bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Identifies Desmoglein-3 as a Potential Oncogene in ORAL Cancer
Authors: Wan Hong , Teh Muy-Teck , Mastroianni Giulia , Ahmad Usama Sharif
Published: September 2023

The role of desmoglein-3 (DSG3) in oncogenesis is unclear. This study aimed to uncover molecular mechanisms through comparative transcriptome analysis in oral cancer cells, defining potential key genes and associated biological processes related to DSG3 expression. Four mRNA libraries of oral squamous carcinoma H413 cell lines were sequenced and 599 candidate genes exhibited differential expression between DSG3-overexpressing and matched control lines, with 12 genes highly significantly differentially expressed, including 9 upregulated and 3 downregulated. Genes with known implications in cancer, such as MMP-13, KRT84, OLFM4, GJA1, AMOT, and ADAMTS1, were strongly linked to DSG3 overexpression. Gene ontology analysis indicated that the DSG3-associated candidate gene products participated in crucial cellular processes such as junction assembly, focal adhesion, extracellular matrix formation, intermediate filament organization, and keratinocyte differentiation. Validation of RNA-Seq was performed through qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence analyses. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy meticulously examined desmosome morphology, revealing slightly immature desmosome structure in DSG3-overexpressing cells compared to controls. No changes in desmosome frequency and diameter were observed between the two conditions. This study underscores intricate and multifaceted alterations associated with DSG3 in oral squamous carcinoma cells, implying a potential oncogenic role of this gene in biological processes that enable cell communication, motility and survival.
Sperm Chromatin Status and DNA Fragmentation in Mouse Species with Diverging Mating Systems
Authors: Agudo-Rios Clara , Sanchez-Rodriguez Ana , Idrovo Ingrid I. D. , Laborda-Gomariz Juan Ángel , Soler Ana Josefa , Teves Maria E. , Roldan Eduardo R. S.
Published: September 2023

Sperm DNA integrity and chromatin status serve as pivotal indicators of sperm quality, given their in-tricate link to sperm function, embryo development, and overall fertility. Defects in chromatin com-paction, which are often associated with compromised protamine content, can lead to damaged DNA strands. In this study, chromatin status and possible correlation with DNA damage was assessed in males of three mouse species: Mus musculus, M. spretus and M. spicilegus. We employed various staining methods, including aniline blue, methylene blue (Diff-Quik), toluidine blue and chromomy-cin A3, to assess chromatin compaction in cauda epididymal sperm. Samples were also analyzed by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) to estimate DNA fragmentation (%tDFI, %HDS). Analyses were carried out on freshly collected sperm and cells incubated for 3 h in a Hepes-buffered modified Tyrode's medium simulating conditions of the female reproductive tract. Notably, the analysis of chromatin status yielded minimal abnormal values across all three species, employing diverse meth-odologies. SCSA analyses revealed distinct variations in %tDFI between species. Following sperm incubation, the percentages of sperm stained with methylene blue exhibited differences among the species and were significantly correlated to the DNA fragmentation index. HDS demonstrated correla-tions with the percentages of sperm stained by aniline blue, methylene blue and chromomycin A3. Overall, chromatin compaction was high across all species, with limited differences among them. The relationship between chromatin status and DNA integrity appeared to be related to levels of sperm competition among species.
Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis and Fatigue Damage Assessment of Wind-Induced Vibration for the Tension Cable-Supported Power Transmission Structure
Authors: Li Jingyang , Wang Bangjie , Wang Tao , Li Zhengliang
Published: September 2023

The tension cable-supported power transmission structure (TC-PTS) is a new type of power transmission structure suitable for mountainous terrain, which is sensitive to wind load. In this regard, a nonlinear finite element analysis model of wind-induced vibration is proposed for the TC-PTS, and the wind-induced vibration response of the structure is analyzed. Firstly, the tangent stiffness matrix of the three-dimensional truss element for the supporting suspension cable and transmission line, considering the geometric nonlinearity of structures, is derived through the relationship between the element elastic energy and its displacement. Subsequently, the element mass matrix and damping matrix of the supporting suspension cable and transmission line, as well as the element nodal load vector obtained from wind load equivalence are given. Then, based on the nonlinear finite element theory, the nonlinear dynamic equation of wind-induced vibration is established for the TC-PTS and solved by Newmark-β method combined with Newton-Raphson iterative method. Furthermore, the rain-flow counting method and Miner's linear fatigue cumulative damage theory were used for wind induced fatigue damage assessment. Finally, a two-span TC-PTS is selected as an example, and the wind-induced nonlinear vibration and fatigue damage assessment are analyzed through the proposed model. The results show that the proposed model has high computational accuracy and efficiency. With the increase of wind speed and wind direction angle, the maximum lateral displacement and tension of the supporting suspension cable and transmission line increase, and their degree of increase shows a nonlinear trend. In terms of the wind-induced fatigue analysis results of TC-PTS, the fatigue damage at the end of the supporting-conductor suspension cable is greater than the fatigue damage at its midpoint. Compared to the fatigue damage at the midpoint of the conductor, the fatigue damage at the end of the conductor is less affected by wind direction angle, and both are more significantly affected by the wind speed.
The p53 tumor suppressor protein activates transcription of DUSP13 isoform from the alternative promoter in intron 3
Authors: Krześniak Małgorzata , Łasut-Szyszka Barbara , Będzińska Agnieszka , Gdowicz-Kłosok Agnieszka , Rusin Marek
Published: September 2023

