bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of the second COVID-19 booster against Omicron: a large-scale cohort study in Chile
Authors: Jara Alejandro , Cuadrado Cristobal , Undurraga Eduardo A. , García Christian , Nájera Manuel , Bertoglia María Paz , Vergara Verónica , Fernández Jorge , García-Escorza Heriberto , Araos Rafael
Published: October 2023

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, understanding the effectiveness of various booster vaccination regimens is pivotal. In Chile, using a prospective national cohort of 3.75 million individuals aged 20 or older, we evaluate the effectiveness against COVID-19-related intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and death of mRNA-based second vaccine boosters for four different three-dose background regimes: BNT162b2 primary series followed by a homologous booster, and CoronaVac primary series followed by an mRNA booster, a homologous booster, and a ChAdOx-1 booster. We estimate the vaccine effectiveness weekly from February 14 to August 15, 2022, by determining hazard ratios of immunization over non-vaccination, accounting for relevant confounders. The overall adjusted effectiveness of a second mRNA booster shot is 88.2% (95%CI, 86.2–89.9) against ICU admissions and 90.5% (95%CI 89.4–91.4) against death. Vaccine effectiveness shows a mild decrease for all regimens and outcomes, probably linked to the introduction of BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub-lineages and the waning of immunity. Based on our findings, individuals might not need additional boosters for at least 6 months after receiving a second mRNA booster shot in this setting.
CRISPR-Cas9 engineering of the RAG2 locus via complete coding sequence replacement for therapeutic applications
Authors: Allen Daniel , Knop Orli , Itkowitz Bryan , Kalter Nechama , Rosenberg Michael , Iancu Ortal , Beider Katia , Lee Yu Nee , Nagler Arnon , Somech Raz , Hendel Ayal
Published: October 2023

RAG2-SCID is a primary immunodeficiency caused by mutations in Recombination-activating gene 2 (RAG2), a gene intimately involved in the process of lymphocyte maturation and function. ex-vivo manipulation of a patient’s own hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) using CRISPR-Cas9/rAAV6 gene editing could provide a therapeutic alternative to the only current treatment, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Here we show an innovative RAG2 correction strategy that replaces the entire endogenous coding sequence (CDS) for the purpose of preserving the critical endogenous spatiotemporal gene regulation and locus architecture. Expression of the corrective transgene leads to successful development into CD3+TCRαβ+ and CD3+TCRγδ+ T cells and promotes the establishment of highly diverse TRB and TRG repertoires in an in-vitro T-cell differentiation platform. Thus, our proof-of-concept study holds promise for safer gene therapy techniques of tightly regulated genes.
Reconstructing disease dynamics for mechanistic insights and clinical benefit
Authors: Frishberg Amit , Milman Neta , Alpert Ayelet , Spitzer Hannah , Asani Ben , Schiefelbein Johannes B. , Bakin Evgeny , Regev-Berman Karen , Priglinger Siegfried G. , Schultze Joachim L. , Theis Fabian J. , Shen-Orr Shai S.
Published: October 2023

Diseases change over time, both phenotypically and in their underlying molecular processes. Though understanding disease progression dynamics is critical for diagnostics and treatment, capturing these dynamics is difficult due to their complexity and the high heterogeneity in disease development between individuals. We present TimeAx, an algorithm which builds a comparative framework for capturing disease dynamics using high-dimensional, short time-series data. We demonstrate the utility of TimeAx by studying disease progression dynamics for multiple diseases and data types. Notably, for urothelial bladder cancer tumorigenesis, we identify a stromal pro-invasion point on the disease progression axis, characterized by massive immune cell infiltration to the tumor microenvironment and increased mortality. Moreover, the continuous TimeAx model differentiates between early and late tumors within the same tumor subtype, uncovering molecular transitions and potential targetable pathways. Overall, we present a powerful approach for studying disease progression dynamics—providing improved molecular interpretability and clinical benefits for patient stratification and outcome prediction.
Early selection of task-relevant features through population gating
Authors: Barbosa Joao , Proville Rémi , Rodgers Chris C. , DeWeese Michael R. , Ostojic Srdjan , Boubenec Yves
Published: October 2023

Brains can gracefully weed out irrelevant stimuli to guide behavior. This feat is believed to rely on a progressive selection of task-relevant stimuli across the cortical hierarchy, but the specific across-area interactions enabling stimulus selection are still unclear. Here, we propose that population gating, occurring within primary auditory cortex (A1) but controlled by top-down inputs from prelimbic region of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), can support across-area stimulus selection. Examining single-unit activity recorded while rats performed an auditory context-dependent task, we found that A1 encoded relevant and irrelevant stimuli along a common dimension of its neural space. Yet, the relevant stimulus encoding was enhanced along an extra dimension. In turn, mPFC encoded only the stimulus relevant to the ongoing context. To identify candidate mechanisms for stimulus selection within A1, we reverse-engineered low-rank RNNs trained on a similar task. Our analyses predicted that two context-modulated neural populations gated their preferred stimulus in opposite contexts, which we confirmed in further analyses of A1. Finally, we show in a two-region RNN how population gating within A1 could be controlled by top-down inputs from PFC, enabling flexible across-area communication despite fixed inter-areal connectivity.
Polarization-driven reversible actuation in a photo-responsive polymer composite
Authors: Urban David , Marcucci Niccolò , Wölfle Christoph Hubertus , Torgersen Jan , Hjelme Dag Roar , Descrovi Emiliano
Published: October 2023

