the objective functions - Objective Function zero (OF 0) and Minimum Rank with Hysteresis Objective Function (MRHOF). The real-time application environment Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) was considered for this proposed work. The routing protocol used in the real-time reliable environment should route the data with high reliability, so in this proposed work a new objective function Residual Energy based Expected Transmission Count (RE-ETX) is designed for the reliable environment. The objective function RE-ETX was applied to the static and mobile IIoT environment. The RE-ETX is compared with the different objective functions. The results show that the RE-ETX has improved the packet delivery ratio by 6–9% and latency was decreased by 1–3%, hence RE-ETX helps in preserving reliability of the network.
Evolutionary conservation of suicide risk genes that produce a diminished motivation phenotype corrected by clozapine, lithium and antidepressants
Authors: Ajayi Titilade , Thomas Alicia , Nikoloc Marko , Henderson Lauryn , Zaheri Alexa , Dwyer Donard S
Published: June 2023

Genome wide association studies (GWAS) and candidate gene analyses have identified genetic variants and genes that may increase the risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). Important unresolved issues surround these tentative risk variants such as the characteristics of the associated genes and how they might elicit STBs. Suicide risk genes were identified by comprehensive literature search and were characterized with respect to evolutionary conservation, participation in gene interaction networks and associated phenotypes. Evolutionary conservation was established with database searches and BLASTP queries, whereas gene-gene interactions were ascertained with GeneMANIA. We then examined whether mutations in risk-gene counterparts inC. elegansproduced a diminished motivation phenotype previously connected to suicide risk factors. From the analysis, 105 risk-gene candidates were identified and found to be: 1) highly conserved during evolution, 2) enriched for essential genes, 3) involved in significant gene-gene interactions, and 4) associated with psychiatric disorders, metabolic disturbances and asthma/allergy. Evaluation of 17 mutant strains with loss-of-function/deletion mutations in suicide risk-gene orthologs revealed that 11 mutants showed significant evidence of diminished motivation that manifested as immobility in a foraging assay. Immobility was corrected in some or all of the mutants with clozapine, lithium and tricyclic antidepressant drugs. In addition, 5-HT2 receptor and muscarinic receptor antagonists restored goal-directed behavior in most or all of the mutants. These studies increase confidence in the validity of the suicide risk genes and provide initial clues about possible mechanisms that mediate STBs.
Ceftazidime-avibactam alone or in combination with Aztreonam versus Polymyxins in the management of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae nosocomial infections (CAPRI study): a retrospective cohort study from South India
Authors: Ra Amarthya Sree , Gupta Anand , Gupta Nitin , Veturi Sadhana , L Siva Kumar Reddy , Begum Masrath , Etrouth Shravani , Challa HariPriya Reddy , Satti Santhosh Reddy , Singamsetty Adarsh , Arumilli Murthy , P Naveen Reddy , Tirlangi Praveen Kumar
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infections commonly cause hospital-acquired infections. The study aimed to compare the outcomes of CRKP infections comparing ceftazidime avibactam + aztreonam with polymyxins in a hospital setting with a high prevalence of New Delhi Metallo Beta Lactamase production.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study from January 2020 to September 2022 in critically ill consecutive adult patients with CRKP infection. The patients were followed up for a total of 30 days or mortality, whichever was later.
Results: Of a total of 106 patients included in the study, 65 patients received polymyxins and 41 patients received ceftazidime-avibactam with or without aztreonam. Fewer 30-day mortality was noted in the ceftazidime-avibactam + aztreonam group (29.2% vs 56.9%, P=0.005). The mean time to mortality in ceftazidime-avibactam +aztreonam was 23.9 + 1.5 which was significantly higher compared to polymyxins (17.9 + 1.2 days, p=0.006). On Cox regression analysis, after adjusting for the covariates, the hazard ratio for time to mortality with the use of polymyxin was 2.02 (95% CI: 1.03-3.9).
Conclusion: Ceftazidime avibactam +aztreonam is associated with favourable outcomes in patients infected with CRKP compared to polymyxins.
Excitonic Mott insulator in a Bose-Fermi-Hubbard system of moiré WS2/WSe2 heterobilayer
Authors: Gao Beini , Sarkar Supratik , Huang Tsung-Sheng , Session Deric , Mehrabad Mahmoud Jalali , Ni Ruihao , Xie Ming , Vannucci Jonathan , Mittal Sunil , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Imamoglu Atac , Zhou You , Hafezi Mohammad , Forero Daniel Suárez
Published: June 2023

