bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bacteroidota inhibit microglia clearance of amyloid-beta and promote plaque deposition in Alzheimer’s disease mouse models
Authors: Wasén Caroline , Beauchamp Leah C. , Vincentini Julia , Li Shuqi , LeServe Danielle S. , Gauthier Christian , Lopes Juliana R. , Moreira Thais G. , Ekwudo Millicent N. , Yin Zhuoran , da Silva Patrick , Krishnan Rajesh K. , Butovsky Oleg , Cox Laura M. , Weiner Howard L.
Published: May 2024

The gut microbiota and microglia play critical roles in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and elevated Bacteroides is correlated with cerebrospinal fluid amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau levels in AD. We hypothesize that Bacteroides contributes to AD by modulating microglia. Here we show that administering Bacteroides fragilis to APP/PS1-21 mice increases Aβ plaques in females, modulates cortical amyloid processing gene expression, and down regulates phagocytosis and protein degradation microglial gene expression. We further show that administering Bacteroides fragilis to aged wild-type male and female mice suppresses microglial uptake of Aβ1-42 injected into the hippocampus. Depleting murine Bacteroidota with metronidazole decreases amyloid load in aged 5xFAD mice, and activates microglial pathways related to phagocytosis, cytokine signaling, and lysosomal degradation. Taken together, our study demonstrates that members of the Bacteroidota phylum contribute to AD pathogenesis by suppressing microglia phagocytic function, which leads to impaired Aβ clearance and accumulation of amyloid plaques.
Phytohormone profiling in an evolutionary framework
Authors: Schmidt Vojtěch , Skokan Roman , Depaepe Thomas , Kurtović Katarina , Haluška Samuel , Vosolsobě Stanislav , Vaculíková Roberta , Pil Anthony , Dobrev Petre Ivanov , Motyka Václav , Van Der Straeten Dominique , Petrášek Jan
Published: May 2024

The genomes of charophyte green algae, close relatives of land plants, typically do not show signs of developmental regulation by phytohormones. However, scattered reports of endogenous phytohormone production in these organisms exist. We performed a comprehensive analysis of multiple phytohormones in Viridiplantae, focusing mainly on charophytes. We show that auxin, salicylic acid, ethylene and tRNA-derived cytokinins including cis-zeatin are found ubiquitously in Viridiplantae. By contrast, land plants but not green algae contain the trans-zeatin type cytokinins as well as auxin and cytokinin conjugates. Charophytes occasionally produce jasmonates and abscisic acid, whereas the latter is detected consistently in land plants. Several phytohormones are excreted into the culture medium, including auxin by charophytes and cytokinins and salicylic acid by Viridiplantae in general. We note that the conservation of phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling pathways known from angiosperms does not match the capacity for phytohormone biosynthesis in Viridiplantae. Our phylogenetically guided analysis of established algal cultures provides an important insight into phytohormone biosynthesis and metabolism across Streptophyta.
Cellulose nanofiber-mediated manifold dynamic synergy enabling adhesive and photo-detachable hydrogel for self-powered E-skin
Authors: Zhang Lei , Chen Lu , Wang Siheng , Wang Shanshan , Wang Dan , Yu Le , Xu Xu , Liu He , Chen Chaoji
Published: May 2024

