bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous pneumothorax in a young male: A case report
Authors: Kudru Chandrashekar Udyavara , Rajagopal Sriraam , Cherukuri Mounika , Shetty Ganesh , Nayak Deepak M
Published: July 2024

Background:
Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis is a rare multisystem disease which is characterised by the development of multiple cysts in the lung parenchyma. It is usually associated with tuberous sclerosis complex, and is frequently found in young females. In our case report, we discuss the disease in a young male, presenting for the first time with spontaneous pneumothorax.
Case presentation:
A 19-year-old previously healthy male presented to the emergency department with a one week history of breathlessness and a non-productive cough. Initial assessment revealed tachypnea and decreased breath sounds on the right side of the chest, prompting suspicion of pneumothorax. The chest x-ray confirmed the diagnosis, and emergency insertion of an intercostal drainage tube was performed. Computed tomography of the thorax showed multiple, bilateral, cystic, thin walled lesions and a moderate pneumothorax on the right side. A lung biopsy was performed and the histopathology revealed features consistent with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). The patient was stabilized and discharged with follow-up plans.
Conclusions:
LAM is a rare multisystem disease that mostly affects young females. Although uncommon in males, this case emphasizes the importance of considering LAM as one of the causes of pneumothorax in young adult male patients and highlights the role of lung biopsy for definitive diagnosis when initial workup is inconclusive.
The Amelioration Effects of Ankaferd Blood Stopper, Platelet Gel and Momordica charantia on Peripheral Nerve Injury in the Rats: A Stereological and Ultrastructural Study
Authors: Önger Mehmet Emin , Geuna Stefano , ElhajBakhit Abuaker Elssidig , Rainmondo Stefania , Deniz Ömür Gülsüm , Altun Gamze , Kaplan Suleyman
Published: July 2024

Objective: Peripheral nerve injuries are commonly encountered in clinical practice. Peripheral nerve injuries most commonly resultin serious problems affecting quality of life. The present study is designed to research the possible neuroprotective effects of Ankaferd blood stopper (ABS), Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and Momordica charantia (MC) on regeneration using unbiased stereological techniques.
Material-Method: 30 female 8-10 weeks-Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into five equal groups; control (CG), the group exposed to sciatic nerve resection (Gap) (CGG), additionally following the surgical process ABS, MC and PRP were injected into collagen tube (ABSG, MCG, PRPG). Nucleator and fractionator methods were used to estimate the number of myelinated and unmyelinated axons, axon area, and myelin sheath thickness. Also, an electron microscopic evaluation was performed.
Results: Regarding the number of myelinated axons, significant increases were found in the ABSG, MCG and PRPG compared to CG (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The protective effects of ABS, PRP, and MC on peripheral nerve regeneration in experimental models in rats were shown using electrophysiological and stereological assessment parameters.
A Systematic Analysis Using DNN Based Breast Cancer Identification and Stage Classification Model
Authors: Arasakumaran Umamageswari , Sivapatham Deepa , Lucas Sherin Beevi , Gurusamy Vasukidevi , Arasakumaran Sangari
Published: July 2024

The increased incidence of breast cancer on a global level is an important problem in public health, emphasizing the need for rapid and effective techniques for diagnosing the cancer at its earliest stages. This study offers an innovative Deep Neural Network (DNN) technique for identifying and categorizing breast cancer. It utilizes advanced methods of machine learning to improve its precision and efficacy. This study offers an in-depth examination of DNNs for their use of detecting breast cancer. This work concentrates on the DNNs' ability to identify complicated patterns within mammographic images, with the goal of enhancing the accuracy of detection. The proposed DNN design incorporates several levels of abstraction, taking use of the organization possibilities of neural networks. Convolutional layers collect local data, whereas densely associated layers capture global patterns, allowing the algorithm to identify subtle problems that indicate tumors in breasts. The design of the model is optimized by further training on different data sets, guaranteeing its ability to respond to the inherent variations in tissue makeup and lesion characteristics. To attempt to address the challenges related to a lack of data annotations, transfer learning techniques are employed. These methods leverage the knowledge gained from models that have been trained on large datasets. The success rate of the proposed DNN model for identifying and categorizing breast cancer is thoroughly assessed on standard datasets, through assessing its performance with conventional methods and recent algorithms. The model's superior in providing reliable and precise diagnostic results can be seen through the use of assessment standards like the accuracy and confusion matrix. The model suggested has strong diagnostic accuracy, offering an appropriate strategy for early and efficient identification of breast cancers.
Evaluation of Serum Fibronectin Levels and Fibronectin Gene Polymorphism in Patients Receiving Intravesical BCG Therapy for NonMuscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
Authors: Nebioğlu Ali , Tanrıverdi Rojda , Başaranoğlu Mert , Saylam Barış , Ulusoy Ercüment , Bozlu Murat , Akbay Erdem , Tamer Lülüfer , Erdoğan Semra
Published: July 2024

