bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of the safety and efficacy of recombinant Chlamydia muridarum MOMP vaccines, formulated with CpG-1826 and 70%, 50%, 30% or 10% concentrations of Montanide ISA-720 VG, to elicit protective immune responses against a C. muridarum respiratory challenge.
Authors: Maza Luis de la , Slepenkin Anatoli , Pal Sukumar , Rasley Amy , Coleman Matthew
Published: December 2023

To determine the safety and protective efficacy of a C. muridarum MOMP vaccine, formulated with CpG-1826 and four different concentrations of Montanide ISA 720 VG (70%, 50%, 30% and 10%), BALB/c mice were immunized twice intramuscularly. Local reactogenicity was significant for vaccines formulated with 70% and 50% Montanide but not in mice receiving 30% and 10% Montanide. Robust humoral and cell mediated memory immune responses were elicited by the 70%, 50% and 30% Montanide formulations. Mice were challenged intranasally with C. muridarum and, at day 10 post-challenge, mice were euthanized. Based on changes in body weight, lung’s weight and number of IFU recovered, mice vaccinated with the 70%, 50% and 30% Montanide formulations were significantly protected, but not mice receiving 10% Montanide. To conclude, we recommend the 30% Montanide concentration to be tested in humans and animal models to determine its safety and efficacy, in comparison to the 70% Montanide concentration currently used. The 30% Montanide formulation will significantly facilitate licensing for human use.
End to end delay aware Service Function Chain Scheduling in Network Function Virtualization enabled networks
Authors: Dubba Sudha , Killi Balaprakasa Rao
Published: December 2023

Network function virtualization is a key enabling technology for the customization of network services in next-generation networks to support diverse applications. Most enterprise and network services contain specific network functions that are stitched together in a predefined sequence to form a service function chain. The deployment and scheduling of a service function chain onto the substrate network play a vital role in deciding the efficiency of resource utilization and the performance of network management. For a delay-sensitive network service request traversing a service function chain, the end-to-end packet delay is a crucial parameter that indicates the deployment performance. Transmission, propagation, processing, edge queueing, and virtualization delays all impact the order in which virtual network functions execute. Service level agreement violations and incorrect schedules are produced when the controller does not take edge queueing and virtualization delays into account. In this work, we propose a service function chain scheduling problem for the optimization of the end-to-end delay while considering transmission, propagation, queueing, virtualization, and processing delays. Then, we propose a scheduling approach based on the earliest finish times of the physical machines to minimize the end-to-end delay of the service function chain. The performance of the proposed service function chain scheduling approach using the earliest finish time is evaluated in terms of end-to-end delay, service level agreement violation ratio, resource utilization, and acceptance ratio. We compare our proposed algorithm with four existing approaches from the literature. Simulation results show that our proposed approach outperforms existing approaches in terms of end-to-end delay, service level agreement violation ratio, resource utilization, and acceptance ratio.
Mapping the scientific output of organoids for modeling animal and human infectious diseases: A bibliometric assessment
Authors: Yan Jin , Cougoule Céline , Lacroix-Lamandé Sonia , Wiedemann Agnès
Published: December 2023

The escalation of antibiotic resistance, pandemics, and nosocomial infections underscores the importance of research in both animal and human infectious diseases. Recent advancements in three-dimensional tissue cultures, or "organoids," have revolutionized the development of in vitro models for infectious diseases. Our study conducts a bibliometric analysis on the use of organoids in modeling infectious diseases, offering an in-depth overview of this field's current landscape. We examined scientific contributions from 2009 onward that focused on organoids in host‒pathogen interactions using the Web of Science Core Collection. Our analysis included temporal trends, reference aging, author and institutional productivity, collaborative networks, citation metrics, and keyword cluster dynamics. VOSviewer and CiteSpace facilitated this analytical assessment. The findings reveal significant growth and advancements in organoid-based infectious disease research. Analysis of keywords and impactful publications identified three distinct developmental phases in this area that were significantly influenced by outbreaks of Zika virus and SARS-CoV-2. Hans Clevers and his team are prominent within the author and institutional collaboration networks. The research also highlights the synergistic efforts between academia and publishers in tackling global pandemic challenges. Organoids are proving to be a promising tool in infectious disease research. Their integration into the field necessitates methodological refinements for better physiological emulation and the establishment of extensive organoid biobanks. These improvements are crucial for fully harnessing the potential of organoids in understanding infectious diseases and advancing the development of targeted treatments and vaccines.
High-performance Cementitious Composites Containing Nanostructured Carbon Additives Made from Charred Coal Fines
Authors: Gao Yuan , Pham Viet Hung , Kim Ki-Joong , Weidman Jennifer , Wang Congjun , Matranga Christopher , Spaulding Richard
Published: December 2023

