bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of time-restricted eating with exercise on body composition in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hays Harry M. , Sefidmooye Azar Pouria , Kang Minsoo , Tinsley Grant M. , Wijayatunga Nadeeja N.
Published: January 2025

Background

The effects of time-restricted eating (TRE) with exercise on body composition in adults are not clear.

Objective

This meta-analysis aimed to assess the effects of TRE when followed in combination with various forms of exercise, including aerobic, resistance, and combined aerobic and resistance [concurrent] training on body composition.

Methods

Studies published up to May 2023 were searched in EBSCOhost (MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORTSDISCUS), PubMed, and SCOPUS databases. Fifteen studies, including 338 participants, that evaluated TRE vs. unrestricted eating in individuals performing exercise were analyzed. A random-effects model was used to calculate the weighted mean effect sizes (ES) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI’s).

Results

According to the pooled results, TRE had a small but significant reduction of fat mass (FM) kg with an effect size of −0.20 (95% CI = −0.28 to −0.13, p < 0.001) and on body fat percent (BF%) with an effect size of −0.23 (95% CI = −0.35 to −0.11, p < 0.001). The prediction interval ranged from −0.48 to 0.08 for FM and from −0.64 to 0.18 for BF%, respectively. TRE did not significantly alter fat-free mass (FFM) kg compared to control (p = 0.07). Furthermore, age, body mass index (BMI), exercise type, study duration, and energy intake did not have a significant impact on the variation in effect sizes according to the subgroup analyses (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

TRE with exercise may reduce fat mass compared to an unrestricted eating window exercise-matched control while preserving FFM. However, more studies are needed.
Mechanisms of regulated cell death during plant infection by the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae
Authors: Wengler Matthew R. , Talbot Nicholas J.
Published: January 2025

Fungi are the most important group of plant pathogens, responsible for many of the world’s most devastating crop diseases. One of the reasons they are such successful pathogens is because several fungi have evolved the capacity to breach the tough outer cuticle of plants using specialized infection structures called appressoria. This is exemplified by the filamentous ascomycete fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, causal agent of rice blast, one of the most serious diseases affecting rice cultivation globally. M. oryzae develops a pressurized dome-shaped appressorium that uses mechanical force to rupture the rice leaf cuticle. Appressoria form in response to the hydrophobic leaf surface, which requires the Pmk1 MAP kinase signalling pathway, coupled to a series of cell-cycle checkpoints that are necessary for regulated cell death of the fungal conidium and development of a functionally competent appressorium. Conidial cell death requires autophagy, which occurs within each cell of the spore, and is regulated by components of the cargo-independent autophagy pathway. This results in trafficking of the contents of all three cells to the incipient appressorium, which develops enormous turgor of up to 8.0 MPa, due to glycerol accumulation, and differentiates a thickened, melanin-lined cell wall. The appressorium then re-polarizes, re-orienting the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton to enable development of a penetration peg in a perpendicular orientation, that ruptures the leaf surface using mechanical force. Re-polarization requires septin GTPases which form a ring structure at the base of the appressorium, which delineates the point of plant infection, and acts as a scaffold for actin re-localization, enhances cortical rigidity, and forms a lateral diffusion barrier to focus polarity determinants that regulate penetration peg formation. Here we review the mechanism of regulated cell death in M. oryzae, which requires autophagy but may also involve ferroptosis. We critically evaluate the role of regulated cell death in appressorium morphogenesis and examine how it is initiated and regulated, both temporally and spatially, during plant infection. We then use this synopsis to present a testable model for control of regulated cell death during appressorium-dependent plant infection by the blast fungus.
RNA m6A involves in regulation of oxidative stress and apoptosis may via NF-kB pathway in cadmium-induced lung cells
Authors: Zhang Nan , Yang Jie , Zhao Yuan , Li Wenhong , Zhao Bo , Li Rongxian , He Zuoshun , Gu Shiyan
Published: January 2025

Cadmium has been identified as an environmental pollutant and a carcinogen. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) plays a crucial role in the development of lung tumors, but the mechanisms remain incompletely clarified. In present study, our data demonstrated that prolonged treatment of 1 μmol/L CdSO4 for 40 passages in bronchial epithelial cells (Beas-2B cells) resulted in the development of a malignant phenotype, which manifested as boosted proliferation, migration and invasion capacity as well as apoptosis reduction. Proteomic assay revealed that in passage 40 cells, 350 proteins showed differentially expressed in comparison to control, and these proteins were primarily enriched in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways of “pathways in cancer” and “Chemical carcinoma-reactive oxygen species”. Moreover, the mRNAs of Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), the key signaling molecules in these two signaling pathways, were predicted to contain m6A modification sites with high confidence. The subsequent experimental results indicated that levels of m6A and Fat mass and obesity associated protein (FTO) elevated, while Alkylated DNA repair protein alkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5) and YTH Domain Containing Protein 2 (YTHDC2) reduced with the increasing of cadmium treatment generations. Furthermore, the reduction of m6A levels by 3-deazide adenosine (DAA, m6A inhibitor) was found to significantly inhibit malignant characteristics of cadmium-induced cells, activate molecules involved in the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) signaling pathway, and inhibit the activity of NF-κB. It is also noteworthy that the results based on animals indicate that the relevant indicators and biological changes are partially similar to cell experiments. In detail, m6A modification levels in lung tissue were observed to increase while the expressions of FTO, ALKBH5 and YTHDC2 were found to drop. Additionally, immunofluorescence examination illustrated the co-localization of the m6A regulatory proteins FTO and YTHDC2 with NF-κB. The presented data collectively suggest that chronic cadmium treatment may impact the m6A level through influencing regulatory proteins, which could potentially trigger oxidative stress and apoptosis by regulating transcription factors such as NF-κB and NRF2. In conclusion, our study provides a scientific foundation for understanding cadmium toxicity and offers novel insights for treating cadmium-induced lung diseases.
Atomic-level Ru-Ir mixing in rutile-type (RuIr)O2 for efficient and durable oxygen evolution catalysis
Authors: Park Yeji , Jang Ho Yeon , Lee Tae Kyung , Kim Taekyung , Kim Doyeop , Kim Dongjin , Baik Hionsuck , Choi Jinwon , Kwon Taehyun , Yoo Sung Jong , Back Seoin , Lee Kwangyeol
Published: January 2025

