bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spinal osteoarthritis is a risk of vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women
Authors: Kuroda Tatsuhiko , Shiraki Masataka , Saito Mitsuru , Urano Tomohiko
Published: February 2024

Recent studies have revealed that despite high bone mineral density (BMD), osteoarthritis (OA) is a risk factor for osteoporotic fractures. However, the relationship between spinal OA and vertebral fractures has not yet been fully investigated. This longitudinal analysis used a subset of ongoing cohort study consist with Japanese postmenopausal women. The prevalence of spinal OA was determined using Kellgren–Lawrence grading method. The incidence of vertebral fractures were determined by semiquantitative analysis of spinal X-ray films. The relationship between the presence of spinal OA and incidence of vertebral fractures was evaluated using the Cox regression analysis. In total, 1480 women were followed up for 8.1 ± 6.4 years. Among them, 923 were diagnosed with spinal OA, and incident vertebral fractures were observed in 473 participants. After adjusting for confounding variables, the spinal OA (≥ grade 2) was a significant predictor of incident vertebral fractures (hazard ratio, 1.52; 95% confidence interval: 1.19–1.93, p = 0.001). Using ROC analysis, the thresholds of lumbar BMD for incident vertebral fractures were 0.952 g/cm2 for patients with spinal OA and 0.753 g/cm2 for patients without spinal OA. The presence of spinal OA is a risk factor for incident vertebral fractures despite high lumbar BMD.
Doping of casted silk fibroin membranes with extracellular vesicles for regenerative therapy: a proof of concept
Authors: Fuest Sandra , Salviano-Silva Amanda , Maire Cecile L. , Xu Yong , Apel Christian , Grust Audrey Laure Céline , Delle Coste Arianna , Gosau Martin , Ricklefs Franz L. , Smeets Ralf
Published: February 2024

Bioactive material concepts for targeted therapy have been an important research focus in regenerative medicine for years. The aim of this study was to investigate a proof-of-concept composite structure in the form of a membrane made of natural silk fibroin (SF) and extracellular vesicles (EVs) from gingival fibroblasts. EVs have multiple abilities to act on their target cell and can thus play crucial roles in both physiology and regeneration. This study used pH neutral, degradable SF-based membranes, which have excellent cell- and tissue-specific properties, as the carrier material. The characterization of the vesicles showed a size range between 120 and 180 nm and a high expression of the usual EV markers (e.g. CD9, CD63 and CD81), measured by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and single-EV flow analysis (IFCM). An initial integration of the EVs into the membrane was analyzed using scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and vesicles were successfully detected, even if they were not homogeneously distributed in the membrane. Using direct and indirect tests, the cytocompatibility of the membranes with and without EVs could be proven and showed significant differences compared to the toxic control (p < 0.05). Additionally, proliferation of L929 cells was increased on membranes functionalized with EVs (p > 0.05).
Evaluation of the antidermatophytic activity of potassium salts of N-acylhydrazinecarbodithioates and their aminotriazole-thione derivatives
Authors: Ciesielska Anita , Kowalczyk Aleksandra , Paneth Agata , Stączek Paweł
Published: February 2024

Nowadays, dermatophyte infections are relatively easy to cure, especially since the introduction of orally administered antifungals such as terbinafine and itraconazole. However, these drugs may cause side effects due to liver damage or their interactions with other therapeutics. Hence, the search for new effective chemotherapeutics showing antidermatophyte activity seems to be the urge of the moment. Potassium salts of N-acylhydrazinecarbodithioates are used commonly as precursors for the synthesis of biologically active compounds. Keeping that in mind, the activity of a series of five potassium N-acylhydrazinecarbodithioates (1a–e) and their aminotriazole-thione derivatives (2a–e) was evaluated against a set of pathogenic, keratinolytic fungi, such as Trichophyton ssp., Microsporum ssp. and Chrysosporium keratinophilum, but also against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. All tested compounds were found non-toxic for L-929 and HeLa cells, with the IC30 and IC50 values assessed in the MTT assay above 128 mg/L. The compound 5-amino-3-(naphtalene-1-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5-thione (2d) was found active against all fungal strains tested. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed inhibition of mycelium development of Trichophyton rubrum cultivated on nail fragments and treated with 2d 24 h after infection with fungal spores. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) observation of mycelium treated with 2d showed ultrastructural changes in the morphology of germinated spores. Finally, the RNA-seq analysis indicated that a broad spectrum of genes responded to stress induced by the 2d compound. In conclusion, the results confirm the potential of N-acylhydrazinecarbodithioate derivatives for future use as promising leads for new antidermatophyte agents development.
Atmospheric pollen concentrations and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients visits in Beijing: time series analysis using a generalized additive model
Authors: Liu Aizhu , Sheng Weixuan , Tang Xianshi
Published: February 2024