Background: Bladder cancer remains a significant health concern, prompting research into novel biomarkers and treatment strategies. In this study, we aimed to investigate the serum fibronectin levels and gene polymorphisms between patients with NMIBC receiving intravesical BCG treatment and the control group.
Methods: Between June 2022 and December 2022, data of 73 patients who applied to the Mersin University Urology Clinic due to NMIBC and were followed and treated in our clinic, receiving intravesical BCG treatment, when necessary, as well as 56 individuals without any malignancy, were prospectively examined. Serum fibronectin levels were measured using the ELISA method. PCR testing was applied for the fibronectin gene RS10202709 and RS 35343655 gene polymorphisms by using Real-Time PCR.
Results: The mean serum fibronectin level in the patient group was 76.794±66.998ng/ml. Simultaneously, it was 50.486±25.156ng/ml in the control group, and these differences in serum fibronectin levels were statistically significant(p=0.003). Out of the 73 patients included in the study, recurrence of bladder cancer was observed in 53 of them. They were divided into two groups based on the recurrence times: early recurrence and late recurrence. When examined in terms of fibronectin levels, it was calculated that the mean fibronectin level in the early recurrence group was 102±86.1ng/ml.At the same time,it was 44.7±11.8ng/ml in the late recurrence group (p<0.001).
Conclusions: The statistically higher concentrations of serum fibronectin levels in patients with bladder cancer observed in our study are a noteworthy finding.However, we do not anticipate it to be predictive of the response to intravesical BCG treatment.Additionally,the statistically significant findings in our study regarding serum fibronectin level measurements in predicting early and late recurrences suggest that it will provide guiding information about the prognosis of the disease.
Trial registration: Ethical approval for the research was obtained from the Mersin University Faculty of Medicine Local Ethics Committee with the decision dated 23.03.2022, numbered 2022/200.
Discovery of Vibrio cholerae in urban sewage in Copenhagen, Denmark
Authors: Brinch Christian , Otani Saria , Munk Patrick , Beld Maaike , Franz Eelco , Aarestrup Frank M.
Published: July 2024

We report the unexpected discovery of a persistent presence of Vibrio cholerae at very low abundance in the inlet of a single wastewater treatment plant in Copenhagen, Denmark at least since 2015. Remarkably, no environmental or locally transmitted clinical case of V. cholerae has been reported in Denmark for more than 100 years. We, however, have recovered a near-complete genome out of 115 sewage samples taken over the past 8 years, despite the extremely low relative abundance of 1 V. cholerae read out of 500.000 sequenced reads. Due to the very low relative abundance, routine screening of the individual samples did not reveal V. cholerae. The recovered genome lacks the gene responsible for cholerae toxin production, but although this strain may not pose an immediate public health risk, our finding illustrates the importance, challenges and effectiveness of wastewater-based pathogen surveillance.
Application of a Multi-Source Multi-Task Weight Adaptation Framework for Cross-Domain EEG Emotion Recognition(MS-MWA)
Authors: Zhu Yijun , Ma Yuliang , Meng Ming , Luo Zhizeng , Gao Yunyuan , Sun Mingxu
Published: July 2024

In the practical implementation of the Electroencephalography (EEG) emotion recognition system, the development of a universal model applicable to different subjects and sessions is crucial. Previous studies have primarily focused on employing domain adaptation methods to address the differences in EEG distributions between different subjects and sessions.However, traditional approaches overly rely on source domain data, resulting in sensitivity to changes and limited generalization and adaptability. The introduction of multi-task domain adaptation, through diverse training, enhances generalization, making the model more flexible and adaptable to the complex and dynamic nature of real-world environments. Therefore, we propose a Multi-Source Multi-Task Weight Adaptation Framework (MS-MWA). To enhance model generalization, we introduce multiple tasks at different levels, enabling the model to learn hierarchical feature representations. At shallow layers, the model learns domain-invariant features, while at deep layers, it learns domain-specific features, thereby improving the model’s understanding of complex abstractions.To address the challenge of difficulty in adjusting relative weights among various task losses, we propose a multi-task deep learning approach that balances different loss functions using homoscedastic uncertainty between tasks. This method not only reduces the need for continual adjustment of weights for optimal performance but also enhances overall model performance.We evaluated our proposed model on the publicly available datasets SEED and SEED-IV. In cross-subject experiments, our model achieved accuracy rates of 91.35% and 72.20% on SEED and SEED-IV, respectively. In cross-session experiments, our model demonstrated accuracy rates of 92.27% on SEED and 77.47% on SEED-IV.
The mutational landscape of SARS-CoV-2 provides new insight into viral evolution and fitness
Authors: Gout Jean-Francois , Symons Jori , Chung Claire , Verheijen Lambertus , Shemtov Sarah , de Jong Dorien , Amatngalim Gimano , Nijhuis Monique , Vermulst Marc
Published: July 2024

Although vaccines and treatments have strengthened our ability to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 continue to emerge in human populations. Because the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 is driven by mutation, a better understanding of its mutation rate and spectrum could improve our ability to forecast the trajectory of the pandemic. Here, we used circular RNA consensus sequencing (CirSeq) to determine the mutation rate of six SARS-CoV-2 variants and performed a short-term evolution experiment to determine the impact of these mutations on viral fitness. Our analyses indicate that the SARS-CoV-2 genome mutates at a rate of ~3 ´10-6/base per round of infection and that the spectrum is dominated by C®U transitions. Moreover, we discovered that the mutation rate is significantly reduced in regions that form base-pairing interactions and that mutations that affect these secondary structures are especially harmful to viral fitness. These observations provide new insight into the parameters that guide viral evolution and highlight fundamental weaknesses of the virus that may be exploited for therapeutic purposes.
Linear copolymers based on cholinium functionalized with antibiotic anions for single– and dual–drug delivery systems
Authors: Keihankhadiv Shadi , Neugebauer Dorota
Published: July 2024

