bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-Reported Physical Activity and Perception of Athleticism in American Equestrian Athletes
Authors: Keener Michaela M. , Tumlin Kimberly I. , Dlugonski Deirdre
Published: January 2023

Background: Over 75% of American adults are not meeting aerobic and muscular physical activity recommendations, with the majority being females. Equestrian activities are a potential avenue to increase physical activity, especially in females who account for approximately 90% of sport participants. This study describes perceptions of equestrian activities and establishes the patterns of self-reported equestrian, barn work, and nonequestrian physical activity engagement to understand participation in activities that may sustain physical activity across the lifespan. Methods: American equestrians (n = 2551) completed an anonymous online survey with questions about perceptions and benefits of equestrian activities, demographics, and engagement in equestrian activities, barn work, and nonequestrian activities. Results: There were 2039 completed responses, (95.6% female), with representation from all regions of the United States. Professionals (20.6%), amateurs (39.1%), and recreational (40.3%) comprised participation status. Significantly fewer recreational participants perceived equestrian as physical activity and as a sport than amateurs (P < .05) and professionals (P < .05). Engagement in equestrian and barn work physical activity was significantly higher in professionals (P < .0001), followed by amateurs (P < .0001), with the lowest in recreational equestrians (P = .001). Professional and amateur equestrians engaged in significantly more nonequestrian physical activity than recreational participants (P < .05). Conclusions: Equestrian physical activity engagement is dependent on the status of participation. Equestrian, barn work, and nonequestrian physical activity do meet physical activity aerobic and muscular recommendations and should be encouraged as a physical activity for females across the lifespan.
Anticipating the occurrence and type of critical transitions
Authors: Grziwotz Florian , Chang Chun-Wei , Dakos Vasilis , van Nes Egbert H. , Schwarzländer Markus , Kamps Oliver , Heßler Martin , Tokuda Isao T. , Telschow Arndt , Hsieh Chih-hao
Published: January 2023

Critical transition can occur in many real-world systems. The ability to forecast the occurrence of transition is of major interest in a range of contexts. Various early warning signals (EWSs) have been developed to anticipate the coming critical transition or distinguish types of transition. However, no effective method allows to establish practical threshold indicating the condition when the critical transition is most likely to occur. Here, we introduce a powerful EWS, named dynamical eigenvalue (DEV), that is rooted in bifurcation theory of dynamical systems to estimate the dominant eigenvalue of the system. Theoretically, the absolute value of DEV approaches 1 when the system approaches bifurcation, while its position in the complex plane indicates the type of transition. We demonstrate the efficacy of the DEV approach in model systems with known bifurcation types and also test the DEV approach on various critical transitions in real-world systems.
Contextual drive of neuronal responses in mouse V1 in the absence of feedforward input
Authors: Kirchberger Lisa , Mukherjee Sreedeep , Self Matthew W. , Roelfsema Pieter R.
Published: January 2023

Neurons in the primary visual cortex (V1) respond to stimuli in their receptive field (RF), which is defined by the feedforward input from the retina. However, V1 neurons are also sensitive to contextual information outside their RF, even if the RF itself is unstimulated. Here, we examined the cortical circuits for V1 contextual responses to gray disks superimposed on different backgrounds. Contextual responses began late and were strongest in the feedback-recipient layers of V1. They differed between the three main classes of inhibitory neurons, with particularly strong contextual drive of VIP neurons, indicating a contribution of disinhibitory circuits to contextual drive. Contextual drive was strongest when the gray disk was perceived as figure, occluding its background, rather than a hole. Our results link contextual drive in V1 to perceptual organization and provide previously unknown insight into how recurrent processing shapes the response of sensory neurons to facilitate figure perception.
Proteolytic regulation of CD73 by TRIM21 orchestrates tumor immunogenicity
Authors: Fu Ziyi , Chen Siqi , Zhu Yueming , Zhang Donghong , Xie Ping , Jiao Qiao , Chi Junlong , Xu Shipeng , Xue Yifan , Lu Xinghua , Song Xinxin , Cristofanilli Massimo , Gradishar William J. , Kalinsky Kevin , Yin Yongmei , Zhang Bin , Wan Yong
Published: January 2023

Despite the rapid utilization of immunotherapy, emerging challenges to the current immune checkpoint blockade need to be resolved. Here, we report that elevation of CD73 levels due to its aberrant turnover is correlated with poor prognosis in immune-cold triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs). We have identified TRIM21 as an E3 ligase that governs CD73 destruction. Disruption of TRIM21 stabilizes CD73 that in turn enhances CD73-catalyzed production of adenosine, resulting in the suppression of CD8
+
T cell function. Replacement of lysine 133, 208, 262, and 321 residues by arginine on CD73 attenuated CD73 ubiquitylation and degradation. Diminishing of CD73 ubiquitylation remarkably promotes tumor growth and impedes antitumor immunity. In addition, a TRIM21
high
/CD73
low
signature in a subgroup of human breast malignancies was associated with a favorable immune profile. Collectively, our findings uncover a mechanism that governs CD73 proteolysis and point to a new therapeutic strategy by modulating CD73 ubiquitylation.
Neurexin-2: An inhibitory neurexin that restricts excitatory synapse formation in the hippocampus
Authors: Lin Pei-Yi , Chen Lulu Y. , Jiang Man , Trotter Justin H. , Seigneur Erica , Südhof Thomas C.
Published: January 2023