To investigate the correlation between the daily visits of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients in hospital clinic and pollen concentrations in Beijing. We collected daily visits of COPD patients of Beijing Shijitan Hospital from April 1st, 2019 to September 30th, 2019. The relationship between pollen concentrations and COPD patient number was analyzed with meteorological factors, time trend, day of the week effect and holiday effect being controlled by the generalized additive model of time series analysis. R4.1.2 software was applied to generate Spearman correlation coefficient, specific and incremental cumulative effect curves of relative risks as well as the response and three-dimensional diagrams for the exposure lag effect prediction. The fitting models were used to predict the lag relative risk and 95% confidence intervals for specific and incremental cumulative effects of specific pollen concentrations. The number of COPD patients was positively correlated with pollen concentration. When pollen concentration increased by 10 grains/1000 mm2, the peak value of the specific cumulative effect appeared on day0, with the effect gone on day4 and a lag time of 4 days observed, whereas the incremental cumulative effect’s peak value was shown on day17, and the effect disappeared on day18, with a lag time of 18 days. The results showed that pollen concentration was not only positively correlated with the number of COPD patients, but also had a bimodal lag effect on COPD visits in the hospital at Beijing.
Post-hypnotic safety suggestion improves stress coping with long-lasting effects
Authors: Schmidt Barbara , Rohleder Nicolas , Engert Veronika
Published: February 2024

Effective coping with acute stress is important to promote mental health and to build stress resilience. Interventions improving stress coping usually require long training periods. In this study, we present a hypnosis-based intervention that produces long-term effects after a single hypnosis session. In that session, we established a post-hypnotic safety suggestion that participants can activate afterwards with a cue, the Jena Safety Anchor. We tested 60 participants in our study who all received the hypnosis session and a stress task. The safety group used the Jena Safety Anchor during acute stress (Trier Social Stress Test, TSST). The control group used a neutral anchor. We measured subjective stress responses via self-reports and physiological stress responses via saliva and blood samples as well as heart rate. One week later, all participants filled in an online survey to measure long-term effects of the post-hypnotic safety suggestion. We found that participants using the Jena Safety Anchor during the TSST reported significantly lower stress compared to the control group. The safety group also reported significantly fewer negative thoughts concerning their TSST performance than the control group during the stress recovery phase and 1 week later. All participants indicated that the Jena Safety Anchor still worked 1 week after its establishment. Suggestibility did not affect the efficacy of the Jena Safety Anchor. Our findings demonstrate that post-hypnotic safety suggestions improve stress coping with long-lasting effects, which makes it a promising intervention to promote mental health and establish stress resilience in just one hypnosis session.
miR-30c affects the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis by regulating target gene VIP
Authors: Dong Xiang , Zhan Yuling , Yang Minghui , Li Suwan , Zheng Hailun , Gao Yu
Published: February 2024

MicroRNAs play a crucial role in regulating the epithelial barrier and immune response, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). This study aimed to investigate the role and molecular mechanism of miR-30c in the pathogenesis of UC using a dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS)-induced colitis model, which is similar to ulcerative colitis. Wild-type (WT) and miR-30c knockout (KO) mice were assigned to either control or DSS-treated groups to evaluate the influence of aberrant miR-30c expression on UC pathogenesis. The disease activity index, inflammatory factors, and the extent of pathological and histological damage in colon tissues were analyzed. The effect of miR-30c on vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) gene expression was validated through luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that miR-30c KO mice with DSS-induced colitis model showed more severe phenotypes: significantly higher disease activity indices, significant body weight loss, reduced length of the colon of mice, increased number of aberrant crypt structures, reduced mucus secretion, and significant differences in inflammatory factors. These findings suggested that the absence of miR-30c might promote DSS-induced colitis, and the targe-regulatory effect of miR-30c on VIP might play an important role in the development of colitis.
Electrophysiological findings in long-term type 1 diabetes patients without diabetic retinopathy using different ERG recording systems
Authors: Arias-Alvarez Marta , Tomas-Grasa Cristina , Sopeña-Pinilla Maria , Orduna-Hospital Elvira , Fernandez-Espinosa Guisela , Bielsa-Alonso Sofia , Acha-Perez Javier , Rodriguez-Mena Diego , Pinilla Isabel
Published: February 2024

To assess full-field electroretinogram findings in long-term type 1 diabetes patients without diabetic retinopathy. Prospective study including 46 eyes of 23 patients with type 1 diabetes and 46 age-matched healthy eyes evaluated by the RETI-port/scan21 and the portable system RETeval following ISCEV guidelines. The average duration of diabetes was 28.88 ± 8.04 years. In scotopic conditions, using the RETI-port/scan21, diabetic patients showed an increase in b-wave implicit time (IT) (p = 0.017) with the lowest stimuli; a diminished b-wave amplitude (p = 0.005) in the mixed response, an increased IT (p = 0.004) with the high-intensity stimuli and an OP2 increased IT (p = 0.008) and decreased amplitude (p = 0.002). Under photopic conditions, b-wave amplitude was lower (p < 0.001) and 30-Hz flicker response was diminished (p = 0.021). Using the RETeval, in scotopic conditions, diabetic patients showed a reduction in the rod b-wave amplitude (p = 0.009), an increase in a-wave IT with the 280 Td.s stimulus (p = 0.005). OP2 had an increased IT and diminished amplitude (p = 0.003 and p = 0.002 respectively). 16 Td.s flicker showed an increased IT (p = 0.008) and diminished amplitude (p = 0.048). Despite variations in values between both systems, nearly all results displayed positive correlations. Long-term type 1 diabetes patients without diabetic retinopathy exhibit alterations in scotopic conditions, as evidenced by both conventional and portable electroretinogram devices. These findings suggest a modified retinal function, particularly in rod-driven pathways, even in the absence of vascular signs.
Effects of AIDiet intervention to improve diet quality, immuno-metabolic health in normal and overweight PCOS girls: a pilot study
Authors: Mizgier Małgorzata , Więckowska Barbara , Formanowicz Dorota , Lombardi Giovanni , Brożek Alicja , Nowicki Marcin , Durkalec-Michalski Krzysztof , Kędzia Witold , Jarząbek-Bielecka Grażyna
Published: February 2024

