bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flavodiiron-mediated O2 photoreduction at photosystem I acceptor-side provides photoprotection to conifer thylakoids in early spring
Authors: Bag Pushan , Shutova Tatyana , Shevela Dmitry , Lihavainen Jenna , Nanda Sanchali , Ivanov Alexander G. , Messinger Johannes , Jansson Stefan
Published: June 2023

Green organisms evolve oxygen (O2) via photosynthesis and consume it by respiration. Generally, net O2 consumption only becomes dominant when photosynthesis is suppressed at night. Here, we show that green thylakoid membranes of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) needles display strong O2 consumption even in the presence of light when extremely low temperatures coincide with high solar irradiation during early spring (ES). By employing different electron transport chain inhibitors, we show that this unusual light-induced O2 consumption occurs around photosystem (PS) I and correlates with higher abundance of flavodiiron (Flv) A protein in ES thylakoids. With P700 absorption changes, we demonstrate that electron scavenging from the acceptor-side of PSI via O2 photoreduction is a major alternative pathway in ES. This photoprotection mechanism in vascular plants indicates that conifers have developed an adaptative evolution trajectory for growing in harsh environments.
Dynamic pathogen detection and social feedback shape collective hygiene in ants
Authors: Casillas-Pérez Barbara , Boďová Katarína , Grasse Anna V. , Tkačik Gašper , Cremer Sylvia
Published: June 2023

Cooperative disease defense emerges as group-level collective behavior, yet how group members make the underlying individual decisions is poorly understood. Using garden ants and fungal pathogens as an experimental model, we derive the rules governing individual ant grooming choices and show how they produce colony-level hygiene. Time-resolved behavioral analysis, pathogen quantification, and probabilistic modeling reveal that ants increase grooming and preferentially target highly-infectious individuals when perceiving high pathogen load, but transiently suppress grooming after having been groomed by nestmates. Ants thus react to both, the infectivity of others and the social feedback they receive on their own contagiousness. While inferred solely from momentary ant decisions, these behavioral rules quantitatively predict hour-long experimental dynamics, and synergistically combine into efficient colony-wide pathogen removal. Our analyses show that noisy individual decisions based on only local, incomplete, yet dynamically-updated information on pathogen threat and social feedback can lead to potent collective disease defense.
Importance of broken geometric symmetry of single-atom Pt sites for efficient electrocatalysis
Authors: Cho Junsic , Lim Taejung , Kim Haesol , Meng Ling , Kim Jinjong , Lee Seunghoon , Lee Jong Hoon , Jung Gwan Yeong , Lee Kug-Seung , Viñes Francesc , Illas Francesc , Exner Kai S. , Joo Sang Hoon , Choi Chang Hyuck
Published: June 2023

Platinum single-atom catalysts hold promise as a new frontier in heterogeneous electrocatalysis. However, the exact chemical nature of active Pt sites is highly elusive, arousing many hypotheses to compensate for the significant discrepancies between experiments and theories. Here, we identify the stabilization of low-coordinated PtIIspecies on carbon-based Pt single-atom catalysts, which have rarely been found as reaction intermediates of homogeneous PtIIcatalysts but have often been proposed as catalytic sites for Pt single-atom catalysts from theory. Advanced online spectroscopic studies reveal multiple identities of PtIImoieties on the single-atom catalysts beyond ideally four-coordinated PtII–N4. Notably, decreasing Pt content to 0.15 wt.% enables the differentiation of low-coordinated PtIIspecies from the four-coordinated ones, demonstrating their critical role in the chlorine evolution reaction. This study may afford general guidelines for achieving a high electrocatalytic performance of carbon-based single-atom catalysts based on otherd8metal ions.
Extreme atmospheric rivers in a warming climate
Authors: Wang Shuyu , Ma Xiaohui , Zhou Shenghui , Wu Lixin , Wang Hong , Tang Zhili , Xu Guangzhi , Jing Zhao , Chen Zhaohui , Gan Bolan
Published: June 2023

Extreme atmospheric rivers (EARs) are responsible for most of the severe precipitation and disastrous flooding along the coastal regions in midlatitudes. However, the current non-eddy-resolving climate models severely underestimate (~50%) EARs, casting significant uncertainties on their future projections. Here, using an unprecedented set of eddy-resolving high-resolution simulations from the Community Earth System Model simulations, we show that the models’ ability of simulating EARs is significantly improved (despite a slight overestimate of ~10%) and the EARs are projected to increase almost linearly with temperature warming. Under the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 warming scenario, there will be a global doubling or more of the occurrence, integrated water vapor transport and precipitation associated with EARs, and a more concentrated tripling for the landfalling EARs, by the end of the 21st century. We further demonstrate that the coupling relationship between EARs and storms will be reduced in a warming climate, potentially influencing the predictability of future EARs.
Strain-tunable Berry curvature in quasi-two-dimensional chromium telluride
Authors: Chi Hang , Ou Yunbo , Eldred Tim B. , Gao Wenpei , Kwon Sohee , Murray Joseph , Dreyer Michael , Butera Robert E. , Foucher Alexandre C. , Ambaye Haile , Keum Jong , Greenberg Alice T. , Liu Yuhang , Neupane Mahesh R. , de Coster George J. , Vail Owen A. , Taylor Patrick J. , Folkes Patrick A. , Rong Charles , Yin Gen , Lake Roger K. , Ross Frances M. , Lauter Valeria , Heiman Don , Moodera Jagadeesh S.
Published: June 2023

