bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retinoic acid signaling regulates the energy metabolism of embryonic lung branching
Authors: Fernandes-Silva Hugo , Alves Marco G. , Garcez Marcia R. , Correia-Pinto Jorge , Oliveira Pedro F. , Homem Catarina C. F. , Moura Rute S.
Published: June 2023

Background: Lung branching morphogenesis is characterized by epithelial-mesenchymal interactions and mediated by complex signaling that ultimately defines the airway conducting system. Retinoic Acid (RA) signaling is crucial for lung organogenesis and modulates proximal-distal patterning and branching morphogenesis. However, how signaling networks and energy metabolism work together to shape embryonic lung development remains unexplored. Here, we investigate how RA signaling influences the metabolic profile of lung branching.

Methods: We performed ex vivo lung explant culture using embryonic chicken lungs (Gallus gallus) treated with DMSO, 1 uM RA (stimulation), or 10 uM of BMS493 (inhibition). Explant culture media was collected, and the consumption/production of extracellular metabolites was evaluated by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Lung explants were analyzed to determine mitochondrial respiration and biogenesis. Proliferation was assessed using an EdU‐based assay. Western blot, qPCR, and in situ hybridization were performed to assess the expression of metabolic/signaling components.

Results: Upon stimulation, RA signaling increases lung branching, maintaining proper morphology. Besides, there is an increase in the amount of glucose directed into pyruvate and succinate rather than into alanine or lactate production. On the other hand, RA signaling inhibition decreases lung branching, induces a cystic-like phenotype, and promotes mitochondrial function. Proliferation status and lactate dehydrogenase expression are both regulated by RA signaling. Furthermore, RA signaling controls fatty acid metabolism through an AMPK-dependent mechanism.

Conclusions: This report shows that RA signaling modulates the energy metabolism of lung branching morphogenesis and highlights the importance of metabolic regulation in this phase, contributing to understanding the etiology of congenital lung disorders.
A case of severe septic shock caused by Streptococcus agalactiae
Authors: Zhang Hua , Tang Tian , Liu Guocheng , Liu Guangming , Pan Lingai
Published: June 2023

GBS causes fewer severe infections, less severe septic shock, and generally infects special populations, GBS infection is easily overlooked. This case is the first report in the world of severe septic shock caused by GBS in ordinary young woman. Therefore, for septic shock in the general population without underlying diseases, especially women, clinicians should strengthen the awareness of screening and be alert to GBS infection.
High-throughput deformation potential and electrical transport calculations
Authors: Jin Yeqing , Wang Xiangdong , Yao Mingjia , Qiu Di , Xi Jinyang , Xi Lili , Yang Jiong
Published: June 2023

Deformation potential plays an important role in electrical transport properties. Here, we design a high-throughput method for calculating deformation potential for semiconductors in MatHub-3d database. The deformation potential in this work is computed from the band edge (valence band maximum and conduction band minimum) variations with respect to the volume change. A key quantity in the workflow is the reference level which can measure the band edge change accurately. In order to adapt the calculation of reference level to a high-throughput manner, the average value of the first valence electron energy band associated with each compound is used as the reference level. Deformation potentials for 11,993 materials are calculated using the above-mentioned method. By considering the calculated deformation potentials, electronic structures and bulk moduli, 9,957 compounds with converged electrical transport properties are obtained. 332 promising p-type thermoelectric materials, and 321 n-type entries are then proposed. Among them, 156 compounds are screened to having both potentially good n- and p-type thermoelectric transport properties. The band structures and chemical bonding information for several typical compounds are further presented to reveal favorable band and bonding features for thermoelectrics.
Methamphetamine (MA) use and MA-induced psychosis are associated with increasing aberrations in the compensatory immunoregulatory system, interleukin-1α, and CCL5 levels
Authors: Kalayasiri Rasmon , Dadwat Kanokwan , Thika Supaksorn , Sirivichayakul Sunee , Maes Michael
Published: June 2023

Comprehensive immunological profiles have not been studied in relation to methamphetamine (MA) use, MA dependency, or MA-induced psychosis (MAP). Using the BioPlex Pro Human Cytokine 48-Plex panel, this study measured M1 macrophage, T helper (Th)-1, Th-2, growth factor, and chemokine profiles, as well as the immune inflammatory response system (IRS) and compensatory immunoregulatory system (CIRS) in peripheral blood samples from patients with MA use (n=51), MA dependence (n=47), and MAP (n=43) in comparison with healthy controls (n=43). We discovered that persistent MA use had a robust dose-dependent suppressive impact on all immunological profiles, suggesting extensive immunosuppression. The most reliable biomarker profile of MA use is the combination of substantial CIRS suppression and a rise in selected pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely CCL27 (CTACK), CCL11 (eotaxin), and interleukin (IL)-1α. In addition, MA dependency is related with a more severe immunosuppression, as demonstrated by lower stem cell factor and higher IL-10 levels. MAP is related with a significant decrease in all immunological profiles, particularly CIRS, and an increase in CCL5 (RANTES), IL-1α, and IL-12p70 signaling. In conclusion, long-term MA use and dependency severely undermine immune homeostasis. This results in widespread immunosuppression, which may increase the likelihood of infectious and immune illness or exacerbate disorders such as hepatitis and AIDS. Elevated levels of CCL5, CCL11, CCL27, IL-1α, and/or IL-12p70 may be associated with severe peripheral (atherosclerosis, cutaneous inflammation, immune aberrations, hypospermatogenesis) and central (neuroinflammation, neurotoxic, neurodegenerative, depression, anxiety and psychosis) side effects.
Functional Fitness and Psychological Well-being in Older Adults
Authors: Tóth Eliza E. , Vujić Aleksandar , Ihász Ferenc , Ruíz-Barquín Roberto , Szabo Attila
Published: June 2023