This study was conducted in two groups of girls with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) categorized as slim (group N) and overweight-to-obese (group Ov/Ob). The study's primary outcome was to assess the impact of a 12-week anti-inflammatory diet (AIDiet) intervention, without energy deficit, on daily diet quality improvement, evaluated according to the KIDMED index. The secondary outcome was improving inflammatory, redox, hormonal, and metabolic statuses. In the study, which was completed by 13 girls from the Ov/Ob group and 19 girls from the N group, a significant improvement in the mean KIDMED score was obtained. Moreover, the intervention significantly improves concentration of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), fasting insulin, and the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, in the Ov/Ob group, while both groups experienced a reduction in the concentration of interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α), and androstenedione. The AIDiet intervention effectively improved the quality of the subjects' diets, which was associated with the improvement of hormonal and immuno-metabolic markers. However, these changes in normal-weight patients were observed regardless of body weight reduction. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04738409.
Elder (Sambucus nigra), identified by high-content screening, counteracts foam cell formation without promoting hepatic lipogenesis
Authors: Steinbauer Stefanie , König Alice , Neuhauser Cathrina , Schwarzinger Bettina , Stangl Herbert , Iken Marcus , Weghuber Julian , Röhrl Clemens
Published: February 2024

Cholesterol deposition in intimal macrophages leads to foam cell formation and atherosclerosis. Reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), initiated by efflux of excess cholesterol from foam cells, counteracts atherosclerosis. However, targeting RCT by enhancing cholesterol efflux was so far accompanied by adverse hepatic lipogenesis. Here, we aimed to identify novel natural enhancers of macrophage cholesterol efflux suitable for the prevention of atherosclerosis. Plant extracts of an open-access library were screened for their capacity to increase cholesterol efflux in RAW264.7 macrophages trace-labeled with fluorescent BODIPY-cholesterol. Incremental functional validation of hits yielded two final extracts, elder (Sambucus nigra) and bitter orange (Citrus aurantium L.) that induced ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) expression and reduced cholesteryl ester accumulation in aggregated LDL-induced foam cells. Aqueous elder extracts were subsequently prepared in-house and both, flower and leaf extracts increased ABCA1 mRNA and protein expression in human THP-1 macrophages, while lipogenic gene expression in hepatocyte-derived cells was not induced. Chlorogenic acid isomers and the quercetin glycoside rutin were identified as the main polyphenols in elder extracts with putative biological action. In summary, elder flower and leaf extracts increase macrophage ABCA1 expression and reduce foam cell formation without adversely affecting hepatic lipogenesis.
Comparison of retinal thickness measurements among four different optical coherence tomography devices
Authors: Nam Ki Tae , Yun Cheolmin , Seo Myungho , Ahn Somin , Oh Jaeryung
Published: February 2024

We sought to compare the retinal thickness measurements collected using different optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices. This prospective study included 21 healthy cases, and the retinal thickness was measured using the PLEX Elite (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, California, USA), DRI OCT-1 Atlantis (Topcon Corp, Tokyo, Japan), Cirrus 5000 HD-OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec), and Spectralis OCT (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany), respectively. The mean central retinal thickness (CRT) and mean retinal thickness of the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) area were compared. The CRT varied significantly among the different OCT devices (P < 0.001). Post-hoc analysis revealed that the CRT measured using PLEX Elite (278.95 ± 20.04 µm) and Spectralis (271.86 ± 17.92 µm) were similar, and both were greater than the CRT measurements of DRI OCT-1 (239.57 ± 21.06 µm) and Cirrus (256.76 ± 17.82 µm). Additionally, the mean retinal thickness in each ETDRS area showed significant differences among the four devices (all P < 0.001). The mean retinal thickness measured varied according to the device used, and this needs to be considered when comparing retinal thickness measurements taken with different devices.
CDYL for infrared and visible light image dense small object detection
Authors: Wu Huixin , Zhu Yang , Li Shuqi
Published: February 2024

To address the phenomenon of many small and hard-to-detect objects in infrared and visible light images, we propose an object detection algorithm CDYL (Convolution to Fully Connect-ed-Deformable Convolution You only Look once) based on the CFC-DC (Convolution to Fully Connected-Deformable Convolution) module. The core operator of CDYL is CFC-DC, making our model not only have a large effective receptive field in infrared and visible light images, but also have adaptive spatial aggregation conditioned by input and task information. As a result, the CDYL reduces the strict inductive bias of traditional CNNs and has long-range dependence for large kernel convolution as well as adaptive spatial aggregation, deeply mining of edge and correlation information in images to enhance sensitivity to small objects, thereby improving performance in dense small object detection tasks. In order to improve the ability of the CFC-DC module to perceive the detailed information of the image, we use the Mish activation function, which has a wider minima which improves the generalization. The effectiveness as well as the generalization of CDYL is evaluated on an infrared image dataset and an UAV image dataset, and it is compared with other state-of-the-art object detection algorithms. Compared to the baseline network YOLOv8l, our model achieved a 3.0% improvement in mAP0.5 in infrared image detection tasks and a 1.1% improvement in mAP0.5 in visible light image detection tasks. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm achieves superior average precision values on both infrared and visible light images, while maintaining a light weight. Code is publicly available at https://github.com/yangzhu1/CDYL.
Principal causes of acute poisoning in an emergency service: experience between 2014 and 2021 at a University Hospital in Southwestern Colombia
Authors: Hurtado David , Quintero Jaime A. , Rodríguez Yeraldin Alejandra , Pérez Daniel Esteban , Paz Roger Figueroa , Diez-Sepúlveda Julio
Published: February 2024

