bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Occurrence characteristics and ecological risk assessment of microplastics in Urban river in cold regions during ice-covered periods
Authors: Chen Lei , Liao YingFei , Zeng Kangjun , Wu Yining , Wang He
Published: October 2023

The ice-covered periods is a natural phenomenon where ice forms on the water surface of rivers in areas with high latitude and cold climate. Ice blocks the diffusion of pollutants, thus causing changes in water quality characteristics. This paper focuses on the Harbin section of the Songhua River in the cold region of northern China. The occurrence characteristics and pollution level of microplastics (MPs) are explored in both ice and water of urban inland rivers and estuaries during the ice-covered periods. The results identified the discharge of domestic sewage as the main source of MPs in urban inland rivers. The abundance of MPs in MaJiaGou average of 324.36 ± 261.45 item/L, the abundance of MPs in SongHua ice raverage of 65.02 ± 68.15 item/L, while in the water with different depths of SongHua, the MPs it ranged from 1.03 ± 0.66 item/L to 12.86 ± 9.35 item/L,average is 5.59 ± 7.57 item/L.The amount of MPs in ice is about 11 times that in water.Ice formation caused a decline in MPs prevalence within the aquatic environment primarily due to the inclusion of a relatively large proportion of MPs within the ice mass during freezing. Additionally, it restricted atmospheric MPs from entering the river waters, contributing to the decrease.The abundance of MPs in urban inland rivers gradually increased from south to north, while that in the mainstream of the Songhua River showed an increasing trend from east to west. Detected MPs were mainly fibrous and white in shape and color, respectively, with a particle size < 0.5 mm. The fragmentation of micro plastics in ice is greater than that in water. Polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyacrylonitrile,etc were the main types of polymers. The results of ecological risk assessment showed that the MPs pollution in the Harbin section of the Songhua River reached moderate and severe pollution levels during the ice-covered periods Its potential risk should receive more attention and control should be strengthened. The research results have important reference significance for providing basic information for river pollution control and ecological protection in cold regions, providing a new direction for future research. In the future, more attention should be directed to the transfer and toxic effects of environmental MPs.
Genomic and morphological characterization of Knufia obscura isolated from the Mars 2020 spacecraft assembly facility
Authors: Chander Atul Munish , Teixeira Marcus Melo , Singh Nitin K. , Williams Michael P. , Parker Ceth W. , Leo Patrick , Stajich Jason E. , Torok Tamas , Tighe Scott , Mason Christopher E. , Venkateswaran Kasthuri
Published: October 2023

Members of the family Trichomeriaceae, belonging to the Chaetothyriales order and the Ascomycota phylum, are known for their capability to inhabit hostile environments characterized by extreme temperatures, nutrient scarcity (oligotrophic conditions), presence of toxic compounds, or drought conditions. Within this family, the genus Knufia encompasses the vast majority of polyextremophilic species. In this report, the genomic and morphological features of the strain FJI-L2-BK-P2, identified as Knufia obscura, are presented. The identification is based on multi-locus sequence analysis and whole genome sequence phylogeny. The strain FJI-L2-BK-P2 was isolated from the Mars 2020 mission spacecraft assembly facility located at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Additionally, the type strain of K. obscura (CBS 148926T), originally isolated from a car's gas tank in Italy, has been sequenced and annotated. The morphological analysis and description of the genomic characteristics of K. obscura FJI-L2-BK-P2 may contribute to refining the taxonomy of Knufia species. Key morphological features are reported in this K. obscura strain, resembling microsclerotia and chlamydospore-like propagules. These features, known to be significant in black fungi, could potentially facilitate their adaptation to harsh environments.
Fingolimod Attenuates Lung Injury after Diffuse Brain Injury
Authors: Feng Dongyi , Zhang Xinjie , Xiang Tangtang , Su Wanqiang , Liu Tao , Li Fanjian , Qian Yu , Fan Yibing , Li Wanjing , An Shuo , Tian Yu , Jiang Rongcai
Published: October 2023

One of the severe and common extracranial injuries associated with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), such as diffuse brain injury (DBI), is acute lung injury (ALI). The inflammatory reaction plays a key role in ALI development. Fingolimod inhibits multiple inflammatory responses. We hypothesized that fingolimod administration could attenuate ALI by modulating the inflammatory reaction secondary to TBI. Fingolimod was administered for 3 consecutive days after DBI. Immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin and eosin staining were performed for histopathological evaluation to assess the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration and ALI after DBI. Pulmonary edema and capillary leakage were quantified by assessing the lung wet-to-dry ratio and Evans blue dye leakage. Western blotting was used to assess the concentrations of inflammatory factors, blood–air barrier tight junction proteins, and apoptosis proteins in lung tissue after DBI. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the peripheral blood Treg content and to evaluate the changes in peripheral immunity after DBI. It was found that DBI induced significant lung injury and caused changes in the peripheral blood Treg content. Fingolimod treatment significantly alleviated lung barrier injury and reduced inflammatory cytokine production, inflammatory cell infiltration, apoptotic protein levels, and the wet/dry weight ratio in lung tissue 3 days after DBI, accompanied by an increase in the peripheral blood Treg content. Thus, it was found that DBI can result in significant pulmonary damage accompanied by significant inflammatory responses. Fingolimod reduced the inflammatory response and alleviated DBI-induced lung injury, providing a potential new approach for the treatment of ALI in DBI.
First Evidence on Genomic Potential of Stenotrophomonas Rhizophila Strain Is26 Able to Reduce Aflatoxin B1 Produced by Aspergillus Flavus in a Solid-based Medium
Authors: Dif Guendouz , Djemouai Nadjette , Belaouni Hadj Ahmed , Meklat Atika , Toumatia Omrane , Zitouni Abdelghani
Published: October 2023

