bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Turkish Astragalus Species: Botanical Aspects, Secondary Metabolites, and Biotransformation
Authors: Ekiz Dinçman Güner , Aytaç Zeki , Çalış İhsan
Published: November 2024

Astragalus is a widespread genus comprising approximately 3500 species, both annual and perennial, found across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. In Turkey, it is represented by 63 sections and 485 taxa with a high endemism ratio (51%). In traditional medicine, the roots of various Astragalus species represent very old and well-known drugs used for antiperspirant, diuretic, and tonic purposes, as well as for the treatment of nephritis, diabetes, leukemia, and uterine cancer. The genus Astragalus is the richest source of cycloartane-type compounds, which display a diverse range of bioactivities, such as wound healing, immunomodulatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, antimutagenic, antiviral, and antiprotozoal activities. Moreover, cycloastragenol, the main sapogenol of many cycloartane-type glycosides found in the Astragalus genus, has gained attention as a potent telomerase activator over the past decade. The preparation of cycloastragenol
derivatives could be significant in the near future due to their unique bioactivity. This review covers the botanical aspects of Astragalus L., as well as the phytochemical and biological activity studies conducted on Turkish Astragalus species, with a special focus on cycloartenols. It contains 36 articles reporting the phytochemistry of 29 Astragalus species and 111 new compounds, including 104 triterpene saponins. In addition to the phytochemical studies, this review summarizes the biotransformation studies on Astragalus cycloartanes via endophytic fungi isolated from the tissues of Astragalus species.
Pitching kinematics have direct and indirect effects on pitch
location in NCAA baseball
Authors: Lozowski Billy , Wang Chih-hsuan , Oliver Gretchen D.
Published: November 2024

Kinematics and release parameters are important factors of throw location; yet an
understanding of their relationship has yet to be achieved. This study sought to
explore this relationship. Kinematic data were collected for 77 collegiate
pitchers. Fifty-seven kinematic parameters were included in path analyses for
horizontal and vertical plate locations. Release angles were set as mediating
variables (MED) between independent and dependent variables. Eleven kinematic
variables directly (13 indirectly) affected the vertical plate location, while
23 kinematic variables directly affected the horizontal plate location (10
indirectly). Linear mixed models revealed that lateral trunk flexion at ball
release (R
2=0.908, BIC=−598, ICC=0.528) best explained
vertical plate location. Trunk flexion at foot contact
(R
2=0.944, BIC=−607, ICC=0.776), mediolateral center of mass
displacement at foot contact (R
2=0.974, BIC=−573, ICC=0.918)
and ball release (R
2=0.967, BIC=−593, ICC=0.865), and pelvis
rotation at ball release (R
2=0.965, BIC=−588, ICC=0.895)
models were identified for the horizontal plate location. Results indicate that
the relationship between pitching kinematics, release conditions, and throw
location is complex. Biomechanics can influence release parameters, which in
turn impacts the throw location. This work may serve to understand better how
biomechanics influence performance.
Late-Stage C–H Deuteration of Organic Compounds via Ligand-Enabled Palladium-Catalyzed Hydrogen Isotope Exchange
Authors: van Gemmeren Manuel , Beller Matthias
Published: November 2024

Manuel van Gemmeren was born in Madrid (Spain) and raised in both Spain and Germany. After studying chemistry at the Albert-Ludwigs University in Freiburg until 2010, he conducted his doctoral studies in the lab of Prof. Benjamin List and obtained his doctorate in 2014 (summa cum laude). Subsequently, he joined the group of Prof. Rubén Martín for postdoctoral studies. From 2016 onwards, he established his independent research group at the University of Münster. In 2022, he joined the Otto Diels Institute of Organic Chemistry at Kiel University as a tenured professor of organic chemistry. Research in the van Gemmeren lab focusses on the development of novel synthetic methods, typically based on Pd-catalyzed C–H activation, that enable challenging transformations to proceed with catalyst-controlled reactivity and selectivity.

Matthias Beller was born 1962 in Gudensberg (Germany) and studied chemistry at the University of Göttingen, Germany, where he completed his Ph.D. in 1989 in the group of Prof. L.-F. Tietze. As recipient of a Liebig scholarship, he subsequently spent one year studying with Prof. K. B. Sharpless at MIT, USA. From 1991 to 1995 he worked in industry. He then moved to the Technical University of München as a professor of inorganic chemistry. In 1998, he relocated to Rostock to head the Institute for Organic Catalysis, which in 2006 became the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis. The work of his group has been published in nearly 1150 original publications and reviews, and over 150 patent applications have been filed.
Bacteriology of Aspiration Pneumonia: The Lung Microbiome and the Changing Microbial Etiology
Authors: Fadell Francois , Saliba Ranime , El-Solh Ali A.
Published: November 2024