Acute poisonings are a global public health problem, which implies costs and disease burden for society. In Colombia, there is a significant underreporting of data on acute poisoning and data gaps on the toxicological profile of the population. This study aims to identify the epidemiology of acute poisoning in a high-complexity hospital in southwestern Colombia. A descriptive study with retrospective data collection was performed. The variables were expressed through the measure of central tendency and dispersion. Categorical variables were described in proportions. A total of 406 patients were included. The median age was 31 years (IQR 23–48), 56.2% were male, and only 19.2% had a history of mental illness. Suicidal intent represented 58.8% of the cases, and the most frequent route of exposure was the oral route (81.6%). The most prevalent groups of substances were pesticides (34.2%) and medicines (32%). The most common etiological agent was organophosphates (16.5%). Cholinergic toxidrome was the most common. The average stay in the ICU was 4.5 days (± 4.8), and the mortality was 4.2%. The principal causes of acute poisoning were drugs and pesticides, with a predominant etiology of organophosphates and depressants of the central nervous system. There was a significant predominance of young male patients with suicidal intent, low mental disorders, elevated unemployment rate, and similar mortality reported in other studies. This study improves the knowledge about acute poisoning in southwestern Colombian to carry out multicenter analytic studies.
A multilayer perceptron neural network approach for optimizing solar irradiance forecasting in Central Africa with meteorological insights
Authors: Mfetoum Inoussah Moungnutou , Ngoh Simon Koumi , Molu Reagan Jean Jacques , Nde Kenfack Brice Félix , Onguene Raphaël , Naoussi Serge Raoul Dzonde , Tamba Jean Gaston , Bajaj Mohit , Berhanu Milkias
Published: February 2024

Promoting renewable energy sources, particularly in the solar industry, has the potential to address the energy shortfall in Central Africa. Nevertheless, a difficulty occurs due to the erratic characteristics of solar irradiance data, which is influenced by climatic fluctuations and challenging to regulate. The current investigation focuses on predicting solar irradiance on an inclined surface, taking into consideration the impact of climatic variables such as temperature, wind speed, humidity, and air pressure. The used methodology for this objective is Artificial Neural Network (ANN), and the inquiry is carried out in the metropolitan region of Douala. The data collection device used in this research is the meteorological station located at the IUT of Douala. This station was built as a component of the Douala sustainable city effort, in partnership with the CUD and the IRD. Data was collected at 30-min intervals for a duration of around 2 years, namely from January 17, 2019, to October 30, 2020. The aforementioned data has been saved in a database that underwent pre-processing in Excel and later employed MATLAB for the creation of the artificial neural network model. 80% of the available data was utilized for training the network, 15% was allotted for validation, and the remaining 5% was used for testing. Different combinations of input data were evaluated to ascertain their individual degrees of accuracy. The logistic Sigmoid function, with 50 hidden layer neurons, yielded a correlation coefficient of 98.883% between the observed and estimated sun irradiation. This function is suggested for evaluating the intensities of solar radiation at the place being researched and at other sites that have similar climatic conditions.
UV index-based model for predicting synthesis of (pre-)vitamin D3 in the mediterranean basin
Authors: Kallioğlu Mehmet Ali , Sharma Ashutosh , Kallioğlu Ayşan , Kumar Sunil , Khargotra Rohit , Singh Tej
Published: February 2024

The importance of solar radiation for the body’s ability to synthesize Vitamin D3 is well documented, yet the precise amount of sun exposure required to avoid Vitamin D insufficiency is less clear. To address this knowledge gap, this study sought to utilize the sun in a suitable period at the optimum dose by utilizing numerical simulations to determine the amount of Vitamin D3 synthesis in the skin according to season, time of day, and geographical location in Turkey. The study was carried out in three stages; in the first stage, daily, monthly, and annual values were determined in cases where the solar zenith angle has the active UV-B wavelength. The second stage determined the level of Vitamin D that can be synthesized in all skin types at 25% solar radiation exposure. In the third stage, the sun exposure time required for 1000 International Units (IU) for all skin types was calculated. According to the analysis, the yearly period of active synthesis of D3 on Earth lasts from the beginning of March to the third week of October. During the day, it is between 10:00 and 16:00. For 1000 IU/day, the average annual estimated times (minutes) are 5.05 for Type I, 6.3 for Type II, 7.6 for Type III, 11.35 for Type IV, 15.15 for Type V, and 25.25 for Type VI. The results of this paper will impact awareness for academic-medical users.
Disastrous cerebral and ocular vascular complications after cosmetic facial filler injections: a retrospective case series study
Authors: Zhao Fanfan , Chen Yao , He Dong , You Xiangxi , Xu Yuyun
Published: February 2024