Graphene-based nanomaterials, such as graphene nanoplatelets, graphene oxide, and graphene quantum dots, have many possible end-use applications due to their ability to impart unique mechanical, electrical, thermal, and optical properties to composites. Despite this potential, these materials are rarely used in the construction industry due to high material costs and limited data on performance and durability. In this study, domestic coal is used to fabricate low-cost carbon nanomaterials that can be used economically in cement formulations. A range of chemical and physical processing approaches are employed to control the size, morphology, and chemical functionalization of the carbon nanomaterial, which improves its miscibility with cement formulations and its impact on mechanical properties and durability. At low loadings of coal-derived carbon nanomaterials, significant improvements are observed in the mechanical properties (compressive strength and flexural strength) of enhanced cement and concrete composites. In addition, a decrease in porosity and permeability was observed, as well as a decrease in chloride penetration depth, which should improve the durability and corrosion resistance of these graphene-based cement composites.
Adoptive cell therapy for treatment of rare diseases and orphan designation.
Authors: Kalland Maria Elisabeth , Pose Tomas , Palomo Gloria , Naumann-Winter Fraike , Costa Enrico , Matusevicius Darius , Duarte Dinah , Malikova Eva , Vitezic Dinko , Larsson Kristina , Magrelli Armando , Stoyanova-Beninska Violeta , Mariz Segundo
Published: December 2023

Adoptive cell therapies exploit the body’s immune system to target and treat oncological conditions. Many substances are developed to treat rare haematological malignancies which fulfil the criteria for being considered as orphan conditions according to the EU Orphan Regulation (1-2). Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell products belong to this group of therapy.
The Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products has reviewed 23 adoptive cell therapies which were associated with 36 different applications for orphan designation (OD) over a 10-year period, and nineteen of these were CAR-T cell products intended to treat various rare conditions. Most of these products were developed for the treatment of rare haematological malignancies. Preliminary clinical data was used in 80% (29/36) of the OD submissions to support medical plausibility (promise of efficacy) of the candidate products and an assumption of significant benefit, which is the added benefit of the new product over currently authorised medicines for the proposed orphan condition. Eighty-nine percent (32/36) cases of significant benefit were accepted based on a clinically relevant advantage. Twelve of fourteen submissions reviewed for maintenance of the OD at time of marketing authorisation or extension of indication demonstrated significant benefit of the products over existing therapies within the approved therapeutic indications, but one of these were withdrawn during the evaluation.
In conclusion, adoptive cell immunotherapy is a dynamic field in the treatment of haematological malignancies. In the case of applications and ODs granted by the European Commission, autologous CAR-T cell products using a lentiviral vector represent most of the submissions, while CD19 was the most frequently targeted antigen. Clinical data was the most common type of data taken into account at the time of initial OD to support medical plausibility. A high rate of successful initial ODs for these products also seem to translate into a high success rate at the time of marketing authorisation or extension of indication.
Healthcare monitoring at your fingertips: validation of a smartphone alternative to routine measures of skin sensibility
Authors: Lindsay Owen , Hammad Hanan , Baysic James , Young Abbey , Osman Nasir , Ferber Reed , Culos-Reed Nicole , Peters Ryan
Published: December 2023

The capacity to perceive tactile input at the fingertips, referred to as tactile sensibility, is known to diminish with age due to regressive changes to mechanoreceptor density and morphology. Sensibility is measured as perceptual responses to stimuli of varying intensity. Contrary to traditional sensibility monitoring instruments, smartphones are uniquely suited for remote assessment and have shown to deliver highly calibrated stimuli along a broad spectrum of intensity, which may improve test reliability. The aim of this study was to evaluate a vibration-emitting smartphone application, the Vibratus App, as a mode of estimating tactile sensory thresholds in the aging adult. The peripheral nerve function of 40 neurologically healthy volunteers (ages 18–71) was measured using monofilaments, a 128-Hz tuning fork, the Vibratus App, and nerve conduction studies (NCS). Between group differences were analyzed to determine each measurement’s sensitivity to age. Spearman correlation coefficients depicted the associative strength between hand-held measurements and sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude. Inter-rater reliability of traditional instruments and the software-operated smartphone were assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,k). Measurements taken with Vibratus App were sensitive to the age-related decline in tactile sensitivity (t(30.643) = -3.480, p = .002). The inter-rater reliability of smartphone and tuning fork testing was moderate (ICC2,k = 0.57 and 0.51, respectively), whereas monofilament testing was good (ICC2,k = 0.83). The findings of this study support further investigation of smartphones as remote tactile sensitivity monitoring devices.
Filtration Analysis of Microparticles Using Paper-Based Microfluidics
Authors: Bhuvaneshwari K. S. , Jeroish Z. E. , Futane Abhishek , Samsuri Fahmi , Narayanamurthy Vigneswaran
Published: December 2023