The success of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) depends on active and robust electrocatalysts to facilitate oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Heteroatom-doped-RuOx has emerged as a promising electrocatalysts because heteroatoms suppress lattice oxygen participation in the OER, thereby preventing the destabilization of surface Ru and catalyst degradation. However, identifying suitable heteroatoms and achieving their atomic-scale coupling with Ru atoms are nontrivial tasks. Herein, to steer the reaction pathway away from the involvement of lattice oxygen, we integrate OER-active Ir atoms into the RuO2 matrix, which maximizes the synergy between stable Ru and active Ir centers, by leveraging the changeable growth behavior of Ru/Ir atoms on lattice parameter-modulated templates. In PEMWE, the resulting (RuIr)O2/C electrocatalysts demonstrate notable current density of 4.96 A cm−2 and mass activity of 19.84 A mgRu+Ir−1 at 2.0 V. In situ spectroscopic analysis and computational calculations highlight the importance of the synergistic coexistence of Ru/Ir-dual-OER-active sites for mitigating Ru dissolution via the optimization of the binding energy with oxygen intermediates and stabilization of Ru sites.
Systematic softening in universal machine learning interatomic potentials
Authors: Deng Bowen , Choi Yunyeong , Zhong Peichen , Riebesell Janosh , Anand Shashwat , Li Zhuohan , Jun KyuJung , Persson Kristin A. , Ceder Gerbrand
Published: January 2025

Machine learning interatomic potentials (MLIPs) have introduced a new paradigm for atomic simulations. Recent advancements have led to universal MLIPs (uMLIPs) that are pre-trained on diverse datasets, providing opportunities for universal force fields and foundational machine learning models. However, their performance in extrapolating to out-of-distribution complex atomic environments remains unclear. In this study, we highlight a consistent potential energy surface (PES) softening effect in three uMLIPs: M3GNet, CHGNet, and MACE-MP-0, which is characterized by energy and force underprediction in atomic-modeling benchmarks including surfaces, defects, solid-solution energetics, ion migration barriers, phonon vibration modes, and general high-energy states. The PES softening behavior originates primarily from the systematically underpredicted PES curvature, which derives from the biased sampling of near-equilibrium atomic arrangements in uMLIP pre-training datasets. Our findings suggest that a considerable fraction of uMLIP errors are highly systematic, and can therefore be efficiently corrected. We argue for the importance of a comprehensive materials dataset with improved PES sampling for next-generation foundational MLIPs.
AMPD1 and MTHFR genes are not associated with calcium levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients with methotrexate therapy in Indonesia
Authors: Destiani Dika P. , Dewi Sumartini , Sulaiman Syed A. S. , Alfian Sofa D. , Barliana Melisa I. , Abdulah Rizky
Published: January 2025

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic and progressive autoimmune disease that affects synovial tissues has greater risk of developing secondary osteoporosis (OP). In particular, polymorphisms in Adenosine Monophosphate Deaminase 1 (AMPD1) and Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) affect the outcome of methotrexate (MTX) treatment in patients with RA. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association of AMPD1 rs17602729, MTHFR C677T, and MTHFR A1298C polymorphisms with MTX activity in RA patients. A retrospective design was adopted to collect data from medical records and blood samples of 99 patients experiencing outpatient care at a referral hospital in Bandung. The inclusion criteria were patients diagnosed with RA, aged 18–59 years, and receiving MTX therapy for ≥ 6 months. DNA was isolated and then amplified using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and genotyping was performed with Sanger sequencing. The kinetic photometric method was used to measure the levels of calcium in the samples. The results showed that there is no significant association between the MTHFR C677T genotype variant or allele with calcium levels, as indicated by p-values of 0.177 and 0.174, respectively. The association between the MTHFR A1298C genotype variant or alleles with calcium levels was also not significant (p = 0.206 and p = 0.090, respectively). However, most patients had normal calcium levels (76 patients; 77.6%) with the MTHFR C677T genotype variant CC and the MTHFR A1298C genotype variant AA (84 patients; 84.9%). AMPD1 rs17602729 in all patients had a CC genotype with normal calcium levels. The results suggested that there was no significant association between the genetic variation of AMPD1 rs17602729, MTHFR C677T, and MTHFR A1298C with serum calcium levels in patients with RA receiving MTX therapy.
Generation of a genetically engineered porcine melanoma model featuring oncogenic control through conditional Cre recombination
Authors: Oh Dongjin , Hong Nayoung , Eun Kiyoung , Lee Joohyeong , Cai Lian , Kim Mirae , Choi Hyerin , Jawad Ali , Ham Jaehyung , Park Min Gi , Kim Bohye , Lee Sang Chul , Moon Changjong , Kim Hyunggee , Hyun Sang-Hwan
Published: January 2025

Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer that originates from melanocytes. Rodent melanoma models have provided valuable insights into melanoma pathology; however, they often lack applicability to humans owing to genetic, anatomical, physiological, and metabolic differences. Herein, we developed a transgenic porcine melanoma model that closely resembles humans via somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Our model features the conditional oncogenes cassettes, TP53R167H and human BRAFV600E, controlled by melanocyte-specific CreER recombinase. After SCNT, transgenic embryos developed normally, with the capacity to develop porcine embryonic stem cells. Seven transgenic piglets with oncogene cassettes were born through embryo transfer. We demonstrated that Cre recombination-mediated oncogene activation remarkably triggered the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in vitro. Notably, intradermal injection of 4-hydroxytamoxifen activated oncogene cassettes in vivo, resulting in melanocytic lesions resembling hyperpigmented nevi with increased proliferative properties similar to early human melanomas. This melanoma-inducing system, heritably transmitted to offspring, supports large-scale studies. The novel porcine model provides a valuable tool for elucidating melanoma development and metastasis mechanism, advancing translational medicine, and facilitating preclinical evaluation of new anticancer drugs.
Effect of grain shape elongation in direction and perpendicular to current stream (conductive or insulator) on the electrical characteristics of mixtures
Authors: Gomaa Mohamed Mahmoud
Published: January 2025

The shape elongation of grains, in mixtures, can have an effect on the electrical characteristics. Grain size and structural changes can impact the dielectric, and electrical properties of materials. The electrical properties of natural mixtures are influenced by their arrangement and shape. Insulating grains block potential pathways for electricity between electrodes. One key factor is grain shape elongation and how it aligns with the electric current. If the long part of the conductor grains lines up with the stream of current, then it will show high conductivity and an early critical percolation threshold. The critical percolation threshold decreases when the conductor is extended with the stream of current. Conductor elongated with the current stream increases the current flow. When the conductor is elongated perpendicular to the current stream, from sphere to needle, no perceptible alterations upon the associated critical threshold take effect. When the insulator is elongated with the stream of current the critical percolation threshold does not change significantly. The critical percolation threshold increases when insulator elongation perpendicular to the current direction. The elongated insulator perpendicular to the current’s stream hinders the current’s flow. The EMT offers a simulation to contain the variations in dielectric constant and conductivity across different concentrations. This is the first time to discuss the direction of elongation of conductor or insulator grains, in a mixture, in parallel or perpendicular to the stream of the current.
Synthesis, optical linear and non-linear characterization and metal ion sensing application of some novel thieno[2,3-b]thiophene-2,5-dicarbohydrazide Schiff base derivatives
Authors: Soliman Ahmed. M. M. , Abd El Aleem Ali Ali El-Remaily Mahmoud , Kamel Moumen S. , El-Araby Alaa , Shokr E. Kh.
Published: January 2025

Synthesized 3,4-Diaminothieno[2,3-b]thiophene-2,5-dicarbohydrazide (DTT) Schiff base derivatives newly were synthesized by attaching with different aldehydes, deposited in thin film form by thermal evaporation technique, and characterized by UV–Visible-NIR spectroscopy, FT-IR, NMR, and elemental analysis. It is revealed that compound 4 has the highest absorption peak intensity at 586 nm. The allied absorption, dielectric, and dispersion parameters have been calculated and discussed. The obtained results manifested that compound 4 and DTT have lower (1.92 eV), and higher (3.47 eV) energy band gap values, respectively, as a result of the conjugation number effect. The high nonlinear refractive index n2 and third-order nonlinear susceptibility χ(3) of these organic thin films are comparable with those of chalcogenide and oxide materials, making them promising for nonlinear optical systems. Compound 4 displays high sensitivity towards metal ion detection (ex. Cu+2, Ni+2, Fe+3, Mn+2, Pb+2, Co+2), suggesting its ability to be applied as a metal ion sensor and quantifying their concentration levels by means of a suitable calibration curve.
The total extract of Abelmoschus manihot (L.) medic flowers (TEA) mediated Nrf2-TFAM signalling to regulate mitochondrial antioxidant mechanism
Authors: Song Ying , Zhu Xinyi , Wang Beibei , Li Qisong , Song Biwei
Published: January 2025