This work aimed to study the interaction between Stenotrophomonas rhizophila strain IS26 and an isolate of Aspergillus flavus NRRL 62477 able to synthesize aflatoxin B1. Our results demonstrated that, when co-cultivated with A. flavus on ISP2 medium, the strain IS26 reduced the aflatoxin B1 residual concentration by 47%. The assembly of 5189077 Illumina's paired-end sequencing reads resulted in 42 contigs for a total genome assembly size of 4.09 Mb with 66.4% GC content. An overall total of 3624 genes was predicted using the NCBI Prokaryotic Genome Automatic Annotation Pipeline (NCBI-PGAAP). A total of 304 subsystems with 27% subsystem coverage was predicted using RAST annotation of the S. rhizophila strain IS26 genome. The genome sequence analysis of the strain IS26 detected the presence of genes involved in inhibition of aflatoxins (Afs) biosynthesis as well as genes involved in the degradation of AFs. Thus, these results suggest that S. rhizophila IS26 decreased aflatoxin B1 via down-regulated gene expression in terms of aflatoxin B1 biosynthesis and/or degradation of Afs. In summary, S. rhizophila IS26 can be employed for the biological reduction of aflatoxin B1 produced by A. flavus NRRL 62477.
Adherence to dental home care in dogs with periodontitis: a post-treatment survey
Authors: Svärd John , Enlund Karolina Brunius
Published: October 2023

Background
Periodontitis is a common disease in dogs, and daily dental home care in the form of tooth brushing is essential for prevention and treatment. Despite this, many studies reveal low adherence to tooth brushing advice. This study aimed to assess compliance with dental home care among dogs with periodontitis and understand the factors influencing brushing routines. A questionnaire survey was emailed to 63 dog owners whose dogs had been diagnosed with periodontitis, received dental cleaning at the University Animal Hospital, and were given tooth brushing instructions. The survey was supplemented by telephone interviews, resulting in a 57% response rate.
Results
The study presents dog owners' routines, experiences, attitudes, and motivation regarding tooth brushing. Approximately 42% brushed their dogs' teeth daily while others did so less frequently or not at all. Reported challenges, such as uncooperative dogs and difficulty establishing a routine, may explain infrequent brushing.
Conclusions
While the study suggests that owners of dogs with periodontitis tend to follow dental care recommendations better than the general dog owner population, it also reveals that preventive care is inadequate for more than half of the dogs. Given the high prevalence of periodontitis, there's a need for resources to address infrequent tooth brushing. Understanding dog owners' needs can help establish daily brushing as a routine, improving canine oral health and overall well-being.
Perceived isolation, social disconnectedness, and the mental health of young adults in South Korea
Authors: Choi Seongsu , Lee Yeongju , Park Sojeong
Published: October 2023

Background
While perceived isolation and social disconnectedness in older adults and adolescents are considered to be risk factors for mental health, limited research on the association between these variables in young adults. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of perceived isolation and social disconnectedness among young adults in Korea and the impact of these factors on mental health.
Methods
We utilized data from the 2021 Young Adult Socio-economic Survey, which approved by Statistics Korea. A sample of 2,041 participants was selected. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between perceived isolation and social disconnectedness and mental health.
Results
Perceived isolation and social disconnectedness were associated with mental health. Perceived isolation (OR 1.86, 95% CI = 1.61–2.15) and going out (OR 2.59, 95% CI = 1.47–4.58) significantly influenced depression. Additionally, subjective well-being was significantly influenced by perceived isolation (OR 1.17, 95% CI = 1.03–1.33), going out (OR 1.96 95% CI = 1.21–3.16), and number of friends (OR 0.79, 95% CI = 0.69–0.90).
Conclusions
Overall, the findings suggest that social connection is crucial to young adults’ mental health.
Welding procedure development and effect of PWHT on the microstructure and properties of the matching filler metal and weld joint of the MARBN alloy
Authors: Roberts Steve , Wildgoose Josh Josh , Jepson Mark , Philpott Will , ZHANG Zhuyao , Allen David Allen David
Published: October 2023

