bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and characterisation of a novel complex triple cell culture model of the human alveolar epithelial barrier
Authors: Mitchell Sarah M. , Meldrum Kirsty , Bateman Joshua W. P. , Tetley Teresa D. , Doak Shareen H. , Clift Martin J. D.
Published: August 2024

Owing to increased pressure from ethical groups and the public to avoid unnecessary animal testing, the need for new, responsive and biologically relevant in vitro models has surged. Models of the human alveolar epithelium are of particular interest since thorough investigations into air pollution and the effects of inhaled nanoparticles and e-cigarettes are needed. The lung is a crucial organ of interest due to potential exposures to endogenous material during occupational and ambient settings. Here, an in vitro model of the alveolar barrier has been created in preparation for use in the quasi-air liquid interface (qALI) and (aerosol) air–liquid interface (ALI) exposures. The model consists of an alveolar type 1-like cell line (TT1), an alveolar type 2-like cell line (NCI-H441) and a model of (alveolar) macrophages (dTHP-1). The model formulates a complex, multi-cellular system, cultured at the air–liquid interface, that mimics the apical layer of the alveolar epithelial region in the human lung. Characterisation data has shown that both TT1 and NCI-H441 epithelial cells are able to be cultured together in addition to dTHP-1 cells through imaging (morphology), pro-inflammatory response and viability measurements. This dataset also demonstrates evidence of a reasonable barrier created by the cell culture in comparison to negative controls. Furthermore, it shows that while maintaining a low baseline of (pro)-inflammatory mediator expression during normal conditions, the model is highly responsive to inflammatory stimuli. This model is proposed to be suitable for use in toxicology testing of inhaled exogenous agents.
Construction of Risk Prediction Models for Enterprise Finance Sharing Operations Using K-Means and C4.5 Algorithms
Authors: Pan Chun
Published: August 2024

The evaluation of financial sharing centres in enterprises typically relies on outdated financial data, lacks comprehensive assessment, and presents risks such as employee misconduct. To address these challenges, we propose a risk prediction model for enterprise financial sharing operations based on the K-means clustering algorithm for performance evaluation and the C4.5 algorithm for managing employee risks. Our approach enhances the accuracy and objectivity of performance evaluation while improving the efficiency of personnel risk management. Results indicate that the K-means algorithm classifies employee performance into five levels, facilitating comprehensive performance evaluation. Furthermore, through risk management optimisation, accuracy and recall rates increase to 0.905 and 0.890, respectively. The proposed risk prediction model achieves high accuracy rates of 90.5% and 92.4% in the training and test sets, respectively. Practical application of our methodology and model in A Group's financial sharing centre demonstrates their effectiveness and potential for enhancing the operation and management of enterprise financial sharing centres.
Role of Topographic Forcing in the Maritime Continent Region in Interaction Between the East Asian Summer Monsoon and the Australian Winter Monsoon
Authors: Chen Wei , Guan Zhaoyong , Yang Huadong
Published: August 2024

The topography in the Maritime Continent (MC) has significant impact on climate anomalies in the Asian‐Australian monsoons region. In the present study, the Regional Climate Model Version 4.6 (RegCM4.6) is applied for the simulation of climate over the Asian‐Australian monsoon region during the boreal summer. Results demonstrate that the RegcM4.6 is able to well reproduce precipitation, temperature and low‐level and upper‐level circulation patterns over the Asian‐Australian monsoons region. A sensitivity experiment with zero topographic height in the MC region shows that the intensity of western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) and Australian cold high both weaken simultaneously, while the cross‐equatorial flows also decline and the East Asian‐Australian monsoons become weaker. Meanwhile, the anomalous cyclonic circulation with significant convergence prevails in lower levels over the western Pacific, leading to more precipitation and higher temperature. In the MC region, there are more precipitation and high temperature in the north while there are less precipitation and low temperature in the south. Temperature increases over a large area from the Yunnan‐Guizhou Plateau to the Loess Plateau but decreases in the southeastern coast of China and eastern India. These results have important implications for better understanding the topographic impact of the MC region on the interaction between the east Asian‐Australian monsoons.
Resilience in River Corridors: How Much Do We Need?
Authors: Wohl Ellen
Published: August 2024

Resilience in river corridors refers to the ability to absorb disturbance and maintain processes, forms, and functions that support the river ecosystem and provide ecosystem services. Resilience derives from characteristics such as three‐dimensional connectivity, spatial heterogeneity, and physical and ecological integrity. Resilience is important as climate warming and growing human populations and consumptive demands change the disturbance regime affecting river corridors. Consequently, river management increasingly focuses on enhancing natural characteristics that create river resilience via (a) identifying the processes and features that promote and sustain resilience, (b) identifying portions of a river network and/or river corridor that are most resilient or most influential in creating resilience at larger spatial scales, and (c) protecting and restoring features that create resilience. Although the basic conceptual framework for these activities is well established, critical questions remain with respect to how reach‐scale management creates catchment‐scale results.
Instability and Mesoscale Eddy Fluxes in an Idealized 3‐Layer Beaufort Gyre
Authors: Isachsen Pål E. , Vogt‐Vincent Noam S. , Johnson Helen L. , Nilsson Johan
Published: August 2024