Physical fitness and functioning are related to better mental health in older age. However, which fitness components (body composition, strength, flexibility, coordination, and endurance) are more closely related to psychological well-being (PWB) is unclear. This research examined how body mass index (BMI) and six indices of functional fitness (i.e., lower and upper body strength, lower and upper body flexibility, coordination [based on agility and balance], and aerobic endurance) relate to five psychological measures that could mirror PWB (i.e., resilience, mental well-being, optimism, life satisfaction, and happiness). Thirty-nine older adults (60-94 years; two-thirds female) were examined with the Fullerton Functional Fitness Test (FFFT) after completing five psychometric instruments. Data were analyzed with ordinary least squares regression and then with elastic net regression, calculating the Lindeman, Merenda, and Gold (LMG) indices of the relative importance of the six FFFT components separately for the five psychological measures. Results revealed that BMI, upper body strength, and upper body flexibility were the least significant predictors of PWB. In contrast, lower body flexibility emerged as the most significant predictor, while endurance and, to a lesser extent, coordination were also predictors in some of the PWB measures. These findings should stimulate research on the mechanism connecting lower body flexibility with PWB. Further, apart from their novelty, the findings could be valuable in designing physical fitness programs targeting mental and physical health for older people.
Aphallia
Authors:   Awet Ghebreberhan Mehretab1, Berhe Nahom Daniel , Fekadu Emnet Tekeste
Published: June 2023

Aphallia is a very uncommon congenital condition characterized by the absence of a penis. We report a case of aphallia in a 3-month-old male infant. The infant was born at home and the mother has not received any antenatal care. At presentation to our hospital, we did routine laboratory tests and counseling, and the infant was referred to a higher facility for further evaluation. Despite counseling and referral, the infant was lost to follow-up. This case emphasizes the challenges of managing congenital anomalies in low-resource settings.
Understanding spatiotemporal patterns of COVID-19 incidence in Portugal: a functional data analysis from August 2020 to March 2022
Authors: Ribeiro Manuel C. , Azevedo Leonardo , Santos André Peralta , Leite Pedro Pinto , Pereira Maria João
Published: June 2023

Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and the pandemic, massive amounts of daily data on incidence are being collected by governments and public health authorities, providing relevant information about the dissemination of pandemic in terms of its virological evolution and spatiotemporal distribution of cases, hospitalization, and deaths. We propose a novel approach combining functional data analysis and unsupervised learning algorithms to extract meaningful information about the main spatiotemporal patterns underlying SARS-CoV-2 incidence. We modelled the daily COVID-19 confirmed cases by municipality as a function of time using functional principal component analysis to describe their temporal evolution in order to outline the main temporal patterns of variability. Municipalities were classified according to their spatiotemporal similarities through hierarchical clustering adapted to spatially correlated functional data. The proposed approach is applied to mainland Portugal with data collected between August 2020 and March 2022 by municipality. The results obtained discriminate northern and coastal regions from southern and hinterland, and the effects in 2020-21 from the effects in 2021-22 autumn-winter seasons. Spatiotemporal patterns and classification of municipalities agree with results reported by other works and provides proof-of-concept that the proposed approach can be used to detect the main spatiotemporal patterns of disease incidence. The novel approach extends and refines existing exploratory tools for spatiotemporal analysis of public health data.
Regulation of machine-transplanted rice using side-deep fertilization on weed community and diversity influences rice production in double-cropping paddy
Authors: Zhong Xuemei , Zhou Xuan , Luo Gongwen , Zi Tao , Wu Yuanfan , Peng Jianwei
Published: June 2023

