bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gut Bacteroides act in a microbial consortium to cause susceptibility to severe malaria
Authors: Mandal Rabindra K. , Mandal Anita , Denny Joshua E. , Namazii Ruth , John Chandy C. , Schmidt Nathan W.
Published: October 2023

Malaria is caused by Plasmodium species and remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Gut bacteria can influence the severity of malaria, but the contribution of specific bacteria to the risk of severe malaria is unknown. Here, multiomics approaches demonstrate that specific species of Bacteroides are causally linked to the risk of severe malaria. Plasmodium yoelii hyperparasitemia-resistant mice gavaged with murine-isolated Bacteroides fragilis develop P. yoelii hyperparasitemia. Moreover, Bacteroides are significantly more abundant in Ugandan children with severe malarial anemia than with asymptomatic P. falciparum infection. Human isolates of Bacteroides caccae, Bacteroides uniformis, and Bacteroides ovatus were able to cause susceptibility to severe malaria in mice. While monocolonization of germ-free mice with Bacteroides alone is insufficient to cause susceptibility to hyperparasitemia, meta-analysis across multiple studies support a main role for Bacteroides in susceptibility to severe malaria. Approaches that target gut Bacteroides present an opportunity to prevent severe malaria and associated deaths.
The parasitic nematode Strongyloides ratti exists predominantly as populations of long-lived asexual lineages
Authors: Cole Rebecca , Holroyd Nancy , Tracey Alan , Berriman Matt , Viney Mark
Published: October 2023

Nematodes are important parasites of people and animals, and in natural ecosystems they are a major ecological force. Strongyloides ratti is a common parasitic nematode of wild rats and we have investigated its population genetics using single-worm, whole-genome sequencing. We find that S. ratti populations in the UK consist of mixtures of mainly asexual lineages that are widely dispersed across a host population. These parasite lineages are likely very old and may have originated in Asia from where rats originated. Genes that underly the parasitic phase of the parasite’s life cycle are hyperdiverse compared with the rest of the genome, and this may allow the parasites to maximise their fitness in a diverse host population. These patterns of parasitic nematode population genetics have not been found before and may also apply to Strongyloides spp. that infect people, which will affect how we should approach their control.
Characterization of the horse chestnut genome reveals the evolution of aescin and aesculin biosynthesis
Authors: Sun Wei , Yin Qinggang , Wan Huihua , Gao Ranran , Xiong Chao , Xie Chong , Meng Xiangxiao , Mi Yaolei , Wang Xiaotong , Wang Caixia , Chen Weiqiang , Xie Ziyan , Xue Zheyong , Yao Hui , Sun Peng , Xie Xuehua , Hu Zhigang , Nelson David R. , Xu Zhichao , Sun Xinxiao , Chen Shilin
Published: October 2023

Horse chestnut (Aesculus chinensis) is an important medicinal tree that contains various bioactive compounds, such as aescin, barrigenol-type triterpenoid saponins (BAT), and aesculin, a glycosylated coumarin. Herein, we report a 470.02 Mb genome assembly and characterize an Aesculus-specific whole-genome duplication event, which leads to the formation and duplication of two triterpenoid biosynthesis-related gene clusters (BGCs). We also show that AcOCS6, AcCYP716A278, AcCYP716A275, and AcCSL1 genes within these two BGCs along with a seed-specific expressed AcBAHD6 are responsible for the formation of aescin. Furthermore, we identify seven Aesculus-originated coumarin glycoside biosynthetic genes and achieve the de novo synthesis of aesculin in E. coli. Collinearity analysis shows that the collinear BGC segments can be traced back to early-diverging angiosperms, and the essential gene-encoding enzymes necessary for BAT biosynthesis are recruited before the splitting of Aesculus, Acer, and Xanthoceras. These findings provide insight on the evolution of gene clusters associated with medicinal tree metabolites.
Cryo-EM structure of cyanophage P-SCSP1u offers insights into DNA gating and evolution of T7-like viruses
Authors: Cai Lanlan , Liu Hang , Zhang Wen , Xiao Shiwei , Zeng Qinglu , Dang Shangyu
Published: October 2023

Cyanophages, together with their host cyanobacteria, play important roles in marine biogeochemical cycles and control of marine food webs. The recently identified MPP-C (Marine Picocyanobacteria Podovirus clade C) cyanophages, belonging to the T7-like podoviruses, contain the smallest genomes among cyanopodoviruses and exhibit distinct infection kinetics. However, understanding of the MPP-C cyanophage infection process is hindered by the lack of high-resolution structural information. Here, we report the cryo-EM structure of the cyanophage P-SCSP1u, a representative member of the MPP-C phages, in its native form at near-atomic resolution, which reveals the assembly mechanism of the capsid and molecular interaction of the portal-tail complex. Structural comparison of the capsid proteins of P-SCSP1u and other podoviruses with known structures provides insights into the evolution of T7-like viruses. Furthermore, our study provides the near-atomic resolution structure of portal-tail complex for T7-like viruses. On the basis of previously reported structures of phage T7, we identify an additional valve and gate to explain the DNA gating mechanism for the T7-like viruses.
Endothelial discoidin domain receptor 1 senses flow to modulate YAP activation
Authors: Liu Jiayu , Zhao Chuanrong , Xiao Xue , Li Aohan , Liu Yueqi , Zhao Jianan , Fan Linwei , Liang Zhenhui , Pang Wei , Yao Weijuan , Li Wei , Zhou Jing
Published: October 2023