The p53 tumor suppressor protein is an activator of transcription. Diverse stress factors lead to various sets of posttranslational modifications of p53 what results in different sets of upregulated genes. We noticed that actinomycin D and nutlin-3a (A+N) synergize in inducing activating phosphorylations of p53 and upregulation of selected p53-target genes. Here we found that one of these genes is DUSP13, which codes for poorly-studied, dual-specificity phosphatase having at least two isoforms, one expressed in testis and the other in skeletal muscles. We found that in cancer cells exposed to A+N, DUSP13 is expressed from an alternative promoter in intron 3, what results in expression of isoform named TMDP-L1. The luciferase reporter tests demonstrated that this promoter is activated by both endogenous and ectopically expressed p53. We showed for the first time that mRNA expressed from this promoter actually produces the protein, which can be detected by Western blotting in all examined cancer cell lines with wild-type p53 exposed to A+N. In some cell lines it is also induced by clinically relevant camptothecin. This isoform, fused with green fluorescent protein localizes in perinuclear region of cells. Thus, TMDP-L1 isoform may be an important element of p53-regulated stress response system.
Cloud-Based Machine Learning for Flood Policy Recommendation in Makassar City, Indonesia
Authors: Rimba Andi Besse , Arumansawang Andi , Utama I Putu Wira , Chapagain Saroj Kumar , Bunga Made Nia , Mohan Geetha , Setiawan Kuncoro Teguh , Osawa Takahiro
Published: September 2023

In several Indonesian tropical cities, such as Makassar City, frequent flooding during the peak rainy season poses a significant challenge. This study seeks to address this issue by devising effective policies to reduce flood exposure. The main obstacle lies in accurately determining the flood inundation area. To overcome this, the study utilizes multiple satellite data sources on a cloud platform, integrating them with land use data, and DEM data, aligning these with the local government's urban land use plan and existing drainage networks. The research aims to quantify the affected area, identify the predominant inundated land cover, and assess the efficiency of Makassar's drainage system and urban land use plan. The study reveals that an uncoordinated drainage system in the Tamalanrea, Biringkanaya, and Mangala sub-districts results in severe flooding, encompassing a total area of 35.28 km². The most affected land use type is cultivation, constituting approximately 43.5% of the flooded area. Furthermore, 82.26% of the urban land use plan, covering 29.02 km², is submerged. It is imperative for the local government and stakeholders to prioritize the enhancement of drainage systems and urban land use plans, particularly in low-lying and densely populated regions
Varietal Differences in the Root Systems of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Drip Irrigation with Plastic-Film Mulch
Authors: WANG JUNFA , Fawibe Oluwasegun Olamide , Isoda Akihiro
Published: September 2023

With the escalating water scarcity in agriculture, a novel water-saving technique has emerged: drip irrigation with plastic-film mulch (DI). Root function is crucial for sustaining rice production, and understanding its response to DI is essential. However, few studies have evaluated root systems in rice varietals and examined which kind of root system contributes to improving rice grain yield and water productivity in DI. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted a two-year field experiment comparing two irrigation systems: continuous flooding (CF) and DI. We analyzed their effectiveness with four rice varieties, including upland, F1 lowland, animal feed lowland, and lowland varieties. Vertical root distribution, root bleed-ing rate, photosynthetic-associated parameters, water productivity, and yield performance were analyzed. In our study, the average grain yield of varieties in the DI system (6.4t/ha) was equivalent to those in the CF system (6.6 t/ha). Compared to CF, DI demonstrated significant water-saving potential, saving approximately 35% of the total water supplied, resulting in higher water productivity. Among the varieties, the deep-root weight of the upland variety significantly increased by 51%. The deep-root ratio was positively correlated to transpiration rate, grain yield, and water productivity, which suggested that it contributed to high transpiration, thus maintaining a high carbon assimilation rate resulting in high yield and water productivity. Therefore, deep roots deserve consideration as a trait potentially corresponding to high yield under DI.
Mercados locales y seguridad alimentaria. El caso de las regiones Milpera y Puuc en Yucatán
Authors: Bojórquez Carrillo Ana Laura , Vargas Jiménez Monserrat , Hernández Islas Mireya Noemí
Published: September 2023

La inseguridad alimentaria es un problema complejo a nivel mundial. Una parte importante de este problema es el suministro de alimentos. Los mercados locales pueden representar una estrategia para la construcción de capital social, así como estrategias para la subsistencia y la sostenibilidad de las cadenas de valor de alimentos, contribuyendo a la seguridad alimentaria y sus efectos. El objetivo de esta investigación es determinar si la existencia de un mercado municipal en las regiones Milpera y Puuc de Yucatán, favorece la existencia de seguridad alimentaria, el consumo o el gasto de alimentos naturales. La población se localiza en 18 municipios de Yucatán, México. Para llevar a cabo este estudio se realizó un estudio transversal, no experimental, de enfoque cuantitativo y alcance correlacional. Las principales técnicas que se aplicaron fueron la estadística descriptiva y las tablas de contingencia con respecto a 6 hipótesis. Este trabajo muestra que la existencia de mercados en las comunidades marca una diferencia significativa porque impacta positivamente en la seguridad alimentaria de los habitantes, ya que les permiten tener un acceso a una variedad más amplia de productos y al mismo tiempo, favorece la dinámica activa de la economía de la comunidad.
Türkiye’de Evde Çalışma: SWOT Analizi ile Durum Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: BEDİR Zekiye
Published: September 2023