We study the impacts of a continental slope on instability and mesoscale eddy fluxes in idealized 3‐layer numerical model simulations. The simulations are inspired by and mimic the situation in the Arctic Ocean's Beaufort Gyre, where anti‐cyclonic winds drive anti‐cyclonic currents that are guided by the continental slope. The forcing and currents are retrograde with respect to topographic Rossby waves. The focus of the analysis is on eddy potential vorticity (PV) fluxes and eddy‐mean flow interactions under the Transformed Eulerian Mean framework. Eddy lateral vorticity fluxes dominate over the continental slope where eddy form stress, that is, vertical momentum flux, is suppressed due to the topographic PV gradient. The diagnosis also shows that while eddy momentum fluxes are up‐gradient over parts of the slope, the total quasi‐geostrophic PV flux is down‐gradient everywhere. We then calculate the linearly unstable modes of the time‐mean state and find that the most unstable mode contains several key features of the observed finite‐amplitude fluxes over the slope, including down‐gradient PV fluxes. When accounting for additional unstable modes, more qualitative features of the observed eddy fluxes in the numerical model are reproduced.
Vortex Magnetic Domain State Behavior in the Day Plot
Authors: Williams Wyn , Moreno Roberto , Muxworthy Adrian R. , Paterson Greig A. , Nagy Lesleis , Tauxe Lisa , Donardelli Bellon Ualisson , Cowan Alison A. , Ferreira Idenildo
Published: August 2024

The ability of rocks to hold a reliable record of the ancient geomagnetic field depends on the structure and stability of magnetic domain‐states contained within constituent particles. In paleomagnetic studies, the Day plot is an easily constructed graph of magnetic hysteresis parameters that is frequently used to estimate the likely magnetic recording stability of samples. Often samples plot in the region of the Day plot attributed to so‐called pseudo‐single‐domain particles with little understanding of the implications for domain‐states or recording fidelity. Here we use micromagnetic models to explore the hysteresis parameters of magnetite particles with idealized prolate and oblate truncated‐octahedral geometries containing single domain (SD), single‐vortex and occasionally multi‐vortex states. We show that these domain states exhibit a well‐defined trend in the Day plot that extends from the SD region well into the multi‐domain region, all of which are likely to be stable remanence carriers. We suggest that although the interpretation of the Day plot and its variants might be subject to ambiguities, if the magnetic mineralogy is known, it can still provide some useful insights about paleomagnetic specimens' dominant domain state, average particle sizes and, consequently, their paleomagnetic stability.
Wind Forcing Controls on Antarctic Bottom Water Export From the Weddell Sea via Bottom Boundary Layer Processes
Authors: Auckland C. D. J. , Abrahamsen E. P. , Meredith M. P. , Garabato A. C. Naveira , Spingys C. P. , Frajka‐Williams E. , Gordon A. L.
Published: August 2024

The Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) exported from the Weddell Sea has experienced warming and contraction in the past 30 yrs. Superposed on this decadal trend is substantial annual and interannual variability in the volume and properties of Weddell‐sourced AABW. Several mechanisms have been suggested to explain these variations, many of which highlight a role of wind stress, but the comparative importance and possible simultaneity of the different mechanisms remains unclear. Using data from two mooring sites within the Weddell Sea, we find a rapid intensification of the abyssal boundary current carrying AABW through Orkney Passage (OP), the most direct export pathway of AABW from the Weddell Sea, in response to periods of strong zonal wind stress and anomalous wind stress curl along the South Scotia Ridge upstream of OP. This acceleration is concomitant with a 40% reduction in northward AABW transport in late 2015. The changes in transport follow anomalous wind forcing by approximately 3 months, with the short timescale indicative of a barotropic response in the flow through OP. The bottom boundary layer over the OP's sloping topography is found to have a key role in regulating export on monthly to interannual timescales. Increased boundary current velocity leading up to the passage forms a thickened bottom boundary layer, resulting in reduced AABW thickness and density, and thus restricting northward transport of AABW through the passage. Whilst other processes are likely to dominate on longer (decadal) periods, the dynamics identified here can explain significant variability on timescales up to interannual.
A Study of the Vortex Filament Pool Left by a Super Typhoon
Authors: Wu Renhao , Tong Chenyang , Liu Yu
Published: August 2024

Enhancing typhoon forecasts hinges on a deeper understanding of the upper‐ocean’s response and feedback mechanisms to typhoons. Presently, our knowledge of typhoon‐ocean interactions is largely derived from low‐resolution numerical simulations (often >10 km) and limited observations, which inadequately capture submesoscale processes (SPs) in the ocean. Connecting extreme typhoons to upper‐ocean SPs remains a challenge. This study reveals the formation of a distinctive vortex filament pool (VFP) in high‐resolution (∼1.2 km) numerical experiments. The experiments show that under specific conditions, typhoons can generate this visually striking phenomenon, displaying SP dynamics and kinematics typical of the upper ocean, with Rossby numbers and the nondimensional strain and divergence rates exceeding 2. The VFP formation is mainly driven by strain‐induced frontogenesis linked to the flow generated by Typhoon Nangka after a major turn. Initially, the pool consists of many near‐parallel filaments, but processes such as merging, stretching, and destabilization subsequently occur lead to numerous small vortices with a mean radius of ∼13 km. While the high‐resolution numerical experiments highlight phenomena requiring observational validation, they suggest the presence of natural processes previously undetectable with low‐resolution models and limited observations. This study underscores the need for enhanced observations and numerical models to better understand refined ocean dynamical processes.
The Coastal Sea‐Level Response to Wind Stress in the Middle Atlantic Bight
Authors: Lentz Steven J.
Published: August 2024