Mechanotransduction in endothelial cells is critical to maintain vascular homeostasis and can contribute to disease development, yet the molecules responsible for sensing flow remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) tyrosine kinase is a direct mechanosensor and is essential for connecting the force imposed by shear to the endothelial responses. We identify the flow-induced activation of endothelial DDR1 to be atherogenic. Shear force likely causes conformational changes of DDR1 ectodomain by unfolding its DS-like domain to expose the buried cysteine-287, whose exposure facilitates force-induced receptor oligomerization and phase separation. Upon shearing, DDR1 forms liquid-like biomolecular condensates and co-condenses with YWHAE, leading to nuclear translocation of YAP. Our findings establish a previously uncharacterized role of DDR1 in directly sensing flow, propose a conceptual framework for understanding upstream regulation of the YAP signaling, and offer a mechanism by which endothelial activation of DDR1 promotes atherosclerosis.
Enhanced tribological properties of diesel-based engine oil through synergistic MoS2-graphene nanohybrid additive
Authors: Nagarajan Thachnatharen , Sridewi Nanthini , Wong Weng Pin , Walvekar Rashmi , Khalid Mohammad
Published: October 2023

This research explores the potential of microwave-synthesized MoS2-graphene nanohybrid as additives to enhance the tribological properties of diesel-based engine oil. The synthesis method offers significant advantages, reducing both synthesis time and energy consumption by 90–98% compared to conventional approaches. The synthesized nanohybrids are characterized through FESEM, EDX, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy to understand their morphology and functional group interactions. These nanohybrids are incorporated into 20W40 engine oil following synthesis, and a comprehensive assessment of their properties is conducted. This evaluation covers critical parameters like viscosity index, stability, volatility, as well as tribological properties, oxidation resistance, and thermal conductivity of the oil-nanohybrid system. Results demonstrate that adding just 0.05 wt% of MoS2-graphene nanohybrid leads to a remarkable 58.82% reduction in friction coefficient and a significant 36.26% decrease in the average wear scar diameter. Additionally, oxidation resistance improves by 19.21%, while thermal conductivity increases notably by 19.83% (at 100 °C). The study demonstrates the synergistic effects of these nanohybrids in reducing friction and wear, enhancing oxidation resistance, and improving thermal conductivity. In conclusion, this research highlights the potential of microwave-synthesized MoS2-graphene nanohybrid as promising tribological additives for diesel engine oils. Their successful integration could significantly enhance the performance and durability of critical mechanical components in diesel engines, representing a significant advancement in lubrication technology.
Bacterial networks in Atlantic salmon with Piscirickettsiosis
Authors: Coca Yoandy , Godoy Marcos , Pontigo Juan Pablo , Caro Diego , Maracaja-Coutinho Vinicius , Arias-Carrasco Raúl , Rodríguez-Córdova Leonardo , de Oca Marco Montes , Sáez-Navarrete César , Burbulis Ian
Published: October 2023

An unbalanced composition of gut microbiota in fish is hypothesized to play a role in promoting bacterial infections, but the synergistic or antagonistic interactions between bacterial groups in relation to fish health are not well understood. We report that pathogenic species in the Piscirickettsia, Aeromonas, Renibacterium and Tenacibaculum genera were all detected in the digesta and gut mucosa of healthy Atlantic salmon without clinical signs of disease. Although Piscirickettsia salmonis (and other pathogens) occurred in greater frequencies of fish with clinical Salmonid Rickettsial Septicemia (SRS), the relative abundance was about the same as that observed in healthy fish. Remarkably, the SRS-positive fish presented with a generalized mid-gut dysbiosis and positive growth associations between Piscirickettsiaceae and members of other taxonomic families containing known pathogens. The reconstruction of metabolic phenotypes based on the bacterial networks detected in the gut and mucosa indicated the synthesis of Gram-negative virulence factors such as colanic acid and O-antigen were over-represented in SRS positive fish. This evidence indicates that cooperative interactions between organisms of different taxonomic families within localized bacterial networks might promote an opportunity for P. salmonis to cause clinical SRS in the farm environment.
Increased blood immune regulatory cells in severe COVID-19 with autoantibodies to type I interferons
Authors: Saheb Sharif-Askari Fatemeh , Saheb Sharif-Askari Narjes , Hafezi Shirin , Alsayed Hawra Ali Hussain , Selvakumar Balachandar , Eladham Mariam Wed Abdelaziz , Mdkhana Bushra , Bayram Ola Salam , Temsah Mohamad-Hani , Halwani Rabih
Published: October 2023

