bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climate Change and Heat Stress Resilient Outdoor Workers: Findings from Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Habibi Peymaneh , Razmjouei Jaleh , Moradi Amirhossein , Mahdavi Farank , Falla-Aliabadi Saeed , Heydari Ahad
Published: September 2023

Purpose: Global warming has led to an increase in the number and intensity of extreme heat events, posing a significant threat to the health and safety of workers, especially those working outdoors, as they often have limited access to cooling strategies. This systematic literature review aims to compile strategies to enhance occupational heat stress resilience among outdoor workers in the context of climate change.
Materials and Methods: In this systematic review, we searched scientific databases including Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed. Additionally, we identified relevant studies on climate change and heat-stress control measures through Google Scholar using specific search terms. In total, we monitored 2001 articles pertaining to worker populations (men=2921; women=627) in various outdoor climate conditions across 14 countries.
Results. Global warming significantly contributes to the rise in occupational heat stress. Failure to implement effective control strategies for outdoor workers will result in decreased resilience to thermal stress. The findings underscore a lack of awareness regarding certain adaptation strategies and interventions aimed at preventing and enhancing resilience to the impact of climate change on heat stress prevalence among workers in outdoor tropical and subtropical environments.
Conclusion. The integration of climate change adaptation strategies into occupational health programs can enhance occupational heat resilience among outdoor workers. Conducting cost-benefit evaluations of health and safety measures for thermal stress adaptation strategies among outdoor workers is crucial for professionals and policymakers in low- and middle-income tropical and subtropical countries. Projected future global warming conditions will dangerously affect the anticipated occupational heat stress resilience of outdoor workers worldwide. Risk management strategies, adaptive measures, heat risk awareness, practical interventions, training programs, and protective policies should be implemented in hot-dry and hot-humid climates to boost the tolerance and resilience of outdoor workers.
Cucurbitacin E reduce IL-1β-induced inflammation and cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritic chondrocytes by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway
Authors: Wang Lin , Xu Hui , Zhu Xunpeng , Zhang haigang , Chen hongwei , Lin Zhijie , Guo Shilei , Bao Zhibo , Rui Haicheng , Zhang Hui
Published: September 2023

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease. Cartilage degeneration is the earliest and most important pathological change of osteoarthritis. It is generally considered to be a low-grade inflammatory disease, and persistent inflammation is one of the driving factors of cartilage degeneration. Cucurbitacin E (CuE) is a compound isolated from cucurchinaceae that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, but its role and mechanism in osteoarthritis chondrocytes are unknown. In this study,We demonstrated that CuE effectively inhibited the protein expression of IL-1β and COX-2 produced by IL-1β-induced inflammatory cytokines in chondrocytes, and then clarified the mechanism of CuE action on osteoarthritis chondrocytes by evaluating the effect of CuE on chondrocytes in vivo and in vitro, and based on the PI3K/ akt signaling pathway. The results showed that CuE alleviated the loss of collagen in OA chondrocytes induced by IL-1β in vitro, and reduced the expression level of matrix degrading protease such as MMP13 stimulated by IL-1β, which showed that CuE had a certain protective effect on the knee cartilage of mouse in the DMM(destabilization of the medial meniscus) osteoarthritis model established in C57BL/6 mouse. In addition, by mining the GSE114007 and GSE117999 databases, we found that the PI3K/AKT pathway is highly clustered in osteoarthritis, and immunohistochemical analysis of the human cartilage pathological tissue slices we extracted showed that the expression of p-PI3K in patients with osteoarthritis was higher than that in the normal group. The cell thermal stability experiment showed that CuE could effectively bind to PI3K molecule. Molecular docking analysis showed that CuE had a strong binding affinity with the inhibition target of PI3K. Western blot analysis demonstrated that CuE inhibited the protein expression of PI3K/AKT pathway in chondrocytes. These results suggest that CuE can inhibit PI3K/AKT pathway by inhibiting IL-1β-induced PI3K activation in OA chondrocytes, thereby alleviating OA progression. In summary, we suggest that CuE may be a potential therapeutic agent for OA by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway.
The analysis of daily dynamics of geomagnetic field variations spectrum under quiet and disturbed conditions
Authors: Mukasheva Saule , Andreyev Alexey , Sokolova Olga , Kapytin Vitaliy
Published: September 2023

The results of static analysis of measurement records of three components of the Earth's magnetic field obtained at the Alma-Ata Observatory [43.25°N; 76.95°E] are presented. The daily dynamics of the spectrum of measurements of the parameters of the geomagnetic field obtained by adding the spectra of magnetically quiet days with a maximum daily Ap index of less than 5 for the period from 2010 to 2018 was considered. Regular fluctuations in the range of acoustic-gravity waves are revealed. The power spectrum of measurement records of three magnetic field components during a geomagnetic storm (Kp = 8) and under quiet geomagnetic conditions (Kp = 2) was also studied.
Prediction Method for Aging Life of Rubber O-Rings Based on GRU-LSTM Neural Network
Authors: Zheng Rao , Liu Lijing , Li Shuangxi , Li Ye , Qi Zhicheng
Published: September 2023