Since the reports of promising creep properties of MARBN alloys (a short name for MARtensitic 9Cr steel strengthened by Boron and Nitrides), nearly two decades ago, significant effort has been input in examining the base alloys, development and validating of the matching filler metals. One of the main targeted applications of MARBN alloys is the castings for thermal power plant turbine components. These applications will involve repair welding of castings and joint welding between castings and other structures, such as joints between casted valves and steam pipe works, etc. For weld joints with satisfactory microstructure and properties, there are practical needs for developing appropriate welding procedures and post weld heat treatment (PWHT) parameters. Particularly, a relatively lower PWHT peak temperature, i.e. 735°C, is preferred for the fabrication of casting components. Within the UK collaborative projects, IMPLANT, a detailed investigation has been carried out to the matching composition filler metal for welding MARBN alloys to explore the influence of welding procedure and PWHT on the microstructure and properties of the weld metal and MARBN alloy weld joint. The filler metal was in form of shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) electrode. All-weld metal assemblies and weld joints made with IBN-1 base alloy plate were prepared. For the weld joint welding, different inter-pass temperatures were applied. After welding, post weld heat treatments at 735°C with different soaking durations were employed. Ambient temperature mechanical test was conducted. All-weld metal and cross-weld transverse tensile, Charpy impact toughness, hardness and bend properties were assessed. The microstructure of the all-weld metals and weld joint after different PWHT procedures were examined using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The differences in microstructure (grain structure and precipitations, etc) are evaluated in order to determine the possible reasons for the differences in mechanical properties, particularly in toughness at ambient temperature. This paper reports the results obtained so far. Initial conclusions are summarised. Aspects for further investigation are identified.
Transcriptomic Responses of Rabbits to Infections by precocious line and Wild-Type Eimeria media: Revealing Molecular Signatures and Pathway Differences in Liver and Duodenum during the Peak and Terminal Phases of Oocyst Production
Authors: Zou yijin , Wang Yiyan , Suo Xun , Zhang Yuanyuan
Published: October 2023

Eimeria media is a principal pathogen responsible for rabbit coccidiosis, targeting the rabbit's intestinal epithelial cells. This parasitism damages the intestinal mucosal barrier, initiating a systemic immune and inflammatory response that jeopardizes the sustainable growth of rabbit farming. To understand the implications of infection on the host's immune and metabolic responses, we employed RNA-Seq to analyze RNA from the liver and duodenum tissues of post-infected rabbits infected with both the precocious line and wild-type strains of Eimeria media. Comprehensive transcriptomic analysis revealed that the two strains exhibit divergent transcriptomic imprints on host tissues. While the precocious line predominantly modulates immune-centric pathways with significant differential gene enrichment, wild-type strains favor pathways that affect metabolism. In addition, our study pinpointed a set of genes that undergo significant modifications in response to these effects. These revelations grant a fresh avenue to probe deeper into the symbiotic intricacies of the Eimeria media and its rabbit hosts.
A dynamic miRNA-mRNA network serves as a crosstalk between abnormal cell cycle and immunosuppressive microenvironment in the colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence
Authors: Bai Jin , Dong Yang , Li Yandong , Gao Yong
Published: October 2023

Background
Colorectal tumorigenesis is well accepted with the colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence (ACS). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been considered as effective biomarkers for colorectal cancer (CRC) or adenoma detection. However, it is unclear how miRNAs initiate CRC.
Methods
In our study, we collected multiple public datasets with miRNA (GSE41655 and GSE115513) or mRNA (GSE41657 and GSE37364) consisting of normal tissue, benign adenoma, and malignant tumor samples. STEM analysis was performed to investigate dynamic deregulated miRNAs and mRNAs along the colorectal ACS. The miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed on two miRNA-target prediction databases (tarBase and miRTarBase). WGCNA, KEGG pathway analysis, and GSEA were used to explore the potential molecular biological function. The lineage trajectory in the colorectal ACS was identified via monocle analysis based on a single-cell RNA sequencing data (GSE161277). ESTIMATE analysis and Immune cell infiltration analysis were used to examine the contribution of different cell types in the microenvironment of ACS. Drug sensitivity analysis of common targeting drugs was performed on OncoPredict R package and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) response was predicted by TIDE analysis.
Results
A total of 4 dynamic down-regulated miRNAs and 278 dynamic up-regulated mRNAs were investigated. We then conducted a 4 down-regulated miRNA-25 up-regulated mRNA regulatory network, which well distinguished among normal, adenoma, CRC samples. Mechanistically, the signature of 25 target genes (Sig-25Targets) was positively associated with cell cycle-related pathways, while negatively correlated with immune-related pathways. Furthermore, the Sig-25Targets showed similar increasing score as the “cell cycle”, “G2/M checkpoint”, and “DNA repair” along the ACS via epithelial cell lineage transition. On the other hand, we found a negatively association between this signature and immune score, especial the B cell in the adenoma and CRC samples. Clinically, drug sensitivity analysis showed that Sig-25Targets was sensitive with cell cycle targeting drugs, but had a worse overall survival with datasets using ICB treatment.
Conclusions
Overall, our results revealed that the 4 down-regulated miRNA-25 up-regulated mRNA regulatory network may participate in the colorectal ACS through the abnormal activation of cell cycle signaling, but as an immunosuppressor. We also provide potential treatment guidance for CRC patients who significantly express these genes.
GRAAL - Modeling and Prototyping a System for a Gamified Responsible Augmented Assembly Line
Authors: Agati Salvador Sergi , Hounsell Marcelo da Silva , Paterno Aleksander Sade
Published: October 2023