The hallmark of severe COVID-19 is an uncontrolled inflammatory response, resulting from poorly understood immunological dysfunction. While regulatory T (Treg) and B (Breg) cells, as the main elements of immune homeostasis, contribute to the control of hyperinflammation during COVID-19 infection, we hypothesized change in their levels in relation to disease severity and the presence of autoantibodies (auto-Abs) to type I IFNs. Cytometric analysis of blood of 62 COVID-19 patients with different severities revealed an increased proportion of conventional (cTreg; CD25+FoxP3+) and unconventional (uTreg; CD25-FoxP3+) Tregs, as well as the LAG3+ immune suppressive form of cTreg/uTreg, in the blood of severe COVID-19 cases compared to the milder, non-hospitalized cases. The increase in blood levels of cTreg/uTreg, but not LAG3+ cTreg/uTreg subtypes, was even higher among patients with severe COVID-19 and auto-Abs to type I IFNs. Regarding Bregs, compared to the milder, non-hospitalized cases, the proportion of IL-35+ and IL-10+ Bregs was elevated in the blood of severe COVID-19 patients, and to a higher extent in those with auto-Abs to type I IFNs. Moreover, blood levels of cTreg, LAG3+ cTreg/uTreg, and IL-35+ and IL-10+ Breg subtypes were associated with lower blood levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-17, TNFα, and IL-1β. Interestingly, patients who were treated with either tocilizumab and/or a high dose of Vitamin D had higher blood levels of these regulatory cells and better control of the proinflammatory cytokines. These observations suggest that perturbations in the levels of immunomodulatory Tregs and Bregs occur in COVID-19, especially in the presence of auto-Abs to type I IFNs.
HokUS-10 scoring system predicts the treatment outcome for sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Shiratori Souichi , Okada Kohei , Sugita Junichi , Nishida Mutsumi , Iwai Takahito , Ota Shuichi , Hashimoto Daigo , Teshima Takanori
Published: October 2023

Hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) is a severe and life-threatening complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We conducted a multi-center retrospective study to evaluate the utility of our ultrasonographic scoring system for the diagnosis of SOS (HokUS-10) in predicting SOS-related mortality (SOS-RM). We analyzed a total of 42 patients who developed SOS after HSCT. The cumulative incidences of SOS-RM, non-relapse mortality (NRM), and overall survival at day 180 after the diagnosis of SOS were 26.4%, 28.8% and 54.5%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the optimal cut-off value of HokUS-10 total score to predict SOS-RM was 8 points after the treatment of SOS. In the individual HokUS-10 score, ascites and portal vein flow-related scores (PV mean velocity and PV flow direction) after the treatment of SOS were shown as significant risk factors for SOS-RM. Our study suggested that US findings after the treatment can predict the treatment outcomes for SOS.
PFKP is a prospective prognostic, diagnostic, immunological and drug sensitivity predictor across pan-cancer
Authors: Peng Jian , Li Pingping , Li Yuan , Quan Jichuan , Yao Yanwei , Duan Junfang , Liu Xuemei , Li Hao , Yuan Dajiang , Wang Xiaoru
Published: October 2023

Phosphofructokinase, platelet (PFKP) is a rate-limiting enzyme of glycolysis that plays a decisive role in various human physio-pathological processes. PFKP has been reported to have multiple functions in different cancer types, including lung cancer and breast cancer. However, no systematic pancancer analysis of PFKP has been performed; this type of analysis could elucidate the clinical value of PFKP in terms of diagnosis, prognosis, drug sensitivity, and immunological correlation. Systematic bioinformation analysis of PFKP was performed based on several public datasets, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), Genotype-Tissue Expression Project (GTEx), and Human Protein Atlas (HPA). Prospective carcinogenesis of PFKP across cancers was estimated by expression analysis, effect on patient prognosis, diagnosis significance evaluation, and immunity regulation estimation. Then, pancancer functional enrichment of PFKP was also assessed through its effect on the signaling score and gene expression profile. Finally, upstream expression regulation of PFKP was explored by promoter DNA methylation and transcription factor (TF) prediction. Our analysis revealed that high expression of PFKP was found in most cancer types. Additionally, a high level of PFKP displayed a significant correlation with poor prognosis in patients across cancers. The diagnostic value of PFKP was performed based on its positive correlation with programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). We also found an obvious immune-regulating effect of PFKP in most cancer types. PFKP also had a strong negative correlation with several cancer drugs. Finally, ectopic expression of PFKP may depend on DNA methylation and several predicated transcription factors, including the KLF (KLF transcription factor) and Sp (Sp transcription factor) families. This pancancer analysis revealed that a high expression level of PFKP might be a useful biomarker and predictor in most cancer types. Additionally, the performance of PFKP across cancers also suggested its meaningful role in cancer immunity regulation, even in immunotherapy and drug resistance. Overall, PFKP might be explored as an auxiliary monitor for pancancer early prognosis and diagnosis.
Localization of composite prosthetic feet: manufacturing processes and production guidelines
Authors: Elgamsy Ramadan , Awad Mohammed Ibrahim , Ramadan Noha , Amer Ayman , Osama Yomna , El-hilaly Rana , Elsabbagh Ahmed
Published: October 2023

