bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Challenges of clinical translation from single‐cell sequencing to measures in clinical biochemistry of haematology: Definition of immune cell identities
Authors: Liu Xuanqi , Wang Xiangdong , Powell Charles A. , Wang Diane C.
Published: September 2023

Peripheral immune cells play important roles in the maintenance of systemic and microenvironmental hemostasis. Measurements of circulating blood cells by single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) were proposed as one of the routine measures in the clinical biochemistry of haematology. Out of translational challenges, defining precise identities of cell subsets and states is more difficult, due to the complexity of immune cell development, location, regulation, function, and metabolism. It is also a challenge to precisely interpret the clinical significance and impact of each cell identity marker gene panel (ciMGPs). ciMGPs have the potential to advance the understanding of systemic responses to the disease, identify disease‐specific biomarkers and define cell heterogeneity. Recently, a large number of peripheral cell subsets and expanding/activating states have been identified and validated for use in the fast developments in clinical single‐cell biomedicine. Defining the specificity, measurability and repeatability of cell subsets/states is important for the translation of peripheral scRNA‐seq in clinical haematology and biochemistry. The development of standard operating procedures and the performance of clinical trials in large populations of various ages, diseases, and therapies will promote the clinical translation of ciMGPs to measures. Thus, defining cell subset/state identities will provide the multi‐dimensional and comprehensive readouts of systemic immune cells, the precision monitoring of immune dynamics, and a deeper understanding of the disease and response to therapy.
Deubiquitinase USP19 modulates apoptotic calcium release and endoplasmic reticulum stress by deubiquitinating BAG6 in triple negative breast cancer
Authors: Zhang Xiaoqiang , Chen Xuyu , Qian Fangze , Zhu Yanhui , He Gao , Yang Junzhe , Wu Xian , Zhang Hongfei , Yu Xiafei , Liu Xiaoan
Published: September 2023

Background

Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC), a heterogeneous subtype of breast cancer (BC), had poor prognosis. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was responsible for cellular processes and played a crucial role in the cell function. ER stress is a complex and dynamic process that can induce abnormal apoptosis and death. However, the underlying mechanism of ER stress involved in TNBC is not well defined.

Methods

We identified ubiquitin‐specific protease 19 (USP19) as a TNBC negative regulator for further investigation. The effects of USP19 on BC proliferation were assessed in vitro using proliferation test and cell‐cycle assays, while the effects in vivo were examined using a mouse tumorigenicity model. Through in vitro flow cytometric analyses and in vivo TUNEL assays, cell apoptosis was assessed. Proteomics was used to examine the proteins that interact with USP19.

Results

Multiple in vitro and in vivo tests showed that USP19 decreases TNBC cell growth while increasing apoptosis. Then, we demonstrated that USP19 interacts with deubiquitinates and subsequently stabilises family molecular chaperone regulator 6 (BAG6). BAG6 can boost B‐cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) ubiquitination and degradation, thereby raising ER calcium (Ca2+) levels and causing ER stress. We also found that the N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) “writer” methyltransferase‐like 14 (METTL14) increased global m6A modification.

Conclusions

Our study reveals that USP19 elevates the intracellular Ca2+ concentration to alter ER stress via regulation of BAG6 and BCL2 stability and may be a viable therapeutic target for TNBC therapy.
Speciation and repeated origins of hypertrophied lips in parallel adaptive radiations of cyprinid fish from East Africa
Authors: Levin Boris , Komarova Aleksandra , Simonov Evgeniy , Tiunov Alexei , Levina Marina , Golubtsov Alexander , Kondrashov Fyodor , Meyer Axel
Published: September 2023

The evolution of convergent phenotypes is one of the most interesting phenomena of repeated adaptive radiations. Here, we examined the repeated patterns of thick‐lipped or “rubberlip” phenotype of cyprinid fish of the genus Labeobarbus discovered in riverine environments of the Ethiopian Highlands, East Africa. To test the adaptive value of thickened lips, identify the ecological niche of the thick‐lipped ecomorphs, and test whether these ecomorphs are the products of adaptive divergence, we studied six sympatric pairs of ecomorphs with hypertrophied lips and the normal lip structure from different riverine basins. Trophic morphology, diet, stable isotope (δ15N and δ13C) signatures, as well as mtDNA markers and genome‐wide SNP variation, were analyzed. Our results show that thick‐lipped ecomorphs partition trophic resources with generalized ecomorphs in only one‐half of the examined sympatric pairs despite the pronounced divergence in lip structure. In these thick‐lipped ecomorphs that were trophically diverged, the data on their diet along with the elevated 15N values suggest an invertivorous specialization different from the basal omnivorous–detritivouros feeding mode of the generalized ecomorphs. Genetic data confirmed an independent and parallel origin of all six lipped ecomorphs. Yet, only one of those six thick‐lipped ecomorphs had a notable genetic divergence with sympatric non‐lipped ecomorphs based on nuclear SNPs data (FST = 0.21). Sympatric pairs can be sorted by combinations of phenotypic, ecological, and genetic divergence from an ecologically non‐functional mouth polymorphism via ecologically functional polymorphism to a matured speciation stage via divergent evolution.
Identification of driving factors for chlorophyll‐a in multi‐stable shallow lakes of China employing machine learning methods
Authors: Qu Shan , Wang Jian‐jian , Kumar Amit , Yu Zhi‐Guo , Zhao Wan‐Qi
Published: September 2023

