bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of Hypoxia Prognostic Signature in Glioblastoma Multiforme Based on Bulk and Single-Cell RNA-Seq
Authors: Ahmed Yaman B. , Ababneh Obada E. , Al-Khalili Anas A. , Serhan Abdullah , Hatamleh Zaid , Ghammaz Owais , Alkhaldi Mohammad , Alomari Safwan
Published: February 2024

Glioblastoma (GBM) represents a profoundly aggressive and heterogeneous brain neoplasm linked to a bleak prognosis. Hypoxia, a common feature in GBM, has been linked to tumor progression and therapy resistance. In this study, we aimed to identify hypoxia-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and construct a prognostic signature for GBM patients using multi-omics analysis. Patient cohorts were collected from publicly available databases, including the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), and The Cancer Genome Atlas—Glioblastoma Multiforme (TCGA-GBM), to facilitate a comprehensive analysis. Hypoxia-related genes (HRGs) were obtained from the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB). Differential expression analysis revealed 41 hypoxia-related DEGs in GBM patients. A consensus clustering approach, utilizing these DEGs’ expression patterns, identified four distinct clusters, with cluster 1 showing significantly better overall survival. Machine learning techniques, including univariate Cox regression and LASSO regression, delineated a prognostic signature comprising six genes (ANXA1, CALD1, CP, IGFBP2, IGFBP5, and LOX). Multivariate Cox regression analysis substantiated the prognostic significance of a set of three optimal signature genes (CP, IGFBP2, and LOX). Using the hypoxia-related prognostic signature, patients were classified into high- and low-risk categories. Survival analysis demonstrated that the high-risk group exhibited inferior overall survival rates in comparison to the low-risk group. The prognostic signature showed good predictive performance, as indicated by the area under the curve (AUC) values for one-, three-, and five-year overall survival. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis of the DEGs identified biological processes and pathways associated with hypoxia, providing insights into the underlying mechanisms of GBM. Delving into the tumor immune microenvironment, our analysis revealed correlations relating the hypoxia-related prognostic signature to the infiltration of immune cells in GBM. Overall, our study highlights the potential of a hypoxia-related prognostic signature as a valuable resource for forecasting the survival outcome of GBM patients. The multi-omics approach integrating bulk sequencing, single-cell analysis, and immune microenvironment assessment enhances our understanding of the intricate biology characterizing GBM, thereby potentially informing the tailored design of therapeutic interventions.
Deep Immunophenotyping of Circulating T and B Cells in Relapsing Adult-Onset Still’s Disease
Authors: Myachikova Valentina , Kudryavtsev Igor , Rubinstein Artem , Aquino Arthur , Isakov Dmitry , Golovkin Alexey , Maslyanskiy Alexey
Published: February 2024

Adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) is a complex systemic inflammatory disorder, categorized as an ‘IL-1 driven’ inflammasomapathy. Despite this, the interaction between T and B cells remains poorly understood. We conducted a study, enrolling 7 patients with relapsing AOSD and 15 healthy control subjects, utilizing deep flow cytometry analysis to examine peripheral blood T- and B-cell subsets. T-cell and B-cell subsets were significantly altered in patients with AOSD. Within CD4+ T cells, Th2 cells were decreased. Additionally, Th17 cell and follicular Th cell subsets were altered within CD45RA–CD62L+ and CD45RA–CD62L– Th cells in patients with AOSD compared to healthy controls. We identified changes in CD8+ T cell maturation and ‘polarization’ in AOSD patients, with an elevated presence of the TEMRA CD8+ T cell subset. Furthermore, the percentage of Tc1 cells was decreased, while the frequency of CCR6–CXCR3– Tc2 cells was elevated. Finally, we determined that the frequency of CD5+CD27– B cells was dramatically decreased in patients with AOSD compared to healthy controls. Further investigations on a large group of patients with AOSD are required to evaluate these adaptive immunity cells in the disease pathogenesis.
Efficiency of CFRP Strengthening Measures for Reinforced Concrete Structural Members Using Toughened Epoxies
Authors: Achillopoulou Dimitra V. , Kosta Angeliki , Stamataki Nikoleta K. , Montalbano Antonino , Choffat Fabien
Published: February 2024

This paper aims to investigate the interface efficiency of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) adhesively bonded on concrete, a commonly used retrofitting measure applied for enhancing the deformability and strength of decaying structures or existing ones with low capacity. The efficiency quantification is expressed with the Interface Capacity Index (IC). The index correlates the thickness and strength of each layer of the strengthening system and accounts for the transferred loads (ICL) and the strain distribution that causes the failure propagation on the concrete substrate (ICfp). The investigation focuses on different CFRP strengthening schemes (laminated fabrics, prefabricated plates, Near Surface Mounted bars-NSM) applied to concrete substrates using different adhesive layers. Two cases were studied for different levels of concrete’s integrity: (a) healthy and (b) containing corrosion products. The experimental results were used to calibrate the numerical models and to evaluate the effects of different strengthening strategies. The results show the tendency of the strengthening systems to shift the interface performance from fully elastic to non-linear. Further, the quantification of the efficiency of retrofitting can be addressed by accounting for the mechanical and geometrical properties at the interface level, representing different failure modes and integration levels.
The Study on the Critical Temperature and Gap-to-Tc Ratio of Yttrium Hydride Superconductors
Authors: Tongkhonburi Pongkan , Udomsamuthirun Pongkaew , Changjan Arpapong , Meakniti Suppanyou , Kruaehong Thitipong
Published: February 2024