Human errors are prevalent in manual assembly line statistics, but humans are still a necessary and numerous working force for assembly tasks. Since faster and shorter production cycles lead to higher mental efforts, an alternative to decrease the cognitive load and errors of manual assembly lines is using Augmented Reality (AR). AR increases system interaction and assists operators in the step-by-step of any tasks performed. Its use allows granular production data, enabling an increase in quality control and timely detection of assembly problems. However, AR alone is not enough to avoid demotivation and lack of engagement in the task, which is repetitive in nature. Gamification can become an auxiliary resource to increase operators' motivation and engagement. This work presents a system model to integrate AR and gamification for a manual assembly line called GRAAL. GRAAL was used to develop an actual systemfor Printed Circuit Board (PCB) assembly, which is able to guide operators using AR but also tracks down their efficiency and efficacy which is then used for gamifying their performance. We conclude that modeling a system that merges AR and Gamification is feasible but a non-trivial task. The system's features are dependent on conditioning factors such as Application Environment, Application Context, Application Audience, and AR hardware.
Effect of accelerated artificial aging on color stability of CAD-CAM materials
Authors: Magdy ahmed , Samhan Talaat , Shokry Tamer
Published: October 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of accelerated artificial aging using weathering process on color stability of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) materials.
Materials and Methods: Four CAD-CAM materials were tested; Nano hybrid CAD-CAM composite (Tetric CAD “TC”) , hybrid ceramic (Vita Enamic “VE”), Advanced Lithium disilicate (CEREC Tessera “CT”) and Lithium disilicate (IPS e.max CAD “EM”) . Each group material contains nine samples (n=9). Color measurements of the four materials were assessed before and after accelerated aging in weathering machine for 300 hours using a spectrophotometer based on CIE L*a*b* relative to the standard illumination D65. Color difference was obtained using the formula ∆E=[(∆L*)2+(∆a*) 2+(∆b*) 2]½. Statistical analysis was done using one - way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests (a=0.05).
Results: There was a statistically significant difference between ΔE of CAD-CAM materials. TC showed the highest mean ∆E (4.29) while there was no statistical significance difference between ∆E of VE, CT and EM (3.02, 3 and 2.94 respectively).
Conclusions: Artificial accelerated aging caused clinically unacceptable color changes in TC, while it caused perceptible but clinically acceptable color changes in VE, CT, and EM. Chemical composition could influence the change in color of the material.
Clinical Significance: When color stability with weathering process is considered; advanced lithium disilicate, lithium disilicate and hybrid ceramic with high color stability may be a better choice than nano hybrid CAD/CAM composite, especially when being used in the anterior esthetic zone.
Online Mental Health Help Seeking Behaviors Among College Students
Authors: Johnson Rachel L. , Nandan Monica , Culp Brian , Thomas Dominic
Published: October 2023

Summary: Even before the pandemic, utilization of online mental health resources continues to grow among young adults. There is limited research on online help seeking behaviors, let alone specific research on college students’ online mental health help seeking behaviors. This study aims to identify which terminology college students utilize on online search engines to seek assistance related to mental health. A cross-sectional survey design was used during the 2019-2020 academic year. The respondents consisted of 259 college students at one of the 50 largest public institutions of higher education in the Southeastern United States.
Findings: Overall, the sample data suggests that college students utilize general words such as mental health help, as well as specific symptoms and diagnoses, and words related to cost and insurance when searching online for mental health assistance.
Applications: This data suggests online search word utilization for mental health has gender, racial, and age differences, which could further inform the way online search engines operate to provide adequate services for specific populations seeking help.
The value of linear and non-linear quantitative EEG analysis in paediatric epilepsy surgery: a machine learning approach.
Authors: Mercier Mattia , Pepi Chiara , Carfi-Pavia Giusy , Benedictis Alessandro , Espagnet Maria Camilla Rossi , Pirani Greta , Vigevano Federico , Marras Carlo Efisio , Specchio Nicola , Palma Luca
Published: October 2023

Epilepsy surgery is effective for patients with medication-resistant seizures, however 20-40% of them are not seizure free after surgery. Aim of this study is to evaluate the role of linear and non-linear EEG features to predict post-surgical outcome.
We included 123 paediatric patients who underwent epilepsy surgery at Bambino Gesù Children Hospital (January 2009 - April 2020). All patients had long term video-EEG monitoring. We analysed 1 minute scalp interictal EEG (wakefulness and sleep) and extracted 13 linear and non-linear EEG features (Power Spectral Density (PSD), Hjorth, Approximate Entropy, Permutation Entropy, Lyapunov and Hurst value). We used a LR as feature selection process. To quantify the correlation between EEG features and surgical outcome we used an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model with 18 architectures.
LR revealed a significant correlation between PSD of Alpha Band (sleep), Mobility index (sleep) and the Hurst value (sleep and awake) with outcome. The Fifty-Four ANN models gave a range of accuracy (46%-65%) in predicting outcome. Within the Fifty-Four ANN models, we found a higher accuracy (64.8%±7.6%) in seizure outcome prediction, using features selected by LR.
The combination of PSD of Alpha Band, Mobility and the Hurst value positively correlate with good surgical outcome.
Research on Fog Computing Data Transmission Methods Incorporating Blockchain Data Structures
Authors: ZUO Xuebin , YANG Fan , YANG Wenjie
Published: October 2023