Due to the rapid increase in urbanization and anthropogenic activity in the lake catchment, nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen are abundant in urban sewage, leading to lake eutrophication and promoting algal blooms. Chlorophyll‐a (Chl‐a) is an important indicator of algal blooms; thus, predicting concentration is vital for lake restoration and management. Literature reveals that most of the previous studies of Chl‐a prediction required multiple variables and considerable computation. Thus, it is crucial to scientifically identify the key drivers of Chl‐a in Taihu Lake for the formulation of effective environmental management measures. In this study, a long‐term dataset (1991–2015) and Daniel trend test method were employed to analyse the trend of meteorological and water quality indicators in Taihu Lake in China. The redundancy of variables was eliminated by using the rank correlation method, combined with prior knowledge that provides a solid foundation for the analysis of the driving factors of Chl‐a. Four machine learning models, named Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), random forest (RF), support vector regression (SVR) and gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT), were employed to predict the concentration of Chl‐a in different regions of Taihu Lake. The result shows that the XGBoost model outperformed the other three models in terms of R2 (>0.90) and root mean square error (RMSE) (3.69–8.40). Finally, based on the predictions of the concentration of Chl‐a using the XGBoost model, the SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) framework was utilized to analyse the key factors influencing Chl‐a concentration. Finding of this study suggests that the XGBoost model performed best and could be applied to the overall stretches of Taihu Lake and other lakes in China; model prediction will be helpful in providing a zoning decision‐making approach for the rational protection of the lake environment and the prevention of algal bloom hazards.
Experimental and analytical investigation of WT‐shapes stiffened steel panel dampers
Authors: Chen Daniel Weidar , Tsai Keh‐Chyuan
Published: September 2023

The three‐segment steel panel damper (TSPD) is a type of shear panel damper (SPD) used for dissipating seismic energy. TSPDs consist of an inelastic core (IC) and two outer elastic joints (EJs), with the IC having a weaker shear strength than the EJs. Buckling restraining stiffeners delay shear buckling, and end stiffeners stabilize the IC to facilitate force transfer. However, the fabrication of TSPDs may be costly due to the use of built‐up shapes. This prompted the investigation of a more cost‐effective option, namely the WT‐shapes stiffened steel panel damper (WSPD). The WSPD can be built from a single hot rolled wide flange steel shape with four WT‐shapes cut from it. A practical procedure for seismic design using this method is developed in this study. The design procedure for IC web stiffeners is also considered. We propose elastic stiffness calculation methods for WSPDs, which match the analytical results of the proposed model using commercial software. Two full‐scale 2.6 m tall WSPD specimens were fabricated and tested. Different target IC buckling shear deformations of 0.08 and 0.12 radians resulted in two different stiffener designs for specimen WSPD‐0L2T and WSPD‐1L2T, respectively. The specimens had excellent energy dissipation performance. WSPD‐0L2T IC web buckled later than predicted, while WSPD‐1L2T IC web buckled slightly earlier than expected. The elastic lateral stiffness and maximum shear strength computed from the proposed procedures agree with the experimental results within 5%. The experimental responses of the two specimens can also be accurately simulated using Abaqus finite element model analysis.
Magnitude and timing of transient incision resulting from large‐scale drainage capture, Sutlej River, Northwest Himalaya
Authors: Penserini Brian D. , Morell Kristin D. , Codilean Alexandru T. , Fülöp Réka‐H. , Wilcken Klaus M. , Yanites Brian J. , Kumar Anil , Fan Suoya , Mearce Trevor
Published: September 2023

Few studies have constrained the magnitudes and timescales associated with large‐scale drainage captures (areas >103 km2), even though these constraints are crucial to reconstruct sediment budgets, assess the potential for drainage reorganization to be preserved in the rock record, and determine the extent to which environmental signals (i.e., structures, composition and fossil assemblages within sedimentary rocks that are influenced by sediment supply and transport) are representative of conditions during deposition. In this work, we characterize the Pleistocene capture of the Zhada Basin, an ~23 000 km2 extensional basin in southern Tibet, by the Sutlej River, a prominent tributary to the Indus River. We quantify the magnitudes and timescales of capture‐driven erosion using knickpoint celerity modelling, paleotopographic reconstructions, 10Be‐derived denudation rates, and topographic analyses of drainage divides. We find that capture has removed 2010 ± 400 km3 of sediment from the Zhada Basin, increasing sediment supply to the Sutlej network by 17%–29% since 735 ± 269 ka. This work represents a crucial step towards reconstructing the Pleistocene sediment budget of the Indus sedimentary system and identifying potential impacts from sediment redistribution. We also identify several plausible tectonic or autogenic mechanisms that may have facilitated capture of the Zhada Basin, including: (1) preferential erosion of weak lithologies along active faults, (2) headward erosion in response to prior capture of the Spiti River and (3) headward erosion generated by breaching of a structural culmination downstream (the Kullu‐Rampur Window). This provides a framework to assess the mechanistic links between arc‐parallel extension, large‐scale drainage capture, landscape evolution and orogenic wedge deformation.
Intercropping medicinal plants is a new idea for forage production: A case study with ajowan and fenugreek
Authors: Fotohi Chiyaneh Satar , Rezaei‐Chiyaneh Esmaeil , Amirnia Reza , Keshavarz Afshar Reza , Siddique Kadambot H. M.
Published: September 2023