A virus is a sub-microscopic infectious organism that causes diseases in humans, animals, and plants resulting in morbidity and may cause mortality. Proper diagnosis is necessary to initiate the treatment and pave the way to eradicate the viral infection. The current diagnostic kits for nucleic acid amplification assay, blood filtration, single-cell analysis are highly accurate, even though the procedure necessitates large sample volumes, complicated fabrication steps, time-consuming processes, and high costs. The filtration of viral samples from the blood is a tedious process. In this research, we have presented a home-based fabricated paper microfluidic chip to effectively filtrate viral particles from the sample to facilitate the nucleic acid amplification assay. The filtration analysis was exhibited for lateral and vertical flow paper chips fabricated via laser printing and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) encapsulation that circumvents the necessity of a traditional wax printer and hot plate. The results convey that the vertical flow paper chip with grade 4 inlet and outlet filters 98.57% of unnecessary particles from the sample. The paper-based microfluidic chip developed in this research is simple, easy to fabricate, and inexpensive to access in underdeveloped countries. The paper chip can pave the way for applications like lab-on-chip devices, POC assays, rapid nucleic acid amplification tests, cell cultures, and biomolecular research.
Glycemic control in women with GDM: Insights from a randomized controlled pilot trial on plant-based Nordic Healthy diet versus moderately carbohydrate restricted diet
Authors: Markussen Lisa Torsdatter , Kivelä Jemina , Lindström Jaana , Ollikainen Miina , Kytö Mikko , Heinonen Seppo , Koivusalo Saila , Meinilä Jelena
Published: December 2023

Background:
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) prevalence is rising worldwide. GDM poses health risks for both mothers and offspring. Optimal dietary strategies for GDM remain unclear. The eMOM pilot compared a plant-protein rich Healthy Nordic Diet (HND) and a moderately carbohydrate restricted diet (MCRD) and their potential effects on glucose control and newborn body composition.
Methods:
Forty-two (HND, n = 20, MCRD, n = 22) participants were assigned to have dietary intervention and nutritional counseling from gestational weeks (GW) 24 + 0–28 + 6 (baseline) until delivery. Continuous glucose monitoring (Freestyle Libre, Abbott, USA) assessed glucose levels. Blood samples for glucose and lipid metabolism and 3-day food diaries were collected at baseline and at GW 34 + 0–35 + 6. Neonatal body composition was measured (Peapod, COSMED, USA). Difference between groups and newborn body composition was analysed with t-test and Wilcoxon test.
Results:
Thirty-two women completed the study. Both groups maintained the glucose time in range (≤ 7.8 mmol/L) during majority of the time (98.9 and 99.3% for MCRD and HND respectively, p = 0.921) in GW 34 + 0–35 + 6. The mean glucose was lower in the MCRD group compared to the HND group (5.0 SD 1.03 vs. 5.2 SD 0.96 mmol/l, p < 0.001). No differences were observed between the groups in glucose variability, lipid metabolism, gestational weight gain, or in the body composition of the newborns. There was no difference in the macronutrient composition between the groups as the HND had lower macronutrient adherence than the MCRD. The HND decreased intake of meat and increased fish consumption significantly compared to the MCRD.
Conclusions:
This pilot study indicates that both a moderately restricted carbohydrate diet and a diet focused on plant-based protein effectively maintained a large time within the treatment target range in women with GDM. Further research could explore the impact of protein quantity and sources in maternal diets on glycemic control and newborn outcomes.
Trial registration
The eMOM pilot trial is registered in Clinicaltrials.gov (21/09/2018, NCT03681054)
Cell-specific models of hiPSC-CMs developed by the gradient-based parameter optimization method fitting two different action potential waveforms
Authors: Zhang Yixin , Toyoda Futoshi , Himeno Yukiko , Noma Akinori , Amano Akira
Published: December 2023

Parameter optimization (PO) methods to determine the ionic current composition of experimental cardiac action potential (AP) waveform have been developed using a computer model of cardiac membrane excitation. However, it was suggested that fitting a single AP record in the PO method was not always successful in providing a unique answer because of a shortage of information. We found that the PO method worked perfectly if the PO method was applied to a pair of a control AP and a model output AP in which a single ionic current out of 11 current species, such as IKr, ICaL, INa, IKs or IKur, was partially blocked in silico. When the target was replaced by a pair of experimental control and IKr-blocked records of APs generated spontaneously in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), the simultaneous fitting of the two waveforms by the PO method was hampered to some extent by the irregular slow fluctuations in the Vm recording and/or sporadic alteration in AP configurations in the hiPSC-CMs. This technical problem was largely removed by selecting stable segments of the records for the PO method. Moreover, the PO method was made fail-proof by running iteratively in identifying the optimized parameter set to reconstruct both the control and the IKr-blocked AP waveforms. In the lead potential analysis, the quantitative ionic mechanisms deduced from the optimized parameter set were totally consistent with the qualitative view of ionic mechanisms of AP so far described in physiological literature.
Hierarchical craquelure patterns in paintings on panels
Authors: Antropov Sergii , Bratasz Łukasz
Published: December 2023