Magnetic transition metal chalcogenides form an emerging platform for exploring spin-orbit driven Berry phase phenomena owing to the nontrivial interplay between topology and magnetism. Here we show that the anomalous Hall effect in pristine Cr2Te3 thin films manifests a unique temperature-dependent sign reversal at nonzero magnetization, resulting from the momentum-space Berry curvature as established by first-principles simulations. The sign change is strain tunable, enabled by the sharp and well-defined substrate/film interface in the quasi-two-dimensional Cr2Te3 epitaxial films, revealed by scanning transmission electron microscopy and depth-sensitive polarized neutron reflectometry. This Berry phase effect further introduces hump-shaped Hall peaks in pristine Cr2Te3 near the coercive field during the magnetization switching process, owing to the presence of strain-modulated magnetic layers/domains. The versatile interface tunability of Berry curvature in Cr2Te3 thin films offers new opportunities for topological electronics.
CFP1 governs uterine epigenetic landscapes to intervene in progesterone responses for uterine physiology and suppression of endometriosis
Authors: Yang Seung Chel , Park Mira , Hong Kwon-Ho , La Hyeonwoo , Park Chanhyeok , Wang Peike , Li Gaizhen , Chen Qionghua , Choi Youngsok , DeMayo Francesco J. , Lydon John P. , Skalnik David G. , Lim Hyunjung J. , Hong Seok-Ho , Park So Hee , Kim Yeon Sun , Kim Hye-Ryun , Song Haengseok
Published: June 2023

Progesterone (P4) is required for the preparation of the endometrium for a successful pregnancy. P4resistance is a leading cause of the pathogenesis of endometrial disorders like endometriosis, often leading to infertility; however, the underlying epigenetic cause remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that CFP1, a regulator of H3K4me3, is required for maintaining epigenetic landscapes of P4-progesterone receptor (PGR) signaling networks in the mouse uterus.Cfp1f/f;Pgr-Cre (Cfp1d/d) mice showed impaired P4responses, leading to complete failure of embryo implantation. mRNA and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analyses showed that CFP1 regulates uterine mRNA profiles not only in H3K4me3-dependent but also in H3K4me3-independent manners. CFP1 directly regulates important P4response genes, includingGata2,Sox17, andIhh, which activate smoothened signaling pathway in the uterus. In a mouse model of endometriosis,Cfp1d/dectopic lesions showed P4resistance, which was rescued by a smoothened agonist. In human endometriosis, CFP1 was significantly downregulated, and expression levels between CFP1 and these P4targets are positively related regardless of PGR levels. In brief, our study provides that CFP1 intervenes in the P4-epigenome-transcriptome networks for uterine receptivity for embryo implantation and the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
Balanced SET levels favor the correct enhancer repertoire during cell fate acquisition
Authors: Zaghi Mattia , Banfi Federica , Massimino Luca , Volpin Monica , Bellini Edoardo , Brusco Simone , Merelli Ivan , Barone Cristiana , Bruni Michela , Bossini Linda , Lamparelli Luigi Antonio , Pintado Laura , D’Aliberti Deborah , Spinelli Silvia , Mologni Luca , Colasante Gaia , Ungaro Federica , Cioni Jean-Michel , Azzoni Emanuele , Piazza Rocco , Montini Eugenio , Broccoli Vania , Sessa Alessandro
Published: June 2023

Within the chromatin, distal elements interact with promoters to regulate specific transcriptional programs. Histone acetylation, interfering with the net charges of the nucleosomes, is a key player in this regulation. Here, we report that the oncoprotein SET is a critical determinant for the levels of histone acetylation within enhancers. We disclose that a condition in which SET is accumulated, the severe Schinzel-Giedion Syndrome (SGS), is characterized by a failure in the usage of the distal regulatory regions typically employed during fate commitment. This is accompanied by the usage of alternative enhancers leading to a massive rewiring of the distal control of the gene transcription. This represents a (mal)adaptive mechanism that, on one side, allows to achieve a certain degree of differentiation, while on the other affects the fine and corrected maturation of the cells. Thus, we propose the differential in cis-regulation as a contributing factor to the pathological basis of SGS and possibly other the SET-related disorders in humans.
Tough, rapid self-recovery and responsive organogel-based ionotronic for intelligent continuous passive motion system
Authors: Tang Jie , He Yuan , Xu Dan , Zhang Weijie , Hu Yang , Song Heming , Zhang Yunxia , Chen Yong Mei , Yang Yang , Zhang Kai
Published: June 2023

Continuous passive motion (CPM) is an adjunct therapy to the standard postoperative rehabilitation regimen of joint injuries. The capability of real-time monitoring actual bending angle of knee joints is highly desired for treatment strategies of personalized postoperative rehabilitation and telemedicine. Here we report an intelligent CPM system for personalized rehabilitation and telemedicine based on the flexible and versatile ionotronic that possesses impressive mechanical properties (2.56 MPa tensile strength; 11.63 MJ m−3 toughness), fast self-recovery ability (60 s) and broaden environmental tolerance (−60–45 °C). Especially, the ionotronic responds fast and shows stability for cyclic strain sensing, ensuring the detection of actual joint bending angle with high sensitivity and reliability. The intelligent CPM system assembled with this ionotronic and a wireless transmitter was constructed, opening up a horizon for developing digital intelligent medical that can remotely monitor the movement of hospitalized/at-home patients who use CPM for personalized postoperative rehabilitation.
Ultra-flexible semitransparent organic photovoltaics
Authors: Lee Hanbee , Jeong Soyeong , Kim Jae-Hyun , Jo Yong-Ryun , Eun Hyeong Ju , Park Byoungwook , Yoon Sung Cheol , Kim Jong H. , Lee Seung-Hoon , Park Sungjun
Published: June 2023