Weed control and biodiversity conservation are required for sustainable agricultural production. The impact of long-term chemical fertilization on the agroecological environment has attracted widespread attention. To validate the effects of machine-transplanted rice using side-deep fertilization (MRSF) on weed control and weed community composition in paddy fields, a field experiment was conducted in a double-cropping rice system at the Dongting Lake in southern China. Seven fertilization treatments for early- and late-season rice were tested, including control (CK), conventional fertilization (CF), and MRSF with controlled-release blending fertilizer (MRSF-CRBF) at various nitrogen (N) rates (MC, 10% MC, 20% MC, 30% MC, and 40% MC). The highest yields of early- and late-season rice were obtained with 10% MC and 40% MC, respectively, with an increase by 2.5% and 5.0% compared to the CF treatment. The CK treatment exhibited the least weed species, while CF treatment the highest Shannon index across growth stages. The highest weed biomass of early- and late-season rice was observed under CF treatment, which was 4.5–37.7% and 4.5–24.1% higher than those in the 0–40% MC treatments, respectively. Soil pH, available potassium and available phosphorus (P) in the double-cropping paddy field were negatively correlated with weed biomass. Soil available N content was positively correlated with weed biomass in early- versus late-season rice. Soil available P content indirectly affected total weed biomass via pH and available N. Redundancy analysis showed that weed biomass was negatively correlated with soil physicochemical properties, and soil available N and organic matter content had significant effects on weed distribution. In conclusion, the MRSF-CRBF strategy effectively maintained suitable available N and P content during the late-season of rice growth, controlled weed growth, and achieved a beneficial dynamic balance between weed species and total biomass.
Oceanic eddies induce a rapid formation of an internal wave continuum
Authors: Yang Luwei , Barkan Roy , Sriniva Kaushik , McWilliams James , Shakespeare Callum , Gibson Angus
Published: June 2023

Oceanic internal waves are a major driver for turbulent mixing in the ocean, which controls the global overturning circulation and the oceanic heat and carbon transport. Internal waves are observed to have a continuous energy distribution across all wave frequencies and scales, commonly known as the internal wave continuum, despite being forced at near-inertial and tidal frequencies at large scales. This internal wave continuum is widely thought to be developed primarily through wave-wave interactions. However, the development through wave-wave interactions occurs on yearly timescales and is insufficient to maintain the observed continuum given the large episodic wind energy input. Here we show, using realistic numerical simulations in the subpolar North Atlantic, that oceanic eddies rapidly distribute large-scale wind-forced near-inertial wave energy across spatio-temporal scales, thereby forming an internal wave continuum within three weeks. As a result, wave energy dissipation patterns are controlled by eddies and are significantly enhanced below the mixed layer. The efficiency of this process potentially explains why a phase lag between high-frequency and near-inertial wave energy was observed in eddy-poor regions but not in eddy-rich regions. Our findings highlight the importance of eddies in forming an internal wave continuum and in controlling upper ocean mixing patterns.
Formulation and evaluation of novel nutraceuticals rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, natural flavors, and steviol glycosides for improving quality of life
Authors: Almoselhy Rania I.M.
Published: June 2023

For a wide range of people, including malnourished adults with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), micronutrient deficiency, underweight and overweight people, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescents, the current research aimed to present innovative nutraceutical formulations devoted to improving the quality of life (QoL) while promoting health. The novel nutraceutical formulations were structured on a scientific basis with evidence-based health benefits, with daily values (DVs) according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), containing a high-quality whey protein concentrate (WPC 70%), skim milk powder (SMP 34%), vitamins (folic acid, B12, C), minerals (iron, zinc), natural flavors (vanilla, cinnamon, coffee, chocolate), and stevia leaf extract sweetener. The novel formulations were subjected to the physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory evaluation. The results showed significant differences (P<0.05) among formulations with natural flavors added in different amounts to provide 10 g of protein (20% DV), elemental iron and zinc, vitamin C, folic acid, and vitamin B12 (25% DV), with elemental calcium (20% DV) emerged from milk derivatives. The serving sizes of the four formulas were different according to the difference in the amount of natural flavor while keeping the same amounts of the other ingredients. Following the chocolate-flavored formulation as the first in order of overall acceptability, were coffee, cinnamon, and vanilla-flavored formulation, according to the sensory evaluation.
Effects of paracetamol (acetaminophen) on the expression of solute carriers (SLCs) in late gestation fetal rat brain, choroid plexus and the placenta
Authors: Huang Yifan , Qiu Fiona , Dziegielewska Katarzyna Magdelena , Koehn Liam Matthew , Habgood Mark David , Saunders Norman Ruthven
Published: June 2023

Solute carriers (SLCs) regulate transfer of a wide range of molecules across cell membranes using facilitative or secondary active transport. In pregnancy, these transporters, expressed at the placental barrier, are important for delivery of nutrients to the developing fetus, whilst also limiting entry of potentially harmful substances such as drugs. In the present study, RNA-sequencing analysis was used to investigate expression of SLCs in the fetal (E19) rat brain, choroid plexus and placenta in untreated controls and following maternal paracetamol treatment. In the treated group, paracetamol (15 mg/kg) was administered to dams twice daily for 5 days (from E15 to E19). Expression of several SLCs was significantly different in paracetamol treatment group compared to controls in all tissues tested, with ion, amino acid, neurotransmitter and sugar transporters most affected. The number of SLC transcripts that changed significantly following treatment was the highest in the choroid plexus and lowest in the brain. In control tissues, overall expression of SLCs was highest in the placenta. However, following paracetamol treatment, SLC transcripts in the placenta were either unchanged or significantly lower. Together, these results suggest that administration of paracetamol during pregnancy could potentially disrupt fetal nutrient homeostasis and affect brain development.
SFC: A Sampling from Clusters for Reduction of Dataset Size
Authors: Tigga Onima , Pal Jaya , Mustafi Debjani
Published: June 2023