Self-powered skin attachable and detachable electronics are under intense development to enable the internet of everything and everyone in new and useful ways. Existing on-demand separation strategies rely on complicated pretreatments and physical properties of the adherends, achieving detachable-on-demand in a facile, rapid, and universal way remains challenging. To overcome this challenge, an ingenious cellulose nanofiber-mediated manifold dynamic synergy strategy is developed to construct a supramolecular hydrogel with both reversible tough adhesion and easy photodetachment. The cellulose nanofiber-reinforced network and the coordination between Fe ions and polymer chains endow the dynamic reconfiguration of supramolecular networks and the adhesion behavior of the hydrogel. This strategy enables the simple and rapid fabrication of strong yet reversible hydrogels with tunable toughness ((Valuemax-Valuemin)/Valuemax of up to 86%), on-demand adhesion energy ((Valuemax-Valuemin)/Valuemax of up to 93%), and stable conductivity up to 12 mS cm−1. We further extend this strategy to fabricate different cellulose nanofiber/Fe3+-based hydrogels from various biomacromolecules and petroleum polymers, and shed light on exploration of fundamental dynamic supramolecular network reconfiguration. Simultaneously, we prepare an adhesive-detachable triboelectric nanogenerator as a human-machine interface for a self-powered wireless monitoring system based on this strategy, which can acquire the real-time, self-powered monitoring, and wireless whole-body movement signal, opening up possibilities for diversifying potential applications in electronic skins and intelligent devices.
Precise immunofluorescence canceling for highly multiplexed imaging to capture specific cell states
Authors: Tomimatsu Kosuke , Fujii Takeru , Bise Ryoma , Hosoda Kazufumi , Taniguchi Yosuke , Ochiai Hiroshi , Ohishi Hiroaki , Ando Kanta , Minami Ryoma , Tanaka Kaori , Tachibana Taro , Mori Seiichi , Harada Akihito , Maehara Kazumitsu , Nagasaki Masao , Uchida Seiichi , Kimura Hiroshi , Narita Masashi , Ohkawa Yasuyuki
Published: May 2024

Cell states are regulated by the response of signaling pathways to receptor ligand-binding and intercellular interactions. High-resolution imaging has been attempted to explore the dynamics of these processes and, recently, multiplexed imaging has profiled cell states by achieving a comprehensive acquisition of spatial protein information from cells. However, the specificity of antibodies is still compromised when visualizing activated signals. Here, we develop Precise Emission Canceling Antibodies (PECAbs) that have cleavable fluorescent labeling. PECAbs enable high-specificity sequential imaging using hundreds of antibodies, allowing for reconstruction of the spatiotemporal dynamics of signaling pathways. Additionally, combining this approach with seq-smFISH can effectively classify cells and identify their signal activation states in human tissue. Overall, the PECAb system can serve as a comprehensive platform for analyzing complex cell processes.
Revealing the three-dimensional arrangement of polar topology in nanoparticles
Authors: Jeong Chaehwa , Lee Juhyeok , Jo Hyesung , Oh Jaewhan , Baik Hionsuck , Go Kyoung-June , Son Junwoo , Choi Si-Young , Prosandeev Sergey , Bellaiche Laurent , Yang Yongsoo
Published: May 2024

In the early 2000s, low dimensional ferroelectric systems were predicted to have topologically nontrivial polar structures, such as vortices or skyrmions, depending on mechanical or electrical boundary conditions. A few variants of these structures have been experimentally observed in thin film model systems, where they are engineered by balancing electrostatic charge and elastic distortion energies. However, the measurement and classification of topological textures for general ferroelectric nanostructures have remained elusive, as it requires mapping the local polarization at the atomic scale in three dimensions. Here we unveil topological polar structures in ferroelectric BaTiO3 nanoparticles via atomic electron tomography, which enables us to reconstruct the full three-dimensional arrangement of cation atoms at an individual atom level. Our three-dimensional polarization maps reveal clear topological orderings, along with evidence of size-dependent topological transitions from a single vortex structure to multiple vortices, consistent with theoretical predictions. The discovery of the predicted topological polar ordering in nanoscale ferroelectrics, independent of epitaxial strain, widens the research perspective and offers potential for practical applications utilizing contact-free switchable toroidal moments.
Efficient recovery and recycling/upcycling of precious metals using hydrazide-functionalized star-shaped polymers
Authors: Shin Seung Su , Jung Youngkyun , Jeon Sungkwon , Park Sung-Joon , Yoon Su-Jin , Jung Kyung-Won , Choi Jae-Woo , Lee Jung-Hyun
Published: May 2024