Amaç: Bu araştırmanın amacı, Türkiye’deki evde çalışma pratiğinin, sahip olduğu güçlü ve zayıf yönler ve karşılaştığı/karşılaşabileceği fırsatlar ve tehditler hakkında farkındalık yaratarak, ilgili alanda yeni düzenlemeler ve stratejiler geliştirilmesine katkı sağlanması amaçlanmıştır. Tasarım/Yöntem: Araştırmada, evde çalışmanın mevcut durumu SWOT Analizi ile yöntemi aracılıyla incelenmiş ve bir tablo yardımıyla bulgular sunulmuştur. Bulgular: Analizler sonucunda; zayıf yönler ve tehditlerin, güçlü yönler ve fırsatlara nazaran daha çok olduğunu; Türkiye’de evde çalışma kavramsal ve durumsal açıdan doğru analiz edilmediği ve uygulanamadığı sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Sınırlılıklar: Çalışma, Türkiye’de yaklaşık son yirmi yıldır yasal olarak düzenlenen ve uygulanan evde çalışma ve evden çalışanlara ilişkin durum değerlendirmesini kapsamaktadır. Özgünlük/Değer: Evde çalışma kavramı, daha ziyade çalışma ilişkileri alanında incelenirken; SWOT Analizi daha ziyade işletme yönetimi alanında kullanılan bir analiz aracı olarak bilinmektedir. Bu çalışma, evde çalışmanın daha net ve doğru anlaşılmasına katkı sağlayabilecek analiz sonuçlarını SWOT Analizi yöntemiyle araştırmaktadır. Bu merkezde, hem iki farklı disiplin içinde yer alan, evde çalışma ve SWOT Analizi kavramlarının aynı çalışma içinde kullanılması hem de evde çalışma pratiğine katkı sağlayan sonuçlara ulaşması araştırmanın özgün değerini oluşturmaktadır.
Yerli ve Yabancı Mevduat Bankalarında İçsel ve Dışsal Faktörlerin Karlılığa Etkileri
Authors: BÜYÜKOĞLU Burak
Published: September 2023

Amaç: Çalışmanın amacı Türkiye’de faaliyet gösteren yerli ve yabancı sermayeli mevduat bankalarının karlılık performanslarını finansal oranlar vasıtası ile araştırılmasıdır. Bu kapsamda bankaların karlılık performanslarına, sermaye yeterliliği, bilanço yapısı, aktif kalitesi, likidite ve gelir-gider yapısı gibi içsel faktörlerin ve gayri safi yurt içi hasıla ile enflasyon artış oranı gibi dışsal faktörlerin finansal oranlar yardımıyla etkileri karşılaştırılmıştır.
Tasarım/Yöntem: Çalışmada 2011 ile 2021 dönemleri arasında Türkiye’de faaliyet gösteren mevduat bankalarının verileri ile veri seti oluşturulmuş ve modellenmiştir. Geliştirilen modeller SGMM yöntemi ile tahmin edilmiştir.
Bulgular: Elde edilen bulgulara göre yerli sermayeli mevduat bankalarında içsel faktörlerden sermaye yeterliliği, aktif kalitesi ve likidite faktörünün karlılığa etkileri olduğu tespit edilirken dışsal faktörlerin ise karlılığa etkilerinin olmadığı tespit edilmiştir. Yabancı sermayeli mevduat bankalarında ise test edilen tüm içsel ve dışsal faktörlerin karlılığa etkilerinin olduğu sonuçlarına ulaşılmıştır.
Sınırlılıklar: Örneklemin sadece mevduat bankalarını kapsaması araştırmanın sınırlılığını oluşturmaktadır.
Özgünlük/Değer: Çalışmada sadece yerli ve yabancı değil aynı zamanda içsel ve dışsal farktörlerinde değerlendirilmesi araştırmaya özgün değer katmaktadır.
Why and how do small volcanic ocean islands collapse? Lessons from Santa Maria Island, Azores
Authors: Marques Fernando Ornelas , Ribeiro Luisa Pinto , Costa Ana Cristina Goulart , Hübscher Christian , Hildenbrand Anthony
Published: September 2023

Volcanic ocean island collapse is a gravitational process, which means that mass is a key variable. Here we show that small volcanic islands (small mass) usually considered stable can undergo full flank collapse (i.e. full flank plus summit), and we also evaluate the most likely collapse mechanisms by numerical modelling. Santa Maria Island (Azores) is ca. 170 times smaller than Hawaii; however, it has collapsed more than once, as inferred from onshore data and new high-resolution bathymetry and seismic reflection data. Santa Maria is less than 8 Ma old and lies on an oceanic crust ca. 40 Ma old; therefore, several hundred meters of marine sediments lie between the oceanic crust and the base of the volcanic edifice of Santa Maria, which could behave as a weak layer (detachment) under shear. The numerical simulations indicate that, if the volcanic edifice is strong, it does not collapse, even if its base is weak. However, a relatively weak edifice can collapse over a weak base, from which we conclude that small volcanic islands can collapse when both the edifice and its base are weak. The proximity of Santa Maria to the East Azores Fault, active during the lifetime of Santa Maria, may point to the trigger mechanism of flank collapses. Confirmation that the collapses have actually occurred increases both hazard and risk, because the number of recognised collapses increases, and so does the frequency, thus bringing closer the time scales of flank collapses and human life.
AI-Driven Cervical Cancer Cytological Diagnosis Solution based on Large Scale Data Collections and Annotations: A Multi-centre Clinical Validation
Authors: Yu Weimiao , Zhang Fan , ONG KokHaur , Huo Xinmi , Li Longjie , Li Peiyao , Wu Qihui , Yang Keda , Lu Haoda , Wu Lixiang , Huang Baisheng , Chen Wei , Xu Shuxia , Yan Zhiling , Zhang Jin , Chen Bingxian , Wang Qiang , Gui Kun , Ji Jie , Pan Deng , Zhang Yu
Published: September 2023