Panel paintings are multi-layer structures composed of humidity-sensitive materials. Preventing or limiting stresses in these structures, generated by the loss or gain of moisture, requires an understanding of the relevant processes and risks. A three-dimensional elastic model of a panel painting was used to analyse surface stresses and understand how hierarchical crack patterns are formed in the two-layer structure of the pictorial layer – the gesso and the paints. Two historically important paint types were considered ‒ egg tempera and oil paints, laid on a gesso produced following historical procedures. Two scenarios of stress development were analysed: cumulative drying shrinkage of paints or gesso, owing to gradual loss of water or evolution of the molecular composition of the binders, and moisture-induced swelling of the wood substrate. Ratios of distances between cracks in the tangential and longitudinal directions of a wood panel to the layer thickness were estimated for increasing magnitudes of materials’ dimensional response in the two scenarios. The critical values of the ratios for which stress in the midpoint between the cracks dropped below the value inducing strain at break in the materials and saturation of the crack patterns occurred, was approximately 3–4 or 5–6 for the paints and the gesso, respectively. The critical distance normalized to the gesso thickness between cracks parallel to the wood grain induced by swelling of the wood substrate due to relative humidity variation in the range of 50–70% was 6. The study demonstrated that crack spacings in the fully developed crack systems remain sensitive only to the thicknesses of paint or gesso layers which, therefore, can be derived from the crack pattern geometry. Existing flaws in gesso were found not to increase the risk of new crack development.
Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of Iron biomarkers and cardiovascular risk factors in pre- and postmenopausal women: leveraging repeated measurements to address natural variability
Authors: Ahanchi Noushin Sadat , Fischer Amira Salomé , Quezada-Pinedo Hugo G. , khatami Farnaz , Eisenga Michele F , Muka Taulant , Vidal Pedro-Marques
Published: December 2023

Background
The association between iron biomarkers and cardiovascular disease risk factors (CVD-RFs) remains unclear. We aimed to 1) evaluate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between iron biomarkers (serum ferritin, transferrin saturation (TSAT), transferrin) and CVD-RFs among women, and 2) explore if these associations were modified by menopausal status.
Method
Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses including 2542 and 1482 women from CoLaus cohort, respectively. Multiple linear regression and multilevel mixed models were used to analyse the associations between Iron biomarkers and CVD-RFs. Variability of outcomes and iron markers between surveys was accessed using intraclass correlation (ICC).
Results
In the cross-sectional analysis, after multivariable adjustment, high ferritin levels were associated with higher insulin and transferrin levels were associated with higher levels of glucose, insulin, total and HDL-cholesterol, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. No association between CVD-RFs and TSAT was found. All iron biomarkers indicated low reliability across reproductive stages but were stronger in the perimenopausal group. In the longitudinal analysis, we found significant association only between transferrin and lower levels of glucose and diastolic blood pressure. The associations between iron biomarkers and CVD-RFs did not change according to menopausal status.
Conclusion
In cross-sectional analysis, transferrin was associated with several CVD-RFs, and the associations did not change according to menopausal status. Conversely, in the longitudinal analyses, changes in transferrin were associated only with lower glucose and diastolic blood pressure levels. These differences might stem from the substantial longitudinal variation of iron biomarkers, underscoring the need for multiple iron measurements in longitudinal analyses.
Plasmonic interaction of gold nanoparticles with the anti-hypoglycemic medicament metformin
Authors: Hennemann Artur Luis , Ramos Miguel Domingos , Sihn Luca Michael , Nakamura Marcelo , Araki Koiti , Toma Henrique Eisi
Published: December 2023

Metformin (MF) is one of the most important medicaments in the market and has been extensively employed in the treatment of type-2 diabetes. Because of its positive charge, it interacts with negatively charged gold nanoparticles, leading to agglomeration even at low concentrations (< 0.01 mmol L− 1). This is accompanied by the rise of a plasmon coupling band at 645 nm, allowing its colorimetric monitoring with a limit of detection, LOD, of 1.9 µmol L− 1. However, above 0.01 mmol L− 1, aggregation takes place, shifting the plasmonic band to 700 nm. Consequently, in this range of concentration, the optical correlation departs from that observed in the agglomeration regime. Therefore, for a critical evaluation, systematic monitoring of the spectral changes is required. In this work, the interaction of metformin with gold nanoparticles has also been monitored by Raman spectroscopy, through the SERS effect. The large enhancement of the Raman signals promoted by the plasmonic nanoparticles improved the detection limit to 0.093 µmol L− 1. While the monitoring of the plasmonic band has inherently a low specificity, the Raman technique has the advantage of providing an unequivocal detection of metformin, based on its characteristic vibrational profiles.
Palladium catalyst immobilized on functionalized hyper-crosslinked polymers with 8-hydroxyquinoline as monomer for Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions
Authors: Feng Lu , Lu Sihang , Zou Haolei , Chen Gui , Xiang Dexuan
Published: December 2023