There is a growing demand for adsorption technologies for recovering and recycling precious metals (PMs) in various industries. Unfortunately, amine-functionalized polymers widely used as metal adsorbents are ineffective at recovering PMs owing to their unsatisfactory PM adsorption performance. Herein, a star-shaped, hydrazide-functionalized polymer (S-PAcH) is proposed as a readily recoverable standalone adsorbent with high PM adsorption performance. The compact chain structure of S-PAcH containing numerous hydrazide groups with strong reducibility promotes PM adsorption by enhancing PM reduction while forming large, collectable precipitates. Compared with previously reported PM adsorbents, commercial amine polymers, and reducing agents, S-PAcH exhibited significantly higher adsorption capacity, selectivity, and kinetics toward three PMs (gold, palladium, and platinum) with model, simulated, and real-world feed solutions. The superior PM recovery performance of S-PAcH was attributed to its strong reduction capability combined with its chemisorption mechanism. Moreover, PM-adsorbed S-PAcH could be refined into high-purity PMs via calcination, directly utilized (upcycled) as catalysts for dye reduction, or regenerated for reuse, demonstrating its high practical feasibility. Our proposed PM adsorbents would have a tremendous impact on various industrial sectors from the perspectives of environmental protection and sustainable development.
A quantitative gibberellin signaling biosensor reveals a role for gibberellins in internode specification at the shoot apical meristem
Authors: Shi Bihai , Felipo-Benavent Amelia , Cerutti Guillaume , Galvan-Ampudia Carlos , Jilli Lucas , Brunoud Geraldine , Mutterer Jérome , Vallet Elody , Sakvarelidze-Achard Lali , Davière Jean-Michel , Navarro-Galiano Alejandro , Walia Ankit , Lazary Shani , Legrand Jonathan , Weinstain Roy , Jones Alexander M. , Prat Salomé , Achard Patrick , Vernoux Teva
Published: May 2024

Growth at the shoot apical meristem (SAM) is essential for shoot architecture construction. The phytohormones gibberellins (GA) play a pivotal role in coordinating plant growth, but their role in the SAM remains mostly unknown. Here, we developed a ratiometric GA signaling biosensor by engineering one of the DELLA proteins, to suppress its master regulatory function in GA transcriptional responses while preserving its degradation upon GA sensing. We demonstrate that this degradation-based biosensor accurately reports on cellular changes in GA levels and perception during development. We used this biosensor to map GA signaling activity in the SAM. We show that high GA signaling is found primarily in cells located between organ primordia that are the precursors of internodes. By gain- and loss-of-function approaches, we further demonstrate that GAs regulate cell division plane orientation to establish the typical cellular organization of internodes, thus contributing to internode specification in the SAM.
PD-1/CD80+ small extracellular vesicles from immunocytes induce cold tumours featured with enhanced adaptive immunosuppression
Authors: Zhang Lin-Zhou , Yang Jie-Gang , Chen Gai-Li , Xie Qi-Hui , Fu Qiu-Yun , Xia Hou-Fu , Li Yi-Cun , Huang Jue , Li Ye , Wu Min , Liu Hai-Ming , Wang Fu-Bing , Yi Ke-Zhen , Jiang Huan-Gang , Zhou Fu-Xiang , Wang Wei , Yu Zi-Li , Zhang Wei , Zhong Ya-Hua , Bian Zhuan , Yang Hong-Yu , Liu Bing , Chen Gang
Published: May 2024