Aspiration pneumonia refers to the process of alveolar inflammation induced by the inhalation of oropharyngeal secretions into the lower respiratory tract. Predisposing factors comprise swallowing dysfunction, impaired cough reflex, and degenerative neurological diseases. Accumulating evidence projects a fading contribution of anaerobic bacteria in aspiration pneumonia at the expense of Gram-negative bacilli, with Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, becoming the predominant organisms recovered from respiratory specimens. Aspiration of oropharyngeal secretions colonized with respiratory pathogens induces a profound disequilibrium of the lung microbiota resulting in a state of dysbiosis. Understanding this complex temporal variability between microbiome–host associations was only made possible with the introduction of metagenomic sequencing. In this narrative review, we summarize existing knowledge and elaborate on the evolving microbiology of aspiration pneumonia including the link between oral microbiome and pulmonary aspiration. We also highlight the progress and challenges in instituting microbiome-targeted strategies for preventing and treating the sequelae of aspiration pneumonia.
Critical temperature and energy gap in superconductors having strong coupling. I
Authors: Geilikman B. T. , Kresin V. Z. , Masharov N. F.
Published: November 2024

The properties of superconductors with strong electron-phonon interaction are investigated. The quasilinearization method is used to derive a general system of equations for the self-energy part which describes pairing. The problem is solved using the temperature-Green's-function technique. An equation that relates the gap at T = 0° to the critical temperature is derived with allowance for the scattering properties.
Quantum creep of cadmium single crystals at low temperatures
Authors: Startsev V. I. , Soldatov V. P. , Osetskii A. I.
Published: November 2024

A study is made of the creep of cadmium single crystals and its temperature dependence in the range 1.45–40°K. It is shown that a transition occurs in the 12–14°K region from a thermally activated to a quantum creep mechanism. The results obtained are explained on the basis of creep theory, taking into account the effect of zero oscillations on the fluctuation penetration by dislocations of the crystal lattice barriers, and a comparison is made with the data of Glen and also of Arko and Weerttman in the same temperature range. A reason is found for the divergence of the conclusions of these authors regarding the mechanism of cadmium creep in the liquid-helium temperature range.
Features of the He II film transfer effect in the presence of an alternating electric field
Authors: Esel'son B. N. , Ivantsov V. G. , Mikhailov G. A. , Shchervachenko R. I.
Published: November 2024

The effect of an alternating electric field on the He II film transfer effect is detected and studied. The investigations are carried out in the temperature range from 1.5°K to Tλ for field strengths of 1.105 to 2.105 V/cm and frequencies of f = 0−1000 Hz. It is determined that in the presence of an alternating electric field the helium film transfer velocity is significantly reduced up to its complete cessation. We completely control and reproduce the effect, and the amount of it grows for an increase of field strength and film height (decrease of level difference). The effect varies nonmonotonically with frequency change: the maximum effect of the field takes place for moderate frequencies (20 to 50 Hz), practically disappearing for f = 1000 Hz and f = 0 (dc field). A temperature rise will lead to a slight decrease of the effect, which completely disappears for transition through Tλ. The observed phenomena are explained by a model of excitation of film thickness oscillations.
Spatial Hölder continuity for the parabolic Anderson model with the singular initial conditions
Authors: Lyu Yangyang , Sun Hui
Published: November 2024

Under the singular initial conditions, we consider the parabolic Anderson model driven by the time-independent generalized Gaussian fields, which include some frequently-used non-stationary Gaussian fields. When the initial value u0 belongs to the weighted Besov space with negative regularity Bq,∞−κ,wλ, it is proved that there exists a unique pathwise solution for the model in the Young sense. Moreover, if u0 also satisfies the measure-valued initial condition, by the Feynman-Kac formula based on Brownian bridge, we find that the solution owns a spatially Hölder continuous modification.
The vertical-velocity skewness in the atmospheric boundary layer without buoyancy and Coriolis effects
Authors: Buono Elia , Katul Gabriel , Heisel Michael , Poggi Davide , Peruzzi Cosimo , Vettori Davide , Manes Costantino
Published: November 2024

One of the main features of near-neutral atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) turbulence is the positive vertical velocity skewness Skw above the roughness sublayer or the buffer region in smooth-walls. The Skw variations are receiving renewed interest in many climate-related parameterizations of the ABL given their significance to cloud formation and to testing sub-grid schemes for Large Eddy Simulations (LES). The vertical variations of Skw are explored here using wind tunnel and flume experiments collected above smooth, rough, and permeable-walls in the absence of buoyancy and Coriolis effects. These laboratory experiments form a necessary starting point to probe the canonical structure of Skw as they deal with a key limiting case (i.e., near-neutral conditions). Diagnostic models based on cumulant expansions, realizability constraints, and constant mass flux approach routinely employed in the convective boundary layer as well as prognostic models based on third-order budgets are used to explain variations in Skw for the idealized laboratory conditions. The failure of flux-gradient relations to model Skw from the gradients of the vertical velocity variance σw2 are explained and corrections based on models of energy transport offered. Novel links between the diagnostic and prognostic models are also featured, especially for the inertial term in the third-order budget of the vertical velocity fluctuation. The co-spectral properties of w′/σw vs w′2/σw2 are also presented for the first time to assess the dominant scales governing Skw in the inner and outer layers, where w′ is the fluctuating vertical velocity and σw is the vertical velocity standard deviation.
The effect of dual-frequency sonication parameters on the oscillatory behavior of microbubble in blood fluid
Authors: Shahidani Akram , Mokhtari-Dizaji Manijhe , Shankayi Zeinab
Published: November 2024