Light-responsive polymers and especially amorphous azopolymers with intrinsic anisotropic and polarization-dependent deformation photo-response hold great promises for remotely controlled, tunable devices. However, dynamic control requires reversibility characteristics far beyond what is currently obtainable via plastic deformation of such polymers. Here, we embed azopolymer microparticles in a rubbery elastic matrix at high density. In the resulting composite, cumulative deformations are replaced by reversible shape switching – with two reversible degrees of freedom defined uniquely by the writing beam polarization. We quantify the locally induced strains, including small creeping losses, directly by means of a deformation tracking algorithm acting on microscope images of planar substrates. Further, we introduce free-standing 3D actuators able to smoothly undergo multiple configurational changes, including twisting, roll-in, grabbing-like actuation, and even continuous, pivot-less shape rotation, all dictated by a single wavelength laser beam with controlled polarization.
N-hydroxypipecolic acid triggers systemic acquired resistance through extracellular NAD(P)
Authors: Li Qi , Zhou Mingxi , Chhajed Shweta , Yu Fahong , Chen Sixue , Zhang Yanping , Mou Zhonglin
Published: October 2023

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a long-lasting broad-spectrum plant defense mechanism induced in distal systemic tissues by mobile signals generated at the primary infection site. Despite the discoveries of multiple potential mobile signals, how these signals cooperate to trigger downstream SAR signaling is unknown. Here, we show that endogenous extracellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) [eNAD(P)] accumulates systemically upon pathogen infection and that both eNAD(P) and the lectin receptor kinase (LecRK), LecRK-VI.2, are required in systemic tissues for the establishment of SAR. Moreover, putative mobile signals, e.g., N-hydroxypipecolic acid (NHP), trigger de novo systemic eNAD(P) accumulation largely through the respiratory burst oxidase homolog RBOHF-produced reactive oxygen species (ROS). Importantly, NHP-induced systemic immunity mainly depends on ROS, eNAD(P), LecRK-VI.2, and BAK1, indicating that NHP induces SAR primarily through the ROS-eNAD(P)-LecRK-VI.2/BAK1 signaling pathway. Our results suggest that mobile signals converge on eNAD(P) in systemic tissues to trigger SAR through LecRK-VI.2.
Polarization structured light 3D depth image sensor for scenes with reflective surfaces
Authors: Huang Xuanlun , Wu Chenyang , Xu Xiaolan , Wang Baishun , Zhang Sui , Shen Chihchiang , Yu Chiennan , Wang Jiaxing , Chi Nan , Yu Shaohua , Chang-Hasnain Connie J.
Published: October 2023

Highly reflective surfaces are notorious in the field of depth sensing and three-dimensional (3D) imaging because they can cause severe errors in perception of the depth. Despite recent progress in addressing this challenge, there are still no robust and error-free solutions. Here, we devise a polarization structured light 3D sensor for solving these problems, in which high-contrast-grating (HCG) vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are used to exploit the polarization property. We demonstrate accurate depth measurements of the reflective surfaces and objects behind them in various imaging situations. In addition, the absolute error and effective measurement range are measured to prove the applicability for a wide range of 3D applications. Our work innovatively combines polarization and depth information, opening the way for fully understanding and applying polarization properties in the 3D domain.
A bidirectional Mendelian randomisation study to evaluate the relationship between body constitution and hearing loss
Authors: He Yiyan , Karhunen Ville , Pulakka Anna , Kantomaa Marko , Sebert Sylvain
Published: October 2023

Hearing loss and hearing disorders represent possible mediating pathways in the associations between noise exposures and non-auditory health outcomes. In this context, we assessed whether the noise-obesity associations should consider hearing functions as possible mediators and applied Mendelian randomisation (MR) to investigate causal relationships between body constitution and hearing impairments. We obtained genetic associations from publicly available summary statistics from genome-wide association studies in European ancestry adult populations (N= from 210,088 to 360,564) for (i) body constitution: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and body fat percentage (BFP), and (ii) hearing loss: sensorineural hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss, and age-related hearing impairment (ARHI). We employed colocalisation analysis to investigate the genetic associations for BMI and ARHI liability within an FTO locus. We conducted bi-directional MR for the ‘forward’ (from body constitution to hearing) and ‘reverse’ directions. We applied the random effects inverse variance-weighted method as the main MR method, with additional sensitivity analyses. Colocalisation analysis suggested that BMI and ARHI shared a causal variant at the FTO gene. We did not find robust evidence for causal associations from body constitution to hearing loss and suggested that some associations may be driven by FTO variants. In the reverse analyses, ARHI was negatively associated with BMI [effect size – 0.22 (95% CI – 0.44 to – 0.01)] and BFP [effect size – 0.23 (95% CI – 0.45 to 0.00)], supporting the notion that ARHI may diminish body constitution. Finally, our data suggest that there is no strong evidence that hearing explains the association between noise exposure and body constitution.
An MR spectroscopy study of temporal areas excluding primary auditory cortex and frontal regions in subjective bilateral and unilateral tinnitus
Authors: Wójcik Joanna , Kochański Bartosz , Cieśla Katarzyna , Lewandowska Monika , Karpiesz Lucyna , Niedziałek Iwona , Raj-Koziak Danuta , Skarżyński Piotr Henryk , Wolak Tomasz
Published: October 2023

