bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advancing the field of viroporins—Structure, function and pharmacology: IUPHAR Review 39
Authors: Devantier Kira , Kjær Viktoria M. S. , Griffin Stephen , Kragelund Birthe B. , Rosenkilde Mette M.
Published: September 2024

Viroporins possess important potential as antiviral targets due to their critical roles during virus life cycles, spanning from virus entry to egress. Although the antiviral amantadine targets the M2 viroporin of influenza A virus, successful progression of other viroporin inhibitors into clinical use remains challenging. These challenges relate in varying proportions to a lack of reliable full‐length 3D‐structures, difficulties in functionally characterising individual viroporins, and absence of verifiable direct binding between inhibitor and viroporin. This review offers perspectives to help overcome these challenges. We provide a comprehensive overview of the viroporin family, including their structural and functional features, highlighting the moldability of their energy landscapes and actions. To advance the field, we suggest a list of best practices to aspire towards unambiguous viroporin identification and characterisation, along with considerations of potential pitfalls. Finally, we present current and future scenarios of, and prospects for, viroporin targeting drugs.
Puerarin Decreases the Expression of FUS‐Dependent MAPK4 to Inhibit the Development of Triple‐Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Guo Jian , Qu Huiheng , Huang Zhigang , Xue Yu
Published: September 2024

Puerarin has been reported to have anticancer properties; however, its mechanism in regulating triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains unclear. Cell function was assessed using a cell counting kit‐8 assay, 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine assay, flow cytometry, and transwell assay. Additionally, the glucose assay kit, lactate assay kit, and ADP/ATP ratio assay kit were used to analyze glucose metabolism. mRNA and protein expression levels were analyzed using qRT‐PCR and western blotting assays, respectively. The relationship between FUS RNA binding protein (FUS) and mitogen‐activated protein kinase 4 (MAPK4) was determined using an RNA immunoprecipitation assay. TNBC cell malignancy in vitro was validated using a xenograft mouse model assay. Puerarin treatment or MAPK4 knockdown effectively inhibited TNBC cell proliferation, invasion, and glucose metabolism, and induced cell apoptosis. Additionally, puerarin treatment downregulated MAPK4 and FUS expression. Conversely, MAPK4 overexpression attenuated the effects of puerarin in TNBC cells. FUS stabilized MAPK4 mRNA expression in TNBC cells. Furthermore, puerarin decreased MAPK4 expression by downregulating FUS in TNBC cells. Finally, puerarin inhibited tumor formation in vivo. Puerarin inhibited TNBC development by decreasing the expression of FUS‐dependent MAPK4, indicating that puerarin may serve as a promising therapeutic agent to hind TNBC.
Understanding the Role of Eye Movement Pattern and Consistency in Isolated English Word Reading Through Hidden Markov Modeling
Authors: Liao Weiyan , Hsiao Janet Hui‐wen
Published: September 2024

In isolated English word reading, readers have the optimal performance when their initial eye fixation is directed to the area between the beginning and word center, that is, the optimal viewing position (OVP). Thus, how well readers voluntarily direct eye gaze to this OVP during isolated word reading may be associated with reading performance. Using Eye Movement analysis with Hidden Markov Models, we discovered two representative eye movement patterns during lexical decisions through clustering, which focused at the OVP and the word center, respectively. Higher eye movement similarity to the OVP‐focusing pattern predicted faster lexical decision time in addition to cognitive abilities and lexical knowledge. However, the OVP‐focusing pattern was associated with longer isolated single letter naming time, suggesting conflicting visual abilities required for identifying isolated letters and multi‐letter words. In contrast, in both word and pseudoword naming, although clustering did not reveal an OVP‐focused pattern, higher consistency of the first fixation as measured in entropy predicted faster naming time in addition to cognitive abilities and lexical knowledge. Thus, developing a consistent eye movement pattern focusing on the OVP is essential for word orthographic processing and reading fluency. This finding has important implications for interventions for reading difficulties.
Are Indian markets insulated from the impact of cryptocurrencies? Unveiling the volatility linkages through multi‐index dynamic multivariate GARCH analysis
Authors: Thomas Robin
Published: September 2024

This paper investigates the dynamic relationships between the volatility of Bitcoin and major Indian stock market indices. Employing a dynamic conditional correlation–generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (DCC‐GARCH) model, we explore how volatility shocks and information flow influence the correlations between these asset classes. Our findings reveal a key characteristic: volatility spillovers tend to be short‐lived, indicated by a relatively low DCC‐GARCH parameter (dcca1). This suggests that while a surge in volatility in one market might lead to a temporary increase in correlation with the other, this heightened correlation is unlikely to persist for extended periods. However, the model also highlights a high DCC‐GARCH parameter (dccb1), signifying that the correlations themselves are responsive to new information. This implies that volatility linkages can adjust rapidly in response to market events or economic data releases. To enhance accessibility for a broad audience, we translate these findings into economic intuitions. We illustrate how the model can be interpreted through real‐world examples, such as the impact of sudden policy changes in India or global market flash crashes. By understanding the short‐lived nature of volatility spillovers and the responsiveness of correlations, investors in the Indian markets can make more informed decisions when considering the potential influence of Bitcoin's volatility while contributing to a deeper understanding of the dynamic interactions between cryptocurrency and traditional financial markets in the Indian context.
Mitigating nitrogen loss in paddy field microcosms through indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi assemblage
Authors: Zhang Shujuan , Chen Xinlong , Dong Yuexiao , Qi Jingfan , You Zhaoyang
Published: September 2024