This study examines the effect of acoustic driving parameters, both in single and dual-frequency sonication, on the pressure applied to blood vessel walls due to microbubble oscillations in blood. This study aims to derive a safe sonication protocol to open the blood–brain barrier. The finite element method was used to perform simulations of a microbubble. Activations were carried out at 1 MHz (1–3 W/cm2) and 150 kHz (0.1 and 0.2 W/cm2), with 0, π/2, π, and 3π/2 phase differences and different pulse modes. The safe protocols were acquired based on the experimental study. The pulse pressure average created on the vessel wall (PPA) for single-frequency (2.99 kPa, 1 MHz and 116 Pa, 150 kHz) was lower than dual-frequency (4.20 kPa). With increased intensity, PPA increased by 74%–80% for different pulse modes. The effect of duty factor on PPA at 1 MHz and 150 kHz was about 50% and less than 10%, respectively. The maximum change of PPA in phase difference was less than 10%. The order of influence of the studied parameters on the PPA is intensity > duty factor > phase difference. Safe protocols for animal models were reported to open the blood–brain barrier.
Direct numerical simulation and modal analyses of spanwise-adjacent roughness elements induced transition
Authors: Ling Weihao , Gao Song , Wang Zhiheng , Zeng Min , Huang Wenlin , Xi Guang
Published: November 2024

Direct numerical simulation has been employed to investigate the transition caused by spanwise-adjacent roughness elements within the boundary layer of a flat plate. The study elucidates the alterations of the energy-containing structures and global linear unstable modes due to variations in the roughness elements' shapes and spanwise spacing. Findings indicate that reduced spanwise spacing enhances the interaction between adjacent vortex sequences, thereby expediting transition. The ramp-induced disturbances are most effective in stimulating streamwise fluctuating vorticity. In the modal analyses, the configurations with identical roughness elements exhibit symmetrical streamwise and wall-normal fluctuating velocities, while the spanwise fluctuating velocity is antisymmetric, which is the varicose mode. The interaction between the energy-containing wavepackets gives rise to another unstable mode, which is the sinuous mode as confirmed by global stability analysis. In the case of strong ramp disturbance, the core of the leading unstable mode aligns with the energetic regions of the three fluctuating velocities. In the absence of a ramp, diminishing spanwise spacing leads to a symmetry inversion in the three velocity components, transitioning from the varicose to the sinuous mode. This change originates from alterations in the distribution of the counter-rotating vortex pairs.
Self-sacrificing and self-supporting biomass carbon anode–assisted water electrolysis for low-cost hydrogen production
Authors: Huang Yuming , Zhou Wei , Xie Liang , Meng Xiaoxiao , Li Junfeng , Gao Jihui , Zhao Guangbo , Qin Yukun
Published: November 2024

Electrooxidation of renewable and CO
2
-neutral biomass for low-cost hydrogen production is a promising and green technology. Various biomass platform molecules (BPMs) oxidation assisted hydrogen production technologies have obtained noticeable progress. However, BPMs anodic oxidation is highly dependent on electrocatalysts, and the oxidation mechanism is ambiguous. Meanwhile, the complexity and insolubility of natural biomass severely constrain the efficient utilization of biomass resources. Here, we develop a self-sacrificing and self-supporting carbon anode (SSCA) using waste corncobs. The combined results from multiple characterizations reveal that the structure-property-activity relationship of SSCA in carbon oxidation reaction (COR). Theoretical calculations demonstrate that carbon atoms with a high spin density play a pivotal role in reducing the adsorption energy of the reactive oxygen intermediate (*OH) during the transition from OH
–
to *OH, thereby promoting COR. Additionally, the HER||COR system allows driving a current density of 400

mA

cm

geo

-
2

at 1.24 V at 80 °C, with a hydrogen production electric consumption of 2.96 kWh Nm
–3
(H
2
). The strategy provides a ground-breaking perspective on the large-scale utilization of biomass and low-energy water electrolysis for hydrogen production.
Mediator kinase inhibitors suppress triple-negative breast cancer growth and extend tumor suppression by mTOR and AKT inhibitors
Authors: Ding Xiaokai , Liang Jiaxin , Sharko Amanda C. , Hilimire Thomas A. , Li Jing , Loskutov Jürgen , Mack Zachary T. , Ji Hao , Schools Gary P. , Cai Chao , Pugacheva Elena N. , Chen Mengqian , Roninson Igor B. , Broude Eugenia V.
Published: November 2024

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) are treated primarily by chemotherapy and lack clinically validated therapeutic targets. In particular, inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, abnormally activated in many breast cancers, failed to achieve clinical efficacy in TNBC due to the development of adaptive drug resistance, which is largely driven by the transcriptomic plasticity of TNBC. Expression of CDK8/19 Mediator kinases that control transcriptional reprogramming correlates with relapse-free survival and treatment failure in breast cancer patients, including TNBC. We now investigated how CDK8/19 inhibitors affect the growth of TNBC tumors and their response to mTOR and AKT inhibitors. In contrast to the effects of most anticancer drugs, all the tested human TNBC models (including patient-derived xenografts) responded to CDK8/19 inhibitors in vivo even when they did not respond in vitro. Furthermore, CDK8/19 inhibition extended the host survival of established lung metastases in a murine TNBC model, where the primary tumors were not significantly affected. CDK8/19 inhibitors synergized with an mTORC1 inhibitor everolimus and a pan-AKT inhibitor capivasertib in vitro and strongly potentiated these drugs in long-term in vivo studies. Transcriptomic analysis of tumors that responded or became adapted to everolimus revealed that drug adaptation in vivo was associated with major transcriptional changes in both tumor and stromal cells. Combining everolimus with a CDK8/19 inhibitor counteracted many of these changes and induced combination-specific effects on the expression of multiple genes that affect tumor growth. These results warrant the exploration of CDK8/19 Mediator kinase inhibitors as a new type of drugs for TNBC therapy.
The sociopragmatic dimension of language use and evaluations of interactional behaviour
Authors: Bartali Valentina
Published: November 2024