The novel single and dual drug delivery systems (DDS) were designed by controlled polymerization of pharmaceutically functionalized choline-based monomers, i.e. [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium with counterions of cloxacillin (TMAMA/CLX), and ampicillin (TMAMA/AMP), providing the properties of antibiotics. This strategy was convenient to attain the well-defined linear copolymers with 38–93 mol. % of TMAMA contents, which were regulated by the initial ratio of TMAMA to methyl methacrylate comonomer. The compositions of polymers were controlled by the total monomer conversion (40–75%) resulting in a variable degree of polymerization (DPn = 160–300) and contents of pharmaceutical anions (CLX¯ 51–80% and AMP¯ 78–87%). In aqueous solution, particles of the polymer achieved nanoscale sizes, measuring between 274–380 nm for CLX¯ systems and 288–348 nm for CLX¯/AMP¯ systems. In vitro drug release, which was driven by the exchange reaction of the pharmaceutical to phosphate anions in PBS, imitating a physiological fluid, occurred in the range of 58–76% of CLX¯ (10.5–13.6 µg/mL) in the single systems, and 91–100% of CLX¯ (12.9–15.1 µg/mL) and 97–100% of AMP¯ (21.1–23.3 µg/mL) in the dual systems. In relation to the conventional systems delivering both antibiotics without polymer carrier, the studied choline-based polymer DDS, demonstrating effective content of drug(s) and their (co)release from the polymer carriers, seems to be a great alternative solution.
HRK downregulation and augmented BCL-xL binding to BAK confer apoptotic protection to therapy-induced senescent melanoma cells.
Authors: Montero Joan , Alcon Clara , Kovatcheva Marta , Sanchez Paula Morales , Torres Teresa , Puig Susana , Samitier Josep , Enrich Carlos , Serrano Manuel
Published: July 2024

Senescent cells are commonly detected in tumors after chemo and radiotherapy, leading to a characteristic cellular phenotype that resists apoptotic cell death. In this study, we used multiple melanoma cell lines, molecular markers, and therapies to investigate the key role of the BCL-2 family proteins in the survival of senescent cells. We first used BH3 profiling to assess changes in apoptotic priming upon senescence induction. Unexpectedly, not all cell types analyzed showed a decrease in apoptotic priming, BIM was downregulated, there was variability in BAX expression and BAK remained constant or increased; therefore, there was not a clear pattern for pro-survival adaptation. Many studies have been devoted to find ways to eliminate senescent cells, leading to one of the most studied senolytic agents: navitoclax, a promiscuous BH3 mimetic that inhibits BCL-2, BCL-xL and BCL-W. While it is known the BCL-2 family of proteins is commonly upregulated in senescent cells, the complexity of the apoptotic network has not been fully explored. Interestingly, we found distinct protein expression changes always leading to a BCL-xL mediated pro-survival adaptation, as assessed by BH3 profiling. When analyzing potential therapeutic strategies, we observed a stronger senolytic activity in these melanoma cell lines when specifically targeting BCL-xL using A-1331852, navitoclax or the PROTAC BCL-xL degrader DT2216. We found that the sensitizer protein HRK was systematically downregulated when senescence was induced, leading to an increased availability of BCL-xL. Furthermore, we identified that the main apoptotic inhibition was shaped by BCL-xL and BAK binding increase that prevented mitochondrial permeabilization and apoptosis. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the molecular basis for BCL-xL anti-apoptotic dependence in senescence is described, paving the way for molecules that either prevent HRK downregulation or displace BCL-xL binding to BAK to be used as senolytics.
Enhancing workload quantification for apron controllers in emergency rescue scenarios: integrating emergency rescue personnel states through correlation analysis
Authors: Shao Quan , Jiang Kaiyue , Zhang Shengrun , Li Ruoheng
Published: July 2024

Existing studies often overlook the additional impact of increased communication demands from Emergency Rescue Personnel (ERP) on apron controllers during aircraft-forced landings, leading to inaccurate workload assessments. This paper presents a quantitative approach to improve the evaluation of apron controllers’ workloads during emergency ground rescues by incorporating the states of ERP. Firstly, the approach systematically standardizes and calculates four features (apron controllers’ verbal communication signals, situation awareness, task complexity, and task performance) to quantify their workload. A correlation analysis follows this quantitation to identify key indicators representing the ERP’s states as replacements for the original communication-related features by determining their correlations with the apron controller's workload for improving the accuracy of workload evaluations. Additionally, subjective assessments from experienced apron controllers were collected to verify the effectiveness of the proposed quantitative workload approach by correlating them with the evaluated workload results. An experiment was conducted, in which 6 apron controllers and 10 ERPs were included to perform control and predetermined tasks, respectively, under four diverse emergency scenarios across three different periods, involving bidirectional communication (instructions given before and after each task). Using ERP’s fatigue states as one of the measures of the apron controller’s workload level would result in workload calculations with less error, confirming the superiority of using the new indicators screened by the proposed approach to quantify workload during apron emergency rescue control. This enhances the effectiveness of apron control operations in high-pressure situations, thereby securing more emergency response efforts.
The ketogenic diet has the potential to decrease all-cause mortality without a concomitant increase in cardiovascular-related mortality
Authors: Qu Xiaolong , Huang Lei , Long Jiacheng
Published: July 2024