Whether farmers should consider the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in agriculture is a hotly debated topic. We aimed to investigate the role of indigenous AMF in reducing nitrogen (N) loss from paddy fields via runoff, leaching, NH3 volatilization, and N2O emission. We conducted a pot experiment employing a mycorrhiza‐defective rice mutant (non‐mycorrhizal) as the control, grown in soil containing indigenous AMF. The corresponding AMF treatment used the progenitor of this mutant with the same soil. The plants were fertilized with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium 6 weeks after sowing. The root colonization was 23% in mycorrhizal rice, and no typical AMF structures were observed in the roots of non‐mycorrhizal rice. Our findings indicated that the mycorrhizal system exhibited lower N concentrations of runoff and leachate further compounded by reduced fluxes of N2O and NH3. This led to 14% decrease (mycorrhizal rice 111 kg N ha−1; the non‐mycorrhizal rice: 129 kg N ha−1) in cumulative N loss within 3 days post‐fertilization. While this AMF effect was consistent across the four tested N loss pathways, differences were observed between NH4+‐N and NO3−‐N in the runoff pathway. Notably, our results revealed no evidence of trade‐offs in AMF effect on N loss among the tested pathways. Additionally, mycorrhizal rice had larger shoots and roots than their non‐mycorrhizal counterparts. Our study underscores the potential benefits of indigenous AMF in paddy fields for mitigating water pollution and reducing greenhouse gas emission.
Revisiting directionality in China's “outward translation”
Authors: Wu Yun , Jiang Mengying
Published: September 2024

Directionality in translation traditionally refers to whether translation occurs from the translator's second language into their first or vice versa. This paper seeks to broaden the concept of directionality in translation by examining China's “outward translation” (i.e., the translation of works for readers outside of China), and goes beyond linguistic inquiries to encompass multifaceted dimensions related to global cultural exchange. By exploring outward translation within the Chinese context, this study contends that research on directionality should transcend mere linguistic considerations and embrace a more comprehensive analysis. Drawing insights from the Chinese perspective and employing a spatial conceptualization, this paper posits that outward translation operates within a dialogical space characterized by mutual exchange and engagement between the source culture and the target culture. Within this dynamic space, translation agents (including translators, publishers, patrons, and so on) from both source and target cultures interact, fostering reciprocal relationships and facilitating cultural dialogue. In conclusion, the paper argues that outward translation should be better defined and understood as an area of research with the potential to address the imbalanced global translation flows from English to other less‐translated languages, thereby facilitating more diverse and inclusive global knowledge production and dissemination.
Domestic and Family Violence Screening and Response: A Prospective, Cross‐Sectional, Mixed Methods Survey in Private Mental Health Clients
Authors: Fisher Caroline A. , Cairns Gaylyn , Jones Sue , Wilson Isabella , Withiel Toni D.
Published: September 2024

Most domestic and family violence (DFV) research has focused on establishing prevalence and screening rates in public health and community samples. This study sought to address a gap in the literature by evaluating DFV screening and response practices in a private mental healthcare inpatient service and determining if clients of the service had unmet DFV needs. A prospective, convenience sample, mixed methods, cross‐sectional survey of adult inpatient mental health consumers was employed. Sixty‐two participants completed the Royal Melbourne Hospital Patient Family Violence Survey. Quantitative Likert‐type and categorical responses were collated and analysed descriptively (count and percentage). Free‐text responses were analysed using qualitative description within a content analysis framework. Sixty‐five percent of participants had been screened for at least one DFV issue, on at least one occasion, with 35% not being screened, to their recall. Twenty‐three percent reported disclosing DFV concerns, 82% felt very supported by the clinician's response to their disclosure, and 86% were provided with information they found helpful. Unmet needs were identified in 13% of participants, who had wanted to disclose DFV concerns but not feel comfortable to do so. No unscreened respondents disclosed DFV concerns, highlighting the need to uphold best practice guidelines for direct enquiry. Most disclosing clients were positive about the support they received. Indicated areas for improvement were screening rates, active follow‐up, increasing psychology support levels and safety planning.
The relationship between attitudes towards professional autonomy and nurse–nurse collaboration: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Tarhan Merve
Published: September 2024

Aim

This study aimed to determine the relationship between attitudes towards professional autonomy and nurse–nurse collaboration among nurses.

Background

Professional autonomy is crucial for nurses in today's complex and ever‐changing healthcare environment. Therefore, attitudes towards professional autonomy may result in effective collaboration among nurses, one of the nursing roles and responsibilities.

Methods

This descriptive, cross‐sectional study was conducted with 685 nurses in four private hospitals affiliated with a university. Descriptive tests, correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were used. An ethics committee approved this study, and the STROBE Statement guidelines for cross‐sectional studies were followed.