Culture can influence how people communicate and the reasons behind linguistic choices. However, the evaluative
process has been mostly neglected, particularly in comparative studies. This paper aims to fill this gap. It compares how two sets
of participants, Italian and British-English speakers, rated own/others’ performances in roleplays involving different request
scenarios and it unpacks how their perceptions of sociopragmatic variables, such as social distance and request’s weight,
influenced their evaluation process. Follow-up retrospective interviews were employed and content-analysed, to unpack
participants’ evaluations. The results showed cross-cultural differences in importance, interpretation and expectations attached
to different variables and underlying values.
Intelligent detection of maize pests based on StyleGAN2-ADA and FNW YOLOv8
Authors: Liu Liu , Kai Xue , Qi Jiqi
Published: November 2024

Rapid and precise detection of maize pests at an early stage is important for reducing the economic loss of crops. To address the problem of poor and inefficient identification of maize pests in practical production environments, this study proposed an intelligent detection method for maize pests based on the StyleGAN2 and FNW YOLOv8 methods. Expanded maize pest data from StyleGAN2-ADA. In the feature extraction network, the replacement of a FasterNet lightweight network reduces the model complexity and speeds up detection. The normalization-based attention module (NAM) is integrated into the back end of the signature convergence network to suppress redundant non-significant feature representations. After optimizing the loss function via Wise Intersection of Union v3 (WIoU v3), the FNW YOLOv8 algorithm was introduced. The findings indicate that this algorithm enhances the precision and F1 scores by 3.77% and 5.95%, respectively, when compared to the baseline model. Notably, the FNW YOLOv8 model achieved real-time detection speed of 289.1 fps. Compared to normal models, the FNW YOLOv8 model addresses the limitations associated with standard models, including excess weight. The parameters for FNW YOLOv8 were minimized to just 1.74 million, resulting in a compact model size of 2.36 MB. At the same time, there was a significant decrease in the GFLOPS operations of the FNW YOLOv8. Consequently, to ensure the precision and timeliness of maize pest identification, it is essential to establish a theoretical foundation for their identification and detection on mobile devices.
Enhanced concrete crack detection using nonlinear ultrasonic signal denoising and feature enhancement with CEEMDAN, VMD and GRU
Authors: Liu Jianfeng , Wang Kui , Zhao Mingjie , Chen Yongjiang , Li Xia
Published: November 2024

The nonlinear ultrasonic detection signals of concrete are highly sensitive to micro-damage changes and are thus susceptible to noise interference. Consequently, denoising these detection signals is crucial. This study proposes a comprehensive automated denoising method for nonlinear ultrasonic detection signals of concrete damage. The method combines the complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN), the variational mode decomposition (VMD), and the gated recurrent unit (GRU). The original detection signal is first decomposed into intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) obtained from CEEMDAN to reduce the error of ensemble averaging. These IMFs are then categorized into three groups of integrated IMFs (IN-IMFs) based on the sample entropy. And the VMD results of each IN-IMF are input into the GRU model for training and denoising. The denoising results of each IN-IMF type are combined by superimposing or the GRU model to obtain the final comprehensive denoising result. Analysis of the denoising metrics indicates that the proposed method achieves slightly improved performance compared to the VMD-gray wolf optimizer combined with the EMD algorithm, CEEMDAN combined with fuzzy rough sets, and Dominant noise-aided EMD. The proposed method yields a signal-to-noise ratio of 11–12, a root mean square error of 0.12–0.13, and a normalized cross-correlation of 0.90–0.95. Unlike existing methods, the proposed denoising method enhances the nonlinear characteristics of the signal, increasing the range of nonlinear indicator changes (5.5 times or 27.9 times that before denoising). It also reduces the volatility of nonlinear coefficients with damage changes. In engineering applications, this method effectively eliminates interference information from nonlinear ultrasonic detection signals, enhancing the features of the target information.
Mixed Hegselmann-Krause dynamics on infinite graphs
Authors: Li Hsin-Lun
Published: November 2024