Cervical cancer is a major health concern for women worldwide, and cervical cytology screening is a widely used and effective technique for early detection. In this study, we built a large-scale database of digital WSIs from 49 hospitals in China, comprising of 76,614 WSIs with 3,435,463 cell-level annotations by 26 cytopathologists using manual and semi-automatic approaches. A novel AI diagnostic system called CCA-DIAG was developed for cervical cancer screening based on a hybrid machine learning framework, which is capable of efficient WSI-level classification for various sedimentations. Our results of multi-center validation show that the system can make classifications at the WSI-level with high sensitivity (ASCUS+:0.89, LSIL+:0.99) for diverse sedimentations and significantly improve the time efficiency of cytopathologists by approximately 4 times. These findings suggest that CCA-DIAG is a promising tool for cervical cancer screening and could potentially improve diagnosis accuracy and efficiency in clinical practice.
Effect of dynamic balance on mental body rotation performance in badminton vs. volleyball players
Authors: Amara Samiha , Al-Hadabi Badriya , El-Ashkar Hiba , Gmada Nabil , Habacha Hamdi , Mkaouer Bessem
Published: September 2023

The present study aims to compare the mental rotation performance between two non-contact sports (i.e., badminton and volleyball) in different upright conditions (i.e., with and without dynamic balance). Thirty-five sports and physical education students voluntarily participated in the experiment, including fourteen specialists in badminton and twenty-one specialists in volleyball. The experiment involved a mental body rotation task with or without balance exercises on wobble board. Badminton players outperformed volleyball players in the mental rotation tasks regardless of balance. More interestingly, the results revealed an overall decrease in reaction times when participants performed balance exercises simultaneously to mental rotation. Our findings suggest that introducing dynamic balance on wobble board has immediate beneficial effects on the mental rotation performance of badminton and volleyball players. These findings are discussed in relation to sport specificities and cognitive processing framework.
Assessing the impact of the number of letrozole-stimulated follicles on multiple gestation rates in patients undergoing intrauterine insemination
Authors: Digby Alyson Marjory , Dahan Michael
Published: September 2023

Study Question: Limits on the number of stimulated follicles (SF) after ovarian stimulation (OS), to minimize the multiple gestation rate (MGR), has public health importance. Studies have focused on gonadotropins or clomiphene citrate. We aimed to assess the relationship between letrozole-stimulated follicles (SF) before IUI and the MGR. Design: We completed a retrospective cohort study of 418 cycles at an academic centre. Women undergoing OS with letrozole plus IUI were included. Statistical analysis was completed with correlation coefficients and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) was 10.5%, whereas MGR was 1% per cycle start, and 9% of pregnancies. The number of SF ≥ 10mm, SF ≥ 14mm or SF ≥ 16mm at trigger were assessed for a relationship to CPR. No statistical relationship was seen. The number of SF ≥ 10mm was unrelated to CPR (r= -0.04, p = 0.40), fetal sacs (FS) (r=-0.32, p = 0.51) and fetal heartbeats (FHB) (r=-0.17, p = 0.73). For SF ≥ 14mm the results for CPR, FS, and FHB were (r=-0.009, p = 0.86), (r=-0.003, p = 0.94) and (r = 0.007, p = 0.88) respectively. Non-significance was seen with SF ≥ 16mm CP (r = 0.036, p = 0.47), FS (r = 0.037, p = 0.45) and FHB (r = 0.054, p = 0.27). Multivariate logistic regression revealed no cases where the number of SF ≥ 10mm, ≥ 14mm, or ≥ 16mm, were predictors of CP when controlling for age, diagnosis, prior IUI or semen parameters. Conclusions: We did not show an association between the number of SF, up to 3, and the number of FS or FHB. Letrozole-stimulated females with up to 3 SF before IUI do not require cancellation. What does this study add to the clinical work? We have been able to reaffirm the safety of using letrozole for IUI up to the presence of 3 dominant follicles. Further research is required to determine the multiple gestation rate associated with 4 or more dominant follicles.
Wind-driven hydrodynamic characteristics of Lake Taihu, a large shallow lake in China
Authors: Xue Zongpu , Zhu Wei , Cheng Lin , Lv Yi , Feng Ganyu
Published: September 2023