Only a minority of cancer patients benefit from immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Sophisticated cross-talk among different immune checkpoint pathways as well as interaction pattern of immune checkpoint molecules carried on circulating small extracellular vesicles (sEV) might contribute to the low response rate. Here we demonstrate that PD-1 and CD80 carried on immunocyte-derived sEVs (I-sEV) induce an adaptive redistribution of PD-L1 in tumour cells. The resulting decreased cell membrane PD-L1 expression and increased sEV PD-L1 secretion into the circulation contribute to systemic immunosuppression. PD-1/CD80+ I-sEVs also induce downregulation of adhesion- and antigen presentation-related molecules on tumour cells and impaired immune cell infiltration, thereby converting tumours to an immunologically cold phenotype. Moreover, synchronous analysis of multiple checkpoint molecules, including PD-1, CD80 and PD-L1, on circulating sEVs distinguishes clinical responders from those patients who poorly respond to anti-PD-1 treatment. Altogether, our study shows that sEVs carry multiple inhibitory immune checkpoints proteins, which form a potentially targetable adaptive loop to suppress antitumour immunity.
Interplay of structural preorganization and conformational sampling in UDP-glucuronic acid 4-epimerase catalysis
Authors: Rapp Christian , Borg Annika , Nidetzky Bernd
Published: May 2024

Understanding enzyme catalysis as connected to protein motions is a major challenge. Here, based on temperature kinetic studies combined with isotope effect measurements, we obtain energetic description of C-H activation in NAD-dependent UDP-glucuronic acid C4 epimerase. Approach from the ensemble-averaged ground state (GS) to the transition state-like reactive conformation (TSRC) involves, alongside uptake of heat ($${\Delta {{{{{\rm{H}}}}}}}^{{{\ddagger}} }$$

Δ
H

‡

 = 54 kJ mol−1), significant loss in entropy ($$-T{\Delta {{{{{\rm{S}}}}}}}^{{{\ddagger}} }$$
−
T

Δ
S

‡

 = 20 kJ mol−1; 298 K) and negative activation heat capacity ($${\Delta {{{{{\rm{C}}}}}}}_{{{{{{\rm{p}}}}}}}^{{{\ddagger}} }$$

Δ
C

p

‡

 = −0.64 kJ mol−1 K−1). Thermodynamic changes suggest the requirement for restricting configurational freedom at the GS to populate the TSRC. Enzyme variants affecting the electrostatic GS preorganization reveal active-site interactions important for precise TSRC sampling and H-transfer. Collectively, our study captures thermodynamic effects associated with TSRC sampling and establishes rigid positioning for C-H activation in an enzyme active site that requires conformational flexibility in fulfillment of its natural epimerase function.
Measurement of the superfluid fraction of a supersolid by Josephson effect
Authors: Biagioni G. , Antolini N. , Donelli B. , Pezzè L. , Smerzi A. , Fattori M. , Fioretti A. , Gabbanini C. , Inguscio M. , Tanzi L. , Modugno G.
Published: May 2024

A new class of superfluids and superconductors with spatially periodic modulation of the superfluid density is arising1–12. It might be related to the supersolid phase of matter, in which the spontaneous breaking of gauge and translational symmetries leads to a spatially modulated macroscopic wavefunction13–16. This relation was recognized only in some cases1,2,5–9 and there is the need for a universal property quantifying the differences between supersolids and ordinary matter, such as the superfluid fraction, which measures the reduction in superfluid stiffness resulting from the spatial modulation16–18. The superfluid fraction was introduced long ago16, but it has not yet been assessed experimentally. Here we demonstrate an innovative method to measure the superfluid fraction based on the Josephson effect, a ubiquitous phenomenon associated with the presence of a physical barrier between two superfluids or superconductors19, which might also be expected for supersolids20, owing to the spatial modulation. We demonstrate that individual cells of a supersolid can sustain Josephson oscillations and we show that, from the current–phase dynamics, we can derive directly the superfluid fraction. Our study of a cold-atom dipolar supersolid7 reveals a relatively large sub-unity superfluid fraction that makes realistic the study of previously unknown phenomena such as partially quantized vortices and supercurrents16–18. Our results open a new direction of research that may unify the description of all supersolid-like systems.
Genome-wide profiling of angiogenic cis-regulatory elements unravels cis-regulatory SNPs for vascular abnormality
Authors: Jin Lihui , Han Zhenyuan , Mao Xiaotong , Lu Jieru , Yan Bingqian , Lu Yiwen , Liang Lili , Wang Lin , Yu Yu , Sun Kun
Published: May 2024