The impact of the ketogenic diet (KD) on overall mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality remains inconclusive..This study enrolled a total of 43,776 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2001 and 2018 to investigate the potential association between dietary ketogenic ratio (DKR) and both all-cause mortality as well as cardiovascular disease(CVD) mortality.Three models were established, and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was employed to examine the correlation. Furthermore, a restricted cubic spline function was utilized to assess the non-linear relationship. In addition, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were performed.In the adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression model, a significant inverse association was observed between DKR and all-cause mortality (HR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.63–0.9, P = 0.003). However, no significant association with cardiovascular mortality was found (HR = 1.13; CI = 0.79–1.6; P = 0.504). Additionally, a restricted cubic spline(RCS) analysis demonstrated a linear relationship between DKR and all-cause mortality risk. In the adult population of the United States, adherence to a KD exhibits potential in reducing all-cause mortality risk while not posing an increased threat of CVD-related fatalities.
Novel spectroscopy method to reveal optimal culture conditions in Escherichia coli fermenter
Authors: Wu Huakun , Chen Jingru , Zheng Jia , Shao Jie , Yu Meifang , Liu Wen
Published: July 2024

Fermentation engineering has played a pivotal role in modern industry for mass-producing chemicals, food additives, and medicines, with optimal culture conditions crucial for maximizing microbial growth and metabolite production. Thus, bacteria growth monitoring was crucial in fermentation processes, with current methods falling into two categories: off-line sampling and in-situ on-line monitoring. While off-line methods suffered from discrete monitoring points and potential pollution, current on-line methods faced limitations including an inability to distinguish living from dead cells and impurities and a lack of direct representation of metabolism. Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, which closely correlated with chemical synthesis, could be measured with high sensitivity with Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS) technology, enabling non-invasive, high-sensitivity detection of CO2 concentrations in microbial fermentation, offering a powerful tool for optimizing conditions and enhancing production efficiency. This study presented a novel approach to reveal the optimal culture conditions for Escherichia coli (E. coli) fermentation. Through the implementation of a custom metabolism monitoring system based on TDLAS technology in a simulated fermenter, alongside varied pH and temperature settings, we elucidated the influence of these factors on E. coli metabolism curves and calculated the growth rates via threshold times, identifying 38°C as the optimal temperature and pH 7.5 as the optimal pH. Integration of this spectroscopy method into fermenters held promise for enhanced in situ online real-time monitoring of metabolism in future fermentations.
Eco-efficient recycling of engineering muck for manufacturing low-carbon geopolymers assessed through LCA: Exploring the impact of synthesis parameters of the performance
Authors: Yuan Bingxiang , Liang Jingkang , Huang Xianlun , Huang Qingyu , Zhang Baifa , Yang Guanghua , Wang Yonghong , Yuan Junhong , Wang Hongyu , Yuan Peng
Published: July 2024

The construction industry's excessive reliance on cement has led to significant environmental concerns. With the push towards global low-carbon and sustainable development goals, there is an urgent need to find building materials that can replace cement. In this study, engineering muck (EM) produced by foundation pit engineering in subtropical area was used as raw material. The properties of EM were activated by pre-treatment methods to prepare low-carbon geopolymers. This study investigated the effects of synthesis parameters (SiO2/Na2O ratio and liquid-solid ratio) on the performance of the alkaline activated EM-based geopolymers. The results showed that the geopolymer with a SiO2/Na2O ratio of 1.5 achieved the highest compressive strength of 40 MPa in 7 days, exhibiting the densest structure and fewest cracks. In addition to also having the smallest pore sizes and highest thermal stability, indicating optimal pore structure for minimizing evaporation. This study showed that increasing the liquid-solid ratio refined the pore structure, but increased carbonate formation and mass loss at elevated temperatures. Moreover, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to compare the cradle-to-gate environmental impacts of the EM-based geopolymers and cement concretes, including global warming and acidification. The LCA demonstrated the CO2 and SO2 emissions of EM-based geopolymers were reduced by 4–26% and 8–19%, respectively, compared to concrete. This study suggests the use of alkaline activation technology to transform the EM into the geopolymers should be expected to become a substitute for concrete, providing a new type of green building material for the geotechnical engineering.
Use of the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris (thyme) and its nanoemulsion as an anesthetic during the cultivation of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum): Anesthesia induction and recovery curve, physiology, performance and feed consumption
Authors: Boaventura Túlio Pacheco , Oliveira Camila Gomes , Santos Fábio Aremil Costa , Silva Nárcia Carolina Santos , Oliveira Juliano Elvis , Luz Ronald Kennedy , Correia Ricardo , Silva Sidney , Souza Ándre , Ananias Imaculada
Published: July 2024