Ultra-flexible organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are promising candidates for next-generation power sources owing to their low weight, transparency, and flexibility. However, obtaining ultra-flexibility under extreme repetitive mechanical stress while maintaining optical transparency remains challenging because of the intrinsic brittleness of transparent electrodes. Here, we introduce strain-durable ultra-flexible semitransparent OPVs with a thickness below 2 μm. The conformal surface coverage of nanoscale thin metal electrodes (< 10 nm) is achieved, resulting in extremely low flexural rigidity and high strain durability. In-depth optical and electrical analyses on ultrathin metal electrodes showed that the devices maintain over 73% of their initial efficiency after 1000 cycles of repetitive compression and release at 66% compressive strain, and the average visible light transmittances remain higher than 30%. To our knowledge, this is the first systematical study on mechanical behaviors of strain-durable ultra-flexible ST-OPVs through precise adjustment of each ultrathin electrode thickness toward the emergence of next-generation flexible power sources.
Targeted metabolomic analysis in Parkinson’s disease brain frontal cortex and putamen with relation to cognitive impairment
Authors: Kalecký Karel , Bottiglieri Teodoro
Published: June 2023

We performed liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis with the targeted metabolomic kit Biocrates MxP Quant 500, in human brain cortex (Brodmann area 9) and putamen, to reveal metabolic changes characteristic of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and PD-related cognitive decline. This case-control study involved 101 subjects (33 PD without dementia, 32 PD with dementia (cortex only), 36 controls). We found changes associated with PD, cognitive status, levodopa levels, and disease progression. The affected pathways include neurotransmitters, bile acids, homocysteine metabolism, amino acids, TCA cycle, polyamines, β-alanine metabolism, fatty acids, acylcarnitines, ceramides, phosphatidylcholines, and several microbiome-derived metabolites. Previously reported levodopa-related homocysteine accumulation in cortex still best explains the dementia status in PD, which can be modified by dietary supplementation. Further investigation is needed to reveal the exact mechanisms behind this pathological change.
Hydroponic potato production in wood fiber for food security
Authors: Kusnierek Krzysztof , Heltoft Pia , Møllerhagen Per Jarle , Woznicki Tomasz
Published: June 2023

The resilience of global food security is a critical concern. Facing limited access to land and potential disruption of the food markets, alternative, scalable, and efficient production systems are needed as a complementary buffer for maintenance of food production integrity. The purpose of this study was to introduce an alternative hydroponic potato growing system where potatoes are grown in bare wood fiber as a growing medium. A system utilizing drip irrigation and plastic bags as containers was tested for three different types of wood fiber, two cultivars and two fertigation strategies. Implementation of the system resulted in ~300% higher tuber production when compared to the local conventional farming. Mineral composition of the tubers obtained from hydroponic system was similar to the composition of tubers grown in the field and revealed potential for biofortification. In addition, a fertigation strategy where the two application points were separated across the root zone resulted in tubers with dry matter content comparable to the potatoes grown in soil. The recyclability, reusability, and simplicity of this solution may encourage its application for improving security of food production in selected areas of the world as well as its utilization in urban agriculture.
A systems biology approach to define mechanisms, phenotypes, and drivers in PanNETs with a personalized perspective
Authors: Werle Silke D. , Ikonomi Nensi , Lausser Ludwig , Kestler Annika M. T. U. , Weidner Felix M. , Schwab Julian D. , Maier Julia , Buchholz Malte , Gress Thomas M. , Kestler Angelika M. R. , Kestler Hans A.
Published: June 2023

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) are a rare tumor entity with largely unpredictable progression and increasing incidence in developed countries. Molecular pathways involved in PanNETs development are still not elucidated, and specific biomarkers are missing. Moreover, the heterogeneity of PanNETs makes their treatment challenging and most approved targeted therapeutic options for PanNETs lack objective responses. Here, we applied a systems biology approach integrating dynamic modeling strategies, foreign classifier tailored approaches, and patient expression profiles to predict PanNETs progression as well as resistance mechanisms to clinically approved treatments such as the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) inhibitors. We set up a model able to represent frequently reported PanNETs drivers in patient cohorts, such as Menin-1 (MEN1), Death domain associated protein (DAXX), Tuberous Sclerosis (TSC), as well as wild-type tumors. Model-based simulations suggested drivers of cancer progression as both first and second hits after MEN1 loss. In addition, we could predict the benefit of mTORC1 inhibitors on differentially mutated cohorts and hypothesize resistance mechanisms. Our approach sheds light on a more personalized prediction and treatment of PanNET mutant phenotypes.
POLCOVID: a multicenter multiclass chest X-ray database (Poland, 2020–2021)
Authors: Suwalska Aleksandra , Tobiasz Joanna , Prazuch Wojciech , Socha Marek , Foszner Pawel , Piotrowski Damian , Gruszczynska Katarzyna , Sliwinska Magdalena , Walecki Jerzy , Popiela Tadeusz , Przybylski Grzegorz , Nowak Mateusz , Fiedor Piotr , Pawlowska Malgorzata , Flisiak Robert , Simon Krzysztof , Zapolska Gabriela , Gizycka Barbara , Szurowska Edyta ,   for the POLCOVID Study Group, Oronowicz-Jaskowiak Agnieszka , Golebiewski Bogumil , Rataj Mateusz , Chmielarz Przemyslaw , Tur Adrianna , Drabik Grzegorz , Kozub Justyna , Kozanecka Anna , Hildebrandt Sebastian , Krutul-Walenciej Katarzyna , Jan Baron  , Jaroszewicz Jerzy , Wasilewski Piotr , Mazur Samuel , Klaude Krzysztof , Rataj Katarzyna , Golebiewski Bogumil , Rabiko Piotr , Rajewski Pawel , Blewaska Piotr , Sznajder Katarzyna , Plesniak Robert , Marczyk Michal , Cieszanowski Andrzej , Polanska Joanna
Published: June 2023

The outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has put healthcare systems worldwide to their limits, resulting in increased waiting time for diagnosis and required medical assistance. With chest radiographs (CXR) being one of the most common COVID-19 diagnosis methods, many artificial intelligence tools for image-based COVID-19 detection have been developed, often trained on a small number of images from COVID-19-positive patients. Thus, the need for high-quality and well-annotated CXR image databases increased. This paper introduces POLCOVID dataset, containing chest X-ray (CXR) images of patients with COVID-19 or other-type pneumonia, and healthy individuals gathered from 15 Polish hospitals. The original radiographs are accompanied by the preprocessed images limited to the lung area and the corresponding lung masks obtained with the segmentation model. Moreover, the manually created lung masks are provided for a part of POLCOVID dataset and the other four publicly available CXR image collections. POLCOVID dataset can help in pneumonia or COVID-19 diagnosis, while the set of matched images and lung masks may serve for the development of lung segmentation solutions.
The FORCIS database: A global census of planktonic Foraminifera from ocean waters
Authors: Chaabane Sonia , de Garidel-Thoron Thibault , Giraud Xavier , Schiebel Ralf , Beaugrand Gregory , Brummer Geert-Jan , Casajus Nicolas , Greco Mattia , Grigoratou Maria , Howa Hélène , Jonkers Lukas , Kucera Michal , Kuroyanagi Azumi , Meilland Julie , Monteiro Fanny , Mortyn Graham , Almogi-Labin Ahuva , Asahi Hirofumi , Avnaim-Katav Simona , Bassinot Franck , Davis Catherine V. , Field David B. , Hernández-Almeida Iván , Herut Barak , Hosie Graham , Howard Will , Jentzen Anna , Johns David G. , Keigwin Lloyd , Kitchener John , Kohfeld Karen E. , Lessa Douglas V. O. , Manno Clara , Marchant Margarita , Ofstad Siri , Ortiz Joseph D. , Post Alexandra , Rigual-Hernandez Andres , Rillo Marina C. , Robinson Karen , Sagawa Takuya , Sierro Francisco , Takahashi Kunio T. , Torfstein Adi , Venancio Igor , Yamasaki Makoto , Ziveri Patrizia
Published: June 2023

Planktonic Foraminifera are unique paleo-environmental indicators through their excellent fossil record in ocean sediments. Their distribution and diversity are affected by different environmental factors including anthropogenically forced ocean and climate change. Until now, historical changes in their distribution have not been fully assessed at the global scale. Here we present the FORCIS (Foraminifera Response to Climatic Stress) database on foraminiferal species diversity and distribution in the global ocean from 1910 until 2018 including published and unpublished data. The FORCIS database includes data collected using plankton tows, continuous plankton recorder, sediment traps and plankton pump, and contains ~22,000, ~157,000, ~9,000, ~400 subsamples, respectively (one single plankton aliquot collected within a depth range, time interval, size fraction range, at a single location) from each category. Our database provides a perspective of the distribution patterns of planktonic Foraminifera in the global ocean on large spatial (regional to basin scale, and at the vertical scale), and temporal (seasonal to interdecadal) scales over the past century.
Full-band, multi-angle, multi-scale, and temporal dynamic field spectral measurements in China
Authors: Wen Jianguang , Wu Xiaodan , Xiao Qing , Liu Qinhuo , Ma Mingguo , Zheng Xingming , Qu Yonghua , Jin Rui , You DongQin , Tang Yong , Lin Xingwen , Yu Wenpin , Gong Baochang , Yang Jian , Han Yuan
Published: June 2023

Field-measured spectra are critical for remote sensing physical modelling, retrieval of structural, biophysical, and biochemical parameters, and other practical applications. We present a library of field spectra, which includes (1) portable field spectroradiometer measurements of vegetation, soil, and snow in the full-wave band, (2) multi-angle spectra measurements of desert vegetation, chernozems, and snow with consideration of the anisotropic reflectance of land surface, (3) multi-scale spectra measurements of leaf and canopy of different vegetation cover surfaces, and (4) continuous reflectance spectra time-series data revealing vegetation growth dynamics of maize, rice, wheat, rape, grassland, and so on. To the best of our knowledge, this library is unique in simultaneously providing full-band, multi-angle, multi-scale spectral measurements of the main surface elements of China covering a large spatial extent over a 10-year period. Furthermore, the 101 by 101 satellite pixels of Landsat ETM/OLI and MODIS surface reflectance centered around the field site were extracted, providing a vital linkage between ground measurements and satellite observations. The code language used for this work is Matlab 2016a.
Impact of TAVR on coronary artery hemodynamics using clinical measurements and image‐based patient‐specific in silico modeling
Authors: Garber Louis , Khodaei Seyedvahid , Maftoon Nima , Keshavarz-Motamed Zahra
Published: June 2023

