bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biotechnological properties of Bacillus amylolyquefaciens B65, strain isolated from an artisanal tannery
Authors: Alemán María Virgili , Petroselli Gabriela , Erra Rosa , Daz Mirta , Audisio Marcela
Published: September 2024

Leather industry is traditionally characterized by the use of large amounts of chemical agents, some of which are toxic for human health and the environment. However, during the last years, many efforts have been made with the aim of successfully implement enzymes as agents for different leather production stages. The lipopeptides produced by the Bacillus spp. genus have excellent surfactants and antibacterial properties and may collaborate in the soaking stage of leather processing as well as in the leather preservation. Moreover, Bacillus sp. proteases and lipopeptides can be co-produced in one culture medium, saving the production costs. In the present work, a screening of enzymatic activities was performed to 11 strains of the Bacillus sp. genus that have been isolated from samples of an artisan tannery from Salta, Argentina. In particular, the ability of B. amyloliquefaciens B65 to degrade α-type (nails, hair, wool) and β-type (feathers) keratin was demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The co-production of proteases, keratinases, glycosidases and lipopeptides of this strain was conducted at 37°C in mineral media supplemented with chicken feathers. In these nutrient-poor media, the strain secreted amylases, pectinases, proteases, keratinases, and collagenases. A MALDI-TOF study also revealed that the strains secreted homologues of kurstakins, iturins, surfactins and fengycines lipopeptides families. Therefore, B. amyloliquefaciens B65 presents great industrial potential applications, not only for tanneries but also for other industries such as pharmaceuticals, food, textiles and detergents, among others.
Racism in Clinical Nursing Practice: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Crenshaw Nichole , Lewis LaToya , Foronda Cynthia
Published: September 2024

Background
Racism in healthcare has led to disparate health outcomes amongst people of color. The construct of racism may be misunderstood, and research is lacking about the actions nurses can in the clinical setting take to reduce racism. The purpose of the study was to determine behaviors demonstrative of racism in nursing care and behaviors that are demonstrative of cultural humble nursing care to develop an awareness of racial bias in nursing to inform future educational practices.
Methods
A qualitative, descriptive design was used with 10 doctoral-prepared nurses of color with expertise in diversity, equity, inclusion, and social determinants of health.
Findings
Three overarching themes emerged: 1) Experience of Racism as a Nurse of Color (with subthemes of False Negative Assumptions/Stereotyping, Discrediting/Unheard, and Rejection), 2) Experience of Racism as a Patient of Color (with subthemes of False Negative Assumptions/Stereotyping, Inequitable Treatment/ Lack of Care, and Dismissing/Ignoring or Not Believing), and 3) Culturally Humble Care (with subthemes of Asking, Active Listening, Caring Body Language, Individualized Care, and Respect).
Conclusions
Study findings may be used to inform and improve nursing practice to reduce racism and decrease health disparities.
The association between TyG index and hypertension in middle-aged and elderly Chinese patients: data from CHALRS
Authors: Xie Zhijie , Lv Xuan , Ma Yijun , Dai Shanshan , Zhu Suijun , Wang Jun
Published: September 2024

Background
The TyG index is thought to be a trustworthy substitute indicator of insulin resistance. Increasing research evidence shows the correlation between TyG and various cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and adverse prognosis. However, the effect of diabetes on the connection between TyG and hypertension has not been extensively studied. In order to identify high-risk individuals, our research aimed to investigate the potential relationship between the TyG index and the risk of hypertension in middle-aged and elderly Chinese individuals.
Methods
This study analyzed and collected information of the middle-aged and elderly population from the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) database, and three groups were created based on the tertiles of TyG. First, the clinical characteristics of patients in different groups were analyzed univariately, and logistic regression analysis and RCS model were utilized to further clarify the relationship between the TyG index and hypertension. Finally, subgroup analysis was performed to distinguish the effects of different baseline characteristics on the connection between TyG and hypertension.
Results
9695 patients in all were enrolled, including 4548 males (46.9%) and 5147 females (53.1%). The incidence of hypertension in all patients was 33.7%. As displayed in Table 1, as the TyG index rises, the incidence of Diabetes, Heart disease, and Stroke in patients increased accordingly. Similarly, in terms of laboratory indicators, White blood cell, Platelets, Triglycerides, Uricacid, and Hbg increased with the rises of TyG; while the incidence of lung diseases, BUN, and HDL levels showed a downward trend. The RCS model showed that there was a nonlinear certain correlation between TyG and hypertension (p value < 0.001, nonlinear p = 0.008);Subgroup analysis showed that different baseline characteristics may influence the association between TyG and hypertension risk.
Conclusion
Our study's findings demonstrate a substantial correlation between TyG index and hypertension, showing a positive correlation in both adjusted and unadjusted logistic regression models, which may help identify individuals at risk for hypertension and have great potential through early improvement of blood pressure management. It has great potential to reduce the occurrence related to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders.
Factors influencing implementation of health-promoting interventions at workplaces: A scoping review
Authors: Bhandari Aliza K C , Lwin Kaung Suu , Nguyen Phuong The , Htay Zin Wai , Shrestha Drishti , Saito Junko , Yaguchi-Saito Akiko , Ota Erika , Shimazu Taichi
Published: September 2024