This study investigates the gap-to-Tc ratio (R) of yttrium hydride superconductors within the weak coupling limit. We derived an analytical formula for the gap-to-Tc ratio. The ratio of the gap-to-Tc is dependent on the pressure applied to each superconductor. The maximum ratio, approximately 3.85, is observed in one superconductor, while the lowest ratio, roughly 3.21, is found in another superconductor. Based on the findings of our study, it can be deduced that yttrium hydride superconductors exhibit attributes commonly associated with weak-coupling superconductors. The influence of the Coulomb potential is more pronounced at a critical temperature compared to the ratio of the gap to the critical temperature.
Aging Effects in Zr(Fe0.5V0.5)2 Tritides
Authors: Ghezzi Francesco , Shmayda Walter
Published: February 2024

We report an experimental study on the tritiding capabilities over a long period of the intermetallic compound Zr(Fe0.5V0.5)2. The study was carried out with the prospect of using the alloy as a chemical converter to reduce HTO. Two identical getter beds, containing 1 gram of alloy in powder form each, were used in the experiments. While one of them was exploited to determine the tritium isotherms of the virgin alloy, the other bed was loaded at 75% of stoichiometry with 354 Ci of tritium and left to age for 1500 days. The bed was then unloaded and the isotherms of the aged alloy were determined twice to check the repeatability. The main results of the work are that, while enthalpy and entropy changes for tritium dissolution at infinite dilution are practically the same for the fresh alloy and the aged alloy, they vary significantly when the isotherms are determined on the aged alloy at a large enough distance of time (one week). This behavior is ascribed to the He3 present in the interstitial sites. However, the fact that the solubility of the alloy decreases with aging suggests that the He3 present either in the interstitial sites or in bubbles subtracts sites for dissolution. Also to be stressed is that in the tritide-forming region, these thermodynamic values decrease with aging in a monotonic way. This different behavior is tentatively explained by invoking the nature of the tritium bond.
Detection of Glacial Refugia and Post-Glacial Colonization Routes of Morphologically Cryptic Marsh Frog Species (Anura: Ranidae: Pelophylax) Using Environmental Niche Modeling
Authors: Litvinchuk Spartak N. , Skorinov Dmitriy V. , Ivanov Alexander Yu. , Ermakov Oleg A.
Published: February 2024

Studying the distribution of morphologically cryptic animal species is always a very difficult task. Because most marsh frog species (the Pelophylax ridibundus complex) are cryptic, we used molecular markers to identify them. Three marsh frog species (P. ridibundus, P. kurtmuelleri and P. cf. bedriagae) inhabit the northern part of Western Palearctic. We created a database of localities and built models of their modern distribution. These models showed that the most suitable habitats are on the north of the Mediterranean region for P. cf. bedriagae, temperate Europe for P. ridibundus, and the Balkan coastal areas for P. kurtmuelleri. The projection of the modern ecological niches under the late-Quaternary climatic conditions showed that the range of P. kurtmuelleri remained largely unchanged during the period, whereas the ranges of P. cf. bedriagae and especially P. ridibundus changed greatly over time. During the Last Glacial Maximum, the presumed range of P. cf. bedriagae covered a relatively large area in the north of the Mediterranean region and the south of European Russia. Glacial refugia of P. ridibundus were apparently located in the northern Balkans, the northern coast of the Black and Azov seas, and possibly in Western Europe. The northward long-distance post-glacial dispersal of P. ridibundus occurred from refugia in the northeastern Balkans and the Black-Azov seas region. Since the Late Pleistocene, suitable habitats for P. cf. bedriagae in southern Russia began to decline, but local habitats for P. ridibundus become more suitable. Therefore, a mosaic of populations consisting of these both species and their hybrids has now been found here.
Diversity, Distribution and Phylogeny of Vector Insects
Authors: Barceló Carlos , Ruiz-Arrondo Ignacio
Published: February 2024

Mosquitoes (Fam. Culicidae), sand flies (Subfam. Phlebotominae), biting midges(Fam. Ceratopogonidae), black flies (Fam. Simuliidae) and stable flies (Fam. Muscidae) are groups of insects capable to transmit pathogens of public health and veterinary importance [...]
Cosmetopoeia of African Plants in Hair Treatment and Care: Topical Nutrition and the Antidiabetic Connection?
Authors: Ajao Abdulwakeel Ayokun-nun , Sadgrove Nicholas John
Published: February 2024