Understanding the Hubbard model is crucial for investigating various quantum many-body states and its fermionic and bosonic versions have been largely realized separately. Recently, transition metal dichalcogenides heterobilayers have emerged as a promising platform for simulating the rich physics of the Hubbard model. In this work, we explore the interplay between fermionic and bosonic populations, using a $\rm{WS}_2$/$\rm{WSe}_2$ heterobilayer device that hosts this hybrid particle density. We independently tune the fermionic and bosonic populations by electronic doping and optical injection of electron-hole pairs, respectively. This enables us to form strongly interacting excitons that are manifested in a large energy gap in the photoluminescence spectrum. The incompressibility of excitons is further corroborated by measuring exciton diffusion, which remains constant upon increasing pumping intensity, as opposed to the expected behavior of a weakly interacting gas of bosons, suggesting the formation of a bosonic Mott insulator. We explain our observations using a two-band model including phase space filling. Our system provides a controllable approach to the exploration of quantum many-body effects in the generalized Bose-Fermi-Hubbard model.
Defending ChatGPT against Jailbreak Attack via Self-Reminder
Authors: Wu Fangzhao , Xie Yueqi , Yi Jingwei , Shao Jiawei , Curl Justin , Lyu Lingjuan , Chen Qifeng , Xie Xing
Published: June 2023

ChatGPT is a societally-impactful AI tool with millions of users and integration into products such as Bing. However, the emergence of Jailbreak Attacks, which can engender harmful responses by bypassing ChatGPT's ethics safeguards, significantly threatens its responsible and secure use. This paper investigates the severe, yet under-explored problems created by Jailbreaks and potential defensive techniques. We introduce a Jailbreak dataset with various types of Jailbreak prompts and malicious instructions. We draw inspiration from the psychological concept of self-reminder
and further propose a simple yet effective defense technique called System-Mode Self-Reminder. This technique encapsulates the user's query in a system prompt that reminds ChatGPT to respond responsibly. Experimental results demonstrate that Self-Reminder significantly reduces the success rate of Jailbreak Attacks, from 67.21% to 19.34%. Our work raises awareness of the threats posed by Jailbreak Attacks, while our proposed Self-Reminder technique provides a potential for efficiently and effectively improving the secure and responsible use of large language models without additional training.
Co-creating a Global Shared Research Agenda on Violence Against Women in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Corboz Julienne , Dartnall Elizabeth , Brown Chay , Fulu Emma , Gordon Sarah , Tomlinson Mark
Published: June 2023

Background Despite a large growth in evidence on violence against women (VAW) over the last 25 years, VAW persists, as do gaps in the field’s knowledge of how to prevent and respond to it. To ensure that research on VAW in low- and middle-income countries (LIMCs) is addressing the most significant gaps in knowledge, and to prioritise evidence needs to reduce VAW and better support victims/survivors, the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) and Equality Institute (EQI) led a process of developing a global shared research agenda (GSRA) on VAW in LMICs.Methods The GSRA was developed through a six-stage adaptation of the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) method, which draws on the principle of the ‘wisdom of the crowd’. These steps included: a scoping review of the literature on VAW in LMICs and development of domains; the generation of research questions within four domains by an Advisory Group; the consolidation of research questions; scoring of research questions by a Global Expert Group and the Advisory Group according to three criteria (applicability, effectiveness and equity); consultation and validation of the findings with the Advisory Group; and wide dissemination of the findings.Results The highest ranked research questions in the GSRA pertain to the domain of Intervention research, with some highly ranked questions also pertaining to the domain of Understanding VAW in its multiple forms. Questions under the other two domains, Improving existing interventions, and Methodological and measurement gaps, were not prioritised as highly by experts. There was strong consistency in top ranked research questions according to experts’ characteristics, albeit with some important differences according to experts’ gender, occupation and geographical location.Conclusions The GSRA findings suggest that currently the VAW field is shifting towards intervention research after several decades of building evidence on understanding VAW, including prevalence, drivers and impacts of violence. The findings also suggest a strong emphasis on under-served populations, and under-researched forms of VAW. Future priority setting exercises in LMICs that seek to decolonise knowledge should ensure that methodologies, and modalities of engagement, put diverse voices at the centre of engagement.Trial registration Not applicable
The Field’s mass shooting: Emergency medical services response
Authors: Hansen Peter Martin , Mikkelsen Søren , Alstrøm Henrik , Damm-Hejmdal Anders , Rehn Marius , Berlac Peter Anthony
Published: June 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Effects of folic acid, alone or in combination with other nutrients on Hcy level and cognitive function in older people: a systematic review
Authors: Gou Jiayan , Zhang Xin , He Kexin , Wang Fei , Zou Liuni
Published: June 2023

