bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent advances in photo‐responsive carbon dots for tumor therapy
Authors: Zhang Huiqi , Liu Yupeng , Qu Songnan
Published: May 2024

The precision treatment of tumors with minimal side effects is associated with improved human health and quality of life. In recent years, phototherapy has attracted significant attention in tumor therapy due to its versatility, spatiotemporal controllability, non‐resistance, and minimal side effects. Carbon dots (CDs) are considered promising phototherapy reagents because of their simple preparation, facilitated surface modification, tunable energy bands, excellent electron‐transfer capabilities, remarkable photoelectric and photothermal conversion properties, and outstanding biocompatibility. This review summarizes recent advancements in photo‐responsive CDs for photodynamic therapy and the emerging photocatalytic therapy of tumors. Finally, the article discusses the main challenges associated with the development of photo‐responsive CDs for oncology therapeutics and strategies to overcome these challenges.
Graphics‐Processing‐Unit‐Accelerated 3D Online Heat Transfer and Solidification Model for Continuously Cast Slab
Authors: Lu Haoyu , Luo Sen , Wang Weiling , Zhu Miaoyong
Published: May 2024

A graphics‐processing‐unit (GPU)‐accelerated 3D heat‐transfer and solidification model is proposed to predict the temperature field and solidification field for continuously cast slab. The fully 3D model is developed based on the finite difference method and implemented on the compute unified device architecture (CUDA)/C++ platform. The model is verified by solving the 1D Stefan problem and validated by surface temperature measurements. The model is proven to be 18.91 times faster for the coarsest mesh of 35 million nodes and 22.92 times faster for the finest mesh of 50 million nodes than a central‐processing‐unit (CPU)‐based parallel version with 28 threads. The corresponding relative calculational times are 0.19 and 0.32, which indicate that the model has great computation efficiency. The model is proven to be robust enough for the dynamic continuous casting (CC) process via a test of dynamic casting speed. Further analysis of the nonuniform heat transfer and solidification shows that the model is able to predict the nonuniform heat transfer efficiently. In the studied cases, a higher casting speed will lead to a remarkable enhancement of the unevenness of heat transfer and solidification in general.
Chloride transport through the interface in repaired marine concrete systems in a cracked state
Authors: Zhou Qingsong , Lu Caifeng , Lu Chunhao , Chen Chong , Guo Zongkai , Li Yanhong , Yang Sheng , Wang Wei
Published: May 2024

In repaired marine concrete structures, generally, an interface exists between old and new concrete, however, the influence of this interface on durability has yet not been well understood. In this study 18 reinforced concrete beams with new‐to‐old concrete interfaces (N–O interfaces) were designed to investigate chloride transport through a cracked interface. The effects of crack widths at the interface, concrete strain, and the chloride exposure time were considered, respectively. Results showed that the N–O interfaces having crack widths between 0 and 0.13 mm posed no significant impact on the chloride transport in the depth direction of the N–O interfaces, however when the crack width exceeded 0.13 mm, the chloride concentration gradually increased as the crack width increased. Chloride transport through the horizontal direction of the N–O interface was different between new and old concrete matrix when the crack width reached 0.18–0.20 mm. The surface layer with a range of 5–10 mm depth of concrete was sensitive to the variation of concrete strain, and the evolution of chloride concentration with concrete strain presented a logarithm relationship. Within the exposure period between 60 and 90 days, the increasing rate of chloride concentration was higher than that between 30 and 60 days. The study can provide some recommendations for repair of concrete elements exposed to a chloride‐laden exposure environment.
A review on microbial bioremediation of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics
Authors: Kulkarni Rajeswari M. , Patwardhan Neha S. , Iyer Pratham B. , Bharadwaj Tanvi D.
Published: May 2024

Microplastics (<5 mm size) continue to be a disruptor in the ecosystem being omnipresent in the various spheres of the earth. While there have been various approaches for their degradation, biological approaches continue to be an emerging technology owing to their reduced stress on the environment and energy efficiency. This review paper encompasses the problems created by these microplastics and specifically focuses on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) that are widely used in the packaging and textile industries. This review paper highlights the various microorganisms used to degrade PET and optimum conditions in which PET degradation was carried out. PET is converted to MHET (mono (2‐hydroxyethyl) terephthalic acid) by extracellular PETase, which is subsequently transferred into the periplasmic region of microorganisms by outer membrane anchored MHETase, which transforms MHET to terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol. Factors affecting PET degradation like temperature, pH, crystallinity and environment have also been analyzed.
First report on pollutant accumulation and associated microbial communities in the freshwater sponge Spongilla lacustris (Linnaeus, 1759) from the sub‐Arctic Pasvik River (Norway)
Authors: Lo Giudice Angelina , Papale Maria , Rizzo Carmen , Giannarelli Stefania , Caruso Gabriella , Aspholm Paul Eric , Maimone Giovanna , Azzaro Maurizio
Published: May 2024

This explorative study was aimed at first characterizing the sponge Spongilla lacustris (Linnaeus, 1759) from the sub‐Arctic Pasvik River (Northern Fennoscandia), in terms of associated microbial communities and pollutant accumulation. Persistent organic pollutants were determined in sponge mesohyl tissues, along with the estimation of the microbial enzymatic activity rates, prokaryotic abundance and morphometric traits, and the analysis of the taxonomic bacterial diversity by next‐generation sequencing techniques. The main bacterial groups associated with S. lacustris were Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria, followed by Chloroflexi and Acidobacteria. The structure of the S. lacustris‐associated bacterial communities was in sharp contrast to those of the bacterioplankton, being statistically close to those found in sediments. Dieldrin was measured at higher concentrations in the sponge tissues (3.1 ± 0.4 ng/g) compared to sediment of the same site (0.04 ± 0.03 ng/g). Some taxonomic groups were possibly related to the occurrence of certain contaminants, as was the case of Patescibacteria and dieldrin. Obtained results substantially contribute to the still scarce knowledge of bacterial community diversity, activities, and ecology in freshwater sponges.