Neurexins are widely thought to promote synapse formation and to organize synapse properties. Here we found that in contrast to neurexin-1 and neurexin-3, neurexin-2 unexpectedly restricts synapse formation. In the hippocampus, constitutive or neuron-specific deletions of neurexin-2 nearly doubled the strength of excitatory CA3➔CA1 region synaptic connections and markedly increased their release probability. No effect on inhibitory synapses was detected. Stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) superresolution microscopy revealed that the neuron-specific neurexin-2 deletion elevated the density of excitatory CA1 region synapses nearly twofold. Moreover, hippocampal neurexin-2 deletions also increased synaptic connectivity in the CA1 region when induced in mature mice and impaired the cognitive flexibility of spatial memory. Thus, neurexin-2 controls the dynamics of hippocampal synaptic circuits by repressing synapse assembly throughout life, a restrictive function that markedly differs from that of neurexin-1 and neurexin-3 and of other synaptic adhesion molecules, suggesting that neurexins evolutionarily diverged into opposing pro- and antisynaptogenic organizers.
Evading the Toll booth: How “silent” flagellins may bind yet fail to activate TLR5
Authors: Baer Hannah M. , Sandilya Shruti , Steiner Theodore S.
Published: January 2023

The nature of flagellin–Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) interactions, depending on binding to and activation of TLR5, may hold a key to the distinct differences in gut microbiome and intestinal immune function in different populations around the world (see related Research Article by Clasen
et al
.).
Concordant changes in late Holocene hydroclimate across southern Patagonia modulated by westerly winds and the El Niño–Southern Oscillation
Authors: Loisel Julie , Sarna Kristen , Xia Zhengyu , Huang Yongsong , Yu Zicheng
Published: January 2023

The southern westerly winds influence weather patterns and water resources across the southern high-latitude regions, with important socioeconomic impacts. The strengthening and poleward migration of these winds since the late 20th century also have implications for regional environmental change, including drought, wildfire, and sea-ice loss. However, it is challenging to recognize the natural variability of the westerlies and predict their future behavior, as those recent changes have been influenced by anthropogenic factors. We present a 4200-yr-long record from a southern Patagonian peatland in a location that is sensitive to changes in the position and/or strength of the westerlies. Our δ13C record shows a 6‰ increasing trend from 4200 to 1200 cal. yr B.P., indicating a progressive, millennial-scale increase in peatland moisture. This long-term trend is attributed to an increase in moisture induced by strengthening southern westerly winds associated with a change in the mean state of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) system. Superimposed on this millennial trend, centennial-scale shifts in hydroclimate persist into modern times. We suggest that a “paleo”–Southern Annular Mode, which is linked to tropical Pacific climate, with dry events contemporaneous with positive phases and La Niña–like conditions, is responsible for this enhanced hydroclimate variability. Overall, our results point to millennial- and centennial-scale changes in hydroclimate during the late Holocene that link tropical Pacific climate variability with the Southern Annular Mode and the southern westerlies, with far-reaching implications for future changes in the southern high latitudes, including CO2 ventilation from the Southern Ocean.
Supplemental Material: Stranding continental crustal fragments during continent breakup: Mantle suture reactivation in the Nain Province of Eastern Canada
Authors: Heron Philip J. , al. et
Published: January 2023

Methods and supplemental figures. 
Erythromelalgia in a patient with feet erythema and cyanosis
Authors: El Khatib Khaled , Gerges Zeina , Azar Nagham
Published: January 2023

Erythromelalgia is a rare disease characterised by a triad of a clinical syndrome of redness, warmth and painful extremities. We present the case of a male adolescent with no prior medical history who presents to our family medicine clinic with a 3-month history of bilateral feet erythema followed by episodes of cyanosis in bilateral toes. Given his history, the findings on clinical examination, and the lack of any pathology on the diagnostic testing, the patient is diagnosed with erythromelalgia. He is then counselled on both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for his condition and is discharged on non-pharmacological treatment options such as leg elevation, cooling with a fan and limiting exposure to heat. The patient is also advised to perform an annual complete blood count given the association of erythromelalgia with myeloproliferative disorders.
Black thyroid gland and tracheal cartilage
Authors: Lam Audrey , Kaufmann Brent , Cunningham Kelly
Published: January 2023

