bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sport Mediatization, Connected Fans, and Playfulness: An Introduction to Parasocial Pretend Play
Authors: Kassing Jeffrey W.
Published: November 2023

In consideration of sport mediatization, mobile media, and fandom, this work introduces and outlines the phenomenon of parasocial pretend play. This is achieved by examining the popular television show Ted Lasso, which chronicles the activities surrounding fictional English football club AFC Richmond. Viewer involvement with the show, parasocial interaction with its characters, and social media use by connected fans combine to facilitate this new opportunity for playful collective engagement. By connecting concepts from parasocial interaction and play, the assessment theorizes about and documents how parasocial pretend play transpires. It also identifies factors that may disrupt parasocial pretend play, discusses the potential for its misuse, and details apparent variations of the practice.
Determinants of Consent in the SHARE Accelerometer Study
Authors: Franzese Fabio , Schrank Francesca , Bergmann Michael
Published: November 2023

The eighth wave of the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe comprises a subsample of respondents who were asked to participate in a measurement of physical activity using thigh-worn accelerometers. This paper describes the process for obtaining consent, identifies determinants of consent, and analyzes the aggregated results of the accelerometer measurements for bias due to sample selection. The overall consent rate in the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe accelerometer study was 54%, with variations between countries ranging from 34% to 70%. Multivariate logistic regressions show that various factors are correlated with consent such as respondents’ age, self-reported moderate activity, computer literacy, willingness to answer questions, and the interviewers’ age. After introducing inverse probability weights, there appears to be only a small and insignificant influence of participant selection and consent.
A conserved mechanism for JNK-mediated loss of Notch function in advanced prostate cancer
Authors: Wang Cheng-Wei , Clémot Marie , Hashimoto Takao , Diaz Johnny A. , Goins Lauren M. , Goldstein Andrew S. , Nagaraj Raghavendra , Banerjee Utpal
Published: November 2023

Dysregulated Notch signaling is a common feature of cancer; however, its effects on tumor initiation and progression are highly variable, with Notch having either oncogenic or tumor-suppressive functions in various cancers. To better understand the mechanisms that regulate Notch function in cancer, we studied Notch signaling in a
Drosophila
tumor model, prostate cancer–derived cell lines, and tissue samples from patients with advanced prostate cancer. We demonstrated that increased activity of the Src-JNK pathway in tumors inactivated Notch signaling because of JNK pathway–mediated inhibition of the expression of the gene encoding the Notch S2 cleavage protease, Kuzbanian, which is critical for Notch activity. Consequently, inactive Notch accumulated in cells, where it was unable to transcribe genes encoding its target proteins, many of which have tumor-suppressive activities. These findings suggest that Src-JNK activity in tumors predicts Notch activity status and that suppressing Src-JNK signaling could restore Notch function in tumors, offering opportunities for diagnosis and targeted therapies for a subset of patients with advanced prostate cancer.
Chatbot responses suggest that hypothetical biology questions are harder than realistic ones
Authors: Crowther Gregory J. , Sankar Usha , Knight Leena S. , Myers Deborah L. , Patton Kevin T. , Jenkins Lekelia D. , Knight Thomas A.
Published: November 2023

The biology education literature includes compelling assertions that unfamiliar problems are especially useful for revealing students’ true understanding of biology. However, there is only limited evidence that such novel problems have different cognitive requirements than more familiar problems. Here, we sought additional evidence by using chatbots based on large language models as models of biology students. For human physiology and cell biology, we developed sets of realistic and hypothetical problems matched to the same lesson learning objectives (LLOs). Problems were considered hypothetical if (i) known biological entities (molecules and organs) were given atypical or counterfactual properties (redefinition) or (ii) fictitious biological entities were introduced (invention). Several chatbots scored significantly worse on hypothetical problems than on realistic problems, with scores declining by an average of 13%. Among hypothetical questions, redefinition questions appeared especially difficult, with many chatbots scoring as if guessing randomly. These results suggest that, for a given LLO, hypothetical problems may have different cognitive demands than realistic problems and may more accurately reveal students’ ability to apply biology core concepts to diverse contexts. The Test Question Templates (TQT) framework, which explicitly connects LLOs with examples of assessment questions, can help educators generate problems that are challenging (due to their novelty), yet fair (due to their alignment with pre-specified LLOs). Finally, ChatGPT’s rapid improvement toward expert-level answers suggests that future educators cannot reasonably expect to ignore or outwit chatbots but must do what we can to make assessments fair and equitable.
The Rfg1 and Bcr1 transcription factors regulate acidic pH–induced filamentous growth in
Candida albicans
Authors: Guan Guobo , Li Shuaihu , Bing Jian , Liu Ling , Tao Li
Published: November 2023

The human fungal pathogen
Candida albicans
colonizes and infects various host sites with diverse environmental pH. Adaptation to these diverse pH conditions plays a crucial role in its success as a commensal and pathogen. The conserved Rim101 pH sensing pathway is responsible for neutral–alkaline pH responses in
C. albicans
. In this study, we identified a novel Rfg1-Bcr1 regulatory pathway that governs acidic pH responses and regulates filamentation in
C. albicans
. A null mutant library was screened, and we have identified Rfg1 and Bcr1 as key regulators of filamentation under acidic pH conditions. Rfg1 directly binds to the promoter region of Bcr1 to regulate its transcriptional expression, which in turn suppresses the filamentation of
C. albicans
.
PHR1
, an alkaline pH response gene, is significantly activated by the absence of Rfg1, indicating that Rfg1 regulates acidic pH response through the Rim101-Phr1 pathway. Moreover, the cAMP signaling pathway, transcription factors Efg1 and Flo8, and the hyphal-specific G1 cyclin Hgc1 play critical roles in the regulation. Our findings provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the acidic pH response of
C. albicans,
which reflects its elaborate regulatory control of environmental adaptation.