Skin, as the first line of defence of the human body, is exposed to dangers such as overheating substances, ultraviolet rays, and environmental pollutants, and the incidence of skin diseases is increasing annually. Oxidative stress plays a dominant role in most skin diseases. Abelmoschus manihot (L.) medic flower (TEA) is a traditional Chinese medicine widely used to treat injuries to the skin such as water and fire scalds. It has been reported that TEA has excellent antioxidant effects. In this study, we aimed to explore the antioxidant and mitochondrial protection effects of TEA in H2O2-mediated HaCaT cell damage. HaCaT cells were incubated with H2O2 to simulate oxidative stress in the skin. The effect of TEA on HaCaT cells was also evaluated. Cell morphology was observed via inverted microscopy, and cell viability was measured via the MTT reagent. The cells were stained with Hoechst 33,324 solution. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and ATP detection kits were used to detect the corresponding indicators. The mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1. RT-PCR was used to detect mRNA and mtDNA expression. The expression of the target protein was detected by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. H2O2 triggered oxidative damage in HaCaT cells, which manifested as apoptosis, increased ROS and MDA contents, and decreased SOD activity. H2O2 activates the KEAP1/Nrf2/NQO1 signalling pathway, which decreases the expression of the intracellular KEAP1 protein and slightly increases the expression of the Nrf2 and NQO1 proteins, further causing mitochondrial oxidative stress, resulting in changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential, a reduction in the mtDNA copy number, and decreased expression of the PGC-1α and TFAM proteins. In addition the expression of mitochondrial respiratory chain genes and proteins decreased. TEA promoted the expression of Nrf2 in HaCaT cells, activated the downstream antioxidant response, and alleviated the oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage caused by H2O2. ML385 is an Nrf2 inhibitor, under which the antioxidant and mitochondrial protective effects of TEA are inhibited. When TFAM was knocked down, the protective effect of TEA on mitochondria was also inhibited. TEA protects HaCaT cells from H2O2-induced oxidative damage and mitochondrial oxidative damage through the KEAP1/Nrf2/NQO1/PGC-1α/TFAM pathway.
Kinetics, central composite design and artificial neural network modelling of ciprofloxacin antibiotic photodegradation using fabricated cobalt-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Meky Asmaa I. , Hassaan Mohamed A. , El-Nemr Mohamed A. , Fetouh Howida A. , Ismail Amel M. , El Nemr Ahmed
Published: January 2025

Cobalt-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles were fabricated and examined in this study as a potential photocatalyst for the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIPF) degradation when exposed to visible LED light. The Co-precipitation technique created Cobalt-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles that were 5, 10, and 15% Co-loaded. Different known techniques have been used to characterize the synthesized ZnO and cobalt-doped ZnO nanoparticles. Compared to ZnO and other Cobalt-doped ZnO nanoparticles, the experiments showed that 10% Cobalt-doped ZnO nanoparticles were a very effective catalyst for CIPF photodegradation. According to XRD, these NPs have a hexagonal Wurtzite structure with an average size of between 38.47 and 48.06 nm. Tauc plot displayed that the optical energy band-gap of ZnO NPs (3.21) slowly declines with Co doping (2.75 eV). The enhanced photocatalytic activity of Cobalt-doped ZnO nanoparticles, which avoids electron-hole recombination, is brought on by the implantation of Co. Within 90 min, a 30 mg/L solution of ciprofloxacin was destroyed (> 99%). The kinetics studies demonstrated that the first-order model, with R2 = 0.9703, is appropriate for illuminating the pace of reaction and quantity of CIPF elimination. The recycled Cobalt-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles enhanced photocatalytic performance toward CIPF for 3 cycles with the same efficiency. Furthermore, optimization of the 10% Cobalt-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles using a Central composite design (CCD) was also studied. The optimal parameters of pH 6.486, 134.39 rpm shaking speed, 54.071 mg catalyst dose, and 31.04 ppm CIPF initial concentration resulted in the highest CIPF degradation efficiency (93.99%). Artificial neural networks (ANN) were used to simulate the experimental data. The backpropagation technique was used to train the networks with 152 input-output patterns. After experimenting with various configurations, the best results with a correlation value (R2) of 0.9780 for data validation were obtained using a three-hidden layered network that included five, five, and eight neurons, respectively.
AI based medical imagery diagnosis for COVID-19 disease examination and remedy
Authors: Aboshosha Ashraf
Published: January 2025

COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, has spread to more than 200 countries, affecting millions, costing billions, and claiming nearly 2 million lives since late 2019. This highly contagious disease can easily overwhelm healthcare systems if not managed promptly. The current diagnostic method, Molecular diagnosis, is slow and has low sensitivity. CXR, an initial imaging tool, provides rapid results, but is less sensitive compared to CT scans. This article focuses on using AI for two main objectives: classifying the severity of COVID-19 and determining the appropriate treatment. Highlights key factors in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19, addressing questions such as: 1. For COVID-19 is innate immunity more important or acquired immunity? 2. Is the COVID-19 an immunity disorder or Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome(ARDS)? 3. Is the cross mortality due to aging more dangerous than COVID-19? 4. Is COVID-19 a seasonal disease due to the deficiency of vitamin D in winter? 5. Is it better to treat COVID-19 as an epidemic or a pandemic?
Determinants of perceived patient benefit in a longitudinal cohort study of patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis
Authors: Wintermann Gloria-Beatrice , Abraham Susanne , Peters Eva M. J. , Beissert Stefan , Weidner Kerstin
Published: January 2025