Practitioner Points

Microbial community associated with Spongilla lacustris is probably shaped by the occurrence of certain contaminants, mainly dieldrin and heavy metals.

A higher accumulation of dieldrin in the sponge mesohyl tissues than in sediment was determined.

S. lacustris is suggested as sponge species to be used as a sentinel of pesticide pollution in the Pasvik River.

S. lacustris, living in tight contact with soft substrates, harbored communities more similar to sediment than water communities.
Sample‐to‐answer salivary miRNA testing: New frontiers in point‐of‐care diagnostic technologies
Authors: Zhang Zhikun , Liu Tianyi , Dong Ming , Ahamed Md. Ahasan , Guan Weihua
Published: May 2024

MicroRNA (miRNA), crucial non‐coding RNAs, have emerged as key biomarkers in molecular diagnostics, prognosis, and personalized medicine due to their significant role in gene expression regulation. Salivary miRNA, in particular, stands out for its non‐invasive collection method and ease of accessibility, offering promising avenues for the development of point‐of‐care diagnostics for a spectrum of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious diseases. Such development promises rapid and precise diagnosis, enabling timely treatment. Despite significant advancements in salivary miRNA‐based testing, challenges persist in the quantification, multiplexing, sensitivity, and specificity, particularly for miRNA at low concentrations in complex biological mixtures. This work delves into these challenges, focusing on the development and application of salivary miRNA tests for point‐of‐care use. We explore the biogenesis of salivary miRNA and analyze their quantitative expression and their disease relevance in cancer, infection, and neurodegenerative disorders. We also examined recent progress in miRNA extraction, amplification, and multiplexed detection methods. This study offers a comprehensive view of the development of salivary miRNA‐based point‐of‐care testing (POCT). Its successful advancement could revolutionize the early detection, monitoring, and management of various conditions, enhancing healthcare outcomes.

This article is categorized under:

Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing

Diagnostic Tools > Diagnostic Nanodevices
Momentum dependent flavor radiative corrections to the coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering for the neutrino charge-radius determination
Authors: Corona M. Atzori , Cadeddu M. , Cargioli N. , Dordei F. , Giunti C.
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Despite being neutral particles, neutrinos can have a non-zero charge radius, which represents the only non-null neutrino electromagnetic property in the standard model theory. Its value can be predicted with high accuracy and its effect is usually accounted for through the definition of a radiative correction affecting the neutrino couplings to electrons and nucleons at low energy, which results effectively in a shift of the weak mixing angle. Interestingly, it introduces a flavour-dependence in the cross-section. Exploiting available neutrino-electron and coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEνNS) data, there have been many attempts to measure experimentally the neutrino charge radius. Unfortunately, the current precision allows one to only determine constraints on its value. In this work, we discuss how to properly account for the neutrino charge radius in the CEνNS cross-section including the effects of the non-null momentum-transfer in the neutrino electromagnetic form factor, which have been usually neglected when deriving the aforementioned limits. We apply the formalism discussed to a re-analysis of the COHERENT cesium iodide and argon samples and the NCC-1701 germanium data from the Dresden-II nuclear power plant. We quantify the impact of this correction on the CEνNS cross-section and we show that, despite being small, it can not be neglected in the analysis of data from future high-precision experiments. Furthermore, this momentum dependence can be exploited to significantly reduce the allowed values for the neutrino charge radius determination.
Hydrodynamics and instabilities of relativistic superfluids at finite superflow
Authors: Areán Daniel , Goutéraux Blaise , Mefford Eric , Sottovia Filippo
Published: May 2024

Abstract

We study the linear response of relativistic superfluids with a non-zero superfluid velocity. For sufficiently large superflow, an instability develops via the crossing of a pole of the retarded Green’s functions to the upper half complex frequency plane. We show that this is caused by a local thermodynamic instability, i.e. when an eigenvalue of the static susceptibility matrix (the second derivatives of the free energy) diverges and changes sign. The onset of the instability occurs when ∂ζ(nsζ) = 0, with ζ the norm of the superfluid velocity and ns the superfluid density. The Landau instability for non-relativistic superfluids such as Helium 4 also coincides with the non-relativistic version of this criterion. We then turn to gauge/gravity duality and show that this thermodynamic instability criterion applies equally well to strongly-coupled superfluids. In passing, we compute holographically a number of transport coefficients parametrizing deviations out-of-equilibrium in the hydrodynamic regime and demonstrate that the gapless quasinormal modes of the dual planar black hole match those predicted by superfluid hydrodynamics.
Bootstrapping string theory EFT
Authors: Chiang Li-Yuan , Huang Yu-tin , Weng He-Chen
Published: May 2024