Background:Health promotion interventions in the workplace are effective in improving employee health. However, many interventions are temporary and cannot be sustained, and a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing their implementation is limited. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to identify the barriers and facilitators influencing the implementation of health promotion interventions in the workplace using the implementation framework.Methods:We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus from January 1986 to August 2022 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Consistent with the Arksey and O’Malley framework, two independent reviewers reviewed the titles and abstracts for its eligibility followed by full-text screening using a data extraction form. A narrative summary of the barriers and facilitators identified from the included articles was then synthesized and categorized into the Consolidated Framework of Implementation Research (CFIR). The barriers and facilitators identified were stratified according to implementation outcomes.Results:Ofthe 38,384 articles identified, 610 articles wereeligible for the full-text screening, and 53 articles were included in the final analysis. Over 80% of the studies applied a qualitative or mixed-methods approach, and the most common topics of the interventions were reducing physical inactivity and promoting exercise (36%); and over 60% of studies targeted interventions in medium- to large- size organizations. Most of the factors were identified in the inner setting domain of the CFIR. Evidence strength and quality and leadership engagement were the predominant facilitators whereas structural characteristics, relative priority, and available resources were the most identified predominant barriers to the implementation of a workplace health promotion interventions.Conclusion:The barriers and facilitators identified in this study can be used to implement a process to develop a strategy that targets the identified determinants to improve workplace health promotion interventions and their implementation.
The Effect of Grazing Intensity on Properties of Mountain Steppe Pasture Vegetation and Soils
Authors: Sargsyan Tatevik , Babayan Gayane , Daveyan Harutyun , Navasardyan Marine
Published: September 2024

Purpose
Delivering sustainable management of mountain pasturelands with steppe vegetation is a concern to many nations including Armenia. Yet, to date, no unambiguous answer has been generated about the limiting impact domestic animal grazing has on the ecological status of such pastures. This research was designed to study the effect of different grazing management strategies (free grazing, reduced grazing, no grazing) on pastureland productivity including below-ground biomass and biodiversity, nutrient content of plants and soils.
Methods
ANOVA (Тukey’s test), Pearson correlation coefficient and the Redundancy analysis (RDA) was employed.
Results
The studies have indicated that livestock grazing has a strong impact upon biomass and diversity of plant groups., and the nutritive value of forages. Both below-ground biomass and root-to-shoot ratio are less dependen on the management strategy and increase the reduced grazing and free grazing sites. The effect of grazing on the nutrient contents of soils and vegetation is less pronounced; as a result of trampling the bulk density of soil and the contents of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in above-ground and below-ground biomass increase.
Conclusions
The conducted studies and outcomes of grazing-imitation models allows us to conclude that regulation of grazing intensity and grazing regime in the ecosystems of mountain pasturelands are an effective approach to maintain and increase the capacity of natural fodder resources. The research results have already been used to develop measures to preserve the studied ecosystems.
The relationship between duration, bleeding volume, and activity for women in the progress of drug abortion: a cross-sectional study.
Authors: Wu wenbo , wang Liyan , wan wenjuan , yuan waixiang , zhu xiangfei , jiang qianqian , gao yun , cheng wei , Zheng Yuehui , Du Yanhong
Published: September 2024

Background: To investigate the influential factors associated with abortion time, bleeding volume, pain scores, and anxiety during the progress of drug abortion (DA).
Methods：Participants were randomly assigned to: (Ⅰ) The control group was given routine DA education and nursing, and the activity of subjects was not increased.（Ⅱ） The experimental group as same as the control, but appropriately increased their activity time.
Results: The mean age was 32.14±0.26 years. Advanced age exhibited positive correlation with abortion duration (rs=0.0102, P<0.05), but a negative association with pain scores (rs=-0.178, P<0.001). Dysmenorrhea emerged as a risk factor for prolonged abortion duration (rs=-0.097, P<0.05), but increase pain scores (rs=0.106, P<0.05) and anxiety levels (rs=0.119, P<0.05). Furthermore, history of cesarean section exhibited a positive influence on pain relief (rs=-0.226, P<0.001) and reduction in anxiety (rs=-0.129, P<0.001) during DA.
Conclusions: Women who have a history of vaginal delivery have earlier ovulation time than those who have not given birth, and women who have more activities have earlier ovulation time than those who have less activities under the same conditions;
Mountains as key areas for Carnivore Connectivity in Neotropical Grasslands
Authors: Aranguren María Florencia , Simoy María Verónica , Pizzarello María Gimena , Trofino-Falasco Clara , Velasco Melina Alicia , Leber Virginia , Moss Daniella Franzoia , Dopazo Judit , Berkunsky Igor
Published: September 2024