IMPORTANCE

Candida albicans
is a human commensal and frequent pathogen that encounters a wide range of pH stresses. The ability of
C. albicans
to adapt to changes in extracellular pH is crucial for its success in colonization and pathogenesis. The Rim101 pH sensing pathway is well known to govern neutral–alkaline pH responses in this pathogen. Here, we report a novel Rfg1-Bcr1 regulatory pathway that governs acidic pH responses and regulates filamentous growth in
C. albicans
. In addition, the Rim101-Phr1 pathway, cAMP signaling pathway, transcription factors Efg1 and Flo8, and hyphal-specific G1 cyclin Hgc1 cooperate with this regulation. Our findings provide new insights into the regulatory mechanism of acidic pH response in
C. albicans
.
A combination of annual and nonannual forces drive respiratory disease in the tropics
Authors: Yang Fuhan , Servadio Joseph L , Thanh Nguyen Thi Le , Lam Ha Minh , Choisy Marc , Thai Pham Quang , Thao Tran Thi Nhu , Vy Nguyen Ha Thao , Phuong Huynh Thi , Nguyen Tran Dang , Tam Dong Thi Hoai , Hanks Ephraim M , Vinh Ha , Bjornstad Ottar N , Chau Nguyen Van Vinh , Boni Maciej F
Published: November 2023

Introduction

It is well known that influenza and other respiratory viruses are wintertime-seasonal in temperate regions. However, respiratory disease seasonality in the tropics is less well understood. In this study, we aimed to characterise the seasonality of influenza-like illness (ILI) and influenza virus in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Methods

We monitored the daily number of ILI patients in 89 outpatient clinics from January 2010 to December 2019. We collected nasal swabs and tested for influenza from a subset of clinics from May 2012 to December 2019. We used spectral analysis to describe the periodic signals in the system. We evaluated the contribution of these periodic signals to predicting ILI and influenza patterns through lognormal and gamma hurdle models.

Results

During 10 years of community surveillance, 66 799 ILI reports were collected covering 2.9 million patient visits; 2604 nasal swabs were collected, 559 of which were PCR-positive for influenza virus. Both annual and nonannual cycles were detected in the ILI time series, with the annual cycle showing 8.9% lower ILI activity (95% CI 8.8% to 9.0%) from February 24 to May 15. Nonannual cycles had substantial explanatory power for ILI trends (ΔAIC=183) compared with all annual covariates (ΔAIC=263) in lognormal regression. Near-annual signals were observed for PCR-confirmed influenza but were not consistent over time or across influenza (sub)types. The explanatory power of climate factors for ILI and influenza virus trends was weak.

Conclusion

Our study reveals a unique pattern of respiratory disease dynamics in a tropical setting influenced by both annual and nonannual drivers, with influenza dynamics showing near-annual periodicities. Timing of vaccination campaigns and hospital capacity planning may require a complex forecasting approach.
Risk factors associated with progression from papilloedema to optic atrophy: results from a cohort of 113 patients
Authors: Attia Ruben , Fitoussi Ruben , Mairot Kevin , Demortiere Sarah , Stellman Jan-Patrick , Tilsley Penelope , Audoin Bertrand , David Thierry , Stolowy Natacha
Published: November 2023

Background

The aim of this study was to assess the risk factors for atrophic progression of patients with papilloedema secondary to intracranial hypertension, using optical coherence tomography parameters.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted at Marseille University Hospitals’ Ophthalmology departments between December 2015 and December 2021. All patients with papilloedema resulting from elevated intracranial hypertension at the initial presentation were included. Ophthalmological evaluations included analysing retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL) and total peripapillary retinal thickness (RT).

Results

The study included 222 eyes from 113 patients. The main aetiologies of intracranial hypertension were idiopathic intracranial hypertension (49/113), intracranial tumours (33/113) and cerebral venous thrombosis (15/113). The initial RNFL and RT showed significant correlations with optic atrophy. The mean RNFL was 199.63 µm in the ‘no atrophy’ group and 365.28 µm in the ‘atrophy’ group (p<0.001). Similarly, the mean RT was 483.72 µm in the ‘non-atrophy’ group and 796.69 µm in the ‘atrophy’ group (p<0.001). The presence of peripapillary haemorrhages showed a strong correlated with optic atrophy with an OR=19.12 (p<0.001). Impaired initial visual acuity was also associated with final optic atrophy with an OR=7.76 (p=0.020). Furthermore, impaired initial GCL was a major predictor of optic atrophy (OR=18.25 (p=0.021)).