The mixed Hegselmann–Krause (HK) model covers the synchronous HK model, the asynchronous HK model and the Deffuant model. Previous studies (Li 2022 Discrete Continuous Dyn. Syst. B27 1149–62, Li 2023 Discrete Continuous Dyn. Syst. B28 2981–93) deal with the mixed HK model on finite graphs. In this study, we discuss the mixed HK model on infinite graphs which also covers the HK model and the Deffuant model on infinite graphs. Traditionally, the HK and Deffuant models are discussed separately, with the former belonging to the group interaction and the latter to the pair interaction. The mixed HK model interprets both group and pair interactions. We investigate the conditions under which asymptotic stability holds or under which any two vertices in the same component approach each other after some finite time in this dual interaction model.
Advances in sweat-activated batteries for powering wearable electronics: structures, materials, challenges, and perspectives
Authors: Yuan Yu , Lu Yile , Liang Tianyue , Jia Haowei , Meng Linghui , Zhu Yanzhe , Wang Jinbo , Huang Tianxu , Guan Peiyuan , Zhou Lu , Zhou Yingze , Li Zhi , Wan Tao , Chu Dewei
Published: November 2024

Flexible wearable devices have gained increasing attention in the field of health and fitness monitoring because of their biocompatibility and ability to collect biomarkers seamlessly and instantly. Consequently, a new research direction has emerged on how to power these portable electronic devices. Currently, the majority of wearable electronic devices are powered by lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, owing to safety concerns and the bulky size of LIBs, there is a growing demand for sustainable, light, and wearable power supplies. Thus, sweat-activated batteries (SABs) were recently proposed as a source of power generation and energy storage. To validate the feasibility of using SABs to power wearable devices, we briefly recalled the history of the development of SABs in recent years, as well as the present research outcomes. This review overviews three categories of SABs (conventional-redox batteries, metal-air batteries, and others), which based on two anode materials (Magnesium and Zinc) and the working mechanism of diverse categories was interspersed throughout the discussion. Moreover, the electrolytes in SABs and suitable substrates for integrating batteries into wearable devices are thoroughly discussed. Furthermore, various SAB application scenarios are reviewed. This comprehensive review will not only offer insights into the current state of SABs technology but also provide valuable guidance and suggestions for future advancements and applications in this field.
Triboelectric energy harvesting technology for self-powered personal health management
Authors: Kwon Yong Hyun , Meng Xiangchun , Xiao Xiao , Suh In-Yong , Kim Daun , Lee Jaehan , Kim Sang-Woo
Published: November 2024

The global healthcare landscape is increasingly challenged by the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and the demographic shift towards an aging population, necessitating the development of innovative and sustainable healthcare solutions. In this context, the emergence of triboelectric energy harvesters as a key technological breakthrough offers a viable pathway towards self-powered, efficient, and sustainable personal health management. This review critically examines the transformative potential of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) in addressing the pressing challenges of modern healthcare, underscoring their unique benefits such as being battery-free, easy to fabricate, and cost-efficient. We begin by reviewing the fundamental mechanisms of triboelectrification at the atomic scale and presenting the contact electrification among various materials, such as metals, polymers, and semiconductors. The discussion subsequently extends to the commonly used materials for TENGs and explores advancements in their design and functionality, with an emphasis on structural and chemical innovations. Furthermore, the application spectrum of TENGs in personal health management is extensively reviewed, covering aspects including health monitoring, therapeutic intervention, health protection, and device powering, while highlighting their capacity for self-sustainability. The review concludes by addressing existing challenges while mapping out the latest significant contributions and prospective directions in TENG-based healthcare innovations. By facilitating a paradigm shift towards a more autonomous, cost-effective, and personalized healthcare model, independent of external power sources, TENGs are poised to markedly enhance the quality of care and overall well-being, marking the dawn of a new era in integrated personal health management.
Neurovascularization strategy: pathfinder and interlocutor for peripheral nerve tissue engineering in a sequential process
Authors: Zhan Ning , Li Shuangyang , Liu Zhichao , Zhang Jingyu , Zhang Xiaoting , Peng Lianjie , Tian Lixin , Lin Lining , Qiu Tao , Luo Yaxian , He Yong , Sun Mouyuan , Yu Mengfei , Wang Huiming
Published: November 2024

Neurovascularization serves as the prerequisite and assurance for fostering neurogenesis after peripheral nerve injury (PNI), not only contributing to the reconstruction of the regenerative neurovascular niche but also providing a surface and directionality for Schwann cell (SC) cords migration and axons elongation. Despite the development of nerve tissue engineering techniques has drawn increasing attention to the intervention approach for repairing nerve defects, systematic generalization summary of the efficient intervention to expedite nerve angiogenesis is still scarce. This review delves into the mechanisms by which macrophages within the nerve defect trigger angiogenesis after PNI and elucidates how the newborn vessels support nerve regeneration, and then extracts three major categories of strategies for producing vascularized nerves in vitro and in vivo from them, encompassing (1) in vitro prevascularization, (2) in vivo prevascularization, and (3) stimulation of neurovascularization in situ. Furthermore, we emphasize that the lack of accuracy for structure and spatiotemporal regulation, as well as the operational inconvenience and delayed connection to the host’s nerve stumps, have stuck the existing neurovascularization technology in the preclinical stage. The successful design of a future prospective clinical vascularized nerve scaffold should be guided by a comprehensive consideration of these aspects.
3D-programmable streamline guided orientation in composite materials for targeted heat dissipation
Authors: Zhang Xinfeng , Yang Xuan , Fan Yiwen , Hu Run , Xie Bin , Luo Xiaobing
Published: November 2024

Highlights

3D printing-assisted streamline orientation method was proposed to fabricate composite
thermal materials.