To make the distinction against pharmaceuticals, natural product medicines are more accurately denoted as nutritional therapies. In the context of topical therapies targeting dermatological conditions, nutritional therapy may explain the mechanism of ethnocosmetic plants used in hair treatment and care. Inspired by emerging theories of a connection between dysregulated glucose metabolism and hair loss, the current review of the literature focused on African plants used to target hair conditions in general, such as alopecia or scalp dermis infections, with a cross-examination of the potential of the species to alleviate issues with glucose metabolism. We distinguish between topical nutrition and sterilization (i.e., dandruff and lice). Sixty-eight plants were identified as an African treatment for alopecia, dandruff, lice, and tinea. Fifty-eight of the species have potential as antidiabetic treatments when taken orally. The family Lamiaceae was the most represented (six spp.), followed by Fabaceae and Asteraceae (five spp. each). Most species are herbs, and the most used plant part is the leaf. Thirty of the sixty species have research associated with hair growth and general hair care, with studies focused on 5α-reductase inhibition, biomarkers such as vascular endothelial growth factor, and the rate of telogen to anagen phase transition. While studies tend to conceptualize the mechanisms of these medicinal species similarly to pharmaceuticals, the current review argues that a nutritional interpretation is more appropriate, where a general improvement to local glucose metabolism may play a role.
Development and Characterization of a Functional Ice Cream from Sheep Milk Enriched with Microparticulated Whey Proteins, Inulin, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Bifidobacterium BB-12®
Authors: Lai Giacomo , Addis Margherita , Caredda Marco , Fiori Myriam , Dedola Alessio Silvio , Furesi Stefano , Pes Massimo
Published: February 2024

The aim of this work was develop a technological process for the manufacturing of an ice cream from sheep milk, enriched with both functional ingredients and probiotic bacteria. The studied process involved the use of an enriched milk (EM) obtained by mixing predetermined amounts of sheep skimmed milk concentrated by ultrafiltration (retentate), cream from sheep’s milk and whey, microparticulated whey proteins (MWP), obtained by ultrafiltration of sweet sheep whey as a source of whey proteins, marine algal oil from Schizochytrium spp. as a source of the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), inulin as a prebiotic fiber, and locust bean gum as a stabilizer. The resulting EM was inoculated with starter and aroma cultures together with the probiotic culture of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (BB-12®) in order to obtain a fermented functional product (FFP) with a physico-chemical composition similar to that of EM. FFP was the main ingredient (~80%, w/w) in the ice cream mixture. Two sucrose-alternative sweeteners (trehalose and erythritol), together with dextrose, were subsequently added to obtain the final ice cream formulation. The resulting ice cream met three nutritional claims: “Source of protein”, “Source of fiber” and “High in omega-3 fatty acids” listed in Regulations (EC) No 1924/2006 and (EU) No 116/2010. Furthermore, the ice cream satisfied the requirement of “probiotic food” according to the Italian Ministry of Health’s guidelines for probiotics. The nutritional characteristics of the ice cream, including the concentration of the probiotic culture, remained stable up to 120 days of storage at −20 ± 2 °C.
Correlations between Retinal Microvascular Parameters and Clinical Parameters in Young Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: An Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study
Authors: Dan Alexandra Oltea , Mocanu Carmen Luminița , Bălășoiu Andrei Teodor , Tănasie Cornelia Andreea , Puiu Ileana , Târtea Anca Elena , Sfredel Veronica
Published: February 2024

Objectives: In the current study, we investigated the correlations between retinal microvascular parameters using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and clinical parameters for a group of 69 young patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Materials and Methods: This retrospective, exploratory study enrolled 69 patients between 5 years old and 30 years old who met the inclusion criteria. All the study participants underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination and OCTA scans for the evaluation of the retinal microcirculation. The retinal OCTA parameters were correlated with the following clinical parameters: the patient’s age at the onset of the disease, the duration of T1DM, the BMI at the time of enrollment in the study, the HbA1C values at onset, the mean values of HbA1C over the period of monitoring the disease and the degree of DKA at onset. Results: For the study group, the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area and perimeter correlated positively with the mean value of HbA1C (Pearson correlation, Sig.2-Tailed Area: 0.044; perimeter: 0.049). The total vessel density in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) correlated negatively with the duration of T1DM, based on the superior and inferior analyzed areas (Spearman correlation, Sig.2-Tailed SCP in total region: 0.002; SCP in the superior region: 0.024; SCP in the inferior region: 0.050). The foveal thickness also correlated negatively with the levels of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at onset (Spearman correlation, Sig.2-Tailed: 0.034) and the levels of HbA1C at onset (Spearman correlation, Sig.2-Tailed: 0.047). Further on, the study patients were distributed into two groups according to the duration of the disease: group 1 included 32 patients with a duration of T1DM of less than 5 years, and group 2 included 37 patients with a duration of T1DM of more than 5 years. Independent t-tests were used to compare the OCTA retinal parameters for the two subgroups. While the FAZ-related parameters did not show significant statistical differences between the two groups, the vessel densities in both the SCP and DCP were significantly lower in group 2. Conclusions: Our data suggest that specific alterations in OCTA imaging biomarkers correlate with various clinical parameters: the FAZ area and perimeter increase with higher mean values of HbA1C, leading to poor metabolic control. Moreover, the SCP total vessel density decreases as the duration of T1DM increases. Regarding the vessel densities in the SCP and the DCP, they decrease with a duration of the disease of more than 5 years.
Weather-Domain Transfer-Based Attention YOLO for Multi-Domain Insulator Defect Detection and Classification in UAV Images
Authors: Liu Yue , Huang Xinbo , Liu Decheng
Published: February 2024