A woman in her 70s with a history of chronic minocycline use presented with complaints of a non-tender posterior neck mass. A thyroid gland ultrasound showed a highly suspicious right thyroid nodule. A total thyroidectomy revealed darkened discolouration of the thyroid gland and tracheal cartilage. The pathology report showed dark brown granules representing melanin. Chronic minocycline usage is known to cause pigmentation of nails, teeth, bones and the thyroid gland. Our case highlights the importance of recognising that long-term use of minocycline can cause discolouration of the thyroid and tracheal cartilage. Current case studies do not show any adverse health effects associated with black thyroid and tracheal cartilage. For patients who are to undergo neck surgery, physicians need to be aware of this side effect, and that further intervention, such as surgical resection, may not be required.
Phase 1, open-label, dose-escalation study on the safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of intravenous Coxsackievirus A21 (V937), with or without pembrolizumab, in patients with advanced solid tumors
Authors: Rudin Charles M , Pandha Hardev S , Zibelman Matthew , Akerley Wallace L , Harrington Kevin J , Day Daphne , Hill Andrew G , O'Day Steven J , Clay Timothy D , Wright Gavin M , Jennens Ross R , Gerber David E , Rosenberg Jonathan E , Ralph Christy , Campbell David C , Curti Brendan D , Merchan Jaime R , Ren Yixin , Schmidt Emmett V , Guttman Lisa , Gupta Sumati
Published: January 2023

Background

Oncolytic virus V937 showed activity and safety with intratumoral administration. This phase 1 study evaluated intravenous V937±pembrolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Methods

Patients had advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), urothelial cancer, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, or melanoma in part A (V937 monotherapy), and metastatic NSCLC or urothelial cancer in part B (V937+pembrolizumab). Prior immunotherapy was permitted >28 days before study treatment. Patients received intravenous V937 on days 1, 3, and 5 (also on day 8 in part B) of the first 21-day cycle and on day 1 of subsequent cycles for eight cycles. Three ascending dose-escalation cohorts were studied. Dose-escalation proceeded if no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) occurred in cycle 1 of the previous cohort. In part B, patients also received pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks from day 8 for 2 years; dose-expansion occurred at the highest-dose cohort. Serial biopsies were performed.

Results

No DLTs occurred in parts A (n=18) or B (n=85). Grade 3–5 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were not observed in part A and were experienced by 10 (12%) patients in part B. The most frequent treatment-related AEs (any grade) in part B were fatigue (36%), pruritus (18%), myalgia (14%), diarrhea (13%), pyrexia (13%), influenza-like illness (12%), and nausea (12%). At the highest tested dose, median intratumoral V937 concentrations were 117,631 copies/mL on day 8, cycle 1 in part A (n=6) and below the detection limit for most patients (86% (19/22)) on day 15, cycle 1 in part B. Objective response rates were 6% (part A), 9% in the NSCLC dose-expansion cohort (n=43), and 20% in the urothelial cancer dose-expansion cohort (n=35).

Conclusions

Intravenous V937+pembrolizumab had a manageable safety profile. Although V937 was detected in tumor tissue, in NSCLC and urothelial cancer, efficacy was not greater than that observed in previous studies with pembrolizumab monotherapy.

Trial registration number

NCT02043665.
Reducing attractiveness of e-liquids: proposal for a restrictive list of tobacco-related flavourings
Authors: Pennings Jeroen L A , Havermans Anne , Krüsemann Erna J Z , Zijtveld Dion , Huiberts Eva H W , Bos Peter M J , Schenk Erna , Visser Wouter F , Bakker-'t Hart Ingrid M E , Staal Yvonne C M , Talhout Reinskje
Published: January 2023

Objective

Electronic cigarettes are addictive and harmful, and flavour is a key factor determining their abuse liability. Both adult smokers and young non-smokers like sweet and fruity flavours in particular. In order to discourage e-cigarette use among youth, the Dutch government announced in 2020 to only allow tobacco flavours in e-liquids. We propose a restrictive list of flavourings that will only enable the production of e-liquids with a tobacco flavour.

Methods

We used e-liquid ingredient data notified via the European Common Entry Gate system before the government’s announcement. First, we classified all e-liquids into flavour categories, and continued with the set of flavourings present in tobacco e-liquids. Five selection criteria related to prevalence of use, chemical composition, flavour description and health effects were defined to compile a restrictive list of tobacco flavourings.

Results

E-liquids marketed as having tobacco flavour contained 503 different flavourings, some with tobacco flavour, but also other (such as sweet) flavours. We excluded (1) 330 flavourings used in <0.5% of e-liquids, (2) 77 used less frequently in tobacco than in all e-liquids, (3) 13 plant extracts, (4) 60 that are sweet or not associated with a tobacco flavour and (5) 7 flavourings with hazardous properties. This resulted in a final list of 16 flavourings.

Conclusions

Implementing this restrictive list will likely discourage e-cigarette use among youth, but could also make e-cigarettes less attractive as smoking cessation aid.
Evaluation of drug-free methods for the detection of gene silencing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Shaban Kholoud , Sauty Safia Mahabub , Fisher Ashley , Cheng Ashley , Yankulov Krassimir
Published: January 2023

Multiple studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have measured the levels of gene silencing by inserting the URA3 gene at various loci and selecting against URA3-expressing cells by 5-flouroorotic acid (5-FOA). However, 5-FOA affects the cellular pools of dNTPs and can produce side effects. To circumvent this issue, we and others have introduced drug-free techniques to detect silent and active gene states. In this study, we compared three drug-free methods based on the expression of fluorescent reporters in the VIIL telomere of S. cerevisiae. Our results point out that only one of these methods is suitable for large-scale drug-free analyses of gene silencing.
Photosensitization of asymmetric molecular, and bimolecular aliphatic-μ-bridged-meso-phenyl porphyrin
Authors: Arafa Isam M. , Al-Qaderi Abeer H. , Ibdah Abdellatif A. , Shatnawi Mazin Y.
Published: January 2023