Results

Significant predictors for nurse–nurse collaboration were identified as job‐related independence, autonomous clinical judgement and working unit from control variables.

Conclusion

This study's results provided valuable insights for nurse managers to enhance nurses’ attitudes towards professional autonomy and foster collaborative work environments.

Implications for nursing

Nurse managers can increase nurses’ participation in decision‐making processes and allow them to recognize their autonomy and that of their colleagues.
Family perspectives on and experiences with advance care planning in nursing homes: A thematic synthesis
Authors: Choi Hye Ri , Chu Ho Nee , Jia Shumin , Liu Xiaohang , Wang Tongyao , Lin Chia‐Chin
Published: September 2024

Objectives

To synthesize family members' experiences and perspectives on advance care planning (ACP) in nursing homes.

Methods

The thematic synthesis is reported following the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) statement. A systematic search of the APA PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus, Embase and PubMed databases is initially conducted in October 2022, and the search is updated in January 2024. Qualitative studies that presented family members' quotes regarding advance care planning in nursing homes published in a peer‐reviewed journal were included. Screening and data extraction were independently performed by two reviewers, and any discrepancies were resolved with the assistance of the third author.

Results

A total of 1027 articles were identified, and 23 articles were included in the full‐text review. Subsequently, a total of 17 studies were ultimately included, and 127 quotes were extracted and analysed. The main findings were categorized into three themes: (1) invitation to conversation and care, (2) the resident's surrogate and (3) nurses. Considering the importance of family members' roles in ACP conversations in a nursing home setting, this study provided an in‐depth understanding of family members' perceptions and experiences of ACP by synthesizing qualitative studies. Family members' lack of knowledge regarding the timing and pursuits of ACP was also identified.

Conclusion

The findings of this study provide synthesized qualitative evidence of family members' perspectives on ACP, which can inform care and treatment in nursing homes. As this study synthesizes the experiences of family members in nursing homes about ACP, the findings of this study contribute to reflecting family members' experiences and providing evidence for nursing home healthcare professionals.

Patient or Public Contribution

This study reports the experiences of family members in ACP nursing homes. The findings of this study contribute to reflecting family members' experiences and building evidence for nursing home healthcare professionals.
Effect of irisin on ovarian phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway and mitogen‐activated protein kinase/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase pathways of rats with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Li Cheng‐gang , Zhou Li , Zhang Ying‐jun , Li Yong , Zhao Li‐yan
Published: September 2024

Objective

To investigate the independent effects of irisin on insulin resistance (IR) in ovary of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and explore possible pathways.

Methods

We established PCOS medel using Poretsky L's method, then PCOS rats were randomly divided into model group (M) and irisin group (I), and normal rats (N) were used as the control. Then rats in the group I were injected with recombinant irisin. Then the levels of circulating fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA‐IR) and PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK pathways in each group were observed, as well as the effects of irisin on the levels of circulating HOMA‐IR and PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK pathways in ovary of PCOS rats were evaluated.

Results

Compared with normal group, levels of FBG, FINS, and HOMA‐IR of model group were significantly increased (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively), levels of average optical density by IHC of p‐PI3K, PI3K, p‐AKT, and AKT (p = 0.015, p = 0.010, p = 0.005, and p = 0.009, respectively) and levels of mRNA concentration of PI3K and AKT (p = 0.001, and p = 0.005, respectively) were decreased, while the levels of average optical density of p‐ERK, ERK (p = 0.011, and p = 0.013, respectively) and level of mRNA concentration of ERK (p < 0.001) were increased in ovary. After irisin intervention, compared with model group, levels of FBG, FINS, and HOMA‐IR of rats in irisin group were significantly decreased (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively), levels of average optical density by IHC of p‐PI3K, PI3K, p‐AKT, and AKT (p = 0.030, p = 0.024, p = 0.012, and p = 0.025, respectively) and levels of mRNA concentration of PI3K and AKT (p = 0.002, and p = 0.003, respectively) were significantly increased, while the levels of average optical density of p‐ERK, ERK (p = 0.004, and p = 0.026, respectively) and level of mRNA concentration of ERK (p = 0.001) were significantly decreased.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that irisin could not only improve circulating insulin resistance, but may also improve ovarian IR through an increase in the activity of PI3K/AKT signaling and a decrease of MAPK/ERK signaling.
Christian Nationalism and Violence Against Religious Minorities in the United States: A Quantitative Analysis
Authors: Saiya Nilay , Manchanda Stuti
Published: September 2024

This study examines the relationship between Christian nationalism—a political theology and cultural framework that seeks to amalgamate the Christian faith and a country's political life and privilege Christianity in the public square over other faith traditions—and attacks against religious minorities in the United States. Some Christian nationalists believe that it is justifiable to undertake violent actions in order to realize the goals of Christian nationalism. We theorize that the political empowerment of Christian nationalist ideology in the form of politicians expressing Christian nationalist sentiments corresponds to physical attacks on religious minorities carried out by self‐professing Christians. We test this theory using a cross‐sectional, time‐series analysis of antiminority violence in the United States. The results provide robust support for our theory.
Community ionomics reveals a diversity of mineral nutrition in a species‐rich shrubland on infertile soil
Authors: Hocedez Juliette , Gotty Karine , Hequet Vanessa , Chay Sandrine , Léopold Audrey , Dray Stéphane , Pillon Yohan
Published: September 2024

Questions

High species richness is observed in certain shrublands on infertile substrates. Mineral nutrients are likely to be the primary limiting resources in these ecosystems, and below‐ground plant interactions may be crucial to understanding their diversity. Using ionomics, we investigated whether there were nutritional variations between plant species that coexist in a shrubland located in an edaphically extreme environment.