Previous studies indicate changes in neurotransmission along the auditory pathway in subjective tinnitus. Most authors, however, investigated brain regions including the primary auditory cortex, whose physiology can be affected by concurrent hearing deficits. In the present MR spectroscopy study we assumed increased levels of glutamate and glutamine (Glx), and other Central Nervous System metabolites in the temporal lobe outside the primary auditory cortex, in a region involved in conscious auditory perception and memory. We studied 52 participants with unilateral (n = 24) and bilateral (n = 28) tinnitus, and a control group without tinnitus (n = 25), all with no severe hearing losses and a similar hearing profile. None of the metabolite levels in the temporal regions of interest were found related to tinnitus status or laterality. Unexpectedly, we found a tendency of increased concentration of Glx in the control left medial frontal region in bilateral vs unilateral tinnitus. Slightly elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms were also shown in participants with tinnitus, as compared to healthy individuals, with the bilateral tinnitus group marginally more affected. We discuss no apparent effect in the temporal lobes, as well as the role of frontal brain areas, with respect to hearing loss, attention and psychological well-being in chronic tinnitus. We furthermore elaborate on the design-related and technical obstacles of MR spectroscopy.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells expression of miR-200c, miR-125b, miR-27b, miR-203, and miR-155 in patients with significant or insignificant coronary artery stenosis
Authors: Saadatian Zahra , Mansoori Yaser , Nariman-Saleh-Fam Lida , Daraei Abdolreza , Vahed Sepideh Zununi , Navid Shadan , Nariman-Saleh-Fam Ziba
Published: October 2023

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the principal causes of death worldwide. Among several predisposing factors, inflammation and inflammatory genes play a significant role in disease pathogenesis. Inflammatory microRNAs, small noncoding RNAs involved in regulating inflammation, are promising candidates for understanding pathogenesis of CAD and developing diagnostic biomarkers. The aim of the study was to evaluate the alteration of miR-200c, miR-125b, miR-27b, miR-203 and, miR-155 in patients suffering from coronary artery stenosis and insignificant coronary artery stenosis compared to healthy subjects. In this study we compared expressions of five inflammatory miRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 72 patients suffering significant coronary artery stenosis (CAD), 74 individuals without coronary artery disease and 30 individuals with insignificant coronary artery stenosis (ICAD). After blood collection, PBMCs were isolated and RNA was extracted. Gene expression levels were assessed by SYBR green based real-time PCR. Statistical analysis was performed using R program. Expression levels of miR-200c, miR-203, and miR-155 were lower in subjects with ICAD than that in CAD patients and subjects of the control group. MiR-125b was downregulated in CAD and ICAD groups compared to the control group. PBMC miR-27b was upregulated in the CAD group as compared to the ICAD and control groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis verified potential of three miRNAs in separating subjects with ICAD from CAD patients and healthy individuals. In conclusion, this original investigation suggested that altered expression of these five miRNAs may serve as a novel diagnostic biomarker discriminating clinical presentations of coronary artery diseases.
Understanding the hot isostatic pressing effectiveness of laser powder bed fusion Ti-6Al-4V by in-situ X-ray imaging and diffraction experiments
Authors: Mishurova Tatiana , Evsevleev Sergei , Piault Pierre , King Andrew , Henry Laura , Bruno Giovanni
Published: October 2023

In the present study, in-situ observation of Hot Isostatic Pressure (HIP) procedure of laser powder bed fusion manufactured Ti-6Al-4V parts was performed to quantitatively estimate the densification rate of the material and the influence of the defect initial size and shape on such rate. The observations were performed in-situ using the Ultrafast Tomography Paris-Edinburgh Cell and the combination of fast phase-contrast synchrotron X-ray tomography and energy dispersive diffraction. With this strategy, we could quantify how the effectiveness of HIP depends on the characteristics of a defect. Smaller defects showed a higher densification rate, while the defect shape did not have significant effect on such rate.
Detection of Ponzi scheme on Ethereum using machine learning algorithms
Authors: Onu Ifeyinwa Jacinta , Omolara Abiodun Esther , Alawida Moatsum , Abiodun Oludare Isaac , Alabdultif Abdulatif
Published: October 2023