Biofertilizers has potential to improve crop productivity in a sustainable manner yet their impact on forage crops yields and forage quality indices have not been extensively explored. In this study, the impact of different cropping patterns and fertilizer sources on the forage yield and quality of ajowan (Carum copticum L.), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum‐graecum L.), and pea (Pisum sativum L.) was investigated. The findings shed light on the importance of biofertilizer application as a sustainable solution for enhancing forage production and quality in agricultural systems. The experimental treatments involved six cropping patterns [ajowan monoculture, fenugreek monoculture, pea monoculture, intercropping of one row ajowan + one row fenugreek + one row pea (1:1:1), two rows ajowan + two rows fenugreek + two rows pea (2:2:2), and three rows ajowan + three rows fenugreek + three rows pea (3:3:3)] and five fertilizer sources [no fertilizer (control), 100% chemical fertilizer (CF), chemical fertilizer + humic acid (CF + HU), chemical fertilizer + biofertilizer (CF + BF), and humic acid + biofertilizer (HU + BF)]. The results revealed that the 2:2:2 intercrop fertilized with CF + BF had the highest N, P, and K concentrations for the three species. The monoculture systems with CF + BF produced the highest forage yields for ajowan (5492 kg/ha), fenugreek (3811 kg/ha), and pea (12,695 kg/ha). In addition, 2:2:2 intercrop fertilized with CF + BF produced the highest forage quality for all three species, decreasing the crude fiber, acid detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber contents and increasing forage ASH, dry matter intake, water‐soluble carbohydrates, and relative feed value. The 2:2:2 intercrop ratio combined with CF + BF application could be recommended to farmers as an eco‐friendly strategy (decreasing chemical fertilizer use) for improving forage productivity and quality in sustainable agricultural systems.
Study on the mechanism on synthesis of higher alcohols in Wickerhamomyces anomalus under ethanol stress
Authors: Chen Yanru , Wan Yin , Cai Wenqin , Che Xiaming , Peng Hong , Fu Guiming
Published: September 2023

Higher alcohols (phenylethyl alcohol and isoamyl alcohol), as the crucial aroma compounds, have been found to associate with the sensory properties of various alcoholic products. The Ehrlich and Harris pathways are the main pathways for yeast to produce phenylethyl alcohol and isoamyl alcohol during the brewing process of alcoholic products, whereas the specific changes of the Ehrlich and Harris pathways in Wickerhamomyces anomalus under ethanol stress are still unclear. In this study, W. anomalus NCU003 with a high capacity for aroma compound production was treated with ethanol stress at different concentrations (3%, v/v, 6%, v/v and 9%, v/v) to study the effects on the expression levels of genes and metabolite content in the Ehrlich and Harris pathways. The results found that ethanol stress inhibited the production of phenylethyl alcohol and isoamyl alcohol, and the content decreased with the increase of ethanol concentrations. In the meantime, the up‐regulation of ARO1, CS, ARO8, Leu1, BAT2 and ilvs family genes in the Ehrlich and Harris pathways could lead to an increase in the synthesis of important precursor substances during the synthesis of phenylethyl alcohol and isoamyl alcohol. However, the significant down‐regulation of ARO10, PDC, ADH1 and AHD2 genes was the main reason for the low production of phenylethyl alcohol and isoamyl alcohol. These results could provide a theoretical reference for the construction of genetic engineering strains of W. anomalus in the future so as to reasonably control the content of higher alcohols during the brewing process of alcoholic products.
Early Cretaceous (Aptian to Albian) vegetation and climate change in Central Africa: Novel palynological evidence from the Doseo Basin
Authors: Dou Lirong , Zhang Xinshun , Xiao Kunye , Xi Dangpeng , Du Yebo , Wang Li , Hu Jie , Hu Ying , Zheng Qianyu
Published: September 2023

With the break‐up of the continents of Africa and South America and the gradual opening of the Atlantic Ocean in the late Aptian to early Albian, the global palaeoclimate and palaeogeographical patterns changed greatly. Whether and when a humid belt prevailed in the palaeoequator region during this period has been argued for a long time. The Doseo Basin, located in the Central African Rift system, is important for understanding the palaeoclimate of Central Africa during the Early Cretaceous. Here, a systematic palynological analysis of boreholes K‐1 and KE‐101 in the Doseo Basin was conducted to reconstruct the vegetation and climate change during the middle Aptian to early Albian in Central Africa. Relatively abundant fossil palynomorphs were obtained, and 76 species belonging to 67 genera were identified. Gymnosperms were found to be dominant in the palynoassemblage of boreholes K‐1 and KE‐101, and Classopollis was the most abundant in this group. Among fern spores, the ribbed spores accounted for a high proportion. Additionally, a small amount of angiosperm pollen grains was also found. Based on the characteristics of the palynomorphs, two assemblages were identified, probably spanning from middle Aptian–early Albian. The characteristics of the spore and pollen fossils, especially the decrease of Classopollis in boreholes K‐1 and KE‐101, suggest an obvious change in climate, from relatively arid to humid during the late Aptian to early Albian (within the interval 2215–2220 m of borehole K‐1). The climate change reflected by the palynological spectra in the Doseo Basin from dry to wet is consistent with that of the results from South America. This study further proves that the climate near the equator in the southern hemisphere began to change from the earlier relative drought to humid conditions with the gradual opening of the Atlantic Ocean during late Aptian to early Albian, and a humid climate zone was distributed from east to west in the equatorial region of the southern hemisphere.
Service‐Learning Is for Everybody
Authors: Shumer Robert
Published: September 2023