The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) should be used to assess treatment success in psoriasis (PSO). However, the DLQI does not assess the importance and achievement of treatment goals. The Patient Benefit Index (PBI) is a questionnaire that takes both into account. Currently, there is insufficient knowledge about the modulating variables of the PBI and whether it can complement the assessment of the DLQI. In a longitudinal cohort study, 82 patients with PSO were assessed before and up to sixteen weeks after a new treatment episode. The PBI was compared with patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) (n = 61). The effects of gender, age, type of therapy, improvement in body surface area (BSA), anxiety/depression, DLQI and individual coping were assessed. “Getting better skin quickly” was most important in PSO. Improved BSA, anxiety/depression, DLQI, male gender and initiation of biological therapy had the most positive effects. Partial mediation was found for the reduction of anxiety/depression and improved coping. The PBI may be considered an appropriate outcome measure of treatment success in PSO, complementing the DLQI. Patients with clinically relevant anxiety/depression and inadequate coping should be offered adjuvant psychosomatic treatment.
Assessing clenbuterol’s modulation of metabolic and inflammatory pathways in Nile tilapia (Oreochromas niloticous) fed high fat diet
Authors: Rashwan Aya G. , Assar Doaa H. , Salah Abdallah S. , Abualreesh Muyassar H. , Salem Shimaa M. R. , Althobaiti Norah , Elbialy Zizy I.
Published: January 2025

This study was performed to reveal the metabolic effects and molecular mechanisms that govern the dietary incorporation of clenbuterol on growth performance, haemato-biochemical changes, histological alteration, and gene expression regulating glucose and lipid metabolism in normal and high-fat diets fed in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Six experimental diets were formulated, incorporating different concentrations of clenbuterol. The 1st three groups were supplemented with a diet comprising 6% fat, with clenbuterol of 0, 5, and 10 g/kg diet was designated as F6 clenb0, F6clenb5, and F6clenb10, respectively. The other treatment groups were fed a diet of 12% fat, with clenbuterol 0, 5, and 10 g/kg diet, respectively termed F12 clenb0, F12 clenb5, and F12 clenb10. The results revealed that compared to the control group, HFD exhibited a marked reduction in FBW, BWG, PER, and body protein percent but significantly increased the FCR, IPF, liver fat percent, and body ash percent with altered hematological parameters, raised serum biomarkers of hepatic and renal injury. HFD signally raised mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and declined nrf2 and antioxidative function-related genes. Also increased mRNA expression of lipogenic genes as FAS and SREBP-1c and gluconeogenic genes as pepck and g6pc while downregulated, pparα, cpt1, acox1. Nevertheless, clenbuterol supplementation significantly reversed the aforementioned findings induced by HFD. Clenbuterol inclusion significantly improves growth performance and antioxidant defenses by modulating nrf2 signaling and reducing inflammatory response, reduces fatty acid synthesis, and enhances mitochondrial β-oxidation not only functioning as a lipid regulator and effectively alleviating fat accumulation in the liver but playing an essential role in the control of glucose metabolism by reducing hepatic glucose production in high-fat diet-fed Nile tilapias well.
Organic ligands in whale excrement support iron availability and reduce copper toxicity to the surface ocean
Authors: Monreal Patrick J. , Savoca Matthew S. , Babcock-Adams Lydia , Moore Laura E. , Ruacho Angel , Hull Dylan , Pallin Logan J. , Nichols Ross C. , Calambokidis John , Resing Joseph A. , Friedlaender Ari S. , Goldbogen Jeremy , Bundy Randelle M.
Published: January 2025

Nutrient recycling by marine megafauna is a key ecosystem service that has been disturbed by anthropogenic activity. While some hypotheses attribute Southern Ocean ecosystem restructuring to disruptions in micronutrient cycling after the elimination of two million great whales, there is little knowledge of trace metal lability in whale excrement. Here we measured high concentrations of dissolved iron and copper in five baleen whale fecal samples and characterized micromolar levels of organic metal-binding ligands as a proxy for their availability. The iron-ligand pool consisted of weakly-binding ligands and intermediate-binding ligands which enhanced iron stability and potential bioavailability. In comparison, 47 novel strongly-binding metallophores dominated copper-binding, curtailing its potential toxicity. These results illustrate how marine megafauna transform prey biomass into highly-labile micronutrients that they inject directly into the surface ocean, a mechanism whaling reduced by over 90%. Thus, the rapid restructuring of pelagic ecosystems through overharvesting may cause large biogeochemical feedbacks, altering primary productivity and carbon sequestration processes in the ocean.
Relationships of eating behaviors with psychopathology, brain maturation and genetic risk for obesity in an adolescent cohort study
Authors: Yu Xinyang , Zhang Zuo , Herle Moritz , Banaschewski Tobias , Barker Gareth J. , Bokde Arun L. W. , Flor Herta , Grigis Antoine , Garavan Hugh , Gowland Penny , Heinz Andreas , Brühl Rüdiger , Martinot Jean-Luc , Martinot Marie-Laure Paillère , Artiges Eric , Nees Frauke , Orfanos Dimitri Papadopoulos , Lemaître Hervé , Paus Tomáš , Poustka Luise , Hohmann Sarah , Holz Nathalie , Bäuchl Christian , Smolka Michael N. , Vaidya Nilakshi , Walter Henrik , Whelan Robert , Schmidt Ulrike , Schumann Gunter , Desrivières Sylvane ,   on behalf of the IMAGEN consortium, Bromberg Uli , Büchel Christian , Ittermann Bernd , Fröhner Juliane H.
Published: January 2025