Analysis of 40 years of tide gauge data and reanalysis wind stresses from the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) indicate that along‐shelf wind stresses are a dominant driver of coastal dynamic sea level (sea level plus atmospheric pressure) variability at daily to yearly time scales. The sea‐level response to along‐shelf wind stress varies substantially along the coast and is accurately reproduced by a steady, barotropic, depth‐averaged model (Csanady, 1978, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520‐0485(1978)008<0047:tatw>2.0.co;2, Arrested Topographic Wave). The model indicates that the sea‐level response in the MAB depends primarily on the along‐shelf distribution of the along‐shelf wind stress, the Coriolis frequency, the bottom drag coefficient, and the cross‐shelf bottom slope. The along‐shelf wind stress varies along the MAB shelf due primarily to changes in the shelf orientation. The sea‐level response depends on both the local and upstream (in the sense of Kelvin wave propagation) along‐shelf wind stresses. Consequently, sea‐level variability at daily, monthly and yearly time scales along much of the central MAB coast is more strongly driven by upstream winds along the southern New England shelf than by local winds along the central MAB shelf. The residual coastal sea‐level variability, after removing the wind‐driven response and the trend, is roughly uniform along the MAB coast. The along‐coast average of the residual sea level at monthly and yearly time scales is caused by variations in shelf water densities primarily associated with the large annual cycle in water temperature and interannual variations in salinity.
Augmented Four‐Dimensional Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere Wind Field Reconstruction via the Physics‐Informed Machine Learning Approach HYPER
Authors: Urco Juan M. , Feraco Fabio , Chau Jorge L. , Marino Raffaele
Published: August 2024

The mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) is a fluid framework whose multiscale dynamics is determined by a superposition of non‐linear processes and by the interplay of gravity waves and turbulent motions. A thorough comprehension of this atmospheric region requires substantial observational infrastructure, needed to resolve and disentangle its complex dynamics. State‐of‐the‐art observational methods struggle to accurately capture mesoscale dynamics due to the inherent difficulty to perform observations at MLT altitudes. A majority of the observational methods rely on assumptions such as homogeneity, smoothness of the prognostic fields, or zero vertical wind velocities, which may not hold in the upper atmosphere at the mesoscales. In this study, we introduce a novel machine learning‐based approach HYPER (HYdrodynamic Point‐wise Environment Reconstructor), designed to characterize MLT dynamics. HYPER utilizes a physics‐informed neural network to project sparse Doppler meteor detections into four‐dimensional time‐series arrays containing the Cartesian components of the velocity field. This method combines meteor radar observations with the physics prescribed by the Navier‐Stokes equations. The validation of HYPER was conducted through a series of benchmarks on numerical data and the application of our algorithm on actual meteor radar observations, all of which yielded realistic approximations of the reconstructed physical fields. This innovative approach represents a significant step toward an accurate characterization of the MLT dynamics, overcoming the limitations of existing methods, and providing valuable insights into the behavior of this poorly accessible region of the atmosphere.
Stanniocalcin 2 governs cancer cell adaptation to nutrient insufficiency through alleviation of oxidative stress
Authors: Qie Shuo , Xiong Haijuan , Liu Yaqi , Yan Chenhui , Wang Yalei , Tian Lifeng , Wang Chenguang , Sang Nianli
Published: August 2024

Solid tumours often endure nutrient insufficiency during progression. How tumour cells adapt to temporal and spatial nutrient insufficiency remains unclear. We previously identified STC2 as one of the most upregulated genes in cells exposed to nutrient insufficiency by transcriptome screening, indicating the potential of STC2 in cellular adaptation to nutrient insufficiency. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying STC2 induction by nutrient insufficiency and subsequent adaptation remain elusive. Here, we report that STC2 protein is dramatically increased and secreted into the culture media by Gln-/Glc- deprivation. STC2 promoter contains cis-elements that are activated by ATF4 and p65/RelA, two transcription factors activated by a variety of cellular stress. Biologically, STC2 induction and secretion promote cell survival but attenuate cell proliferation during nutrient insufficiency, thus switching the priority of cancer cells from proliferation to survival. Loss of STC2 impairs tumour growth by inducing both apoptosis and necrosis in mouse xenografts. Mechanistically, under nutrient insufficient conditions, cells have increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lack of STC2 further elevates ROS levels that lead to increased apoptosis. RNA-Seq analyses reveal STC2 induction suppresses the expression of monoamine oxidase B (MAOB), a mitochondrial membrane enzyme that produces ROS. Moreover, a negative correlation between STC2 and MAOB levels is also identified in human tumour samples. Importantly, the administration of recombinant STC2 to the culture media effectively suppresses MAOB expression as well as apoptosis, suggesting STC2 functions in an autocrine/paracrine manner. Taken together, our findings indicate that nutrient insufficiency induces STC2 expression, which in turn governs the adaptation of cancer cells to nutrient insufficiency through the maintenance of redox homoeostasis, highlighting the potential of STC2 as a therapeutic target for cancer treatment.
The immunology of sickness metabolism
Authors: Wensveen Felix M. , Šestan Marko , Polić Bojan
Published: August 2024