Location

New Caledonia.

Methods

We set up a 20 m × 20 m plot in a diverse shrubland (“maquis”) on ultramafic (infertile) substrate, in which we sampled all 475 plants taller than 1 m and characterized their ionome (22 elements).

Results

In our study, 37 species were identified in the plot, representing all major forms of mycorrhizal symbioses, as well as nitrogen‐fixing plants, cluster rooted and parasitic plants. Notably, both nickel hyperaccumulating and manganese hyperaccumulating species were present. Hypervolume approaches were used to assess ionome overlap among the nine most abundant species, with the results revealing limited overlap. Moreover, it was observed that the rarest species in the plot also had the most functionally distinct features.

Conclusions

Different nutritional strategies were present in the plot, as demonstrated by the variety of root symbioses and leaf ionomes. Our findings indicate coexistence of multiple species within this infertile shrubland may be achieved by species partitioning into different highly specialized biogeochemical niches.
Responsive feeding practices among Arabic and Mongolian speaking migrant mothers in Australia: A qualitative study
Authors: Jawad Danielle , Wen Li Ming , Baur Louise , Rissel Chris , Mihrshahi Seema , Taki Sarah
Published: September 2024

Establishing healthy feeding habits during infancy is crucial for optimal growth. However, certain parental feeding and cultural practices might hinder the development of children's healthy eating behaviours. This research explored responsive feeding practices among migrant mothers in Australia. Semi‐structured telephone interviews were conducted in their native language with 20 Arabic and 20 Mongolian‐speaking migrant mothers with children under 2 years old or currently pregnant. Thematic analysis was conducted using the framework method. Both cultural groups followed a variety of feeding practices, including on demand responsive feeding or structured schedules. Arabic‐speaking mothers tended to demonstrate responsive feeding practices more frequently than Mongolian‐speaking mothers, except for those using formula feeding, who consistently followed a fixed feeding routine. When introducing solid foods, mothers from both groups often overlooked their babies' hunger and satiety cues, frequently pressuring their children to finish their entire plate. One cited reason for this was the challenge parents faced in identifying such cues. Arabic‐speaking mothers often supplemented with formula top‐ups after introducing solid foods, due to the belief that breast milk or solid foods alone might not sufficiently nourish their infants. Additionally, some Arabic‐speaking mothers used food‐based rewards to encourage eating. Mongolian mothers expressed a cultural preference for chubby babies, a potential reason why they may have been inclined to pressure‐feed their children. Moreover, both groups reported using digital devices to distract their children during meals. This study highlights the necessity of tailoring future resources and services related to responsive feeding practices to accommodate diverse literacy levels and cultural backgrounds.
Anterior or Posterior Tibial Tendon Transfer to the Peroneus Tertius for Equinovarus Deformity
Authors: Dong Quan Yu , Jiang Jun Yu , Su Peng , Su Bo , Bai Long Bin
Published: September 2024

Background

Equinovarus deformity correction was performed by soft tissue release and bone deformity correction, and tendon transfer to maintain deformity correction. Because of the high complication rate of tendon fixation methods, partial or total anterior tibial tendon or posterior tibial tendon transfer to the peroneus tertius tendon was reported. The purpose of this study was (i) to review the results of this tendon transfer technique after release and correction of talipes equinovarus, and (ii) to analyze the complication of this technique.

Methods

Between February 2017 and May 2022, 176 patients (210 feet) with equinus and/or varus foot and ankle deformities underwent anterior or posterior tibial tendon transfer to the peroneus tertius in our institute. Preoperative and postoperative foot and ankle range of motion (passive and active) were checked. The postoperative radiographic assessment included antero‐posterior (AP), lateral, and hindfoot alignment radiographs. Preoperative and postoperative lateral tibio‐talar, talo‐calcaneal, talo‐first metatarsal, tibial‐sole angles, hindfoot alignment, and anterior subluxation of the talus were checked. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle‐hindfoot scale, and visual analog scale (VAS) were used to assess pain. Paired Student's t‐test was used to compare the clinical scores and radiographic angles before the operation and at the last follow‐up.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 23.27 ± 13.44 years (range, 3–69 years). The mean follow‐up time was 25.56 ± 16.37 months (range, 12–68 months). There were significant differences between the preoperative and postoperative measurements of the lateral tibio‐talar angle, lateral talo‐calcaneal angle, lateral talo‐first metatarsal angle, lateral tibial‐sole angle, and hindfoot alignment (p < 0.001). There was significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative AOFAS and VAS scores (p < 0.001). The early complications included infection in one patient, skin necrosis in two patients, and plantar numbness in three patients. The late complications included pin infection in three patients, tibio‐talar joint compression in four patients, forefoot pain in two patients, toe flexion in two patients, and plantar numbness in one patient. There were three cases of complications (1.43%) related to the transferred tendons.