With the continuous expansion of the scale of industrial IoT, fog computing communication network has been widely used, and the scale of its transmission data has also increased exponentially, but the existing fog computing communication network has problems such as poor data transmission security and cumbersome encryption and decryption. Aiming at these problems, this paper proposes a transmission method for fog computing communication networks that incorporates blockchain structure. First, the method constructs a dynamically updated word vector model by minimizing the loss function to map the plaintext data in the fog computing network to the corresponding word vector space; then the traditional blockchain data structure is improved and the corresponding word vector data is transformed into the corresponding block data, which facilitates a better transmission of the data in the network; finally, the nodes and the network architecture of the fog computing network are designed to further guarantee the security and integrity of data in network transmission. Finally, the nodes and network architecture of the fog computing network are designed to further ensure the security and integrity of data transmission in the network. The experimental results show that this method has great advantages over the existing methods in terms of data transmission efficiency, security and integrity.
Current national nature reserves are insufficient to safeguard the long-term survival of wildlife in China
Authors: Bai Yongfei , Sun Weicheng , Zhao Yujin , Chen Wenhe
Published: October 2023

Enhancing the connectivity of protected areas (PAs) is a global consensus for conserving biodiversity. Yet, it is unclear whether habitats are sufficiently connected within PAs to efficiently protect wildlife populations for long-term survival. Using the perspective of functional connectivity, we evaluated the capacity and limiting factors of the 474 national nature reserves (NNRs) in China in protecting the long-term survival of wildlife populations in their internal habitats. We show that, in general, China's NNRs can effectively protect about one-half of the wildlife populations within PAs for long-term survival. However, they can only protect 25% bird and 13% terrestrial mammal populations with high motility. Areas of low conservation effectiveness are highly overlapped with PAs of small size and high intensity of human activity. Artificial landscapes such as roads and settlements, which account less than 2% area of the PAs, disproportionately cause nearly 40% of the connectivity loss. The results suggest that maintaining high levels of functional connectivity within PAs is as important as maintaining high connectivity in the national or global PA networks. Our findings have important implications for improving the management of PAs in China and beyond.
The combination of transcriptomics and metabolomics uncovers mepiquat chloride improves the response of Litchi chinensis leaves to low-temperature stress in late spring
Authors: Li Tianzi , Feng Naijie , Zheng Dianfeng , Chen Mingming , Zhao Liming
Published: October 2023

Under low-temperature stress, the application of chemical regulation into litchi leaves remains largely uninvestigated especially during the late spring season. In this study, we came up with transcriptomics- and metabolomics-based strategies to comprehensively survey the response mechanisms of litchi to low temperature under the treatment of mepiquat chloride. After a big fraction of transcripts and metabolites were found differentially expressed, the pathway enrichment analysis showed that carbon metabolism accounted for a large number of DEGs (Differentially Expressed Genes). The effects of mepiquat chloride on carbon metabolism were found up regulated in the enrichment analysis for differential metabolites or transcripts. In addition, the combinational analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics indicated mepiquat chloride coordinately regulates transcripts and metabolites by forming a tightly linked network. The integration of metabolomics and transcriptomics revealed that mepiquat chloride potentially promotes the expression of transcription factor and drives the upregulation of citrate synthase, and isocitrate dehydrogenase (NAD+) in the pathways of carbon metabolism. Meanwhile, upregulation of antioxidant related genes in the pathway of peroxisome. Considering that carbon metabolism is tightly related to photosynthesis, the physiological measurements of photosynthetic indexes suggested mepiquat chloride presented the potentials to improve the ability of photosynthesis for litchi under low-temperature stress. This comprehensive study combining transcriptomics and metabolomics provided a basis and strategy for understanding how higher plants respond stresses under chemical regulation.
Rhodamine-based fluorescent probe with quick response and high selectivity for imaging labile ferrous iron in living cells and zebrafish
Authors: Wang Shanshan , Chen Xin , Liu Zhigang , Yu Shihua , Fu Jing , Zeng Xiaodan
Published: October 2023

The transition between its various oxidation states of Iron plays a crucial part in various chemical transformation of cells. Misregulation of iron can give rise to the iron-catalyzed reactive oxygen species disorder which have been linked to a variety of diseases, so it is crucial to monitor the labile iron pool in vivo for clinical diagnosis. According to iron autoxidation and hydrogen abstraction reaction, we reported a novel “off-on” fluorescent probe to response to ferrous (Fe2+) both in solutions and biological systems. The probe responds to Fe2+ with good selectivity toward competing metal ions. What’s more, the probe presents significant fluorescent enhancement to Fe2+ in less than 1 min, making real-time sensing in biological system possible. The applications of the probe in bioimaging revealed the changes in labile iron pool by iron autoxidation or diverse stimuli.
Construction of a pH-responsive nanoreactor and its specific inhibition of oral squamous cell carcinoma growth via TME and xCT/GSH/GPX4 axis
Authors: Wu Daming , Zhao Xiao , Leng Diya , Wang Huiwen , Jin Hong , Wu Yuting , Qin Zhiguo , Wei Xin
Published: October 2023