An efficient and stable palladium species catalyst immobilized on functionalised hyper-crosslinked polymers (HCPs-Pd) has been successfully developed and applied in the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction of diverse types of aromatic halides with aromatic boric acid in this work. The results demonstrated that HCPs-Pd exhibited high catalytic activity, which benefited from the microporous structure of the catalyst guaranteed high dispersibility of active palladium, and high specific surface area, large pore volume, good chemical stability. Under optimal reaction conditions, 93.0% of biphenyl yield in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction with bromobenzene (C6H5Br) and phenylboric acid (C6H7BO2) as raw material was obtained. The good stability of the HCPs-Pd catalyst was verified by five cycles experiments. Perhaps this work provides new insights into the high-yield preparation of biphenyl aromatic compounds employing HCPs-Pd as an efficient and stable catalyst in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction.
School-level inequality and learning achievement: evidence from PISA
Authors: Sempe Lucas , Esposito Lucio
Published: December 2023

A large body of literature has documented a strong economic gradient of educational outcomes, with pupils from richer households obtaining on average better outcomes than pupils from poorer households. However, there is surprisingly very little evidence on the role of aggregate economic inequality on individual educational attainment, once individual economic status as well as the aggregate economic milieu are controlled for. Using the 2012, 2015 and 2018 waves of multi-country data from the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), we find a negative relationship between school-level wealth inequality and test scores. In addition, we observe that school-level inequality interacts with school-level mean wealth. This suggests that the role of inequality may differ depending on the economic milieu – being stronger for schools attended by pupils from richer families. We go beyond the standard econometric interpretation of this interaction term and provide a reading of it in terms of school-level absolute inequality and aggregate relative deprivation. Results hold for the pooled data as well as for each of the three waves alone and are confirmed by a range of robustness checks.
Development of a new test design to investigate the degradation of pesticides in soil under sunlight conditions
Authors: Hassink Jan , Buda Jochen , Nellen Svenja , Noe Sabine , Schmidt Tanja
Published: December 2023

Pesticides applied to soil surface are subject to photodegradation if the parent molecule is sensitive to UV-light absorption. Photodegradation studies are therefore mandatory for the registration of plant protection products to provide data on the degradation rate and on the nature of photo-products formed. In general, sunlight is simulated in these studies with xenon lamps, e.g. a Suntest® device. Surface application on very thin soil layers followed by direct irradiation is common practice, but the control of the boundary conditions, i.e. soil temperature and humidity, to maintain the structure and viability of the soil is challenging. A homogeneous and stable soil microclimate is crucial to compare the degradation data of the test item from the irradiated soil samples to the dark controls as well as to the results from the aerobic soil metabolism study. After trying different scale-up test systems with the herbicide Imazamox as comparative test item, a new soil photolysis test system was developed which is managable in the laboratory and enables a more favourable management of the boundary conditions, especially with regard to the soil water and temperature. For this, the solar simulator SolarConstant® 1200, equipped with metal halide lamps Radium HRI-TS 1000W/D/S/PRO, was installed by Atlas Ametek (Germany) in a temperature controllable walk-in incubation chamber with aluminium racks and reflectors to minimize diffuse light and to maintain a homogenous temperature of 22(± 1)°C within the irradiated soil. Borosilicate glass vessels with an inner diameter of 10 cm and a max. height of 9 cm were used. Each vessel has two adapters flanged in opposite direction for incoming air and as output for trapping volatile degradation products. Soil with a soil humidity corresponding to pF 2.0-2.5 was filled into each vessel to a height of 4 cm and a surface area to 78 cm2. Each vessel was covered by a quartz glass cover. Only negligible adjustments of the soil water content were needed, if any, compared to daily water adjustments for thin soil layers incubated under a Suntest®. Since the horizontal and vertical capillarity of the soil water is more realistic than in the thin soil layers used in the Suntest® and drying-wetting cycles are eliminated, the soil structure and microbial-induced soil processes are maintained.
Selection Strategies in Wheat Populations
Authors: Mezzomo Henrique Caletti , Silva Caique Machado e , Casagrande Cleiton Renato , Lima Gabriel Wolter , Ribeiro João Paulo Oliveira , Eides José Renato , Graças Kaio Olímpio das , Borém Aluízio , Nardino Maicon
Published: December 2023

The selection of segregating populations is a key point in plant breeding programs. These should gather favorable phenotypes for multiple target characters, which makes it difficult to identify populations with high potential. Thus, this research aims to select potential wheat populations with precocity and grain yield by multivariate and multigeneration approaches. To achieve these objectives, 54 wheat populations in generations F2 and F3 were tested in two environments and evaluated for the traits days for heading and grain yield. Four analytic strategies were imposed: Strategy I: univariate model for each generation; Strategy II: univariate model and multigeneration; Strategy III: multivariate model for each generation; Strategy IV: multivariate model and multigeneration. In this scenario, the strategies that involved the multi-generation model (environments) provided greater gains, strategies I and III. Nevertheless, strategy I, involving a univariate model, provided the greatest gain. Within the strategies, the 1D, 1G, 1H, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G and 3H populations were selected by different strategies, being the most promising for derivation of early cycle and with grain productivity.
Barriers, Motivators and Strategies to Increase Participation in Autism-Genetic Research Among Asian and Black Families in the United States
Authors: Tafolla Maira , Amador Raquel , Oyeyemi Motunrayo J. , Algaze Zach , Pandey Juhi , Goin-Kochel Robin P. , Sarver Dustin E. , Gulsrud Amanda
Published: December 2023