Habitat loss and fragmentation threaten biodiversity, particularly for carnivores whose dispersion and population viability are compromised by reduced available habitat and anthropic elements in the landscape, such as roads and crops. The world's grasslands have experienced considerable degradation and replacement by crops and are currently limited to natural patches scattered throughout the region. In Argentina, the last remaining grassland remnants that persist are associated within the Pampean mountain systems, which act as crucial refuges for the species that inhabit them in the region. Our objectives were to identify and map priority sites and areas that can act as ecological corridors between highland grassland patches of high conservation priority. We performed connectivity analyses using Least-cost Path Models and Circuit Theory. To do this, we generated habitat suitability models by combining environmental and anthropic variables, from which resistance surfaces were generated. We highlight areas of high habitat suitability for carnivores in the Pampas ecoregion, with particular emphasis on highland grassland. We identified potential corridors and least-cost paths for five carnivore species, obtaining multi-species corridors which highlight the importance of landscape connectivity for maintaining healthy populations. Centrality analyses revealed crucial grassland remnants and valuable corridors. These findings address the challenges associated with habitat fragmentation in the Pampas ecoregion and provide guidelines for future research and carnivore conservation actions.
Comprehensive Insights into Cnidarian Phylogenetics: cox3-Based Phylogeny, Mitochondrial Genome Variability, Introns, and Gene Rearrangements
Authors: Gao Ying , Kong Lingming
Published: September 2024

Cnidarians, an ecologically and culturally significant group, possess mitochondrial genomes that exhibit several features deviating from conventional textbook descriptions. In this study, we analyzed mitochondrial genomes across various cnidarian orders, revealing significant variation in gene rearrangement patterns. Notably, we found that Anthozoa exhibits highly variable gene arrangements despite slow evolutionary rates, while Hydrozoa demonstrates relatively high levels of gene rearrangement coupled with faster molecular evolution. Our analysis of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit III (cox3) gene provides new insights into cnidarian phylogeny, supporting the monophyly of both Anthozoa and Medusozoa, which aligns more closely with nuclear data and the currently accepted taxonomic scheme. Within Medusozoa, our cox3-based phylogenetic tree reveals strong support for monophyly at the class level. Our reconstruction also suggests a novel topology wherein Staurozoa, Hydrozoa, and Scyphozoa form a sister group to Cubozoa. This finding is particularly significant given the frequent inconsistencies observed in previous mitochondrial gene studies. The cox3 gene's predominant distribution on the heavy(+) strand and limited intron presence in most cnidarian species potentially reduces the impact of strand bias on phylogenetic signal, making it a valuable marker for phylogenetic reconstruction. However, our study also highlights the challenges inherent in using mitochondrial genes for deep phylogenetic reconstructions within Cnidaria. We observed incongruences between nuclear and mitochondrial phylogenies, as well as conflicts among different mitochondrial gene-based studies. These discrepancies underscore the complex nature of cnidarian evolution and the potential limitations of relying on a single type of genetic marker.
Scrutinization of hybrid nanofluid flow over a stretching/shrinking sheet with waste discharge concentration and chemical reaction
Authors: Mishra Ashish
Published: September 2024

This study examines the hydrothermal characteristics of hybrid nanofluid flow over a sheet in the presence of thermal radiation, chemical reaction, and waste discharge concentration to develop effective waste treatment and pollution control methods. The partial differential equations (PDEs) governing the conservation of mass, momentum, energy, and concentration, which are nonlinear, are transformed into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using similarity transformations. The next stage in the process is to solve these ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using the bvp4c technique available in MATLAB. The study thoroughly explores several nondimensional parameters including suction/blowing, Darcy number, stretching/shrinking parameter, local pollutant external source parameter, and chemical reaction parameter, visually illustrating their impacts on flow patterns, thermal distribution, and concentration profiles. The scrutiny focuses on key engineering parameters such as skin friction coefficient, heat transfer rate, and mass transfer rate, supported by tabular data that enhances the quantitative evaluation of these parameters. It is found that the velocity of hybrid nanofluid upsurges with the increment in the stretching/shrinking parameter and Darcy number. Also, results obtained reveal that the concentration profiles experience an upward shift with an increase in unsteadiness parameter and local pollutant external source parameter.
Differences on the count of blood cells in pre-chemotherapy and post chemotherapy of patient with cancer in northern Ethiopia 2022, a longitudinal study
Authors: Kassie Tadele Derbew , Yimenu Bayu Wondimneh , Temesgen Gelagay Baye , Shimelash Rahel Asres , Abneh Ayisheshim Asnake
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Cancer is a disorder involving uncontrolled growing cells that have the ability to invade and spread to other areas of the body. Drugs for chemotherapy cause damage to non-cancer cells and leads to low count of blood cells. There are controversial findings on the difference of the count on blood cell types. Studies are limited on the count of blood cell type before and after chemotherapy. Therefore, this study aimed to address this gap.
Method: Institutional based longitudinal study design was done on 354 patients to compare blood cell types profile in pre and post-operative from September1, 2022 to October 1, 2022. Data extraction format was used to collection data source. To assure data quality, first data were entered and cleaned to epidata version 4.6 then exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Paired t-test was used to analysis data.
Result: data was collected from 354 patients. The mean age of the respondent was 41.26 (±16.67). In the first diagnosis, nearly all of them reached stage III 167 (47%) and stage IV 159 (45%). All profiles of blood cell type showed decrement in post chemotherapy compared to pre-chemotherapy. The mean decrement of platelet is 23. 51×103cells/mm3 (p=0.001), red blood cell is 0.63×106cells/mm3 (p=0.08) and white blood cell is 2.49 ×106 cells/mm3 (p=0.012) respectively.
Conclusion: After chemotherapy, all profiles of blood cells count decreased. This means chemotherapy had significant effect on the number of all type of blood cells.
Numerical Investigation of Modifying the Design Parameters in Vortex Tube Separators for Enhanced Cooling Performance
Authors: Jawad Layth H.
Published: September 2024