Background
Homocysteine is a high-risk factor for cognitive decline, and supplementing with B vitamins such as folic acid can lower homocysteine levels. However, current clinical research results are inconsistent, and the effects of B vitamins on homocysteine levels and cognitive function in older people are inconsistent.
Methods
Systematic searches were conducted in five databases including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), from inception to March 1, 2023. Randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of folic acid alone or in combination with other nutrients on cognitive function in patients with cognitive disorders were included. The quality of the literature was evaluated using RevMan 5.4.
Results
17 articles were reviewed, with 6 focusing on the effects of folic acid alone and 11 examining folic acid in combination with other nutrients. folic acid dosages ranged from 400 µg to 5 mg, and intervention durations varied from 4 weeks to 3 years. The study included 3,100 individuals, aged 60 to 83.2 years, with a relatively equal gender distribution (approximately 51.82%).
Conclusion
Most studies have shown that folic acid alone or in combination with other nutrients can effectively improve cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment. For patients with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, folic acid alone or in combination with other nutrients can reduce the level of homocysteine, but the improvement in cognitive function is not significant. In healthy older people, high baseline homocysteine levels (> 11.3 µmol/L) and good ω-3 fatty acid status (> 590 µmol/L) can enhance the improvement effect of B vitamins on cognitive function. This trial has been registered on PROSPERO as CRD42023408576.
Attenuation of estrogen and its receptors in the post-menopausal stage exacerbates dyslipidemia and leads to cognitive impairment
Authors: Meng Qinghai , Chao Ying , Zhang Shurui , Ding Xue , Feng Han , Zhang ChenYan , Liu Bowen , Zhu Weijie , Li Yu , Zhang Qichun , Tong Huangjin , Wu Lixing , Bian Huimin
Published: June 2023

Cognitive dysfunction increases as menopause progresses. We previously found that estrogen receptors (ERs) contribute to dyslipidemia, but the specific relationship between ERs, dyslipidemia and cognitive dysfunction remains poorly understood. In the present study, we analyzed sequencing data from female hippocampus and normal breast aspirate samples from normal and Alzheimer's disease (AD) women, and the results suggest that abnormal ERs signaling is associated with dyslipidemia and cognitive dysfunction. We replicated a mouse model of dyslipidemia and postmenopausal status in LDLR−/− mice and treated them with β-estradiol or simvastatin, and found that ovariectomy in LDLR−/− mice led to an exacerbation of dyslipidemia and increased hippocampal apoptosis and cognitive impairment, which were associated with reduced estradiol levels and ERα, ERβ and GPER expression. In vitro, a lipid overload model of SH-SY-5Y cells was established and treated with inhibitors of ERs. β-estradiol or simvastatin effectively attenuated dyslipidemia-induced neuronal apoptosis via upregulation of ERs, whereas ERα, ERβ and GPER inhibitors together abolished the protective effect of simvastatin on lipid-induced neuronal apoptosis. We conclude that decreased estrogen and its receptor function in the postmenopausal stage promote neuronal damage and cognitive impairment by exacerbating dyslipidemia, and that estrogen supplementation or lipid lowering is an effective way to ameliorate hippocampal damage and cognitive dysfunction via upregulation of ERs.
Characterization of Salmonella enterica serovar Isangi from South Africa, 2020-2021
Authors: Myataza Asive , Thomas Juno , Smith Anthony M.
Published: June 2023

Background: We describe the genotypic characteristics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants of Salmonella enterica serovar Isangi (Salmonella Isangi) clinical isolates in South Africa from 2020 through 2021.
Methods: During the years 2020 to 2021, the Centre for Enteric Diseases of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, a national reference centre in South Africa for human infections resulting from enteric bacterial pathogens, received a total of 4945 Salmonella species clinical isolates. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed using Illumina NextSeq Technology. WGS data was analyzed using Centre for Genomic Epidemiology-based tools and EnteroBase web-based platform. Genotypic relatedness and cluster analysis was investigated based on core-genome multilocus sequence typing.
Results: Fifty isolates were confirmed to be Salmonella Isangi, with most submitted from Gauteng Province (21/50, 42%). The most prevalent sequence type was ST335 (48/50, 96%), and the remaining 2 isolates were ST216. All ST335 isolates were genotypically multidrug-resistant (MDR), with resistance to fluoroquinolones, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and tetracycline; the ST216 isolates were resistant only to aminoglycosides. All ST335 isolates carried ESBL genes, the most common being blaCTX-M-15. Five clusters (consisting of isolates related within five allele differences) were detected, all being ST335.
Conclusions: Most Salmonella Isangi isolates in South Africa are MDR and ESBL-positive. Ongoing monitoring of the epidemiology and AMR profile of this serovar is important for public health and treatment guidelines.
Exploring the Influence of Circulating Endocannabinoids and Nucleus Accumbens Functional Connectivity on Anorexia Nervosa Severity
Authors: Miranda-Olivos Romina , Baenas Isabel , Steward Trevor , Granero Roser , PASTOR ANTONI , Sánchez Isabel , Juaneda Asier , Pino Amparo Del , Fernández-Formoso Jose A. , Vilarrasa Nuria , Guerrero-Pérez Fernando , Virgili Nuria , López-Urdiales Rafael , Jiménez-Murcia Susana , Torre Rafael de la , Soriano-Mas Carles , Fernandez-Aranda Fernando
Published: June 2023