Insulator defect detection of transmission line insulators is an important task for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) inspection, which is of immense importance in ensuring the stable operation of transmission lines. Transmission line insulators exist in complex weather scenarios, with small and inconsistent shapes. These insulators under various weather conditions could result in low-quality images captured, limited data numbers, and imbalanced sample problems. Traditional detection methods often struggle to accurately identify defect information, resulting in missed or false detections in real-world scenarios. In this paper, we propose a weather domain synthesis network for extracting cross-modality discriminative information on multi-domain insulator defect detection and classification tasks. Firstly, we design a novel weather domain synthesis (WDSt) module to convert various weather-conditioned insulator images to the uniform weather domain to decrease the existing domain gap. To further improve the detection performance, we leverage the attention mechanism to construct the Cross-modality Information Attention YOLO (CIA-YOLO) model to improve the detection capability for insulator defects. Here, we fuse both shallow and deep feature maps by adding the extra object detection layer, increasing the accuracy for detecting small targets. The experimental results prove the proposed Cross-modality Information Attention YOLO with the weather domain synthesis algorithm can achieve superior performance in multi-domain insulator datasets (MD-Insulator). Moreover, the proposed algorithm also gives a new perspective for decreasing the multi-domain insulator modality gap with weather-domain transfer, which can inspire more researchers to focus on the field.
A Novel Dual-Channel Temporal Convolutional Network for Photovoltaic Power Forecasting
Authors: Ren Xiaoying , Zhang Fei , Sun Yongrui , Liu Yongqian
Published: February 2024

A large proportion of photovoltaic (PV) power generation is connected to the power grid, and its volatility and stochasticity have significant impacts on the power system. Accurate PV power forecasting is of great significance in optimizing the safe operation of the power grid and power market transactions. In this paper, a novel dual-channel PV power forecasting method based on a temporal convolutional network (TCN) is proposed. The method deeply integrates the PV station feature data with the model computing mechanism through the dual-channel model architecture; utilizes the combination of multihead attention (MHA) and TCN to extract the multidimensional spatio-temporal features between other meteorological variables and the PV power; and utilizes a single TCN to fully extract the temporal constraints of the power sequence elements. The weighted fusion of the dual-channel feature data ultimately yields the ideal forecasting results. The experimental data in this study are from a 26.52 kW PV power plant in central Australia. The experiments were carried out over seven different input window widths, and the two models that currently show superior performance within the field of PV power forecasting: the convolutional neural network (CNN), and the convolutional neural network combined with a long and short-term memory network (CNN_LSTM), are used as the baseline models. The experimental results show that the proposed model and the baseline models both obtained the best forecasting performance over a 1-day input window width, while the proposed model exhibited superior forecasting performance compared to the baseline model. It also shows that designing model architectures that deeply integrate the data input method with the model mechanism has research potential in the field of PV power forecasting.
Rapid Breakdown Time in Positive Impulse Voltages through Spectroscopy Analysis
Authors: Ikhwanus Muhammad , Morimoto Takeshi
Published: February 2024

The air discharge phenomenon, characterized by its rapid and transient nature, is inherently unpredictable, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of its physical interactions. Our experimental setup involved voltage generators producing both positive and negative impulse voltages (±100 kV, ±125 kV, and ±150 kV) at a 3.5 cm gap distance in a needle-to-plane geometry. This setup facilitated the study of individual spectral lines of impulse voltage discharges, with a specific emphasis on examining oxygen transitions through spectroscopy analysis. To explore the influence of photon emission on the breakdown rate, we examined the correlation between decay time, excitation temperature, and peak intensity during the transition from an upper state to a lower state. Our findings reveal that positive impulse voltage discharges more rapidly than negative impulse voltages. This heightened discharge rate is attributed to the higher peak intensities of O II at 313.421 and 241.162 nm, as well as O IV at 337.806 nm, observed in the excited state, as opposed to O I at 777.417 nm in the combination state. The inference drawn from the larger peak intensity suggests that energetic photon emission plays a pivotal role in initiating and expediting electron discharge in positive voltages.
Aging Analysis of Semiconductive Silicone Rubber for 10 kV Cold-Shrink Cable Accessories
Authors: Yu Jun , Zhang Zhijian , Ren Weifeng , Yang Dongxing , Wu Dian , Ning Zhiqiang , Fang Chunhua , Wu Junxiong
Published: February 2024

This study focuses on the semiconductive silicone rubber of 10 kV cold-shrink accessories. Accelerated thermal aging tests were conducted on the semiconductive silicone rubber, obtaining tensile stress–strain curves at various time points after thermal aging. The corresponding parameters of the Yeoh hyperelastic model were calculated. The results indicate that the initial shear modulus of the samples decreases with the increase in the aging temperature and time. Microscopic morphology, changes in cross-sectional content, thermal residual values, and chemical structure changes of the samples after aging were studied using electron microscopy, EDS testing, TG curves, and Fourier spectra. The results show that the surface roughness of the aged semiconductive silicon rubber increases, the residual values decrease, the thermal stability decreases, the main chain absorbance decreases, the main chain integrity decreases, and the organic functional groups Si-CH3 and Si(CH3)2 decrease, leading to a reduction in organic content.
Orchestrating Asymmetric Expression: Mechanisms behind Xist Regulation
Authors: Luchsinger-Morcelle Samuel Jesus , Gribnau Joost , Mira-Bontenbal Hegias
Published: February 2024