In This paper presents a thorough numerical analysis of how different design parameters and operating conditions affect the thermal performance of vortex tube separators. We investigated two models: one with a complete cone valve and the other with a truncated cone valve. The purpose of the research was to simulate and evaluate the efficiency of both designs using the RSM turbulence model in Ansys Fluent. The simulations validated the model's reliability by showing strong agreement with experimental data. The findings showed that improved thermal performance is an obvious result of higher intake pressure. More specifically, compared to the truncated cone model, the complete cone valve model performed better, exhibiting a 122% increase in heat pump efficiency and a 57% increase in cooling capacity. Furthermore, the research determined the ideal cold fraction values to optimize the vortex tube's performance. These results indicate that vortex tube separators may be made far more successful in real-world applications by implementing certain design changes, including adding a complete cone valve. The knowledge gathered from this study provides important direction for enhancing vortex tube technology in different thermal management systems.
Energy-efficient field-free unconventional spin-orbit torque magnetization switching dynamics in van der Waals heterostructures
Authors: Dash Saroj , Pandey Lalit , Zhao Bing , Bangar Himanshu , Sjöström Lars , Ngaloy Roselle , Rout Prasanna , Ali Aya , Abdel-Hafiez Mahmoud , Zhang Gaojie , Wu Hao , Chang Haixin
Published: September 2024

The van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure of emerging two-dimensional (2D) quantum materials, with control over their quantum geometries, crystal symmetries, spin-orbit coupling, and magnetic anisotropies, provides a new platform for generating unconventional nonlinear Hall effects, spin polarization and efficiently controlling the magnetization dynamics for non-volatile spin-based computing. However, so far, the generation of a large out-of-plane spin polarization is limited to achieve energy-efficient field-free magnetization switching and spin dynamics measurements in all-2D vdW heterostructure are so far missing, where the interplay between spins and magnetization dynamics should enable the design of ultrafast spintronic devices. Here, we demonstrate magnetization dynamics and energy-efficient field-free spin-orbit torque (SOT) switching of out-of-plane magnet Fe3GaTe2 due to unconventional Berry curvature-induced out-of-plane spin polarization from a topological Weyl semimetal TaIrTe4 in a vdW heterostructure at room temperature. We observed a large non-linear 2nd harmonic Hall signal at room temperature and evaluated the SOT-induced magnetization dynamics with a large damping-like torque of 4.83±0.59 mT per MAcm(-2). Deterministic field-free SOT magnetization switching in vdW heterostructure of TaIrTe4/Fe3GaTe2 is observed at room temperature with a low current and power density of 1.81 ×1010 A/m2 and 0.175×1015 W/m3 , respectively, which is an order of magnitude better than that of conventional systems. From the magnetization switching experiments, the SOT efficiency is found to be 3.95 with a very large spin Hall conductivity of 7.39×106 ħ/2e (Ω m)(–1) . These findings on all-vdW heterostructures offer a promising route to energy-efficient and external field-free ultrafast spintronic technologies.
Access to optimal treatment of acute myeloid leukemia patients is affected by sociodemographic factors: a French population-based study.
Authors: ATSOU Kueshivi Midodji , RACHET Bernard , MARINGE Camille , CORNET Edouard , CHRETIEN Marie-Lorraine , ROSSI Cédric , REMONTET Laurent , GIORGI Roch , WASSE Stéphane Kroudia , GAUTHIER Sophie , GIRARD Stéphanie , BÖCKLE Johann , RACHOU Helene , BOUZID Laila , PONCET Jean-Marc , ORAZIO Sébastien , MONNEREAU Alain , TROUSSARD Xavier , MAYNADIE Marc
Published: September 2024