Mechanism of fluid-based filler orientation control along streamlines was revealed.

Thermal conductivity of 3D mesh-shape PDMS/LM composite was 4.8 times higher than that of random PDMS/LM composite.

3D-PSO method exhibits programmable design capability to adopt versatile distributions of heat sources.
Zingiber officinale-derived exosome-like nanoparticles as antimicrobial agents via lipid-mediated inhibition
Authors: Zhu Chiying , Gao Bihu , Li Jiao
Published: November 2024

Microbial diseases represent a significant challenge to global health, highlighting the importance of developing novel alternative antibacterial agents. The widely used spice and traditional medicinal plant Zingiber officinale and its derivatives have been demonstrated to possess promising antibacterial properties. The aim of the present study was to assess the antibacterial efficacy of Zingiber officinale-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (ZODENs) against a model bacterium, Escherichia coli (E. coli). The ZODENs were isolated from the rhizome of Zingiber officinale and subjected to morphological, size distribution, and zeta potential characterization. The bacterial growth curve assays and colony formation assays demonstrated that the E. coli bacterial growth was remarkably inhibited following incubation with ZODENs. The ZODENs were observed to be internalized by the E. coli bacteria following incubation, and subsequently demonstrated remarkable bacterial killing effects. Furthermore, the ZODEN-derived lipids, rather than the remaining fractions, demonstrated the capacity to inhibit bacterial cells, indicating that the antibacterial activity of ZODENs was at least partially attributable to its lipid content. These findings have paved the way for the development of ZODEN-based novel antibacterial agents and will facilitate the future clinical translation of plant-derived nanomedicines.
The discontinuation of implantable cardioverter defibrillator shock therapies towards the end of life: consensus guideline from the British Heart Rhythm Society
Authors: Thomas Honey , Dutton Amy , Johnson Miriam J , Herbert Heather , Wallace Jane , Foley Paul
Published: November 2024

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are implanted in increasing numbers of patients with the aim of treating ventricular arrhythmias in high-risk patients and reducing their risk of dying. Individuals are also living longer with these devices. As a result, a greater number of patients with an ICD will deteriorate either with worsening cardiac failure, another non-cardiac condition or general frailty and will have a limited prognosis. Frequently, they will be cared for by non-cardiac teams who may be less familiar with ICDs. Therefore, to ensure the person receives high-quality end-of-life care, they should have the opportunity to consider and discuss the option to deactivate the shock function of their ICD. If the ICD shock therapy is not discontinued, there is an increased risk that, as a person reaches the last days of life, the ICD may deliver multiple, painful shocks that are distressing. There is also a risk that the device may delay the person’s natural death, which the person would not have chosen if they had been given the opportunity to discuss discontinuation. The British Heart Rhythm Society has developed a practical guideline to support all healthcare professionals who are caring for patients who have an ICD. This includes descriptions of different device types, ethical and legal aspects, timing and nature of ICD discussions and practical advice regarding how the devices may be deactivated. It aims to promote awareness and timely discussion between professionals and patients and to encourage best practice.
HBM4EU chromates study: the Portuguese integrated and harmonized study on exposure to hexavalent chromium and related early effects
Authors: Viegas Susana , Martins Carla , Ribeiro Edna , Ladeira Carina , Pinhal Hermínia , Nogueira Ana , Santos Sílvia , Tavares Ana , Gomes Bruno Costa , Afonso Catarina Maia , Louro Henriqueta , João Silva Maria
Published: November 2024

In the scope of the European Union (EU) human biomonitoring initiative, a multicentric study on different occupational settings from several European countries was performed, to provide information on occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], a known lung carcinogen. Biomonitoring approaches were used to obtain exposure data to support the implementation of new risk management measures and policy actions at the national and European levels. This work describes the Portuguese contribution to the study, which aimed to assess workers' exposure to Cr, by using exposure biomarkers (urinary chromium [U-Cr]), and industrial hygiene samples (air and hand wipes) and to link exposure to potential long-term health effects by using effect biomarkers. Exposure determinants influencing exposure were explored from the contextual information and human biomonitoring data. The ultimate goal of the study was to appraise the risk management measures contributing to minimize exposure and protect workers’ health. Several occupational settings and activities were considered, including plating, welding, and painting. A control group from the Portuguese general population was also included. Data on age, sex, and smoking habits from both groups were considered in the statistical analysis. Information on the risk management measures available for workers was collected and used to identify the ones that mainly contributed to reduce exposure. Environmental monitoring and human biomonitoring revealed that painters were the highest exposed group. The use of respiratory protection equipment showed an influence on total U-Cr levels for workers involved in painting activities. Concerning early health effects, the painters presented also a significantly higher level of DNA and chromosomal damage in peripheral blood cells, as compared to the control group, suggesting a plausible association between exposure to Cr(VI) and early genotoxic effects. The results showed that workers are exposed to Cr(VI) in those occupational settings. These findings point to the need to improve the prevention and risk management measures and the implementation and enforcement of new regulatory actions at the national level.
Comprehensive human respiratory genome catalogue underlies the high resolution and precision of the respiratory microbiome
Authors: Li Yinhu , Pan Guangze , Wang Shuai , Li Zhengtu , Yang Ru , Jiang Yiqi , Chen Yu , Li Shuai Cheng , Shen Bairong
Published: November 2024