This paper proposes a prediction model for rubber aging life based on the GRU-LSTM neural network to address the issue of sealing failure caused by material aging of rubber O-rings in the petrochemical industry. The model aims to overcome the limits of existing methods, which have low prediction accuracy and poor stability. In this study, we conducted rubber aging experiments to get data on rubber compression set at different temperatures. After preprocessing the data, we experimentally verified and compared the GRU-LSTM model with the two-layer LSTM model, two-layer GRU model, and BP neural network. Finally, we carried out an example analysis and application of high-temperature flange sealing in a chemical equipment. The results revealed significant differences between the two types of rubber, NBR-26 and HNBR. When using the aging data at 60, 80, and 100°C to predict the aging data at 70 and 90°C, the R2 values for NBR-26 and HNBR were 0.9968 and 0.9945, respectively. These findings highlight the superior predictive performance of the proposed model. These results show significantly better prediction performance compared to the other three models. Further, the accuracy of the prediction results increased with the number of temperature levels and samples. We recommend using at least three temperatures for prediction, and a larger sample size is preferable. The example analysis showed that this prediction model can help decide the replacement cycle of high-temperature flange rubber O-rings at different storage temperatures, reducing maintenance costs.
Polyketides from Neohelicosporium griseum: structure assignment and bioactivity investigation
Authors: Zhang Lijuan , Ma Jian , Yang Mingfei , Zhao Tianming , Han Meiyan , Zheng Dege , Mapook Ausana , Lu Yongzhong , Jayawardena Ruvishika S
Published: September 2023

A chemical investigation of the rice fermentation by the saprophytic fungus Neohelicosporium griseum, isolated from decayed wood, yielded vertixanthone (1), diaportheone A (2), 1,3,6,8-tetrahydroxyanthraquinone (3), lecanoric acid (4), decarboxycitrinone (5), 6,8-dihydroxy-4-hydroxymethyl-3,5-dimethyl-isochromen-1-one (6), decarboxyhydroxycitrinone (7), and ergosterin (8). The 1D and 2D NMR character of compound 1 in DMSO-d6 was described in detail for the first time. An investigation of the antimicrobial activities of the isolated compounds revealed moderate activity of compounds 1–4 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and weak activity of compound 3 against Staphylococcus aureus. An in-vitro cytotoxic test showed that compounds 1, 3, and 4 had cytotoxic activity against HELA cell lines, with respective IC50 values of 30.8, 13.7, and 14.1 µM. Compounds 1, 3, and 4 also showed significant cytotoxicity against A549 cell lines, with respective IC50 values of 24.7, 7.4, and 10.3 µM.
A metrical method of sex estimation for two medieval scottish populations
Authors: Bissonnette Danielle
Published: September 2023

Calcanei and tali are robust, sexually dimorphic, weight-bearing foot-bones that survive well in forensic and archaeological contexts. In this study, sex estimations were conducted on calcanei and tali from the Ballumbie and St. Andrews Library mediaeval Scottish populations provided by the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, applying the Alonso-Llamazares and Pablos (2019) method. This method has proven accuracy of up to 96.4% for the Hamann-Todd Human Osteological collection, 91.4% for Homo sapiens from data published by other authors and 100.0% for both the Sima de los Huesos hominids and Homo neanderthalensis, based on discriminant functions for the calcaneus and talus. In this study, 39 calcanei from 19 males and 20 females and 56 tali from 25 males and 31 females were used. The functions obtained produced accuracies varying from 67.3% − 88.4% for univariate and from 79.1% − 100.0% for the multivariate discriminant formulae. This study confirms the finding of Alonso-Llamazares and Pablos (2019) that multivariate statistical analysis of the calcaneus and talus combined generally produce more accurate sex estimations than univariate statistical methods. Measurements yielding the highest accuracy for sex estimation were the maximum length of the calcaneus, posterior talar articular surface length of the calcaneus, talar length and total length of the talus. The Alonso-Llamazares and Pablos (2019) formulae applied to these two mediaeval populations produced accuracies ranging from 43.9% − 89.4% for univariate and from 75.6% − 97.1% accuracy for multivariate formulae. The best predictor for sex from both studies was the total talar length (M1a).
Enhancing Ontology Integration in Medical Texts through Advanced Mechanisms
Authors: Kawas Mouhamad , Alkhatib Bassel , Dashash Mayssoon
Published: September 2023

Ontology integration involves combining several data sources into a single and unified knowledge representation. In the context of medical texts, ontology integration plays a crucial role, as these texts include essential knowledge for clinical and research applications. However, existing methods for incorporating ontologies into medical texts have exhibited limitations in terms of comprehensiveness, flexibility, semantic accuracy, logical rigor, efficiency, and overall effectiveness. To address these shortcomings, this paper introduces an enhanced ontology integration mechanism tailored specifically for medical texts. Our proposed mechanism integrates various data sources within medical texts seamlessly by employing a combination of ontological, logical, lexical, structural, semantic, declarative, and machine-learning techniques. This mechanism leverages a common upper ontology and a set of transformation rules to align concepts and relationships across different source ontologies. Additionally, it utilizes a supervised machine learning approach to predict mappings between concepts and relationships originating from various source ontologies. To assess the effectiveness of our mechanism, extensive evaluations using diverse datasets, ontologies, and benchmark tests for ontology matching, evaluation, text processing, and application were undertaken. Through rigorous comparisons with existing approaches, the superior performance and effectiveness of our mechanism were demonstrated. In addition, a comprehensive analysis of its strengths, weaknesses, and implications for both research and real-world implementation within the field of medicine was also performed. This mechanism represents a significant advancement in ontology integration for medical texts, empowering data-driven decision-making in the field of medicine.
Performance comparison of Gilbert's algorithm and machine learning in classifying Bell-diagonal two-qutrit entanglement
Authors: Wieśniak Marcin
Published: September 2023