A variety of strategies can help service‐learning faculty reach out to include more people with disabilities as providers of service.
The Internet in Service‐Learning
Authors: Canada Mark
Published: September 2023

Students can serve their communities by helping agencies create World Wide Web sites and by building university‐based Internet resources.
How Professors Can Promote Service‐Learning in a Teaching Institution
Authors: O’Byrne Kathy
Published: September 2023

Although a college devoted to teaching seems the ideal place to promote service‐learning, faculty at such institutions should actively seek key stakeholders’ support to ensure that service‐learning thrives.
Humanistic Learning and Service‐Learning at the Liberal Arts College
Authors: Zlotkowski Edward
Published: September 2023

Faculty at liberal arts colleges can take advantage of their institution’s mission in order to promote service‐learning.
How Frequently Should Accreditation Standards Change?
Authors: Davenport Cynthia A.
Published: September 2023

Institutional changes and the revision of accreditation standards are being considered in the light of an increased emphasis on the shared responsibilities for student learning.
Public Accountability and Reporting: What Should Be the Public Part of Accreditation?
Authors: Ketcheson Kathi A.
Published: September 2023

Electronic institutional portfolios provide access to information on student learning outcomes and institutional accountability and thus respond to the public nature of information for accreditation. These portfolios are the focus of this chapter, discussed in the context of a national project involving six urban universities.
The Self‐Study as a Chariot for Strategic Change
Authors: Martin Rebecca R. , Manning Kathleen , Ramaley Judith A.
Published: September 2023

Meaningful change through the self‐study process requires both agreement about the mission of the institution and an understanding of faculty and administrative culture.
High‐resolution full‐field optical coherence tomography microscope for the evaluation of freshly excised skin specimens during Mohs surgery: A feasibility study
Authors: Jain Manu , Chang Shu‐Wen , Singh Kiran , Kurtansky Nicholas R. , Huang Sheng‐Lung , Chen Homer H. , Chen Chih‐Shan Jason
Published: September 2023

Histopathology for tumor margin assessment is time‐consuming and expensive. High‐resolution full‐field optical coherence tomography (FF‐OCT) images fresh tissues rapidly at cellular resolution and potentially facilitates evaluation. Here, we define FF‐OCT features of normal and neoplastic skin lesions in fresh ex vivo tissues and assess its diagnostic accuracy for malignancies. For this, normal and neoplastic tissues were obtained from Mohs surgery, imaged using FF‐OCT, and their features were described. Two expert OCT readers conducted a blinded analysis to evaluate their diagnostic accuracies, using histopathology as the ground truth. A convolutional neural network was built to distinguish and outline normal structures and tumors. Of the 113 tissues imaged, 95 (84%) had a tumor (75 basal cell carcinomas [BCCs] and 17 squamous cell carcinomas [SCCs]). The average reader diagnostic accuracy was 88.1%, with a sensitivity of 93.7%, and a specificity of 58.3%. The artificial intelligence (AI) model achieved a diagnostic accuracy of 87.6 ± 5.9%, sensitivity of 93.2 ± 2.1%, and specificity of 81.2 ± 9.2%. A mean intersection‐over‐union of 60.3 ± 10.1% was achieved when delineating the nodular BCC from normal structures. Limitation of the study was the small sample size for all tumors, especially SCCs. However, based on our preliminary results, we envision FF‐OCT to rapidly image fresh tissues, facilitating surgical margin assessment. AI algorithms can aid in automated tumor detection, enabling widespread adoption of this technique.
Toward point‐of‐care diagnostics: Running enzymatic assays on a photonic waveguide‐based sensor chip with a portable, benchtop measurement system
Authors: Neutens Pieter , Zinoviev Kirill , Jimenez Valencia Angela M , Woronoff Gabrielle , Jansen Roelof , Hosseini Naser , Uribe Alejandra Jauregui , Goheen Joshua , Kryszak Lindsay A , Stakenborg Tim , Clarke William A , Van Roy Willem
Published: September 2023

We demonstrate a portable, compact system to perform absorption‐based enzymatic assays at a visible wavelength of 639 nm on a photonic waveguide‐based sensor chip, suitable for lab‐on‐a‐chip applications. The photonic design and fabrication of the sensor are described, and a detailed overview of the portable measurement system is presented. In this publication, we use an integrated photonic waveguide‐based absorbance sensor to run a full enzymatic assay. An assay to detect creatinine in plasma is simultaneously performed on both the photonic sensor on the portable setup and on a commercial microplate reader for a clinically relevant creatinine concentration range. We observed a high correlation between the measured waveguide propagation loss and the optical density measurement from the plate reader and measured a limit‐of‐detection of 4.5 μM creatinine in the sensor well, covering the relevant clinical range for creatinine detection.
Identification of the SNARE complex that mediates the fusion of multivesicular bodies with the plasma membrane in exosome secretion
Authors: Liu Chuqi , Liu Dexiang , Wang Shen , Gan Lu , Yang Xiangliang , Ma Cong
Published: September 2023