Genetic research can help advance our knowledge of autism and positively impact the progress of care for autistic individuals.Asian and Black participants remain significantly underrepresented in autism genetic research studies in the United States, including in nationwide, multisite, autism-genetic consortiums like the Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge (SPARK) study. Few studies have explored the unique motivators and barriers that influence participation in autism-genetics research across underrepresented groups and strategies to increase participation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand the perspectives of Asian and Black parents of autistic individuals about participating in autism-genetic research, specifically motivators (e.g., desire to know more about the relationship between autism and genetics) and/or barriers (e.g., mistrust of the research staff) that may impact their decision to participate in genetic research. We also gathered suggestions about how to increase representation in their respective groups. Using a mixed-methods approach, we collected surveys from parents (n = 134) across the United States and conducted three focus groups with parents (n = 16) who identified as Black and Asian from two large metropolitan cities. No significant differences between racial minorities were observed in the survey data but results from the focus groups shed light on the shared motivators for participation (e.g., to help advance the autism field for future generations) and the nuanced differences in barriers that independently influence Black and Asian participants (e.g., the different beliefs about the sources of autism). Practical suggestions to improve outreach and study engagement in autism-genetic research are identified and discussed.
The Diurnal Variation Pattern and Driving Factors of CO2 at the Water-Air Interface in the Open Flow Section of Karst Underground Rivers
Authors: Li Danyang , Li Canfeng , Li Hong , Huang Chao , Peng Xuefeng , Xu Xiongwei , Chen Guiren , Zhang Liankai
Published: December 2023

The high-intensity pCO2 in karst underground river water is rapidly released or absorbed by aquatic organisms in open flow sections and is an important factor affecting the karst carbon cycle. This article takes a typical karst underground river basin in southwestern China as the research object. By observing the water carbon and water‒air interface exchange fluxes at the outlet of the underground river (Q1), the river section without submerged plants (H1), and the river section with submerged plants (H2), the diurnal variation pattern and driving factors of CO2 flux at the water‒air interface in the karst area were evaluated, and the transformation process of water carbon and the source sink changes in water carbon in the open-flow section were explored. The results show that CO2 flux and pCO2 in the study area exhibit significant spatial differences, with the outlet of the underground river having the highest values. DO is found to be a key controlling factor affecting changes in CO2 flux. The metabolism of submerged plants has a regulatory role on the change in CO2 flux, forming a carbon sink in the river section with submerged plants. Therefore, this study helps to understand the diurnal variation in carbon exchange fluxes at the water‒air interface in the open flow section of karst underground rivers and emphasizes the variation pattern of CO2 fluxes from source to sink in the open flow section, providing an effective way to promote carbon sequestration and sink enhancement in karst water bodies.
Sensory Modality Influence on Human Reinforcement Learning: Different Response Time but Consistent Performance
Authors: Sun Wenhan , Ripp Isabelle , Borrmann Aylin , Moll Maximilian , Fairhurst Merle
Published: December 2023

Previous studies have observed an intriguing overconfidence in the haptic sense. However, the impact of this increased sensory confidence on learning behavior relative to other senses has remained unexplored. This online study sought to investigate human learning behavior across the visual, auditory and haptic sensory modalities in a probabilistic selection task on computers and mobile devices. We examined reaction time, as an indicator for confidence, learning speed, and task accuracy. The haptic based probabilistic selection task showed the fastest reaction time, reinforcing the notion of heightened perceptual confidence in haptics. Conversely, visual stimuli processing exhibited the slowest reaction time and auditory based responses occupied an intermediate position. Despite the differences in reaction time across the senses, all modalities showed a striking consistency in both learning speed and task accuracy. In line with recent theories, the consistent learning outcomes across sensory modalities could be attributed to modality-independent meta-representations, which prioritise relevant information for decision-making. In addition, our data revealed that reaction time on touch-based mobile devices was significantly faster than those on computers. The combination of faster reaction time in the haptic modality without sacrificing accuracy and the enhanced efficiency of touch-based interfaces advocate for the integration of haptics in technological designs to boost efficiency while maintaining a high level of precision.
Chemogenetic activation or inhibition of histaminergic neurons bidirectionally modulates recognition memory formation and retrieval in male and female mice
Authors: Costa Alessia , Ducourneau Eva , Curti Lorenzo , Masi Alessio , Mannaioni Guido , Hardt Lola , Biyong Essi F , Potier Mylène , Blandina Patrizio , Trifilieff Pierre , Provensi Gustavo , Ferreira Guillaume , Passani M Beatrice
Published: December 2023