Compensation for the gene dosage disequilibrium between sex chromosomes in mammals is achieved in female cells by repressing one of its X chromosomes through a process called X chromosome inactivation (XCI), exemplifying the control of gene expression by epigenetic mechanisms. A critical player in this mechanism is Xist, a long, non-coding RNA upregulated from a single X chromosome during early embryonic development in female cells. Over the past few decades, many factors involved at different levels in the regulation of Xist have been discovered. In this review, we hierarchically describe and analyze the different layers of Xist regulation operating concurrently and intricately interacting with each other to achieve asymmetric and monoallelic upregulation of Xist in murine female cells. We categorize these into five different classes: DNA elements, transcription factors, other regulatory proteins, long non-coding RNAs, and the chromatin and topological landscape surrounding Xist.
Soil Aggregate Stability and Organic Carbon Content among Different Forest Types in Temperate Ecosystems in Northeastern China
Authors: Liu Yanan , Sui Xin , Hua Henian , Liu Xu , Chang Qiuyang , Xu Ruiting , Li Mengsha , Mu Liqiang
Published: February 2024

Soil aggregates play a crucial role in substance and energy cycles in soil systems. The fixation of soil organic carbon (SOC) is closely tied to the safeguarding mechanisms of soil aggregates. Carbon fixation involves the conversion of atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic molecules by autotrophic organisms. Soil aggregates play a significant role in carbon stabilization, allowing for the physical occlusion of SOC. This study focuses on five forest types, Betula platyphylla, Betula dahurica, Quercus mongolica, Larix gmelinii, and mixed forests comprised of Larix gmelinii and Quercus mongolica, in the Heilongjiang Central Station Black-billed Capercaillie National Nature Reserve, northeast of China. This study investigated the soil aggregate stability (SAS) (water sieving) and aggregate-associated organic carbon (AAOC) at different soil depths in five forest types. Our findings demonstrated that fine macro-aggregates (0.25–2 mm) were the main types of soil aggregates among all the forest types. The SAS gradually decreased with increasing soil depth. Notably, broad-leaved forests exhibited relatively high soil stability. The fine macro-aggregates (0.25–2 mm) had the highest AAOC content, and the AAOC level was highest in the topsoil layer. The SAS and AOCC levels of the Betula platyphylla forest and Betula dahurica forest were higher than those of other forest types and were significantly affected by the forest type, soil depth, and soil physicochemical properties. Collectively, our findings reveal the key factors influencing aggregate stability and the variations in soil organic carbon content in different forest types. These observations provide a basis for studying the mechanisms of soil aggregate carbon sequestration, as well as for the sustainable development of forest soil carbon sequestration and emission reduction.
Interpreting Image Patterns for Agricultural Sprays Using Statistics and Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Cryer Steven , Raymond John
Published: February 2024

The atomization of liquid spray solutions through nozzles is a mechanism for delivering many pesticides to the target. The smallest drop sizes (<150 μm) are known as driftable fines and have a propensity for wind-induced convection. Many agricultural applications include oil-in-water formulations. The experimental metrics obtained from spray images of these formulations include the distance from the nozzle origin to the drop centroid once a drop has formed; the hole location and surface area for holes that form in the liquid sheet (all hole areas approximated as polygons); the angles formed between polygon segments (whose vertices are represented as boundary points); and the ligament dimensions that form from intersecting holes, such as the ligament aspect ratio (R/L), ligament length (L), and ligament radius (width), along with the number of drops a ligament breaks up into. These metrics were used in a principal component regression (PCR) analysis, and the results illustrated that 99% of the variability in the response variable (DT10) was addressed by 10 principal components. Angles formed by the colliding holes, hole distance from the nozzle, drop distance, hole number, ligament number, and drop number were negatively correlated to the atomization driftable fine fraction, while hole area, ligament distance, ligament area, and boundary area were positively correlated. Thus, to decrease/minimize driftable fines, one needs to increase the negatively correlated metrics.
Data-Driven Models to Forecast the Impact of Temperature Anomalies on Rice Production in Southeast Asia
Authors: De Nardi Sabrina , Carnevale Claudio , Raccagni Sara , Sangiorgi Lucia
Published: February 2024

Models are a core element in performing local estimation of the climate change input. In this work, a novel approach to perform a fast downscaling of global temperature anomalies on a regional level is presented. The approach is based on a set of data-driven models linking global temperature anomalies and regional and global emissions to regional temperature anomalies. In particular, due to the limited number of available data, a linear autoregressive structure with exogenous input (ARX) has been considered. To demonstrate their relevance to the existing literature and context, the proposed ARX models have been employed to evaluate the impact of temperature anomalies on rice production in a socially, economically, and climatologically fragile area like Southeast Asia. The results show a significant impact on this region, with estimations strongly in accordance with information presented in the literature from different sources and scientific fields. The work represents a first step towards the development of a fast, data-driven, holistic approach to the climate change impact evaluation problem. The proposed ARX data-driven models reveal a novel and feasible way to downscale global temperature anomalies to regional levels, showing their importance in comprehending global temperature anomalies, emissions, and regional climatic conditions.
Decay Properties for Transmission System with Infinite Memory and Distributed Delay
Authors: Saber Hicham , Braik Abdelkader , Bahri Noureddine , Beniani Abderrahmane , Alraqad Tariq , Jawarneh Yousef , Zennir Khaled
Published: February 2024