Unhealthy eating, a risk factor for eating disorders (EDs) and obesity, often coexists with emotional and behavioral problems; however, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms are poorly understood. Analyzing data from the longitudinal IMAGEN adolescent cohort, we investigated associations between eating behaviors, genetic predispositions for high body mass index (BMI) using polygenic scores (PGSs), and trajectories (ages 14–23 years) of ED-related psychopathology and brain maturation. Clustering analyses at age 23 years (N = 996) identified 3 eating groups: restrictive, emotional/uncontrolled and healthy eaters. BMI PGS, trajectories of ED symptoms, internalizing and externalizing problems, and brain maturation distinguished these groups. Decreasing volumes and thickness in several brain regions were less pronounced in restrictive and emotional/uncontrolled eaters. Smaller cerebellar volume reductions uniquely mediated the effects of BMI PGS on restrictive eating, whereas smaller volumetric reductions across multiple brain regions mediated the relationship between elevated externalizing problems and emotional/uncontrolled eating, independently of BMI. These findings shed light on distinct contributions of genetic risk, protracted brain maturation and behaviors in ED symptomatology.
Protein-induced membrane asymmetry modulates OMP folding kinetics and stability
Authors: Machin Jonathan , Ranson Neil , Radford Sheena E.
Published: January 2025

Biological membranes are asymmetric structures, with asymmetry arising from differences in lipid identity in each leaflet of the bilayer, as well as non-uniform distribution of lipids and small molecules in...
Effective methane biodegradation through in situ coupling with methanotroph and HK@SB-1 MOFs
Authors: Han Weihang , Luo Ruoshi , Wang Dan , Li Tinglan , Zhao Qin , Xia Xue , Hu Ge , Zhou Zhen , Liang Yunpei
Published: January 2025

This study introduces an innovative approach to the efficacious mitigation of methane emissions achieved by integrating natural microbial processes with MOFs.
Selective adsorption of unmethylated DNA on ZnO nanowires for separation of methylated DNA
Authors: Musa Marina , Zhu Zetao , Takahashi Hiromi , Shinoda Wataru , Baba Yoshinobu , Yasui Takao
Published: January 2025

This study presents a ZnO nanowire-based microfluidic device that collects methylated DNA by selectively capturing unmethylated DNA, providing a simple and efficient method for early cancer detection and clinical diagnostics.
Unearthing the emerging properties at buried oxide heterointerfaces: the γ-Al2O3/SrTiO3 heterostructure
Authors: Steegemans Tristan Sebastiaan , Christensen Dennis Valbjørn
Published: January 2025

Epitaxially combining oxide layers can create new functionalities surpassing those of separate parent materials. This review highlights the unique structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of γ-Al2O3/SrTiO3, revealing the underlying mechanisms.
Discovery of novel PDGFR inhibitors targeting non-small cell lung cancer using a multistep machine learning assisted hybrid virtual screening approach
Authors: Kranthi Reddy Sandhi , Reddy S. V. G. , Hussain Basha Syed
Published: January 2025

Identified novel PDGFR inhibitor targeting non-small cell lung cancer using machine learning from vast library of 1.04 million compounds.
Evaluation of soursop (Annona muricata linn) leaf extract as a preventative measure against flies contamination in salted fish
Authors: Rinto Rinto , Dian Nugroho Gama , Sari Yulia , Arisviani Aulia
Published: January 2025

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of soursop (Annona muricata linn) leaf extract as a natural flies repellent for salted fish. The concentrations used in salted fish consist of 0%, 10%, and 20% soursop leaf extract. The results showed that based on data analysis the larvae left the container and died, the 10% concentration of soursop leaf extract effectively caused flies larvae to vacate the observation vessel and significantly reduced their movement. In contrast, a 20% concentration of soursop leaf extract could lead to the death of the larvae. The impact of soursop leaf extract on the number of flies that landed on salted fish during the drying process was significant. The effect was observed by both the concentration of extract and variations in drying time related to temperature and humidity. Specifically, about 10% concentration of soursop leaf extract could reduce the number of flies by 62.1%, while about 20% concentration achieved about 91.4% reduction. The sensory analysis showed that soursop leaf extract treatment did not significantly affect the appearance, taste, texture, and the presence of fungus on salted fish. However, it did have a noticeable effect on the smell and color of fish.
Observed Baseline and Future Projection of Royal Belum State Park
Authors: Zin Zafirah Husna Mohd , Ju Neng Liew , Kumaran Jayaraj Vijaya , Leong Marieanne Christie
Published: January 2025

Royal Belum State Park (RBSP) is located north of Perak state. RBSP was gazette under the Enactment of National Forestry Act 1984. RBSP is notably rich in biodiversity and is home to endemic species for various flora and fauna that are susceptible to climate change. This study explores the precipitation of RBSP that can be the guideline for mitigation plan. The precipitation data from CHIRPS and PERSIANN-CCS datasets were analyzed to act as observation data against historical data from Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment – Southeast Asia (CORDEX-SEA). The future precipitation of RBSP is assessed by using the simulation model from CORDEX-SEA. The future emission scenarios used in this study are Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 4.5, and 8.5. The future projection from this study can be used to provide the mitigation and adaptation plan catered for RBSP. The limitation of this study is the model output are focused on Peninsular Malaysia. Further study may benefit from analysing localized model that integrate the local topography and land process.
Real-Time Imaging of Platelet-Initiated Plasma Clot Formation and Lysis Unveils Distinct Impacts of Anticoagulants
Authors: Suzuki Yuko , Mathews Nitty S. , Sano Hideto , Morooka Nanami , Honkura Naoki , Urano Tetsumei
Published: January 2025