Conclusion

Our study highlights the risk factors for optic atrophy in papilloedema, aiming to facilitate the early detection of patients at a high risk of vision loss and enable more aggressive medical or surgical management.
First principles study on the adsorption of lead ions by black phosphorus in aqueous solution
Authors: Qian Shaoran , Liu Guili , Wei Lin , Zhang Guoying
Published: November 2023

In this paper, the adsorption behavior of intrinsic black phosphorus (BP) and BP doped with five atoms of O, Si, S, Cu and Zn on Pb[Formula: see text] in aqueous solution was investigated by using the first principle of nature. The formation energy was calculated to be the smallest for Si-doped BP at 2.608[Formula: see text]eV, indicating the best structural stability. The adsorption energy was calculated and showed that the doped BP is more capable of adsorbing Pb[Formula: see text] than the intrinsic BP, with the S-doped BP having the strongest adsorption capacity of 0.151[Formula: see text]eV. The density of states was calculated and showed that the bandgaps of the doped BP are all smaller than the 1.3[Formula: see text]eV of the intrinsic BP, indicating that the doping can improve electrical conductivity of the adsorption system. The charge transfer was calculated and showed that S doping, O doping, Cu doping and Zn doping enhanced the ionic bonding between BP surface atoms and Pb[Formula: see text], while Si doping weakened the ionic bonding. The charge transfer of S doping was the largest at 1.371[Formula: see text]e, indicating that S-doped BP had the strongest ability to adsorb Pb[Formula: see text].
Joint Measurability in Lindbladian Open Quantum Systems
Authors: Kiukas Jukka , Lahti Pekka , Pellonpää Juha-Pekka
Published: November 2023

We study joint measurability of quantum observables in open systems governed by a master equation of Lindblad form. We briefly review the historical perspective of open systems and conceptual aspects of quantum measurements, focusing subsequently on describing emergent classicality under quantum decoherence. While decoherence in quantum states has been studied extensively in the past, the measurement side is much less understood — here we present and extend some recent results on this topic.
On the Unraveling of Open Quantum Dynamics
Authors: Donvil Brecht I. C. , Muratore-Ginanneschi Paolo
Published: November 2023

It is well known that the state operator of an open quantum system can be generically represented as the solution of a time-local equation — a quantum master equation. Unraveling in quantum trajectories offers a picture of open system dynamics dual to solving master equations. In the unraveling picture, physical indicators are computed as Monte Carlo averages over a stochastic process valued in the Hilbert space of the system. This approach is particularly adapted to simulate systems in large Hilbert spaces. We show that the dynamics of an open quantum system generically admits an unraveling in the Hilbert space of the system described by a Markov process generated by ordinary stochastic differential equations for which rigorous concentration estimates are available. The unraveling can be equivalently formulated in terms of norm-preserving state vectors or in terms of linear “ostensible” processes trace preserving only on average. We illustrate the results in the case of a two level system in a simple boson environment. Next, we derive the state-of-the-art form of the Diósi-Gisin-Strunz Gaussian random ostensible state equation in the context of a model problem. This equation provides an exact unraveling of open systems in Gaussian environments. We compare and contrast the two unravelings and their potential for applications to quantum error mitigation.
Extension VM: Interleaved Data Layout in Vector Memory
Authors: Zhang Dunbo , Lang Qingjie , Wang Ruoxi , Shen Li
Published: November 2023

While vector architecture is widely employed in processors for neural networks, signal processing, and high-performance computing; however, its performance is limited by inefficient column-major memory access. The column-major access limitation originates from the unsuitable mapping of multidimensional data structures to two-dimensional vector memory spaces. In addition, the traditional data layout mapping method creates an irreconcilable conflict between row- and column-major accesses. Ideally, both row- and column-major accesses can take advantage of the bank parallelism of vector memory.

To this end, we propose the Interleaved Data Layout (IDL) method in vector memory, which can distribute vector elements into different banks regardless of whether they are in the row- or column-major category, so that any vector memory access can benefit from bank parallelism. Additionally, we propose an Extension Vector Memory (EVM) architecture to achieve IDL in vector memory. EVM can support two data layout methods and vector memory access modes simultaneously. The key idea is to continuously distribute the data that needs to be accessed from the main memory to different banks during the loading period. Thus, EVM can provide a larger spatial locality level through careful programming and the extension ISA support.

The experimental results showed a 1.43-fold improvement of state-of-the-art vector processors by the proposed architecture, with an area cost of only 1.73%. Furthermore, the energy consumption was reduced by 50.1%.
HyBNN: Quantifying and Optimizing Hardware Efficiency of Binary Neural Networks
Authors: Yang Geng , Lei Jie , Fang Zhenman , Li Yunsong , Zhang Jiaqing , Xie Weiying
Published: November 2023