Conclusion

Tibialis anterior or posterior tendon transfer to the peroneus tertius is a safe and effective method for equinovarus deformity correction. It yielded excellent outcomes that produced high patient satisfaction and few complications.
Language and communication development and school readiness of children raised by grandparents or in multi‐generational homes
Authors: Keim Sarah A. , Mason Rachel E. , Yisahak Samrawit F.
Published: September 2024

Background

One in ten U.S. children lives with a grandparent, and more foster children are being placed in kinship care.

Objectives

Our objective was to compare early language and communication development and school readiness among children raised by grandparents (alone or in multigenerational households) to children raised by parents.

Methods

We included in this cross‐sectional study children ages 1–5 years from the 2016–2020 National Survey of Children's Health to examine healthy and ready to learn school readiness outcomes and binary language and communication development (2018–2020 data only) by caregiver type (parent, multigenerational, and grandparent‐only) with survey‐weighted log‐binomial regression adjusted for confounders. We stratified by survey years pre‐COVID‐19 pandemic versus during.

Results

Among 33,342 children, 86.0% (SE = 0.51) of children were ‘On‐Track’ for language and communication development; only 37.2% (SE = 0.68) were ‘On‐Track’ overall for school readiness. Children raised by grandparents or in multigenerational households were more often ‘On‐Track’ for school readiness than children raised by parents, but only upon adjustment for covariates (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) for grandparent‐only 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11, 1.15; aPR for multigenerational 1.13, CI 1.12, 1.15). Smaller and less consistent differences in prevalence were observed for the other outcomes (language and communication development, school readiness domains of early learning skills, social–emotional development, self‐regulation development and physical well‐being and motor development). A disparity in school readiness may have emerged during the COVID‐19 pandemic; children in grandparent‐only households had a lower prevalence of being ‘On‐Track’ for school readiness (aPR 0.71, 95% CI 0.69, 0.73) compared to children in parent households, whereas children in multigenerational households continued to be more often school‐ready than children in parent households.

Conclusion

Large proportions of children across caregiver types were not fully prepared for school. Consideration of key covariates is important because socio‐economic disadvantage may mask other advantages grandparent‐led and multigenerational households offer children's early development.
Heterogeneous dense subhypergraph detection
Authors: Yuan Mingao , Shang Zuofeng
Published: September 2024

We study the problem of testing the existence of a heterogeneous dense subhypergraph. The null hypothesis corresponds to a heterogeneous Erdös–Rényi uniform random hypergraph and the alternative hypothesis corresponds to a heterogeneous uniform random hypergraph that contains a dense subhypergraph. We establish detection boundaries when the edge probabilities are known and construct an asymptotically powerful test for distinguishing the hypotheses. We also construct an adaptive test which does not involve edge probabilities, and hence, is more practically useful.
Characterisation of the novel HLA‐B*18:37:03 allele, first identified in a Brazilian individual
Authors: Pinto Jonathan , Oliveira Victoria , Vianna Romulo , Porto Luís Cristóvão , Secco Danielle
Published: September 2024

The novel HLA‐B*18:37:03 allele, first described in a potential bone marrow donor from Brazil.
REVIEWS OF ACOUSTICAL PATENTS
Authors: Fulop Sean A.
Published: September 2024

The purpose of these acoustical patent reviews is to provide enough information for a Journal reader to decide whether to seek more information from the patent itself. Any opinions expressed here are those of the reviewers as individuals and are not legal opinions. Patents are available via the internet at the USPTO website, and also at Google Patents.
Evaluating nephrotoxicity reduction in a novel polymyxin B formulation: insights from a 3D kidney-on-a-chip model
Authors: Payasi Anurag , Yadav Manoj Kumar , Chaudhary Saransh , Aggarwal Anmol
Published: September 2024