In recent years, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become the leading method for treating aortic stenosis. While the procedure has improved dramatically in the past decade, there are still uncertainties about the impact of TAVR on coronary blood flow. Recent research has indicated that negative coronary events after TAVR may be partially driven by impaired coronary blood flow dynamics. Furthermore, the current technologies to rapidly obtain non-invasive coronary blood flow data are relatively limited. Herein, we present a lumped parameter computational model to simulate coronary blood flow in the main arteries as well as a series of cardiovascular hemodynamic metrics. The model was designed to only use a few inputs parameters from echocardiography, computed tomography and a sphygmomanometer. The novel computational model was then validated and applied to 19 patients undergoing TAVR to examine the impact of the procedure on coronary blood flow in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, left circumflex (LCX) artery and right coronary artery (RCA) and various global hemodynamics metrics. Based on our findings, the changes in coronary blood flow after TAVR varied and were subject specific (37% had increased flow in all three coronary arteries, 32% had decreased flow in all coronary arteries, and 31% had both increased and decreased flow in different coronary arteries). Additionally, valvular pressure gradient, left ventricle (LV) workload and maximum LV pressure decreased by 61.5%, 4.5% and 13.0% respectively, while mean arterial pressure and cardiac output increased by 6.9% and 9.9% after TAVR. By applying this proof-of-concept computational model, a series of hemodynamic metrics were generated non-invasively which can help to better understand the individual relationships between TAVR and mean and peak coronary flow rates. In the future, tools such as these may play a vital role by providing clinicians with rapid insight into various cardiac and coronary metrics, rendering the planning for TAVR and other cardiovascular procedures more personalized.
Multicenter research priorities in pediatric CMR: results of a collaborative wiki survey
Authors: Beroukhim Rebecca S. , Merlocco Anthony , Gerardin Jennifer F. , Tham Edythe , Patel Jyoti K. , Siddiqui Saira , Goot Benjamin , Farooqi Kanwal , Soslow Jonathan , Grotenhuis Heynric , Hor Kan , Muthurangu Vivek , Raimondi Francesca
Published: June 2023

Multicenter studies in pediatric cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) improve statistical power and generalizability. However, a structured process for identifying important research topics has not been developed. We aimed to (1) develop a list of high priority knowledge gaps, and (2) pilot the use of a wiki survey to collect a large group of responses. Knowledge gaps were defined as areas that have been either unexplored or under-explored in the research literature. High priority goals were: (1) feasible and answerable from a multicenter research study, and (2) had potential for high impact on the field of pediatric CMR. Seed ideas were contributed by a working group and imported into a pairwise wiki survey format which allows for new ideas to be uploaded and voted upon (https://allourideas.org). Knowledge gaps were classified into 2 categories: ‘Clinical CMR Practice’ (16 ideas) and ‘Disease Specific Research’ (22 ideas). Over a 2-month period, 3,658 votes were cast by 96 users, and 2 new ideas were introduced. The 3 highest scoring sub-topics were myocardial disorders (9 ideas), translating new technology & techniques into clinical practice (7 ideas), and normal reference values (5 ideas). The highest priority gaps reflected strengths of CMR (e.g., myocardial tissue characterization; implementation of technologic advances into clinical practice), and deficiencies in pediatrics (e.g., data on normal reference values). The wiki survey format was effective and easy to implement, and could be used for future surveys.
Intelligent energy aware optimization protocol for vehicular adhoc networks
Authors: Elhoseny Mohamed , El-Hasnony Ibrahim M. , Tarek Zahraa
Published: June 2023

Vehicular adhoc network (VANET) plays a vital role in smart transportation. VANET includes a set of vehicles that communicate with one another via wireless links. The vehicular communication in VANET necessitates an intelligent clustering protocol to maximize energy efficiency. Since energy acts as an essential factor in the design of VANET, energy-aware clustering protocols depending upon metaheuristic optimization algorithms are required to be developed. This study introduces an intelligent energy-aware oppositional chaos game optimization-based clustering (IEAOCGO-C) protocol for VANET. The presented IEAOCGO-C technique aims to select cluster heads (CHs) in the network proficiently. The proposed IEAOCGO-C model constructs clusters based on oppositional-based learning (OBL) with the chaos game optimization (CGO) algorithm to improve efficiency. Besides, it computes a fitness function involving five parameters, namely throughput (THRPT), packet delivery ratio (PDR), network lifetime (NLT), end to end delay (ETED) and energy consumption (ECM). The experimental validation of the proposed model is accomplished, and the outcomes are studied in numerous aspects with existing models under several vehicles and measures. The simulation outcomes reported the enhanced performance of the proposed approach over the recent technologies. As a result, it has resulted in maximal NLT (4480), minimal ECM (65.6), maximal THRPT (81.6), maximal PDR (84.5), and minimal ETED (6.7) as average values over the other methods under all vehicle numbers.
Introgression of SUB1 aggravates the susceptibility of the popular rice cultivars Swarna and Savitri to stagnant flooding
Authors: Kuanar Sandhya Rani , Sarkar Ramani Kumar , Panigrahi Rashmi , Mohapatra Pravat Kumar
Published: June 2023