Abstract

We study the space of open string effective field theories by combining the constraint of unitarity and monodromy relations for the four-point amplitude. The latter is a reflection of an underlying disk correlator with singularities at the boundary. By assuming maximal susy the resulting bootstrap isolates Wilson coefficients to at least 10−4 of the Type-I superstring. Furthermore, utilizing our geometric approach, we obtain the critical dimension of 10 from the low energy coefficients alone. Remarkably, relaxing SUSY but requiring the massless states to carry four-dimensional helicities, the Wilson coefficients are again constrained to superstring values within 10−4. Thus we conclude that type-I string theory is the unique solution to the monodromy bootstrap with either maximal susy or vector external states. We also introduce Tachyons to the bootstrap and demonstrate for the scattering of external vectors, the bosonic and superstring span the allowed region. Allowed regions for closed string effective field theories are obtained by implementing the KLT relations.
Cosmological perturbations from five-dimensional inflation
Authors: Antoniadis Ignatios , Cunat Jules , Guillen Anthony
Published: May 2024

Abstract

It was recently proposed that five-dimensional inflation can relate the causal size of the observable universe to the present weakness of gravitational interactions by blowing up an extra compact dimension from the microscopic fundamental length of gravity to a large size in the micron range, as required in the Dark Dimension proposal. Here, we compute the power spectrum of all primordial fluctuations emerging from a 5-dimensional inflaton in a slow-roll region of its potential, showing an interesting change of behaviour at large scales corresponding to angles larger than about 10 degrees in the sky.
Gradient Flow Exact Renormalization Group for Scalar Quantum Electrodynamics
Authors: Haruna Junichi , Yamada Masatoshi
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Gradient Flow Exact Renormalization Group (GF-ERG) is a framework to define the renormalization group flow of Wilsonian effective action utilizing coarse-graining along the diffusion equations. We apply it for Scalar Quantum Electrodynamics and derive flow equations for the Wilsonian effective action with the perturbative expansion in the gauge coupling. We focus on the quantum corrections to the correlation functions up to the second order of the gauge coupling and discuss the gauge invariance of the GF-ERG flow. We demonstrate that the anomalous dimension of the gauge field agrees with the standard perturbative computation and that the mass of the photon keeps vanishing in general spacetime dimensions. The latter is a noteworthy fact that contrasts with the conventional Exact Renormalization Group formalism in which an artificial photon mass proportional to a cutoff scale is induced. Our results imply that the GF-ERG can give a gauge-invariant renormalization group flow in a non-perturbative way.
Subjektive Gesundheit in der Frühphase der COVID-19-Pandemie – ein Vergleich von soziodemografischen Gruppen und pandemiebezogenen Risikofaktoren
Authors: Heil Carolin , Beese Florian , Du Yong , Hövener Claudia , Michalski Niels
Published: May 2024

Hintergrund

In der Frühphase der COVID-19-Pandemie im Jahr 2020 war der Alltag durch die Eindämmungsmaßnahmen des ersten Lockdowns vergleichsweise stark eingeschränkt, während die SARS-CoV-2-Inzidenzen noch gering ausfielen. Der vorliegende Beitrag analysiert soziodemografische und sozioökonomische Gruppen im Hinblick auf die Beeinträchtigung der subjektiven Gesundheit in dieser Phase.

Methoden

Daten der Hauptbefragung des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (n = 14.856, März–Juli 2020) wurden verwendet, um die relative Häufigkeit selbstberichteter guter Gesundheit, großer Sorgen um die eigene Gesundheit und hoher Lebenszufriedenheit von Männern und Frauen stratifiziert nach Alter, Bildung, Einkommen, Migrationserfahrung, Vorerkrankungen und Risikoberufen zu schätzen. Die Ergebnisse wurden mittels logistischer Regressionen wechselseitig adjustiert und monatsweise dargestellt sowie mit der vorpandemischen Zeit verglichen.

Ergebnisse

Personen in höherem Alter, mit niedriger Bildung oder niedrigem Einkommen sowie mit Vorerkrankungen berichteten seltener positive Gesundheitsoutcomes und häufiger Sorgen. Die Unterschiede zwischen den Merkmalsgruppen blieben im Vergleich zur vorpandemischen Zeit weitgehend stabil. Personen mit niedriger Bildung oder niedrigem Einkommen berichteten im Vergleich zu Personen der mittleren und höheren Bildungs- beziehungsweise Einkommensgruppen zum Zeitpunkt der stärksten Einschränkungen durch Infektionsschutzmaßnahmen seltener eine gute Gesundheit.