Amputation levels in Egypt and the surrounding neighborhood require a state intervention to localize the manufacturing of prosthetic feet. Amputations are mainly due to chronic diseases, accidents, and hostilities’ casualties. The prosthetic foot type is traditionally classified according to the number of axial rotational movements, and is recently classified according to the energy activeness of the foot. The localization of this industry needs a preliminary survey of the domestic technological levels with respect to the foot type. Upon the results of this survey, the energy storage response foot has appealing metrics to proceed with its manufacturing. A prototype manufacturing chain is designed and a set of these feet with a certain commercial size of 27 is manufactured. Resin impregnation technology for carbon fiber composites is followed in this work. The feet are tested according to ISO 22,675. Based on the dimensional and mechanical results, a manufacturing value chain is proposed with the prospective resin transfer molding technology. This value chain will guarantee the required localization as well as the natural growth of this value chain with all related activities like accreditation of practices as well as manpower certification.
Subcellular distribution of the rAAV genome depends on genome structure
Authors: Oh Nuri , Tarte Naresh H.
Published: October 2023

Many studies have been conducted on the transduction efficiency of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) depending on the serotype and genome structure, such as single-stranded (ss) and self-complementary (sc). To understand the variation in therapeutic efficacy, we focused on investigating subcellular distribution of viral genome depending on rAAV genome structure. It is critical to ascertain the location of the virus within the host cell after the entry because a larger amount of the viral genome placed in the nucleus facilitates viral genome replication by utilizing the host cell's system, thereby enhancing the therapeutic outcome. In this sense, tracking the location of the virus within the host cell's organelles can inform a new strategy to improve therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, we attempted to stain only the viral genome with APEX2 and DAB chemicals specifically, and the distribution of the viral genome was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Consequently, when the two types of rAAV were transduced for 6 h, scAAV2 tended to be more located in the lysosome and nucleus compared to ssAAV2.
Ganoderma lucidum methanolic extract as a potent phytoconstituent: characterization, in-vitro antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity
Authors: Mousavi Seyyed Mojtaba , Hashemi Seyyed Alireza , Gholami Ahmad , Omidifar Navid , Chiang Wei-Hung , Neralla Vijayakameswara Rao , Yousefi Khadije , Shokripour Mansoureh
Published: October 2023

Ganoderma lucidum methanolic extract (GLME) has attracted tremendous attention due to its exceptional antimicrobial and anticancer properties that can be delicately tuned by controlling the initial extraction's content and concentration. Herein, we detailed the characterization, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic performance of GLME as a potential multi-functional therapeutic agent. Accordingly, FTIR, XRD, FESEM, EDX, and HPLC analyses were employed to assess the samples, followed by disc diffusion and microdilution broth methods to test its antibacterial effects against four Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains, viz., Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. MTT assay was applied to determine the cytotoxic activity of GLME against PDL and Hek-293 normal cell lines and MCF-7 and K-562 cancer cell lines. The IC50 values of 598 µg mL-1 and 291 µg mL-1 were obtained for MCF-7 and K-562 cancer cell lines, which confirmed the stronger anticancer activity of the GLME against blood cancer cells than breast cancer cells. This is while the IC50 of normal Hek-293 cells is 751 µg mL-1, and the lowest toxicity was observed for normal PDL cells with more than 57% survival at a concentration of 3000 µg mL-1. The results showed that the antibacterial property of this product against E.coli bacteria was higher than streptomycin, so the zone of inhibition was observed as 44 ± 0.09 mm and 30 ± 0.11 mm, respectively. These data provide valuable insights into the therapeutic usage of GLME for treating breast and blood cancers. This work is motivated by research studies looking for pharmacological products to address chronic and acute diseases, where further resources and studies are required to explore such products' adverse effects and toxicity.
Bioinformatic analysis of m6A “reader” YTH family in pan-cancer as a clinical prognosis biomarker
Authors: Li Lin , Tang Chao , Ye Jianqing , Xu Da , Chu Chuanmin , Wang Lei , Zhou Qiwei , Gan Sishun , Liu Bing
Published: October 2023

The m6A methylation of mRNA has been demonstrated to interact with the “Reader”. YTH domain family is one of the readers containing five members involved in the progression of multiple tumors. The present study aimed to explore the YTH family's role in seventeen cancer types. Data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset and analyzed by Software R 3.6.3. Using different bioinformatics methods, including analyses of the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) enrichment. Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC), CIBERSORT algorithm, multivariate and lasso cox regression analysis our results reveal that, while the expression of the YTH domain family varies distinctively in different cancer types the expression of YTH family is upregulated in most cancer types, especially in liver cancer, and the liver cancer prediction model established herein includes YTHDF1 and YTHDF2. Therefore, the results of the present study have demonstrated that the YTH domain family has the potential to predict the prognosis of cancer and the sensitivity to immunotherapy.
Mercaptonicotinic acid activated thiolated chitosan (MNA-TG-chitosan) to enable peptide oral delivery by opening cell tight junctions and enhancing transepithelial transport
Authors: Pratap-Singh Anubhav , Guo Yigong , Baldelli Alberto , Singh Anika
Published: October 2023