Background
During their care pathway, AML patients not admitted to Specialized Hematology Units (SHU) have less access to curative treatment. We aim to determine whether access to optimal curative treatment is affected by sociodemographic factors.
Methods
We included 1,033 incidents AML-cases diagnosed between 2012–2016 from three French “départements”. We considered patients managed in reference hospitals SHU within 5 days(n = 297) received “gold-standard” treatment. Treatment was "curative-treatment” if intensive chemotherapy and “non-curative” otherwise. Firstly, we trained a Gradian Boosting Machine (GBM) algorithm on 80%(n = 238) of "gold-standard" cases to learn how they were treated and validated the model on the remaining 20%(n = 59). Next, GBM predictions were contrasted with actual treatment. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined how non-optimal treatment (discrepancy between predicted curative and observed non-curative treatment) was associated with sociodemographic factors. Patients with predicted non-curative treatment were excluded as uninformative on access to curative treatment (n = 471).
Results
The rate of “curative treatment” was 84.8% (252/297) for gold-standard patients vs. 33.5% (247/736) for others. The three most influential predictive factors in gold-standard patients were age (68.3%-influence), t-AML/MDS (15.8%), and the AML-others subtypes (5.4%). A total of n = 102(9.9%) patients were in non-optimal treatments. Living in Basse-Normandie (0.65-times;95%CI [0.5,0.8]) and over 30minutes from a reference hospital were strongly associated with a non-optimal treatment.
Conclusion
There are geographical disparities in access to optimal treatment, potentially linked to medical desert situations or medical system organization which must be addressed.
Hypermethylation of Hif3a and Ifltd1 Is Associated with Atrial Remodeling in Pressure- overload Murine Model
Authors: Abe Keiko , Sasano Tetsuo , Soejima Yurie , Fukayama Haruhisa , Maeda Shigeru , Furukawa Tetsushi
Published: September 2024

Atrial remodeling is one of major pathophysiological mechanisms of atrial fibrillation (AF). Atrial remodeling progresses based on aging, background diseases including hypertension and heart failure, and AF itself. However, its mechanism and reversibility have not been completely elucidated. In this study, we focused on the involvement of DNA methylation in atrial remodeling. Mice underwent transverse aortic constriction (TAC) procedure to generate pressure overload model. After 14 days, TAC-operated mice showed a significant increase in atrium/body weight ratio and deposition of collagen fiber in atria. Comprehensive analysis of RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) and Methyl-CpG-Binding Domain Sequencing (MBD-Seq) in left atrial tissue identified Hif3a and Ifltd1 showing increased DNA methylation in their promoter regions and decreased RNA expression. We also performed transient pressure overload model by removing aortic constriction at 3 or 7 days after initial TAC procedure (R3 or R7 groups). The reduction of RNA expression was achieved at R3 for Hif3a, and in R7 for Ifltd1. The heterozygous Dnmt1 gene targeting mouse (Dnmt1 mut) showed disappearance of the reduction in RNA expression and increase in atrium/body weight ratio. DNA methylation was thought to contribute to at least part of the atrial remodeling in the pressure overload mouse model.
Current State of Alternative to Discipline Programs for Pharmacists in the United States
Authors: Mendoza Evelyn M. , Reyes Caitlin J. , Choflet Amanda , Davidson Judy E. , Lee Kelly C.
Published: September 2024

Background
Substance use disorder (SUD) is a mental health condition that can alter an individual's behavior. Among healthcare workers, SUD use can lead to impairment on the job and may lead to loss of professional licenses. Alternative to discipline (ATD) programs may legally protect healthcare professionals experiencing job impairment due to SUD. The objective of the study was to identify and characterize the ATD programs for pharmacists in the United States. The goal of the study is to raise awareness of the current state of ATD programs for pharmacists in the United States and encourage improvement in accessibility of benefits.
Methods
A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted to determine the accessibility of information for ATD programs for pharmacists within the United States from the perspective of a pharmacist seeking help for a SUD. An internet search strategy was used to mimic a pharmacist seeking assistance. Results of this search were compared to published evidence on key elements of an ATD program: availability, quality and accessibility.
Results
Among the 50 states and District of Columbia, an internet search located 45: 51 jurisdictions with ATD programs. Of these only five states/territory had all of the necessary components for an ATD program to predict successful recovery.
Conclusion
Pharmacists are not immune to mental health disorders including SUD. Consistent and effective ATD programs are needed to care for pharmacists with SUD so that they can return to the workforce.
Further characterization of lipase B from Ustilago maydis expressed in Pichia pastoris: a member of the Candida antarctica lipase B-like superfamily
Authors: Robles-Machuca Marcela , Diaz-Vidal Tania , Camacho-Ruiz M. Angeles , Martínez-Pérez Raúl B. , Campo Martha Martin del , Mateos-Díaz Juan Carlos , Rodríguez Jorge A.
Published: September 2024