Soft tissue filler injections are among the most popular facial rejuvenation methods. Cerebral infarction and ophthalmic artery occlusion are rare and catastrophic complications, especially when facial cosmetic fillers are injected by inexperienced doctors. Radiologists and plastic surgeons need to increase their awareness of the complications associated with fillers, which allows early diagnosis and intervention to improve patient prognosis. Regarding the mechanism by which vascular occlusion occurs after facial filler injections, a retrograde embolic mechanism is currently the predominant theory. Numerous case reports have been presented regarding complications associated with injections of facial aesthetics. However, the small sample sizes of these studies did not allow for an adequate assessment of the clinical and imaging manifestations based on the location of the occlusion and the type of filler, and detailed elaboration of multiple cerebral infarctions is also lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the clinical and radiological features of severe cerebral and ocular complications caused by cosmetic facial filler injections. In addition, we discuss the pathogenesis, treatment, and prognosis of these patients. The clinical, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) findings were described and analysed. Radiological examinations are crucial for demonstrating severe complications, and brain MRI is especially strongly suggested for patients with cosmetic filler-induced vision loss to identify asymptomatic cerebral infarctions. Extreme caution and care should be taken during facial injections by plastic surgeons.
Music literacy improves reading skills via bilateral orthographic development
Authors: Pantaleo Marta Maria , Arcuri Giulia , Manfredi Mirella , Proverbio Alice Mado
Published: February 2024

Considerable evidence suggests that musical education induces structural and functional neuroplasticity in the brain. This study aimed to explore the potential impact of such changes on word-reading proficiency. We investigated whether musical training promotes the development of uncharted orthographic regions in the right hemisphere leading to better reading abilities. A total of 60 healthy, right-handed culturally matched professional musicians and controls took part in this research. They were categorised as normo-typical readers based on their reading speed (syl/sec) and subdivided into two groups of relatively good and poor readers. High density EEG/ERPs were recorded while participants engaged in a note or letter detection task. Musicians were more fluent in word, non-word and text reading tests, and faster in detecting both notes and words. They also exhibited greater N170 and P300 responses, and target-non target differences for words than controls. Similarly, good readers showed larger N170 and P300 responses than poor readers. Increased reading skills were associated to a bilateral activation of the occipito/temporal cortex, during music and word reading. Source reconstruction also showed a reduced activation of the left fusiform gyrus, and of areas devoted to attentional/ocular shifting in poor vs. good readers, and in controls vs. musicians. Data suggest that music literacy acquired early in time can shape reading circuits by promoting the specialization of a right-sided reading area, whose activity was here associated with enhanced reading proficiency. In conclusion, music literacy induces measurable neuroplastic changes in the left and right OT cortex responsible for improved word reading ability.
Automated differentiation of mixed populations of free-flying female mosquitoes under semi-field conditions
Authors: Johnson Brian J. , Weber Michael , Al-Amin Hasan Mohammad , Geier Martin , Devine Gregor J.
Published: February 2024

Great advances in automated identification systems, or ‘smart traps’, that differentiate insect species have been made in recent years, yet demonstrations of field-ready devices under free-flight conditions remain rare. Here, we describe the results of mixed-species identification of female mosquitoes using an advanced optoacoustic smart trap design under free-flying conditions. Point-of-capture classification was assessed using mixed populations of congeneric (Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti) and non-congeneric (Ae. aegypti and Anopheles stephensi) container-inhabiting species of medical importance. Culex quinquefasciatus, also common in container habitats, was included as a third species in all assessments. At the aggregate level, mixed collections of non-congeneric species (Ae. aegypti, Cx. quinquefasciatus, and An. stephensi) could be classified at accuracies exceeding 90% (% error = 3.7–7.1%). Conversely, error rates increased when analysing individual replicates (mean % error = 48.6; 95% CI 8.1–68.6) representative of daily trap captures and at the aggregate level when Ae. albopictus was released in the presence of Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus (% error = 7.8–31.2%). These findings highlight the many challenges yet to be overcome but also the potential operational utility of optoacoustic surveillance in low diversity settings typical of urban environments.
Orthogonal mode couplers for plasmonic chip based on metal–insulator–metal waveguide for temperature sensing application
Authors: Butt Muhammad Ali , Piramidowicz Ryszard
Published: February 2024

In this work, a plasmonic sensor based on metal–insulator–metal (MIM) waveguide for temperature sensing application is numerically investigated via finite element method (FEM). The resonant cavity filled with PDMS polymer is side-coupled to the MIM bus waveguide. The sensitivity of the proposed device is ~ − 0.44 nm/°C which can be further enhanced to − 0.63 nm/°C by embedding a period array of metallic nanoblocks in the center of the cavity. We comprehend the existence of numerous highly attractive and sensitive plasmonic sensor designs, yet a notable gap exists in the exploration of light coupling mechanisms to these nanoscale waveguides. Consequently, we introduced an attractive approach: orthogonal mode couplers designed for plasmonic chips, which leverage MIM waveguide-based sensors. The optimized transmission of the hybrid system including silicon couplers and MIM waveguide is in the range of − 1.73 dB to − 2.93 dB for a broad wavelength range of 1450–1650 nm. The skillful integration of these couplers not only distinguishes our plasmonic sensor but also positions it as a highly promising solution for an extensive array of sensing applications.
Multiple geriatric syndromes in community-dwelling older adults in China
Authors: Wang Ling-Ying , Hu Zi-yi , Chen Hong-xiu , Tang Meng-lin , Hu Xiu-ying
Published: February 2024