Security threats posed by Ponzi schemes present a considerably higher risk compared to many other online crimes. These fraudulent online businesses, including Ponzi schemes, have witnessed rapid growth and emerged as major threats in societies like Nigeria, particularly due to the high poverty rate. Many individuals have fallen victim to these scams, resulting in significant financial losses. Despite efforts to detect Ponzi schemes using various methods, including machine learning (ML), current techniques still face challenges, such as deficient datasets, reliance on transaction records, and limited accuracy. To address the negative impact of Ponzi schemes, this paper proposes a novel approach focusing on detecting Ponzi schemes on Ethereum using ML algorithms like random forest (RF), neural network (NN), and K-nearest neighbor (KNN). Over 20,000 datasets related to Ethereum transaction networks were gathered from Kaggle and preprocessed for training the ML models. After evaluating and comparing the three models, RF demonstrated the best performance with an accuracy of 0.94, a class-score of 0.8833, and an overall-score of 0.96667. Comparative evaluations with previous models indicate that our model achieves high accuracy. Moreover, this innovative work successfully detects key fraud features within the Ponzi scheme dataset, reducing the number of features from 70 to only 10 while maintaining a high level of accuracy. The main strength of this proposed method lies in its ability to detect clever Ponzi schemes from their inception, offering valuable insights to combat these financial threats effectively.
Automated detection, segmentation and measurement of major vessels and the trachea in CT pulmonary angiography
Authors: Kahraman Ali T. , Fröding Tomas , Toumpanakis Dimitrios , Sladoje Nataša , Sjöblom Tobias
Published: October 2023

Mediastinal structure measurements are important for the radiologist’s review of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) examinations. In the reporting process, radiologists make measurements of diameters, volumes, and organ densities for image quality assessment and risk stratification. However, manual measurement of these features is time consuming. Here, we sought to develop a time-saving automated algorithm that can accurately detect, segment and measure mediastinal structures in routine clinical CTPA examinations. In this study, 700 CTPA examinations collected and annotated. Of these, a training set of 180 examinations were used to develop a fully automated deterministic algorithm. On the test set of 520 examinations, two radiologists validated the detection and segmentation performance quantitatively, and ground truth was annotated to validate the measurement performance. External validation was performed in 47 CTPAs from two independent datasets. The system had 86–100% detection and segmentation accuracy in the different tasks. The automatic measurements correlated well to those of the radiologist (Pearson’s r 0.68–0.99). Taken together, the fully automated algorithm accurately detected, segmented, and measured mediastinal structures in routine CTPA examinations having an adequate representation of common artifacts and medical conditions.
Co-infection dynamics of COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS
Authors: Batu Tesfaneh Debele , Obsu Legesse Lemecha , Deressa Chernet Tuge
Published: October 2023

Although there are many results that can be used to treat and prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), these diseases continue to be public health concerns and cause socioeconomic consequences. Following compromised immunity, COVID-19 is considered to be a challenge for people with HIV. People with advanced HIV are considered a vulnerable population at high risk in several case studies that discuss COVID-19 and HIV co-infection. As there is no cure for HIV and there is a chance of contracting COVID-19 again, co-infection continues to pose a problem. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of intervention strategies and identify the role of different parameters in risking people living with HIV to death when they get infected with COVID-19. This is achieved through the development and rigorous analysis of a mathematical model that considers a population at risk of death due to COVID-19 and HIV. The model formulation provides a detailed explanation of the transmission dynamics of COVID-19 and HIV co-infection. The solution’s invariant region, positivity, and boundedness were established. The reproduction numbers of the sub-models and the co-infection model were determined. The existence and stability of equilibria, including backward bifurcation for the COVID-19 sub-model, were examined. The epidemiological significance of backward bifurcation is that the condition $${\mathscr {R}}_0$$

R
0

less than 1 for eliminating COVID-19, though necessary, is no longer sufficient. Parametric estimation and curve fitting were performed based on data from Ethiopia. Numerical simulations were employed to support and clarify the analytical findings and to show some parameter effects on COVID-19 and HIV co-infection. Accordingly, the simulations indicated that parameters $$\gamma _c$$

γ
c

, $$\gamma _h$$

γ
h

, $$\epsilon$$
ϵ
, and $$\kappa$$
κ
, related to HIV patients’ exposure to other diseases and the increase in infectiousness, have a positive role in increasing the number of co-infections. On the other hand, an increase in COVID-19 vaccination ($$\xi$$
ξ
) shows the suppression of co-infection cases. In addition, treating co-infected individuals for COVID-19, increasing treatment rates $$\alpha$$
α
and $$\varphi$$
φ
, reduces the death risk of HIV-infected individuals due to the co-infection burden. It was implied that improving vaccine delivery programs and other medical interventions have important contributions to lowering the risk of COVID-19 infection-related fatalities in HIV patients.
Characteristics, distribution, and origin of ferruginous deposits within the Late Ordovician glaciogenic setting of Arabia
Authors: Alqubalee Abdullah , Salisu Anas Muhammad , Bello Abdulwahab Muhammad , Al-Hussaini Abdulkarim , Al-Ramadan Khalid
Published: October 2023