Lipases from the basidiomycete fungus Ustilago maydis are promising but underexplored biocatalysts due to their high homology with Candida antarctica lipases. This study provides a comprehensive characterization of a recombinant CALB-like lipase from U. maydis expressed in Pichia pastoris (rUMLB), and compares its properties with those of the well-studied recombinant lipase B from C. antarctica (rCALB). Biochemical analyses included evaluations of optimal pH, temperature, triglyceride (TG) preference for short and medium acyl chains, phospholipase and amidase activities, enantiopreference, thermostability, stability in organic solvents, and responses to NaCl concentration. rUMLB, a glycosylated enzyme with a molecular weight of 38.6 kDa, exhibited cold-active behavior at 0°C and preferred hydrolysis on short-chain fatty acid TGs, like rCALB. Both enzymes displayed strong (R)-enantiopreference and increased activity in non-polar solvents; however, rUMLB was more sensitive to polar solvents. Notably, rUMLB, and was activated at high salt concentrations as previously reported for rCALB. rUMLB uniquely demonstrated significant phospholipase activity towards natural phospholipids, a feature not observed in rCALB. These comparative insights highlight the functional diversity within the CALB-type lipase family, underscoring UMLB’s potential as a versatile biocatalyst and providing valuable information for biotechnological applications and the understanding of enzyme structure-function relationships of CALB superfamily.
Remdesivir inhibits the progression of experimental colitis stimulated by dextran sodium sulfate
Authors: Li Hailong , Yang Ying , Li Jinhe , Hu Yayue , Mao Ruiqi , Ye Xiaoman , Wu Xi , Li Zherui , Han Liqing , Gu Xiaoting , Cao Hailong , Zhou Honggang , Yang Cheng
Published: September 2024

Remdesivir, a broad-spectrum antiviral prodrug, has been investigated for its potential effects on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Using a mouse model with acute colitis induced by 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), we administered remdesivir at doses of 12.5 and 25 mg/kg from day 1 to 7. Our research demonstrated that remdesivir treatment notably decreased disease activity scores and improved colon tissue damage under the microscope. It also boosted the levels of tight junction proteins such as occludin and claudin-1, while reducing the production of inflammatory cytokines like IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, as well as the adhesion molecule ICAM-1. Further analysis showed that remdesivir significantly reduced the expression of inflammatory markers CD3, EMR, and MPO in the mice's colorectal tissues. Additionally, it was found to regulate the gut microbiota and restore bile acid levels. Remdesivir was also observed to stabilize AnxA5, modulating the NF-κB pathway and thereby reducing inflammation, which was confirmed by its ability to counteract the effects of Si-AnxA5 suppression in LPS-treated Caco-2 cells. These findings indicate that remdesivir may activate the AnxA5 signaling pathway, offering a new perspective for treating experimental colitis. This suggests that remdesivir could be a valuable candidate for further development and therapeutic refinement in the context of IBD.
A Smartphone-Based Affordable NavigationSystem using Visual SLAM for Blind and VisuallyImpaired People
Authors: Wang Meiheng , Wu Di , Song Chengqun , Cheng Jun
Published: September 2024

Navigation guidance is crucial for blind and visually impaired (BVI) people. However, current navigation tools face challenges such as cumbersome portability, and limited cognitive capabilities. With the advancement of smartphone technology, it is convenient to utilize visual sensors to perceive the surrounding environments. Furthermore, the vision-based simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) makes it possible to build high-accuracy navigation maps. Therefore, we propose a smartphone-based navigation method for the BVI, which leverages the SLAM by purely adopting a stereo camera as a sensor. Our system can be decomposed into two stages: (1) Initially, we conduct an offline mapping, where RGB images are utilized to build semantic maps including 3D point cloud maps and 2D grid maps. (2) Subsequently, the user is allowed to select the desired object as the goal, and then the online navigation provides accurate positioning and optimal path planning while avoiding obstacles in real time. In addition, the navigation adopts an incremental strategy, enabling the user to easily reach goals step by step. Through extensive experiments, we evaluate the effectiveness of our system in mapping, object localization, and path planning, which demonstrates its comprehensive ability to enhance the independent mobility of the BVI. We release our implementation as open source software at https://github.com/Takerhythm/Indoor navigation for blind.
Multi-omics reveals changes in astrocyte fatty acid metabolism during early stages of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Zhong Jie , Li Manhui , Dai Ziwei , Wan Jun
Published: September 2024

Background
Astrocytes undergo extensive changes during Alzheimer's disease (AD), including reactive transformations induced by Aβ deposition and adjustments in lipid metabolism, ion balance, neuronal support, and inflammatory responses. Although dysfunctional astrocytes are known to contribute to AD progression, a detailed characterization of the dynamic alterations in astrocytes at the levels of transcriptome, proteome and metabolome during the progression of AD, especially in its early stages, is lacking.
Methods
We conducted an integrated multi-omics profiling of astrocytes obtained from APPswe/PSEN1ΔE9 transgenic AD and WT mice, including transcriptomics, proteomics, spatial metabolomics, to characterize the dynamic changes in astrocyte profiles over the course of AD progression. To investigate whether similar changes are present in early human AD and related to disease outcomes, we also analyzed single-nucleus RNA sequencing data of human brain samples, and dietary profiles and cognitive function data in human subjects to establish the link between astrocyte phenotypes and AD progression.
Results
Multi-omics profiling revealed significant changes in fatty acid metabolism of astrocytes in 6-month-old AD mice, especially deficiency in synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids. Such dysregulation in fatty acid metabolism was also observed in astrocytes from human brain samples with low AD pathology. Analysis of human dietary profiles demonstrated significant associations between dietary composition of polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids and cognitive function.
Conclusion
Our study identified abnormal fatty acid metabolism as a hallmark of astrocytes at early stages of AD before the onset of apparent symptoms, revealing a close link between dysregulated fatty acid metabolism and disease progression.
Serum total bilirubin levels and renal function prognosis in Chinese kidney transplant recipients during outpatient follow-up
Authors: He Qitian , Wei Haiyuan , Li Limin , Kong Lingxi , Qin Weijuan , Xie Li
Published: September 2024