Diskussion

Der Einfluss der Frühphase der Pandemie auf die subjektive Gesundheit und Lebenszufriedenheit ist für den Großteil der untersuchten Gruppen gering. Nur für Frauen in niedrigen sozioökonomischen Positionen konnten relative Verschlechterungen identifiziert werden.
Electrostatic body forces in cracked dielectrics and their implication on Maxwell stress tensors
Authors: Schlosser Alexander , Behlen Lennart , Ricoeur Andreas
Published: May 2024

In solid mechanics, Maxwell stresses are known to be induced if a body is exposed to magnetic and, in the case of dielectrics, electric fields. Acting as tractions at outer or inner surfaces as well as volume forces, they are superimposed with tractions and stresses due to mechanical loads and provide a more or less significant contribution, depending on loading, material properties and geometric aspects. The Maxwell stress tensor, constituting the physical and mathematical basis, however, is controversially discussed to date. Several formulations are known, most of them having been suggested more than 100 years ago. Being equivalent in vacuum, they differ qualitatively just as quantitatively in solid or fluidic matter. In particular, the dissimilar effect of body forces, emanating from a choice of established Maxwell stress tensor approaches, on crack tip loading in dielectric solids is investigated theoretically in this paper. Due to the singularity of fields involved, their impact is basically non-negligible compared to external mechanical loading. The findings obtained indicate that fracture mechanics could be the basis of an experimental validation of Maxwell stress tensors.
Blepharoplasty Online: Critical Analysis of Content and Patient Comprehensibility
Authors: Kaleeny Joseph , Levine Emma , Okamoto Lauren , McGee Shayan A. , Janis Jeffrey E.
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Patients frequently turn to online information for decision-making factors about aesthetic procedures. The quality of online medical content is an essential supplement to clinical education. These resources assist patients in understanding the risks, benefits, and appropriateness of their desired procedure. This study examines the breadth and readability of online blepharoplasty information, elucidating its educational utility.

Methods

A depersonalized Google search was conducted using the Startpage Search Engine, investigating key phrases, “blepharoplasty decision making factors”, “eye lift decision making factors”, and “eyelid lift decision making factors”. The first three pages of results for each search term, totaling 90 links were screened. Data were extracted for various decision-making factors, subspecialty, gender, and readability.

Results

Twenty-six websites met inclusion for analysis. Thirteen websites were plastic surgery based, five otolaryngology (ENT), five ophthalmology/oculoplastic, one oral-maxillofacial (OMFS), and two mixed-based practices. Most blepharoplasty webpages identified were that of private practice and male surgeons. Half were subspecialties other than plastic surgery. Thirteen common decision-making factors were identified. The most common factors addressed across all texts were recovery followed by cosmetic and functional goals. The least discussed were genetic factors. Average Readability exceeded the 12th grade. There were no significant differences in readability means among subspecialties.

Conclusion

This study examines the online blepharoplasty sphere among US-based practices providing clinical education to patients. No appreciable differences among gender, subspecialty, and readability on decision-making factors were found, highlighting a consistency among surgeons. Most websites fell short of readability standards, however, emphasizing a need for clearer information to patients.

No Level Assigned

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.
Blinatumomab-induced macrophage activating syndrome (MAS) in adult with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL)
Authors: Braun Adam , Otoukesh Salman , Tinajero Jose , Marcucci Guido , Aldoss Ibrahim
Published: May 2024

Blinatumomab as a single agent has demonstrated superiority over salvage chemotherapy in patients with relapsed and refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), with manageable safety and efficacy. Though known to have anticipated drug toxicities including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity, there is only one prior report of macrophage activating syndrome (MAS) due to blinatumomab. Case Presentation: We report the first case of blinatumomab-induced MAS in an adult. The patient presented with fever, cough, and weakness on the second cycle of blinatumomab. Complete blood count was notable for severe leukopenia, with comprehensive metabolic panel notable for elevated alkaline phosphatase, AST, ALT, LDH, and hyperferritinemia consistent with MAS. The patient was already in MRD-negative remission at presentation with MAS. She responded rapidly to withholding the drug and administration of both tocilizumab and dexamethasone. She was able to restart therapy with blinatumomab dosed at 9 mcg/day with no recurrence of symptoms. Though MAS is not an expected association with blinatumomab, the risk for CRS is. Secondary MAS in this case likely shares a mechanism with other hyperinflammatory conditions. Management includes holding the offending agent, like blinatumomab, and administering tocilizumab and dexamethasone. Future research will be needed to predict which patients are at highest risk to develop MAS after similar T-cell therapies.
PI-QUAL version 2: an update of a standardised scoring system for the assessment of image quality of prostate MRI
Authors: de Rooij Maarten , Allen Clare , Twilt Jasper J. , Thijssen Linda C. P. , Asbach Patrick , Barrett Tristan , Brembilla Giorgio , Emberton Mark , Gupta Rajan T. , Haider Masoom A. , Kasivisvanathan Veeru , Løgager Vibeke , Moore Caroline M. , Padhani Anwar R. , Panebianco Valeria , Puech Philippe , Purysko Andrei S. , Renard-Penna Raphaële , Richenberg Jonathan , Salomon Georg , Sanguedolce Francesco , Schoots Ivo G. , Thöny Harriet C. , Turkbey Baris , Villeirs Geert , Walz Jochen , Barentsz Jelle , Giganti Francesco
Published: May 2024

Multiparametric MRI is the optimal primary investigation when prostate cancer is suspected, and its ability to rule in and rule out clinically significant disease relies on high-quality anatomical and functional images.

Avenues for achieving consistent high-quality acquisitions include meticulous patient preparation, scanner setup, optimised pulse sequences, personnel training, and artificial intelligence systems. The impact of these interventions on the final images needs to be quantified.

The prostate imaging quality (PI-QUAL) scoring system was the first standardised quantification method that demonstrated the potential for clinical benefit by relating image quality to cancer detection ability by MRI.