Background Fibrinolysis is spatiotemporally well-regulated and greatly influenced by activated platelets and coagulation activity. Our previous real-time imaging analyses revealed that clotting commences on activated platelet surfaces, resulting in uneven-density fibrin structures, and that fibrinolysis initiates in dense fibrin regions and extends to the periphery. Despite the widespread clinical use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), their impact on thrombin-dependent activation of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) and fibrinolysis remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of different DOACs on the TAFI-mediated inhibition of fibrinolysis.

Methods Using human platelet-containing plasma, we performed turbidimetric assays, thrombin generation assays, and confocal laser scanning microscopy to assess the effects of anticoagulants on fibrinolysis.

Results and Conclusion Activated platelets-prolonged plasma clot lysis time, shortened by activated TAFI inhibitor (TAFIaI), positively correlated with the amount of thrombin generated. Rivaroxaban (an activated factor X inhibitor) and dabigatran (a direct thrombin inhibitor) dose-dependently shortened lysis time comparably. The highest concentration of DOACs showed no further shortening of lysis time with TAFIaI. The fibrin network structures initiated by activated platelets and the localization of fluorescently labeled plasminogen were unique for these two drugs. Rivaroxaban maintained an uneven fibrin network but promoted faster plasminogen accumulation and fibrinolysis from outside dense fibrin regions. Conversely, dabigatran resulted in a more even fibrin network, with fibrinolysis starting from the activated platelets and propagating to the periphery. Visualizing and analyzing the patterns of fibrin network formation, plasminogen accumulation, and fibrinolysis provide new insights into the specific impact of anticoagulants on coagulation and fibrinolysis.
Negative Predictors of Tooth Extraction in the Management of Odontogenic Sinusitis in a Japanese Patient Population: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Hirasawa Kazuhiro , Otsuka Koji , Tomaru Renako , Ikehata Naoki , Tsukahara Kiyoaki
Published: January 2025

Introduction There are no clear guidelines for deciding between endoscopic sinus surgery and tooth extraction for the treatment of odontogenic sinusitis. Furthermore, tooth extraction does not necessarily improve sinusitis and eventually results in additional endoscopic sinus surgery.

Objective The present study aimed to retrospectively investigate negative predictive factors of tooth extraction for odontogenic sinusitis.

Methods In total, 22 patients with odontogenic sinusitis, who underwent tooth extraction between April 2017 and March 2021, were included. The patients were divided into the improved (n = 15) and non-improved (n = 7) groups. Subsequently, the two groups were compared.

Results A higher percentage of patients in the non-improved group had polyps in the middle nasal meatus (p = 0.0008), higher Lund-Mackay score (LMS) (p = 0.0008), and apical lesions penetrating the maxillary sinus (p = 0.113). Patients with middle nasal meatus polyps, with LMS ≥ 7, or with a combination of apical lesions penetrating the maxillary sinus and LMS ≥ 5, were less likely to see improvement in sinusitis with tooth extraction.

Conclusion Tooth extraction as the initial intervention for odontogenic sinusitis presents a higher risk of failure, particularly in cases in which polyps are present in the middle nasal meatus, with LMS ≥ 7, or with a combination of apical lesions penetrating the maxillary sinus and LMS ≥ 5.
Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery for Rectal Cancer
Authors: Mustafa Sheikh Mohammad Taha , Govil Deepak , Arora Vijay , Malik V.K. , Singh Shivendra , Saklani Avinash , Bhojwani Rajesh , Aggarwal Shyam , Parikh Purvish , Selvasekar C. , Rawat Saumitra
Published: January 2025

Transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) is considered a standard of care in rectal cancers. Its advantage is that it is organ preserving. Its main role is in early-stage cancers limited to the rectum (T1N0M0). Regular follow-up with computed tomography scan imaging is required. When done correctly in the right patients, the recurrence rate of rectal cancer is less than 3%. TAMIS can also be used as a salvage operation in symptomatic high-risk patients who are unable to undergo or are unfit for transabdominal resection.
Impact of Ga overpressure on the metal modulation epitaxy growth of AlN/AlGaN short period superlattices
Authors: Chaney Alexander , Averett Kent , Asel Thaddeus J. , Mou Shin
Published: January 2025

The formation of AlN/AlGaN short period superlattices (SPSLs) was investigated though the introduction of a constant Ga overpressure during the metal modulated epitaxy (MME) growth of AlN. A combination of x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) analyses found that control over the Al composition in the AlGaN layer was achieved through modulating the Ga beam equivalent pressure (BEP), with a minimum partial pressure of 3 × 10−7 Torr needed for Ga to incorporate at a growth temperature of 825 °C. A minimum Al composition in the AlGaN layer of 72% was achieved for a Ga BEP of 1 × 10−6 Torr using this method. An apparent limit of the AlGaN layer thickness of 3–4 ML indicated that the incorporation of Ga was confined to the consumption region of the MME growth process. Determination of this behavior made clear the requirements of having both XRD and STEM in order to be able to fully characterize the SPSL layer structure. Finally, AFM imaging highlighted that the presence of Ga on the surface behaved as a surfactant, with a minimum RMS roughness of 0.46 nm achieved at the maximum Ga BEP of 1 × 10−6 Torr.
Spatial dynamics of a diffusive susceptible-infectious-recovered-susceptible epidemic model with transfer from infectious to susceptible
Authors: Zhang Liang , Li Xueqin
Published: January 2025