While classifying states as entangled or separable is one of the fundamental tasks in quantum information theory, it is also extremely challenging. This task is highly nontrivial even for relatively simple cases, such as two-qutrit Bell-diagonal states, i.e., mixtures of nine mutually orthogonal maximally entangled states. In this article we apply Gilbert's algorithm to revise previously obtained results for this class. In particular we use ''entanglement cartography'' to argue that most states left in [Hiesmayr, B. C. {\em Scientific Reports} {\bf 11}, 19739 (2021)] as unknown to be entangled or separable are most likely indeed separable, or very weakly entangled, beyond any practical relevance. The presented technique can find endless applications in more general cases.
Antibiotics for UTIs Cause Distinct Alterations in Gut Microbiota and Host Health Compared to Enteritis Treatment
Authors: Liu fengping , Sun Yifan , Xu Zhengyi , Lin Hao , Tang Yifang , Xia Qiang , Wei Shichao , Hu Jialin , Sheng Jiayi , Hu Lei , Guo Wei , Gu Yifeng , Wei Qun , Wang Shiyu , Zhao Yu , Li Zhi , Xu Cheng , Feng Ninghan
Published: September 2023

Background Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has gained attention as a potential treatment for various chronic inflammatory diseases, including colitis and urinary tract infections (UTIs). However, the effects of different antibiotics, especially those used for UTIs, on the gut microbiota and host are not well-studied.
Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats, 8 weeks old, were subjected to antibiotic cocktails for the treatment of enteritis and UTIs, receiving daily doses of 0.5g and 1g via gavage over a 2-week period. Following this treatment, samples of feces and jejunal tissue were collected for microbiota analysis, and bacterial DNA was subsequently isolated and sequenced using 16S rRNA. The microbial composition, diversity, and abundance were thoroughly assessed. Additionally, a comprehensive evaluation included histomorphological analysis, body weight measurement, food intake monitoring, as well as assessments of liver, renal function, and urinary parameters.
Results Fecal and tissue samples exhibited distinct microbial profiles, with fecal samples being more diverse. Antibiotics, both for enteritis and UTIs, significantly altered microbial communities in fecal samples, reducing richness and diversity. The effects were less pronounced in tissue samples. UTI antibiotics had a more detrimental impact on intestinal histomorphology compared to enteritis antibiotics. Rats on higher UTI antibiotic doses showed lower body weight and reduced food intake. Liver, renal function, and urinary parameters were affected, indicating potential systemic consequences.
Conclusions This study underscores the differential impacts of antibiotics on gut microbiota and host health, particularly emphasizing caution in UTI antibiotic use and advocating further research for mitigation.
Quantitative investigation of rock dynamic failure using Voronoi-based discontinuous deformation analysis
Authors: Zhang Kaiyu , Zhang Lei , Liu Feng , Xia Kaiwen , Yu Yuchao , Wang Shuai
Published: September 2023

Dynamic failure widely exists in rock engineering, such as excavation, blasting, and rockburst. However, the quantitative measurement of the dynamic damage process using experimental methods remains a challenge. In this study, a SHPB modeling technique is established based on Voronoi-based DDA to study the damage evolution of Fangshan granite under dynamic loading. The assessment of cracking along the artificial joints among Voronoi sub-blocks is conducted by employing the modified contact constitutive law. A calibration procedure has been implemented to investigate the rock dynamic properties quantitatively. The dispersion and damping effect can be effectively eliminated by regular discretization in SHPB bars, based on which the dynamic stress equilibrium can be satisfied. To reproduce the loading rate effect of the dynamic compressive strength, which has been observed in the experiment, a modification strategy considering the influence of the rate effect on the strength meso-parameters is proposed. Using this strategy, the peak stresses of the transmitted waves predicted by DDA match well with those obtained from experiments conducted at different loading rates. The simulation results show that more microcracks are generated and the proportion of tensile cracks decreases as the loading rate increases. Furthermore, the dynamic mechanical behavior and fracturing process have also been discussed and compared with the experiments. The results show that the established SHPB system is a powerful tool for quantitative analysis of rock dynamics problems and is capable of handling more complex problems in the future.
Effect of perioperative factors on short-term outcomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer over 60 years of age
Authors: Zhu Wenzhi , Yang Jiaonan , Wang Xiaoyi , Ji Xinqiang , Tan Hongyu
Published: September 2023