The desired asymmetric metal-free porphyrin derivatives were prepared by condensing freshly prepared the phenyl dipyrraomethane and triphenyl tetrapyrrane building blocks with the different molar ratios of acetaldehyde ([Formula: see text]CHO), and glutaraldehyde (OHC([Formula: see text]CHO, Glu). The obtained asymmetric [3+1] ([Formula: see text]Por, [Formula: see text]Por-[Formula: see text]-([Formula: see text]Por) and [2+2] ([Formula: see text]Por, [Formula: see text]-([Formula: see text] oligomer) porphyrin derivatives were characterized by UV-Vis, FT-IR, and1H NMR. Their photoelectric properties were investigated by examining their current density-voltage (J-V) curves in dark, and under artificial sunlight, illumination using standard bulk heterojunction cell arrangements. The [Formula: see text]-V plots show that they display photosensitive semiconducting properties in the range of ([Formula: see text] = 1.7–14.5 [Formula: see text]S/cm) with negligible photovoltaic effects. All data were compared to those of symmetric metal-free [Formula: see text]Por([Formula: see text] = 33.8 [Formula: see text]S/cm). Density functional theory (DFT) is employed to validate the ground-state molecular geometry.
Carbon Management System Quality and Corporate Financial Performance
Authors: Shrestha Pramila , Choi Bobae , Luo Le
Published: January 2023

Synopsis

The research problem

This study examines the relationship between carbon management system quality and firm performance and investigates the mechanisms through which a carbon management system relates to firm performance.

Motivation or theoretical reasoning

Despite growing attention from academia and practice on carbon accounting in recent years, little is known about firms’ strategic implementation of carbon management systems and their impact on firms’ financial outcomes. Drawing on the resource-based view and institutional theory, this study argues that carbon management system implementation can create competitive advantages for firms through product differentiation and cost leadership. However, adopting quality management systems for carbon mitigation can be costly for firms. Additionally, not all firms would achieve such a differentiation advantage through a carbon management system.

The test hypotheses

H1: There is no relationship between the quality of a carbon management system and firm financial performance.

H2: Carbon-intensive sectors have no moderating effect on the relationship between the quality of a carbon management system and firm financial performance.

Target population

Corporate managers and stakeholders including investors, international regulators, and standard settees.

Adopted methodology

Ordinary least square regressions.

Analyses

Corporate financial performance is measured by return on assets, calculated as earnings before extraordinary items divided by total assets at fiscal year-end. Our independent variable of interest is the quality measure of a carbon management system (QCMS). Following Tang and Luo ( 2014 ) and Luo and Tang ( 2016 ), QCMS is calculated as the average equal weighted sum of the standardized values from the 10 elements of a carbon management system. For additional tests, alternative performance measures (e.g., Tobin’s Q, return on equity, operating return on assets [ROA], and cash flow from operating activities to total assets) and disaggregated ROA components are employed as dependent variables.

Findings

We find that a firm’s carbon management system quality is positively associated with its financial performance. A better-quality carbon management system is especially associated with higher revenues, margins, and R&D expenditures. In addition, individual carbon management system components exhibit heterogeneous influences on financial performance. Specifically, the areas related to carbon disclosure and external carbon assurance have an incremental impact on financial performance. The positive association between a carbon management system and financial performance is stronger for firms operating in carbon-intensive sectors and firms with a higher level of carbon emissions. The carbon regulation affects the sensitivity of financial performance differently in intensive and non-intensive sectors in response to carbon management system quality.
Geometrically Nonlinear Aeroelastic Flutter Characteristic of Laminated Composite Shell Panels Under Supersonic Flow
Authors: Sharma Nitin , Mohapatra Subham , Kumar Erukala Kalyan , Panda Subrata Kumar
Published: January 2023

The nonlinear aeroelastic flutter characteristics of laminated composite curved (flat and cylindrical) panels are reported in this paper by obtaining the finite element (FE) solutions under the supersonic flow. The panel model has been derived from the third-order shear deformation theory framework including full geometrical nonlinearity via Green–Lagrange strain. In contrast, the flutter due to aerodynamic loading is included via the first-order piston theory. The current predicted solution accuracy and their validations have been demonstrated by relating the free vibration frequency, coalescence frequency, and critical aerodynamic pressure with the available numerical data. The initial free vibration eigenvalue responses are compared with in-house experimental values. Finally, a few numerical examples are presented by varying parameters like the effect of fiber orientation, flow angle, end boundary conditions, aspect ratio, modular ratio, thickness ratio, and amplitude ratio on the supersonic flutter boundaries of shell panels. The critical aerodyanamic pressure for simply supported cross-ply flat panels increases by 42.85% when the amplitude ratio increases from 0 to 0.75.
The Sino-American Rivalry and Persian Gulf Security
Authors: Alfaifi Tawfiq , da Vinha Luis
Published: January 2023