We consider a damped transmission problem in a bounded domain where the damping is effective in a neighborhood of a suitable subset of the boundary. Using the semigroup approach together with Hille–Yosida theorem, we prove the existence and uniqueness of global solution. Under suitable assumption on the geometrical conditions on the damping, we establish the exponential stability of the solution by introducing a suitable Lyapunov functional.
Association of FGF4L1 Retrogene Insertion with Prolapsed Gland of the Nictitans (Cherry Eye) in Dogs
Authors: Freyer Jamie , Labadie Julia D. , Huff Jason T. , Denyer Michael , Forman Oliver P. , Chodroff Foran Rebecca , Donner Jonas
Published: February 2024

Cherry eye is the common name for prolapse of the nictitans gland, a tear-producing gland situated under the third eyelid of dogs. Cherry eye is characterized by a red fleshy protuberance in the corner of the eye, resembling a cherry. This protrusion is a displacement of the normal gland of the third eyelid, thought to be caused by a defect in the connective tissue that secures the gland in place. Options for treatment may include anti-inflammatory medications in mild cases, but surgical replacement of the gland is usually indicated. Cherry eye is most often seen in dogs under the age of two years, with certain breeds having a higher incidence, suggesting a potential genetic association. Integration of panel genetic testing into routine clinical practice allows for the generation of large numbers of genotyped individuals paired with clinical records and enables the investigation of common disorders using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach at scale. In this investigation, several thousand cases and controls for cherry eye in both purebred dogs and mixed breeds are used for a large-scale GWAS, revealing a single peak of genome-wide significance on canine chromosome 18, directly at the location of the previously identified FGF4 insertion known to cause chondrodysplasia in several breeds.
Filial Maturity and Caregiving to Aging Parents
Authors: Morais Diana , Faria Carla , Fernandes Lia
Published: February 2024

The aging of parents results in changes in the filial relationship. The increasing vulnerability of parents leads adult children to realize that they have individual needs and cannot fully function as sources of security and protection, as they did before. Simultaneously, the evidence of losses and disability imposes the need for care, which tends to be assumed by adult children. Therefore, there is a progressive change in the volume of support exchanges between parents and children, with more support from adult children to parents. The way adult children adapt to these transitions is influenced by several internal and relational factors. Filial maturity has been associated with filial caregiving towards aging parents. The concept of filial maturity describes a developmental stage in which the adult child overcomes the filial crisis, realizing and accepting that the parent also needs support and comfort and starting to relate to him/her beyond the strictly parental role. Thus, this study aims to explore the role of attachment and mental representation of caregiving in filial maturity. A total of 304 children aged between 35 and 64 years old participated in this study, with at least one of the living parents aged 65 years or older, not institutionalized. Attachment was assessed with the Adult Attachment Scale, mental representation of caregiving with the Mental Representations of Caregiving Scale and filial maturity with the Filial Maturity Measure. The results suggest that attachment, mental representation of caregiving and the interaction between the two explain 24.5% (p < 0.01) of variability in Comprehending and 11.1% (p < 0.05) of variability in Distance, two dimensions of filial maturity. These findings suggest that it is important to consider mental representation of caregiving and attachment when adult children must adapt to changes in the filial relationship and to the need to care for parents.
Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Incidence among Asian and Pacific Islander Populations in Guam, Hawai’i, and the United States
Authors: Choi JaeYong , Badowski Grazyna , Shvetsov Yurii B. , Dulana Louis , Teria Rodney , Jin Su Bin , Aguon Cabrini , Bordallo Renata , Leon Guerrero Rachael T.
Published: February 2024

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks among the three most common cancers in Guam (GU), Hawai’i (HI), and the mainland United States (US). CRC prevalence in these areas is high among Filipinos, and indigenous CHamorus and Native Hawaiians; however, data on these populations are frequently aggregated in epidemiological studies, which can mask true CRC disparities. We examined CRC cumulative incidence rates (CIRs) among CHamorus in GU, Filipinos in GU, HI, and the US, and Native Hawaiians in HI and the US. CRC CIRs were calculated for two age groups (20–49 years; early onset, and 50–79 years; senior) and four time periods (2000–2004, 2005–2009, 2010–2014, and 2015–2019), stratified by ethnicity, sex, and location. Data analyzed included all invasive CRC cases reported to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 9-Registry (n = 166,666), the Hawai’i Tumor Registry (n = 10,760), and the Guam Cancer Registry (n = 698) between 2000 and 2019. Senior CIRs were highest in HI and lowest in GU throughout all time periods, with a downward trend observed for senior CIRs in the US and HI, but not GU. This downward trend held true for all ethnic groups, except for CHamorus in GU, females in GU, and females of CHamoru ethnicity in GU. In contrast, early onset CIRs increased across all locations, sexes, and ethnic groups, except for Filipinos in HI and males of Filipino ethnicity in HI. Our findings provide crucial insights for future research and policy development aimed at reducing the burden of CRC among indigenous populations.
Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses Reveal Bamboo Culm Color Formation Mechanisms Involved in Anthocyanin Biosynthetic in Phyllostachys nigra
Authors: Cai Ou , Zhang Hanjiao , Yang Lu , Wu Hongyu , Qin Min , Yao Wenjing , Huang Feiyi , Li Long , Lin Shuyan
Published: February 2024