Ferruginous deposits are iron-rich sediments or sedimentary rocks found in various sizes, shapes, and compositions within sedimentary strata in different depositional settings. This study investigates the characteristics, distribution, and origin of ferruginous deposits found in the Late Ordovician glaciogenic Sarah Formation and surrounding deposits in central Saudi Arabia. Several types of ferruginous deposits have been identified through field observations and laboratory investigations, including thin-section petrography, geochemical, surface, and bulk mineralogical analyses, and computed tomography scans. The identified ferruginous deposits include solid and rinded concretions, pipes, layers, ferricretes, liesegang bands, and fracture infills. They were associated with the periglacial and proglacial facies of the Sarah Formation. For instance, ferruginous deformed layers were mainly observed in subglacial facies, while rinded concretions occurred in bleached glaciofluvial facies. Ferruginous deposits were also found in the uppermost parts of non-glacial facies, such as the shallow marine Quwarah Member of the Qasim Formation and the braided deltaic Sajir Member of the Saq Formation. Compositionally, goethite was the dominant iron oxide mineral in all ferruginous deposits, and it is mostly distributed as cement, filling pore spaces. In comparison to ferruginous deposits reported in different depositional settings on Earth and Mars, the studied ferruginous deposits in an ancient glaciogenic setting exhibit different mineralogical characteristics. Specifically, the studied solid concretions are less abundant and primarily amalgamated, while the rinded concretions appear to be more mature than those reported in other depositional environments. This study suggests that the weathered basement rocks of the Arabian Shield were the primary source of iron. The iron-bearing rocks were eroded and transported by Hirnantian glaciation and deglaciation processes.
Population genomics reveals how 5 ka of human occupancy led the Lima leaf-toed gecko (Phyllodactylus sentosus) to the brink of extinction
Authors: Arana Alejandra , Esteves Juan , Ramírez Rina , Galetti Pedro M. , Pérez Z. José , Ramirez Jorge L.
Published: October 2023

Small species with high home fidelity, high ecological specialization or low vagility are particularly prone to suffer from habitat modification and fragmentation. The Lima leaf-toed gecko (Phyllodactylus sentosus) is a critically endangered Peruvian species that shelters mostly in pre-Incan archeological areas called huacas, where the original environmental conditions are maintained. We used genotyping by sequencing to understand the population genomic history of P. sentosus. We found low genetic diversity (He 0.0406–0.134 and nucleotide diversity 0.0812–0.145) and deviations of the observed heterozygosity relative to the expected heterozygosity in some populations (Fis − 0.0202 to 0.0187). In all analyses, a clear population structuring was observed that cannot be explained by isolation by distance alone. Also, low levels of historical gene flow were observed between most populations, which decreased as shown in contemporary migration rate analysis. Demographic inference suggests these populations experienced bottleneck events during the last 5 ka. These results indicate that habitat modification since pre-Incan civilizations severely affected these populations, which currently face even more drastic urbanization threats. Finally, our predictions show that this species could become extinct in a decade without further intervention, which calls for urgent conservation actions being undertaken.
The prevalence and risk factors for physical impairments in Chinese post-cancer treated breast cancer survivors: a 4 years’ cross-sectional study at a single center
Authors: Chen Dan , Li Li , Jiang Liu-Ya , Jia Jie
Published: October 2023

The incidence of breast cancer in China was 19.2% in 2018, with a five-year survival rate of up to 80%. The impairments that may result from breast cancer treatment, such as lymphedema, pain, and symptoms related to nerve damage, could have long-term side effects. Its prevalence and symptom profile have been commonly reported in various countries, but such data are rarely available for China. Physical function was assessed in 138 breast cancer survivors (BCSs) in the study. The prevalence of lymphedema (65.9%) was higher than that of pain (31.2%), shoulder range of motion (ROM) restriction (20.3%), grip strength restriction (GSR) (21.7%) and paresthesia (11.6%). These impairments mainly appeared within 28 months after breast cancer diagnosis, but could happen in 10 years. Carcinoma in situ and radiotherapy (RT) were related to the occurrence of lymphedema (respectively B = -1.8, p = 0.003; B = 1.3, p = 0.001). RT and delayed rehabilitation time (DRT) may increase the severity of lymphedema (respectively p = 0.003, p = 0.010). Breast conserving surgery (B = -2.1, p = 0.002) and the occurrence of AWS (B = 3.1, p = 0.006) were related to the occurrence of pain. The occurrence of brachial plexus injury (BPI) (B = 3.1, p < 0.001) and pain (B = 1.9, p = 0.002) improved the occurrence of shoulder ROM restriction. The occurrence of BPI (B = 3.6, p < 0.001) improved the occurrence of GSR. The occurrence of pain (B = 2.1, p = 0.001) improved the occurrence of paresthesia. These findings prompt us to further investigate the actual rehabilitation needs of survivors and the specific barriers to rehabilitation in the following research.
Novel, clinically relevant genomic patterns identified by comprehensive genomic profiling in ATRX-deficient IDH-wildtype adult high-grade gliomas
Authors: Bedics Gábor , Szőke Péter , Bátai Bence , Nagy Tibor , Papp Gergő , Kránitz Noémi , Rajnai Hajnalka , Reiniger Lilla , Bödör Csaba , Scheich Bálint
Published: October 2023