The thymol chemotype of the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris (EOTV-T) and its nanoemulsion (NEOTV-T) were investigated as anesthetics in the management of Colossoma macropomum. The stability of nanoemulsions was analyzed by zeta potential and dynamic light scattering for an interval of 37 days prior to carrying out two anesthesia experiments. The first experiment determined anesthesia induction and recovery intervals for juveniles anesthetized with different concentrations of EOTV-T and NEOTV-T. Based on the obtained induction and recovery curve, the second experiment adopted concentrations of 75 mg/L of EOTV-T and 50 mg/L of NEOTV-T for use during biometric management every 10 days for 60 days of cultivation of juvenile C. macropomum. The results showed that NEOTV-T had an average diameter of less than 100 nm for up to 22 days and was more effective at inducing anesthesia than EOTV-T. The continuous use of anesthetics during biometrics did not affect juvenile performance in terms of growth, feed consumption and survival. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in hematological and biochemical parameters between juveniles of the control treatment and those subjected to biometric management using 75 mg/L of EOTV-T and 50 mg/L of NEOTV-T. It can be concluded that the essential oil of T. vulgaris and its nanoemulsion can be used to facilitate the management of juvenile C. macropomum without compromising their performance or well-being. More studies need to be carried out to improve the stability of nanoemulsions of the essential oil of T. vulgaris and to evaluate their effects on acute stress.
Low-velocity impact performance of 3-D woven composite tubes with different structure
Authors: Gong Xiaozhou , Song Yao , Chai Ying , Wang Jiaxuan , Liu Yang , Ouyang Yiwei
Published: July 2024

Three-dimensional woven tubular composites (3DWTC) exhibit superior strength and stiffness in the thickness direction, exceptional structural integrity, and interlaminar shear resistance. These properties make them promising candidates for widespread application in aerospace, automotive manufacturing, fuel transport, and various other industries. In this study, three different types of 3DWTCs were fabricated by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process using basalt fiber bundles as reinforcement materials. Low-velocity impact tests were conducted with varying impact energies, and the progression of initial damage stress as well as the ultimate damage process were analyzed utilizing a high-speed camera and three-dimensional optical microscopy. The findings of the study indicate that the shallow cross-linked (SCL) structure demonstrates the greatest impact resistance, followed by the shallow-crossed curved joint (SCCL) structure, whereas the through orthogonal (TO) structure exhibits the least impact resistance.
Incidence of Reoperation in Patients with History of Arterial Switch Operation: A Single Institution Eighteen Years Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Tabib Avisa , Meraji Mahmoud , Mahdavi Mohammad , Khorgami Mohammad Rafie , Hejri Golnar Mortaz , Banar Sepideh , Hajiesmail Golnaz
Published: July 2024

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study
Background: The arterial switch operation (ASO) has been the preferred surgical method for TGA since its introduction over 40 years ago. Although initial survival rates have improved significantly, long-term complications often require reoperation.
Methods: Medical records of 302 patients with TGA who underwent ASO between 2004 and 2022 were reviewed. Data on demographic and morphological characteristics, surgical reports, and follow-up interventions were collected. Reoperation data, including surgical and catheter-based interventions, were analyzed.
Results: Thirty-seven reoperations were performed on 31 patients, with a reoperation rate of 10.26%. Open surgical interventions included RVOTO relief (3.31%), neo-aortic root and valve surgery (0.66%), ascending aorta replacement (0.33%), VSD closure (0.33%), and pacemaker implantation (2.31%). Catheter-based interventions included balloon angioplasty (1.65%) and stent implantation (1.65%) for RVOTO, with additional procedures for aortic arch stenosis (0.66%) and coronary artery stenosis (0.33%). Residual shunts were treated in 0.99% of cases.
Conclusion: ASO significantly improves the prognosis for patients with TGA, though a notable proportion require reoperation due to complications such as RVOTO, neo-aortic valve dysfunction, and residual shunts. This study underscores the need for regular, long-term follow-up to promptly identify and manage post-operative complications.
The ABC transporter MsbA in a dozen environments
Authors: Moeller Arne , Hoffmann Lea , Baier Anika , Jorde Lara , Kamel Michael , Schäfer Jan-Hannes , Schnelle Kilian , Scholz Alischa , Shvarev Dmitry , Wong Jaslyn , Parey Kristian , Januliene Dovile
Published: July 2024