Angiogenesis is extensively involved in embryonic development and requires complex regulation networks, whose defects can cause a variety of vascular abnormalities. Cis-regulatory elements control gene expression at all developmental stages, but they have not been studied or profiled in angiogenesis yet. In this study, we exploited public DNase-seq and RNA-seq datasets from a VEGFA-stimulated in vitro angiogenic model, and carried out an integrated analysis of the transcriptome and chromatin accessibility across the entire process. Totally, we generated a bank of 47,125 angiogenic cis-regulatory elements with promoter (marker by H3K4me3) and/or enhancer (marker by H3K27ac) activities. Motif enrichment analysis revealed that these angiogenic cis-regulatory elements interacted preferentially with ETS family TFs. With this tool, we performed an association study using our WES data of TAPVC and identified rs199530718 as a cis-regulatory SNP associated with disease risk. Altogether, this study generated a genome-wide bank of angiogenic cis-regulatory elements and illustrated its utility in identifying novel cis-regulatory SNPs for TAPVC, expanding new horizons of angiogenesis as well as vascular abnormality genetics.
User factors affecting the use of digital services in five European regions and countries
Authors: Goodman-Deane Joy , Waller Sam , Bradley Mike , Clarkson P. John , Lazzarini Boris , Roca Bosch Elisabet , Gaggi Silvia
Published: May 2024

Digitalisation has great potential to reduce costs, improve access and enhance user experience. However, it could also increase inequality, with some people struggling to access and use digital services. It is important to understand who is likely to be excluded in this way and why. This can help to identify groups at particular risk of digital exclusion, inform efforts to overcome the barriers, and develop more inclusive digital services. This paper introduces a set of five linked datasets examining a range of user factors affecting the use of digital services. The datasets focus on the use of digital mobility services, but the data is useful in understanding the use of other digital services as well. The user factors considered include technology access, use and competence and attitudes towards digital technology. The datasets were the results of surveys in five European regions and countries (Germany, Italy, Barcelona Metropolitan Area, Flanders and the Netherlands). Samples were taken of the adult (age 16+) population with a total of 3,454 participants.
Forecasting vaping health risks through neural network model prediction of flavour pyrolysis reactions
Authors: Kishimoto Akihiro , Wu Dan , O’Shea Donal F.
Published: May 2024

Vaping involves the heating of chemical solutions (e-liquids) to high temperatures prior to lung inhalation. A risk exists that these chemicals undergo thermal decomposition to new chemical entities, the composition and health implications of which are largely unknown. To address this concern, a graph-convolutional neural network (NN) model was used to predict pyrolysis reactivity of 180 e-liquid chemical flavours. The output of this supervised machine learning approach was a dataset of probability ranked pyrolysis transformations and their associated 7307 products. To refine this dataset, the molecular weight of each NN predicted product was automatically correlated with experimental mass spectrometry (MS) fragmentation data for each flavour chemical. This blending of deep learning methods with experimental MS data identified 1169 molecular weight matches that prioritized these compounds for further analysis. The average number of discrete matches per flavour between NN predictions and MS fragmentation was 6.4 with 92.8% of flavours having at least one match. Globally harmonized system classifications for NN/MS matches were extracted from PubChem, revealing that 127 acute toxic, 153 health hazard and 225 irritant classifications were predicted. This approach may reveal the longer-term health risks of vaping in advance of clinical diseases emerging in the general population.
Identification of domains in Plasmodium falciparum proteins of unknown function using DALI search on AlphaFold predictions
Authors: Behrens Hannah Michaela , Spielmann Tobias
Published: May 2024

Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria, poses a significant global health challenge, yet much of its biology remains elusive. A third of the genes in the P. falciparum genome lack annotations regarding their function, impeding our understanding of the parasite's biology. In this study, we employ structure predictions and the DALI search algorithm to analyse proteins encoded by uncharacterized genes in the reference strain 3D7 of P. falciparum. By comparing AlphaFold predictions to experimentally determined protein structures in the Protein Data Bank, we found similarities to known domains in 353 proteins of unknown function, shedding light on their potential functions. The lowest-scoring 5% of similarities were additionally validated using the size-independent TM-align algorithm, confirming the detected similarities in 88% of the cases. Notably, in over 70 P. falciparum proteins the presence of domains resembling heptatricopeptide repeats, which are typically involvement in RNA binding and processing, was detected. This suggests this family, which is important in transcription in mitochondria and apicoplasts, is much larger in Plasmodium parasites than previously thought. The results of this domain search provide a resource to the malaria research community that is expected to inform and enable experimental studies.
Joint association of overweight/obesity, high electronic screen time, and low physical activity time with early pubertal development in girls: a case–control study
Authors: Li Weiqin , Feng Lingyan , Song Panpan , Wang Leishen , Zhang Shuang , Li Wei , Zhu Dandan , Du Yuexin , Leng Junhong
Published: May 2024

To examine the joint association of electronic screen time (EST), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity time (MVPA) and overweight/obesity with early pubertal development (EPD) in girls. A case–control study of 177 EPD girls and 354 girls with normal pubertal development was conducted between October 2019 and August 2022. Overweight/obesity was defined as body mass index ≥ 85th percentiles for age and sex. We found a non-significant increase of EPD risk among girls with high EST alone [OR: 2.75 (0.65–11.58)] or low MVPA alone [OR: 2.54 (0.74–8.69)], but a significant increase of EPD risk among girls with overweight/obesity alone [OR: 4.91 (1.01–23.92)], compared to girls without any of the three risk factors (low MVPA, high EST and overweight/obesity). Girls with any two of the three risk factors faced increased risk of EPD, and girls with all three risk factors faced the highest risk of EPD [OR and 95% CI: 26.10 (6.40–106.45)]. Being overweight/obesity might be more important than having low MVPA or high EST as a correlate of EPD compared to girls without any of the three risk factors, but the co-presence of low MVPA, high EST and overweight/obesity would largely increase the risk of EPD in girls.
Preoperative smoking and robot-assisted radical cystectomy outcomes & complications in multicenter KORARC database
Authors: Choi Joongwon , Lee Jooyoung , Hwang Yu Been , Jeong Byong Chang , Lee Sangchul , Ku Ja Hyeon , Nam Jong Kil , Kim Wansuk , Lee Ji Youl , Hong Sung Hoo , Rha Koon Ho , Han Woong Kyu , Ham Won Sik , Kang Sung Gu , Kang Seok Ho , Oh Jong Jin , Lee Young Goo , Kwon Tae Gyun , Kim Tae-Hwan , Jeon Seung Hyun , Lee Sang Hyub , Park Sung Yul , Yoon Young Eun , Lee Yong Seong
Published: May 2024

To investigate the influence of preoperative smoking history on the survival outcomes and complications in a cohort from a large multicenter database. Many patients who undergo radical cystectomy (RC) have a history of smoking; however, the direct association between preoperative smoking history and survival outcomes and complications in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who undergo robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) remains unexplored. We conducted a retrospective analysis using data from 749 patients in the Korean Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy Study Group (KORARC) database, with an average follow-up duration of 30.8 months. The cohort was divided into two groups: smokers (n = 351) and non-smokers (n = 398). Propensity score matching was employed to address differences in sample size and baseline demographics between the two groups (n = 274, each). Comparative analyses included assessments of oncological outcomes and complications. After matching, smoking did not significantly affect the overall complication rate (p = 0.121). Preoperative smoking did not significantly increase the occurrence of complications based on complication type (p = 0.322), nor did it increase the readmission rate (p = 0.076). There were no perioperative death in either group. Furthermore, preoperative smoking history showed no significant impact on overall survival (OS) [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.87, interquartile range (IQR): 0.54–1.42; p = 0.589] and recurrence-free survival (RFS) (HR = 1.12, IQR: 0.83–1.53; p = 0.458) following RARC for MIBC. The extent of preoperative smoking (≤ 10, 10–30, and ≥ 30 pack-years) had no significant influence on OS and RFS in any of the categories (all p > 0.05). Preoperative smoking history did not significantly affect OS, RFS, or complications in patients with MIBC undergoing RARC.
A lightweight network model designed for alligator gar detection
Authors: Wang Xin , Shi Wei , Chen Rong
Published: May 2024