Over the decades, Middle Eastern security has been influenced by both strong regional and global security interdependence. Since the end of the Cold War, Washington has played a leading security role in the region, providing an extended nuclear umbrella for its allies in the Gulf Cooperation Council organization. However, the U.S. strategic pivot to the Asia-Pacific region and China’s rising profile as a global power has set the Middle East’s security dynamics again into flux. This article employs a regional security complex framework, paired with a realist theoretical lens, to analyze how the growing Sino-American rivalry is affecting Persian Gulf security by identifying the regional interests of these two powers and examining the emerging regional security dynamics.
Extracting the Essential Simplicity of the Internet
Authors: Mccauley James , Shenker Scott , Varghese George
Published: January 2023

Looking past inessential complexities to explain the Internet's simple yet daring design.
Can AI Demonstrate Creativity?
Authors: Kirkpatrick Keith
Published: January 2023

When fed a sufficient amount of training data, artificial intelligence techniques can be used to generate new ideas in several different ways. Is that creativity?
Roadmap for Achieving Universal Antiretroviral Treatment
Authors: Sokhela Simiso , Lalla-Edward Samanta , Siedner Mark J. , Majam Mohammed , Venter Willem Daniel Francois
Published: January 2023

Modern antiretroviral therapy safely, potently, and durably suppresses human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that, if left untreated, predictably causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which has been responsible for tens of millions of deaths globally since it was described in 1981. In one of the most extraordinary medical success stories in modern times, a combination of pioneering basic science, innovative drug development, and ambitious public health programming resulted in access to lifesaving, safe drugs, taken as an oral tablet daily, for most of the world. However, substantial challenges remain in the fields of prevention, timely access to diagnosis, and treatment, especially in pediatric and adolescent patients. As HIV-positive adults age, treating their comorbidities will require understanding the course of different chronic diseases complicated by HIV-related and antiretroviral toxicities and finding potential treatments. Finally, new long-acting antiretrovirals on the horizon promise exciting new options in both the prevention and treatment fields.
Gelatin-Guided Synthesis of Bowknot-Like CoP Microstructure as an Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhao Anning , Xiao Yuan , Luan Hong , Peng Ning , Jiang Jiqiong , Liang Libo
Published: January 2023

In the present study, it is proposed to achieve the synthesis of bowknot-like CoP microstructures via a facile hydrothermal method combined with a subsequent phosphorylation step. With improved lithium-ion diffusing channels and enhanced conductivity, the novel CoP microstructure is effective in promoting charge transport and maintaining structural integrity during the repeated charge/discharge process. The resulting bowknot-like CoP anode produces a better electrochemical performance, with a specific capacity of 421 mAh·g−1 over 800 cycles at 500 mA·g−1, and a specific capacity of 334 mAh·g−1 at 1000 mA·g−1 with coulombic efficiency of 98.8% after 1000 cycles.
Study on the Hysteresis Effect of the Stability of Longyangxia Dam Bank Slope with the Fluctuation of Water Level
Authors: Yuan Guangxiang , Wang Hu , Huang Zhiquan , Zhang Luqing
Published: January 2023

Reservoir landslide is a common geological disaster during the operation of hydropower projects. The fluctuation of reservoir water level is an important factor that induces slope instability. The natural slope will gradually lose stability under the rapid rise and fall of reservoir water level. A variety of landslide examples show that, on the premise of not suffering from extreme environmental conditions, the reservoir landslide often occurs after the rapid fluctuation of the reservoir water level for a period of time, and there is a certain time difference between its instability failure and the rapid rise and fall of the reservoir water level. In order to study the hysteresis effect between the stability change of the reservoir slope and the fluctuation of the reservoir water level, taking the Chana landslide in the reservoir area of Longyangxia Hydropower Station as an example, combining the field survey, geological survey data, and the actual change of the reservoir water level, the finite element simulation software is used to restore the actual working condition, and the research is carried out from three aspects of slope seepage field, displacement field, and stability. The results show the following: (1) The hysteresis of slope seepage change during the rising period of reservoir water level is more obvious than that during the falling period of reservoir water level. The deformation potential of Chana landslide is greater during the falling period of reservoir water level, while the deformation is restrained during the rising period of reservoir water level. (2) The incremental displacement simulation results of Chana landslide show that there are deformation incubation period and deformation release period of Chana landslide. The deformation incubation period occurs during the rapid rise and fall of reservoir water level, and the deformation release period occurs during the stable change of reservoir water level. (3) The incremental displacement produced during the deformation release period of the slope is large, but the slope remains stable, which reflects the existence of the internal antisliding mechanism of the landslide from the side. (4) The stability coefficient of Chana landslide changes greatly during the drawdown period. When the drawdown rate of water level is kept at 0.03~0.07 m/d, the stability coefficient of Chana landslide changes slightly and the slope is relatively stable.
Differential Plasma Proteins Identified via iTRAQ-Based Analysis Serve as Diagnostic Markers of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Chen Xiubing , Liao Xiaomin , Zheng Biaolin , Wang Feng , Chen Feiran , Deng Zhejun , Jiang Haixing , Qin Shanyu
Published: January 2023