Since managing enormous datasets in the real world is difficult, it is necessary to minimize the size of the data set, so that the accuracy of the original dataset is no longer impacted. In this study, the categorization of the white wine dataset is examined using a number of machine learning techniques, including Naive Bayes (NB), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), K Nearest Neighbour (KNN), and Logistic Regression (LR). Additionally, we utilized the stated dataset using the defined methodologies and presented the Sampling from Clusters (SFC) approach. The white wine dataset is first clustered using our suggested method SFC, and then 95% of the data from each cluster is removed and combined to create a standard dataset for classification process. For 90%, 85%, and 80% of the data, the same procedure is repeated. On the other hand, we used a random sampling (RS) technique to work with 95% of the data from the dataset in question, and we compared the results with SFC using evaluation metrics like accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC), Area under the Curve (AUC), binomial confidence interval (CI), and MSE. With 90%, 85%, and 80% of the datasets, the same procedure is repeated. According to statistics, confidence intervals CI become tighter as the quantity of test data N increases; they range from 0.72 to 0.76 for NB, 0.73 to 0.79 for SVM, 0.82 to 0.86 for RF, 0.75 to 0.77 for KNN, and 0.74 to 0.80 for LR.
RETRACTED: Novel and high efficient nanosheets of Ti3C2Tx MXenes decorated with BiFeO3 nanoparticles for Super-capacitor and electro-catalytic water splitting applications
Authors: Zainab Sana , Awan Saif Ullah , Hussain Danish , Shah Saqlain , Rizwan Syed , Faraz Sajal
Published: June 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
A spatial transcriptome map of developing maize ear
Authors: Yang Ning , Wang Yuebin , Luo Yun , Guo Xing , Li Yunfu , Yan Jiali , Shao Wenwen , Wei Wenjie , Jackson David , Zhang Zuxin , Yan Jianbing , Liu Huan , Liu Lei
Published: June 2023

A comprehensive understanding of inflorescence development is crucial for crop genetic improvement, as inflorescence meristems give rise to reproductive organs and determine grain yield. However, dissecting inflorescence development at the cellular level has been challenging due to the lack of distinct marker genes to distinguish each cell types, particularly the various types of meristems that are vital for organ formation. In this study, we used spatial enhanced resolution omics-sequencing (Stereo-seq) to construct a precise spatial transcriptome map of developing maize ear primordia, identifying twelve cell types, including the four newly cell types that mainly distributed on inflorescence merisetm. Through integrating single-cell RNA transcriptomes, we identified a series of spatially-specific networks and hub genes, which may provide new insights on understanding the formation of different tissues. Furthermore, by extracting the meristem components for detailed clustering, we identified three subtypes of meristem, and validated two MADS-box genes specifically expressed at the apex of determinate meristems, involved in stem cell determinacy. In summary, this study provides a valuable resource for cereal inflorescence development studies, offering new clues for yield improvement.
Investigating the Intentions and Reasons of Senior High School Students in Registering for Nursing Education in China
Authors: Zhang Zhong , Yang Chaoqun , Wang Ying , Deng Guoying , Chang Jian
Published: June 2023

Background
Shortage of qualified nurses and their low level of educational qualifications hinders the development of global health services. Researches have proved the role of nursing education in addressing these problems. However, no-related studies have focused on senior high school students before in China. This study aimed to explore senior high school students’ intention to learn nursing and identify the factors influencing their decision-making process.
Methods
An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 8050 senior high school students. The questionnaire that included questions regarding their demographic characteristics, understanding of the nursing specialty, cognition of the nurse occupation and experiences during the pandemic. Descriptive calculation, the chi-square test and logistic regression were used for the analysis.
Results
Only 0.73% of the participants had a clear intention to study nursing. Academic performance and family support were significant predictor of students’ intentions to pursue nursing education. Students’ interest in nursing specialty were associated with their choice. There was a positive correlation between cognition of nursing occupation and students’ choice of nursing. Students’ experience of Covid-19 also have positive impact on their nursing career choice.
Conclusion
The shortage of nurses is a particularly daunting challenge in China. This study provided a new perspective for predictors of the nursing shortage and the potential interventions.
Pharmacogenomic Overlap Between Antidepressant Treatment Response in Major Depression & Antidepressant Associated Treatment Emergent Mania in Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Nunez Nicolas , Coombes Brandon , Beaupre Lindsay Melhuish , Ozerdem Aysegul , Resendez Manuel Gardea , Romo-Nava Francisco , Bond David , Veldic Marin , Singh Balwinder , Moore Katherine , Betcher Hannah , Kung Simon , Prieto Miguel , Fuentes Manuel , Ercis Mete , Miola Alessandro , Ruiz Jorge Sanchez , Jenkins Gregory , Batzler Anthony , Leung Jonathan , Cuellar-Barboza Alfredo , Tye Susannah , McElroy Susan L. , Biernacka Joanna , Frye Mark
Published: June 2023