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric disorder characterized by a harmful persistence of self-imposed starvation resulting in significant weight loss. Research suggests that alterations in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and circulating endocannabinoids (eCBs), such as anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), may contribute to increased severity and maladaptive behaviors in AN, warranting an examination of the interplay between central reward circuitry and eCBs. For this purpose, we assessed NAcc functional connectivity and circulating AEA and 2-AG concentrations in 18 individuals with AN and 18 healthy controls (HC) to test associations between circulating eCBs, NAcc functional connectivity, and AN severity, as defined by body mass index (BMI). Decreased connectivity was observed between the NAcc and the right insula (NAcc-insula; pFWE<.001) and the left supplementary motor area (NAcc-SMA; pFWE<.001) in the AN group compared to HC. Reduced NAcc-insula functional connectivity mediated the association between AEA concentrations and BMI in the AN group. However, in HC, NAcc-SMA functional connectivity had a mediating role between AEA concentrations and BMI. Our findings provide insights into how the interaction between eCBs and NAcc functional connectivity influences AN severity. Altered NAcc-insula and NAcc-SMA connectivity in AN may impair the integration of interoceptive, somatosensory, and motor planning information related to reward stimuli. Furthermore, the distinct associations between eCB levels and NAcc functional connectivity in AN and HC could have clinical implications for weight maintenance, with eCBs being a potential target for AN treatment.
Bridging functional and anatomical neural connectivity through cluster synchronization
Authors: Baruzzi Valentina , Lodi Matteo , Sorrentino Francesco , Storace Marco
Published: June 2023

The dynamics of the brain results from the complex interplay of several neural populations and is affected by both the individual dynamics of these areas and their connection structure. Hence, a fundamental challenge is to derive models of the brain that reproduce both structural and functional features measured experimentally. Our work combines neuroimaging data, such as dMRI, which provides information on the structure of the anatomical connectomes, and fMRI, which detects patterns of approximate synchronous activity between brain areas. We employ cluster synchronization as a tool to integrate the imaging data of a subject into a coherent model, which reconciles structural and dynamic information. By using data-driven and model-based approaches, we refine the structural connectivity matrix in agreement with experimentally observed clusters of brain areas that display coherent activity. The proposed approach leverages the assumption of homogeneous brain areas; we show the robustness of this approach when heterogeneity between the brain areas is reintroduced in the form of noise, parameter mismatches, and connection delays. As a proof of concept, we apply this approach to MRI data of a healthy adult at resting state.
Tailoring Exciton Dynamics in TMDC Heterobilayers in the Quantum Plasmonic Regime
Authors: Rahaman Mahfujur , Kim Gwangwoo , Ma Kyung-Yeol , Song Seunguk , Shin Hyeon Suk , Jariwala Deep
Published: June 2023

Control of excitons in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) and their heterostructures is fundamentally interesting for tailoring light-matter interactions and exploring their potential applications in high-efficiency optoelectronic and nonlinear photonic devices. While both intra- and interlayer excitons in TMDCs have been heavily studied, their behavior in the quantum tunneling regime, in which the TMDC or its heterostructure is optically excited and concurrently serves as a tunnel junction barrier, remains unexplored. Here, using the degree of freedom of a metallic probe in an atomic force microscope, we investigated both intralayer and interlayer excitons dynamics in TMDC heterobilayers via locally controlled junction current in a finely tuned sub-nanometer tip-sample cavity. Our tip-enhanced photoluminescence measurements reveal a significantly different exciton-quantum plasmon coupling for intralayer and interlayer excitons due to different orientation of the dipoles of the respective e-h pairs. Using a steady-state rate equation fit, we extracted field gradients, radiative and nonradiative relaxation rates for excitons in the quantum tunneling regime with and without junction current. Our results show that tip-induced radiative (nonradiative) relaxation of intralayer (interlayer) excitons becomes dominant in the quantum tunneling regime due to the Purcell effect. These findings have important implications for near-field probing of excitonic materials in the strong-coupling regime.
QTL mapping of human retina DNA methylation identifies 87 gene-epigenome interactions in age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Advani Jayshree , Mehta Puja A. , Hamel Andrew R. , Mahrotra Sudeep , Kiel Christina , Strunz Tobias , Corso-Diaz Ximena , Kwicklis Madeline , Asten Freekje van , Ratnapriya Rinki , Chew Emily Y. , Hernandez Dena G. , Montezuma Sandra R. , Ferrington Deborah A. , Weber Bernhard H. F. , Segrè Ayellet V. , Swaroop Anand
Published: June 2023