The human respiratory microbiome plays a crucial role in respiratory health, but there is no comprehensive respiratory genome catalogue (RGC) for studying the microbiome. In this study, we collected whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing data from 4067 samples and sequenced long reads of 124 samples, yielding 9.08 and 0.42 Tbp of short- and long-read data, respectively. By submitting these data with a novel assembly algorithm, we obtained a comprehensive human RGC. This high-quality RGC contains 190,443 contigs over 1 kbps and an N50 length exceeding 13 kbps; it comprises 159 high-quality and 393 medium-quality genomes, including 117 previously uncharacterized respiratory bacteria. Moreover, the RGC contains 209 respiratory-specific species not captured by the unified human gastrointestinal genome. Using the RGC, we revisited a study on a pediatric pneumonia dataset and identified 17 pneumonia-specific respiratory pathogens, reversing an inaccurate etiological conclusion due to the previous incomplete reference. Furthermore, we applied the RGC to the data of 62 participants with a clinical diagnosis of infection. Compared to the Nucleotide database, the RGC yielded greater specificity (0 versus 0.444, respectively) and sensitivity (0.852 versus 0.881, respectively), suggesting that the RGC provides superior sensitivity and specificity for the clinical diagnosis of respiratory diseases.
AltGosling: automatic generation of text descriptions for accessible genomics data visualization
Authors: Smits Thomas C , L’Yi Sehi , Mar Andrew P , Gehlenborg Nils
Published: November 2024

Motivation

Biomedical visualizations are key to accessing biomedical knowledge and detecting new patterns in large datasets. Interactive visualizations are essential for biomedical data scientists and are omnipresent in data analysis software and data portals. Without appropriate descriptions, these visualizations are not accessible to all people with blindness and low vision, who often rely on screen reader accessibility technologies to access visual information on digital devices. Screen readers require descriptions to convey image content. However, many images lack informative descriptions due to unawareness and difficulty writing such descriptions. Describing complex and interactive visualizations, like genomics data visualizations, is even more challenging. Automatic generation of descriptions could be beneficial, yet current alt text generating models are limited to basic visualizations and cannot be used for genomics.

Results

We present AltGosling, an automated description generation tool focused on interactive data visualizations of genome-mapped data, created with the grammar-based genomics toolkit Gosling. The logic-based algorithm of AltGosling creates various descriptions including a tree-structured navigable panel. We co-designed AltGosling with a blind screen reader user (co-author). We show that AltGosling outperforms state-of-the-art large language models and common image-based neural networks for alt text generation of genomics data visualizations. As a first of its kind in genomic research, we lay the groundwork to increase accessibility in the field.

Availability and implementation

The source code, examples, and interactive demo are accessible under the MIT License at https://github.com/gosling-lang/altgosling. The package is available at https://www.npmjs.com/package/altgosling.
Predicting the subcellular location of prokaryotic proteins with DeepLocPro
Authors: Moreno Jaime , Nielsen Henrik , Winther Ole , Teufel Felix
Published: November 2024

Motivation

Protein subcellular location prediction is a widely explored task in bioinformatics because of its importance in proteomics research. We propose DeepLocPro, an extension to the popular method DeepLoc, tailored specifically to archaeal and bacterial organisms.

Results

DeepLocPro is a multiclass subcellular location prediction tool for prokaryotic proteins, trained on experimentally verified data curated from UniProt and PSORTdb. DeepLocPro compares favorably to the PSORTb 3.0 ensemble method, surpassing its performance across multiple metrics in our benchmark experiment.

Availability and implementation

The DeepLocPro prediction tool is available online at https://ku.biolib.com/deeplocpro and https://services.healthtech.dtu.dk/services/DeepLocPro-1.0/.
Practical application of PMA–qPCR assay for determination of viable cells of inter-species biofilm of Candida albicans–Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Kendra Samuel , Czucz Varga Jarmila , Gaálová-Radochová Barbora , Bujdáková Helena
Published: November 2024

Determining the number of viable cells by calculating colony-forming units is time-consuming. The evaluation of mixed biofilms consisting of different species is particularly problematic. Therefore, the aim of this study was to optimize a molecular method—propidium monoazide quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PMA–qPCR)—for accurate and consistent differentiation between living and dead cells. In the practical experimental example, the number of genome copies representing living cells was determined in a mixed biofilm of Candida albicans–Staphylococcus aureus inhibited by photodynamic inactivation. Optimal conditions such as PMA concentration and the duration of light exposure, the optimization of DNA isolation from the mixed biofilm and standardization of PMA–qPCR parameters were tested prior to the main experiment. The genome copy number was calculated based on the known amount of genomic DNA in the qPCR and the genome size of the respective microorganism. The results showed that photodynamic inactivation in the presence of 1 mM methylene blue decreased the total genome copy number from 1.65 × 108 to 3.19 × 107, and from 4.39 × 107 to 1.91 × 107 for S. aureus and C. albicans (P < 0.01), respectively. The main disadvantage is the overestimation of the number of living cells represented by genome copy numbers. Such cells are unable to reproduce and grow (no vitality) and are continuously dying. On the other hand, PMA–qPCR determines the copy numbers of all microbial species, including a mix of eukaryotic yeasts and prokaryotic bacteria in a biofilm in one step, which is a great advantage.
Immunomodulatory effects of HYCO-3, a dual action CO-releaser/Nrf2 activator
Authors: Stegnjaić Goran , Nikolovski Neda , Stanisavljević Suzana , Lazarević Milica , Momčilović Miljana , Foresti Roberta , Motterlini Roberto , Miljković Đorđe
Published: November 2024