Glioblastomas are the most common IDH-wildtype adult high-grade gliomas, frequently harboring mutations in the TERT gene promoter (pTERT) and utilizing the subsequent telomerase overexpression for telomere length maintenance. However, some rare cases show loss of ATRX and use alternative mechanisms of telomere lengthening. In this study, we performed the first complex genomic analysis specifically concentrating on the latter subgroup. Comprehensive genomic profiling of 12 ATRX-deficient and 13 ATRX-intact IDH-wildtype adult high-grade gliomas revealed that ATRX and pTERT mutations are mutually exclusive. DNMT3A alterations were confined to ATRX-deficient, while PTEN mutations to ATRX-intact cases. RAS–MAPK pathway alterations, including NF1 mutations, were more characteristic in the ATRX-deficient group. Variants of genes related to homologous recombination repair showed different patterns of affected genes. Two ATRX-deficient tumors with high tumor mutational burden and mismatch repair deficiency were found. One of these contained a novel fusion involving the NTRK2 and LRRFIP2 genes, while the other showed loss of MSH2 and MSH6 without genetic alterations in the encoding genes suggesting an epigenetic background. Genetic characteristics of ATRX-deficient IDH-wildtype adult high-grade gliomas suggest that these tumors are particularly intriguing targets of potential future therapeutic interventions including immunotherapies combined with MAPK pathway inhibition and DNA repair inhibitors.
Genetic diversity and phylogenetic analyses of Asian lineage Zika virus whole genome sequences derived from Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes and urine of patients during the 2020 epidemic in Thailand
Authors: Phumee Atchara , Chitcharoen Suwalak , Sutthanont Nataya , Intayot Proawpilart , Wacharapluesadee Supaporn , Siriyasatien Padet
Published: October 2023

Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, has been continually emerging and re-emerging since 2010, with sporadic cases reported annually in Thailand, peaking at over 1000 confirmed positive cases in 2016. Leveraging high-throughput sequencing technologies, specifically whole genome sequencing (WGS), has facilitated rapid pathogen genome sequencing. In this study, we used multiplex amplicon sequencing on the Illumina Miseq instrument to describe ZIKV WGS. Six ZIKV WGS were derived from three samples of field-caught Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes (two males and one female) and three urine samples collected from patients in three different provinces of Thailand. Additionally, successful isolation of a ZIKV isolate occurred from a female Cx. quinquefasciatus. The WGS analysis revealed a correlation between the 2020 outbreak and the acquisition of five amino acid changes in the Asian lineage ZIKV strains from Thailand (2006), Cambodia (2010 and 2019), and the Philippines (2012). These changes, including C-T106A, prM-V1A, E-V473M, NS1-A188V, and NS5-M872V, were identified in all seven WGS, previously linked to significantly higher mortality rates. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis indicated that the seven ZIKV sequences belonged to the Asian lineage. Notably, the genomic region of the E gene showed the highest nucleotide diversity (0.7–1.3%). This data holds significance in informing the development of molecular tools that enhance our understanding of virus patterns and evolution. Moreover, it may identify targets for improved methods to prevent and control future ZIKV outbreaks.
The quest for the reliability of machine learning models in binary classification on tabular data
Authors: Araujo Santos Vitor Cirilo , Cardoso Lucas , Alves Ronnie
Published: October 2023

In this paper we explore the reliability of contexts of machine learning (ML) models. There are several evaluation procedures commonly used to validate a model (precision, F1 Score and others); However, these procedures are not linked to the evaluation of learning itself, but only to the number of correct answers presented by the model. This characteristic makes it impossible to assess whether a model was able to learn through elements that make sense of the context in which it is inserted. Therefore, the model could achieves good results in the training stage but poor results when the model needs to be generalized. When there are many different models that achieve similar performance, the model that presented the highest number of hits in training does not mean that this model is the best. Therefore, we created a methodology based on Item Response Theory that allows us to identify whether an ML context is unreliable, providing an extra and different validation for ML models.
Biodegradation of PET by the membrane-anchored PET esterase from the marine bacterium Rhodococcus pyridinivorans P23
Authors: Guo Wenbin , Duan Jingjing , Shi Zhengguang , Yu Xue , Shao Zongze
Published: October 2023

Evidence for microbial biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has been reported, but little is known about the PET biodegradation process and molecular mechanism by marine microorganisms. Here, we show the biodegradation of PET by the membrane-anchored PET esterase from the marine bacterium Rhodococcus pyridinivorans P23, elucidate the properties of this enzyme, and propose the PET biodegradation by this strain in biofilm. We identify the PET-degrading enzyme dubbed PET esterase through activity tracking. In addition to depolymerizing PET, it hydrolyzes MHET into TPA under acid conditions. We prove that it is a low and constitutively transcribed, membrane-anchored protein displayed on the cell surface. Furthermore, we also investigate the microbial groups possessing PET esterase coupled with the TPA degradation pathway, mainly in the phyla Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota. Clarification of the microbial PET biodegradation in the marine environment will contribute to the understanding of bioremediation of marine PET pollution.
Development of a monoclonal antibody-based lateral flow immunoassay for the detection of benzoic acid in liquid food
Authors: Zhao Qiuyan , Ding Mingyue , Pei Dangshuai , Qi Xiuhua , Mao Yexuan , Huang Xianqing , Song Lianjun , Zuo Jingnan , Yang Huijuan , Zhang Xiya
Published: October 2023

To monitor benzoic acid (BA) residues in liquid food samples, a monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) was developed in this study.
Botulinum toxin A dissolving microneedles for hyperhidrosis treatment: design, formulation and in vivo evaluation
Authors: Malek-Khatabi Atefeh , Rad-Malekshahi Mazda , Shafiei Morvarid , Sharifi Fatemeh , Motasadizadeh Hamidreza , Ebrahiminejad Vahid , Rad-Malekshahi Mazdak , Akbarijavar Hamid , Faraji Rad Zahra
Published: October 2023