Exosomes play crucial roles in local and distant cellular communication and are involved in various physiological and pathological processes. Tumour‐derived exosomes are pivotal to tumorigenesis, but the precise mechanisms underlying their secretion remain elusive. In particular, the SNARE proteins that mediate the fusion of multivesicular bodies (MVBs) with the plasma membrane (PM) in tumour cells are subject to debate. In this study, we identified syntaxin‐4, SNAP‐23, and VAMP‐7 as the SNAREs responsible for exosome secretion in MCF‐7 breast cancer cells and found that a SNARE complex consisting of these SNAREs can drive membrane fusion in vitro. Deletion of any of these SNAREs in MCF‐7 cells did not affect MVB biogenesis and transportation, indicating their specific involvement in MVB–PM fusion. In addition, syntaxin‐4, SNAP‐23, and VAMP‐7 play equivalent roles in exosome secretion in both HeLa cervical cancer cells and A375 melanoma cells, suggesting their conserved function in exosome secretion. Furthermore, deletion of VAMP‐7 in 4T1 mammary carcinoma cells efficiently inhibited exosome secretion and led to significant attenuation of tumour growth and lung metastasis in mouse models, implying that VAMP‐7 may hold promise as a novel therapeutic target for breast cancer.
Novel one‐pot synthesis of imidazo[2,1‐b] [1, 2, 4]‐Triazoles, 1,2,4‐Triazolo iminoindoline‐2‐ones, and their in‐vitro antibacterial activity,B‐DNAstudy
Authors: Venkatesham Papisetti , Parcha Sreenivasa Rao , Rath Soumya Lipsa , Chedupaka Raju , Vedula Rajeswar Rao
Published: September 2023

New series of 2‐(benzylthio)‐6‐phenyl‐4H‐imidazo[1,2‐b][1,2,4]‐Triazoles and benzylthio‐4H‐1,2,4‐Triazolo iminoimdoline‐2‐ones have been synthesized via a one‐pot process. Further, all the synthesized compounds were screened for their antibacterial activity against Gram‐positive, Gram‐negative bacteria. Among these tested compounds,5a–jhave shown promising antibacterial activity usingB. subtilisand studied for B‐DNA binding.
Comparison of efficacy between subcutaneous and intravenous application of moss‐aGal in the mouse model of Fabry disease
Authors: Dabrowska‐Schlepp Paulina , Busch Andreas , Shen Jin‐Song , Cheong Rachel Y. , Madsen Lone Bruhn , Mascher Daniel , Schiffmann Raphael , Schaaf Andreas
Published: September 2023

Fabry disease (FD, OMIM 301500) is a rare X‐linked inherited lysosomal storage disorder associated with reduced activities of α‐galactosidase A (aGal, EC 3.2.1.22). The current standard of care for FD is based on enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), in which a recombinantly produced version of αGal is intravenously (iv) applied to Fabry patients in biweekly intervals. Though the iv application is clinically efficacious, periodical infusions are inconvenient, time‐ and resource‐consuming and they negatively impact the patients’ quality of life. Subcutaneous (sc) injection, in contrast, is an established route of administration for treatment of chronic conditions. It opens the beneficial option of self‐administration, thereby improving patients’ quality of life and at the same time reducing treatment costs. We have previously shown that Moss‐α‐Galactosidase (moss‐aGal), recombinantly produced in the moss Physcomitrium patens, is efficient in degrading accumulated Gb3 in target organs of murine model of FD and in the phase I clinical study, we obtained first efficacy evidence in human patients following single iv infusion. Here, we tested the efficacy of subcutaneous administration of moss‐aGal and compared it with the results observed following iv infusion in Fabry mice. The obtained findings demonstrate that subcutaneously applied moss‐aGal is correctly transported to target organs and efficacious in degrading Gb3 deposits there and thus suggest the possibility of using this route of administration for therapy of Fabry disease.
Vectorial‐Manipulating Encryption for Multi‐Channel Capacity and Security Enhancement
Authors: Qu Kening , Wang Zejing , Li Zhe , Li Zhongyang
Published: September 2023

Emerging meta‐optics unfold unprecedented capabilities in optical display, information storage, and encryption applications. Particularly, the recent advances in vectorial holography based on the multi‐parameter manipulation of the Jones matrix have increased the modulation space and information capacity. However, the fundamental degree of freedom (DoF) extreme limit in the optical encoding space of the Jones matrix bottlenecks the information capacity for high‐demand practical applications. To further expand the high‐volume encryption with enhanced security, here, a vectorial‐manipulating encryption strategy is proposed to originally demonstrate multi‐channel encryption and display. By ingeniously utilizing multi‐beam overlapping and precisely controlling their phase differences in the overlapping area, the capacity expansion of up to 12‐channel near‐/far‐field optical images is enabled. Such vectorial‐manipulating strategy is also applied to near‐field nanoprinting and realizes additional encrypted nanoprinting information. More intriguingly, the optical encryption will not be decrypted unless setting with a particular combination of input/output polarization keys, thus enhancing its concealment security beyond the conventional encryption. Overall, the proposed vectorial‐manipulating strategy expands the state‐of‐the‐art storage capacity with enhanced decipher security and potentially suggests a new path for the next‐generation optical storage and encryption security applications.
Extendible functions and local root numbers: Remarks on a paper of R. P. Langlands
Authors: Koch Helmut , Zink Ernst‐Wilhelm
Published: September 2023