HYCOs are hybrid molecules consisting of activators of the transcription factor Nrf2 conjugated to carbon monoxide (CO)-releasing moieties. These ‘dual action’ compounds (HYCOs) have been designed to mimic the activity of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a stress inducible cytoprotective enzyme that degrades heme to CO which expression is regulated by Nrf2. HYCOs have recently shown efficacy in ameliorating experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis. However, the mechanism(s) of action of HYCOs still remains to be fully investigated. Here, we assessed the effects of HYCO-3, a prototype of these hybrids, on myeloid-derived cells, microglial cells and T lymphocytes obtained from EAE-immunized mice. HYCO-3 exerted immunomodulatory effects on all the examined cell populations by inhibiting the generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide, and downregulating antigen-presenting capacity of these cells. The observed effects support the view that HYCOs are promising candidates to be developed for the treatment of autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disorders.
‘Musing upon the king my brother’s wreck’: Shipwrecked Nostos in a Ulyssean Palimpsest in The Waste Land
Authors: Zhou Wei
Published: November 2024

In this article, I read the shipwrecked journeys in T. S. Eliot’s 1922 poem The Waste Land as belonging to a long-standing trope of travel by sea. By examining the connections between the scenes of shipwrecks in the poem and its intertexts, including works by Homer and Shakespeare, I reconstruct the characters’ homecoming journeys in a Ulyssean palimpsest of nostos (‘homecoming’) in these scenes. I argue that these scenes foreground the challenges of homecoming by sea while implying the hope for returns through mythical implications and dramatic effect. The article situates drowning and resurrection, the governing themes of the poem, in the critical lineage of nostos that encompasses deferred return and symbolic rebirth. Informed by the context of the Great War and Eliot’s New England heritage, the article challenges the work in modernist studies that tends to interpret Eliot’s depiction of these thwarted journeys as a rejection of homecoming.
The Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Harvey Philip R , McNulty David , Coupland Benjamin , Kemos Polychronis , Croft Nicholas M , Trudgill Nigel J
Published: November 2024

Background

Recent studies of children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) demonstrate an increased venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk. However, estimates of risk are variable and case numbers are limited. The aim of this study was to provide national estimates of the risk of VTE in children with IBD.

Methods

Hospital Episode Statistics was used to identify patients diagnosed with either IBD or VTE before reaching 18 years of age between 2001 and 2019. Populations and subgroups are described, and the risks of developing VTE in the general and IBD populations were calculated.

Results

Children with VTE following a diagnosis of IBD or in the previous 6 months (n = 85) and with VTE without IBD (n = 4160) were studied. The absolute risk in children with IBD was 9.42 (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.4-11.4) per 10 000 patient-years, compared with 0.18 (95% CI, 18-0.19) in children without IBD. Between 6 months prior to and 1 year following IBD diagnosis was the highest absolute risk period for VTE (18.0; 95% CI, 13.7-22.4). The relative risk of VTE in children with IBD vs children without IBD was greatest in younger patient groups: the relative risk for the age band 0 to 8 years was 96.5 (95% CI, 51.8-179.9) and for 9 to 11 years was 153.1 (95% CI, 81.2-288.8) vs 14.3 (95% CI, 10.3-20.0) for 15 to 17 years. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis represented 17.6% of pediatric VTE events in IBD patients compared with 4.2% in children without IBD (P = .001).

Conclusions

This study confirms the increased risk of VTE in children with IBD compared with children without IBD. The time of greatest VTE risk was around diagnosis. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis was significantly more common in children with IBD than other children.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Antigen Rv1471 Induces Innate Immune Memory and Adaptive Immunity Against Infection
Authors: Huang Xuejiao , Wu Juan , Xu Jinchuan , Wang Huiling , Chen Zhenyan , Fan Xiao-Yong , Hu Zhidong
Published: November 2024

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) contains approximately 4000 individual proteins. However, only about 100 have been evaluated as antigens in tuberculosis (TB) subunit vaccine development. In addition, no trained immunity-targeting subunit TB vaccine has been reported yet. This study tested Rv1471, a thioredoxin secreted by Mtb, as a candidate TB vaccine antigen due to its capacity to stimulate functional maturation of macrophages. Transcription analysis of Rv1471-trained macrophages indicated that innate immune memory was activated through pathways of Akt-mTOR-HIF-1α and aerobic glycolysis. Rv1471 also enhanced innate immune memory responses and protection against intracellular infections of different mycobacteria. In a murine model of TB, immunization with Rv1471 produced robust antigen-specific multifunctional T-cell immune responses and had substantial protective efficacy against Mtb challenge. Analysis of recall immunity showed that the Rv1471 triggered robust T-cell immunity after Mtb infection. These findings support the development of an innate immune memory–targeting subunit TB vaccine to increase vaccine efficacy.