Everyone knows that an infection can make you feel sick. Although we perceive infection-induced changes in metabolism as a pathology, they are a part of a carefully regulated process that depends on tissue-specific interactions between the immune system and organs involved in the regulation of systemic homeostasis. Immune-mediated changes in homeostatic parameters lead to altered production and uptake of nutrients in circulation, which modifies the metabolic rate of key organs. This is what we experience as being sick. The purpose of sickness metabolism is to generate a metabolic environment in which the body is optimally able to fight infection while denying vital nutrients for the replication of pathogens. Sickness metabolism depends on tissue-specific immune cells, which mediate responses tailored to the nature and magnitude of the threat. As an infection increases in severity, so do the number and type of immune cells involved and the level to which organs are affected, which dictates the degree to which we feel sick. Interestingly, many alterations associated with metabolic disease appear to overlap with immune-mediated changes observed following infection. Targeting processes involving tissue-specific interactions between activated immune cells and metabolic organs therefore holds great potential for treating both people with severe infection and those with metabolic disease. In this review, we will discuss how the immune system communicates in situ with organs involved in the regulation of homeostasis and how this communication is impacted by infection.
Selective industry adoption of a voluntary front-of-pack nutrition label results in low and skewed uptake: 10-year results for the Health Star Rating
Authors: Keaney Mariel , Maganja Damian , Barrett Eden , Pettigrew Simone , Jones Alexandra
Published: August 2024

Front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FOPNL) on packaged foods is recommended by the World Health Organization to promote healthier diets. Our aim was to assess uptake of Australia’s FOPNL, the Health Star Rating (HSR), overall and by HSR score received (0.5 (less healthy) to 5.0 (more healthy) in 0.5 increments) after ten years of voluntary implementation. In a sample of 21,197 products, we found HSR uptake of 37% overall in 2023. Uptake was unevenly distributed, with 24% of products with an HSR ≤ 3 displaying the label, compared to 53% of products scoring ≥3.5 (p < 0.001). Low HSR uptake on poorly rated products demonstrates that most food manufacturers will only display FOPNL where marketing value exists in a voluntary system. Poor and uneven HSR uptake limits consumers’ ability to meaningfully use the label to compare and choose healthier products. Government action is urgently required to make the HSR system mandatory.
Do we neglect nutrition in childhood interstitial lung disease?
Authors: Emiralioglu Nagehan , Kiper Nural
Published: August 2024

Growth failure and inadequate weight gain are common problems in childhood interstitial lung diseases (chILD) and these children usually need high calories. It is important to manage both pulmonary functions and nutrition as part of their overall treatment plan and early interventions will help children to improve their quality of life and slow the progression of chronic lung disease. Nutritional evaluation on routine clinical follow-up is important, although there are not any specific guidelines for chILD. Nutritional education, high balanced energy, protein, and fat diet will assist to improve weight gain and maintenance of adequate nutrition status in children with ILD.
Direct tracking of H2 roaming reaction in real time
Authors: Mishra Debadarshini , LaForge Aaron C. , Gorman Lauren M. , Díaz-Tendero Sergio , Martín Fernando , Berrah Nora
Published: August 2024

Roaming is an unconventional type of molecular reaction where fragments, instead of immediately dissociating, remain weakly bound due to long-range Coulombic interactions. Due to its prevalence and ability to form new molecular compounds, roaming is fundamental to photochemical reactions in small molecules. However, the neutral character of the roaming fragment and its indeterminate trajectory make it difficult to identify experimentally. Here, we introduce an approach to image roaming, utilizing intense, femtosecond IR radiation combined with Coulomb explosion imaging to directly reconstruct the momentum vector of the neutral roaming H2, a precursor to $${{{{{{{{\rm{H}}}}}}}}_{3}}^{+}$$

H

3

+

formation, in acetonitrile, CH3CN. This technique provides a kinematically complete picture of the underlying molecular dynamics and yields an unambiguous experimental signature of roaming. We corroborate these findings with quantum chemistry calculations, resolving this unique dissociative process.
Robust analysis of allele-specific copy number alterations from scRNA-seq data with XClone
Authors: Huang Rongting , Huang Xianjie , Tong Yin , Yan Helen Y. N. , Leung Suet Yi , Stegle Oliver , Huang Yuanhua
Published: August 2024

Somatic copy number alterations (CNAs) are major mutations that contribute to the development and progression of various cancers. Despite a few computational methods proposed to detect CNAs from single-cell transcriptomic data, the technical sparsity of such data makes it challenging to identify allele-specific CNAs, particularly in complex clonal structures. In this study, we present a statistical method, XClone, that strengthens the signals of read depth and allelic imbalance by effective smoothing on cell neighborhood and gene coordinate graphs to detect haplotype-aware CNAs from scRNA-seq data. By applying XClone to multiple datasets with challenging compositions, we demonstrated its ability to robustly detect different types of allele-specific CNAs and potentially indicate whole genome duplication, therefore enabling the discovery of corresponding subclones and the dissection of their phenotypic impacts.
eIF4E-independent translation is largely eIF3d-dependent
Authors: Roiuk Mykola , Neff Marilena , Teleman Aurelio A.
Published: August 2024