This study aimed to assess the nephrotoxicity associated with VRP-034 (novel formulation of polymyxin B [PMB]) compared to marketed PMB in a three-dimensional (3D) kidney-on-a-chip model. To model the human kidney proximal tubule for analysis, tubular structures were established using 23 triple-channel chips seeded with RPTEC/hTERT1 cells. These cells were exposed to VRP-034 or PMB at seven concentrations (1–200 µM) over 12, 24, and 48 h. A suite of novel kidney injury biomarkers, cell health, and inflammatory markers were quantitatively assessed in the effluent. Additionally, caspase and cytochrome C levels were measured, and cell viability was evaluated using calcein AM and ethidium homodimer-1 (EthD-1). Exposure to marketed PMB resulted in significantly elevated levels (
P
< 0.05) of four key biomarkers (KIM-1, cystatin C, clusterin, and OPN) compared to VRP-034, particularly at clinically relevant concentrations of ≥10 µM. At 25 µM, all biomarkers demonstrated a significant increase (
P
< 0.05) with marketed PMB exposure compared to VRP-034. Inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 and interleukin-8) increased significantly (
P
< 0.05) with marketed PMB at concentrations of ≥5 µM, relative to VRP-034. VRP-034 displayed superior cell health outcomes, exhibiting lower lactate dehydrogenase release, while ATP levels remained comparable. Morphological analysis revealed that marketed PMB induced more severe damage, disrupting tubular integrity. Both treatments activated cytochrome C, caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-12 in a concentration-dependent manner; however, caspase activation was significantly reduced (
P
< 0.05) with VRP-034. This study demonstrates that VRP-034 significantly reduces nephrotoxicity compared to marketed PMB within a 3D microphysiological system, suggesting its potential to enable the use of full therapeutic doses of PMB with an improved safety profile, addressing the need for less nephrotoxic polymyxin antibiotics.
Design of novel and highly selective SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors
Authors: Poli Adi N. R. , Tietjen Ian , Nandwana Nitesh K. , Cassel Joel , Messick Troy E. , Register Emery T. , Keeney Frederick , Rajaiah Rajesh , Verma Atul K. , Pandey Kabita , Acharya Arpan , Byrareddy Siddappa N. , Montaner Luis J. , Salvino Joseph M.
Published: September 2024

We have synthesized a novel and highly selective severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) main protease peptide mimetic inhibitor mimicking the replicase 1ab recognition sequence -Val-Leu-Gln- and utilizing a cysteine selective acyloxymethyl ketone as the electrophilic warhead to target the active site Cys145. Utilizing a constrained cyclic peptide that locks the conformation between the P3 (Val) and P2 (Leu) residues, we identified a highly selective inhibitor that fills the P2 pocket occupied by the leucine residue sidechain of PF-00835231 and the dimethyl-3-azabicyclo-hexane motif in nirmatrelvir (PF-07321332). This strategy resulted in potent and highly selective Mpro inhibitors without inhibiting essential host cathepsin cysteine or serine proteases. The lead prototype compound 1 (MPro IC
50
= 230 ± 18 nM) also inhibits the replication of multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants
in vitro
, including SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, and can synergize at lower concentrations with the viral RNA polymerase inhibitor, remdesivir, to inhibit replication. It also reduces SARS-CoV-2 replication in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-infected Syrian golden hamsters without obvious toxicities, demonstrating
in vivo
efficacy. This novel lead structure provides the basis for optimization of improved agents targeting evolving SARS-CoV-2 drug resistance that can selectively act on Mpro versus host proteases and are less likely to have off-target effects due to non-specific targeting. Developing inhibitors against the active site of the main protease (Mpro), which is highly conserved across coronaviruses, is expected to impart a higher genetic barrier to evolving SARS-CoV-2 drug resistance. Drugs that selectively inhibit the viral Mpro are less likely to have off-target effects warranting efforts to improve this therapy.
Rough solutions of the relativistic Euler equations
Authors: Yu Sifan
Published: September 2024

We prove that the time of classical existence of smooth solutions to the relativistic Euler equations can be bounded from below in terms of norms that measure the “(sound) wave-part” of the data in Sobolev space and “transport-part” in higher regularity Sobolev space and Hölder spaces. The solutions are allowed to have nontrivial vorticity and entropy. We use the geometric framework from [M. M. Disconzi and J. Speck, The relativistic Euler equations: Remarkable null structures and regularity properties, Ann. Henri Poincaré 20(7) (2019) 2173–2270], where the relativistic Euler flow is decomposed into a “wave-part”, that is, geometric wave equations for the velocity components, density and enthalpy, and a “transport-part”, that is, transport-div-curl systems for the vorticity and entropy gradient. Our main result is that the Sobolev norm [Formula: see text] of the variables in the “wave-part” and the Hölder norm [Formula: see text] of the variables in the “transport-part” can be controlled in terms of initial data for short times. We note that the Sobolev norm assumption [Formula: see text] is the optimal result for the variables in the “wave-part”. Compared to low-regularity results for quasilinear wave equations and the three-dimensional (3D) non-relativistic compressible Euler equations, the main new challenge of the paper is that when controlling the acoustic geometry and bounding the wave equation energies, we must deal with the difficulty that the vorticity and entropy gradient are four-dimensional space-time vectors satisfying a space-time div-curl-transport system, where the space-time div-curl part is not elliptic. Due to lack of ellipticity, one cannot immediately rely on the approach taken in [M. M. Disconzi and J. Speck, The relativistic Euler equations: Remarkable null structures and regularity properties, Ann. Henri Poincaré 20(7) (2019) 2173–2270] to control these terms. To overcome this difficulty, we show that the space-time div-curl systems imply elliptic div-curl-transport systems on constant-time hypersurfaces plus error terms that involve favorable differentiations and contractions with respect to the four-velocity. By using these structures, we are able to adequately control the vorticity and entropy gradient with the help of energy estimates for transport equations, elliptic estimates, Schauder estimates and Littlewood–Paley theory.
Investigation of strain-softening behaviours and development of constitutive model of red clays in Guiyang, China
Authors: Li Huazhang , Jia Liangliang , Pu Shuang , Wang Li , Yan Xiong , Huang Chuanteng
Published: September 2024