Identification of the Sub1 gene for tolerance to flash flooding and its introgression into high-yielding rice cultivars are major targets in rice breeding for flood-prone rice agro-ecosystems for ensuring yield stability. However, knowledge is scant on the response of the modified genotypes under stagnant flooding (SF) to meet the challenge of finding a superior allele that may confer greater resilience to the plant under a stress-prone environment. In pursuance, we have tested the response of Sub1-introgression in two popular rice varieties, Swarna and Savitri to SF by comparing the biochemical factors in the control of flag leaf senescence and its primary production mechanisms of the parental lines’ versus Sub1-introgressed lines. The activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GR), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) increased while various parameters of primary production like total chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance (gs), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and photosynthetic activity (Pn) decreased progressively with passage of time in the flag leaf of the cultivars during the post-anthesis period and SF-treatment increased the enzyme activity while depressing primary production further. Introgression of Sub1 had no influence on these activities under control conditions but widened the margin of effects under SF. It was concluded that the functional ability of flag leaf in mega rice cultivars like Swarna and Savitri decreased significantly by SF because of an ethylene-mediated promotion of senescence of the flag leaf. The enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activity by SF could not sustain the stability of primary production in the flag leaf. The introgression of the Sub1 gene made the cultivars more vulnerable to SF because the gene induced overexpression of ethylene.
Exploring the antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, biocompatibility, and larvicidal activities of selenium nanoparticles fabricated by endophytic fungal strain Penicillium verhagenii
Authors: Nassar Abdel-Rahman A. , Eid Ahmed M. , Atta Hossam M. , El Naghy Wageih S. , Fouda Amr
Published: June 2023

Herein, four endophytic fungal strains living in healthy roots of garlic were used to produce selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) via green synthesis. Penicillium verhagenii was found to be the most efficient Se-NPs producer with a ruby red color that showed maximum surface plasmon resonance at 270 nm. The as-formed Se-NPs were crystalline, spherical, and well-arranged without aggregation, and ranged from 25 to 75 nm in size with a zeta potential value of −32 mV, indicating high stability. Concentration-dependent biomedical activities of the P. verhagenii-based Se-NPs were observed, including promising antimicrobial activity against different pathogens (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, and C. parapsilosis) with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 12.5–100 µg mL–1. The biosynthesized Se-NPs showed high antioxidant activity with DPPH-scavenging percentages of 86.8 ± 0.6% at a concentration of 1000 µg mL–1 and decreased to 19.3 ± 4.5% at 1.95 µg mL–1. Interestingly, the Se-NPs also showed anticancer activity against PC3 and MCF7 cell lines with IC50 of 225.7 ± 3.6 and 283.8 ± 7.5 µg mL–1, respectively while it is remaining biocompatible with normal WI38 and Vero cell lines. Additionally, the green synthesized Se-NPs were effective against instar larvae of a medical insect, Aedes albopictus with maximum mortality of 85.1 ± 3.1, 67.2 ± 1.2, 62.10 ± 1.4, and 51.0 ± 1.0% at a concentration of 50 µg mL–1 for I, II, III, and IV-instar larva, respectively. These data highlight the efficacy of endophytic fungal strains for cost-effective and eco-friendly Se-NPs synthesis with different applications.
Refining the evolutionary tree of the horse Y chromosome
Authors: Bozlak Elif , Radovic Lara , Remer Viktoria , Rigler Doris , Allen Lucy , Brem Gottfried , Stalder Gabrielle , Castaneda Caitlin , Cothran Gus , Raudsepp Terje , Okuda Yu , Moe Kyaw Kyaw , Moe Hla Hla , Kounnavongsa Bounthavone , Keonouchanh Soukanh , Van Nguyen Huu , Vu Van Hai , Shah Manoj Kumar , Nishibori Masahide , Kazymbet Polat , Bakhtin Meirat , Zhunushov Asankadyr , Paul Ripon Chandra , Dashnyam Bumbein , Nozawa Ken , Almarzook Saria , Brockmann Gudrun A. , Reissmann Monika , Antczak Douglas F. , Miller Donald C. , Sadeghi Raheleh , von Butler-Wemken Ines , Kostaras Nikos , Han Haige , Manglai Dugarjaviin , Abdurasulov Abdugani , Sukhbaatar Boldbaatar , Ropka-Molik Katarzyna , Stefaniuk-Szmukier Monika , Lopes Maria Susana , da Câmara Machado Artur , Kalashnikov Valery V. , Kalinkova Liliya , Zaitev Alexander M. , Novoa‐Bravo Miguel , Lindgren Gabriella , Brooks Samantha , Rosa Laura Patterson , Orlando Ludovic , Juras Rytis , Kunieda Tetsuo , Wallner Barbara
Published: June 2023

The Y chromosome carries information about the demography of paternal lineages, and thus, can prove invaluable for retracing both the evolutionary trajectory of wild animals and the breeding history of domesticates. In horses, the Y chromosome shows a limited, but highly informative, sequence diversity, supporting the increasing breeding influence of Oriental lineages during the last 1500 years. Here, we augment the primary horse Y-phylogeny, which is currently mainly based on modern horse breeds of economic interest, with haplotypes (HT) segregating in remote horse populations around the world. We analyze target enriched sequencing data of 5 Mb of the Y chromosome from 76 domestic males, together with 89 whole genome sequenced domestic males and five Przewalski’s horses from previous studies. The resulting phylogeny comprises 153 HTs defined by 2966 variants and offers unprecedented resolution into the history of horse paternal lineages. It reveals the presence of a remarkable number of previously unknown haplogroups in Mongolian horses and insular populations. Phylogenetic placement of HTs retrieved from 163 archaeological specimens further indicates that most of the present-day Y-chromosomal variation evolved after the domestication process that started around 4200 years ago in the Western Eurasian steppes. Our comprehensive phylogeny significantly reduces ascertainment bias and constitutes a robust evolutionary framework for analyzing horse population dynamics and diversity.
Increased plasma lipids in triple-negative breast cancer and impairment in HDL functionality in advanced stages of tumors
Authors: Sawada Maria Isabela Bloise Alves Caldas , de Fátima Mello Santana Monique , Reis Mozania , de Assis Sayonara Ivana Santos , Pereira Lucas Alves , Santos Danielle Ribeiro , Nunes Valéria Sutti , Correa-Giannella Maria Lucia Cardillo , Gebrim Luiz Henrique , Passarelli Marisa
Published: June 2023