As an essential drinking water source and one of the largest eutrophic shallow lakes in China, the management of Lake Taihu requires an adequate understanding of its hydrodynamic characteristics. Studying the hydrodynamic characteristics of Lake Taihu based on field observations is limited owing to its large area and the lack of flow field stability. Previous studies using hydrodynamic models experienced challenges, such as dimensionality and lack of dynamic response analysis between flow field and realistic wind; therefore, the results were still inconclusive. In this study, a 3D model of Lake Taihu, calibrated and validated based on field observations, was used to simulate and compare three scenarios: windless, steady wind, and realistic wind. The hydrodynamic characteristics of Lake Taihu were analyzed as close to the actual conditions as possible. The results showed that wind-driven currents dominated the flow field in Lake Taihu, and the horizontal velocity driven by wind was more than 6 times that without wind. Observing a stable flow field in Lake Taihu was difficult because of the variability of realistic wind. The hydrodynamic characteristics of Lake Taihu were defined as “strongly affected by wind”, “higher on the surface and smaller at the bottom”, and “difference between the surface and the bottom”. Vertical turbulent kinetic energy can be used to characterize the variable flow field of a wind-driven lake and has a positive correlation with wind speed. Therefore, it could be used as a key component to predict water blooms with practical implications.
Performance and emission characteristics analysis of a CI engine fueled with Distilled pyrolytic waste plastic oil /ethanol/diesel blends
Authors: DAS AMAR KUMAR , Behera Shibaprasad , Mohanty Swopneswar , Behera Nilakantha , Mohanty Kirtiswarup
Published: September 2023

To meet the current demand of energy for agriculture, industry and transportation, the prevailing liquid petro fuels are found insufficient due to their higher depletion rate and inflation in international market. Existing environmental pollution due to higher fossil fuel consumption certainly bring attention of many researchers to identify a better alternative fuel with respect to engine efficiency and exhaust emission. Waste plastic oil (WPO) derived by thermo-catalytic pyrolysis is found a promising alternative fuel due to its similar fuel properties to diesel. WPO contains bulky long chained naphtha, which can be eliminated by fractional distillation resulting production of Distilled Waste Plastic oil (DPO). DPO is mixed with different proportion of ethanol in order to improve the combustion for better performances and lesser emissions. The current study focused on the preparation of homogenous fuel mixtures (DPO/Ethanol/Diesel) to evaluate its engine efficiency and exhaust emissions as compared to pure diesel and confirm that it owns the potential as alternate fuel to CI engine. Test engine trials were performed for determining potential engine characteristics for instance thermal efficiency, specific fuel consumptions and exhaust temperature by using various fuel mixtures (80D10DPO10E, 70D15DPO15E, 60D20DPO20E, 50D25DPO25E) under different loading conditions of test engine. Major pollutants including unburned hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides were measured by standard emission analyzer. The study concluded that fuel mixture of 60D20DPO20E showed best engine performance and reduced emissions as compared to diesel.
Triggered contraction of self-assembled, micron-scale DNA nanotube rings
Authors: Göpfrich Kerstin , Illig Maja , Jahnke Kevin , Weise Lukas , Scheffold Marlene , Mersdorf Ulrike , Drechsler Hauke , Kierfeld Jan , Diez Stefan
Published: September 2023

Contractile rings formed from cytoskeletal filaments mediate the division of cells. Ring formation is induced by specific crosslinkers, while contraction is typically associated with motor protein activity. Here, we engineer DNA nanotubes as mimics of cytoskeletal filaments and a synthetic crosslinker based on a peptide-functionalized starPEG construct. The crosslinker induces bundling of ten to hundred individual DNA nanotubes. Importantly, the DNA nanotube bundles curve into closed micron-scale rings in a one-pot self-assembly process yielding several thousand rings per microliter. Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations reproduce detailed architectural properties of the DNA rings as observed by electron microscopy. Furthermore, theory and simulations predict DNA ring contraction -- without motor proteins -- upon increasing attraction or decreasing bending rigidity of the DNA nanotubes, yielding mechanistic insights into the parameter space relevant for efficient nanotube sliding. We experimentally realize these two conditions by addition of molecular crowders or temperature increase, respectively. In agreement between simulation and experiment, we obtain ring contraction to less than half of the initial ring diameter. DNA-based contractile rings could be a future element of an artificial division machinery in synthetic cells or of contractile muscle-like materials.
MCL1 Inhibition: A Promising Approach to Augment the Efficacy of Sorafenib in NSCLC through Ferroptosis Induction
Authors: Hong Shiao-Ya , Huang Chao-Yuan , Chen Li-Ju , Chen Chi-Shuo , Wang Cheng-Yi
Published: September 2023

Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, plays a crucial role in modulating the therapeutic response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Studies have identified the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL1) as potential targets for sorafenib, which exhibits activities in inducing ferroptosis. However, the role of STAT3-MCL1 axis in sorafenib-induced ferroptosis in NSCLC is still unclear. This study provided evidence that ferroptosis is a critical driver of sorafenib-induced cell death in NSCLC, supported by the accumulation of lipid peroxidation products, indicative of oxidative stress-induced cell death. Additionally, both in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that ferroptosis contributed to a significant portion of the anti-cancer effects elicited by sorafenib in NSCLC. The noticeable accumulation of lipid peroxidation products in sorafenib-treated mice underscored the significance of ferroptosis as a contributing factor to the therapeutic response of sorafenib in NSCLC. Furthermore, we identified the involvement of the STAT3/MCL1 axis in sorafenib-induced antitumor activity in NSCLC. Mechanistically, sorafenib inhibited endogenous STAT3 activation and downregulated MCL1 protein expression, consequently unleashing the ferroptosis driver BECN1 from the BECN1-MCL1 complex. Conversely, there is an augmented association of BECN1 with the catalytic subunit of system Xc−, SLC7A11, whose activity to import cystine and alleviate lipid peroxidation is hindered upon its binding with BECN1. Notably, we found that MCL1 upregulation correlated with ferroptosis resistance in NSCLC upon sorafenib treatment. Our findings highlight the importance of sorafenib-triggered ferroptosis in NSCLC and offer a novel strategy to treat advanced NSCLC patients: by downregulating MCL1 and, in turn, predispose NSCLC cells to ferroptosis.
Occurrence of microplastics in influent, sewage sludge and effluent of municipal wastewater treatment plant, A case study center of Iran, Qom city
Authors: Alasvand Shokoufeh , Asadi-Ghalhari Mahdi , Dehbandi Reza , Ghaffari Mohammad-Ebrahim , Ghadami Mahshid , Ansari Reza , ranjdoost fatemeh
Published: September 2023