High-resolution structure determination of membrane proteins typically requires isolation from the native lipid bilayer and reconstitution into artificial membrane mimics. For this purpose, numerous detergents, amphipols, polymers and membrane scaffold proteins are available. The choice of the specific membrane substitute can strongly affect the protein’s specific activity, stability and conformational spectrum, potentially leading to errors or misinterpretation during analysis. The bacterial ATP-binding cassette transporter MsbA is a prominent example of such environment-specific bias, resulting in apparent conformational and activity responses.
Here, we present a systematic analysis of the conformational spectrum of MsbA, stabilized in a dozen environments, using cryo-EM. Our data show pronounced structural feedback of the ABC transporter to the respective membrane mimetics. Detergents generally favour a conformation with wide separation of the nucleotide-binding domains, while nanodiscs induce the narrow conformation. Notably, only three of the dozen tested environments allow MsbA to sample the functional conformational spectrum, enabling full movement of the nucleotide-binding domains between narrow and wide inward-facing conformations. We expect this study to serve as a blueprint for other membrane proteins, even where the structural reaction to the hydrophobic environment is not directly visible but still critical for the proteins’ function.
Cattle Cell Atlas: a multi-tissue single cell expression repository for advanced bovine genomics and comparative biology
Authors: Fang Lingzhao , Han Bo , Li Houcheng , Zhang Qi , Zheng Weijie , Chen Ao , Zhu Senlin , Shi Tao , Hou Yali , Wang Fei , Zou Dong , Song Yu , Ye Wen , Du Aixia , Fu Yihan , Jia Minghui , Bai Zhonghao , Yuan Zhixiang , Liu Wan-Sheng , Tao Wenbin , Hope Jayne , MacHugh David , O’Grady John , Madsen Ole , Sahana Goutam , Luo Yonglun , Lin Lin , Li Cong-jun , Cai Zexi , Li Bingjie , Liu Lin , Zhang Zhang , Ma Zhu , Liu George E. , Jiang Yu , Sun Hui-Zeng , Sun Dongxiao
Published: July 2024

Systematic characterization of the molecular states of cells in livestock tissues is essential for understanding cellular and genetic mechanisms underlying economically and ecologically important physiological traits. This knowledge contributes to the advancement of sustainable and precision agriculture-food systems. Here, as part of the Farm animal Genotype-Tissue Expression (FarmGTEx) project, we describe a comprehensive reference map comprising 1,793,854 cells from 59 bovine tissues, spanning both sexes and multiple developmental stages. This map, generated by single-cell/nucleus RNA sequencing, identifies 131 distinct cell types, revealing intra- and inter-tissue cellular heterogeneity in gene expression, transcription factor regulation, and intercellular communication. Integrative analysis with genetic variants that underpin bovine monogenic and complex traits uncovers cell types of relevance, such as spermatocytes responsible for sperm motilities and excitatory neurons for milk fat yield. Comparative analysis reveals similarities in gene expression between cattle and humans at single-cell resolution, allowing for detection of relevant cell types for studying human complex phenotypes. This cattle cell atlas will serve as a key resource for cattle genetics and genomics, immunology, comparative biology, and ultimately human biomedicine.
Pulmonary Function Testing in Pediatric Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients to Monitor for Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gower William A , Tamae-Kakazu Maximiliano , Shanthikumar Shivanthan , Sriniva Saumini , Reardon Erin E , Barochia Amisha V , Charbek Edward , Calvo Charlotte , Cheng Pi Chun , Das Shailendra , Davies Stella M , Gross Jessica , Sheshadri Ajay , Towe Christoper T , Goldfarb Samuel B , Iyer Narayan P
Published: July 2024

Background Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) represents a significant source of morbidity and non-relapse mortality among children and young adults treated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT). Pulmonary function tests (PFT), pre and post aHSCT may allow for pre-symptomatic detection of BOS, and thus early intervention. Current guidelines and practice varies regarding which tests to perform, and timing relative to pediatric aHSCT. A systematic review evaluating PFT before and after pediatric aHSCT was performed to inform American Thoracic Society clinical practice guidelines on detection of BOS.Objective To determine the optimal approach to conducting PFT prior to and after pediatric aHSCT.Study Design: We performed a systematic review of the literature to identify studies of PFT in human aHSCT recipients under 25 years of age, in order to address two questions: (1) Should pre-transplant screening PFT be performed in pediatric patients who will undergo aHSCT? (2) At what frequency should pediatric patients who have had aHSCT undergo PFT? We searched in Medline through July 2022 for studies that enrolled patients < 25 years of age being treated with aHSCT for whom PFT data were reported before or after transplant.Results The 30 studies with pre-transplant PFT data showed a wide range of findings, with the majority demonstrating PFT abnormalities. In studies reporting respiratory symptoms, 85–100% of patients were asymptomatic. In the 21 studies reporting post-transplant PFT, 11 used a surveillance strategy where at least one test was performed in the first year post-transplant. Median time to BOS diagnosis was 6–12 months in the regular surveillance studies, and 6–24 months in the others. Forced expiratory volume in one second at the time of BOS diagnosis was 38–84% predicted in studies with regular surveillance versus 44–57% predicted in studies with no surveillance. In the surveillance group, BOS was identified in some patients who were asymptomatic.Conclusions PFT Abnormalities are common in children prior to aHSCT. Regular monitoring in the first 1–2 years post-aHSCT may improve early and/or pre-symptomatic identification of BOS, but significant limitations may still be seen at the time of diagnosis. Higher quality data are needed.
Southern Hemisphere Subtropical Front impacts on Southern African Hydroclimate and early Hominins Across the Mid-Pleistocene Transition
Authors: Rubbelke Claire , Bhattacharya Tripti , Farnsworth Alexander , Valdes Paul , McClymont Erin , Ford Heather
Published: July 2024