This study aims to assess the prevalence of geriatric syndromes and identify factors associated with multiple geriatric syndromes in community-dwelling older adults in China. We utilized a convenience sampling method to recruit older adults and from one rural and one urban community in Chengdu, China, from October 2022 to March 2023. A total of 706 older adults aged 60 years or older were included. Ten geriatric syndromes were investigated including two mental disorders: depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment; and eight somatic disorders: pain, falls, sleep disturbance, constipation, polypharmacy, multimorbidity, malnutrition and frailty. Multiple geriatric syndromes were defined as an individual having two or more geriatric syndromes. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics. The independent risk factors for multiple geriatric syndromes were assessed using a logistic regression model. This study found that 90.5% of the participants had at least one geriatric syndrome, with 72.8% experiencing multiple geriatric syndromes. The top four geriatric syndromes in our study were polypharmacy (58.5%), malnutrition/at risk of malnutrition (43.1%), multimorbidity (42.1%), and frailty/prefrailty (34.3%). Of the older adults, 368(52.1%) had only somatic disorders, 18(2.5%) had only mental disorders and 253 (35.8%) had somatic-mental disorders. According to the logistic regression analysis, residence, age, marriage, BMI, and self-related health were significantly associated with multiple geriatric syndromes among older adults. This study highlights that multiple geriatric syndromes are prevalent among community-dwelling older adults in China, and underscores the significance of certain demographic factors in their occurrence. Future longitudinal studies are needed to establish the temporal relationship between multiple geriatric syndromes and these demographic factors, as well as to explore causal relationships and effective prevention strategies for geriatric syndrome.
The effect of Immersive Virtual Reality on balance: an exploratory study on the feasibility of head-mounted displays for balance evaluation
Authors: Rosiak Oskar , Pietrzak Nikodem , Szczęsna Anna , Kulczak Izabela , Zwoliński Grzegorz , Kamińska Dorota , Konopka Wiesław , Jozefowicz-Korczynska Magdalena
Published: February 2024

Global interest in applying virtual reality (VR) in research and medicine has grown significantly, with potential benefits for patients suffering from balance disorders, instability, and a high risk of falling. This exploratory study assesses the impact of immersive VR (IVR) delivered through a head-mounted display (HMD) on balance and explores the feasibility of using the HMD VR unit as a standalone posturography tool. Using the Meta Quest 2 HMD and a mid-range Android smartphone equipped with standard sensors, the research employed a VR environment that simulated a ship at sea, with thirty-eight healthy participants with no otoneurologic abnormalities. Measurements were conducted in repeated trials, including static assessments on both stable ground and foam, as well as a 3-m walk. This was conducted in two settings: one within a VR environment with three different intensity levels and the other in non-VR settings. Statistical analysis and clinical evaluation revealed that IVR with HMD influences head-level sway velocity, which correlates with increased visual disturbance, suggesting its potential as a low-risk standalone posturography tool.
First molecular detection and genetic diversity of Hepatozoon sp. (Apicomplexa) and Brugia sp. (Nematoda) in a crocodile monitor in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
Authors: Junsiri Witchuta , Kamkong Patchana , Taweethavonsawat Piyanan
Published: February 2024

The crocodile monitor (Varanus salvator) is the most common monitor lizard in Thailand. Based on habitat and food, they have the potential to transmit zoonoses, with a high possibility of infecting ectoparasites and endoparasites. Diseases that could infect crocodile monitors and be transmitted to other animals, including humans. This research aims to identify and evaluate the phylogenetic relationships of Hepatozoon sp. and sheathed microfilaria in crocodile monitors. The phylogenetic analyses of Hepatozoon, based on 18S rRNA, and sheathed microfilaria, based on the COX1 gene, revealed that the Hepatozoon sp. were grouped with H. caimani, while sheathed microfilaria were grouped together with B. timori. This study provides insights into the genetic diversity and host-parasite interactions of hemoparasites in crocodile monitors in Thailand.
The impact of the Madden-Julian oscillation on spring and autumn afternoon diurnal convection in Sri Lanka
Authors: Huang Wan‑Ru , Koralegedara Suranjith Bandara , Chiang Tzu-Yang , Lee Cheng‑An , Tung Po-Han , Chien Yu-Tang , Deng Liping
Published: February 2024