The association between plasma lipids and breast cancer (BC) has been extensively explored although results are still conflicting especially regarding the relationship with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) levels. HDL mediates cholesterol and oxysterol removal from cells limiting sterols necessary for tumor growth, inflammation, and metastasis and this may not be reflected by measuring HDLc. We addressed recently diagnosed, treatment-naïve BC women (n = 163), classified according to molecular types of tumors and clinical stages of the disease, in comparison to control women (CTR; n = 150) regarding plasma lipids and lipoproteins, HDL functionality and composition in lipids, oxysterols, and apo A-I. HDL was isolated by plasma discontinuous density gradient ultracentrifugation. Lipids (total cholesterol, TC; triglycerides, TG; and phospholipids, PL) were determined by enzymatic assays, apo A-I by immunoturbidimetry, and oxysterols (27, 25, and 24-hydroxycholesterol), by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. HDL-mediated cell cholesterol removal was determined in macrophages previously overloaded with cholesterol and 14C-cholesterol. Lipid profile was similar between CTR and BC groups after adjustment per age. In the BC group, lower concentrations of TC (84%), TG (93%), PL (89%), and 27-hydroxicholesterol (61%) were observed in HDL, although the lipoprotein ability in removing cell cholesterol was similar to HDL from CRT. Triple-negative (TN) BC cases presented higher levels of TC, TG, apoB, and non-HDLc when compared to other molecular types. Impaired HDL functionality was observed in more advanced BC cases (stages III and IV), as cholesterol efflux was around 28% lower as compared to stages I and II. The altered lipid profile in TN cases may contribute to channeling lipids to tumor development in a hystotype with a more aggressive clinical history. Moreover, findings reinforce the dissociation between plasma levels of HDLc and HDL functionality in determining BC outcomes.
Measuring vibrations on a biofidelic brain using ferroelectret nanogenerator
Authors: Dsouza Henry , Dávila-Montero Bianca M. , Afanador Ian Gonzalez , Torres Gerardo Morales , Cao Yunqi , Mejia-Alvarez Ricardo , Sepúlveda Nelson
Published: June 2023

Our knowledge of traumatic brain injury has been fast growing with the emergence of new markers pointing to various neurological changes that the brain undergoes during an impact or any other form of concussive event. In this work, we study the modality of deformations on a biofidelic brain system when subject to blunt impacts, highlighting the importance of the time-dependent behavior of the resulting waves propagating through the brain. This study is carried out using two different approaches involving optical (Particle Image Velocimetry) and mechanical (flexible sensors) in the biofidelic brain. Results show that the system has a natural mechanical frequency of $$\sim $$
∼
25 oscillations per second, which was confirmed by both methods, showing a positive correlation with one another. The consistency of these results with previously reported brain pathology validates the use of either technique, and establishes a new, simpler mechanism to study brain vibrations by using flexible piezoelectric patches. The visco-elastic nature of the biofidelic brain is validated by observing the the relationship between both methods at two different time intervals, by using the information of the strain and stress inside the brain from the Particle Image Velocimetry and flexible sensor, respectively. A non-linear stress-strain relationship was observed and justified to support the same.
Towards virtual histology with X-ray grating interferometry
Authors: Polikarpov M. , Vila-Comamala J. , Wang Z. , Pereira A. , van Gogh S. , Gasser C. , Jefimovs K. , Romano L. , Varga Z. , Lång K. , Schmeltz M. , Tessarini S. , Rawlik M. , Jermann E. , Lewis S. , Yun W. , Stampanoni M.
Published: June 2023

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide. Diagnosing breast cancer relies on clinical examination, imaging and biopsy. A core-needle biopsy enables a morphological and biochemical characterization of the cancer and is considered the gold standard for breast cancer diagnosis. A histopathological examination uses high-resolution microscopes with outstanding contrast in the 2D plane, but the spatial resolution in the third, Z-direction, is reduced. In the present paper, we propose two high-resolution table-top systems for phase-contrast X-ray tomography of soft-tissue samples. The first system implements a classical Talbot–Lau interferometer and allows to perform ex-vivo imaging of human breast samples with a voxel size of 5.57 μm. The second system with a comparable voxel size relies on a Sigray MAAST X-ray source with structured anode. For the first time, we demonstrate the applicability of the latter to perform X-ray imaging of human breast specimens with ductal carcinoma in-situ. We assessed image quality of both setups and compared it to histology. We showed that both setups made it possible to target internal features of breast specimens with better resolution and contrast than previously achieved, demonstrating that grating-based phase-contrast X-ray CT could be a complementary tool for clinical histopathology.
Investigation of enzalutamide, docetaxel, and cabazitaxel resistance in the castration resistant prostate cancer cell line C4 using genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screening
Authors: Haldrup Jakob , Weiss Simone , Schmidt Linnéa , Sørensen Karina Dalsgaard
Published: June 2023