Background: People in China have gradually entered old age society, and the number of lung cancer cases is expected to increase annually among the elderly. This study aimed to retrospectively explore the association between perioperative factors and short-term outcomes in elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods: A total of 490 elderly patients with NSCLC between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2009, were selected. Perioperative factors were grouped and analyzed according to postoperative complications and length of hospital stay. A logistic regression analysis model was used to screen for the independent predictors of patient prognosis. The primary endpoint was postoperative complications and the secondary endpoint was postoperative hospital stay.
Results: Of all patients, 344 (70.2%) developed postoperative complications, and the average length of stay after surgery was14.0±5.6 days. Perioperative fentanyl equivalents＞28.7μg/kg and duration of surgery＞4.4h were associated were associated with an increased risk of PPCs (P < 0.05);intraoperative blood loss(IBL) > 200 ml was associated with extended hospital stay (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: This study suggested that Perioperative factors may affect the short-term prognosis of elderly NSCLC patients after surgery. Perioperative fentanyl equivalents＞28.7μg/kg, surgery duration, and IBL may be independent predictors of short-term outcomes in elderly patients.
Research and Application of automatic train loading line and intelligent cleaning robot of dry bulk terminal
Authors: weili Zhao , shoushui Yu , jie Zhang , lei Li , xuexu Ma , fuqian Liu
Published: September 2023

The ship cleaning operation is an indispensable job link in the bulk unloading operation. In the late ship unloading, it is difficult to capture the four-week goods in the cabin and unloading machinery. During the existing cleaning process, unloading machinery (grab), cabin machinery, cleaning workers, etc.At the same time, in the current epidemic environment, the risk of infection with neozoppneumitis is also increasing.In response to the outstanding problems in the above-mentioned clearing, the automated transformation of loaders and excavators, automated transformation of the door, and the development of the clearing equipment, and the electronic upper rod system are implemented.All the hatch commanders are all unmanned, while ensuring the efficiency of the cleans, completely eliminating the safety risks of personal injury.
Spatial Distribution of Under-five Mortality at the Zone Level in Ethiopia
Authors: Gagabo Sisay Yohannes , Debeko Dereje Danbe
Published: September 2023

Background
Despite remarkable rate declines, about 5.6 million children worldwide still die before turning five every year. In 2016, 67 out of every 1,000 babies in Ethiopia died before they reached five, according to the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). This study aimed to study the spatial distribution of under-five mortality (U5M) at the zone level in Ethiopia using data from the 2016 EDHS.
Methods
The EDHS, 2016, provided the information used in this investigation. The distribution of under-five mortality throughout the regions of Ethiopia was identified using spatial analysis to find hot and cold spot zones.
Results
In Ethiopia, there was a geographical clustering of the U5M distribution (Moran's I = 0.97, p-value = 0.00). The regions of Afar, Benshangul-Gumuz, Somalia, and Gambela were found to have hot zones of U5M, while Addis Ababa and Tigray were found to have cold zones.
Conclusion
Ethiopia's regions were spatially and geographically concentrated in terms of under-five mortality, while host spot zones were identified in less developed areas of the nation. There was a sizable regional variance in under-five mortality. A multi-sectoral approach to reducing geographical disparities, raising public awareness about the use of health services, and taking effective action to address the causes of under-five mortality can significantly lessen the issue in Ethiopia.
Dynamic Characteristics and Reinforcement Mechanism of Silty Soil Improved by Regenerated Fiber Polymer
Authors: Liu Lulu , Zhao Jinpeng , Liu Xiaoyan , Lv Shixin
Published: September 2023

The advancement of reinforcement technologies and the enhancement of dynamic stability in subgrade silty soils contribute to sustainable civil engineering practices. To achieve these objectives, this study employs fiber polymers and inorganic curing agents to optimize the mechanical properties of subgrade silty soils. Utilizing dynamic triaxial testing and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), the study examines both the dynamic behavior and microstructural mechanisms of the engineered soil. The principal findings are threefold. First, optimum dynamic stability is attained when the fiber content in the modified subgrade silty soil is at 0.2%. Second, an increase in confining pressure enhances the quasi-cohesion of the fiber-reinforced soil. Lastly, cementitious materials coat the micro-particle surfaces of the enhanced soil, linking the smaller soil particles to fill interstitial spaces, thus yielding a more compact and stable soil structure and improving the dynamic behavior of the fiber-reinforced soil.
The First Human Application of an F-18-labeled Tryptophan Analog for PET Imaging of Cancer
Authors: Muzik Otto , Shields Anthony F. , Barger Geoffrey R. , Jiang Huailei , Chamiraju Parthasarathi , Juhász Csaba
Published: September 2023

Purpose. Preclinical studies showed the tryptophan analog PET radiotracer 1-(2-18F-fluoroethyl)-L-tryptophan (18F-FETrp) to accumulate in various tumors, including gliomas, and being metabolized via the immunosuppressive kynurenine pathway. In this first-in-human study, we tested the use 18F-FETrp-PET in patients with neuroendocrine and brain tumors.
Procedures. We applied dynamic brain imaging in patients with gliomas (n = 2) and multi-pass 3D whole-body PET scans in patients with neuroendocrine tumors (n =4). Semiquantitative analysis of organ and tumor tracer uptake was performed using standardized uptake values (SUVs). In addition, organ dosimetry was performed based on extracted time-activity curves and the OLINDA software.
Results. Neuroendocrine tumors showed an early peak (10-min post-injection) followed by washout. Both gliomas showed prolonged 18F-FETrp accumulation plateauing around 40-min and showing heterogeneous uptake including non-enhancing tumor regions. Biodistribution showed moderate liver uptake and fast clearance of radioactivity into the urinary bladder; the estimated effective doses were similar to other 18F-labeled radioligands.
Conclusions. The study provides proof-of-principle data for the safety and potential clinical value of 18F-FETrp-PET for molecular imaging of human gliomas.
Numerical Assessment of Rainfall-Induced Variations in Slope Displacement and Stress Fields
Authors: Liu Xiaoyan , Lv Shixin , Zhang Changjun , Liu Lulu
Published: September 2023