There is increasing interest in individualizing treatment selection for more than 25 regulatory approved treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD). Despite an inconclusive efficacy evidence base, antidepressants (ADs) are prescribed for the depressive phase of bipolar disorder with oftentimes an inadequate treatment response and or clinical concern for mood destabilization. This study explored the relationship between antidepressant response in MDD and antidepressant-associated treatment emergent mania (TEM) in bipolar disorder (BD). We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and polygenic score analysis of TEM and tested its association with a subset of BD-I patients treated with SSRIs or SNRIs. Our results did not identify any genome-wide significant variants although, we found that a higher polygenic score (PGS) for antidepressant response in MDD was associated with higher odds of TEM in BD. Future studies with larger transdiagnostic cohorts treated with antidepressants are encouraged to identify a neurobiological mechanism associated with a spectrum of depression improvement (response- emergent mania).
Soil microbial improvement using enriched vinasse as a new abundant waste
Authors: Kariminia Tahereh , Rowshanzamir Mohammad A. , Abtahi S. Mahdi , Soleimanian-Zad Sabihe , Bak Hamid Mortazavi , Baghbanan Alireza
Published: June 2023

This study proposes the use of vinasse, an inexpensive and readily available waste biopolymer, as a fundamental component of a waste culture medium that can enhance the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of the Microbial-Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) method for sustainable soil improvement. Vinasse enriched with urea, sodium caseinate, or whey protein concentrate is employed to optimize bacterial growth and urease activity using Taguchi Design of Experiments (TDOE) and statistical analysis. The results show that using the new culture medium yields a 91 times reduction in the cost of culture medium compared to conventional Nutrient Broth (NB) culture medium while improving soil shear strength parameters. Furthermore, the recycling of vinasse as a waste product can promote the progress of a circular economy and reduce environmental pollution. This study provides a promising approach to achieving cost-effective and sustainable soil improvement using waste biopolymers.
CRISPR-based gene drives generate super-Mendelian inheritance in the disease vector Culex quinquefasciatus.
Authors: Harvey-Samuel Tim , Feng Xuechun , Okamoto Emily , Purusothaman Deepak-Kumar , Leftwich Philip , Alphey Luke , Gantz Valentino
Published: June 2023

Culex mosquitoes pose a significant public health threat as vectors for a variety of diseases including West Nile virus and lymphatic filariasis, and transmit pathogens threatening livestock, companion animals, and endangered birds. Rampant insecticide resistance makes controlling these mosquitoes challenging and necessitates the development of new control strategies. Gene drive technologies have made significant progress in other mosquito species, although similar advances have been lagging in Culex. Here we test the first CRISPR-based homing gene drive for Culex quinquefasciatus, demonstrating the possibility of using this technology to control Culex mosquitoes. Our results show that the inheritance of two split-gene-drive transgenes, targeting different loci, are biased in the presence of a Cas9-expressing transgene although with modest efficiencies. Our findings extend the list of disease vectors where engineered homing gene drives have been demonstrated to include Culex alongside Anopheles and Aedes, and pave the way for future development of these technologies to control Culex mosquitoes.
WITHDRAWN: Hecubine suppresses lipopolysaccharide-stimulated neuroinflammation and oxidative stress by targeting TREM2 and regulating Nrf2/TLR4 signaling in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Li Lin , Xu Nan , Wang Xiu-Fen , He Yu-Lin , Tang Ben-Qin , Simon Ming-Yuen
Published: June 2023

Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress play crucial roles in many neurological diseases of the central nervous system. Targeting key proteins in inflammatory signaling may provide a new therapy for neuroinflammation. Hecubine is an active monoterpene indole alkaloid found in Ervatamia officinalis and the majority of its biological activities have not yet been explored. In the present study, we investigated the effects and mechanism of Hecubine on LPS-mediated neuroinflammation in vivo and in vitro for the first time. The results demonstrated that Hecubine reduced LPS-stimulated inflammatory cytokines overexpression, activated TREM2 expression, as well as suppressed the levels of TLR4-, MyD88-, and NF-κB-related proteins in BV2 microglia cells. Hecubine also exhibited an antioxidative effect, as evidenced by the reduction of ROS production and activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Further drug target identification revealed that TREM2 is a primary interacting target of Hecubine. Knockdown of TREM2 mRNA expression significantly abolished Hecubine-induced anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects via the upregulation of TLR4 signaling and the downregulation of Nrf2 pathway proteins. In vivo, after injection of LPS into the brain of zebrafish larvae, Hecubine administration obviously rescued behavioral deficits, inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and prevented oxidative stress by activating TREM2. Taken together, Hecubine directly targets TREM2 to reduce neuroinflammation and oxidative stress and serves as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of neural inflammation-associated CNS diseases.
Laparoscopic Boari flap for repair of long-segment ureteral avulsion or ureteral stricture: our experience with seventeen cases
Authors: Luo Peng , Deng Jiyi , Wu Xin , Luo Lianmin , Li Shaoquan , Long Quanwang , Wang Wei , Hu Zhengbang , Chen Weimin
Published: June 2023