Binary neural network (BNN), where both the weight and the activation values are represented with one bit, provides an attractive alternative to deploy highly efficient deep learning inference on resource-constrained edge devices. However, our investigation reveals that, to achieve satisfactory accuracy gains, state-of-the-art (SOTA) BNNs, such as FracBNN and ReActNet, usually have to incorporate various auxiliary floating-point components and increase the model size, which in turn degrades the hardware performance efficiency. In this article, we aim to quantify such hardware inefficiency in SOTA BNNs and further mitigate it with negligible accuracy loss. First, we observe that the auxiliary floating-point (AFP) components consume an average of 93% DSPs, 46% LUTs, and 62% FFs, among the entire BNN accelerator resource utilization. To mitigate such overhead, we propose a novel algorithm-hardware co-design, called
FuseBNN
, to fuse those AFP operators without hurting the accuracy. On average, FuseBNN reduces AFP resource utilization to 59% DSPs, 13% LUTs, and 16% FFs. Second, SOTA BNNs often use the compact MobileNetV1 as the backbone network but have to replace the lightweight 3 × 3 depth-wise convolution (DWC) with the 3 × 3 standard convolution (SC, e.g., in ReActNet and our ReActNet-adapted BaseBNN) or even more complex fractional 3 × 3 SC (e.g., in FracBNN) to bridge the accuracy gap. As a result, the model parameter size is significantly increased and becomes 2.25× larger than that of the 4-bit direct quantization with the original DWC (4-Bit-Net); the number of multiply-accumulate operations is also significantly increased so that the overall LUT resource usage of BaseBNN is almost the same as that of 4-Bit-Net. To address this issue, we propose
HyBNN
, where we binarize depth-wise separation convolution (DSC) blocks for the first time to decrease the model size and incorporate 4-bit DSC blocks to compensate for the accuracy loss. For the ship detection task in synthetic aperture radar imagery on the AMD-Xilinx ZCU102 FPGA, HyBNN achieves a detection accuracy of 94.8% and a detection speed of 615 frames per second (FPS), which is 6.8× faster than FuseBNN+ (94.9% accuracy) and 2.7× faster than 4-Bit-Net (95.9% accuracy). For image classification on the CIFAR-10 dataset on the AMD-Xilinx Ultra96-V2 FPGA, HyBNN achieves 1.5× speedup and 0.7% better accuracy over SOTA FracBNN.
Bi-preference Learning Heterogeneous Hypergraph Networks for Session-based Recommendation
Authors: Zhang Xiaokun , Xu Bo , Ma Fenglong , Li Chenliang , Lin Yuan , Lin Hongfei
Published: November 2023

Session-based recommendation intends to predict next purchased items based on anonymous behavior sequences. Numerous economic studies have revealed that item price is a key factor influencing user purchase decisions. Unfortunately, existing methods for session-based recommendation only aim at capturing user interest preference, while ignoring user price preference. Actually, there are primarily two challenges preventing us from accessing price preference. First, the price preference is highly associated to various item features (i.e., category and brand), which asks us to mine price preference from heterogeneous information. Second, price preference and interest preference are interdependent and collectively determine user choice, necessitating that we jointly consider both price and interest preference for intent modeling. To handle above challenges, we propose a novel approach Bi-Preference Learning Heterogeneous Hypergraph Networks (BiPNet) for session-based recommendation. Specifically, the customized heterogeneous hypergraph networks with a triple-level convolution are devised to capture user price and interest preference from heterogeneous features of items. Besides, we develop a Bi-Preference Learning schema to explore mutual relations between price and interest preference and collectively learn these two preferences under the multi-task learning architecture. Extensive experiments on multiple public datasets confirm the superiority of BiPNet over competitive baselines. Additional research also supports the notion that the price is crucial for the task.
The 10th ACM SIGSPATIAL International Workshop on Analytics for Big Spatial Data (BigSpatial 2022)
Authors: Shashidharan Ashwin , Gadiraju Krishna Karthik , Vatsavai Ranga Raju , Chandola Varun
Published: November 2023

Analysis and management of big data are important areas of research for data researchers and scientists. Both the industry and governmental agencies have invested tremendous resources and effort in the area of big data analysis and management in the past decade. Within the realm of big data, spatial and spatio-temporal data are still one of the fastest-growing types of data. With advances in remote sensors, sensor networks, and the proliferation of location sensing devices in daily life activities and common business practices, the generation of disparate, dynamic, and geographically distributed spatiotemporal data has continued to explode in recent years. In addition, significant progress in ground, air, and space-borne sensor technologies has led to unprecedented access to earth science data for scientists from different disciplines. For example, NASA recently collected its 10 millionth Landsat image [4] and the volume of satellite imagery being collected has reached the petabyte scale. Analysis of this large-scale data poses new challenges to researchers.
Th2 cytokine signaling through IL-4Rα increases eotaxin-3 secretion and tension in human esophageal smooth muscle
Authors: Nelson Melissa R. , Zhang Xi , Podgaetz Eitan , Wang Xuan , Zhang Qiuyang , Pan Zui , Spechler Stuart Jon , Souza Rhonda F.
Published: November 2023

We have found that Th2 cytokines increase eotaxin-3 secretion and tension in esophageal smooth muscle (ESM) cells via IL-4Rα signaling. Unlike esophageal epithelial cells, ESM cells do not express H+-K+-ATPase, and omeprazole does not inhibit their cytokine-stimulated eotaxin-3 secretion or tension. An IL-4Rα blocking antibody reduces both eotaxin-3 secretion and tension induced by Th2 cytokines in ESM cells, suggesting that an agent such as dupilumab might be preferred for patients with EoE with esophageal muscle involvement.
Disruption of hypoxia-inducible factor-2α in neutrophils decreases colitis-associated colon cancer
Authors: Singhal Rashi , Kotla Nikhil Kumar , Solanki Sumeet , Huang Wesley , Bell Hannah N. , El-Derany Marwa O. , Castillo Cristina , Shah Yatrik M.
Published: November 2023