Objective. We aimed to identify differentially expressed proteins in the plasma of patients with pancreatic cancer and control subjects, which could serve as potential tumor biomarkers. Methods. Differentially expressed proteins were determined via isostatic labeling and absolute quantification (iTRAQ). Potential protein biomarkers were identified via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 40 patients and 40 control subjects, and those eventually selected were further validated in 40 pancreatic cancer and normal pancreatic tissues. Results. In total, 30 proteins displayed significant differences in expression among which 21 were downregulated and 9 were upregulated compared with the control group. ELISA revealed downregulation of peroxiredoxin-2 (PRDX2) and upregulation of alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), Ras-related protein Rab-2B (RAB2B), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 (IGFBP2), Rho-related GTP-binding protein RhoC (RHOC), and prelamin-A/C (LMNA) proteins in 40 other samples of pancreatic cancer. Notably, only AAT, RAB2B, and IGFBP2 levels were consistent with expression patterns obtained with iTRAQ. Moreover, all three proteins displayed a marked increase in pancreatic cancer tissues. Data from ROC curve analysis indicated that the diagnostic ability of AAT, RAB2B, and IGFBP2 combined with carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) for pancreatic cancer was significantly greater than that of the single indexes (area under the curve (AUC): 90% vs. 75% (CA19-9), 76% (AAT), 71% (RAB2B), and 71% (IGFBP2), all

P
<
0.01

). Conclusion. AAT, RAB2B, and IGFBP2 could serve as effective biomarkers to facilitate the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Gut Microbiota and Drug-Related Liver Injury: Challenges and Perspectives
Authors: Su Yuanyuan , Lu Ning , Li Qian , Wen Hua , Zhang Xiao Qin , Zhang Mingxin
Published: January 2023

Drug-related liver injury (DILI) is increasing in the incidence of liver injury due to nonviral liver disease and has become a health problem that should not be underestimated. As a hot research topic in recent years, gut microbiota have been studied in various tumors, cardiovascular metabolic diseases, and human immunity. However, there is still a lack of research related to gut microbiota and DILI. It is known that they can influence each other through the regulation of the “gut-liver axis,” and the relationship between them and the possible mechanisms of action are still at the research stage. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene polymorphisms are closely related to the development of DILI, and the gene can also affect changes in the composition of gut microbes. In this paper, we review the possible relationships and mechanisms between DILI and gut microbiota in order to provide new research directions for the prevention and treatment of DILI in the future. In the future, untargeted therapies using antibiotics, probiotics, or FMT will be replaced by personalised and precision medicine approaches, such as bioengineered bacterial strains or drugs that modulate specific bacterial enzymes and metabolic pathways.
High Cycle Fatigue Life Prediction of Single-Crystal Specimen Based on TCD Method and Crystal Plasticity Theory
Authors: Wu Yunwu , Liu Yixiong , Wang Wei , Li Ying , Geng Rui
Published: January 2023

This paper performs a comprehensive investigation on the high cycle fatigue (HCF) life prediction of turbine blade with film cooling holes. The modified theory of critical distance (MTCD) method is proposed to estimate the fatigue life of the specimen considering the notch sensitivity coefficient and multiaxial stress effect. Then, two types of specimens were designed with regard to the single-hole and multihole conditions. Afterwards, the dangerous path and fatigue life of the two specimens were achieved implementing the MTCD method. Then, the experiments and failure analysis were carried out. The results show that the stress concentration and multiaxial stress resulting from the film cooling holes are the primary reasons that the cracks originated. Meanwhile, the dangerous path of the single-hole specimen is quite different from the multihole specimen due to the interhole interference. Finally, most of the calculated fatigue life is within the twice error band of the tested life.
Trinary Component Adsorption of Methylene Blue, Methyl Orange, and Methyl Red from Aqueous Solution Using TiO2/Activated Carbon
Authors: Tu Nguyen Thi Thanh , Thanh Tran Si , Quy Phan Tu , Ha Tran Thi Minh , Thu Phan Thi Kim , Bich Nguyen Hong , Sơn Le Van Thanh , Nguyen Vo Thang , Nhiem Dao Ngoc , Lieu Pham Khac , Khieu Dinh Quang
Published: January 2023