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignant tumor in oral and maxillofacial region, distinguished by its formidable invasiveness, high incidence of lymph node metastatic, and unfavorable prognosis. Given the current dearth of specific drugs, effectively curtailing its growth, invasion, and metastasis poses a significant challenge. The tumor microenvironment (TME) exhibits mildly acidic conditions and a high concentration of H2O2, which makes the use of this characteristic for cancer treatment a promising cancer treatment approach. In this study, we developed a pH-responsive nanoreactor, composed of ultrasmall Prussian blue nanoparticles within mesoporous calcium-silicate nanoparticles (USPBNs@MCSNs, UPM). This innovative nanoreactor converted endogenous H2O2 in TME into abundant ·OH while generating oxygen in non-tumor regions to reduce hypoxia-induced chemotherapy resistance. The findings showed UPM induced OSCC cells ferroptosis by downregulated the xCT/GPX4/GSH axis, effectively restraining the growth, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells, and did not cause systemic toxicity. Consequently, the pH-responsive UPM synthesized here possesses the ability to initiate specific biochemical reactions in TEM, and has potential clinical application value.
Sustainable Development in the Digital Age: Leveraging Social Networks for Viral Green Product Messages
Authors: Sobhanifard Yaser , Hatami Meisam
Published: October 2023

This research seeks to enhance sustainability through amazing messages of consumption of green products on the social network. Using the research literature, interviews with the theoretical saturation approach, the exploratory factor analysis of the relevant model were made, and the relevant factors were classified into three main categories. Finally, the factors discovered were ranked by Friedman.16 factors for virus-related messages related to green product consumption were identified. These factors were constructed with three main variables: seduction, innovation, and unknown, with exploratory factor analysis. Then these 16 factors were ranked: more advanced and newer technologies representing nature's extraordinary power, such as the enormous energy of winds or waves and a new tip or trick. They have presented the highest priority for the viralization of a message through surprise. For the first time, this research seeks to find surprising factors that if they are used in messages related to green products, they become viral quickly and mainly on social networks between people. This research aims to help sustainable development with a viral message solution by surprising consumers for the first time.
A national evaluation analysis and expert interview study of real-world data sources for research and healthcare decision-making
Authors: Mikl Veronika , Baltic Dejan , Czypionka Thomas , Degelsegger-Márquez Alexander , Forgó Nikolaus , Gouya-Lechner Ghazaleh , Herzog Arnold , Klimek Peter , Lumenta David Benjamin , Mraz Bernhard , Ostermann Herwig , Scharinger Robert , Stamm Tanja , Strassnig Michael , Zeitlinger Markus , Pleiner-Duxneuner Johannes
Published: October 2023

Real-world data (RWD) can provide intel (real-world evidence, RWE) for research and development, as well as policy and regulatory decision-making along the full spectrum of health care. Despite calls from global regulators for international collaborations to integrate RWE into regulatory decision-making and to bridge knowledge gaps, some challenges remain. In this work, we performed an evaluation of Austrian RWD sources using a multilateral query approach, crosschecked against previously published RWD criteria and conducted direct interviews with representative RWD source samples. This article provides an overview of 73 out of 104 RWD sources in a national legislative setting with favourable RWD incentives, which can be used to extrapolate to other EU data regions under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and upcoming legislation such as the European Health Data Space Act (EHDS). We were able to detect omnipresent challenges associated with data silos, variable standardisation efforts and governance issues. Our findings suggest a strong need for a national health data strategy and governance framework, which should inform researchers, as well as policy- and decision-makers to improve RWD-based research in the healthcare sector to ultimately support actual regulatory decision-making and provide strategic information for governmental health data policies.
A clustering approach to improve our understanding of the genetic and phenotypic complexity of chronic kidney disease
Authors: Eoli Andrea , Ibing Susanne , Schurmann Claudia , Nadkarni Girish N. , Heyne Henrike , Böttinger Erwin
Published: October 2023

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a complex disorder that causes a gradual loss of kidney function, affecting approximately 9.1% of the world's population. Here, we use a soft-clustering algorithm to deconstruct its genetic heterogeneity. First, we selected 322 CKD-associated independent genetic variants from published genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and added association results for 229 traits from the GWAS catalog. We then applied nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) to discover overlapping clusters of related traits and variants. We computed cluster-specific polygenic scores and validated each cluster with a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) on the BioMe biobank (n=31,701). NMF identified nine clusters that reflect different aspects of CKD, with the top-weighted traits signifying areas such as kidney function, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and body weight. For most clusters, the top-weighted traits were confirmed in the PheWAS analysis. Results were found to be more significant in the cross-ancestry analysis, although significant ancestry-specific associations were also identified. While all alleles were associated with a decreased kidney function, associations with CKD-related diseases (e.g., T2D) were found only for a smaller subset of variants and differed across genetic ancestry groups. Our findings leverage genetics to gain insights into the underlying biology of CKD and investigate population-specific associations.
Paeoniflorin alleviates oxidative stress and apoptosis in heat stress-induced H9c2 cells
Authors: Wang Meng , Liu Ying , Li Hua , Liu Hui , Wang Xinxing , Dong Qingyang
Published: October 2023