Translation initiation is a highly regulated step needed for protein synthesis. Most cell-based mechanistic work on translation initiation has been done using non-stressed cells growing in medium with sufficient nutrients and oxygen. This has yielded our current understanding of ‘canonical’ translation initiation, involving recognition of the mRNA cap by eIF4E1 followed by successive recruitment of initiation factors and the ribosome. Many cells, however, such as tumor cells, are exposed to stresses such as hypoxia, low nutrients or proteotoxic stress. This leads to inactivation of mTORC1 and thereby inactivation of eIF4E1. Hence the question arises how cells translate mRNAs under such stress conditions. We study here how mRNAs are translated in an eIF4E1-independent manner by blocking eIF4E1 using a constitutively active version of eIF4E-binding protein (4E-BP). Via ribosome profiling we identify a subset of mRNAs that are still efficiently translated when eIF4E1 is inactive. We find that these mRNAs preferentially release eIF4E1 when eIF4E1 is inactive and bind instead to eIF3d via its cap-binding pocket. eIF3d then enables these mRNAs to be efficiently translated due to its cap-binding activity. In sum, our work identifies eIF3d-dependent translation as a major mechanism enabling mRNA translation in an eIF4E-independent manner.
Capillary trapping of various nanomaterials on additively manufactured scaffolds for 3D micro-/nanofabrication
Authors: Lyu Xianglong , Zheng Zhiqiang , Shiva Anitha , Han Mertcan , Dayan Cem Balda , Zhang Mingchao , Sitti Metin
Published: August 2024

High-precision additive manufacturing technologies, such as two-photon polymerization, are mainly limited to photo-curable polymers and currently lacks the possibility to produce multimaterial components. Herein, we report a physically bottom-up assembly strategy that leverages capillary force to trap various nanomaterials and assemble them onto three-dimensional (3D) microscaffolds. This capillary-trapping strategy enables precise and uniform assembly of nanomaterials into versatile 3D microstructures with high uniformity and mass loading. Our approach applies to diverse materials irrespective of their physiochemical properties, including polymers, metals, metal oxides, and others. It can integrate at least four different material types into a single 3D microstructure in a sequential, layer-by-layer manner, opening immense possibilities for tailored functionalities on demand. Furthermore, the 3D microscaffolds are removable, facilitating the creation of pure material-based 3D microstructures. This universal 3D micro-/nanofabrication technique with various nanomaterials enables the creation of advanced miniature devices with potential applications in multifunctional microrobots and smart micromachines.
A satellite-derived baseline of photosynthetic life across Antarctica
Authors: Walshaw Charlotte V. , Gray Andrew , Fretwell Peter T. , Convey Peter , Davey Matthew P. , Johnson Joanne S. , Colesie Claudia
Published: August 2024

Terrestrial vegetation communities across Antarctica are characteristically sparse, presenting a challenge for mapping their occurrence using remote sensing at the continent scale. At present there is no continent-wide baseline record of Antarctic vegetation, and large-scale area estimates remain unquantified. With local vegetation distribution shifts now apparent and further predicted in response to environmental change across Antarctica, it is critical to establish a baseline to document these changes. Here we present a 10 m-resolution map of photosynthetic life in terrestrial and cryospheric habitats across the entire Antarctic continent, maritime archipelagos and islands south of 60° S. Using Sentinel-2 imagery (2017–2023) and spectral indices, we detected terrestrial green vegetation (vascular plants, bryophytes, green algae) and lichens across ice-free areas, and cryospheric green snow algae across coastal snowpacks. The detected vegetation occupies a total area of 44.2 km2, with over half contained in the South Shetland Islands, altogether contributing just 0.12% of the total ice-free area included in the analysis. Due to methodological constraints, dark-coloured lichens and cyanobacterial mats were excluded from the study. This vegetation map improves the geospatial data available for vegetation across Antarctica, and provides a tool for future conservation planning and large-scale biogeographic assessments.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of cortisol levels in Plasmodium infections
Authors: Kotepui Kwuntida Uthaisar , Masangkay Frederick Ramirez , Wangdi Kinley , Mahittikorn Aongart , Majima Hideyuki J. , Kotepui Manas
Published: August 2024

Malaria has complex interactions with host physiology, including alterations in cortisol levels. Cortisol, a key hormone in the stress response, is known to be dysregulated in various infectious diseases. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to elucidate the relationship between Plasmodium infection and cortisol levels, shedding light on the intricate interplay between the parasite and the host’s endocrine system. The methodological protocol for assessing cortisol levels in malaria patients was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024496578), a widely recognized international prospective register of systematic reviews. This registration ensures transparency and minimizes the risk of bias in our research. A comprehensive search strategy was employed across major databases, including Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Medline, to include studies that reported cortisol levels in infected patients. The qualitative synthesis was undertaken to synthesize the difference in cortisol levels between malaria-infected and uninfected individuals. The meta-analysis employed the random effects model in the quantitative synthesis to calculate the effect estimate. The review included a total of 20 studies, with a substantial number conducted in Africa, followed by Asia and South America. Most included studies (13/20, 65%) reported higher cortisol levels in infected patients than in uninfected patients. The meta-analysis confirmed significantly higher cortisol levels in infected patients compared to uninfected individuals (P < 0.0001, standardized mean difference (SMD): 1.354, 95% confidence interval: 0.913 to 1.795, I2: 88.3%, across 15 studies). Notably, the method for cortisol measurement and the type of blood sample used (serum or plasma) were significant moderators in the analysis, indicating that these factors may influence the observed relationship between Plasmodium infection and cortisol levels. The systematic review and meta-analysis confirmed that Plasmodium infection is associated with increased cortisol levels, highlighting the intricate relationship between the disease and the host stress response. These findings underscore the potential of cortisol as a supplementary biomarker for understanding the pathophysiological impact of malaria. By providing insights into the stress-related mechanisms of malaria, this comprehensive understanding can inform future research and potentially enhance disease management and treatment strategies, particularly in regions heavily burdened by malaria.
An investigation of broad-spectrum antibiotic-induced liver injury based on the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System and retrospective observational study
Authors: Shiraishi Chihiro , Kato Hideo , Ogura Toru , Iwamoto Takuya
Published: August 2024