Recent advances in peptide delivery and nanotechnology has resulted in emergence of several non-parenteral administration routes that replace subcutaneous injections associated with patient discomfort. Thiolated biopolymers are relatively new materials being explored to enhance mucoadhesivity and permeability in these efforts, yet their pH dependent reactivity remains an obstacle. This work focussed on improving the mucoadhesivity of thiolated chitosans by activating them with mercaptonicotinic acid, in a bid to create a novel thiomerized chitosan that can open cell tight junctions for application in oral delivery. The synthesized mercaptonicotinic acid activated thiolated chistoan (MNA-TG-chitosan), along with thiolated chitosan (TG-chitosan) and unmodified chitosan were then used to create insulin nanoparticles (insNPs) using spray drying encapsulation process. Use of MNA-TG-chitosan in place of chitosan resulted in reduction of particle size of insNPs from 318 to 277 nm with no significant changes in polydispersity index (~ 0.2), encapsulation efficiency (~ 99%), insulin loading content (~ 25%) and morphology. Results from in-vitro cytotoxicity on TR146, CaCo2 and HepG2 cell lines revealed no significant effects on cell viability at 50–1000 μg/mL concentration. insNPs encapsulated with the new material, MNA-TG-chitosan, resulted in a 1.5-fold and 4.4-fold higher cellular uptake by HepG2 liver cells where insulin is metabolized, approximately 40% and 600% greater insulin transport through TR146 buccal cell monolayers, and 40% and 150% greater apparent permeability than insNPs encapsulated with unmodified chitosan and TG-chitosan respectively. The higher permeation achieved on using MNA-TG chitosan was attributed to the greater opening of the cell tight junction evidenced by reduction of transepithelial electrical resistance of TR146 buccal cell monolayers. This study demonstrates MNA-TG-chitosan as a promising material for improved peptide oral delivery.
Neural mechanisms underlying interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior
Authors: Baumgartner Thomas , Guizar Rosales Emmanuel , Knoch Daria
Published: October 2023

Intergenerational sustainability is a pressing challenge, which is exacerbated by the fact that the current generation must make sacrifices today to ensure the well-being of future generations. There are large interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior. However, the neural mechanisms underlying these interindividual differences have remained unexplored. Here, we combined fMRI with a consequential intergenerational sustainability paradigm in a sample of 72 healthy students. Specifically, we analyzed task-dependent functional activity and connectivity during intergenerational sustainable decision-making, focusing on the state-like neurophysiological processes giving rise to behavioral heterogeneity in sustainability. We found that differences in neural communication within and between the mentalizing (TPJ/DMPFC) and cognitive control (ACC/DLPFC) network are related to interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior. Specifically, the stronger the functional connectivity within and between these networks during decision-making, the more individuals behaved intergenerationally sustainably. Corroborated by mediation analyses, these findings suggest that differences in the engagement of perspective-taking and self-control processes underly interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior. By answering recent calls for leveraging behavioral and neuroscience for sustainability research, we hope to contribute to interdisciplinary efforts to advance the understanding of interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainability.
Functional characterization of a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase from Schizophyllum commune that degrades non-crystalline substrates
Authors: Østby Heidi , Christensen Idd A. , Hennum Karen , Várnai Anikó , Buchinger Edith , Grandal Siri , Courtade Gaston , Hegnar Olav A. , Aachmann Finn L. , Eijsink Vincent G. H.
Published: October 2023

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are mono-copper enzymes that use O2 or H2O2 to oxidatively cleave glycosidic bonds. LPMOs are prevalent in nature, and the functional variation among these enzymes is a topic of great interest. We present the functional characterization of one of the 22 putative AA9-type LPMOs from the fungus Schizophyllum commune, ScLPMO9A. The enzyme, expressed in Escherichia coli, showed C4-oxidative cleavage of amorphous cellulose and soluble cello-oligosaccharides. Activity on xyloglucan, mixed-linkage β-glucan, and glucomannan was also observed, and product profiles differed compared to the well-studied C4-oxidizing NcLPMO9C from Neurospora crassa. While NcLPMO9C is also active on more crystalline forms of cellulose, ScLPMO9A is not. Differences between the two enzymes were also revealed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) titration studies showing that, in contrast to NcLPMO9C, ScLPMO9A has higher affinity for linear substrates compared to branched substrates. Studies of H2O2-fueled degradation of amorphous cellulose showed that ScLPMO9A catalyzes a fast and specific peroxygenase reaction that is at least two orders of magnitude faster than the apparent monooxygenase reaction. Together, these results show that ScLPMO9A is an efficient LPMO with a broad substrate range, which, rather than acting on cellulose, has evolved to act on amorphous and soluble glucans.
Feasibility of articulating laparoscopic instruments in laparoscopic gastrectomy using propensity score matching
Authors: Kang So Hyun , Hwang Duyeong , Yoo Mira , Lee Eunju , Park Young Suk , Ahn Sang-Hoon , Suh Yun-Suhk , Kim Hyung-Ho
Published: October 2023