Despite the importance of hypoxia and neutrophils in colorectal cancer (CRC), the contribution of neutrophil-specific HIFs to colon tumorigenesis is not known. We describe that neutrophil HIF-1α has no impact on colon cancer, whereas neutrophil HIF-2α loss reduces CRC growth by decreasing proinflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokines. Furthermore, neutrophil HIF-2α does not reduce preestablished tumor growth or inflammation-induced colitis. The present study offers novel potential of neutrophil HIF-2α as a therapeutic target in CRC.
The alveolar fibroproliferative response in moderate to severe COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome and 1-yr follow-up
Authors: Zhang Shiqi , Boers Leonoor S. , de Brabander Justin , van den Heuvel Laura B. , Blok Siebe G. , Kullberg Robert F. J. , Smids-Dierdorp Barbara S. , Dekker Tamara , Aberson Hella L. , Meijboom Lilian J. , Vlaar Alexander P. J. , Heunks Leo , Nossent Esther J. , van der Poll Tom , Bos Lieuwe D. J. , Duitman JanWillem ,   on behalf of the ArtDECO consortium and the Amsterdam UMC COVID study group
Published: November 2023

This is the first prospective study on the longitudinal alveolar fibroproliferative response in COVID-19 ARDS and its relationship with mortality and long-term follow-up. We used the largest cohort of COVID-19 ARDS patients who had consecutive bronchoalveolar lavages and measured 17 pulmonary fibroproliferative biomarkers. We found that a higher fibroproliferative response during admission was associated with increased mortality, but not correlated with long-term fibrotic lung sequelae in survivors.
Nicotine affects mitochondrial structure and function in human airway smooth muscle cells
Authors: Borkar Niyati A. , Thompson Michael A. , Bartman Colleen M. , Sathish Venkatachalem , Prakash Y. S. , Pabelick Christina M.
Published: November 2023

Asthma is a major healthcare burden, which is further exacerbated by smoking. Recognizing the smoking risk of asthma, understanding the effects of nicotine on asthmatic airways becomes critical. Surprisingly, the mechanisms of nicotine action, even in normal and especially asthmatic airways, are understudied. Accordingly, the goal of this research is to investigate how nicotine influences asthmatic airways in terms of mitochondrial structure and function, via the a7nAChR.
Is There a Real Relationship between the Presence of Helicobacter pylori in Dental Plaque and Gastric Infection? A Genotyping and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Study on Patient Specimens with Dyspepsia in Southwest Iran
Authors: Moosavian Mojtaba , Kushki Elyas , Navidifar Tahereh , Hajiani Eskandar , Mandegari Mahdi
Published: November 2023

Background. The oral cavity can act as an extra gastric reservoir for H. pylori, and the presence of the bacteria in the oral cavity is associated with a higher risk of dental caries development. This study aimed to determine the genotype and evaluate the association between the presence of H. pylori in dental plaque and gastric biopsy specimens in dyspeptic patients in Ahvaz, Southwest Iran. Methods. In this study, 106 patients with recruited dyspeptic complaints were selected, and from each patient, two gastric antral biopsy specimens and two dental plagues were examined. The presence of H. pylori was identified by the rapid urease test (RUT) and the amplification of ureAB and 16S rRNA genes. Also, to verify a hypothetical mouth-to-stomach infection route, the enzymatic digestions of three genes of cagA, vacA, and ureAB in H. pylori strains isolated from dental plaques and stomach samples were compared for each same case. Results. H. pylori was found in the stomach of 52.8% (56/106) and the dental plaques of 17.9% (19/106) of the studied cases. On the other hand, H. pylori was recognized in the stomach of all 19 cases with oral colonization. Following a combination of restriction fragment lengths 21 polymorphism (RFLP) patterns of these three known genes on stomach and dental plague samples, 14 and 11 unique patterns were seen, respectively. However, for all H. pylori-positive cases (19), the comparison of RLFP patterns of these genes in dental plaque and gastric biopsy specimens was different for the same case. Conclusions. In this study, it seems that there is no significant association between the presence of H. pylori in dental plaque and the stomach of the same case.
Effect of Co-Doping on the Photoelectric Properties of the Novel Two-Dimensional Material Borophene
Authors: Zhang Chunhong , Zhang Zhongzheng
Published: November 2023