We present the updated version of PI-QUAL (PI-QUAL v2) which applies to prostate MRI performed with or without intravenous contrast medium using a simplified 3-point scale focused on critical technical and qualitative image parameters.

Clinical relevance statement

High image quality is crucial for prostate MRI, and the updated version of the PI-QUAL score (PI-QUAL v2) aims to address the limitations of version 1. It is now applicable to both multiparametric MRI and MRI without intravenous contrast medium.

Key Points

High-quality images are essential for prostate cancer diagnosis and management using MRI.

PI-QUAL v2 simplifies image assessment and expands its applicability to prostate MRI without contrast medium.

PI-QUAL v2 focuses on critical technical and qualitative image parameters and emphasises T2-WI and DWI.
Few-shot anime pose transfer
Authors: Wang Pengjie , Yang Kang , Yuan Chengzhi , Li Houjie , Tang Wen , Yang Xiaosong
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we propose a few-shot method for pose transfer of anime characters—given a source image of an anime character and a target pose, we transfer the pose of the target to the source character. Despite recent advances in pose transfer on real people images, these methods typically require large numbers of training images of different person under different poses to achieve reasonable results. However, anime character images are expensive to obtain they are created with a lot of artistic authoring. To address this, we propose a meta-learning framework for few-shot pose transfer, which can well generalize to an unseen character given just a few examples of the character. Further, we propose fusion residual blocks to align the features of the source and target so that the appearance of the source character can be well transferred to the target pose. Experiments show that our method outperforms leading pose transfer methods, especially when the source characters are not in the training set.
Quantitative assessment of intervortex anastomosis in central serous chorioretinopathy and fellow eyes: Does the size of anastomotic vessels matter for the diagnosis?
Authors: Demirel Sibel , Ayaz Rabia Eroğlu , Yanık Özge , Batıoğlu Figen , Özmert Emin , Iovino Claudio , Chhablani Jay
Published: May 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the frequency and size of intervortex anastomosis at the posterior pole on en-face spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) cases and their fellow eyes and its associations with choroidal morphology.

Methods

Sixty-five treatment-naive eyes of 65 patients with CSC, 65 fellow eyes, and 55 eyes of healthy age-matched participants were included. The presence of intervortex anastomosis at the watershed zone and asymmetry of the choroidal vessels between the superior and inferior macula were evaluated using 6 × 6 mm en-face SD-OCT. The diameter of the widest Haller vessel and the diameter of the widest anastomotic Haller vessel passing through the watershed zone were measured on en-face SD-OCT images. The choroidal vascularity index (CVI) was assessed using ImageJ software.

Results

Intervortex vein anastomosis on the horizontal watershed zone was detected in 75.4% diseased eyes, 61.5% in fellow eyes, and 36.4% in healthy age-matched controls (p < 0.001). The mean CVI was significantly higher in both diseased (74.3 ± 2.3%) and fellow (73.8 ± 2.2%) eyes of CSC cases than in healthy controls (72.5 ± 2.3%) (p = 0.002, p = 0.013, respectively). In the cases with intervortex vein anastomosis, the diameter of the widest anastomotic Haller vessel passing through the watershed zone was 0.40 ± 0.10 mm in diseased eyes, 0.35 ± 0.11 mm in fellow eyes, and 0.30 ± 0.09 mm in healthy age-matched controls (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Intervortex anastomosis might be seen as a variation in normal eyes, however, its frequency and the size of anastomotic vessels are significant higher in not only CSC but also in fellow eyes.
BECN1 mRNA expression in breast cancer tissue; significant correlation to tumor grade
Authors: Aglan Sarah Ahmed , Awad Ahmed Mostafa , Elwany Yasmine Nagy , Shawky Sanaa , Salam Radwa Mohamed Abdel , Omar Rasha Said , Ghazala Rasha Abdel Mawla , Soliman Nada Ahmed , Khedr Marwa Ibrahim , Kandil Lamia Said , Sultan Mohamed , Hamed Yasser , Kandil Noha Said
Published: May 2024

Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogenous disease with multiple pathways implicated in its development, progression, and drug resistance. Autophagy, a cellular process responsible for self-digestion of damaged organelles, had been recognized as eminent player in cancer progression and chemotherapeutic resistance. The haploinsufficiency of Beclin 1 (BECN1), autophagy protein, is believed to contribute to cancer pathogenesis and progression. In our study, we investigated the expression of BECN1 in a BC female Egyptian patient cohort, as well as its prognostic role through evaluating its association with disease free survival (DFS) after 2 years follow up and association of tumor clinicopathological features. Twenty frozen female BC tissue samples and 17 adjacent normal tissue were included and examined for the expression levels of BECN1. Although the tumor tissues showed lower expression 0.73 (0–8.95) than their corresponding normal tissues 1.02 (0.04–19.59), it was not statistically significant, p: 0.463. BECN1 expression was not associated with stage, nodal metastasis or tumor size, p:0.435, 0.541, 0.296, respectively. However, statistically significant negative correlation was found between grade and BECN1 mRNA expression in the studied cases, p:0.028. BECN1 expression had no statistically significant association with DFS, P = 0.944. However, we observed that triple negative (TNBC) cases had significantly lower DFS rate than luminal BC patients, p: 0.022, with mean DFS 19.0 months, while luminal BC patients had mean DFS of 23.41 months. Our study highlights the potential role of BECN1 in BC pathogenesis, showing that BECN1 expression correlates with poorer differentiation of BC, indicating its probable link with disease aggressiveness. DFS two years follow up showed that TNBC subtype remains associated with less favorable prognosis.
Advances in long-read single-cell transcriptomics
Authors: Kumari Pallawi , Kaur Manmeet , Dindhoria Kiran , Ashford Bruce , Amarasinghe Shanika L. , Thind Amarinder Singh
Published: May 2024