Advancements in minimally invasive surgery has led to the development of several surgical instruments, including the ArtiSential®. This new instrument provides a greater range of motion and improved dexterity to laparoscopic procedures, making it an alternative option to traditional straight instruments, and the Da Vinci robot system. The purpose of this study is to compare the postoperative outcomes of a prospective cohort of patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy using articulating instruments with those of a historical cohort of patients who underwent the same procedure using straight instruments. The study was designed as a prospective observational cohort study matched to a retrospective historical cohort using propensity score matching. The primary outcome was the rate of early complications within 90 days of surgery. Other outcomes included the operation time, estimated blood loss, time to first flatus, time to first soft fluid diet, hospital stay, and mortality. After propensity score matching, 41 patients were enrolled in both groups. The mean age was 62.4 ± 12.3 years in the conventional group and 63.5 ± 9.6 years in the artisential group (p = 0.647). Mean operative time was significantly shorter in the artisential group compared to the conventional group (136.1 min vs. 163.9 min, p = 0.032). The time to first soft fluid diet was also significantly shorter in the artisential group (2.2 days vs. 2.8 days, p = 0.030), but there was no significant difference in the time to first flatus and overall hospital stay. The incidence of early complications was lower in the artisential group, but the difference was not significant (24.4% vs 7.3%, p = 0.070). There was no mortality in either group. The use of articulating instruments for laparoscopic gastrectomy did not increase postoperative morbidity compared to straight laparoscopic instruments. The use of articulating instruments may be associated with faster bowel recovery and less early complications.
Predictive modelling of heating and cooling degree hour indexes for residential buildings based on outdoor air temperature variability
Authors: Kajewska-Szkudlarek Joanna
Published: October 2023

Heating and cooling degree hours (HDH and CDH) are weather-based technical indexes designed to describe the need for energy requirements of buildings. Their calculation is the simplest method to estimate energy demand, providing the pattern of internal temperature variations in a building in response to weather conditions. The aim of the study is HDH and CDH prediction for Wrocław, Poland, based on outdoor air temperature using machine learning methods: artificial neural networks and support vector regression (ANN and SVR). The key issues raise in the study are: a detailed analysis of the most significant temperature lags (from 1 to 24 past hours) serving as predictors for modelling and an assessment of the impact of the database clustering on its accuracy. The best results are obtained with the clustering approach. The best predictor is the outdoor temperature observed 1 and 24 h before forecast demand (R2 = 0.981 and 0.904 for heating degree and cooling degree hours indices, respectively). Models with the highest quality are created using ANN, and the lowest with SVR. Prediction of heating/cooling degree hour indices provides building demand in advance, does not require knowledge about its characteristics, and expresses the possible impact of regional climate modifications.
Human mobility networks manifest dissimilar resilience characteristics at macroscopic, substructure, and microscopic scales
Authors: Hsu Chia-Wei , Ho Matthew Alexander , Mostafavi Ali
Published: October 2023

Human mobility networks can reveal insights into resilience phenomena, such as population response to, impacts on, and recovery from crises. The majority of human mobility network resilience characterizations, however, focus mainly on macroscopic network properties; little is known about variation in measured resilience characteristics (i.e., the extent of impact and recovery duration) across macroscopic, substructure (motif), and microscopic mobility scales. To address this gap, in this study, we examine the human mobility network in eight parishes in Louisiana (USA) impacted by the 2021 Hurricane Ida. We constructed human mobility networks using location-based data and examined three sets of measures: (1) macroscopic measures, such as network density, giant component size, and modularity; (2) substructure measures, such as motif distribution; and (3) microscopic mobility measures, such as the radius of gyration and average travel distance. To determine the extent of impact and duration of recovery, for each measure, we established the baseline values and examined the fluctuation of measures during the perturbation caused by Hurricane Ida. The results reveal the variation of impact extent and recovery duration obtained from different sets of measures at different scales. Macroscopic measures, such as giant components, tend to recover more quickly than substructure and microscopic measures. In fact, microscopic measures tend to recover more slowly than measures in other scales. These findings suggest that resilience characteristics in human mobility networks are scale-variant, and thus, a single measure at a particular scale may not be representative of the perturbation impacts and recovery duration in the network as a whole. These results spotlight the need to use measures at different scales to properly characterize resilience in human mobility networks.
Detection of insecticide resistance markers in Anopheles funestus from the Democratic Republic of the Congo using a targeted amplicon sequencing panel
Authors: Acford-Palmer Holly , Campos Monica , Bandibabone Janvier , N’Do Sévérin , Bantuzeko Chimanuka , Zawadi Bertin , Walker Thomas , Phelan Jody E. , Messenger Louisa A. , Clark Taane G. , Campino Susana
Published: October 2023

Vector control strategies have been successful in reducing the number of malaria cases and deaths globally, but the spread of insecticide resistance represents a significant threat to disease control. Insecticide resistance has been reported across Anopheles (An.) vector populations, including species within the An. funestus group. These mosquitoes are responsible for intense malaria transmission across sub-Saharan Africa, including in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a country contributing > 12% of global malaria infections and mortality events. To support the continuous efficacy of vector control strategies, it is essential to monitor insecticide resistance using molecular surveillance tools. In this study, we developed an amplicon sequencing (“Amp-seq”) approach targeting An. funestus, and using multiplex PCR, dual index barcoding, and next-generation sequencing for high throughput and low-cost applications. Using our Amp-seq approach, we screened 80 An. funestus field isolates from the DRC across a panel of nine genes with mutations linked to insecticide resistance (ace-1, CYP6P4, CYP6P9a, GSTe2, vgsc, and rdl) and mosquito speciation (cox-1, mtND5, and ITS2). Amongst the 18 non-synonymous mutations detected, was N485I, in the ace-1 gene associated with carbamate resistance. Overall, our panel represents an extendable and much-needed method for the molecular surveillance of insecticide resistance in An. funestus populations.
Helical model of compression and thermal expansion
Authors: Zięba Sylwia , Rusek Michalina , Katrusiak Andrzej , Gzella Andrzej , Dubis Alina T. , Łapiński Andrzej
Published: October 2023