Multiple periodic injections of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) are the standard treatment of hyperhidrosis which causes excessive sweating.
Electrochemical production of hydrogen peroxide by non-noble metal-doped g-C3N4 under a neutral electrolyte
Authors: Wang Ying , Yang Hongcen , Lu Niandi , Wang Di , Zhu Kun , Wang Zhixia , Mou Lianshan , Zhang Yan , Zhao Yawei , Tao Kun , Ma Fei , Peng Shanglong
Published: October 2023

Electrochemical oxygen reduction (ORR) for the production of clean hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an effective alternative to industrial anthraquinone methods.
Protonic nanoenvironment engineering for tuning the electrocatalytic efficiency and product selectivity of O2 reduction
Authors: Yau Hei Tung , Yu Zuo Hang , Tse Edmund C. M.
Published: October 2023

Precise control of proton transfer rate is key to steering the activity and selectivity of oxygen reduction that holds implications for the advancement of proton-coupled electron transfer processes central to energy catalysis and resource generation.
Recent progress on 2D material-based nanoarchitectures for small molecule electro-oxidation
Authors: Yang Cuizhen , Wang Tingyao , Li Chengcheng , Li Yongtao , Liu Dongming , Zhang Qingan
Published: October 2023

In this review, we comprehensively summarize the recent advancements in the controlled fabrication as well as relationship between 2D nanoarchitectures and electrochemical performances in the electro-oxidation of small molecules used in DLFC.
Research advances and applications of ZIF-90 metal–organic framework nanoparticles in the biomedical field
Authors: Chen Siqi , Pang Hekai , Sun Jianing , Li Kexin
Published: October 2023

A schematic illustration of ZIF-90 nanocomposites applied to anticancer therapy, biomedical imaging and other fields for the treatment of different diseases.
Advances in solar energy harvesting integrated by van der Waals graphene heterojunctions
Authors: Le Top Khac , Mai The-Hung , Iqbal Muhammad Aamir , Vernardou Dimitra , Dao Van-Duong , Ponnusamy Vinoth Kumar , Rout Chandra Sekhar , Pham Phuong V.
Published: October 2023

Graphene has garnered increasing attention for solar energy harvesting owing to its unique features.
An effective purification of double-effect distillation for bio-based pentamethylene diisocyanate
Authors: He Feng , Tang Yibo , Lu Zhufeng , Hu Qixu , Yang Yue , Li Ganlu , Li Hui , Chen Kequan
Published: October 2023

Combined with total annual charge (TAC), parallel double-effect distillation was the optimal method for PDI purification.
Self-assembly of cyclic peptide monolayers by hydrophobic supramolecular hinges
Authors: Insua Ignacio , Cardellini Annalisa , Díaz Sandra , Bergueiro Julian , Capelli Riccardo , Pavan Giovanni M. , Montenegro Javier
Published: October 2023

A novel supramolecular tryptophan hinge motif enables the self-assembly of nanotube monolayers by hierarchical non-covalent polymerisation of cyclic peptides in lateral contact.
Pontederia crassipes inspired bottom overflow for fast and stable drainage
Authors: Gao Can , Zhang Chengqi , Liu Shijie , Yu Cunlong , Jiang Lei , Dong Zhichao
Published: October 2023

Inspired by the Pontederia crassipes leaf, a bottom overflow-induced fast and stable drainage model is realized. This strategy assists drainage planes to stably and efficiently drain rainwater and dusty rainwater with slight dust residue.
Modular co-assembly of peptides and polyoxometalates into underwater adhesives with photoluminescence and adjustable adhesion
Authors: Wang Xinyan , Li Yiwen , Nie Junlian , Wen Guang , Li Wen
Published: October 2023

Modular co-assembly enables the fabrication of peptide/POM underwater adhesives to be unshackled from laborious design, rendering the peptide/POM adhesives new functions (e.g., fluorescence) and adjustable adhesiveness.
Extending the molecular conjugation of phosphorescence units to accurately modulate ultralong organic room temperature phosphorescence
Authors: Bai Jingjuan , Dai Guangkuo , Jin Huiwen , Ma Jiaxin , Li Zewei , Guan Yan , Chen Mingxing , Ma Zhimin , Ma Zhiyong
Published: October 2023

Extending molecular conjugation accurately modulates UORTP in a series of phosphorescence units. (Br)PyCz shows red or NIR ultralong phosphorescence as extended conjugation reduces the T1 energy level and results in a phosphorescence redshift. A rigid PVA matrix and heavy Br atoms enhance UORTP.
Intersections between materials science and marine plastics to address environmental degradation drivers: a machine learning approach
Authors: Back Henrique de Medeiros , Pottmaier Daphiny , Kneubl Andreusi Camilla , Alarcon Orestes Estevam
Published: October 2023

This article uses natural language processing and expert knowledge to bridge the marine plastics community to polymer science.
Vocabulary Selection and Implementation in Vocabulary Interventions for Speech-Generating Devices: A Scoping Review
Authors: Frick Semmler Bethany J. , Bean Allison
Published: October 2023

Purpose:

Intervention studies contribute to evidence-based practice in speech-language pathology. With individuals who use speech-generating devices (SGDs), it is important to determine what vocabulary to teach during intervention. However, it is unclear whether researchers are reporting the vocabulary selection techniques they used in intervention studies so that they may be replicated in clinical practice. The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the vocabulary selection techniques and other aspects of intervention studies focused on vocabulary acquisition in early symbolic communicators who use SGDs.