The presence of Microplastics (MPs) in the environment is a serious threat to the health of humans and ecosystems. One common source of environmental MPs pollution is the sludge and effluent discharged by wastewater treatment facilities. Typically, there are no specific measures to remove MPs in treatment plants. The purpose of this study is to investigate the presence of MPs in the inlet wastewater, outlet effluent, and sludge of one of the wastewater treatment plants of Qom city in Iran. Monthly sampling was done in the spring and summer of 2022. A total of 18 samples were obtained from wastewater, effluent, and sludge. MPs were identified and separated according to valid guidelines. MPs were subjected to SEM and µ-Raman analysis for further investigation. The average MPs in wastewater and effluent were 710 ± 34.67 and 51 ± 4.42 (MPs/L), respectively, while it was 30.76×103 (MPs/kg) in sludge. The average removal efficiency of MPs in the treatment plant was 97.6%. Overall, polyethylene terephthalate and fibers were the most frequent in the samples. Dominant sizes of MPs in wastewater and sludge were 250–500 µm, while their size in effluent was 250 − 100 µm. Considering the results, it is estimated that 2652×106 MPs enter the environment through effluent every day and can lead to air, soil, and surface water pollution. It makes the need for decisions at the international level to reduce the production and consumption of plastics more necessary.
Vaccine-induced antigen archiving enhances local memory CD8+ T cell responses following an unrelated viral infection
Authors: Tamburini Beth , Doan Thu , Forward Tadg , Lucas Erin , Fleming Ira , Uecker-Martin Aspen , Hesselberth Jay , Morrison Thomas
Published: September 2023

Viral and vaccine antigens persist or are archived in lymph node stromal cells (LNSC) such as lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC) and fibroblastic reticular cells (FRC). Here, we find that, during the time frame of antigen archiving, LEC apoptosis caused by a second, but unrelated, innate immune stimulus such as vaccina viral infection or CpG DNA administration boosted memory CD8+ T cells specific to the archived antigen. In contrast to ”bystander” activation associated with unrelated infections, the memory CD8+ T cells specific to the vaccine archived antigen were significantly higher than memory CD8+ T cells of a different antigen specificity. Finally, the boosted memory CD8+ T cells resulted in increased protection against Listeria monocytogenes expressing the vaccine antigen, but only for the duration that the vaccine antigen was archived. These findings outline a novel mechanism by which LNSC archived antigens, in addition to bystander activation, can augment memory CD8+ T cell responses during repeated inflammatory insults.
Prevalence and predictors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among healthcare professionals in Sub-Saharan African region: systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
Authors: Aremu Abdulmujeeb Babatunde , Afolabi Ismail Bamidele , Odongo Owino Alfred
Published: September 2023

Background: The Global Burden of Diseases 2017 found that musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the second most prevalent cause of years lost to injury, although years of life lost are decreasing in low-income countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. The objective will be to describe the regional prevalence of WMSD for different anatomical body areas and their risk factors in different health professions in the sub-Saharan African region.
Method: We will search databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, AJOL, and Google Scholar for publications published between January 2002 and December 2022. The primary outcome will be the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among health professionals, and risk factors related to WRMSDs will be the secondary outcome. Three reviewers will screen all abstract data, full-text articles, and all citations independently. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) will be used to assess the quality of eligible publications. Subgroup analysis will be conducted to explore the potential heterogeneity (e.g., age, sample size, gender, and occupational activities). Publication bias and heterogeneity will be assessed and reported using the appropriate tools.
Discussion: This systematic review and meta-analysis will provide a synthesis of the literature on work-related musculoskeletal disorders and their predictors among health professionals in the Sub-Saharan Africa region. The consensus of data from this review will provide a regional view to help occupational health-related policymakers, healthcare professionals, and program managers in developing countries gain a better understanding of the prevalence, causes, and trends to build better evidence-based occupational musculoskeletal health and disorders prevention programs among various health professionals.
Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, CRD42023455517
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the maintenance of oral health of the children with special healthcare needs: A cross sectional survey
Authors: Thakur Kajol , Naik Shilpa S , Shetty Ashveeta , Anand Rachna , Balasubramanian Nikitha , Choudhury Shagorika
Published: September 2023