DNA methylation (DNAm) provides a crucial epigenetic mark linking genetic variations to environmental influence. We analyzed array-based DNAm profiles of 160 human retinas with co-measured RNA-seq and > 8 million genetic variants, uncovering sites of genetic regulation in cis (37,453 mQTLs and 12,505 eQTLs) and 13,747 eQTMs (DNAm loci affecting gene expression), with over one-third specific to the retina. mQTLs and eQTMs show non-random distribution and enrichment of biological processes related to synapse, mitochondria, and catabolism. Summary data-based Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses identify 87 target genes where methylation and gene-expression changes likely mediate the genotype effect on age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Integrated pathway analysis reveals epigenetic regulation of immune response and metabolism including the glutathione pathway and glycolysis. Our study thus defines key roles of genetic variations driving methylation changes, prioritizes epigenetic control of gene expression, and suggests frameworks for regulation of AMD pathology by genotype–environment interaction in retina.
A maize phytochrome-interacting factor ZmPIF3 improves salt stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings
Authors: han zan ping , Liu Haohao , Zhao Xiyong , Zhang Jun , Guo Shulei , Wang Bin , Zhao Linxi , Jin Yunqian , Guo Yiyang , Tian Lei
Published: June 2023

Soil salinization as a kind of natural stress causes soil desertification. High levels of Na+ in the soil will induce the disorder of the internal environment, slow cellular metabolism, and alter the cellular architecture, severely affecting the yield and variety of crops. Maize as a salt-susceptible crop, is always injured by salt stress. So it has a guiding significance for maize breeding to study the molecular mechanism. It has been reported that PIF3 was involved in freezing tolerance, however, the relationship between PIF3 and stress tolerance is little known. In this study, two transcription version of ZmPIF3, ZmPIF3.1 and ZmPIF3.2 was used for the analysis of phenotype, physiology, biochemistry index, and transcriptome analysis. The result showed that ZmPIF3.1 over-expressed transgenic Arabidopsis has better salt tolerance, and displayed better ability to decompose peroxide and membrane damage. Transcriptome analysis showed hormones, Ca2+ signaling, and transcription factors may be associated with salt stress response mediated by ZmPIF3.1. Summarily, this study is the first study to demonstrate that ZmPIF3 can elevate plant salt tolerance, unveiling the new functional role of phytochrome-interacting factors.
A Lagrangian perspective on the carbon and oxygen budget of an oceanic eddy
Authors: Baudena Alberto , Laxenaire Rémi , Catalano Camille , Claustre Hervé , Ioannou Artemis , Leymarie Edouard , Picheral Marc , Poteau Antoine , Speich Sabrina , Stemmann Lars , Kiko Rainer
Published: June 2023

Quantifying the ocean's ability to sequester atmospheric carbon is essential in a climate change context. Measurements of carbon exported to the mesopelagic seldom balance the carbon demand or the oxygen consumption there, suggesting the potential presence of other mechanisms of carbon export. We deployed a BGC Argo float in a cyclone in the Benguela upwelling system for five months in a quasi Lagrangian way, and estimated carbon export and respiration in the eddy via particle imagery with a UVP6. We found that the full eddy core subduction pump, a novel mechanism of particulate carbon export identified here, contributes to one third of the total exported carbon below 450 m (785±355 tons C/day). Moreover, we can balance the carbon supply, carbon demand, and the oxygen consumption if we extrapolate the observed particle size distribution (0.102-16.4 mm) down to 0.025 mm
Study on the characteristics of soil erosion on different land use slopes and its influencing factors in the Loess Hilly and Gully Region
Authors: Gao lei , Wu Ji , Yang Guang , Lu Naijing , Guo Xinyu
Published: June 2023