This paper refers to Langlands' big set of notes devoted to the question if the (normalized) local Hecke–Tate root number , where E is a finite separable extension of a fixed nonarchimedean local field F, and χ a quasicharacter of , can be appropriately extended to a local ε‐factor for all virtual representations ρ of the corresponding Weil group . Whereas Deligne has given a relatively short proof by using the global Artin–Weil L‐functions, the proof of Langlands is purely local and splits into two parts: the algebraic part to find a minimal set of relations for the functions Δ, such that the existence (and unicity) of will follow from these relations; and the more extensive arithmetic part to give a direct proof that all these relations are actually fulfilled. Our aim is to cover the algebraic part of Langlands' notes, which can be done completely in the framework of representations of solvable profinite groups, where two modifications of Brauer's theorem play a prominent role.
Comment on the article published in Math Meth Appl Sci. 2021;44:2682–2691
Authors: Zayed Elsayed M. E. , El‐Ganaini Shoukry
Published: September 2023

Khater method is wrong. This wrong method has been amended by El‐Ganaini et al. in Pramana – J. Phys. (2019) 93:13. The so‐called modified Khater method has been applied in Sec. 2.1 of Math Meth Appl Sci. 2021;44:2682–2691. In this comment, we show that the modified Khater method does not belong to Mostafa M.A. Khater. It should be called El‐Ganaini et al. method.
Fully automated sinogram‐based deep learning model for detection and classification of intracranial hemorrhage
Authors: Sindhura Chitimireddy , Al Fahim Mohammad , Yalavarthy Phaneendra K. , Gorthi Subrahmanyam
Published: September 2023

Purpose

To propose an automated approach for detecting and classifying Intracranial Hemorrhages (ICH) directly from sinograms using a deep learning framework. This method is proposed to overcome the limitations of the conventional diagnosis by eliminating the time‐consuming reconstruction step and minimizing the potential noise and artifacts that can occur during the Computed Tomography (CT) reconstruction process.

Methods

This study proposes a two‐stage automated approach for detecting and classifying ICH from sinograms using a deep learning framework. The first stage of the framework is Intensity Transformed Sinogram Sythesizer, which synthesizes sinograms that are equivalent to the intensity‐transformed CT images. The second stage comprises of a cascaded Convolutional Neural Network‐Recurrent Neural Network (CNN‐RNN) model that detects and classifies hemorrhages from the synthesized sinograms. The CNN module extracts high‐level features from each input sinogram, while the RNN module provides spatial correlation of the neighborhood regions in the sinograms. The proposed method was evaluated on a publicly available RSNA dataset consisting of a large sample size of 8652 patients.

Results

The results showed that the proposed method had a notable improvement as high as 27% in patient‐wise accuracies when compared to state‐of‐the‐art methods like ResNext‐101, Inception‐v3 and Vision Transformer. Furthermore, the sinogram‐based approach was found to be more robust to noise and offset errors in comparison to CT image‐based approaches. The proposed model was also subjected to a multi‐label classification analysis to determine the hemorrhage type from a given sinogram. The learning patterns of the proposed model were also examined for explainability using the activation maps.

Conclusion

The proposed sinogram‐based approach can provide an accurate and efficient diagnosis of ICH without the need for the time‐consuming reconstruction step and can potentially overcome the limitations of CT image‐based approaches. The results show promising outcomes for the use of sinogram‐based approaches in detecting hemorrhages, and further research can explore the potential of this approach in clinical settings.
A pragmatic, clinically optimized approach to characterizing adolescent irritability: Validation of parent‐ and adolescent reports on the Multidimensional Assessment Profile Scales—Temper Loss Scale
Authors: Kirk Nathan , Hirsch Emily , Alam Tasmia , Wakschlag Lauren S. , Wiggins Jillian Lee , Roy Amy K.
Published: September 2023

Objectives

Heightened irritability in adolescence is an impairing symptom that can lead to negative outcomes in adulthood, but effective screening tools are lacking. This study aimed to derive clinically‐optimized cutoff scores using the Multidimensional Assessment Profile Scales–Temper Loss (MAPS‐TL) to pragmatically identify adolescents with impairing irritability.

Methods

A diverse sample of 79 adolescents and their parents completed the MAPS‐TL‐Youth version. Stepwise logistic regression analyses were used to determine the items associated with impairment, and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analyses were conducted to derive optimal cutoff scores.

Results

Three parent‐report items (become frustrated easily, angry/irritable/grouchy throughout the day, difficulty calming down when angry) and two youth‐report items (hit/shove/kick when lost temper, difficulty calming down when angry) were strongly associated with impairment. Optimal cutoff scores garnered very good sensitivity (91%, 73%) and specificity (77%, 75%) for the parent‐ and youth‐report versions respectively. Scores above these cutoffs were associated with increased internalizing and externalizing problems and lower overall quality of life.