A negative linear temperature expansion and a negative linear compressibility were observed for imidazolium benzoate salt. Its strongly anisotropic strain induced by the temperature and pressure changes has been explained by the mechanism of H-bonded helices deformed in the structure. X-ray diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy were used to analyze interactions in the crystal. The Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAiM) approach was applied to analyze the hydrogen bonds and other interactions. In the salt under study, the interactions within the helix are substantially higher in energy than between helices. With decreasing temperature and increasing pressure, the value of the helix pitch increases while the value of the semi-major axis decreases, which results in the negative linear expansion and negative linear compression, respectively.
Psoriasis severity classification based on adaptive multi-scale features for multi-severity disease
Authors: Moon Cho-I. , Lee Jiwon , Baek Yoo Sang , Lee Onesok
Published: October 2023

Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes lesions of various sizes across the body and can persist for years with cyclic deterioration and improvement. During treatment, and a multiple-severity disease, with irregular severity within the observation area may be found. The current psoriasis evaluation is based on the subjective evaluation criteria of the clinician using the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI). We proposed a novel psoriasis evaluation method that detects representative regions as evaluation criteria, and extracts severity features to improve the evaluation performance of various types of psoriasis, including multiple-severity diseases. We generated multiple-severity disease images using CutMix and proposed a hierarchical multi-scale deformable attention module (MS-DAM) that can adaptively detect representative regions of irregular and complex patterns in multiple-severity disease analyses. EfficientNet B1 with MS-DAM exhibited the best classification performance with an F1-score of 0.93. Compared with the performance of the six existing self-attention methods, the proposed MS-DAM showed more than 5% higher accuracy than that of multiscale channel attention module (MS-CAM). Using the gradient-weighted activation mapping method, we confirmed that the proposed method works at par with human visual perception. We performed a more objective, effective, and accurate analysis of psoriasis severity using the proposed method.
Nonvitamin K oral anticoagulants with proton pump inhibitor cotherapy ameliorated the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding
Authors: Chaiyana Parata , Techathuvanan Karjpong , Sethasine Supatsri
Published: October 2023

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can reduce the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in patients who are taking oral anticoagulants. This study aimed to identify the association between NOACs with PPI cotherapy and UGIB. This retrospective cohort analysis included patients over the age of 18 years who were using NOACs between 2013 and 2020. NOAC categories, concomitant medications, endoscopic findings, the HAS-BLED score and the Charlson Comorbidity Index score were recorded. Using Poisson regression models, the relationship between UGIB events and risk factors was analyzed. Throughout a mean follow-up of 29.5 months, 14 (5.1%) individuals experienced UGIB. The incidence of UGIB was greater in patients receiving NOACs without PPIs (2.7 [1.26–5.60] per 1000) than in those receiving NOACs with PPIs (1.3 [0.61–2.67] per 1000). Patients receiving NOACs with PPIs had a 79.2% lower incidence of UGIB than patients receiving NOAC monotherapy (RR 0.208, 95% CI 0.061–0.706; p = 0.012). Female sex and the HAS-BLED score were associated with UGIB (RR 5.043; 95% CI 1.096–23.20; p = 0.038; RR 2.024; 95% CI 1.095–3.743; p = 0.024, respectively). Patients receiving NOAC and PPI cotherapy had a lower incidence of UGIB than those receiving NOACs alone, and female sex was a risk factor for UGIB in NOAC-treated patients.
Effect of driving characteristics and ambient temperature on the particle emissions during engine restart of spark ignition hybrid electric vehicle
Authors: Choi Yonghyun , Hwang Joonsik , Park Sungwook
Published: October 2023

In this study, we analyzed particle emission characteristics in the engine restart (ER) phase of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) based on driving characteristics and ambient temperature. The ambient temperature was set at intervals of 10 °C from − 10 °C to 20 °C. ES-582.1, PPS-M, EEPS, and temperature sensors were installed to acquire hybrid control unit (HCU), particle number (PN), PN size distribution, and exhaust temperature data. The on board test route was conducted in the South Korean real driving emissions (RDE) certification route, consisting of urban, rural, and motorway phases. The test HEV was controlled by dividing the engine operation during driving into ER and normal phases. Within 5 s immediately after ER, it emitted PN equivalent to 90% of the total test emissions. The count of ER was higher in urban phases compared to rural and motorway phases. As the ambient temperature decreased, PN emissions increased regardless of the driving mode, but the ER PN percent decreased. Immediately after ER, PN emissions increased rapidly, peaked at around 2–3 s, and then decreased thereafter. The average engine-off time before ER was the longest in the urban phase, and the average ER exhaust temperature was the highest in the motorway phase. The size fraction of large particles increased as the ambient temperature decreased.
Design of experiment-oriented development of solvent-free mixed micellar chromatographic method for concomitant determination of metronidazole and ciprofloxacin hydrochloride
Authors: Hammad Sherin F. , Habib Ahmed A. , Kamal Amira H. , Megahed Safa M.
Published: October 2023