The global occurrence of instability in loess slopes manifests in various forms, including collapse, landslides, debris flows, and sinkholes. Rainfall emerges as a principal factor influencing the instability of loess slopes. In the context of burgeoning infrastructure and urban development, elucidating the rainfall-triggering mechanisms of loess landslides presents a significant engineering challenge. To address this, the present study employed ADINA numerical software to simulate the impact of rainfall on field landslides. Accounting for local rainfall intensities, simulations were executed to examine the effects of rainfall intensities of 200 mm/d, 300 mm/d, and 400 mm/d on the stress and displacement patterns within the landslide. The findings reveal that rainfall intensity substantially influences both the stress and displacement characteristics of the slope. As the intensity escalates, there is a corresponding increase in slope displacement and a gradual expansion of the stress-affected zone at the slope's toe. Notably, displacement near the slope's summit is minimal but amplifies progressively downwards, culminating in maximal displacement at the toe.
SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibody Titers in
Maternal Blood, Umbilical Cord Blood, and Breast Milk
Authors: Weinberger Barry , Khalifeh Mazen , Rubin Lorry , Dayya David , Cerise Jane , Skinner Karen , Maloney Mona , Walworth Charles , Petropoulos Christos , Wrin Terri , Chun Kelly
Published: September 2023

Objective:
We quantified neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 antibody against spike protein (nAb) levels after vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection in maternal serum, cord blood, and breast milk and determined whether they correlate with levels of spike protein binding antibody.
Study Design:
Women (n=100) were enrolled on admission for delivery. Previous SARS-CoV-2 infection was defined by anti-nucleocapsid antibodies. Levels of nAb and binding antibodies against spike receptor binding domain were measured in maternal blood, cord blood, and milk.
Results:
Maternal nAb levels were higher after vaccine and infection than vaccine alone, but waned rapidly. Levels of nAb in cord blood and milk correlated with maternal levels and were higher in cord blood than maternal. Spike protein binding antibody levels correlated with nAb.
Conclusion:
SARS-CoV-2 vaccination near delivery may boost antibody-mediated immunity in the peripartum period. Neutralizing antibodies are passed transplacentally and into milk. Spike protein binding antibody may be a feasible proxy for nAb.
Selective arm-usage of pre-miR-1307 dysregulates angiogenesis and contributes to breast cancer aggressiveness
Authors: Sumer Oyku Ece , Schelzig Korbinian , Jung Janine , Li Xiaoya , Moros Janina , Schwarzmüller Luisa , Sen Ezgi , Karolus Sabine , Wörner Angelika , Nataraj Nishanth Belugali , Vlachavas Efstathios-Iason , Gerhäuser Clarissa , Müller-Decker Karin , Helm Dominic , Yarden Yosef , Michels Birgitta Elisabeth , Körner Cindy
Published: September 2023

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women Breast cancer aggressiveness can be regulated by miRNAs, which are encoded in the genome as pre-miRNAs. One pre-miRNA can give rise to several functionally distinct mature miRNA species. miR-1307-3p has been described to promote breast cancer progression. However, the impact of global overexpression of pre-miR-1307 has not been investigated in breast cancer, yet. Here, we found significant upregulation of the three mature miRNA species derived from pre-miR-1307 in breast cancer tissue from the TCGA-BRCA cohort. Surprisingly, the overexpression of pre-miR-1307 in basal-like breast cancer cell lines resulted in impaired xenograft growth and impaired angiogenesisin vivo.Mechanistically, we showed that overexpression specifically of miR-1307-5p caused alterations in the secretome of breast cancer cells and reduced endothelial cell sprouting. Of note, expression levels of miR-1307-5p were inversely correlated with endothelial cell fractions in human breast tumors and associated with improved prognosis, corroborating the anti-angiogenic function of the 5p arm of miR-1307. Importantly, arm usage of miR-1307 was highly correlated with arm usage patterns of several other miRNAs suggesting a common regulatory mechanism, which still needs to be uncovered. Taken together, miR-1307-5p negatively regulates angiogenesis in breast cancer and thereby antagonizes the oncogenic miR-1307-3p. Hence, our results emphasize the importance of future research focusing on the regulation of miRNA arm selection in cancer. The underlying mechanisms might ultimately serve as the basis for innovative therapeutic strategies shifting the balance towards tumor-suppressive miRNA species.
Sensory niche partitioning in two sympatric social wasps: sugar responsiveness could determine foraging patterns in yellowjackets
Authors: Masciocchi Maité , Mattiacci Analia , Villacide José M. , Buteler Micaela , Porrino Agustina , Martinez Andres
Published: September 2023