Purpose: The increasing annual mean temperature has exacerbated the severity of heat stress (HS) which could increase cardiac burden. Paeoniflorin (PF), the primary bioactive constituent extracted from the Paeonifloraceae, exhibits robust antioxidant properties. However, its protective potential against HS-induced cardiomyocyte injury remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of PF on H9c2 cells subjected to HS-induced injury and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
Methods: To establish the heat stress model, H9c2 cells were exposed to HS for 2 h at 45 °C in a 5% CO2 incubator. Before HS exposure, H9c2 cells were pretreated with PF (5 µM) for 24 h. Subsequently, we assessed cell viability, oxidative stress, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and mitochondrial function.
Results: HS treatment significantly increased oxidative stress and apoptosis in H9c2 cells. However, pretreatment with PF for 24 h attenuated the HS-induced damage in H9c2 cells, protecting against thermal injury.
Conclusion: Current studies have not investigated the role of PF on oxidative damage and apoptosis in vitro after HS. Our experiment demonstrated that PF ameliorates HS-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in H9c2 cells which suggest that PF can potentially be an effective preventive medicine against heat injury to cardiomyocyte.
Association of prevalence rates of infantine social-emotional developmental risks and regional deprivation in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: A plea for regional small-scale data
Authors: Ernst Vanessa Sophie , Hoffmann Wolfgang , Franze Marco , Stentzel Ulrike
Published: October 2023

Background: Early childhood is essential for a child’s overall development. Twenty to 30%of children are impaired by a lack of needed social and emotional skills when starting school. Children living in socioeconomic deprivation are particularly affected. Early childhood development is determined by family socioeconomic status (SES) and regional socioeconomic aspects. In a preventive early childhood development support program for preschool children in social hotspots,an annual standardized developmental screening (Dortmunder Entwicklungsscreening für den Kindergarten - DESK 3–6 R) was carried out. This study aimed to investigate the association between the prevalence ofpreschool children at risk of social-emotional problems and socioeconomic deprivation in northeast Germany.
Methods: Screening data from DESK 3–6 R were linked with the German Index of Socioeconomic Deprivation (GISD) for 2019. For the social-emotional domains ‘social behaviour’, ‘social competence’ and ‘social interaction’ as dependent variables and the GISD score as explanatory variable Generalized Linear Regressions (GLR) and to model spatially varying relationships Local Bivariate Relationships (LBR) were performed within ArcGIS pro 3.1.
Results: A total of 147preschools participated, with atotal of 7,836 three- to six-year-old children in 2019. The prevalence of developmental risks for ‘social behavior’ was 14 % (standard deviation (SD) = 13 %), for ‘social competence’ 13 % (SD=12 %) and for ‘social interaction’ 10 % (SD=10 %). For ‘social behavior’ and ‘social interaction’, GLR showed statistically significant coefficients of approximately0.5 but low data fit (explaining only 6.3% of thevariance at max). LBR revealed no relevant association.
Conclusions: Contrary to our expectation, we did not observe consistent significant associations between social-emotional developmental risks (measured with DESK) and regional deprivation (operationalized with GISD) of 3- to 6-year-olds attending preschools in social hotspots in Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania. Although the GISD was available on the level of five-digit postal zip codes, due to the relatively low population density, the relatively large administrative units, and the modifiable area unit problem (MAUP), differences in the degree of deprivation are evened out. To reflect the effect of regional differences on individual children, small-scale data with high geographical resolution are needed.
Sampling of environmental DNA for breeding distribution mapping in an endangered goose species, the lesser white-fronted goose
Authors: Honka Johanna , Kvist Laura , Øien Ingar J. , Aarvak Tomas , Siivonen Stefan , Aspi Jouni
Published: October 2023

Detecting extremely rare and elusive species from vast wilderness areas is highly challenging. The Fennoscandian population of lesser white-fronted goose (LWfG; Anser erythropus) is the most endangered bird in Europe, with only 25–30 breeding pairs remaining in Northern Norway. Its former breeding range, however, covered mountainous parts of the entire Fennoscandia. Targeted conservation efforts during the 21st century has enabled the LWfG to recolonise some of its former breeding areas in Norway and possibly also in Finland. To locate individuals of this elusive species during the breeding season, we used environmental DNA (eDNA) extracted from filtered lake water from selected lakes in the former breeding habitat in northern Finland. We amplified and sequenced a short region of the mitochondrial control region to identify Anser-goose species in the lake water. In addition, we sampled eDNA from the water of a spring staging site of the Fennoscandian LWfG and from a known Norwegian breeding site, from which eDNA of the LWfG was positively found. eDNA of the LWfG was not detected within the former Finnish breeding range. Based on this, the LWfG has not recolonised its former breeding habitats in Finland or alternatively, we may not have sampled the exactly right lakes, or the eDNA concentration was below detection limits. Due to genus-specific primers, we discovered taiga (A. fabalis fabalis) and tundra bean goose (A. fabalis rossicus) eDNA from several lakes in Northern Finland, proving the usefulness of the method.
Evaluation of electrophysiological examinations for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome
Authors: Chen Xi , Cao JinJin , Lao Jie , Liu AiLin , Rui Jing
Published: October 2023