Tazobactam/piperacillin and meropenem are commonly used as an empiric treatment in patients with severe bacterial infections. However, few studies have investigated the cause of tazobactam/piperacillin- or meropenem-induced liver injury in them. Our objective was to evaluate the association between tazobactam/piperacillin or meropenem and liver injury in the intensive care unit patients. We evaluated the expression profiles of antibiotics-induced liver injury using the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database. Further, in the retrospective observational study, data of patients who initiated tazobactam/piperacillin or meropenem in the intensive care unit were extracted. In FAERS database, male, age, the fourth-generation cephalosporin, carbapenem, β-lactam and β-lactamase inhibitor combination, and complication of sepsis were associated with liver injury (p < 0.001). In the retrospective observational study, multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that the risk factors for liver injury included male (p = 0.046), administration period ≥ 7 days (p < 0.001), and alanine aminotransferase (p = 0.031). Not only administration period but also sex and alanine aminotransferase should be considered when clinicians conduct the monitoring of liver function in the patients receiving tazobactam/piperacillin or meropenem.
The give and take of Arctic greening: differential responses of the carbon sink-to-source threshold to light and temperature in tussock tundra may be influenced by vegetation cover
Authors: Min Elizabeth , Boelman Natalie T. , Gough Laura , McLaren Jennie R. , Rastetter Edward B. , Rowe Rebecca J. , Rocha Adrian , Turnbull Matthew H. , Griffin Kevin L.
Published: August 2024

A significant warming effect on arctic tundra is greening. Although this increase in predominantly woody vegetation has been linked to increases in gross primary productivity, increasing temperatures also stimulate ecosystem respiration. We present a novel analysis from small-scale plot measurements showing that the shape of the temperature- and light-dependent sink-to-source threshold (where net ecosystem exchange (NEE) equals zero) differs between two tussock tundra ecosystems differing in leaf area index (LAI). At the higher LAI site, the threshold is exceeded (i.e the ecosystem becomes a source) at relatively higher temperatures under low light but at lower temperatures under high light. At the lower LAI site, the threshold is exceeded at relatively lower temperatures under low light but at higher temperatures under high light. We confirmed this response at a single site where LAI was experimentally increased. This suggests the carbon balance of the tundra may be sensitive to small increases in temperature under low light, but that this effect may be significantly offset by increases in LAI. Importantly, we found that this LAI effect is reversed under high light, and so in a warming tundra, greater vegetation cover could have a progressively negative effect on net carbon uptake.
Touchless short-wave infrared imaging for dynamic rapid pupillometry and gaze estimation in closed eyes
Authors: Ben Barak-Dror Omer , Hadad Barak , Barhum Hani , Haggiag David , Tepper Michal , Gannot Israel , Nir Yuval
Published: August 2024

Background

Assessments of gaze direction (eye movements), pupil size, and the pupillary light reflex (PLR) are critical for neurological examination and neuroscience research and constitute a powerful tool in diverse clinical settings ranging from critical care through endocrinology and drug addiction to cardiology and psychiatry. However, current bedside pupillometry is typically intermittent, qualitative, manual, and limited to open-eye cases, restricting its use in sleep medicine, anesthesia, and intensive care.

Methods

We combined short-wave infrared (SWIR, ~0.9-1.7μm) imaging with image processing algorithms to perform rapid (~30 ms) pupillometry and eye tracking behind closed eyelids. Forty-three healthy volunteers participated in two experiments with PLR evoked by visible light stimuli or directing eye movements towards screen targets. Imaging was performed simultaneously on one eye closed, and the other open eye serving as ground truth. Data analysis was performed with a custom approach quantifying changes in brightness around the pupil area or with a deep learning U-NET-based procedure.

Results

Here we show that analysis of SWIR imaging data can successfully measure stimulus-evoked PLR in closed-eye conditions, revealing PLR events in single trials and significant PLRs in nearly all individual subjects, as well as estimating gaze direction. The neural net-based analysis could successfully use closed-eye SWIR data to recreate estimates of open-eye images and assess pupil size.