Sympatric-related species often exhibit resource partitioning. This can occur through different mechanisms, such as behavioral, morphological, and sensory variations, leading to qualitative, temporal, or spatial differences in resource exploitation. Sensory-based niche partitioning could be the underlying mechanism through which closely-related species effectively reduce niche overlap. Here we ask whether variations in sensory responses to carbohydrates could reflect differences in the foraging patterns of two Vespula sp. species present in Patagonia. We established (i) the response thresholds toward carbohydrate solutions of foraging V. germanica and V. vulgaris in the laboratory, (ii) the sugar concentration of carbohydrates foraged in the field, and (iii) effect of incoming sugar concentration on individual and colony performance. Results indicate a higher sucrose response threshold in V. germanica than V. vulgaris, with higher carbohydrate concentrations foraged by V. germanica (57% of V. germanica foragers returned with concentrations above 50 Brix, while 23% of V. vulgaris foragers did so). Differences in sensitivity and foraging, positively correlate with colony size, suggesting that competition could be reduced in these closely-related invasive social wasps through sensorial differences in their sugar perception levels. This is the first study to suggest that sensorial niche partitioning could promote species coexistence in social wasps.
FRET imaging of Teen sensor captures ERK activation changes preceding morphological defects in a RASopathy zebrafish model and phenotypic rescue by MEK inhibitor
Authors: Fasano Giulia , Petrini Stefania , Bonavolontà Valeria , Paradisi Graziamaria , Pedalino Catia , Tartaglia Marco , Lauri Antonella
Published: September 2023

Background
RASopathies are genetic syndromes affecting development and having variable cancer predisposition. These disorders are clinically related, and are caused by germline mutations affecting key players and regulators of the RAS-MAPK signaling pathway generally leading to an upregulated ERK activity. Gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in PTPN11, encoding SHP2, a cytosolic protein tyrosine phosphatase positively controlling RAS function, underlie approximately 50% of Noonan syndromes (NS), the most common RASopathy. A different class of these activating mutations occur as somatic events in childhood leukemias.
Methods
Here, we evaluated the application of a FRET-based zebrafish ERK reporter, Teen, and use of fast and quantitative FRET protocols to monitor non-physiological RASopathy-associated changes in ERK activation. In a multi-level experimental workflow, we tested the suitability of the Teen reporter to detect pan-embryo ERK activity correlates of morphometric alterations driven by the NS-causing Shp2D61G allele.
Results
Spectral unmixing- and acceptor photobleaching (AB)-FRET analyses captured pathological ERK activity preceding the manifestation of quantifiable body axes defects, a morphological pillar used to test the strength of SHP2 GoF mutations. Last, the work shows that by multi-modal FRET analysis we can quantitatively trace back to early development the modulation of ERK phosphorylation obtained by low-dose MEK inhibitor treatment, occurring before the onset of morphological defects.
Conclusion
This work proves the usefulness of FRET imaging protocols on both live and fixed Teen ERK reporter fish to readily monitoring and quantifying pharmacologically- and genetically-induced ERK activity modulations in early embryos, representing a useful tool in pre-clinical applications targeting RAS-MAPK signaling.
Optimization of process parameters for gas-powder flow behavior in the coaxial nozzle during laser direct metal deposition based on numerical simulation
Authors: Zhao Kai , Yang Kun , Chen Mingzhi , Wang Zhandong , Wu Erke , Sun Guifang
Published: September 2023

Laser direct metal deposition (DMD) can supply a new method in the fields of surface modification and near-net forming. The powder flow behavior and its convergence characteristics play a crucial role in the deposition quality during the DMD process. In this research, the k-ε turbulence model based on the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling method was innovatively employed to establish the numerical model of the gas-powder flow. Then, the Dense Discrete Phase Model (DDPM) was utilized in this gas-powder coupling model to accurately calculate the collision between particles and between particle and inner wall of the nozzle. Afterward, the Response Surface Method (RSM) was carried out to design the numerical simulation scheme, analyze a series of simulation results, explore the correlation between the process parameters and the responses, and establish the prediction model of powder convergence characteristics. Furthermore, the process parameters were optimized by considering the influence of defocusing amount, with smaller powder spot diameter and higher maximum powder mass concentration as optimization objectives. It was found that the prediction model of responses demonstrated a high degree of accuracy and reliability. The single deposition track exhibited better deposition quality fabricated with the optimized process parameters. The research method and results mentioned in the present study were expected to provide significant theoretical guidance for the selection and application of process parameters during the laser direct metal deposition process.
Wrapping gastroduodenal artery stump with the teres hepatis ligament to prevent postpancreatectomy hemorrhage after pancreaticoduodenectomy
Authors: Zheng Xiang , Jiang Zedong , Gao Zhenzhen , Zhou Bo , Li Guogang , Yan Sheng , Mei Xiaoping
Published: September 2023