In order to explore the characteristics and influencing factors of soil and water loss on different land use slopes in the loess hilly and gully region, based on the monitoring data of runoff plots in the soil and water conservation monitoring station of the contract gully small watershed in Dalate Banner, Inner Mongolia from 2018 to 2022, the characteristics of slope runoff and soil loss of natural grassland, artificial grassland, crop land, shrub land, arbor forest land and bare land control group under different rainfall patterns and different slope conditions were analyzed, and the influence of various factors such as rainfall, vegetation and underlying surface on slope erosion was analyzed by path principle. The results showed that : (1) There were significant differences in the response of runoff and erosion to different rainfall types and slopes in runoff plots of different land use types. Compared with bare land, other land use types had obvious runoff and sediment reduction benefits, and the sediment reduction benefits were significantly higher than the runoff reduction benefits. And the soil and water conservation benefits are generally shown as arbor forest land > shrub land > artificial grassland > natural grassland > crop land. (2) Rainfall, vegetation, underlying surface and other influencing factors have a significant impact on slope soil erosion. Rainfall intensity is the most important rainfall index affecting slope runoff. There is a significant positive correlation between runoff and soil loss. Regulating runoff can effectively reduce soil loss. Land use type is the main controlling factor to inhibit slope soil erosion, and it can reduce the impact of various factors on slope erosion by combining with other factors. Through the study of slope erosion characteristics and its influencing factors of different land use, in order to provide a scientific basis for the comprehensive management of soil erosion and the rational allocation of soil and water conservation measures in the loess hilly and gully region.
Prognostic significance of programmed cell death-ligand 1 expression on circulating tumor cells in lung cancers: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Jin , Chen Shuang , Shi Zhigang , Li Yang , Han Lu
Published: June 2023

Background
This meta-analysis aims to investigate the correlation between programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and its prognostic significance.
Methods
The authors retrieved literature databases for eligible studies published before January 10, 2023. Hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess the correlation between PD-L1 expression on CTCs and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).
Results
This study included 10 articles involving 731 patients. The pooled results showed that PD-L1+ CTCs were significantly associated with OS (HR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.02–3.44, P = 0.04) but not with PFS (HR = 1.19, 95% CI 0.77–1.82, p = 0.43). The subgroup analysis demonstrated that PD-L1+ CTCs were associated with worse PFS (HR = 1.19, 95% CI 0.77–1.82, P = 0.03) and OS(HR = 2.05, 95% CI 1.5–2.8, P༜0.01) for patients who received back-line immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) treatment. No significant clinical significance was observed for PFS when considering CTCs enrichment and cutoff. In the immunologic enrichment group, PD-L1+ CTCs were associated with worse OS (HR = 2.48, 95% CI 1.43–4.29, P=0.001). Regarding the PD-L1 detection method and region, PD-L1+ CTCs were associated with worse PFS/OS in the IF and European groups.
Conclusions
The expression of PD-L1 on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is a promising prognostic marker for lung cancer, particularly in patients who received back line ICIs treatment.
Single cell analysis of epithelial, immune, and stromal signatures and interactions in human ovarian cancer
Authors: Chai Chaochao , Liang Langchao , Wang Wei , Zhao Wandong , Sun Chengcheng , Lin Lin , Li Hanbo , Wang Fei , Luo Yonglun
Published: June 2023

A comprehensive investigation of ovarian cancer development at the single-cell level is crucial for enhancing our understanding of the disease, as well as for the development of better diagnosis and treatments. In this study, we examined over half a million single-cell transcriptome data of 84 ovarian tumor patients across all clinical stages. Through integrative analysis, we identified heterogeneous epithelial-immune-stromal cellular compartments and their interactions in ovarian cancers. The epithelial cells displayed clinical subtype features with functional variance. Notably, we observed a significant increase in distinct T cell subtypes, including Tregs and CD8 + exhausted T cells after stage IC2. Additionally, we discovered antigen-presenting cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), with myofibroblastic CAFs (myCAFs) exhibiting enriched extracellular matrix (ECM) functionality linked to tumor progression at stage IC2. We identified the NECTIN2-TIGIT ligand-receptor pair mediating T cell communication with epithelial, fibroblast, endothelial and other cell types. These findings shed light on the cellular compartments and functional aspects of ovarian cancer, providing insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying stage IC2 and potential therapeutic strategies for the disease.
A case report of Asymptomatic hyperCKemia and literature review
Authors: luo Meng , Huang Xuerong , Wang Wenhui , He Qingjun , Zhou Chunhong , Lin Yingyu , Fan Chunxiao , Pi Jianbin
Published: June 2023