Long-read single-cell transcriptomics (scRNA-Seq) is revolutionizing the way we profile heterogeneity in disease. Traditional short-read scRNA-Seq methods are limited in their ability to provide complete transcript coverage, resolve isoforms, and identify novel transcripts. The scRNA-Seq protocols developed for long-read sequencing platforms overcome these limitations by enabling the characterization of full-length transcripts. Long-read scRNA-Seq techniques initially suffered from comparatively poor accuracy compared to short read scRNA-Seq. However, with improvements in accuracy, accessibility, and cost efficiency, long-reads are gaining popularity in the field of scRNA-Seq. This review details the advances in long-read scRNA-Seq, with an emphasis on library preparation protocols and downstream bioinformatics analysis tools.
The detection of a strong episignature for Chung–Jansen syndrome, partially overlapping with Börjeson–Forssman–Lehmann and White–Kernohan syndromes
Authors: Vos Niels , Haghshenas Sadegheh , van der Laan Liselot , Russel Perle K. M. , Rooney Kathleen , Levy Michael A. , Relator Raissa , Kerkhof Jennifer , McConkey Haley , Maas Saskia M. , Vissers Lisenka E. L. M. , de Vries Bert B. A. , Pfundt Rolph , Elting Mariet W. , van Hagen Johanna M. , Verbeek Nienke E. , Jongmans Marjolijn C. J. , Lakeman Phillis , Rumping Lynne , Bosch Danielle G. M. , Vitobello Antonio , Thauvin-Robinet Christel , Faivre Laurence , Nambot Sophie , Garde Aurore , Willems Marjolaine , Genevieve David , Nicolas Gaël , Busa Tiffany , Toutain Annick , Gérard Marion , Bizaoui Varoona , Isidor Bertrand , Merla Giuseppe , Accadia Maria , Schwartz Charles E. , Ounap Katrin , Hoffer Mariëtte J. V. , Nezarati Marjan M. , van den Boogaard Marie-José H. , Tedder Matthew L. , Rogers Curtis , Brusco Alfredo , Ferrero Giovanni B. , Spodenkiewicz Marta , Sidlow Richard , Mussa Alessandro , Trajkova Slavica , McCann Emma , Mroczkowski Henry J. , Jansen Sandra , Donker-Kaat Laura , Duijkers Floor A. M. , Stuurman Kyra E. , Mannens Marcel M. A. M. , Alders Mariëlle , Henneman Peter , White Susan M. , Sadikovic Bekim , van Haelst Mieke M.
Published: May 2024

Chung-Jansen syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability, behavioral problems, obesity and dysmorphic features. It is caused by pathogenic variants in the PHIP gene that encodes for the Pleckstrin homology domain-interacting protein, which is part of an epigenetic modifier protein complex. Therefore, we hypothesized that PHIP haploinsufficiency may impact genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm). We assessed the DNAm profiles of affected individuals with pathogenic and likely pathogenic PHIP variants with Infinium Methylation EPIC arrays and report a specific and sensitive DNAm episignature biomarker for Chung–Jansen syndrome. In addition, we observed similarities between the methylation profile of Chung–Jansen syndrome and that of functionally related and clinically partially overlapping genetic disorders, White–Kernohan syndrome (caused by variants in DDB1 gene) and Börjeson–Forssman–Lehmann syndrome (caused by variants in PHF6 gene). Based on these observations we also proceeded to develop a common episignature biomarker for these disorders. These newly defined episignatures can be used as part of a multiclass episignature classifier for screening of affected individuals with rare disorders and interpretation of genetic variants of unknown clinical significance, and provide further insights into the common molecular pathophysiology of the clinically-related Chung–Jansen, Börjeson–Forssman–Lehmann and White–Kernohan syndromes.
The 23–24 March 2021 lava fountain at Mt Etna, Italy
Authors: Andronico Daniele , D’Oriano Claudia , Pardini Federica , La Spina Alessandro , Vitturi Mattia de’ Michieli , Bonfanti Pietro , Cristaldi Antonino , Ferrari Ferruccio
Published: May 2024