Background
Gastroduodenal artery (GDA) stump erosion hemorrhage is a fatal complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy. This study aimed to determine whether GDA stump wrapping with the teres hepatis ligament during pancreaticoduodenectomy decreased the incidence of postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH).
Methods
We reviewed 307 patients who had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy between March 2019 and June 2022. The patients were divided into two groups according to application of GDA stump wrapping with the teres hepatis ligament: GDA wrapping group (165 patients) and no-wrapping group (142 patients). The perioperative data were compared between the groups.
Results
The clinical characteristics were balanced between the two groups. Grade B and C PPH and GDA-stump-related hemorrhage were significantly reduced in the GDA wrapping group compared with the no-wrapping group (PPH B/C, 13.4% vs 6.1%, P = 0.029; GDA hemorrhage, 5.6% vs 0.6%, P = 0.014). No difference was observed in the incidence of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula, biliary leak, intra-abdominal abscess, delayed gastric emptying, 90-day mortality, and postoperative hospital stay between the two groups.
Conclusion
Wrapping GDA stump with the teres hepatis ligament reduced the incidence of GDA-stump-related PPH. Therefore, the wrapping technique is a simple and effective strategy to prevent PPH. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the benefit of this procedure.
Transmission of highly virulent CXCR4 tropic HIV-1 through the mucosal route in an individual with a wild-type CCR5 genotype
Authors: Song Hongshuo , Marichannegowda Manukumar , Setua Saini , Bose Meera , Sanders-Buell Eric , King David , Zemil Michelle , Wieczorek Lindsay , Diaz-Mendez Felisa , Chomont Nicolas , Thomas Rasmi , Francisco Leilani , Eller Leigh Anne , Polonis Victoria , Tovanabutra Sodsai , Tagaya Yutaka , Michael Nelson , Robb Merlin
Published: September 2023

Nearly all transmitted/founder (T/F) HIV-1 are CCR5 (R5)-tropic. While previous evidence suggested that CXCR4 (X4)-tropic HIV-1 are transmissible, detection was not at the earliest stages of acute infection. Here, we identified an X4-tropic T/F HIV-1 in a participant in acute infection cohort. Coreceptor assays demonstrated that this T/F virus is strictly CXCR4 tropic. The participant experienced significantly faster CD4 depletion compared with R5 virus infected participants in the same cohort. Naïve and central memory CD4 subsets declined faster than effector and transitional memory subsets. All CD4 subsets, including naïve, were productively infected. Increased CD4+ T cell activation was observed over time. This X4-tropic T/F virus is resistant to broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) targeting V1/V2 and V3 regions. These findings demonstrate that X4-tropic HIV-1 is transmissible through the mucosal route in people with the wild-type CCR5 genotype and have implications for understanding the transmissibility and immunopathogenesis of X4-tropic HIV-1.
Neurobiological mechanisms of ECT and TMS treatment in depression. Study protocol of a multimodal magnetic resonance investigation
Authors: Frid Leila Marie , Kessler Ute , Ousdal Olga-Therese , Hammar Åsa , Haavik Jan , Riemer Frank , Hirnstein Marco , Ersland Lars , Erchinger Vera Jane , Ronold Eivind Haga , Nygaard Gyrid , Jakobsen Petter , Craven Alexander R , Osnes Berge , Alisauskiene Renata , Bartsch Hauke , Hellard Stephanie Le , Stavrum Anne-Kristin , Oedegaard Ketil J , Oltedal Leif
Published: September 2023

Background: Noninvasive neurostimulation treatments are increasingly being used to treat major depression, which is a common cause of disability worldwide. While electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are both effective in treating depressive episodes, their mechanisms of action are, however, not completely understood. ECT is given under general anesthesia, where an electrical pulse is administered through electrodes placed on the patient’s head to trigger a seizure. ECT is used for the most severe cases of depression and is usually not prescribed before other options have failed. With TMS, brain stimulation is achieved through rapidly changing magnetic fields that induce electric currents underneath a ferromagnetic coil. Its efficacy in depressive episodes has been well documented. This project aims to identify the neurobiological underpinnings of both the effects and side effects of the neurostimulation techniques ECT and TMS.
Methods: The study will utilize a pre-post case control longitudinal design. The sample will consist of 150 subjects: 100 patients (bipolar and major depressive disorder) who are treated with either ECT (N=50) or TMS (N=50) and matched healthy controls (N=50) not receiving any treatment. All participants will undergo multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as neuropsychological and clinical assessments at multiple time points before, during and after treatment. Arterial spin labeling MRI at baseline will be used to test whether brain perfusion can predict outcomes. Signs of brain disruption, potentiation and rewiring will be explored with resting-state functional MRI, magnetic resonance spectroscopy and multishell diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). Clinical outcome will be measured by clinician assessed and patient reported outcome measures. Memory-related side effects will be investigated, and specific tests of spatial navigation to test hippocampal function will be administered both before and after treatment. Blood samples will be stored in a biobank for future analyses. The observation time is 6 months. Data will be explored in light of the recently proposed disrupt, potentiate and rewire (DPR) hypothesis.
Discussion: The study will contribute data and novel analyses important for our understanding of neurostimulation as well as for the development of enhanced and more personalized treatment.
Trial registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05135897
Parenteral nutrition components interfere in the silicon protection of aluminum toxicity
Authors: NorembergKunz Simone , Bohrer Denise , Nascimento Paulo Cícero do , Cibin Francielli Weber Santos , de Carvalho Leandro Machado
Published: September 2023