Background: Asymptomatic hyperCKemia is a disease with significant clinical heterogeneity. The European union of Neurology has determined that the creatine kinase value of Asymptomatic hyperCKemia as 1.5 times higher than the upper limit of normal value.
Case presentation: This paper reports a young woman with elevated creatine kinase found by physical examination after in-hospital examination and follow-up, the diagnosis of Asymptomatic hyperCKemia was confirmed.
Conclusion: The pathogenesis of the disease is complex and the etiology is diverse, so the author believes that it is extremely necessary to improve the ability of medical workers to identify and diagnose the disease and avoid missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis as far as possible to improve the prognosis of such patients.
Does Faster Weight Trajectory Lead to Improved Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in ELBW Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia?
Authors: Carter Emily , Edwards Erika , Jerome Maggie , Litt Jonathan , Munoz Fernando
Published: June 2023

Objective: To examine the relationship between weight trajectory and 2-year neurodevelopmental outcomes for extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants with BPD.
Study Design:Secondary analysis of infants born from 2010 to 2019. The predictor was BPD severity and the outcome was neurodevelopmental impairment, defined as any Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) III score <70 at 24 months’ corrected age. Repeated measures logistic regression was performed.
Results: There were 5,042 infants included. Faster weight trajectory was significantly associated with a decreased probability of having at least one BSID III score <70 for infants with grade 1-2 BPD (p<0.0001) and an increased probability of having at least one BSID III score <70 for infants with grade 3 BPD (p<0.009). There was no significant association between weight trajectory and BSID III score <70 for infants with grade 0 BPD.
Conclusion: The association between postnatal weight trajectory and neurodevelopmental outcome differs by BPD severity.
Structural Organization of the Retriever-CCC Endosomal Recycling Complex
Authors: Boesch Daniel , Singla Amika , Han Yan , Kramer Daniel , Liu Qi , Suzuki Kohei , Juneja Puneet , Zhao Xuefeng , Long Xin , Medlyn Michael , Billadeau Daniel , Chen Zhe , Chen Baoyu , Burstein Ezra
Published: June 2023

The recycling of membrane proteins from endosomes to the cell surface is vital for cell signaling and survival. Retriever, a trimeric complex of VPS35L, VPS26C and VPS29, together with the CCC complex comprising CCDC22, CCDC93, and COMMD proteins, plays a crucial role in this process. The precise mechanisms underlying Retriever assembly and its interaction with CCC have remained elusive. Here, we present the first high-resolution structure of Retriever determined using cryogenic electron microscopy. The structure reveals a unique assembly mechanism, distinguishing it from its remotely related paralog, Retromer. By combining AlphaFold predictions and biochemical, cellular, and proteomic analyses, we further elucidate the structural organization of the entire Retriever-CCC complex and uncover how cancer-associated mutations disrupt complex formation and impair membrane protein homeostasis. These findings provide a fundamental framework for understanding the biological and pathological implications associated with Retriever-CCC-mediated endosomal recycling.
Protection from Particulate Matter and Infection: Thermal Imaging and Deep Learning-based Fit-checking of Quasi-drug Masks
Authors: Kim Hyunjin , Kim Tong Min , Choi Sae Won , Ko Taehoon
Published: June 2023

Background
Particulate matter and infectious diseases confer serious health risks, particularly in healthcare workers who experience occupational exposure risk. Masks can provide effective protection against such risks, although their efficacy is only as good as their fit. Therefore, a fit test is performed to ensure correct fit of the mask. In this study, we aimed to develop an artificial intelligence system to quickly and easily determine correct mask-wearing in real time using thermal videos that ascertained temperature changes caused by air trapped inside the mask.
Methods
We investigated the effectiveness of deep learning-based identification of the correct way to wear a mask based on thermal videos with five types of masks, which were approved as quasi-drugs by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and four ways of wearing these masks including one proper way and three improper ways. The same conditions were repeated five times, with a total of 100 videos per participant, and 5000 videos were obtained in this study. We used a 3D Convolutional Neural Network (3DCNN) and Convolutional Long Short-Term Memory (ConvLSTM) for data analysis. Both models performed binary and multi-classification to categorize mask-wearing.
Results
3DCNN performed better than ConvLSTM by achieving higher scores in both binary and multi-classification tasks. The AUROC value for multi-classification using 3DCNN was the highest at 0.986 whereas the remaining parameters of accuracy, precision, recall, specificity, and F1-score were all better with the binary classification. All mask types showed AUROC values > 0.9, with KF-AD being the best classified.
Conclusion
This novel approach uses thermal imaging and deep learning techniques to effectively monitor correct mask-wearing and could be useful in high-risk environments, including in healthcare settings. This method can be applied to various mask types, which enables easy generalizability and advantages in public and occupational health and healthcare. Furthermore, integrating this novel technology into other screening methods can improve the safety and well-being of people, including healthcare workers, in various situations.
Vortioxetine alleviates PTSD-like behaviors by regulating ABPs through up-regulating FMRP in the hippocampus of rats exposed to SPS
Authors: Yang Shu-Ting , An Qi , Cao Chen-Feng , Kuang Jia-Qi , Li Miao , Ji Li-Li
Published: June 2023