To explore the effects of individual diffusion patterns, transient immunity and acquired immunity, this paper focuses on a reaction-diffusion Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered-Susceptible epidemic model with transfer from infectious to susceptible and logistic source in a heterogeneous environment. First, the uniform bounds of solutions are obtained by using Moser–Alikakos iteration method and then the threshold dynamics is established based on the basic reproduction number. After investigating the asymptotic profiles of endemic steady states for small or large motility rates, it is found that regardless of whether the diffusion rates are minimal or maximal, the disease may persist globally, which means that the restriction on the migration of population is not an effective strategy. Next, some bifurcation analysis is conducted by taking transient/acquired immunity coefficient as bifurcation parameter. Finally, the impact of spatial heterogeneity, large/small diffusion rates on the disease transmission as well as bifurcation dynamics are explored via some numerical simulations for system on a one-dimensional domain.
Scaling up of photocatalytic systems for large-scale hydrogen generation
Authors: Mani Preeyanghaa , Shenoy Sulakshana , Sagayaraj Prince J. J. , Agamendran Nithish , Son Sanguk , Bernaurdshaw Neppolian , Kim Hyoung-il , Sekar Karthikeyan
Published: January 2025

Scaling up photocatalytic systems for large-scale hydrogen generation holds transformative potential for sustainable energy but faces significant technical and economic challenges in transitioning from lab-scale experiments to industrial applications. This review delves into recent innovations that drive progress in this field, including advanced materials developed for improved efficiency and stability, as well as innovative reactor designs that optimize light capture and reactant flow. It also examines practical strategies for the integration of these systems with renewable energy sources, focusing on their scalability and cost-effectiveness. Key challenges addressed include mass transport limitations, reactant utilization, and catalyst longevity, accompanied by emerging solutions that aim to overcome these hurdles. The review comprehensively explores the intersection of technological advancements and economic feasibility, emphasizing environmental and economic considerations necessary for the practical implementation of photocatalytic hydrogen production. Emphasizing the most recent developments and strategic approaches, this review outlines a pathway for advancing large-scale sustainable hydrogen generation technologies.
A hybrid dual-branch model with recurrence plots and transposed transformer for stock trend prediction
Authors: Su Jingyu , Li Haoyu , Wang Ruiqi , Guo Wei , Hao Yushi , Kurths Jürgen , Gao Zhongke
Published: January 2025

Stock trend prediction is a significant challenge due to the inherent uncertainty and complexity of stock market time series. In this study, we introduce an innovative dual-branch network model designed to effectively address this challenge. The first branch constructs recurrence plots (RPs) to capture the nonlinear relationships between time points from historical closing price sequences and computes the corresponding recurrence quantifification analysis measures. The second branch integrates transposed transformers to identify subtle interconnections within the multivariate time series derived from stocks. Features extracted from both branches are concatenated and fed into a fully connected layer for binary classification, determining whether the stock price will rise or fall the next day. Our experimental results based on historical data from seven randomly selected stocks demonstrate that our proposed dual-branch model achieves superior accuracy (ACC) and F1-score compared to traditional machine learning and deep learning approaches. These findings underscore the efficacy of combining RPs with deep learning models to enhance stock trend prediction, offering considerable potential for refining decision-making in financial markets and investment strategies.
Quenching dynamics in highly doped erbium fiber core-pumping, amplifier configuration
Authors: Hernandez Pablo G. Rojas , Pidishety Shankar , Nilsson Johan
Published: January 2025

This study examines the influence of quenching dynamics on the efficiency of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) with high erbium-ion (E3+-ions) doping concentrations, comparing pulsed and continuous wave core-pumping methods. Our findings indicate that quenching, driven by energy transfer upconversion, substantially impacts signal gain in these fibers. The core-pumping configuration demonstrated significantly higher gain per unit length than both low-doping EDFAs and cladding-pumping systems, with effective energy storage achievable through short pump pulses to reduce concentration quenching effects. The highly doped homemade fiber (fiber under test - FUT No. 3) achieved a gain per unit length exceeding 8.4 dB/m, outperforming the lower doped commercial fiber (FUT No. 4) by a factor of 6.4, although FUT No. 4 displayed better compatibility with the core-pumping system. Additionally, the highest gain per unit length for a counter-directional, cladding-pumped amplifier configuration with a high-concentration fiber was recorded at 5.9 dB/m at a 1560 nm signal wavelength with a 2 μs pulse duration, positioning FUT No. 3 as a highly efficient option for high-gain applications despite its high doping concentration. Our experimental analysis of quenching dynamics not only highlights an approach for scaling pulse energy using shorter fiber lengths to mitigate nonlinear effects but also provides valuable insights into quenching-influenced gain behavior in pulsed fiber amplifier systems.