Enzalutamide, docetaxel, and cabazitaxel treatment resistance is a major problem in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), but the underlying genetic determinants are poorly understood. To identify genes that modulate treatment response to these drugs, we performed three genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screens in the mCRPC cell line C4. The screens identified seven candidates for enzalutamide (BCL2L13, CEP135, E2F4, IP6K2, KDM6A, SMS, and XPO4), four candidates for docetaxel (DRG1, LMO7, NCOA2, and ZNF268), and nine candidates for cabazitaxel (ARHGAP11B, DRG1, FKBP5, FRYL, PRKAB1, RP2, SMPD2, TCEA2, and ZNF585B). We generated single-gene C4 knockout clones/populations for all genes and could validate effect on treatment response for five genes (IP6K2, XPO4, DRG1, PRKAB1, and RP2). Altered enzalutamide response upon IP6K2 and XPO4 knockout was associated with deregulation of AR, mTORC1, and E2F signaling, and deregulated p53 signaling (IP6K2 only) in C4 mCRPC cells. Our study highlights the necessity of performing individual validation of candidate hits from genome-wide CRISPR screens. Further studies are needed to assess the generalizability and translational potential of these findings.
A retrospect study based on real-world data to observe metabolic function in cancer patients using albumin-bound paclitaxel
Authors: Zheng Qi , Wang Hanzhou , Xue Chao , Yang Shuhan , Wang Yan , Hou Wei , Zhang Ying
Published: June 2023

There is substantial evidence that albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) is effective and safe for the treatment of breast, lung and pancreatic cancers. However, it can still cause adverse effects by affecting cardiac enzymes, hepatic enzyme metabolism and blood routine related indicators, which affects the use of chemotherapy for a full course of treatment. However, there are no relevant clinical studies to systematically observe the effects and dynamics of albumin-bound paclitaxel on cardiac enzymes, liver enzyme metabolism, and routine blood-related indices. The purpose of our study was to determine the levels of serum creatinine (Cre), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), white blood cells (WBC) and hemoglobin (HGB) in cancer patients treated with albumin-conjugated paclitaxel. This study retrospectively analyzed 113 patients with cancer. Patients who had received two cycles of nab-paclitaxel 260 mg/m2 (administered intravenously on days 1, 8, and 15 of each 28-day cycle) were selected. Serum Cre, AST, ALT, LDH, CK, and CK-MB activities, WBC counts, and HGB levels were measured before and after treatment with two cycles. Fourteen cancer types were analyzed. The distribution of cancer types in patients was mainly concentrated in lung, ovarian, and breast cancer. Nab-paclitaxel treatment markedly decreased Cre, AST, LDH, and CK activities in the serum and WBC counts and HGB levels, respectively. Serum Cre and CK activities and HGB levels were remarkably downregulated at baseline compared to healthy controls. Patients receiving nab-paclitaxel treatment cause metabolic disorders in tumor patients by reducing the decrease of Cre, AST, LDH, CK, CK-MB, WBC and HGB indexes, thus inducing the occurrence of cardiovascular events, hepatotoxic events and fatigue and other symptoms. Therefore, for tumor patients, although receiving nab-paclitaxel improves the anti-tumor effect, it is still necessary to closely monitor the changes of related enzymatic and routine blood indicators, so as to detect and intervene at an early stage.
Quantum dynamics of a driven parametric oscillator in a Kerr medium
Authors: Bolandhemmat E. , Kheirandish F.
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we first analyze a parametric oscillator with both mass and frequency time-dependent. We show that the evolution operator can be obtained from the evolution operator of another parametric oscillator with a constant mass and time-dependent frequency followed by a time transformation $$t\rightarrow \int _0^t dt'\,1/m(t')$$

t
→

∫
0
t

d

t
′

1
/
m

(

t
′

)

. Then we proceed by investigating the quantum dynamics of a parametric oscillator with unit mass and time-dependent frequency in a Kerr medium under the influence of a time-dependent force along the motion of the oscillator. The quantum dynamics of the time-dependent oscillator is analyzed from both analytical and numerical points of view in two main regimes: (i) small Kerr parameter $$\chi $$
χ
, and (ii) small confinement parameter k. In the following, to investigate the characteristics and statistical properties of the generated states, we calculate the autocorrelation function, the Mandel Q parameter, and the Husimi Q-function.
Entropy defect in thermodynamics
Authors: Livadiotis George , McComas David J.
Published: June 2023

This paper describes the physical foundations of the newly discovered “entropy defect” as a basic concept of thermodynamics. The entropy defect quantifies the change in entropy caused by the order induced in a system through the additional correlations among its constituents when two or more subsystems are assembled. This defect is closely analogous to the mass defect that arises when nuclear particle systems are assembled. The entropy defect determines how the entropy of the system compares to its constituent’s entropies and stands on three fundamental properties: each constituent’s entropy must be (i) separable, (ii) symmetric, and (iii) bounded. We show that these properties provide a solid foundation for the entropy defect and for generalizing thermodynamics to describe systems residing out of the classical thermal equilibrium, both in stationary and nonstationary states. In stationary states, the consequent thermodynamics generalizes the classical framework, which was based on the Boltzmann–Gibbs entropy and Maxwell–Boltzmann canonical distribution of particle velocities, into the respective entropy and canonical distribution associated with kappa distributions. In nonstationary states, the entropy defect similarly acts as a negative feedback, or reduction of the increase of entropy, preventing its unbounded growth toward infinity.