The surface waters around Southern Africa (SA) are a confluence of the Benguela Upwelling System (BUS), the Agulhas System, and the Antarctic Circumpolar frontal system. The Subtropical Front (STF) is largely considered the boundary between the Antarctic Circumpolar frontal system and the Agulhas System; northward shifts of the STF are thought to limit the intensity of Agulhas Leakage (AL). Here, we present a new leaf wax hydroclimate record from ODP 1084, in the BUS. This and regional proxy records reveal that substantial changes in the isotopic signature of precipitation over SA coincide with significant shifts in the position of the STF and intensity of AL across the Mid-Pleistocene Transition. Archaeological sites in SA suggest occupation by early humans during the Mid-Pleistocene - changes in water availability and rainfall seasonality may have been a source of stress for these populations. Given the ongoing impacts of climate change on water resources in SA, awareness of the relationship between rainfall and STF shifts could not only provide insight into past water availability, but also aid regional adaptation efforts.
Assessing Stakeholders’ Expectations of Indian Management Education: An exploratory study
Authors: Jesiah Selvam
Published: July 2024

Purpose: Indian B-schools turnout graduate several batches of students every year. However, not all of these students are capable enough to get a job/start a business of their choice. On the other hand, job recruiters are increasingly finding it difficult to hire an employee who suits their requirements even though there exists a huge demand for management professionals in the job market. This paper is an attempt to examine the various stakeholders’ expectations of Indian management education through selected variables such as the career ambitions of management aspirants and expectations of the employer from an MBA in terms of skill sets and behavior. More importantly, the investigation is made to ascertain whether these expectations are met by current management education.
Design/Methodology: This research is exploratory and undertaken through the survey method. The study administered a triple-stage sampling to estimate the population size among employers, recruiters, faculty members, and students to capture their expectations and priorities in management education.
Findings: The study whilerevealing the expectations of the Indian and the overseas students, the faculty members, and the employer from the management education, also sheds light on the knowledge and behavioral deficiencies of management graduates which have been long neglectedin the process of imparting management education.
Originality: The author provides a holistic view of the stakeholders’ expectations from Indian management education and thus offers insights to regulatory bodies and educational institutions while designing and developing curriculum and pedagogy.
Thermodynamic Analysis of Distributed Propulsion
Authors: Suppes Galen J. , Suppes Adam B.
Published: July 2024

The ability of propulsion Sources (Sources) to increase the L/D-efficiency of aircraft is highly dependent on the Sources’ locations, surrounding surface morphologies, and lost work associated with Sources’ operating points. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations were performed on airfoils (i.e., 2D CFD) to provide guidelines for identifying base case specifications of these variables. Trailing-edge upper-surface Source locations provided the greatest direct impact on L/D-efficiency, but mid-chord Sources provided the ability to minimize the interference of sequential thin-plate wing sections. Optimal surrounding surface morphologies depend on the mode of operation, being different for descent and cruising; and so, morphing surfaces are needed to maximize the effectiveness of distributed propulsion. Relative to free stream conditions, Sources have lower pressures at intakes and higher pressures at discharges; the optimal positioning of these pressure differences to generate lift has a significant impact on L/D-efficiency. Metrics were identified to maximize the gain-loss ratio of increased L/D-efficiency versus lost thrust. Distributed-propulsion approaches have particular utility toward designing high-L/D low-AR airframes.
Climate-driven range expansion via long-distance larval dispersal
Authors: López Cataixa , Daniels Benjamin N. , Freel Evan B , Lee Andy , Davidson Jean M. , White Crow , Christie Mark R. , Toonen Robert J.
Published: July 2024

Climate-driven warming and changes in major ocean currents enable poleward transport and range expansions of many marine species. Here, we report the population genetic structure for the gastropodKelletia kelletii, a commercial fisheries species and subtidal predator with top-down food web effects, whose populations have recently undergone climate-driven northward range expansion. We genotyped 598 adults from 13 locations across the species’ historical and expanded range (∼800 km) using reduced representation genomic sequencing (RAD-seq). Analyses of 40,747 SNPs show evidence for long-distance larval dispersal ofK. kelletiilarvae from a central historical range site (Point Loma, CA) hundreds of km into the expanded northern range (Big Creek, CA), which seems most likely to result from transport during an El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event rather than consistent on-going gene flow. Furthermore, despite smaller geographic distances among some sampled expanded-range populations, their genetic divergence exceeds that among the historical range sampled populations, suggesting multiple origins of the expanded-range populations. Given the frequency and magnitude of ENSO events are predicted to increase with climate change, understanding the factors driving changes in population connectivity is crucial for establishing effective management strategies to ensure the persistence of this and other economically and ecologically important species.
Expression Analysis of OsGBSSI and OsGS3 Genes, and Investigation of Morphological and Biochemical Characteristics across Diverse Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes
Authors: JAYHOON ALISINA , Kumar Pushpendra , Yadav Manoj Kumar , Kumar Mukesh , Singh Shiv Kumar
Published: July 2024