Background
Understanding oral health needs and impediments on children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) is critical for reducing the oral disease burden, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aim
To assess the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on the maintenance of oral health and hygiene of children with special healthcare needs.
Method
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 153 parents of children with special healthcare needs. It was administered using a self-developed questionnaire through the Google Forms; Google LLC, Mountain View, CA with a total of 27 questions about the experience, attitude and challenges faced for providing dental care to their children during the pandemic. Comparison of frequencies of categories of variables with groups was done using chi square test.
Results
Two-thirds of the total respondents (66.0%) reported that their child’s toothbrushing frequency was the same as before the pandemic. 25.5% parents reported a significant surge in their child’s sweet intake. Financial constraint was the cause of negligence in seeking dental care among 70.2% of parents. The greatest discomfort at the dental clinic was the Dentist's attire in among 67.9% of respondents. 48.4% of parents were afraid of their child contracting the virus in the dental operatory. Merely 14.4% of the parents were aware of the concept of Teledentistry.
Conclusion
The findings in our research suggested that although the pandemic had a low impact on the ability of parents to supervise oral healthcare of CSHCN, there is a need for preventive treatments and regular follow ups to prevent exacerbated detrimental effects on their oral health in such future unprecedented events.
Trial Registration:
This cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was caried out from 1st December 2021 to 30th November 2022 with the approval of the Institutional Ethical Committee. (IREB/2021/PEDO/13).
Comparison of different anastomosis methods in laparoscopically assisted left hemicolectomy
Authors: Li Fan , Xie Yi-Lin , Xu Dong , Lu Chuan-Hui , Guan Guo-Xian
Published: September 2023

Background: This study aims to compare the clinical efficacy of laparoscopically assisted left hemicolectomy with end-to-side anastomosis (ESA) and side-to-side anastomosis (SSA).
Methods: A total of 105 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University and 229 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University were included in this study, conducted from January 2012 to May 2020. The patients were divided into two groups: 146 cases in the ESA group and 188 cases in the SSA group. Clinical data from both groups were compared, and the survival prognosis was followed up.
Results: The operation time for the ESA group was significantly shorter than that of the SSA group (197.1±57.7 vs 218.6±67.5, c²=4.298, P=0.039). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in intraoperative blood loss, pain score at 48 hours post-operation, first exhaust time, number of dissected lymph nodes, anastomotic leakage, anastomotic stenosis, anastomotic bleeding, and adhesive intestinal obstruction at 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months (P>0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the 5-year disease-free survival between the two groups (66.4% vs 63.9%, c²=0.156, P=0.693).
Conclusion: Laparoscopically assisted left hemicolectomy with either ESA or SSA for digestive tract reconstruction is feasible. When the tumor is located at the descending colon or the junction of the descending-sigmoid colon, ESA may reduce the need for splenic flexure dissociation during the operation.
Development of PEG-mediated Genetic Transformation and Gene Editing System of Bryum argenteum as a Abiotic Stress Tolerance Model Plant
Authors: Leng Fengjun , Zhou Guiwei , Shi Ruoyuan , Liu Chengyang , Lin Yirui , Yu Xinqiang , Zhang Yanhua , He Xiangxi , Liu Zhu , Bao Fang , Hu Yong , He Yikun
Published: September 2023

Bryum argenteumis a fascinating, cosmopolitan, and versatile moss species that thrives in various disturbed environments. Because of its comprehensive tolerance to the desiccation, high UV and extreme temperatures, so it is emerging as a model moss for studying the molecular mechanisms underlying the responses of plants to abiotic stresses. However, due to the lack of basic tools such as gene transformation, targeted genome modification, molecular mechanisms underlying the survival of B. argenteum in different environments are poorly understood. Here, we reported the protonema of B. argenteum can survive up to 95.42% water loss. The genome size of B. argenteum is approximately 313 Mb by kmer analysis, smaller than reported 700 Mb. Then, we established a simple method for protonema induction and an efficient protoplast isolation and regeneration protocol for B. argenteum. Moreover, a PEG-mediated B. argenteum protoplast transient transfection and stable transformation system was developed. Two homologues of ABI3(ABA-INSENSITIVE 3) gene were cloned from B. argenteum. This genetic transformation system was further optimized for CRISPR/Cas9 system for targeted delivery of the BaABI3A and BaABI3B gene into B. argenteum protoplasts, which triggered mutagenesis at the target in about 2%-5% of the regenerated plants. Isolated ABI3A and ABI3B mutants are all sensitive to desiccation, which suggested BaABI3A and BaABI3B play redundant roles in desiccation stress. Our results provide a rapid and simple approach for molecular genetics in B. argenteum. The results of this study will help to understand the molecular mechanisms of plant extreme environmental adaptation.
Investigation of the main regularities of glycolysis of polycarbonate plastic during catalysis by basic agents
Authors: Kurneshova Tatyana A. , Dzhabarov Georgy V. , Sapunov Valentin N. , Kozlovskiy Roman A. , Voronov Mikhail S. , Sergeenkova Maria P. , Varlamova Elena V. , Antoshkina Evgeniya P.
Published: September 2023

This research focuses on analyzing how different primary catalysts affect the glycolysis of plastic made from bisphenol A (PC) polycarbonate. It was found that the process of chemical decomposition of PC leads to the formation of products with high added value: bisphenol A (PC monomer, BPA), BPA, and ethylene carbonate or ethylene glycol co-ethers (BPA monohydroxyethyl ether, MHE-BPA; BPA bishydroxyethyl ether, BHE-BPA). A quantitative assessment of the yields of the reaction products was also carried out. The yield of products at 100% PC conversion was 33% for BPA, 50% for MHE-BPA, and 17% for BHE-BPA. The effectiveness of using various alkalis depending on the type of metal was also compared within the context of this investigation.
KinD-LCE: Curve Estimation and Retinex Fusion on Low-Light Image
Authors: Lei Xiaochun , Mai Weiliang , Xie Junlin , Liu He , Jiang Zetao , Gong Zhaoting , Lu Chang , Lu Linjun
Published: September 2023