Phyllostachys nigra has green young culms (S1) and purple black mature culms (S4). Anthocyanins are the principal pigment responsible for color presentation in ornamental plants. We employ a multi-omics approach to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of anthocyanins in Ph. nigra. Firstly, we found that the pigments of the culm of Ph. nigra accumulated only in one to four layers of cells below the epidermis. The levels of total anthocyanins and total flavonoids gradually increased during the process of bamboo culm color formation. Metabolomics analysis indicated that the predominant pigment metabolites observed were petunidin 3-O-glucoside and malvidin O-hexoside, exhibiting a significant increase of up to 9.36-fold and 13.23-fold, respectively, during pigmentation of Ph. nigra culm. Transcriptomics sequencing has revealed that genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and starch and sucrose metabolism pathways were significantly enriched, leading to color formation. A total of 62 differentially expressed structural genes associated with anthocyanin synthesis were identified. Notably, PnANS2, PnUFGT2, PnCHI2, and PnCHS1 showed significant correlations with anthocyanin metabolites. Additionally, certain transcription factors such as PnMYB6 and PnMYB1 showed significant positive or negative correlations with anthocyanins. With the accumulation of sucrose, the expression of PnMYB6 is enhanced, which in turn triggers the expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes. Based on these findings, we propose that these key genes primarily regulate the anthocyanin synthesis pathway in the culm and contribute to the accumulation of anthocyanin, ultimately resulting in the purple-black coloration of Ph. nigra.
Functional Characteristics of the Nav1.1 p.Arg1596Cys Mutation Associated with Varying Severity of Epilepsy Phenotypes
Authors: Witkowski Grzegorz , Szulczyk Bartlomiej , Nurowska Ewa , Jurek Marta , Pasierski Michal , Lipiec Agata , Charzewska Agnieszka , Dawidziuk Mateusz , Milewski Michal , Owsiak Szymon , Rola Rafal , Sienkiewicz Jarosz Halina , Hoffman-Zacharska Dorota
Published: February 2024

Mutations of the SCN1A gene, which encodes the voltage-dependent Na+ channel’s α subunit, are associated with diverse epileptic syndromes ranging in severity, even intra-family, from febrile seizures to epileptic encephalopathy. The underlying cause of this variability is unknown, suggesting the involvement of additional factors. The aim of our study was to describe the properties of mutated channels and investigate genetic causes for clinical syndromes’ variability in the family of five SCN1A gene p.Arg1596Cys mutation carriers. The analysis of additional genetic factors influencing SCN1A-associated phenotypes was conducted through exome sequencing (WES). To assess the impact of mutations, we used patch clamp analysis of mutated channels expressed in HEK cells and in vivo neural excitability studies (NESs). In cells expressing the mutant channel, sodium currents were reduced. NESs indicated increased excitability of peripheral motor neurons in mutation carriers. WES showed the absence of non-SCA1 pathogenic variants that could be causative of disease in the family. Variants of uncertain significance in three genes, as potential modifiers of the most severe phenotype, were identified. The p.Arg1596Cys substitution inhibits channel function, affecting steady-state inactivation kinetics. Its clinical manifestations involve not only epileptic symptoms but also increased excitability of peripheral motor fibers. The role of Nav1.1 in excitatory neurons cannot be ruled out as a significant factor of the clinical phenotype.
Recipient Pericardial Apolipoprotein Levels Might Be an Indicator of Worse Outcomes after Orthotopic Heart Transplantation
Authors: Székely Andrea , Pállinger Éva , Töreki Evelin , Ifju Mandula , Barta Bálint András , Szécsi Balázs , Losoncz Eszter , Dohy Zsófia , Barabás Imre János , Kosztin Annamária , Buzas Edit I. , Radovits Tamás , Merkely Béla
Published: February 2024