Several lines of evidence demonstrate that the brain histaminergic system is fundamental for cognitive processes and the expression of memories. Here, we investigated the effect of acute silencing or activation of histaminergic neurons in the hypothalamic tuberomamillary nucleus (TMNHA neurons) in vivo in both sexes in an attempt to provide direct and causal evidence of the necessary role of these neurons in recognition memory formation and retrieval. To this end, we compared the performance of mice in two non-aversive and non-rewarded memory tests, the social and object recognition memory tasks, which are known to recruit different brain circuitries. To directly establish the impact of inactivation or activation of TMNHA neurons, we examined the effect of specific chemogenetic manipulations during the formation (acquisition/consolidation) or retrieval of recognition memories. We consistently found that acute chemogenetic silencing of TMNHA neurons disrupts the formation or retrieval of both social and object recognition memory in males and females. Conversely, acute chemogenetic activation of TMNHA neurons during training or retrieval extended social memory in both sexes and object memory in a sex-specific fashion. These results suggest that the formation or retrieval of recognition memory requires the tonic activity of histaminergic neurons and strengthen the concept that boosting the brain histaminergic system can promote the retrieval of apparently lost memories.
Single-cell RNA-sequencing reveals a unique landscape of the tumor microenvironment in obesity-associated breast cancer
Authors: Gao Haidong , Zhao Guanghui , Zhang Xiaodong , Meng Liying , Dong Ke , Shang Shipeng , Jiang Tengfei , Liu Ziqian
Published: December 2023

As two diseases with rapidly increasing incidence, the molecular linkages between obesity
and breast cancer (BC) are intriguing. Overall, obesity may be a negative prognostic factor for BC.
Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed on tumor tissues from 6 obese and
non-obese BC patients. With 48,033 cells analyzed, we found heterogeneous tumor epithelium and microenvironment in these obese and lean BC patients. Interestingly, the obesity-associated
epithelial cells exhibited specific expression signatures which linked tumor growth and hormone
metabolism in BC. Notably, one population of obesity-specific macrophage up-regulated the
nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group H member 3 (NR1H3), which acted a transcription factor and
regulated FABP4 expression through its interaction with the DNA of SREBP1, and further
increased the proliferation of tumor cells in BC. Using single-cell signatures, our study illustrate
cell diversity and transcriptomic differences in tumors from obese and non-obese BC patients, and
sheds light on potential molecular link between lipid metabolism and BC.
Predictive and prognostic value of aurora kinase A combined with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in medullary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Wang Zhongyu , Fu Guiming , Guo Fengli , Hou Xiukun , Zheng Xiangqian
Published: December 2023

Purpose
Aurora kinase A (AURKA) plays an essential role in tumorigenesis by regulating the cell cycle. However, the expression and prognostic value of the AURKA in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) have not been thoroughly investigated.
Methods
Surgical specimens and clinical data of 137 patients diagnosed with MTC were collected. AURKA expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) infiltration were estimated by immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Moreover, the prognostic value of AURKA expression and TIL infiltration in MTC was evaluated.
Results
AURKA was highly expressed in patients with multifocal tumor, lymph node metastasis, and advanced TNM stage, indicating a high probability of recurrence. AURKA exhibited a positive correlation with TILs (R = 0.44, P < 0.001). High expression of AURKA combined with low numbers of TILs (AURKAhigh/TILslow) was identified as an independent prognostic factor for biochemistry recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio: 4.57, 95% confidence interval: 1.54–14.66, P < 0.01) and structural recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio: 3.64, 95% confidence interval: 1.52–8.71, P < 0.001). The combination of AURKA and TILs apparently improves the prognostic value for biochemistry recurrence (area under the curve: 0.751) and structural recurrence (area under the curve: 0.836) of MTC. Particularly, AURKAhigh/TILslow demonstrated higher predictive ability for distant or unresectable locoregional recurrence, with an overall accuracy of 86.9%.
Conclusion
AURKAhigh is associated with the malignancy of MTC. The combination of AURKAhigh/TILslow was recognized as a novel independent prognostic marker in MTC, predicting incurable disease recurrence with high accuracy.
The Study of Size and Shape Dependent Thermodynamic Properties of 4d Transition Metal Clusters
Authors: Berry Habte Dulla
Published: December 2023