To investigate the clinical significance of results in electrodiagnostic evaluations for carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS) and analyse the correlation between electrodiagnostic evaluations and physical examinations, 236 CTS patients and 96 healthy volunteers were included to accept electrodiagnostic evaluations. There were significant differences between CTS and control groups, mild and moderate patients, moderate and severe patients in CTS groups respectively, in terms of compound muscle action potential(CMAP), sensory conduction velocity of middle finger(SCV), distal motor latency(DML) difference between median nerve and ulnar nerve on the ring finger(△DML) (p<0.05).△DML has larger area under curve of ROC curve (0.974) than CMAP, SCV and DML(0.748, 0.950, 0.958), then △DML could be included as valuable test for diagnosing and classification of carpal tunnel syndromes. There was low correlation between electrodiagnostic evaluations and physical examinations (rho <0.4),so electrodiagnostic evaluation and physical examination should be combined to diagnose CTS.
Spatio-Temporal Changes in Rook’s Assemblage Revealed by Thousands of Citizen Science Photos
Authors: Yun Jiweon , Shin Wonhyeop , Kim Jihwan , Thorne James , Song Youngkeun
Published: October 2023

Citizen science data are increasingly being used to address ecological challenges. In our study, we utilized these data to analyze the urban invasion of rooks (Corvus frugilegus), which posed sanitary concerns and caused disruptions for residents. Although various strategies exist to contain rook invasions, effective mitigation relies on understanding their habitat preferences and daily movements—information hard to gather over extensive areas. To address this, we collected 4,523 geolocated observations from citizens who were monetarily incentivized to photograph the birds. These observations were categorized based on sunrise and sunset timings and further divided into 3-hour intervals. Our analysis revealed that rooks ventured to agricultural areas for foraging after sunrise but predominantly settled within the city post-sunset. During roosting, rooks displayed a preference for environments mimicking forested habitats, likely seeking protection from predators and adverse environmental elements like wind and extreme temperatures.
Identification of SERTAD1 Oncoprotein as a Novel USP15-interacting Protein Regulated by USP15 and SIAH1 in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Yaginuma Yuji , Yoshimoto Masafumi
Published: October 2023

Ubiquitin-specific protease 15 (USP15), a member of the deubiquitylating enzyme (DUB) family, reportedly stabilizes several important oncoprotein substrates and is also reportedly up-regulated in ovarian cancers. In this study, we identified SERTA-containing domain 1 (SERTAD1) as a novel interacting protein with USP15 using yeast-two hybrid analysis. SERTAD1 is reportedly overexpressed in ovarian cancer cells and induces chromosome instability, cancer cell survival, and exhibits anti-apoptotic effects. Our study showed that overexpression of USP15 results in increased levels of SERTAD1 protein, and knockdown of USP15 using small interfering RNA decreased SERTAD1 protein levels in ovarian cancer cell lines. The catalytically inactive form of USP15 exhibited a decreased stabilizing effect on SERTAD1. These results suggest that USP15 directly regulates SERTAD1 protein levels via USP15-mediated DUB enzymatic activity in ovarian cancers. Moreover, we found that SERTAD1 expression was decreased by SIAH1, and reduced SIAH1 protein levels are frequently found in ovarian cancers. Our results indicate that USP15 overexpression and reduced SIAH1 levels induce SERTAD1 overexpression to promote carcinogenesis in human ovarian cancer.
Facile synthesis of core-shell magnetic Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2 nanoparticles and their application for rapid boron removal from aqueous solution
Authors: Hu Qinqin , Zhang Manman , Peng Jiaoyu , Dong Yaping , Li Wu , Meng Lingzong
Published: October 2023

Amino-functionalized magnetic particles (Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2) with core-shell structure were synthesized and evaluated for rapid boron removal from aqueous solution. Results showed that the specific surface area of Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2 (165.17 m2⋅g− 1) increased greatly compared to the pure Fe3O4 (49.07 m2⋅g− 1). The adsorption equilibrium was less than 2 h with an adsorption capacity of 29.76 mg⋅g− 1at pH = 6 of 15°C. The quasi second-order kinetic model described well the boron adsorption process and the Freundlich model was more suitable for characterizing the adsorption isotherms. Furthermore, the negative value of Gibbs free energy indicated that the adsorption was spontaneous and an exothermic process. The zeta potential and XPS analysis before and after adsorption revealed that the main adsorption mechanism was the hydrogen bonding formation between the terminal –NH2 groups of the adsorbent and the boric acid. In addition, the adsorbent still maintained a high adsorption performance after five adsorption-desorption cycles, which illustrated that the Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2 may be a potential adsorbent for the environmental boron removal treatment.