Background: End-stage heart failure (ESHF) leads to hypoperfusion and edema formation throughout the body and is accompanied by neurohormonal and immunological alterations. Orthotopic heart transplantation (HTX) has been used as a beneficial option for ESHF. Due to the shortage of donor hearts, the ideal matching and timing of donors and recipients has become more important. Purpose: In this study, our aim was to explore the relationship between the clinical outcomes of HTX and the cytokine and apolipoprotein profiles of the recipient pericardial fluid obtained at heart transplantation after opening the pericardial sac. Materials and methods: The clinical data and the interleukin, adipokine, and lipoprotein levels in the pericardial fluid of twenty HTX recipients were investigated. Outcome variables included primer graft dysfunction (PGD), the need for post-transplantation mechanical cardiac support (MCS), International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation grade ≥2R rejection, and mortality. Recipient risk scores were also investigated. Results: Leptin levels were significantly lower in patients with PGD than in those without PGD (median: 6.36 (IQR: 5.55–6.62) versus 7.54 (IQR = 6.71–10.44); p = 0.029). Higher ApoCII levels (median: 14.91 (IQR: 11.55–21.30) versus 10.31 (IQR = 10.02–13.07); p = 0.042) and ApoCIII levels (median: 60.32 (IQR: 43.00–81.66) versus 22.84 (IQR = 15.84–33.39); p = 0.005) were found in patients (n = 5) who died in the first 5 years after HTX. In patients who exhibited rejection (n = 4) in the first month after transplantation, the levels of adiponectin (median: 74.48 (IQR: 35.51–131.70) versus 29.96 (IQR: 19.86–42.28); p = 0.039), ApoCII (median: 20.11 (IQR: 13.06–23.54) versus 10.32 (IQR: 10.02–12.84); p = 0.007), and ApoCIII (median: 70.97 (IQR: 34.72–82.22) versus 26.33 (IQR: 17.18–40.17); p = 0.029) were higher than in the nonrejection group. Moreover, the pericardial thyroxine (T4) levels (median: 3.96 (IQR: 3.49–4.46) versus 4.69 (IQR: 4.23–5.77); p = 0.022) were lower in patients with rejection than in patients who did not develop rejection. Conclusion: Our results indicate that apolipoproteins can facilitate the monitoring of rejection and could be a useful tool in the forecasting of early and late complications.
Differential Gene Expression following DHX36/G4R1 Knockout Is Associated with G-Quadruplex Content and Cancer
Authors: Gumina Joseph M. , Richardson Adam E. , Shojiv Mahmudul Hasan , Chambers Antonio E. , Sandwith Siara N. , Reisinger Michael A. , Karns Taylor J. , Osborne Tyler L. , Alashi Hasna N. , Anderson Quinn T. , Sharlow Meredith E. , Seiler Dylan C. , Rogers Evan M. , Bartosik Anna R. , Smaldino Melissa A. , Vaughn James P. , Wang Yuh-Hwa , Smaldino Philip J. , Haney Robert A.
Published: February 2024

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are secondary DNA and RNA structures stabilized by positive cations in a central channel formed by stacked tetrads of Hoogsteen base-paired guanines. G4s form from G-rich sequences across the genome, whose biased distribution in regulatory regions points towards a gene-regulatory role. G4s can themselves be regulated by helicases, such as DHX36 (aliases: G4R1 and RHAU), which possess the necessary activity to resolve these stable structures. G4s have been shown to both positively and negatively regulate gene expression when stabilized by ligands, or through the loss of helicase activity. Using DHX36 knockout Jurkat cell lines, we identified widespread, although often subtle, effects on gene expression that are associated with the presence or number of observed G-quadruplexes in promoters or gene regions. Genes that significantly change their expression, particularly those that show a significant increase in RNA abundance under DHX36 knockout, are associated with a range of cellular functions and processes, including numerous transcription factors and oncogenes, and are linked to several cancers. Our work highlights the direct and indirect role of DHX36 in the transcriptome of T-lymphocyte leukemia cells and the potential for DHX36 dysregulation in cancer.
Mechanistic Insights about Sorafenib-, Valproic Acid- and Metformin-Induced Cell Death in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Franco-Juárez Edgar Xchel , González-Villasana Vianey , Camacho-Moll María Elena , Rendón-Garlant Luisa , Ramírez-Flores Patricia Nefertari , Silva-Ramírez Beatriz , Peñuelas-Urquides Katia , Cabello-Ruiz Ethel Daniela , Castorena-Torres Fabiola , Bermúdez de León Mario
Published: February 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the main causes of death by cancer worldwide, representing about 80–90% of all liver cancers. Treatments available for advanced HCC include atezolizumab, bevacizumab, sorafenib, among others. Atezolizumab and bevacizumab are immunological options recently incorporated into first-line treatments, along with sorafenib, for which great treatment achievements have been reached. However, sorafenib resistance is developed in most patients, and therapeutical combinations targeting cancer hallmark mechanisms and intracellular signaling have been proposed. In this review, we compiled evidence of the mechanisms of cell death caused by sorafenib administered alone or in combination with valproic acid and metformin and discussed them from a molecular perspective.
De Novo Noninversion Variants Implicated in Sporadic Hemophilia A: A Variant Origin and Timing Study
Authors: Chen Ming , Shen Ming-Ching , Chang Shun-Ping , Ma Gwo-Chin , Lee Dong-Jay , Yan Adeline
Published: February 2024

Sporadic hemophilia A (HA) enables the persistence of HA in the population. F8 gene inversion originates mainly in male germ cells during meiosis. To date, no studies have shown the origin and timing of HA sporadic noninversion variants (NIVs); herein, we assume that HA-sporadic NIVs are generated as a de novo variant. Of the 125 registered families with HA, 22 were eligible for inclusion. We conducted a linkage analysis using F8 gene markers and amplification refractory mutation system–quantitative polymerase chain reaction to confirm the origin of the sporadic NIVs (~0% mutant cells) or the presence of a mosaic variant, which requires further confirmation of the origin in the parent. Nine mothers, four maternal grandmothers, and six maternal grandfathers were confirmed to be the origin of sporadic NIVs, which most likely occurred in the zygote within the first few cell divisions and in single sperm cells, respectively. Three mothers had mosaic variants, which most likely occurred early in postzygotic embryogenesis. All maternal grandparents were free from sporadic NIV. In conclusion, F8 NIVs in sporadic HA were found to be caused primarily by de novo variants. Our studies are essential for understanding the genetic pathogenesis of HA and improving current genetic counseling.