Objective
Renal function is critical in kidney transplant recipients, as it is a key indicator of graft health and patient prognosis. The present study aims to explore the prognostic value of serum total bilirubin levels in predicting renal function outcomes in this population.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective analysis of 264 stable kidney transplant recipients from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University. The study's primary endpoint was the development of chronic renal allograft dysfunction. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate whether total bilirubin and Cystatin C were independently related. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed using the lowest total bilirubin group as an outcome variable. The Kaplan-Meier (K-M) curve was plotted to describe the survival period. The relationship between serum total bilirubin and renal outcomes in renal transplant recipients was evaluated using multiple Cox regression analysis.
Results
Multiple linear regression analysis showed a negative correlation between total bilirubin and cystatin C(β=-0.924; p = 0.03). Our analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between serum total bilirubin and cystatin C levels, suggesting that higher bilirubin levels are associated with better renal function. Binary logistic regression analysis suggested a correlation between glomerular filtration rate and low total bilirubin levels (OR = 0.962, 95%CI = 0.937~0.988, p = 0.004). The K-M curve suggested that higher total bilirubin levels were associated with better survival outcomes (p = 0.003). Multiple Cox regression analysis demonstrated that high total bilirubin levels predicted better postoperative outcomes in kidney transplant recipients (HR, 0.468; 95CI, 0.235~0.931; p = 0.03). The Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox regression analysis further confirmed the protective role of higher bilirubin levels in post-transplant renal function.
Conclusions
The findings indicate that serum total bilirubin may serve as a prognostic biomarker for renal function in kidney transplant recipients, offering a potential tool for early identification of those at risk for renal insufficiency.
Gender Differences in Quality of Dying and Death among Older Adults: A Cross-sectional Study in China
Authors: Feng Xiaohong , Dai Xiujun , Du Jinlin , Yang Zheng
Published: September 2024

Background
The aging of China is deepening year by year, and improving the quality of dying and death (QODD) is increasingly becoming an urgent and realistic need. This study explores the gender differences in the quality of dying and death and its influencing factors among Chinese elderly people, aiming to provide assistance to the relevant authorities in formulating end-of-life care policies for the elderly, and to adapt to the needs of an aging society.
Methods
Based on the data of the Chinese Longitudinal Health Longevity Survey (CLHLS) during 2008–2018, a total of 7,341 respondents were included. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the quality of dying and death among Chinese elderly people and its influencing factors. In addition, Fairlie decomposition analysis was performed to quantify the contribution level of different influencing factors.
Results
The proportion of high QODD among female elderly (63.80%) was significantly higher than male elderly (56.00%), which was statistically significant. Logistic regression showed that age, residence, home facilities score, place of death, medical costs, got timely treatment, number of chronic diseases and unconsciousness were the factors influencing QODD among male elderly. Meanwhile, residence, marital status, home facilities score, place of death, got timely treatment, bedridden, suffered from serious illness, unconsciousness and drinking were the factors influencing QODD among female elderly. Fairlie decomposition showed that 52.11% of the QODD differences between the elderly of different sexes were related to gender differences, and 47.89% were related to other personal characteristics.
Conclusion
Chinese men have a poorer QODD compared to women. The main factors contributing to this difference were age, the number of chronic diseases, suffered from serious illness, unconsciousness, place of death, residence and home facilities scores. To ensure successful aging, the relevant departments should focus on these factors and work towards reducing the gender differences in QODD.
Major depressive episodes and diet quality among Brazilian adults and older adults: results from the 2013 and 2019 National Health Survey
Authors: Schiatti Jéssica Carollina Von Schusterschitz Soares , Muniz Ludmila Correa , Santos Leonardo Pozza
Published: September 2024

Objective: To evaluate the association between major depressive episodes and diet quality among Brazilian adults and older adults.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, population-based study using data from the National Health Survey (PNS) from 2013 and 2019. Major depressive episodes were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and classified in two ways: based on a cutoff point of ≥9 points on the scale and according to the diagnostic criteria of the Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Diet quality was assessed using a diet quality score that considered the week consumption of seven food items. We used both crude and adjusted linear regression models to explore the association between major depressive episodes and food consumption.
Results: In both 2013 and 2019, individuals with major depressive episodes had a diet quality score 0.20 standard deviations higher compared to their peers, indicating a worse diet quality. This association remained consistent regardless of the criteria used to define exposure and the potential confounders. Sensitivity analysis considering each food item separately revealed a lower prevalence of regular consumption of beans, vegetables, fruits, and milk, as well as a higher prevalence of regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets among individuals with major depressive episodes.
Conclusion: Major depressive episodes appear to be linked to lower diet quality in the Brazilian population. Policymakers and public health programs should consider approaches to improve both mental health and dietary habits.
Fluid wetting and penetration characteristics in T-shaped microchannels
Authors: Zhang Huijie , Lippert Anja , Leonhardt Ronny , Tolle Tobias , Nagel Luise , Maric Tomislav
Published: September 2024