Red clay is widely used in engineering projects; it is characterized by high moisture content, high plasticity, large porosity, high strength and low compressibility. The engineering properties and deformation modelling of red clay in Guiyang differ significantly from those of ordinary soils. Consequently, it is essential to conduct a detailed study of the stress–strain relationship of red clay in order to obtain accurate engineering parameters. Hence, a series of unconsolidated undrained triaxial compression tests (UU) was conducted on red clay in Guiyang under different water contents and confining pressures. The test results show that the stress–strain curve of the clay undergoes three stages: elastic deformation, plastic yielding and stress reduction after failure. After reaching peak deviatoric stress, the deviatoric stress decreases gradually and stabilizes, showing noticeable strain-softening characteristics. The non-linear model from the Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute (NHRI) was introduced for fitting and obtaining relevant parameters. Then, based on the FLAC
3D
platform, numerical simulation was carried out on a standard soil sample. The research results show that the calculated curve from the non-linear model fits the experimental curve quite well, and the numerical test curve also agrees with it. This indicates that the non-linear model from NHRI can effectively reflect the strain-softening behaviour of clay and is highly applicable to Guiyang red clay.
FedGST: An Efficient Federated Graph Neural Network for Spatio-temporal PoI Recommendation
Authors: Tang Tao , Hou Mingliang , Yu Shuo , Cai Zhen , Han Zhiwen , Oatley Giles , Saikrishna Vidya
Published: September 2024

With the proliferation of sensor networks in urban areas, vast amounts of data from location-based social network platforms are now available, thus enabling the stakeholders to develop location-aware services for the end users. PoI (Point of Interests) recommendation is one of the most trending services. PoI recommendation models are developed by considering geographical information and historical records. More recently, with the demand for achieving PoI recommendations on mobile devices, embedded devices, or Internet of Things (IoT) devices, the challenges posed by the limited computational resources, malicious clients, and data silos, the model performance gets immensely affected. To address the above challenges and achieve efficient PoI recommendations, we propose an efficient federated graph learning-based model for mining complex spatiotemporal features to generate recommendations. We implement a GRU-based encoder-decoder to learn the temporal hidden state embeddings. Simultaneously, a 2-layer graph network is used to understand spatial embedding vectors. We also introduce an efficient contribution evaluation method to speed up the training process and improve the recommendation performance. Experiments on the PoI recommendation task based on real-life check-in data validate the effectiveness of our proposed model, and the results indicate that our recommendation model can achieve competitive results with lower computational costs.
The #HOPE4LIVER Single-Arm Pivotal Trial for Histotripsy of Primary and Metastatic Liver Tumors
Authors: Mendiratta-Lala Mishal , Wiggermann Philipp , Pech Maciej , Serres-Créixams Xavier , White Sarah B. , Davis Clifford , Ahmed Osman , Parikh Neehar D. , Planert Mathis , Thormann Maximilian , Xu Zhen , Collins Zachary , Narayanan Govindarajan , Torzilli Guido , Cho Clifford , Littler Peter , Wah Tze Min , Solbiati Luigi , Ziemlewicz Timothy J.
Published: September 2024

The pooled #HOPE4LIVER trials demonstrated the safety and technical success of the HistoSonics System for the destruction of liver tumors using histotripsy, a non-thermal, mechanical process of focused US.
Fast Charging of Lithium-Ion Batteries While Accounting for Degradation and Cell-to-Cell Variability
Authors: Kim Minsu , Schaeffer Joachim , Berliner Marc D. , Pedret Sagnier Berta , Bazant Martin Z. , Findeisen Rolf , Braatz Richard D.
Published: September 2024

Safety and maintaining high performance are key considerations during the operation of lithium-ion batteries. Battery degradation, in particular lithium plating and loss of active material, is often accelerated by fast charging. This study explores a strategy for the design of fast charging protocols that takes into account the influence of the variability between battery cells on factors that can impact degradation. We employ a non-intrusive polynomial chaos expansion to identify the key parameters for each degradation condition. We explore the reduction of battery degradation by adjusting constraints such as the maximum C-rate and voltage. Tight control of the key adjustable parameters contributes significantly to reducing the confidence interval of the degradation factors, allowing reduced charging time with minimal degradation. The application of our approach to two state-dependent fast charging protocols for a LiC6/LiCoO2 battery indicates the value in explicitly accounting for uncertainties when designing charging protocols that minimize degradation.
GC‐MS Profiling and Therapeutic Potentials of Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC: Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Insights
Authors: Khalid Asaad , Abdalgadir Eltuhami A. , Abdel Gadir Iman K. , Abdalla Ashraf N. , Homeida Husham E. , Sultana Shahnaz , Rehman Zia ur , Hassani Rym , Alqahtani Ahmed Shaher , Alhazmi Hassan A.
Published: September 2024