Porous TiO2/activated carbon (AC) material was synthesized by grafting peroxo-hydro titanium complexes to rice husk-derived activated carbon. It was found that the morphology of TiO2/AC consists of TiO2 fine particles highly dispersed on the AC matrix. The obtained TiO2/AC composites with high surface area and a red shift exhibit an excellent adsorption performance in both single and trinary system toward methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), and methyl red (MR). The isotherm models including extended Langmuir, P-factor, ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) for Langmuir, Freundlich, and Sips models were applied to study the adsorption equilibrium data of trinary solutions. It was found that IAST for Freundlich and Langmuir models were the most suitable one to describe the adsorption of the three dyes on TiO2/AC material. The high maximum adsorption capacities (mmol g-1) in single/trinary mixture were found as 0.452/0.340 for MB; 0.329/0.321 for MO; and 0.806/2.04 for MR. Moreover, the recyclability experiments showed that the adsorbent could be reused through photocatalytic self-cleaning for at least three cycles with stable capacity. Thus, the TiO2/AC can be effectively employed for the removal of dyes from industrial textile wastewater.
Dietary β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate Supplementation Affects Growth Performance, Digestion, TOR Pathway, and Muscle Quality in Kuruma Shrimp (Marsupenaeus japonicas) Fed a Low Protein Diet
Authors: Mu Hua , Yang Chenbin , Zhang Yu , Chen Shengdi , Wang Panpan , Yan Binlun , Zhang Qingqi , Wei Chaoqing , Gao Huan
Published: January 2023

An 8-week feeding trial was performed to evaluate the effects of dietary β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation on growth performance and muscle quality of kuruma shrimp (Marsupenaeus japonicas) (initial weight:

2.00
±
0.01
 
g

) fed a low protein diet. The positive control diet (HP) with 490 g/kg protein and negative control diet (LP) with 440 g/kg protein were formulated. Based on the LP, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 g/kg β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate calcium were supplemented to design the other five diets named as HMB0.25, HMB0.5, HMB1, HMB2 and HMB4, respectively. Results showed that compared with the shrimp fed LP, the HP, HMB1 and HMB2 groups had significantly higher weight gain and specific growth rate, while significantly lower feed conversion ratio (

p
<
0.05

). Meanwhile, intestinal trypsin activity was significantly elevated in the above three groups than that of the LP group. Higher dietary protein level and HMB inclusion upregulated the expressions of target of rapamycin, ribosomal protein S6 kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and serine/threonine-protein kinase in shrimp muscle, accompanied by the increases in most muscle free amino acids contents. Supplementation of 2 g/kg HMB in a low protein diet improved muscle hardness and water holding capacity of shrimp. Total collagen content in shrimp muscle increased with increasing dietary HMB inclusion. Additionally, dietary inclusion of 2 g/kg HMB significantly elevated myofiber density and sarcomere length, while reduced myofiber diameter. In conclusion, supplementation of 1-2 g/kg HMB in a low protein diet improved the growth performance and muscle quality of kuruma shrimp, which may be ascribed to the increased trypsin activity and activated TOR pathway, as well as elevated muscle collagen content and changed myofiber morphology caused by dietary HMB.
Food Security and Women Case Study of Mahu Country on Saparua Island
Authors: Sahusilawane Aphrodite Milana , Pattiselanno August Ernst
Published: January 2023

Maintaining household food security is a way to overcome food insecurity. Women play an important role to make it happen, one of them is through household businesses. The research was conducted in Mahu Administrative Country on Saparua Island. The method used is descriptive analysis and field observation. Sampling was done purposively (purposive sample) of 24.40% (51 women) from 209 women of working age. The research objectives were (1) to find out the readiness of women to maintain household food security, (2) to find out about women's empowerment programs related to local food, (3) to find out the cooperation between the state government and the community regarding food security. The results showed: (1) household food security is still weak (2) women's empowerment programs have not been maximized, (3) coordination between the government and the community regarding food security needs to be improved.
Contribution of RdDM to the ecotype-specific differential methylation on conserved as well as highly variable regions between Arabidopsis ecotypes
Authors: Lee Jaehoon , Shin Sang-Yoon , Lee Sang-Kyu , Park Kyunghyuk , Gill Haechan , Hyun Youbong , Jeong Choongwon , Jeon Jong-Seong , Shin Chanseok , Choi Yeonhee
Published: January 2023

Background

Several studies showed genome-wide DNA methylation duringArabidopsisembryogenesis and germination. Although it has been known that the change of DNA methylation mainly occurs at CHH context mediated by small RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway during seed ripening and germination, the causality of the methylation difference exhibited in naturalArabidopsisecotypes has not been thoroughly studied.

Results

In this study we compared DNA methylation difference using comparative pairwise multi-omics dynamics in Columbia-0 (Col) and Cape Verde Island (Cvi) ecotypes.Arabidopsisgenome was divided into two regions, common regions in both ecotypes and Col-specific regions, depending on the reads mapping of whole genome bisulfite sequencing libraries from both ecotypes. Ecotype comparison was conducted within common regions and the levels of DNA methylation on common regions and Col-specific regions were also compared. we confirmed transcriptome were relatively dynamic in stage-wise whereas the DNA methylome and small RNAome were more ecotype-dependent. While the global CG methylation remains steady during maturation and germination, we found genic CG methylation differs the most between the two accessions. We also found that ecotype-specific differentially methylated regions (eDMR) are positively correlated with ecotype-specifically expressed 24-nt small RNA clusters. In addition, we discovered that Col-specific regions enriched with transposable elements (TEs) and structural variants that tend to become hypermethylated, and TEs in Col-specific regions were longer in size, more pericentromeric, and more hypermethylated than those in the common regions. Through the analysis of RdDM machinery mutants, we confirmed methylation on Col-specific region as well as on eDMRs in common region are contributed by RdDM pathway. Lastly, we demonstrated that highly variable sequences between ecotypes (HOT regions) were also affected by RdDM-mediated regulation.