Aluminum and silicon are contaminants found in formulations used to prepare parenteral nutrition. Both elements are leached from glass containers, mainly during the heating cycle for sterilization. Insoluble and biologically inactive species of hydroxyaluminosilicates have been shown to form in solutions containing Al and Si. Therefore, this interaction may play an important role in protecting the body against Al toxicity. In this study, the bioavailability of Al in the presence of Si, calcium gluconate (Gluc.) and potassium phosphate (Phosf.) was investigated in rats. The rats were divided into 10 groups of 5 animals each: control, Al, Si, Al + Si, Gluc, Gluc + Al, Gluc + Al + Si, Phosf, Phosf + Al and Phosf + Al + Si. The doses, consisting of 0.5 mg/kg/day Al and 2 mg/kg/day Si in the presence ou absence of Gluc. or Phosf., were intraperitoneally administered for 3 months. Tissues were analyzed for Al and Si content. Al accumulated in the liver, kidneys, and bones, and the simultaneous administration of Si decreased Al accumulation in these tissues. The presence of Si reduced the amount of Al present by 72% in the liver, by 45% in the kidneys and by 16% in bone. This effect was lees pronounced in the presence of parenteral nutrition compounds though. Si tissue accumulation was also observed, mainly when administered together with phosphate. These results suggest that Si may act as a protector against Al toxicity, by either reducing Al absorption or increasing its excretion, probably through hydroxyaluminosilicates formation. The presence of calcium gluconate and potassium phosphate decrease or inhibit this effect.
Double-stranded RNA targeting white mold Sclerotinia sclerotiorum argonaute 2 for disease control via spray-induced gene silencing
Authors: Marzano Shin-Yi Lee , Beligala Gayathri , Mukherjee Soumya , Feng Chenchen
Published: September 2023

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, causal agent of white mold infection, is a cosmopolitan fungal pathogen that causes major yield losses in many economically important crops. Spray induced gene silencing has recently been shown to be a promising alternative method for controlling plant diseases. Based on our prior research, we focus on developing spray-induced gene silencing approach to control white mold by silencingS. sclerotiorumargonaute 2 (SsAgo2), a crucial part of the fungal small RNA pathway. We compared the lesion size as a result of targeting each ~ 500-bp segments of SsAgo2 from 5’ to 3’ and found that targeting the PIWI/ RNaseH domain of SsAgo2 is most effective. External application of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) suppressed white mold infection using eitherin vitroorin vivotranscripts was determined at the rate of 800 ng/0.2cm2drop with a downregulation of SsAgo2 from infected leaf tissue confirmed by RT-qPCR. Furthermore, magnesium/iron-layered double hydroxides (MgFe-LDH) nanosheets were loaded byin vitroandin vivotranscribed dsRNA segments and significantly reduced the rate of lesion expansion. The combination ofin vivoproduced dsRNA and nanosheet is promising to be further developed as environmentally friendly fungicide to control white mold infections.
ChatGPT-based Investment Portfolio Selection
Authors: Romanko Oleksandr , Narayan Akhilesh , Kwon Roy
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we explore potential uses of generative AI models, such as ChatGPT, for investment portfolio selection. Trusting investment advice from Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (GPT) models is a challenge due to model "hallucinations", necessitating careful verification and validation of the output. Therefore, we take an alternative approach. We use ChatGPT to obtain a universe of stocks from S&P500 market index that are potentially attractive for investing. Subsequently, we compared various portfolio optimization strategies that utilized this AI-generated trading universe, evaluating those against quantitative portfolio optimization models as well as comparing to some of the popular investment funds. Our findings indicate that ChatGPT is effective in stock selection but may not perform as well in assigning optimal weights to stocks within the portfolio. But when stocks selection by ChatGPT is combined with established portfolio optimization models, we achieve even better results. By blending strengths of AI-generated stock selection with advanced quantitative optimization techniques, we observed the potential for more robust and favorable investment outcomes, suggesting a hybrid approach for more effective and reliable investment decision-making in the future.
How opportunistic mobile participatory monitoring can enhance air quality assessment?
Authors: Abboud Mohammad , Taher Yehia , Zeitouni Karine , Raimond Ana-Maria Olteanu
Published: September 2023

The deteriorating air quality in urban areas, particularly in developing countries, has led to increased attention being paid to the issue. Daily reports of air pollution are essential to effectively manage public health risks. Pollution estimation has become crucial to expanding spatial and temporal coverage and estimating pollution levels at different locations. The emergence of low-cost sensors has enabled high-resolution data collection, either in fixed or mobile settings, and various approaches have been proposed to estimate air pollution using this technology. The objective of this study is to enhance the data from fixed stations by incorporating opportunistic mobile participatory monitoring (MPM) data. The main research question we are dealing with is: How can we augment fixed station data through MPM? In order to address the challenge of limited MPM data availability, we leverage existing data collected during periods when the pollution maps align with those observed by the fixed stations. By combining the fixed and mobile data, we apply interpolation techniques to produce more accurate pollution maps. The efficacy of our approach is validated through experiments conducted on a real-life dataset.