Transition metal clusters exhibit unique size and shape-dependent thermodynamic properties that play a decisive role in their stability, reactivity, and potential applications in various fields of materials science. In this study, we focused on exploring the effects of cluster size and shape on the thermodynamic stability and surface reactivity of 4d transition metal clusters. Utilizing different thermodynamic models, we systematically investigated a series of cluster sizes and shapes composed of ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), and palladium (Pd) elements to unravel the size and shape-dependent trends in their thermodynamic behavior. The investigation encompassed a range of cluster sizes, from nano scale to sub-nanometer dimensions, and varying shapes including spheres and cylinder configurations. We calculated the binding energies, dissociation energies, and chemisorption energies of the clusters to elucidate the size and shape-dependent variations in their stability and reactivity. Additionally, structural optimizations and electronic structure analyses were performed to understand the underlying factors contributing to the observed thermodynamic properties. Our results revealed size and shape-dependent trends in the thermodynamic properties of 4d transition metal clusters. Smaller clusters exhibited enhanced surface reactivity and higher catalytic potential, while larger clusters demonstrated increased thermodynamic stability and cohesive energies. Furthermore, specific shapes such as spherical and cylindrical configurations showed distinct electronic structures and bonding characteristics, influencing their thermodynamic behavior. The observed trends provide valuable insights into the size and shape-dependent reactivity and stability of 4d transition metal clusters, offering opportunities for tailoring their properties for specific applications. The implications of this study extend to the design and synthesis of novel materials with tailored thermodynamic properties for catalysis, chemical sensing, and energy conversion technologies. By understanding the size and shape-dependent thermodynamic behaviors of these clusters, we can advance the development of efficient and selective catalysts, as well as explore their potential in emerging fields such as plasmonics and nano electronics. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the size and shape-dependent thermodynamic properties of 4d transition metal clusters, providing foundational knowledge for the rational design and engineering of nano scale materials with tailored reactivity and stability. The insights gained from this investigation contribute to the broader understanding of nano scale systems and their potential impact on various technological applications.
Life Cycle Inventory Assessment at Instituto Federal Goiano-Campus Rio Verde Inventário do Ciclo de Vida avaliado no Instituto Federal Goiano-Campus Rio Verde
Authors: de Oliveira Marcos Fernandes , Couto Bruno de Oliveira , Junio Edio Damásio
Published: December 2023

The life cycle analysis management tool provides important support for the implementation of a circular economy. It is an investigative framework for the entire production process, whether tangible or intangible, listing the environmental impacts directly linked to all inputs and side services in the production chain. In view of the above, the aim of this study is to carry out a life cycle inventory at the IF Goiano-Campus Rio Verde institution, accounting for total carbon equivalent emissions by the various lateral support sectors within the institution. The research methodology is based on NBR 14.040 of 2009 with adaptations, the boundary determined was temporal, the size of the functional unit meant that the study area had to be divided into two smaller ones, the scope of the study and the determination of emissions followed the standards of international organizations, the emission factors for products and inputs were those applied by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and a relevant part of support for this body was the global warming potential index and the greenhouse gas protocol. It was necessary to carry out a brief evaluative and exploratory study, without intending to be a forest inventory, as there was not enough time, resources and personnel to do so, with the aim of estimating CO2 capture by secondary green areas in the area (a) of this study. The results found are significant: 181. 559.72 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions generated at the Rio Verde Campus in 2022, with 38.53% coming from electricity consumption, 32.90% from fuel consumption and 25% from solid waste, with the exploratory analysis of the woodland area added to the existing lawn, 236.33 tons/CO2/year captured by the campus woodland were estimated, added to the 3.06 tons/CO2/year captured by the existing lawn, totaling 239.39 tons/CO2/year, generating a positive balance of 57.83 tons/CO/year. We end by proposing the adoption of control devices for water use and also for external lighting in the institution's buildings, a further study into the implementation of a biodigester system to reuse biomass, education campaigns and incentives for departments to install selective collection, as immediate actions to mitigate emissions.
Quantitative assessment of ecological assets in the world heritage karst sites based on remote sensing: with a special reference to South China Karst
Authors: Liu Qiangqiang , Wang Jiancheng , Xiong Kangning , Gong Lanqiang , Chen Yue , Yang Jianzai , Xiao Hua , Bai Jie
Published: December 2023

The ecological benefits provided by ecological assets play an important role in im-proving human well-being, but there are few feasible methods to describe their status and trends by combining the quantity and quality data of ecological assets. This study is based on LUCC and integrates data on the quantity and quality of ecological assets. Based on the ecological asset index (EQ and EQi), the ecological assets of the Shibing karst and the Libo-Huanjiang Karst heritage sites are quantitatively evaluated, and their influencing factors are qualitatively analyzed. The results show that, (1) The ecological assets of the Shibing Karst and the Libo-Huanjiang Karst are mainly forest ecological assets, accounting for 89.31% and 89.98% of the ecological assets of the heritage sites, respectively. The proportion of ecological assets in cropland, shrubs, grasslands, water bodies, and impermeable surfaces is small. (2) The ecological asset quality of the two heritage sites is similar, with a two-level differentiation state. The ecological asset quality of forests and shrubs is mainly excellent, good, and moderate, while the ecological asset quality of cropland and grassland is mainly inferior and poor. From the overall quality perspective, the ecological asset quality of both heritage sites has significantly improved. (3) From 2000 to 2021, the EQ of the Shibing Karst increased from 180.179 to 225.606. The EQ of the Libo-Huanjiang Karst has increased from 560.463 to 641.269. Among the EQi of the two sites, forest > cropland > shrubs > grassland in the Shibing Karst, and forest > shrubs > cropland > grassland in the Libo-Huanjiang Karst. The implementation of a series of eco-logical protection projects and heritage site protection and management plans is the main reason for the improvement of regional ecological assets. Overall, this method can quickly and accurately assess the status and trends of ecological assets, guide ecosystem management within heritage sites, and provide effective solutions for ecological asset assessment in other karst world heritage sites.