A thorough understanding of media tightness in automotive electronics is crucial for ensuring more reliable and compact product designs, ultimately improving product quality. Concerning the fundamental characteristics of fluid leakage issues, the dynamic wetting and penetration behavior on small scales is of special interest and importance. In this work, four T-shaped microchannels with one inlet and two outlets are experimentally investigated in terms of contact angle dynamics and interface movement over time, generating novel insight into the wetting mechanisms and fluid distribution. With a main channel width of 1 mm, a crevice width of w = 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm and a rounding edge radius of r = 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, the geometrical effects on the fluid penetration depth in the crevice and the interface edge pinning effect are analyzed quantitatively using an automated image processing procedure. It is found that the measured dynamic contact angles in all parts can be well described by molecular kinetic theory using local contact line velocities, even with local surface effects and abrupt geometry changes. Moreover, a smaller crevice width, a sharper edge and a larger flow velocity tend to enhance the interface pinning effect and prevent fluid penetration into the crevice. The rounding radius has a more significant effect on the interface pinning compared with crevice width. The experimental data and image processing algorithm are made publicly available.
Dangerous Action Recognition Method of Personnel in Hazardous Chemical Scenes Fused with Object Detection
Authors: Jiao Hengchao , Zhang Guangwen , Wang Chun , Meng Zheng , Chen Xinguo , Li Hongwei
Published: September 2024

Most hazardous chemical accidents are caused by human factors such as using mobile phones and smoking. Therefore, it is very necessary to promptly and accurately identify and warn against such behavior. Based on the video of hazardous chemicals collected by mixed reality glasses, this paper introduces the object detection mechanism into the Human action recognition task based on bone points, and proposes a petrochemical scene human-computer interaction behavior recognition method that integrates object detection. Specifically, the OpenPose method is first used to obtain the skeletal information of the characters in the video, and then the behavior recognition method is used to obtain the initial behavior category. Secondly, use the MYOLOv3 proposed in this article to detect objects of interest and obtain their category and location information. Then, the interactive relationship between people and objects is characterized by judging the spatial position relationship between people and objects. Finally, a decision-making fusion strategy is proposed to fuse the person’s initial behavior category, object information, and character interaction relationships to obtain the final behavior recognition result. Experimental results show that our proposed method can accurately identify dangerous behaviors of people.
Microbiome-wide PheWAS links gut microbial SNVs to human health and exposures
Authors: Fu Jingyuan , Wang Daoming , Andreu-Sánchez Sergio , Peng Haoran , Ruiz-Moreno Angel , Zhernakova Daria , Kurilshikov Alexander , Gacesa Ranko , Temba Godfrey , Kullaya Vesla , Xavier Ramnik , de Mast Quirijn , Joosten Leo , Riksen Niels , Rutten Joost , Netea Mihai , Sanna Serena , Wijmenga Cisca , Weersma Rinse , Zhernakova Alexandra
Published: September 2024

The importance of the gut microbiome in human health has been widely recognized, with alterations in species abundances now reported for many different diseases. In recent years, observations of within-species genetic diversity and strain-level functional differences have urged the field to transition to analyzing microbes at the genetic level, taking advantage of genetic variants in the metagenome to pinpoint relevant genes and pathways. Here, we conducted a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) of 12.7 million gut microbial single nucleotide variants (SNVs) with 244 host health phenotypes and environmental exposures in 10,781 individuals from six independent cohorts from Europe and Africa. We found 3,018 associations supported by at least two cohorts for 105 host factors, including age, sex and cardiovascular and metabolic parameters. Moreover, we found 34,927 significant associations in single-cohort analyses where SNV–phenotype pairs were only available for one cohort. All identified associations are detailed in an online catalog (https://fulab.web.rug.nl/SNV-MWAS/). The associated microbial SNVs inform mechanistic hypotheses about microbial functionality in human health and provide insights into microbial adaptation and evolution in response to changes in the environment and host physiology. For example, we identified 718 age-associated gut microbial SNVs across multiple cohorts and used these microbial SNVs to accurately predict host age. We also identified SNVs in microbial genes associated with lipid concentrations and BMI, including SNVs in the isoleucine-tRNA synthetase gene of Clostridium phoceensis and an α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone-mimicking clpB gene of Alistipes ihumii. Mediation analysis provided evidence that microbial genetic variations may be under selection enforced by environmental factors, but also that they mediate the effects on the host, e.g. the isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase gene of C. phoceensis mediated dietary effects on four phenotypes. Overall, this study identifies new biological connections between human host and microbial genetic variants, exposing the functional layer of gut microbiome data hidden at base pair resolution and revealing microbial adaptation and evolution in relation to host lifestyle and physiology.