Low-light images often suffer from noise and color distortion. Object detection, semantic segmentation, instance segmentation, and other tasks are challenging when working with low-light images because of image noise and chromatic aberration. We also found that the conventional Retinex theory loses information in adjusting the image for low-light tasks. In response to the aforementioned problem, this paper proposes an algorithm for low illumination enhancement. The proposed method, KinD-LCE, uses a light curve estimation module to enhance the illumination map in the Retinex decomposed image, improving the overall image brightness. An illumination map and reflection map fusion module were also proposed to restore the image details and reduce detail loss. Additionally, a total variation loss function was applied to eliminate noise. The proposed method was trained using the GladNet dataset and tested with the Low-Light dataset. The ExDark dataset was used for validation in downstream tasks. The benchmark experiments demonstrated that the proposed algorithm achieved PSNR (19.7216) and SSIM (0.8213) values, which are close to state-of-the-art results.
Silver Nanoparticles as Potential Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Agents: Insights from Experimental and Computational Approaches
Authors: Alhadrami Hani A. , Elswifi Gamal H. , Rateb Mostafa E. , Hamd Ahmed
Published: September 2023

Background: In the present study we prepared silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by the chemical reduction method which is considered more preferable than other previously reported methods. The prepared AgNPs were further evaluated for their antibacterial properties and their mode of action was putatively elucidated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.
Results: The structure and uniformity of the prepared AgNPs was confirmed by different characterization techniques including XRD, SEM, FT-IR, UV-vis spectroscopy, zeta potential, and DLS. Testing these AgNPs for their antibacterial and antibiofilm activities revealed very good potential against E. coli and K. pneumoniae (MIC = 37.5 and 18.75 μg/mL, respectively), P. aurigenosa and C. albicans (Percent of biofilm inhibition = 43% and 50%, respectively). Further comprehensive MD simulations revealed that the desorbed Ag atoms can bind with and probably inhibit the bacterial GSH reductase resulting in fatal increased oxidative stress inside the bacterial cell.
Conclusions: AgNPS produced by chemical methods are easy to prepare nanomaterial that exert considerable antibacterial effects via the inhibition of the bacterial GSH reductase. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive MD simulation work that uncover the mechanism of the bacterial GSH reductase inhibition by Ag atoms. Accordingly, we believe that the results presented herein will pave the way for additional research into metal-protein interactions, which will aid in the development of new metal-based treatments.
ICD-11 Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Subclasses of Borderline Personality Disorder in a Korean General Population Sample with Childhood Abuse Experiences: A Latent Class Analysis
Authors: Lee Jisu , Choi Hyunjung
Published: September 2023

Background Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD), which are distinctive diagnoses, share the common risk factor of childhood abuse experiences. However, additional evidence is needed to determine which factors contribute to the manifestation of different symptoms.
Method Participants were 499 Korean adults sampled from an online panel of a general population sample who reported experiences of childhood abuse. A latent class analysis (LCA) was conducted to identify the patterns of CPTSD and BPD symptoms. We adopted a three-step LCA to compare types of childhood abuse, invalidating environments, attachment styles, and pathological personality traits among different classes.
Results The LCA revealed four classes: a CPTSD and BPD “comorbid” class, an “externalizing BPD” class, an “avoidant BPD” class, and a low symptom class. The “comorbid” class showed the highest scores in all symptoms and risk factors. The “externalizing BPD” class was distinguished from the “avoidant BPD” class by the externalizing versus internalizing associated pathological personality traits. The “avoidant BPD” class experienced high emotional neglect in addition to other types of abuse and it also showed an additional avoidant attachment style.
Conclusion Childhood abuse may heighten the risk for high comorbidity of CPTSD and BPD as well as externalizing-internalizing subgroups of BPD. Beyond the identification of CPTSD and BPD, assessing attachment styles and pathological personality traits based on dimensional approaches would benefit the tailoring of effective treatment.
Magnetic Resonance Elastography: Multi-directional excitation in a Table Top MRI System and Finite Element Simulations of harmonic excitation experiments
Authors: Dibennardo Federica , Giarola Alberto
Published: September 2023

There is a strong connection between changes in mechanical properties and injuries or diseases. In order to detect the mechanical structure of tissue, techniques like biopsy and manual palpation were developed. However, these methods have many drawbacks. Biopsy is invasive and not reliable, while manual palpation is qualitative, superficial, and dependent on the operator. To address these limitations, Elastography emerged as a non-invasive and quantitative way to assess tissue stiffness. This study aimed to explore the use of torsionally-polarized geometrically-focused waves induced by a stepper motor on a test tube, and to investigate whether wave propagation changes when a pre-stretch is applied to the phantom. To achieve this, the study designed a new arrangement where a cylindrical sample was suspended freely in the MRI, allowing for different axial tensile pre-stresses to be applied while simultaneously conducting Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) studies. The measurements obtained through MRE included wave images depicting the displacement field in cross-sectional slices within an isotropic cylindrical phantom under varying pre-stresses. The experimental data was compared to computer simulations using finite element analysis (FEA). This investigation provides valuable insights into tissue mechanics, and offers a way to assess tissue anisotropy and wave propagation under different pre-stress conditions.