Conclusions

Continuous touchless monitoring of rapid dynamics in pupil size and gaze direction through closed eyes paves the way for developing devices with wide-ranging applications, fulfilling long-standing goals in clinical and research fields.
Bimetallic Ru–Ir/Rh complexes for catalytic allyl alcohol reduction to propylene
Authors: Kawaji Kanade , Tsujiwaki Mina , Kiso Ayaka , Kitajo Yukina , Kitamura Manami , Nishimura Minako , Horikawa Junya , Ikushuma Haruto , Takemoto Shin , Matsuzaka Hiroyuki
Published: August 2024

Newly synthesized bimetallic Ru–Ir/Rh π-allyl complexes have been shown to catalyze chemoselective hydrogenolysis and electroreduction of allyl alcohol to propylene.
Synthesis of triazole-fused tetracyclic spirooxindole derivatives via metal-free Huisgen cycloaddition
Authors: Maiti Sandip , Parui Nabin , Halder Joydev , Dash Jyotirmayee
Published: August 2024

A transition metal-free synthesis of spirocycles has been delineated by Huisgen cycloaddition on 3,3-disubstituted-2-oxindoles, enabling quick access to tetracyclic spirooxindoles and natural product analogues.
Molecular enhancement of Cu-based catalysts for CO2 electroreduction
Authors: Luo Haiqiang , Li Bo , Ma Jian-Gong , Cheng Peng
Published: August 2024

This review outlines molecular enhancement strategies for Cu-based catalysts in eCO2RR, elucidating principles, structure-activity correlations and promising enhancement approaches, guiding the development of high-performance hybrid Cu catalysts.
Total synthesis of (+)-oridamycins A and B
Authors: Murmu Ranjit , Kundu Sourav , Majhi Moumita , Pal Souvik , Mondal Abhishek , Bisai Alakesh
Published: August 2024

A unified strategy to oridamycins A (2a) and B (2b), possessing a complex 6/6/6/5/6-fused pentacyclic skeleton, has been disclosed. This represents the first asymmetric approach to oridamycin B (2b).
Oxidation-guided and collision-induced linearization assists de novo sequencing of thioether macrocyclic peptides
Authors: Hayashi Ayaka , Goto Yuki , Saito Yutaro , Suga Hiroaki , Morimoto Jumpei , Sando Shinsuke
Published: August 2024

Oxidized thioether-closed macrocyclic peptides are site-selectively linearized upon collision-induced fragmentation, which enhances sequence deconvolution of cyclic peptides.
Excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer solid-state fluorophores with aggregation-induced emission as efficient emitters for electroluminescent devices
Authors: Petdee Sujinda , Chantanop Nuttapong , Arunlimsawat Suangsiri , Saenubol Atthapon , Nalaoh Phattananawee , Sudyoadsuk Taweesak , Promarak Vinich
Published: August 2024

Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) materials have emerged as highly promising candidates for emitters in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), attributed to their distinctive photophysical properties.
Electronic and magnetic properties of Au-doped diamond surfaces by first-principles calculation
Authors: Cheng Wei , Li Cong , Wang Tianyi , Cheng Shaoheng , Gao Nan , Li Hongdong
Published: August 2024

The electronic and magnetic properties of an Au-doped diamond surface are investigated by first-principles calculation.
Enhanced dielectric constant and breakdown strength of sandwiched polymer nanocomposite film for excellent energy storage
Authors: Zhang Jia-Yu , Liu Xiu , Luo Fei-Yan , He Li , Li Yan-Tong , Li Jia-Le , Zhou Yuan-Lin , Sun Nan , Zhang Quan-Ping
Published: August 2024

Enhanced dielectric constant and high breakdown strength offers immense promise for excellent energy storage performance, which is of critical significance in modern electronics and power systems.
Theoretical design of rhombohedral-stacked MoS2-based ferroelectric tunneling junctions with ultra-high tunneling electroresistances
Authors: Hu Huamin , Zeng Guang , Ouyang Gang
Published: August 2024

The Schottky barrier and TER of a Gra/2R-MoS2 heterojunction can be regulated by switching sliding ferroelectric polarization.
Electronic transitions and vibrational properties of bulk and monolayer g-C3N4, and a g-C3N4/MoS2 heterostructure from a DFT study
Authors: Oreshonkov A. S. , Sukhanova E. V. , Pankin D. V. , Popov Z. I.
Published: August 2024

The study examines the stability and properties of g-C3N4 and g-C3N4/MoS2 heterostructure revealing an indirect-to-direct band gap transition and Raman spectra evolution due to dimensionally reduction and heterostructure formation.
Formation of the icosahedral C60 fullerene via migration of single sp atoms and annihilation of sp-atom pairs
Authors: Sinitsa Alexander S. , Polynskaya Yulia G. , Matsokin Nikita A. , Kedalo Yegor M. , Knizhnik Andrey A. , Popov Andrey M.
Published: August 2024

The icosahedral C60-Ih abundant fullerene isomer formation from the appropriate C58-C2v fullerene with a 7-ring due to directional migration of sp atoms to the 7-ring with subsequent sp-atom pair annihilation is considered using DFT calculations.
Mix and match – controlling the functionality of spin-crossover materials through solid solutions and molecular alloys
Authors: Halcrow Malcolm A.
Published: August 2024

The influence of dopant molecules on the structure and functionality of spin-crossover materials is surveyed.
Elimination of surface defects in luminescent crystals through solid–liquid interface friction
Authors: Yuan Dongming , Wang Aolin , Li Zheyi , Wang Shaohan , Zhou Wenli , Lian Shixun
Published: August 2024

This work introduces a robust, simple strategy for eliminating surface defects in red-emitting fluorides through solid–liquid interface friction. The method is solvent-independent and excels at removing defects caused by mechanical crushing.
Interfacial degradation of silicon anodes in pouch cells
Authors: Fang Qiu , Xu Shiwei , Sha Xuechao , Liu Di , Zhang Xiao , Li Weiping , Weng Suting , Li Xiaoyun , Chen Liquan , Li Hong , Wang Bo , Wang Zhaoxiang , Wang Xuefeng
Published: August 2024