Borophene is a novel two-dimensional material with abundant crystal structure and photoelectric properties. We focus on the effect of co-doping on the electronic structure and optical properties of borophene using the first-principles method. The results show that the structure of Al and Ga co-doped borophene is obviously distorted because Al and Ga atoms have formed bonds with a bond length of 2.378 Å, and the two B atoms that bond together with Al and Ga are no longer formed bonds. However, it is also a two-dimensional planar structure after co-doping. After co-doping, the band gap width of the borophene system is narrowed from 1.409 eV to 1.376 eV, and the band gap is narrowed by 0.033 eV. Mulliken population analysis shows an obvious charge transfer between Al-B and Ga-B atoms in the co-doped borophene. The calculation of optical properties shows that the static dielectric constant ε1 (0) increases from 5.08 to 7.01, and ε2 (ω) is larger than that of the undoped sample in the low-energy range. Thus, the co-doping of Al and Ga can enhance the electromagnetic energy storage capacity and the visible light absorption ability. Although the reflectance of borophene is reduced by co-doping (the peak of the reflectivity can be decreased from 71% to 61% at E = 2.94 eV), it still presents metallic reflection characteristics. The static refractive index n0 can be increased from 2.25 to 2.65 by co-doping. The extinction coefficient shows strong band edge absorption at the low-energy range with an absorption edge of 0.85 eV. The light loss is limited to a very narrow energy range of approximately 7.30 eV, which indicates that borophene co-doped with Al and Ga can also be used as a light storage material. The optical conductivity reaches its maximum at E = 1.78 eV and 2.52 eV, which correspond to the light irradiation with a wavelength of 698 nm (red light) and 492 nm (cyan light), respectively. The results show that the Al-Ga co-doped borophene is sensitive to cyan light and red light, so it can be used to make photosensitive devices. The results can hopefully fill the gap in the application of borophene in semiconductor photoelectric devices and provide a theoretical basis for its application.
On Inequalities for
q
-
h
-Integrals via Convex Functions
Authors: Liu Yonghong , Saliu Afis , Tawfiq Ferdous M. O. , Anwar Matloob , Farid Ghulam , Bibi Waseela
Published: November 2023

This article aims to investigate unified versions of the well-known Hermite–Hadamard inequality by considering

q

-

h

-integrals and properties of convex functions. Currently published results for

q

-integrals can be deduced from inequalities of this paper. Moreover, some new results are presented in terms of corollaries.
CRISPR Screening Identifies Mechanisms of Resistance to KRASG12C and SHP2 Inhibitor Combinations in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Prahallad Anirudh , Weiss Andreas , Voshol Hans , Kerr Grainne , Sprouffske Kathleen , Yuan Tina , Ruddy David , Meistertzheim Morgane , Kazic-Legueux Malika , Kottarathil Tina , Piquet Michelle , Cao Yichen , Martinuzzi-Duboc Laetitia , Buhles Alexandra , Adler Flavia , Mannino Salvatore , Tordella Luca , Sansregret Laurent , Maira Sauveur-Michel , Graus Porta Diana , Fedele Carmine , Brachmann Saskia M.
Published: November 2023

Although KRASG12C inhibitors show clinical activity in patients with KRAS G12C mutated non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other solid tumor malignancies, response is limited by multiple mechanisms of resistance. The KRASG12C inhibitor JDQ443 shows enhanced preclinical antitumor activity combined with the SHP2 inhibitor TNO155, and the combination is currently under clinical evaluation. To identify rational combination strategies that could help overcome or prevent some types of resistance, we evaluated the duration of tumor responses to JDQ443 ± TNO155, alone or combined with the PI3Kα inhibitor alpelisib and/or the cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor ribociclib, in xenograft models derived from a KRASG12C-mutant NSCLC line and investigated the genetic mechanisms associated with loss of response to combined KRASG12C/SHP2 inhibition. Tumor regression by single-agent JDQ443 at clinically relevant doses lasted on average 2 weeks and was increasingly extended by the double, triple, or quadruple combinations. Growth resumption was accompanied by progressively increased KRAS G12C amplification. Functional genome-wide CRISPR screening in KRASG12C-dependent NSCLC lines with distinct mutational profiles to identify adaptive mechanisms of resistance revealed sensitizing and rescuing genetic interactions with KRASG12C/SHP2 coinhibition; FGFR1 loss was the strongest sensitizer, and PTEN loss the strongest rescuer. Consistently, the antiproliferative activity of KRASG12C/SHP2 inhibition was strongly enhanced by PI3K inhibitors. Overall, KRAS G12C amplification and alterations of the MAPK/PI3K pathway were predominant mechanisms of resistance to combined KRASG12C/SHP2 inhibitors in preclinical settings. The biological nodes identified by CRISPR screening might provide additional starting points for effective combination treatments.

Significance:

Identification of resistance mechanisms to KRASG12C/SHP2 coinhibition highlights the need for additional combination therapies for lung cancer beyond on-pathway combinations and offers the basis for development of more effective combination approaches.

See related commentary by Johnson and Haigis, p. 4005
LINC00869 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis via Protrusion Formation
Authors: Shao Xiaowen , Dang Yamei , Zhang Tingting , Bai Nan , Huang Jianing , Guo Mengya , Sun Li , Li Minghe , Sun Xiao , Zhang Xinran , Han Feng , Zhang Ning , Zhuang Hao , Li Yongmei
Published: November 2023

Coordination of filament assembly and membrane remodeling is required for the directional migration of cancer cells. The Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) recruits the actin-related protein (ARP) 2/3 complex to assemble branched actin networks. The goal of our study was to assess the potential regulatory role exerted by the novel long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) LINC00869 on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. We used HCC cells to overexpress or knockdown LINC00869, analyzed patient data from publicly available databases and Cancer Hospital Affiliated with Zhengzhou University, and used a xenograft mouse model of HCC to study the molecular mechanism associated with LINC00869 expression. We found that high levels of LINC00869 expression were associated with poor prognosis in patients with HCC. Next, we detected an interaction between LINC00869 and both WASP and ARP2 in HCC cells, and observed a modulatory effect of LINC00869 on the phosphorylation of WASP at Y291 and the activity of cell division control protein 42 (CDC42). These modulatory roles were required for WASP/CDC42 activity on F-actin polymerization to enhance membrane protrusion formation and maintain persistent cell polarization. This, in turn, promoted the migration and invasion abilities of HCC cells. Finally, we confirmed the role of LINC00869in vivo, using the tumor xenograft mouse model; and identified a positive correlation between LINC00869 expression levels and the phosphorylation levels of WASP in HCC samples. Overall, our findings suggest a unique mechanism by which LINC00869 orchestrates membrane protrusion during migration and invasion of HCC cells.