Conclusions

The MAPS‐TL clinically optimized irritability scores show preliminary validity for implementation in practical settings to efficiently identify adolescents who need additional evaluation and/or intervention. Further research is important to validate these cutoff scores with larger population‐based samples and real‐world settings.
Ex situ germplasm collections of exceptional species are a vital part of the conservation of Australia's national plant treasures
Authors: Martyn Yenson Amelia J. , Sommerville Karen D. , Guja Lydia K. , Merritt David J. , Dalziell Emma L. , Auld Tony D. , Broadhurst Linda , Coates David J. , Commander Lucy , Crawford Andrew D. , Emery Nathan J. , Funnekotter Bryn , Knapp Zoe , Makinson Robert O. , Monks Leonie , Wrigley Damian , Offord Catherine A.
Published: September 2023

Societal Impact Statement

Conservation seed banks maintain collections of many seed‐bearing plant species, providing germplasm and data to support management of wild populations. However, a proportion of plant species produce seeds that are difficult to collect, dry, store and utilise; these are known as ‘exceptional’ species. Here we tested a framework for identifying exceptional species, to document examples and provide case studies within the Australian flora. We present a workflow that may be used to identify additional exceptional species, and direct efforts to establish appropriate collection types (seeds and/or living collections, tissue culture or cryopreservation) for their ex situ conservation.

Seed banking is well established to contribute to the conservation of many seed‐bearing plant species ex situ for future use in restoration, translocation, agriculture and horticulture. In Australia, over 67% of currently listed threatened plants are represented in conservation seed banks. However, there are challenges to conserving the full extent of plant diversity in seed banks, with growing recognition that we need to think beyond conventional seed banking methods to conserve ‘exceptional’ plant species that are difficult to collect, store and germinate. We examine how the framework for identification of such species can be applied to the Australian flora, using examples from the recently published guidelines for ‘Plant Germplasm Conservation in Australia’ and case studies and data arising from the Australian Academy of Science Fenner Conference on the Environment ‘Exceptional Times, Exceptional Plants’. We present a workflow to assist conservation decision‐makers and practitioners in identifying exceptional species and overcoming barriers to storage of germplasm, enabling appropriate ex situ collection types to be established via seeds, living collections, tissue culture, cryopreservation or a combination of these. Australia's seed conservation sector continues to expand, with increasing expertise, facilities and networks established to conserve a diversity of plant species; however, resolving the challenges relating to each exceptionality factor requires significantly more time, labour and collaboration than current capacity allows. Understanding the barriers to conservation and production of healthy plants, via germination or other methods of propagation, is a critical component of conserving species long‐term and ultimately returning plants to the landscape.
Chemically modified antiviral peptides against SARS‐CoV‐2
Authors: Quagliata Michael , Papini Anna Maria , Rovero Paolo
Published: September 2023

To date, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) COVID‐19 pandemic continues to be a potentially lethal disease. Although both vaccines and specific antiviral drugs have been approved, the search for more specific therapeutic approaches is still ongoing. The infection mechanism of SARS‐CoV‐2 consists of several stages, and each one can be selectively blocked to disrupt viral infection. Peptides are a promising class of antiviral compounds, which may be suitably modified to be more stable, more effective, and more selective towards a specific viral replication step. The latter two goals might be obtained by increasing the specificity and/or the affinity of the interaction with a specific target and often imply the stabilization of the secondary structure of the active peptide. This review is focused on modified antiviral peptides against SARS‐CoV‐2 acting at different stages of virus replication, including ACE2‐RBD interaction, membrane fusion mechanism, and the proteolytic cleavage by different viral proteases. Therefore, the landscape presented herein provides a useful springboard for the design of new and powerful antiviral therapeutics.
Oleoylethanolamide ameliorates motor dysfunction through PPARα‐mediates oligodendrocyte differentiation and white matter integrity after ischemic stroke
Authors: Zhuo Rengong , Song Zhengmao , Wang Yun , Zhu Maoshu , Liu Feng , Lin Pingli , Rao Rong , Zhou Yu , Zhao Yun , Fan Zhongxiong , Cui Lishan , Liu Hongtao , Li Jingwen , Li Ying , Guo Han , Cai Cheng Fu , Yang Lichao
Published: September 2023

Background and Aim

Our previous study has revealed that OEA promotes motor function recovery in the chronic stage of ischemic stroke. However, the neuroprotective mechanism of OEA on motor function recovery after stroke still is unexplored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the effects of OEA treatment on angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and white matter repair in the peri‐infarct region after cerebral ischemia.

Experimental Procedure

The adult male rats were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion. The rats were treated with 10 and 30 mg/kg OEA or vehicle daily starting from day 2 after ischemia induction until they were sacrificed.

Key Results and Conclusions

The results revealed that OEA increased cortical angiogenesis, neural progenitor cells (NPCs) proliferation, migration, and differentiation. OEA treatment enhanced the survival of newborn neurons and oligodendrogenesis, which eventually repaired the cortical neuronal injury and improved motor function after ischemic stroke. Meanwhile, OEA treatment promoted the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and oligodendrogenesis by activating the PPARα signaling pathway. Our results showed that OEA restores motor function by facilitating cortical angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and white matter repair in rats after ischemic stroke. Therefore, we demonstrate that OEA facilitates functional recovery after ischemic stroke and propose the hypothesis that the long‐term application of OEA mitigates the disability after stroke.
Optimal approach for upstream fish passage design: One‐size‐fits‐all or made‐to‐order?
Authors: Nestler John M. , Gosselin Marie‐Pierre
Published: September 2023