The practical application of silicon (Si) anodes in the next-generation high-energy lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is largely hindered by their capacity loss due to the aggressive formation of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI).
Air-stable lithium-sandwiched current collector for non-destructive, thermally safe, and sustained supplementary lithiation
Authors: Zhang Can , Chen Xinlong , Wan Wang , Liu Ganxiong , Nie Quan , Yang Fangzhou , Li Xueyang , Li Sa , Huang Yunhui , Wang Chao
Published: August 2024

This work proposed an air-stable lithium-sandwiched current collector, addressing the side effects and thermal safety hazards associated with contact prelithiation.
Depolymerization of PET with ethanol by homogeneous iron catalysts applied for exclusive chemical recycling of cloth waste
Authors: Awang Nor Wahida Binti , Hadiyono Muhammad Aidel Bin Ratno , Abdellatif Mohamed Mehawed , Nomura Kotohiro
Published: August 2024

The acid-, base-free exclusive depolymerization of PET with ethanol catalyzed by FeCl3 affording DET and EG, and the selective depolymerization of PET from textile waste have been demonstrated.
Visualization of flax cell wall lignification using a novel click chemistry analogue of sinapyl alcohol
Authors: Yang Haitao , Liu Wei , Sun Zhiyuan , Yao Lan
Published: August 2024

A novel precursor monomer, 2-O-propargylsinapyl alcohol, has been designed for accurately tracking and locating lignin in plant cells, aimed at investigating the lignification process of plant cells.
A novel red mud-based Co3O4–Fe2O3–Co2AlO4 composite as a peroxymonosulfate activator for effective degradation of lomefloxacin hydrochloride
Authors: He Yuliang , Zhu Youlian , Wei Guangtao , Gu Junchi , Zhang Linye , Lan Wei
Published: August 2024

The possible catalytic mechanism of PMS activated by Co–Fe/RM.
The nature and degree of the cooperativity of (η5-C5H5)–metal and metal–CO bonds in half-sandwich complexes of groups 5, 7, 9, and 11 transition metals
Authors: Movafagh Samaneh Sanei , Gholiee Yasin , Salehzadeh Sadegh
Published: August 2024

It is shown that, the cooperativity always has the same quantitative effect on the interaction energies of two cooperated chemical bonds but may have different effects on their nature.
Tailoring electrochemically exfoliated graphene electroactive pathways in cementitious composites for structural health monitoring of constructions
Authors: Safuta Małgorzata , Valentini Cataldo , Ciesielski Artur , Samorì Paolo
Published: August 2024

Electrical characteristics of EEG-based cement mortars were studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy proposing an equivalent circuit to describe the conductive paths within the composites upon EEG addition above the percolation threshold.
One-pot single-step copolymerization of aromatic trifluorovinyl ethers toward perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) segmented copolymers
Authors: Park Jiyoung , Kucukkal Tugba G. , Oh Jung-Min , Stuart Steven J. , Creager Stephen E. , Muñoz Gustavo , Smith Jr. Dennis W.
Published: August 2024

A segmented PFCB aryl ether copolymer was synthesized directly from two aryl TFVE monomers having different reactivities and the blocky copolymer structure was confirmed by 19F NMR spectroscopic data.
Probing the formation of a hetero-dimeric membrane transport complex with dual in vitro and in silico mutagenesis
Authors: Rathod Nishadh , Lemieux M. Joanne , Chipot Christophe , Roux Benoît , Young Howard S.
Published: August 2024

Free-energy perturbation simulations transform residues of phospholamban into alanine (e.g. Leu44 to Ala44). Free-energy calculations provide insights into the formation of a hetero-dimeric membrane transport complex.
Supramolecular polymerization and bulk properties relationship in ester-functionalized N-annulated perylenediimides
Authors: López-Gandul Lucía , Lavarda Giulia , van den Bersselaar Bart W. L. , Vantomme Ghislaine , Meijer E. W. , Sánchez Luis
Published: August 2024

The self-assembly and bulk properties of NPDIs 1–4 are reported. In solution, increasing the length of the tether changes the mechanism from cooperative (1–3) to isodesmic (4). Bulk studies show an odd-even effect depending on the linker.
Mesoscale polymer arrays: high aspect ratio surface structures and their digital reconstruction
Authors: Moed Demi E. , Dimitriyev Michael S. , Greenvall Benjamin R. , Grason Gregory M. , Crosby Alfred J.
Published: August 2024

Digital reconstruction of mesoscale fibrillar arrays reveals the influence of multiscale forces in controlling their mesoscale morphology.
Phases and correlations in active nematic granular systems
Authors: Sharma Abhishek , Soni Harsh
Published: August 2024

A novel phase characterised by a periodic ordering profile in a vibrated granular system of apolar rods is reported.
Rapid screening of toxicity to thermotolerant yeasts: inhibition of growth and fermentation by ionic liquids and zwitterions
Authors: Shibata Mayu , Hachisu Ayumi , Uemori Souta , Tobe Hitomi , Ninomiya Kazuaki , Kuroda Kosuke
Published: August 2024

We here established rapid screening methods for toxicity of zwitterions and investigated the toxicity to growth and fermentation.