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that may lead to a series of changes in the central nervous system, including damage to synaptic plasticity, loss of neuronal dendritic spine, increased apoptosis or inflammation. However, the pathogenesis of PTSD is still unclear and there are few efficacious pharmacological treatments for PTSD. In the present study, we found that intraperitoneal injection of vortioxetine could alleviate PTSD-like behaviors including depression-like behavior and fear memory extinction disorder of rats exposed tosingle-prolonged stress (SPS). This effect might be related to the upregulation of FMRP in the hippocampus of SPS rats. Furthermore, vortioxetine could also increase the dendritic spine density and the expression of synapse-related proteins, including PSD95 and synapsin I and Actin-binding proteins (ABPs), such as drebrin1, profilin2 and p-cofilin1 in hippocampal cell of rats exposed to SPS. The results of this study indicated that vortioxetine might alleviate PTSD-like behaviors by regulating neuronal morphology in the hippocampus of rats exposed to SPS through regulating FMRP, which might be related to the regulation of synapse-related proteins and ABPs.
The Apoptotic Effect of The Lycopodium Clavatum Extracts on MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Kucukbagriacik Yusuf , Dastouri Mohammadreza , Yilmaz Humeyra , Altuntas Evrim Gunes
Published: June 2023

Breast cancer is a significant health problem worldwide, and the search for effective treatments is critical. Side effects of cancer treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy reduce the patient's standard of living. Recently, natural compounds from plants have gained attention as potential anticancer agents due to their safety, low toxicity, and potential efficacy. Lycopodium Clavatum (LC) is an herb abundant in tropical regions and Europe and is known for its various medicinal properties. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of LC Water Extract (LC-WE) and LC Ethanol Extract (LC-EE) plant extracts on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Our results showed that LC treatment led to a dose and time-dependent cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells, indicating its potential as an anticancer agent against human breast cancer. Additionally, we observed that LC treatment activated apoptosis-related proteins, including BAX, Caspase-3, and Caspase-9. These results suggest that LC may induce apoptosis as a mechanism underlying its cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Previous studies have shown the anti-cancer potential of LC against different types of cancer. However, the anti-cancer effect of LC on human breast cancer cells has not been investigated to date. Therefore, our study provides novel insights into the potential of LC as an anti-cancer agent against breast cancer. Overall, our results highlight the potential of LC as a promising natural compound for breast cancer treatment.
Rotator cuff tears and mid-term shoulder outcomes after intramedullary nail fixation for humeral shaft fracture: a minimum 5-year follow-up study
Authors: Furuhata Ryogo , Tanji Atsushi , Nakamura Soichiro , Urabe Tadahisa
Published: June 2023

Background
Antegrade intramedullary nail fixation for humeral shaft fractures yields satisfactory union rates. However, one concern is damage to the rotator cuff during nail insertion, which may affect long-term outcomes. The effect of rotator cuff lesion on mid- and long-term shoulder outcomes remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of rotator cuff tears 5 years or more after intramedullary nailing for humeral shaft fractures, and to determine the impact of postoperative rotator cuff tears on mid-term outcomes.
Methods
We retrospectively identified 22 patients who underwent antegrade intramedullary nail fixation for traumatic humeral shaft fractures and received follow-up for at least 5 years postoperatively. We divided the patients into those without tears and those with partial or complete tears, diagnosed using ultrasonography. We compared the functional and radiological shoulder outcomes between the two groups.
Results
Of 22 patients, nine had partial or complete supraspinatus tears at a mean follow-up of 7.5 years postoperatively. The incidence of acromial spurs was significantly higher in patients with partial or complete tears than in those without tears (P = 0.002). There were no significant differences in age and gender-adjusted Constant score, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon score between the two groups.
Conclusions
Our results showed that 41% of patients developed partial or complete supraspinatus tendon tears in the mid-term. Postoperative rotator cuff tears were significantly associated with the formation of acromial spurs; however, it had no significant effect on shoulder functional outcomes.