In 2021, more than 50 paroxysmal episodes occurred at the South-East Crater (SEC) of Mt Etna, Italy. The 23–24 March lava fountain was one of the longest episodes and began with weak Strombolian explosions, gradually transitioning to lava fountaining. The eruption intensity then dropped more slowly than in previous episodes, resulting in pulsating Strombolian explosions dominated by ash emission. Thirty-four tephra samples were used to reconstruct the fallout dispersal and estimate the total erupted mass. Grain size, textural, petrological and geochemical analyses indicate different features and were compared with the gas phase (SO2 and HCl) in the volcanic plume. By applying stochastic global optimization to simulations of the temporal evolution of the eruption column height and tephra dispersal and deposition, the total erupted mass retrieved (6.76 × 108 kg) matches well the total erupted mass estimation by the ground-based deposit (8.03 ± 2.38 × 108 kg), reducing the column height throughout the episode from 6.44 to 4.5 km above sea level and resulting in a mass eruption rate ranging from 1.96 × 105 to 8.18 × 103 kg/s. The unusual duration of the March episode and the characteristics of the erupted products point to the change in explosive style and magma fragmentation from fountaining to ash emission phases, associated with a slower magma supply inducing a change in magma rheology and a final, prolonged ash generation. Furthermore, this study showed that using observational data and the variation in eruption source parameters for numerical simulations can improve the accuracy of predicting the dispersal plume, thus mitigating the potential impact of longer paroxysmal episodes.
Pseudoscalar Mesons and Emergent Mass
Authors: Raya Khépani , Bashir Adnan , Binosi Daniele , Roberts Craig D. , Rodríguez-Quintero José
Published: May 2024

Despite its role in the continuing evolution of the Universe, only a small fraction of the mass of visible material can be attributed to the Higgs boson alone. The overwhelmingly dominant share may/should arise from the strong interactions that act in the heart of nuclear matter; namely, those described by quantum chromodynamics. This contribution describes how studying and explaining the attributes of pseudoscalar mesons can open an insightful window onto understanding the origin of mass in the Standard Model and how these insights inform our knowledge of hadron structure. The survey ranges over distribution amplitudes and functions, electromagnetic and gravitational form factors, light-front wave functions, and generalized parton distributions. Advances made using continuum Schwinger function methods and their relevance for experimental efforts are highlighted.
Evolution of Crack Source Mechanisms in Laboratory Hydraulic Fracturing on Harcourt Granite
Authors: Zhang Xin , Si Guangyao , Oh Joung , Zhao Guozhen
Published: May 2024

Hydraulic fracturing has gained escalating significance in recovering unconventional reservoirs. However, the failure mechanism and its evolution with progressive fluid injection are not fully understood for granitic materials. To investigate, triaxial hydraulic fracturing on Harcourt granite and acoustic emission (AE) monitoring was performed by the self-developed multi-physical rock testing platform (MRTP). Source mechanism analysis suggests that tensile cracks account for the majority (62%) of all cracks throughout the hydraulic fracturing process. Tensile cracks with large energy are induced mainly around the borehole bottom, but their average energy is smaller than shear cracks. The entire hydraulic fracturing process is divided into three stages by injection measurements. In Stage 1, AE events are recorded with low energy emissions but high signal-to-noise ratios, revealing the initiation of hydraulic fractures before peak injection pressure. Tensile cracks are more dominant (78%) than other stages. In Stage 2, the number and magnitude of AE events increase exponentially along the trace formed in Stage 1. In Stage 3, hydraulic fractures have the largest magnitude among all stages. Shear cracks are nearly the same proportion as Stage 2, but more shear cracks with large magnitudes are observed following the trace formed by tensile cracks. A dense population of shear cracks can be found at the borehole bottom, and their distribution follows the average slip plunge of individual shear cracks induced by the injection fluid.
Beauville p-groups of wild type and groups of maximal class
Authors: Fernández-Alcober Gustavo A. , Gavioli Norberto , Gül Şükran , Scoppola Carlo M.
Published: May 2024

Let G be a Beauville p-group. If G exhibits a ‘good behaviour’ with respect to taking powers, then every lift of a Beauville structure of $$G/\Phi (G)$$

G
/
Φ
(
G
)

is a Beauville structure of G. We say that G is a Beauville p-group of wild type if this lifting property fails to hold. Our goal in this paper is twofold: firstly, we fully determine the Beauville groups within two large families of p-groups of maximal class, namely metabelian groups and groups with a maximal subgroup of class at most 2; secondly, as a consequence of the previous result, we obtain infinitely many Beauville p-groups of wild type.
Surface optimization of trapezoidal thread spindles—tribological analysis and application
Authors: Denkena Berend , Bergmann Benjamin , Wege Christian , von Soden Moritz , Gereke-Bornemann Hans
Published: May 2024

Trapezoidal threaded spindles are ideal for supporting heavy loads and are therefore frequently used in heavy-duty lifting systems. Both the forming thread rolling process and the machining thread whirling process can be used to manufacture these lead screws. In order to improve the low efficiency of trapezoidal screw drives, it is crucial to understand and minimize friction losses. As part of a cooperation project between the Institute of Production Engineering and Machine Tools (IFW) and Bornemann Gewindetechnik, research was carried out into adapting the whirling process to optimize the tribological properties of threaded spindles. The process developed makes it possible to reduce the coefficient of friction in trapezoidal screw drives and thus also the required torque. By using whirled microtextures, the friction loss can be reduced by 25.5% and adhesive wear can be significantly reduced.
Einblick in die Festigkeitsberechnung nach DIN 3689 genormter hypotrochoidischer Welle-Nabe-Verbindungen unter reiner Torsionsbeanspruchung
Authors: Selzer Marcus , Ziaei Masoud , Forbrig Frank
Published: May 2024