Conclusions

Through ecotype comparison, we revealed differences and similarities of their transcriptome, methylome and small RNAome both in global and local regions. We validated the contribution of RdDM causing differential methylation of common regions. Hypermethylated ecotype-specific regions contributed by RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway largely depend on the presence of TEs and copy-gain structural variations. These ecotype-specific regions are frequently associated with HOT regions, providing evolutionary insights into the epigenome dynamics within a species.
Review: structure and modifications of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs)
Authors: Leszczuk Agata , Kalaitzis Panagiotis , Kulik Joanna , Zdunek Artur
Published: January 2023

The aim of this report is to provide general information on the molecular structure and synthesis of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) in association to their physiological significance. Assessment of genetic modifications of the activity of enzymes involved in the AGP biosynthesis is an efficient tool to study AGP functions. Thus, P4H (prolyl 4 hydroxylase) mutants, GLCAT (β-glucuronosyltransferase) mutants, and GH43 (glycoside hydrolase family 43) mutants have been described. We focused on the overview of AGPs modifications observed at the molecular, cellular, and organ levels. Inhibition of the hydroxylation process results in an increase in the intensity of cell divisions and thus, has an impact on root system length and leaf area. In turn, overexpression of P4H genes stimulates the density of root hairs. A mutation in GLCAT genes responsible for the transfer of glucuronic acid to the AGP molecule revealed that the reduction of GlcA in AGP disrupts the substantial assembly of the primary cell wall. Furthermore, silencing of genes encoding GH43, which has the ability to hydrolyze the AGP glycan by removing incorrectly synthesized β-1,3-galactans, induces changes in the abundance of other cell wall constituents, which finally leads to root growth defects. This information provides insight into AGPs as a crucial players in the structural interactions present in the plant extracellular matrix.
COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Shafiee Arman , Kohandel Gargari Omid , Teymouri Athar Mohammad Mobin , Fathi Haniyeh , Ghaemi Marjan , Mozhgani Sayed-Hamidreza
Published: January 2023

Background

SARS-CoV-2 exposure during pregnancy is related to adverse effects for both the mother and the infant. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination has lowered the risk of symptomatic disease substantially. Recently published studies have evaluated the outcomes of women who received the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy; systematic evidence regarding vaccination safety is crucial to ensure that COVID-19 vaccination is not associated with adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes.

Methods

Pubmed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Clinicaltrials.gov were searched from each database's inception through April 7, 2022. All interventional and observational studies comparing neonatal or pregnancy outcomes between pregnant women who received COVID-19 vaccines during their pregnancy and unvaccinated pregnant women were included. The random-effects model was used in the meta-analyses.

Results

A total of 11 studies comprising 756,098 pregnant mothers were included. The rate of neonates with 5-min Apgar score ≤ 7 (log RR -0.08 (95% CI: -0.15 to -0.00), (P = 0.03)) and pregnant mothers with preterm birth (log RR -0.11 (95% CI: -0.21 to -0.01), (P = 0.02)) was significantly lower among vaccinated group. No significant difference was observed in adverse neonatal outcomes (log RR -0.07 (95% CI: -0.17 to 0.03)), small for gestational age (log RR -0.06 (95% CI: -0.14 to 0.02)), caesarean delivery (log RR 0.05 (95% CI: -0.05 to 0.15)), postpartum hemorrhage (log RR -0.05 (95% CI: -0.13 to 0.02)), stillbirth (log RR -0.05 (95% CI: -0.54 to 0.45)).

Conclusions and relevance

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, no evident differences were observed when comparing vaccinated pregnant mothers with those who had not received COVID-19 vaccines. Based on low certainty of evidence, vaccination during pregnancy was accompanied by a favorable Apgar score in neonates and fewer preterm births.
Application of the CDK9 inhibitor FIT-039 for the treatment of KSHV-associated malignancy
Authors: Sakamoto Tetsunori , Ajiro Masahiko , Watanabe Akira , Matsushima Shingo , Ueda Keiji , Hagiwara Masatoshi
Published: January 2023

Chronic infection with Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV) in B lymphocytes causes primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), the most aggressive form of KSHV-related cancer, which is resistant to conventional chemotherapy. In this study, we report that the BCBL-1 KSHV+ PEL cell line does not harbor oncogenic mutations responsible for its aggressive malignancy. Assuming that KSHV viral oncogenes play crucial roles in PEL proliferation, we examined the effect of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) inhibitor FIT-039 on KSHV viral gene expression and KSHV+ PEL proliferation. We found that FIT-039 treatment impaired the proliferation of KSHV+ PEL cells and the expression of KSHV viral genes in vitro. The effects of FIT-039 treatment on PEL cells were further evaluated in the PEL xenograft model that retains a more physiological environment for the growth of PEL growth and KSHV propagation, and we confirmed that FIT-039 administration drastically inhibited PEL growth in vivo. Our current study indicates that FIT-039 is a potential new anticancer drug targeting KSHV for PEL patients.