Plants belonging to the genus Prosopis L. (family Fabaceae, subfamily Mimosoideae) have gained significant popularity in traditional medicine due to their potential as anticancer, antidiabetic, anti‐inflammatory, and antibacterial compounds. The primary objective of this work was to determine the phytochemical composition of the ethanolic extract derived from Prosopis juliflora leaves, as well as to assess its antibacterial and cytotoxic properties. The phytochemical screening using GC‐MS revealed the presence of phytosteroids, ketone, esters, diisooctyl phthalate, and triterpenes. Besides, varying amounts of some silicon derivatives, which were reported to have antimicrobial activity, were detected with octasiloxane, which showed the highest amount (18.47%). 6‐Ethoxy‐6‐methyl‐2‐cyclohexenone (antioxidant, antidiabetic, antiobesity, and antimicrobial) was detected in considerable quantity. Cytotoxic activity was seen in human breast cancer (MCF‐7), human ovary adenocarcinoma (A2780), and human colon adenocarcinoma (HT‐29) cell lines, as well as in normal human fetal lung fibroblasts (MRC‐5), when subjected to the MTT assay. The plant extract exhibited the highest level of activity (5.75 μg/mL) against the A2780 cell line, with the MCF‐7 cell line showing a somewhat lower level of activity (18.49 μg/mL). The antibacterial effect of the plant extracts was evaluated against four standard Gram‐positive and four standard Gram‐negative. The antimicrobial potential was observed only against Staphylococcus aureus which recorded a 14.5 ± 0.05 mm inhibition zone. The present study has demonstrated the identification of bioactive constituents in P. juliflora plant extracts, which exhibit significant cytotoxic activity against breast and colon malignancies. The study also highlighted P. juliflora extract as an antibacterial against S. aureus.
Application of Red and Blue LED Light on Cultivation and Postharvest of Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
Authors: Arif Abdullah Bin , Budiyanto Agus , Setiawan  , Cahyono Tri , Sulistiyani Tri Ratna , Marwati Tri , Widayanti Siti Mariana , Setyadjit  , Manalu Lamhot Parulian , Adinegoro Himawan , Yustiningsih Nenie , Hadipernata Mulyana , Jamal Irpan Badrul , Susetyo Indra Budi , Herawati Heny , Iswari Kasma , Risfaheri
Published: September 2024

Currently, light‐emitting diode (LED) technology has produced a more energy‐efficient and versatile technology as an artificial lighting system that can be applied in the agricultural sector. Artificial lighting technology has been proven to be effective in increasing the production of agricultural products, especially horticultural commodities. As one of the primary horticulture commodities, tomatoes are the most common crop produced in controlled environments with LED artificial lighting. The focus of this study is to describe the application of LED lights in tomato cultivation and postharvest. We provide an amalgamation of the recent research achievements on the impact of LED lighting on photosynthesis, vegetative growth, flowering, production, and postharvest of tomatoes. Red‐blue (RB) lighting induces photosynthesis; increases the content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids in tomato leaves; regulates vegetative growth in tomatoes; and increases the production of tomatoes. In postharvest tomatoes, blue LED lighting treatment can slowly change the color of the tomato skin to red, maintain hardness, and increase shelf life. Future research may be carried out on the effect of LED artificial lighting on tomatoes’ phytochemical, antioxidant and other crucial nutritional content. Different LED wavelengths can be explored to enhance various bioactive compounds and health‐promoting components.
Bio‐Based Packaging Materials from Post‐Consumer Cotton Textiles
Authors: Shiddique Md. Nura Alam , Islam Khairul , Islam Tarikul , Hosen Md. Dulal , Islam Md. Azharul , Islam Md Imranul , Bashar M Mahbubul , Bhat Gajanan
Published: September 2024

This study aims to convert cotton‐based post‐consumer textile waste to biodegradable paper, which not only addresses the discarding of waste but also provides a second use of cotton. The post‐consumer garment made with cotton was decolorized by stripping with concentrated NaOH and hydrose. Afterwards, it was chopped, ground, and treated with NaOH solutions. The paper was prepared through a wet‐laid process by mixing carboxymethyl cellulose as a binder with chopped cotton textiles. To reduce water absorbency, the uncoated paper was coated with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) using heat pressing technique. The surface morphology and chemical structure of uncoated pristine paper, coated paper, and TPU films were conducted using SEM and FTIR studies. The tensile strength, contact angle, air permeability, and biodegradability tests were investigated according to the standard methods. The tensile properties of the papers were increased after TPU coating, accounting well around 28% compared to the uncoated pristine paper. The elongation at the break of the coated paper was at least 40% greater than the uncoated pristine paper. The coated paper displayed a higher water contact angle of 100°, even after 10 min. The lower air permeability was observed in the coated paper due to TPU film blocking the free spaces of the paper. The TPU‐coated paper exhibited a weight loss of 48.1%–59.8% after 90 days, whereas the uncoated paper was 100% decomposed after 60 days. The burning of post‐consumer cotton textile waste (PCCTW) paper generated ashes resembling those of burning paper, implying clean and environmental friendly biodegradation. The papers can replace the petroleum–plastic materials and serve as food and other packaging applications.