Implications:

LncRNA LINC00869 regulates the activity of CDC42–WASP pathway and positively affects protrusion formation in HCC cells, which expands the current understanding of lncRNA functions as well as gives a better understanding of carcinogenesis.
Supplementary Figure 4 from Population-specific Mutation Patterns in Breast Tumors from African American, European American, and Kenyan Patients
Authors: Tang Wei , Zhang Flora , Byun Jung S. , Dorsey Tiffany H. , Yfantis Harris G. , Ajao Anuoluwapo , Liu Huaitian , Pichardo Margaret S. , Pichardo Catherine M. , Harris Alexandra R. , Yang Xiaohong R. , Figueroa Jonine D. , Sayed Shahin , Makokha Francis W. , Ambs Stefan
Published: November 2023

Supplementary Figure 4 shows neighborhood deprivation as a determinant of breast cancer survival in the NCI-Maryland cohort.
Supplementary Figure 3 from Population-specific Mutation Patterns in Breast Tumors from African American, European American, and Kenyan Patients
Authors: Tang Wei , Zhang Flora , Byun Jung S. , Dorsey Tiffany H. , Yfantis Harris G. , Ajao Anuoluwapo , Liu Huaitian , Pichardo Margaret S. , Pichardo Catherine M. , Harris Alexandra R. , Yang Xiaohong R. , Figueroa Jonine D. , Sayed Shahin , Makokha Francis W. , Ambs Stefan
Published: November 2023

Supplementary Figure 3 shows mutational signatures in breast tumors and their association with somatic mutations in driver genes and immune cell signatures.
Supplementary Figure 2 from Population-specific Mutation Patterns in Breast Tumors from African American, European American, and Kenyan Patients
Authors: Tang Wei , Zhang Flora , Byun Jung S. , Dorsey Tiffany H. , Yfantis Harris G. , Ajao Anuoluwapo , Liu Huaitian , Pichardo Margaret S. , Pichardo Catherine M. , Harris Alexandra R. , Yang Xiaohong R. , Figueroa Jonine D. , Sayed Shahin , Makokha Francis W. , Ambs Stefan
Published: November 2023

Supplementary Figure 2 shows the distribution of immune cell types in breast tumors.
Supplementary Figure 1 from Population-specific Mutation Patterns in Breast Tumors from African American, European American, and Kenyan Patients
Authors: Tang Wei , Zhang Flora , Byun Jung S. , Dorsey Tiffany H. , Yfantis Harris G. , Ajao Anuoluwapo , Liu Huaitian , Pichardo Margaret S. , Pichardo Catherine M. , Harris Alexandra R. , Yang Xiaohong R. , Figueroa Jonine D. , Sayed Shahin , Makokha Francis W. , Ambs Stefan
Published: November 2023

Supplementary Figure 1 shows the effect of acquired FOXA1 somatic mutations on breast cancer survival.
Impact of Methyl-Donor Micronutrient Supplementation on DNA Methylation Patterns: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of in vitro, Animal, and Human Studies
Authors: da Mota Jhulia Caroline N.L. , Ribeiro Amanda A. , Carvalho Lucas M. , Esteves Gabriel P. , Sieczkowska Sofia M. , Goessler Karla F. , Gualano Bruno , Nicoletti Carolina F.
Published: November 2023

Background: DNA methylation patterns are directly associated with diverse metabolic disorders. The status of methyl-donor micronutrients has been associated with DNA methylation levels, and altered ingestion of folate, choline, betaine, B vitamins and methionine may impact genes both globally and at the level of promoter regions. Despite this, the role of methyl-donor micronutrient supplementation on DNA methylation profiles is currently unclear. Objectives: The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to identify and synthesize the evidence about methyl-donor nutrient supplementation on DNA methylation. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases with a combination of terms related to DNA methylation assessment, supplementation, and methyl-donor nutrients. Studies (in vitro, animal models, or human clinical trials) were included if DNA methylation levels after any kind of methyl-donor micronutrient supplementation or treatment was investigated. Studies were assessed for bias using Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials, risk-of-bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions or Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation tools. Data were extracted from studies measuring DNA methylation levels in any sample or tissue, following any kind of methyl-donor micronutrient supplementation or treatment. Separate random-effects meta-analyses were performed for animal model studies and human clinical trials that examined the effects of folic acid supplementation on DNA methylation. Results: Fifty-seven studies were included in this systematic review: 18 human clinical trials, 35 in animal model, and 4 in vitro studies. Concerning overall risk of bias, most of the studies were classified as “high risk” or “some concerns.” Meta-analysis with meta-regression from studies in animal models showed that folic acid dose significantly affected DNA methylation and that high and very high doses showed increases in DNA methylation when compared to low doses. However, meta-analysis of human clinical trials showed that folic acid supplementation did not promote significant changes in DNA methylation when compared to placebo. Conclusion: Folic acid supplementation may change global DNA methylation levels in animals supplemented with high, as compared to low, doses. Heterogeneity in studies and supplementation protocols make it difficult to establish clinical recommendations. However, these effects, even if small, might be of clinical importance in the management of patients with diseases related to DNA hypomethylation.
The Metaphysics of Development and Evolution: From Thing Ontology to Process Ontology
Authors: Meincke Anne Sophie
Published: November 2023