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of using laparoscopic Boari flap for repair of long-segment ureteric avulsion or ureteric stricture of the middle and lower ureters,and to summarize the experiences.We can providing a safe and viable treatment option for patients with middle and lower ureteral defects.
Methods: We retrospectively collected data from seventeen patients who underwent laparoscopic Boari flap for repair of long-segment ureteral defects between October 2018 and March 2023,six of whom underwent Boari flap-psoas hitch,and assess patient demographic characteristics,intraoperative variables,postoperative complications,and follow-up outcomes.
Results: The median length of ureteral avulsion or ureteral stricture was 8 cm(range,3-16 cm).The median operative time was 180 min(range,155-240min).The median estimated blood loss was 150mL(range,20-200 mL). The median postoperative hospital stay was 9 days(range,7-17 days),with no major procedure-related complications in the perioperative period.Postoperative follow-up (rang,1-65months) CTU or ultrasonography showed that one patient developed ureteral stricture and severe hydronephrosis 1 year after surgery,and the hydronephrosis improved 3 months after placing 2 double J-tubes.The remaining sixteen patients showed no significant complications on postoperative review.
Conclusion: Laparoscopic Boari flap for repair of long-segment ureteric avulsion or ureteric stricture of the middle and lower ureters has good safety and feasibility.For ureteral avulsion,we prefer the psoas minor tendon as the recommended anchor for bladder suspension to avoid the femoral or genitofemoral nerve and the length-to-base ratio of the flap was up to 4:1 with good blood supply.
The phytohormones underlying the plant lateral root development in fluctuated soil environments
Authors: Xu Shengbao , Javed Sidra , Chai Xiangzheng , Wang Xiaoming
Published: June 2023

Background
Plants rely heavily on the formation of post-embryonic organs, such as leaves, branches, and lateral roots, to adapt to varying soil conditions. Lateral roots (LR) play a crucial role in the plant root system, serving as the primary factor in the exploration of water and nutrients in the soil. The development of LR is meticulously controlled by phytohormones to response the information obtained from the surrounding soil. This regulation ensures an optimal arrangement of lateral roots, enabling efficient nutrient absorption and adaptation to the challenging environmental conditions.
Scope
This review summarizes recent progress in understanding the mechanisms of lateral root layout in different soil micro-environments and the role of phytohormones in mediating LR development for soil adaptation.
Conclusions
The intricate signaling network governing LR layout involves interactions among various soil factors, which are mediated by phytohormones. Despite its complexity, recent studies have yielded significant insights that can be applied to optimize LR arrangement in soil profiles through genetic and cultivation methods to enhance crop yield and stress tolerance.
Vitamin D status in hospitalized COVID‑19 patients is associated with disease severity and IL-5 production
Authors: Qiu Yali , Bao Wuping , Tian Xue , Zhang Yingying , Pan Yilin , Xie Guogang , Bao Aihua , Yin Dongning , Zhang Min , Zhou Yan
Published: June 2023

Background
There are many studies on relationship between vitamin D and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), while the results are matters of debate and the mechanisms remain unknown. The present study to assess the impact of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels on the severity of disease in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and identify potential mechanisms.
Methods
A total of 399 hospitalized COVID-19 patients were recruited from three centers between December 19, 2022, and February 1, 2023.
Results
Levels of 25(OH)D were significantly lower in the deceased group than other three groups (P < 0.05). The levels of 25(OH)D (odds ratio = 0.986, 95% confidence interval: 0.973–0.998, P = 0.024) and IL-5 (odds ratio = 1.239, 95% confidence interval: 1.104–1.391, P = 0.04) were independent risk factors for the severity of COVID-19 disease upon admission. Serum 25(OH)D levels combined with IL-5 levels and eosinophil (Eos) counts were able to predict the mortality of patients with COVID-19. Circulating 25(OH)D status correlated negatively with the expression of IL-5 (r=-0.262, P < 0.001) and was positively linked with CD8+ T cell counts (r=-0.121, P < 0.05) in patients with COVID-19.
Conclusions
Most COVID-19 patients have vitamin D deficiency and a severe deficiency is associated with fatal outcomes. This study found that the serum 25(OH)D status in COVID-19 patients correlated negatively with the expression of IL-5. The specific mechanism for this relationship is worth further exploration.
Trial registration
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-ncnd/4.0/).
Systemic sclerosis and risk of bronchiectasis: A nationwide longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Yang Bumhee , Kim Bo-Guen , Han Kyungdo , Jung Jin-Hyung , Kim Ji Hyoun , Park Dong Won , Kim Sang-Heon , Kim Eung-Gook , Sohn Jang Won , Yoon Ho Joo , Choi Hayoung , Lee Hyun
Published: June 2023