Method:

Eight databases (PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Educational Resources Information Center, Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts, Educational Research Complete, and CINAHL) were systematically searched for articles that were intervention studies targeting single-word vocabulary acquisition in early symbolic communicators who use SGDs. Data were extracted from each article and charted in Excel.

Results:

We found 5,405 unique articles, 18 of which met the inclusion/exclusion criteria for this review. All of the studies used a single-case design with three participants on average. Approximately half took place in the child's school, and most of the interventions were conducted by members of the research team. Eight studies targeted requesting or manding, six studies used preference assessments to select vocabulary, and seven articles used adults as informants to select the vocabulary.

Conclusions:

There are a limited number of studies investigating vocabulary acquisition in early symbolic communicators who use SGDs. Furthermore, the studies inconsistently used a range of methods that align with best practices for vocabulary selection.
Model‐free adaptive control for ultracapacitor based three‐phase interleaved bidirectional DC–DC converter
Authors: Wang Zhengyao , Wang Dan , Peng Zhouhua , Liu Lu
Published: October 2023

The lack of an accurate mathematical model of non‐linear systems, such as bidirectional DC–DC converters, brings certain limits to design a formidable controller for such systems. This article proposes a model‐free adaptive control (MFAC) approach for an ultracapacitor based three‐phase interleaved bidirectional DC–DC converter (BDC) to ameliorate the controller design limitations due to the demand for system model information. This article designs a pseudo gradient (PG) estimation algorithm based on the input and output (I/O) data of a three‐phase interleaved BDC and designs a control input estimation algorithm through the PG estimation value, then, the design of a model‐free adaptive controller is completed. Moreover, the Black‐box technique is applied to the system, which does not require a precise mathematical model resulting in a lower computational burden, faster dynamics, and easier implementation. Furthermore, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed MFAC scheme are experimentally tested and verified on an energy storage system microgrid platform.
Utilizations of Steel-Reinforced Concrete-Filled Steel Tubular (SRCFST) Constructions
Authors: Cong Peng , Deprizonn Syamsunur , Jassama Taha Mohammed
Published: October 2023

In recent times, there has been a significant amount of research dedicated to traditional concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) structures. This research has been broad and includes both practical testing and theoretical analysis. As of late, scholars have redirected their attention toward introducing innovations in the domain of steel-concrete composite systems. This piece delves into investigations involving experiments and simulations, as well as the underlying mechanisms and interplays of constraints. The focus is on rectangular columns made of Steel-Reinforced Concrete Filled Square Tubular (SRCFST), subjected to combined compression and torsion forces. By building upon previous investigations, the article not only provides a summary but also evaluates the pathways that research on SRCFST columns has taken. Additionally, it offers a glimpse into the potential directions for future studies. This comprehensive strategy not only serves as a point of reference for upcoming research endeavors but also furnishes practical insights for their real-world implementation.
Study on the Influence of Window Type on Natural Ventilation Effect Based on CFD Simulation
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyun , Yao Haoyi , Xu Mingcheng
Published: October 2023

Good natural ventilation is one of the basic conditions for people to be able to work and live indoors. In this paper, wind velocity, wind velocity non-uniformity coefficient and air age are taken as the evaluation indexes of indoor ventilation condition. A simulation software Airpak is used to build room models with three window types (with the same ventilation area), namely, top-hung window, casement window and sliding window. The wind incidence angle was adjusted between 0°- 90°, and the indoor wind velocity and air age of the room were simulated when the casement window was opened at 90°, the sliding window was fully opened and the top-hung window was opened at 30°. The average wind velocity, wind velocity non-uniformity coefficient and air age of the room under each working condition were calculated and analyzed to evaluate the freshness and comfort of the indoor air, so as to provide guidance for the reasonable design of indoor layout.
Building an Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Program at a High-volume Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Center
Authors: Michalakes Peter C , DeNino Walter F , Jara Claire B , Afari Maxwell E , Geller Bram J
Published: October 2023

Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR) is an emerging approach to cardiac arrest. We present two contrasting cases from a high-volume extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) center (defined as greater than 30 ECMO cases per year) without a 24/7 ECPR program to highlight how to establish an ECPR program with a focus on patient selection and outcome optimization. In one case, a patient presented with cardiac arrest during initial triage for chest pain within the emergency department, and in the other case, a patient experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with prolonged no-flow and low-flow time. Despite the lack of a 24/7 ECPR program at the presenting center, both patients received an ECPR evaluation, as both patients presented while all services necessary for ECMO cannulation were available. The in-hospital cardiac arrest patient was successfully cannulated for ECMO during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and survived with few complications. The out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patient was deemed a poor candidate for ECPR and expired soon after presentation. These two cases highlight the complex decision-making in ECPR and further illustrate how to create ECPR protocols at a high-volume ECMO center before resources are available for a 24/7 ECPR program.