This article discusses the metaphysics of development and evolution. Which most fundamental assumptions about the structure of reality underlie our thinking about development and evolution? Against the backdrop of major lines of thought in the history of western metaphysics, I argue that the characteristic disregard of development in neo-Darwinist evolutionary theory is due to an underlying view of reality in terms of things (thing ontology) and that putting development back into evolution, as intended by the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis, requires understanding reality in terms of processes (process ontology). I show how a metaphysical paradigm shift from thing ontology to process ontology, and a philosophy of biology informed accordingly by process ontology (process biology), can advance our understanding of development and evolution.
Lung Cancer Mimicking Aspergilloma: A Case Report
Authors: Wasim Jamal Sheikh M. , Aboukamar Mohamed R. , Khatib Mohamad , Al Maslamani Muna , Nashwan Abdulqadir J.
Published: November 2023

An aspergilloma is a conglomeration of Aspergillus hyphae, fibrin, mucus, and cellular debris, typically found within a pulmonary cavity or ectatic bronchus. Computerized tomography (CT) scans often depict a cavity containing a solid mass and a notable crescent sign. Though these signs are indicative of aspergilloma, the European Respiratory Society emphasizes the need for a more detailed diagnostic criteria. A patient with a history of hemoptysis was initially diagnosed with an aspergilloma based on CT chest findings, showing a cavitary lesion in the left upper lobe with an intracavitary lobular opacity. Post resection, histological examination contradicted the initial diagnosis, revealing lung cancer instead. This case underscores the importance of tissue diagnosis from the outset or employing a multifaceted diagnostic criteria encompassing radiological findings, serology and microbiology tests. In the absence of an initial tissue diagnosis, rigorous follow-up, including early interval scanning, is crucial.
Eyelid Metastasis from Cervical Cancer: A Case Report
Authors: Wen Jing , Huang Chunlian , Guo Nina , Wang Wenwen , Sheng Bo
Published: November 2023

Metastatic malignant lesions of the eyelids are less than 1% of all eyelid tumors. Eyelid metastasis from the cervix, particularly the first sign of metastasis, has not been reported. A female presented to an ophthalmologist with a gradually increasing mass on the lateral edge of the lower eyelid for 2 months and was diagnosed with stage IB1 cervical cancer 3 years ago. We performed wide local excision of the eyelid mass. The mass was histologically and immunohistochemically similar to cervical cancer. Upon metastatic examination, no lesions involving other sites or lymph nodes were found. Subsequently, local radiation therapy yielded the desired results. In the present case, the possibility of metastasis from the cervix was not considered for the first time. More attention should be paid when identifying unexplained masses in patients with a history of malignant tumors.
Salvianolic Acid B Inhibits Oxidative Stress in Glomerular Mesangial Cells Alleviating Diabetic Nephropathy by Regulating SIRT3/FOXO1 Signaling
Authors: Wen Feiying , Zhang Shengmiao , Sun Liqin , Qian Manqing , Xu Haofeng
Published: November 2023

Introduction: Oxidative stress is pivotal in advancing diabetic nephropathy (DN). Salvianolic acid B (SAB), derived from Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae, exhibits renoprotective effects. However, the mechanisms underlying its action in DN are not fully elucidated. This study explores SAB’s protective effect on DN, focusing on its antioxidative properties in glomerular mesangial cells. Methods: The renoprotective effects of various SAB dosages on DN rats were assessed by evaluating kidney tissue pathological alterations through hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, Masson, TUNEL staining, and kidney function through biochemical detection. Cell counting kit-8 and lactate dehydrogenase cytotoxicity assays were utilized to evaluate the viability of high glucose (HG)-induced HBZY-1 cells treated with various SAB dosages. Oxidative stress and inflammation levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3)/Forkhead box transcription factor O1 (FOXO1) pathway was examined through Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results: SAB mitigated kidney histopathological alterations and function and cell apoptosis in DN rats at various dosages. It enhanced the activity of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase while decreasing reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels both in vivo and in vitro. SAB also suppressed the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-1, and TNF-α) and the expression of collagen IV and fibronectin in HG-induced HBZY-1 cells. Furthermore, SAB activated the SIRT3/FOXO1 signaling pathway. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that SAB may alleviate oxidative stress in DN both in vivo and in vitro, potentially through the activation of the SIRT3/FOXO1-mediated signaling pathway. This study provides initial insights into the possible antioxidative and renoprotective effects of SAB, indicating its potential utility as a therapeutic agent for DN.