Backgroud: The impact of systemic sclerosis on the development of bronchiectasis is unclear. This study aimed to compare the risk of bronchiectasis between individuals with systemic sclerosis and those without using a nationwide longitudinal dataset.
Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service dataset between 2010 and 2017, we identified 4,845 individuals aged ≥ 20 years with systemic sclerosis and 24,225 without systemic sclerosis who were matched 1:5 by age and sex. They were followed up until the date of a bronchiectasis diagnosis, death, or December 31, 2019, whichever came first.
Results: During a median follow-up period of 6.0 (interquartile range, 3.2–8.7) years, 5.3% of the systemic sclerosis cohort and 1.9% of the matched cohort developed bronchiectasis, with incidence rates of 9.99 and 3.23 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. Even after adjusting for potential confounders, the risk of incident bronchiectasis was significantly higher in the systemic sclerosis cohort than in the matched cohort (adjusted hazard ratio 2.63, 95% confidence interval 2.22–3.12). The risk of incident bronchiectasis was notably higher in younger individuals (P for interaction = 0.048) and those with coexisting connective tissue disease (Pfor interaction = 0.005) compared to their counterparts.
Conclusions: The risk of incident bronchiectasis is higher in individuals with systemic sclerosis than those without. Bronchiectasis should be considered one of the pulmonary manifestations related to systemic sclerosis.
Adaptive Community Aware Graph Network for Item Recommendation
Authors: Hao Pengyi , Qian Zhaojie , Wang Shuang , Bai* Cong
Published: June 2023

Due to the heterogeneity of a large amount of real-world data, meta-paths are widely used in recommendation. Such recommendation methods can represent composite relationships between entities, but cannot explore reliable relations between nodes and influence among meta-paths.
For solving this problem, adaptive community aware graph network (ACAGN) is proposed in this paper for item recommendation. By dynamically adapting the shape of communities and simultaneously calculating the similarity between them, the similarity of communities is fully learnt among nodes in meta-path based subgraphs. The semantic features of users and items are used to jointly learn weights between nodes, further to get reliable node relations, resulting in robust embedding. Finally, the embeddings of users and items are fed to extend matrix factorization for getting the top recommendations. A series of comprehensive experiments are conducted on two different public datasets. The results show that ACAGN is a better way to do item recommendation compared with the state-of-the-art methods.
Bioinformatics analysis of the shared pathogenesis of psoriasis and Crohn's disease
Authors: Yu Yao , Liu Yaoguang , Ni Zhizhan , Ma Shaoze , Zhou Jinzhe
Published: June 2023

Background
There exists a bidirectional causal relationship between psoriasis and Crohn's disease, where psoriasis can increase the risk of Crohn's disease, and Crohn's disease can also increase the risk of psoriasis. However, the underlying mechanism of their co-occurrence remains unclear. This study aims to explore the pathogenesis of psoriasis combined with Crohn's disease through bioinformatics analysis.
Methods
Psoriasis skin tissue data (GSE117239) and Crohn's disease intestinal tissue data (GSE95095) were downloaded from the GEO database. The imma R package and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) were used to identify common differentially expressed genes. Further analyses included Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, construction of a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, screening and validation of hub genes, prediction and validation of hub transcription factors (TFs), and additional analysis of the diagnostic value of hub genes, as well as prediction of therapeutic drugs.
Results
99 common differentially expressed genes were identified for psoriasis and Crohn's disease. The results of GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were focused on inflammation and energy metabolism processes. 6 hub genes were screened, namely MMP9, CXCR2, CXCL1, CXCL10, HMGCS2, and PPARGC1A. Some of these hub genes showed high diagnostic value. Three hub TFs were predicted and validated, which were STAT1, STAT3, and IRF1. Based on these hub genes and hub TFs, a total of 66 drugs were predicted, with some drugs overlapping with the existing therapeutic drugs for psoriasis or Crohn's disease.
Conclusions
This study revealed the potential common pathogenesis of psoriasis and Crohn's disease through bioinformatics analysis. These hub genes, hub TFs, and predicted drugs may provide new perspectives for further mechanistic research.
Explore the alterations of downstream molecular pathways caused by ARID1A mutation/knockout in human endometrial cancer cells
Authors: Xing Baoling , Zhang Xiaoying , Gu Xia , Xiang Lintao , Wang Cuiping , Jin Yueling
Published: June 2023