Im Bereich der modernen Antriebstechnik sind immer höhere Leistungsdichten gefordert, weshalb die herkömmlichen formschlüssigen Welle-Nabe-Verbindungen zunehmend an ihre mechanischen Grenzen stoßen. Vor diesem Hintergrund erschien im November 2021 die Norm DIN 3689 Teil 1 für die hypotrochoidische Profilgeometrie als vielversprechende Alternative, welche in genannter Norm die Abkürzung H‑Profil erhalten hat. Auf Basis umfangreicher Bauteilversuche nach dem Treppenstufenverfahren wurde ihr dynamisches Tragverhalten bei einer schwellenden Torsionsbelastung untersucht. Die unter dieser Vorgehensweise ermittelten experimentellen Kerbwirkungszahlen sowie ertragbaren Torsionsmomentamplituden geben einen ersten Einblick in die dynamische Torsionsbeanspruchbarkeit in Abhängigkeit der Profilparameter Mitnehmerzahl und Profilexzentrizität. Ergänzend wurde auch der Einfluss des Werkstoffs der Welle betrachtet.

Für die alleinige H‑Profilwelle ohne Nabe existieren bereits verlässliche Berechnungsgleichungen, welche auf einer analytischen Methode beruhen. Für den statischen Lastfall wurden diese Gleichungen bereits experimentell abgesichert. Die Ergebnisse werden im hier vorliegenden Beitrag für die reine Torsionsbeanspruchung vorgestellt und zeitnah in den Berechnungsteil 2 der Norm DIN 3689 einfließen. Damit wird dem Konstrukteur ein Werkzeug zur Verfügung gestellt, womit er zukünftig die Auslegung der H‑Profilwellen und die Berechnung erforderlicher statischer Sicherheiten vornehmen kann. Zur Abschätzung der dynamischen Übertragungsfähigkeit werden rein rechnerische Kerbwirkungszahlen der untersuchten H‑Profilwellen vorgestellt, deren Gegenüberstellung mit den experimentellen Werten der Verbindung zudem die Wirkung der tribologischen Beanspruchung im Kontakt zwischen Welle und Nabe auf die Gestaltfestigkeit aufzeigt.

Die zu den herkömmlichen Formschlussverbindungen vergleichsweise niedrigen Kerbwirkungszahlen der alleinigen H‑Profilwellen und auch der Verbindungen mit Nabe aufgrund der geometriebedingt geringeren Kerbwirkung lassen in Kombination mit einer wirtschaftlichen Herstellbarkeit hypotrochoidischer Profile eine erfolgversprechende Zukunft erwarten.
Nest excavators’ learning walks in the Australian desert ant Melophorus bagoti
Authors: Deeti Sudhakar , McLean Donald James , Cheng Ken
Published: May 2024

The Australian red honey ant, Melophorus bagoti, stands out as the most thermophilic ant in Australia, engaging in all outdoor activities during the hottest periods of the day during summer months. This species of desert ants often navigates by means of path integration and learning landmark cues around the nest. In our study, we observed the outdoor activities of M. bagoti workers engaged in nest excavation, the maintenance of the nest structure, primarily by taking excess sand out of the nest. Before undertaking nest excavation, the ants conducted a single exploratory walk. Following their initial learning expedition, these ants then engaged in nest excavation activities. Consistent with previous findings on pre-foraging learning walks, after just one learning walk, the desert ants in our study demonstrated the ability to return home from locations 2 m away from the nest, although not from locations 4 m away. These findings indicate that even for activities like dumping excavated sand within a range of 5–10 cm outside the nest, these ants learn and utilize the visual landmark panorama around the nest.
Optimal Scale-Invariant Wavelet Representation and Filtering of Human Otoacoustic Emissions
Authors: Moleti Arturo
Published: May 2024

Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are generated in the cochlea and recorded in the ear canal either as a time domain waveform or as a collection of complex responses to tones in the frequency domain (Probst et al. J Account Soc Am 89:2027–2067, 1991). They are typically represented either in their original acquisition domain or in its Fourier-conjugated domain. Round-trip excursions to the conjugated domain are often used to perform filtering operations in the computationally simplest way, exploiting the convolution theorem. OAE signals consist of the superposition of backward waves generated in different cochlear regions by different generation mechanisms, over a wide frequency range. The cochlear scaling symmetry (cochlear physics is the same at all frequency scales), which approximately holds in the human cochlea, leaves its fingerprints in the mathematical properties of OAE signals. According to a generally accepted taxonomy (Sher and Guinan Jr, J Acoust Soc Am 105:782–798, 1999), OAEs are generated either by wave-fixed sources, moving with frequency according with the cochlear scaling (as in nonlinear distortion) or by place-fixed sources (as in coherent reflection by roughness). If scaling symmetry holds, the two generation mechanisms yield OAEs with different phase gradient delay: almost null for wave-fixed sources, and long (and scaling as 1/f) for place-fixed sources. Thus, the most effective representation of OAE signals is often that respecting the cochlear scale-invariance, such as the time-frequency domain representation provided by the wavelet transform. In the time-frequency domain, the elaborate spectra or waveforms yielded by the superposition of OAE components from different generation mechanisms assume a much clearer 2-D pattern, with each component localized in a specific and predictable region. The wavelet representation of OAE signals is optimal both for visualization purposes and for designing filters that effectively separate different OAE components, improving both the specificity and the sensitivity of OAE-based applications. Indeed, different OAE components have different physiological meanings, and filtering dramatically improves the signal-to-noise ratio.