A green, fast and robust solvent-free chromatographic method has been developed for concomitant analysis of ciprofloxacin HCl and metronidazole in bulk powder as well as in dosage form using levofloxacin as internal standard (I.S.). Two different designs including fractional factorial (FFD) and Box–Behnken (BBD) designs were implemented for screening and optimization steps, respectively. The optimum chromatographic separation was accomplished using mobile phase composed of 0.13 M sodium dodecyl sulfate and 0.02 M Birij-35 solution adjusted to pH 2.5 using phosphoric acid at a flow rate of 1.3 mL/min and column oven temperature of 40 °C. Chromatographic analysis was performed on X-Bridge (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column with UV detection at 280 nm. A linear response was acquired over the range of 0.4–50 μg/mL for both drugs. The developed method was applied for quantitation of cited drugs in commercially available tablet with mean percent recovery ± SD of 99.45 ± 0.72 and 100.13 ± 0.81 for metronidazole and ciprofloxacin respectively. The method was proven to be green as evaluated by three greenness assessment tools. The run time was 8 min, thus saving time and reagent.
On the preconditioning of the primal form of TFOV-based image deblurring model
Authors: Kim Junseok , Ahmad Shahabz
Published: October 2023

To address the staircasing problem in deblurred images generated by a simple total variation (TV) based model, one approach is to use the total fractional-order variation (TFOV) image deblurring model. However, the discretization of the Euler–Lagrange equations for the TFOV-based model results in a nonlinear ill-conditioned system, which adversely influences the performance of computational methods like Krylov subspace algorithms (e.g., Generalized Minimal Residual, Conjugate Gradient). To address this challenge, three novel preconditioned matrices are proposed to improve the conditioning of the primal model when using the conjugate gradient method. These matrices are designed based on circulant approximations of the matrix associated with blurring kernel. Experimental evaluations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed preconditioned matrices in enhancing the convergence and accuracy of the conjugate gradient method for solving the primal form of the TFOV-based image deblurring model. The results highlight the importance of appropriate preconditioning strategies in achieving robust and high-quality image deblurring using the TFOV approach.
The utility of automatic segmentation of kidney MRI in chronic kidney disease using a 3D convolutional neural network
Authors: Inoue Kaiji , Hara Yuki , Nagawa Keita , Koyama Masahiro , Shimizu Hirokazu , Matsuura Koichiro , Takahashi Masao , Osawa Iichiro , Inoue Tsutomu , Okada Hirokazu , Ishikawa Masahiro , Kobayashi Naoki , Kozawa Eito
Published: October 2023

We developed a 3D convolutional neural network (CNN)-based automatic kidney segmentation method for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) using MRI Dixon-based T1-weighted in-phase (IP)/opposed-phase (OP)/water-only (WO) images. The dataset comprised 100 participants with renal dysfunction (RD; eGFR < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2) and 70 without (non-RD; eGFR ≥ 45 mL/min/1.73 m2). The model was applied to the right, left, and both kidneys; it was first evaluated on the non-RD group data and subsequently on the combined data of the RD and non-RD groups. For bilateral kidney segmentation of the non-RD group, the best performance was obtained when using IP image, with a Dice score of 0.902 ± 0.034, average surface distance of 1.46 ± 0.75 mm, and a difference of − 27 ± 21 mL between ground-truth and automatically computed volume. Slightly worse results were obtained for the combined data of the RD and non-RD groups and for unilateral kidney segmentation, particularly when segmenting the right kidney from the OP images. Our 3D CNN-assisted automatic segmentation tools can be utilized in future studies on total kidney volume measurements and various image analyses of a large number of patients with CKD.
Development and validation of a prediction tool for intraoperative blood transfusion in brain tumor resection surgery: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Xiao Shugen , Jiang Fei , Chen Yongmei , Gong Xingrui
Published: October 2023

Early identification of a patient with a high risk of blood transfusion during brain tumor resection surgery is difficult but critical for implementing preoperative blood-saving strategies. This study aims to develop and validate a machine learning prediction tool for intraoperative blood transfusion in brain tumor resection surgery. A total of 541 patients who underwent brain tumor resection surgery in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively enrolled in this study. We incorporated demographics, preoperative comorbidities, and laboratory risk factors. Features were selected using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). Eight machine learning algorithms were benchmarked to identify the best model to predict intraoperative blood transfusion. The prediction tool was established based on the best algorithm and evaluated with discriminative ability. The data were randomly split into training and test groups at a ratio of 7:3. LASSO identified seven preoperative relevant factors in the training group: hemoglobin, diameter, prothrombin time, white blood cell count (WBC), age, physical status of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, and heart function. Logistic regression, linear discriminant analysis, supporter vector machine, and ranger all performed better in the eight machine learning algorithms with classification errors of 0.185, 0.193, 0.199, and 0.196, respectively. A nomogram was then established, and the model showed a better discrimination ability [0.817, 95% CI (0.739, 0.895)] than hemoglobin [0.663, 95% CI (0.557, 0.770)] alone in the test group (P = 0.000). Hemoglobin, diameter, prothrombin time, WBC, age, ASA status, and heart function are risk factors of intraoperative blood transfusion in brain tumor resection surgery. The prediction tool established using the logistic regression algorithm showed a good discriminative ability than hemoglobin alone for predicting intraoperative blood transfusion in brain tumor resection surgery.