This study examines the impact of strong Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) phases (P1–P8) on diurnal rainfall patterns focusing on Afternoon Diurnal Convection (ADC) events in Sri Lanka during 2001–2020 spring and autumn. Daily mean rainfall increases (decreases) during the P2-to-P3 (P6-to-P7) MJO phases in both seasons, while the diurnal rainfall amplitude peaks during the P2-to-P3 (P8-to-P1) MJO phases in spring (autumn). ADC events also occur more frequently and intensely during MJO P2-to-P3 (P8-to-P1) in spring (autumn). The MJO’s modulation of diurnal rainfall amplitude and ADC events is more apparent in autumn than in spring. Active MJO phases enhance the westward propagation of diurnal rainfall associated with ADC events, sustained by moisture flux convergence and enhanced upward motion. The prevailing mid-to-upper level easterly wind, combined with deep convection over Sri Lanka, contributes to a more pronounced westward propagation during the P2-to-P3 (P8-to-P1) phases for ADC events in spring (autumn).
Genomic and epigenomic basis of breast invasive lobular carcinomas lacking CDH1 genetic alterations
Authors: Dopeso Higinio , Gazzo Andrea M. , Derakhshan Fatemeh , Brown David N. , Selenica Pier , Jalali Sahar , Da Cruz Paula Arnaud , Marra Antonio , da Silva Edaise M. , Basili Thais , Gusain Laxmi , Colon-Cartagena Lorraine , Bhaloo Shirin Issa , Green Hunter , Vanderbilt Chad , Oesterreich Steffi , Grabenstetter Anne , Kuba M. Gabriela , Ross Dara , Giri Dilip , Wen Hannah Y. , Zhang Hong , Brogi Edi , Weigelt Britta , Pareja Fresia , Reis-Filho Jorge S.
Published: February 2024

CDH1 (E-cadherin) bi-allelic inactivation is the hallmark alteration of breast invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), resulting in its discohesive phenotype. A subset of ILCs, however, lack CDH1 genetic/epigenetic inactivation, and their genetic underpinning is unknown. Through clinical targeted sequencing data reanalysis of 364 primary ILCs, we identified 25 ILCs lacking CDH1 bi-allelic genetic alterations. CDH1 promoter methylation was frequent (63%) in these cases. Targeted sequencing reanalysis revealed 3 ILCs harboring AXIN2 deleterious fusions (n = 2) or loss-of-function mutation (n = 1). Whole-genome sequencing of 3 cases lacking bi-allelic CDH1 genetic/epigenetic inactivation confirmed the AXIN2 mutation and no other cell-cell adhesion genetic alterations but revealed a new CTNND1 (p120) deleterious fusion. AXIN2 knock-out in MCF7 cells resulted in lobular-like features, including increased cellular migration and resistance to anoikis. Taken together, ILCs lacking CDH1 genetic/epigenetic alterations are driven by inactivating alterations in other cell adhesion genes (CTNND1 or AXIN2), endorsing a convergent phenotype in ILC.
Widespread contamination of soils and vegetation with current use pesticide residues along altitudinal gradients in a European Alpine valley
Authors: Brühl Carsten A. , Engelhard Nina , Bakanov Nikita , Wolfram Jakob , Hertoge Koen , Zaller Johann G.
Published: February 2024

Pesticides are transferred outside of cropland and can affect animals and plants. Here we investigated the distribution of 97 current use pesticides in soil and vegetation as central exposure matrices of insects. Sampling was conducted on 53 sites along eleven altitudinal transects in the Vinschgau valley (South Tyrol, Italy), in Europe’s largest apple growing area. A total of 27 pesticides (10 insecticides, 11 fungicides and 6 herbicides) were detected, originating mostly from apple orchards. Residue numbers and concentrations decreased with altitude and distance to orchards, but were even detected at the highest sites. Predictive, detection-based mapping indicates that pesticide mixtures can occur anywhere from the valley floor to mountain peaks. This study demonstrates widespread pesticide contamination of Alpine environments, creating contaminated landscapes. As residue mixtures have been detected in remote alpine ecosystems and conservation areas, we call for a reduction of pesticide use to prevent further contamination and loss of biodiversity.
Trait-mediated processes and per capita contributions to ecosystem functioning depend on conspecific density and climate conditions
Authors: Sanders Trystan , Solan Martin , Godbold Jasmin A.
Published: February 2024

The ecological consequences of environmental change are highly dependent on the functional contributions of the surviving community, but categorical descriptors commonly used to project ecosystem futures fail to capture context dependent response variability. Here, we show that intraspecific variability for a range of sediment-dwelling marine invertebrates is moderated by changes in the density of conspecifics and/or climatic conditions. Although these trait-mediated changes result in modifications to ecosystem properties, we find that the contributions of individuals to functioning are not necessarily additive but, instead, are a result of alterations to per capita performance. Our findings also indicate that trait variation within species can exert a greater influence on functioning than that of trait variation between species. Hence, projections of likely functional outcomes that scale from mean trait values are unlikely to be robust, highlighting a need to account for how and when intraspecific variability results in context-dependent community responses to change.
Future transition from forests to shrublands and grasslands in the western United States is expected to reduce carbon storage
Authors: Kodero Jared M. , Felzer Benjamin S. , Shi Yuning
Published: February 2024

Climate change is expected to impact vegetation in the western United States, leading to shifts in dominant Plant Functional Types and carbon storage. Here, we used a biogeographic model integrated with a biogeochemical model to predict changes in dominant Plant Functional Type by 2070−2100. Results show that under the Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5 scenario, 40% of the originally forested areas will transition to shrubland (7%) or grassland (32%), while under the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 scenario, 58% of forested areas shift to shrubland (18%) or grassland (40%). These shifts in Plant Functional Types result in a net overall loss in carbon storage equal to −60 gigagram of carbon and −82 gigagram of carbon under Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5 and 8.5, respectively. Our findings highlight the need for urgent action to mitigate the effects of climate change on vegetation and carbon storage in the region.
Estimating weakening on hillslopes caused by strong earthquakes
Authors: Xi Chuanjie , Tanyas Hakan , Lombardo Luigi , He Kun , Hu Xiewen , Jibson Randall W.
Published: February 2024