Nearly 60,000 large dams (higher than 15 m) occur worldwide in addition to an estimated 16 million smaller impoundments with individual surface areas larger than 100 m2. The resulting habitat fragmentation threatens global riverine biodiversity and sustainable fish populations. Two opposing approaches for selecting fish passage designs to mitigate river fragmentation are possible: develop a limited number of standardized (reference) designs from which a design for a candidate dam is selected (one‐size‐fits‐all approach) versus conduct scientific fish passage studies specific to each dam and targeted fish species (made‐to‐order approach). The two approaches vary in probability of effectiveness, cost of supporting biological studies, and overall project cost and schedule impact. To address this conundrum, we analyzed 73 USA dams to identify two groups that differed markedly in fish passage planning approaches. Snake River dams are similar in design, flow, geological setting, and target fish species. By contrast, Mississippi River dams are relatively dissimilar in design, flow, and geological setting but generally similar in target fish species. We conclude that the more similar a candidate dam for fish passage is to a reference set of similar dams (i.e., the Snake River dams), then the more likely fish passage technology can be successfully extrapolated to a proposed dam in the same or a nearby watershed. As a general strategy, we recommend that dams in a region be clustered using key hydrologic, structural, operational, and biological variables. These variables can be used to assign a new dam or retrofit an existing dam to a cluster to which they are most similar, thereby optimally extending existing knowledge to new applications. In the process, reliance on the less efficient and more expensive made‐to‐order approach can be reduced.
Evaluation of Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Effect of Guaianolid Sesquiterpenes from Ferula hindukushensis
Authors: Mehrabani Mehrnaz , Iranshahi Mehrdad , Mehrabani Mitra , Jafari Mandana , Amirzadeh Mahla , Farhadi Faegheh
Published: September 2023

Ferula species have been recognized as crucial medicinal plants that are known for producing a variety of sesquiterpenes, such as sesquiterpene lactones and sesquiterpene coumarins. However, guaianolide sesquiterpenes, which are sesquiterpene lactones that contain an alpha‐methylene‐gamma‐lactone moiety, are rare in Ferula spp. Ferula hindukushensis, an endemic species found in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran, belongs to the Ferula genus. In this study, the normal column chromatography technique was employed to fractionate the dichloromethane extract of F. hindukushensis. The structures of two guaianolide sesquiterpenes were identified using various nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, such as 13C NMR, 1H NMR, and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC), and were compared with the literature interpretation to confirm their structural characteristics. Moreover, the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was employed to examine the cytotoxicity of guaianolide compounds on various cell lines, including MCF‐7, 3T3, HT‐29, MCF‐10, PC12, and A549. The antioxidant effects of these compounds were evaluated using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. The findings indicated that the antioxidant activity of the compounds was lower than that of vitamin C at the same concentration. The cytotoxic effects of the compounds varied depending on the cell types. Nevertheless, except for HT‐29, a concentration lower than 125 μg/mL was found to be non‐toxic for all cell lines.
Multifunctional Carbon Dots for Biomedical Applications: Diagnosis, Therapy, and Theranostic
Authors: Wang Jiayi , Fu Yu , Gu Zhanghao , Pan Hao , Zhou Panyu , Gan Qi , Yuan Yuan , Liu Changsheng
Published: September 2023

Designing suitable nanomaterials is an ideal strategy to enable early diagnosis and effective treatment of diseases. Carbon dots (CDs) are luminescent carbonaceous nanoparticles that have attracted considerable attention. Through facile synthesis, they process properties including tunable light emission, low toxicity, and light energy transformation, leading to diverse applications as optically functional materials in biomedical fields. Recently, their potentials have been further explored, such as enzyme‐like activity and ability to promote osteogenic differentiation. Through refined synthesizing strategies carbon dots, a rich treasure trove for new discoveries, stand a chance to guide significant development in biomedical applications. In this review, the authors start with a brief introduction to CDs. By presenting mechanisms and examples, the authors focus on how they can be used in diagnosing and treating diseases, including bioimaging failure of tissues and cells, biosensing various pathogenic factors and biomarkers, tissue defect repair, anti‐inflammation, antibacterial and antiviral, and novel oncology treatment. The introduction of the application of integrated diagnosis and treatment follows closely behind. Furthermore, the challenges and future directions of CDs are discussed. The authors hope this review will provide critical perspectives to inspire new discoveries on CDs and prompt their advances in biomedical applications.
Stress Mitigation of Nanosilicon Anode to Achieve Energy‐Dense and Highly‐Stable Full Cell
Authors: Cao Li , Zheng Min , Dong Guochen , Xu Jiejie , Xiao Rongshi , Huang Ting
Published: September 2023

Nanosilicon (nano‐Si) anode is subjected to significant stress concentration, which is caused by extrusion deformation of expanded Si nanoparticles with uneven distribution. The low‐strength binder and adhesive interface are unable to withstand the stress, resulting in exfoliation and impeding the use of nano‐Si anodes. This work aims to mitigate stress in a Si anode with flexible copper (Cu) skeletons that are metallurgically bonded to uniformly distributed Si nanoparticles. It is worth noting that the proposed porous Si‐Cu anode exhibits improved high‐load cycling performance and promising potential in the full cell, with an energy density of 463 Wh kg−1 at 0.5 C and retention of 81% after 500 cycles at 2 C. Chemo‐mechanical simulation and in (ex) situ observation demonstrate that expansion stress is reduced and more evenly distributed in the anode due to uniform distribution of Si nanoparticles, flexible Cu skeletons, and adequate pores. More importantly, the stress is primarily distributed in the flexible Cu skeletons and bonding interface, preventing anode exfoliation, and ensuring efficient lithium ion/electron transference. This work sheds light on the structure construction of an alloy‐type anode.