Background: Quality in the rice value chain encompasses a wide range of features and attributes that are defined by consumers based on their food preferences and habits.
Scope and approach: we chose two aromatic basmati, one aromatic non-basmati and one non-aromatic rice genotypes for grain quality studies. Then we analyzed grain quality based on (i) morphological and physical parameters, (ii) biochemical traits, and (iii) grain quality gene expression analysis.
Key findings and conclusion: aromatic basmati genotypes and non-aromatic genotype shared similarities, whereas aromatic non-basmati genotype exhibited dissimilarities in terms of morphological traits. Aromatic basmati genotypes exhibited superior grain quality and yield traits, including elevated panicle length, high 1000-grain weight, extra-long slender grain, high grain elongation ratio (>1.6), strong aroma, soft gel consistency, high alkali spreading value and intermediate amylose content as compared to both aromatic non-basmati and non-aromatic genotypes. Gene expression analysis revealed that Aromatic basmati genotypes exhibit low expression level of GS3 gene but high expression level of GBSSIgene. Aromatic non-basmati genotypes, on the other hand, showed high expression level of GS3 gene and low expression level of GBSSI gene. Non-aromatic genotype had 8 fold lower expression level of GBSSI gene and 8 fold higher expression level of GS3 gene as compared to aromatic basmati (PB-1121) genotype. Aromatic non-basmati genotype showed 64 fold higher expression level of GS3 gene as compared to aromatic basmati (PB-1121) genotype.
CIPLUKAN’S ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS: MECHANISMS UNCOVERED
Authors: Prasetyo Yacobus Christian , Purwanti Noerlina
Published: July 2024

Background: Ciplukan (Physalis angulata Linn) is a native American plant widely distributed in tropical regions including Indonesia. This herb has been used as a traditional ingredient to treat inflammation as well as other diseases. Ciplukan’s anti-inflammatory effects are thought to be triggered by the active compounds in the various parts of the herb.
Objective: This review aims to describe the herb’s anti-inflammatory effects and its mechanisms.
Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched for articles using Boolean operations with keywords related to Physalis angulata and inflammatory components. We included literature in English and Indonesian without limiting the publication time range.
Results: Ciplukan has an anti-inflammatory effect by regulating inflammatory mediators, inhibiting immune signaling pathways, and the genes associated with the immune system.
Effect of Thermal Treatment and Pasteurization on Milk Powder Quality
Authors: Alkadour Mohammed Ibrahim , Pryanichnikova Nataliya , Yurova Elena , Petrov Andrey
Published: July 2024

Milk powder is a commercial product of mass consumption. Its popularity means a variety of quality and production requirements. New methods of skimmed milk powder production are strategically important for the food industry in Russia and worldwide. Russia is currently experiencing a shortage of low-heat milk powder import. The research featured the effect of thermal treatment and pasteurization mode on the protein profile and microbiological parameters of skimmed milk powder. The research objective was to establish the thermal variables for low-heat milk powder.
The study involved raw milk, skimmed milk produced under different heat treatment conditions, and skimmed milk powder obtained from this milk. The authors used standard analytical methods to define the protein profile, as well as the microbiological and physicochemical parameters.
A set of experiments made it possible to classify the heat treatment of skimmed milk powder produced under various milk pasteurization modes, as well as to establish its biochemical and microbiological parameters. The optimal mode for low-heat milk powder was a combination of thermal treatment (60 ± 2°C for 10 s followed by cooling to 10°C for 10 h) and low-temperature pasteurization (72 ± 2°C for 15 s). The powder obtained met the Technical Regulations of Customs Union TR CU 033/2013 and State Standard 33629-2015.
A lower thermal load maintains the microbiological safety of milk powder while preserving its quality. In this study, the optimal thermal treatment and pasteurization mode yielded milk powder of low-heat category, thus preserving the native protein and microbiological safety. As a result, the low-heat milk powder acquired some high-quality functional and consumer properties.
Gas Mass Spectrometry of Industrial Yogurts
Authors: Sibircev Vladimir , Kuzmin Alexey , Titov Yuri , Zaitseva Anna , Sherstnev Vladislav
Published: July 2024

Food safety and quality are especially important in the dairy industry. Mass spectrometry is an effective tool of state control in this sphere. The research objective was to study the prospects for gas mass spectrometry with smart mathematical processing in assessing the composition and quality of dairy products.
The study featured 11 samples of fresh and acidified yoghurts from different manufacturers and with various starters, functional food additives, etc. These samples and their packaging were evaluated using a small-sized quadrupole gas mass spectrometer MS7-200 with electron impact ionization developed at the Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, Russian Academy of Sciences. The data obtained were mathematically processed by the method of principal components.
Based on the ratios of peak intensities at m/z = 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 64, 67, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 84, 85, and 88 Da, the fresh and expired samples were classified not only by the degree of freshness, but also by the composition and quality of the microbiological starters, raw materials, food additives, etc. In addition, some packaging materials proved to be of poor quality.
In this study, the method of gas mass spectrometry was supplemented by the authentic methods for selecting gas emissions from yoghurts and packaging, accelerated acidification, and smart mathematical processing. The approach proved to be time-saving, sensitive, selective, available, and cost-effective. As a result, it demonstrated good potential as a means to control the composition and quality of dairy products and their packaging.