The weakening of hillslopes during strong earthquakes increases landsliding rates in post-seismic periods. However, very few studies have addressed the amount of coseismic reduction in shear strength of hillslope materials. This makes estimation of post-seismic landslide susceptibility challenging. Here we propose a method to quantify the maximum shear-strength reduction expected on seismically disturbed hillslopes. We focus on a subset of the area affected by the 2008 Mw 7.9 Wenchuan, China earthquake. We combine physical and data-driven modeling approaches. First, we back-analyze shear-strength reduction at locations where post-seismic landslides occurred. Second, we regress the estimated shear-strength reduction against peak ground acceleration, local relief, and topographic position index to extrapolate the shear-strength reduction over the entire study area. Our results show a maximum of 60%–75% reduction in near-surface shear strength over a peak ground acceleration range of 0.5–0.9 g. Reduction percentages can be generalized using a data-driven model.
An accurate and sensitive determination of selected pesticides in mixed fruit juice samples using the combination of a simple and efficient microextraction method and GC-MS with a matrix matching calibration strategy
Authors: Bodur Süleyman , Tutar Bahar Karademir , Tutar Ömer Faruk , Bakırdere Sezgin
Published: February 2024

A simple and efficient microextraction method was proposed to preconcentrate eight different pesticides from mixed fruit juice samples prior to GC-MS measurement.
Self-assembled nanodrug delivery systems for anti-cancer drugs from traditional Chinese medicine
Authors: Li Qiao , Lianghao Yuan , Shijie Gao , Zhiyi Wang , Yuanting Tang , Cong Chen , Chun-Qin Zhao , Xianjun Fu
Published: February 2024

In this review, we have summarized the common self-assembled mechanism of NSMs-based SANDDSs. Meanwhile, the potential applications for cancer treatment and future development prospects are also prospected.
Gelatine–collagen photo-crosslinkable 3D matrixes for skin regeneration
Authors: Menassol Gauthier , van der Sanden Boudewijn , Gredy Laetitia , Arnol Capucine , Divoux Thibaut , Martin Donald K. , Stephan Olivier
Published: February 2024

Immediate care of skin wounds and burns is essential to repair this mechanical and chemical barrier to infections.
Application of 1D/2D carbon material supported metal nanoclusters for electrochemical conversion
Authors: Song Zhaoxin , Shi Haiting , Liu Liangsen , Zeng Ming , Wang Shuo , Wu Xianyan , Xu Zhiwei
Published: February 2024

Metal nanoclusters (MNCs) are important in electrocatalysis, characterized by high atom utilization, unique geometrical and electronic structures, and abundant active sites.
Quantitative thermodynamic exposure assessment of PCBs available to sandworms (Alitta virens) in activated carbon remediated sediment during ongoing sediment deposition
Authors: Gidley Philip T. , Lotufo Guilherme R. , Schmidt Stine N. , Mayer Philipp , Burgess Robert M.
Published: February 2024

Compared to untreated polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminated sediments, activated carbon amendment to sediment reduced the thermodynamic potential for bioaccumulation and proportional partitioning-based sampling uptake.
Ecotoxicological assessment of biomass-derived furan platform chemicals using aquatic and terrestrial bioassays
Authors: Parmaki Stella , Vasquez Marlen I. , Patsalou Maria , Gomes Rafael F. A. , Simeonov Svilen P. , Afonso Carlos A. M. , Koutinas Michalis
Published: February 2024

An environmental toxicological assessment of fourteen furanic compounds serving as valuable building blocks produced from biomass was performed.
Mechanistic description of lead sorption onto nanoplastics
Authors: Blancho Florent , Davranche Mélanie , Léon Adrien , Marsac Rémi , Reynauld Stéphanie , Grassl Bruno , Gigault Julien
Published: February 2024

Although it is currently recognized that nanoplastics (NPs) are present in the environment, their ability to carry metals or other contaminants and the processes involved are still poorly investigated.
Gold and titania nanoparticles accumulated in the body induce late toxic effects and alterations in transcriptional and miRNA landscape
Authors: Soltysova Andrea , Ludwig Nicole , Diener Caroline , Sramkova Monika , Kozics Katarina , Jakic Kristina , Balintova Lucia , Bastus Neus Gomez , Moriones Oscar Hernando , Liskova Aurelia , Krivosikova Zora , Rollerova Eva , Manova Alena , Dubaj Tibor , Puntes Victor , Simon Peter , Wsolova Ladislava , Tulinska Jana , Smolkova Bozena , Meese Eckart , Gabelova Alena
Published: February 2024

Conventional toxicological methods and integrated transcriptomic analysis were used to comprehensively assess the potential health hazard of residual metal nanoparticles accumulated in the body due to poor solubility.
The efficacy of Pb, As(v) and Sb(iii) removal by biochar is determined by solution chemistry
Authors: Chaudhuri Sampriti , Sigmund Gabriel , Kumar Naresh , Hüffer Thorsten , Mautner Andreas , Hofmann Thilo
Published: February 2024

A design of experiments approach was used to elucidate the combined effects of dissolved ions and particulate phases on the efficacy of biochar in metal and metalloid removal.