Purpose
As one of the most common gynecologic malignancies, endometrial cancer (EC) is driven by multiple genetic alterations that may be targeted for treatments. AT-rich interaction domain 1A (ARID1A) gene mutations were reported as early events in endometrial carcinogenesis.
Methods
To explore the alterations of downstream molecular pathways caused by ARID1A mutations and the associated therapeutic implications, we edited ARID1A gene in human endometrial cancer cell line Ishikawa using the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and CRISPR-Associated Proteins (CRISPR/Cas9) technology. We successfully constructed a stable Ishikawa cell line with a confirmed 10bp deletion on the ARID1A gene, which resulted in a code-shift mutation and gene knockout.
Results
Compared with unedited wild-type cells, ARID1A knockout (KO) led to reduced apoptosis, accelerated transformation from G0/G1 to S phase and enhanced cell proliferation. In addition, ARID1A KO resulted in high levels of microsatellite instability (MSI-H). Moreover, transcriptomic analyses showed that ARID1A KO can lead to activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling. Furthermore, experimental analyses demonstrated that ARID1A KO cells had reduced expression of genetic instability-associated markers mutL homologue 1 (MLH1) and progesterone receptor B (PR), and increased p-Akt expression.
Conclusion
These findings support further exploration of ARID1A as a therapeutic target for EC, and provide insights in developing more effective treatments in EC, such as the combinatory use of immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Hsa_circ_001726 axis contributes to metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Ai Jiaoyu , Zhang Wanlin , Deng Wensheng , Yan Likun , Zhang Lidong , Huang Zongjing , Wu Ziyi , Ai Junhua , Jiang Hai
Published: June 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. CircRNAs participate in the development of HCC. This work aims to search a key circRNA that plays an important role in HCC. The differentially expressed genes circRNAs in HCC tumor tissues was identified by mining GSE121714 dataset. We found that 11 circRNAs were up-regulated in tumor tissues of HCC patients with or without metastasis. Among them, hsa_circ_001726 was highly expressed in tumor tissues of HCC patients with or without metastasis, and associated with tumor size, TNM stages and poor prognosis of HCC patients. Hsa_circ_001726 expression was positively correlated with N-cadherin expression, and negatively correlated with E-cadherin expression, indicating that it was closely associated with epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCC cells. Moreover, hsa_circ_001726 expression was increased in HCC cells. Hsa_circ_001726 elevated PRMT9 expression by sponging miR-671-5p, and then activated Notch signaling pathway. Additionally, hsa_circ_001726 deficiency repressed malignant phenotypes of HCC cells, including migration, invasion and EMT. In vivo, Xenograft mouse models and orthotopic transplantation tumor mouse models were constructed to verify the role of hsa_circ_001726 in growth and metastasis of HCC. Hsa_circ_001726 deficiency reduced tumor growth and metastasis of HCC. In conclusion, this work demonstrated that hsa_circ_001726 activated Notch signaling pathway via miR-671-5p/PRMT9 axis, thereby accelerating malignant progression and metastasis of HCC. Therefore, hsa_circ_001726 may be a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of HCC.
A case study on oil spills, coastal pollution, and the development of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria isolated from soil collected along the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal coastlines
Authors: Rekadwad Bhagwan Narayan , Shouche Yogesh S. , Jangid Kamlesh
Published: June 2023

Pelagic transport causes oil pollution by traversing the open ocean in southern Asia and Indian territory via international tanker routes. The natural flow of ocean water from east to west, which carries pollutants and biohazards into the marine waters belonging to the Indian territory, is what causes the deposition and saturation of oil spills, tar (i.e., hydrocarbons), and wastes in ocean waters. Water currents and tides carry tons of crude oil that has leaked from oil tanker accidents in the open ocean to coastlines. Here we report that marine traffic of sailing flags across oceans causes pollution that results in the formation of algal blooms and has an impact on the production of chlorophyll and the mortality of fauna. The consequences of pollution have mostly affected coastal areas, especially mangroves, and may destroy potential fishing zones. Furthermore, it was recorded that long-term exposure to pollutants may cause the development of antibiotic and hydrocarbon resistance in bacteria. Bacterial taxa like Bacillus, Domibaciluus, Acinetobacter, Brevundimonas, Streptococcus, Mycolibacterium, and Spingomonas, among others, were found, and their identities were confirmed by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Antimicrobial resistance in these bacteria may pose a threat to public health.
AI-enabled Legacy Data Integration with Privacy Protection: a Case Study on Regional Cloud Arbitration Court
Authors: Song Jie , Fu Haifei , Jiao Tianzhe , Wang Dongqi
Published: June 2023

This paper reports an interesting case study on the Legacy Data Integration (LDI for short) for a Regional Cloud Arbitration Court. Due to the inconsistent structure and presentation, legacy arbitration cases can hardly integrate into the Cloud Court unless processed manually. In the case study, we aim to build an AI-enabled LDI method to replace the high-cost manual one and protect privacy during the process. Our method employs Optical Character Recognition (OCR), text classification, Named Entity Recognition (NER), and entity relation extraction to transform legacy data into system format. We train AI models to replace the tasks of the Court staff, such as reading and understanding legacy cases, removing privacy information, composing new records of cases to fit the Cloud Court, and inputting them through the system interfaces. With the applications of a Cloud Arbitration Court in Liaoning Provence, China, our intelligent LDI has similar effectiveness but greater efficiency than the manual LDI. Our method saves 90% of the workforce and achieves a 60%-70% information extraction rate of manual work. Our method achieves a comparable filtering effect for privacy while retaining the maximum amount of information. With the continuous development of informationalization and intelligentization in judgment and arbitration, many courts are building the court system using ABC technologies, namely Artificial intelligence, Big data, and Cloud computing. Our method could provide a practical reference when integrating legal data into the system.
A metric and its derived protein network for evaluation of ortholog database inconsistency
Authors: Yang Weijie , Ji Jingsi , Ling Shuyang , Fang Gang
Published: June 2023

Ortholog prediction, essential for various genomic research areas, faces growing inconsistencies amidst the expanding array of ortholog databases. The common strategy of computing consensus orthologs introduces additional arbitrariness, underscoring the need to identify proteins prone to ortholog prediction inconsistency. To address this, we introduce the Signal Jaccard Index (SJI), a novel metric based on unsupervised genome context clustering, to assess protein similarity. Utilizing SJI, we construct a protein network, revealing that proteins at the network peripheries primarily contribute to prediction inconsistency. Importantly, we show that a protein's degree centrality can gauge its assignment reliability to a consensus set, facilitating the refinement of ortholog predictions.