When using advanced detection algorithms to monitor alligator gar in real-time in wild waters, the efficiency of existing detection algorithms is subject to certain limitations due to turbid water quality, poor underwater lighting conditions, and obstruction by other objects. In order to solve this problem, we developed a lightweight real-time detection network model called ARD-Net, from the perspective of reducing the amount of calculation and obtaining more feature map patterns. We introduced a cross-domain grid matching strategy to accelerate network convergence, and combined the involution operator and dual-channel attention mechanism to build a more lightweight feature extractor and multi-scale detection reasoning network module to enhance the network’s response to different semantics. Compared with the yoloV5 baseline model, our method performs equivalently in terms of detection accuracy, but the model is smaller, the detection speed is increased by 1.48 times, When compared with the latest State-of-the-Art (SOTA) method, YOLOv8, our method demonstrates clear advantages in both detection efficiency and model size,and has good real-time performance. Additionally, we created a dataset of alligator gar images for training.
Evaluation of the immune system status and hematological dyscrasias, among amphetamine and cannabis abusers at Eradah Hospital in Qassim, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Mohammed Amal Hussain , Aljarallah Atheer Saleh , Huq Mohsina , Mackawy Amal M. H. , Alharbi Basmah F. , Almutairi Khulud Salem , Alruwetei Abdulmohsen M. , Almatroudi Ahmad Abdulaziz A. , Alharbi Hajed Obaid , Aljohery Said Abdel Mohsen A. , Wasti Afshan Zeeshan
Published: May 2024

This cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the immune system status and hematological disturbances among individuals who abuse amphetamines and cannabis. Substance abuse, particularly of amphetamines and cannabis, has been associated with various adverse effects on the body, including potential impacts on the immune system and hematological parameters. However, limited research has been conducted to comprehensively assess these effects in a cross-sectional design. Additionally, fungal infections are on the rise internationally, and immune-compromised people are particularly susceptible. The study will recruit a sample of amphetamine and cannabis abusers (n = 50) at the Eradah Hospital in the Qassim Region of Buraydah and assess their sociodemographic and biochemical variables, including blood indices and differential WBC indices, liver, and kidney profiles. Additionally, 50 sputum samples in total were cultured for testing for fungus infections. To obtain the descriptive statistics, the data was imported into Microsoft Excel and subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS 22.0. Amphetamine and cannabis abuser's sociodemographic variables analysis observed that the majority (52%) were aged 18–30, with 56% in secondary school. Unemployment was a significant issue, and most had no other health issues. The majority (50%) had 5–10 years of abuse, while 32% had less than 5 years, and only 18% had been drug abusers for more than 10 years. There were significant changes (p < 0.001) in all different leukocyte blood cells, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Furthermore, a microscopic examination of blood films from individuals who misuse the combination of the medications "amphetamine and cannabis" reveals hazardous alterations in Neutrophils. Out of 50, 35 sputum samples showed positive growth on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) with chloramphenicol antibiotic, indicating a unicellular fungal growth. The present study explores the immune system and hematological disturbances linked to amphetamine and cannabis abuse, providing insights into health risks and targeted interventions. The findings complement previous research on drug users' hematological abnormalities, particularly in white blood cells. Routine hematological tests help identify alterations in homeostatic conditions, improving patient knowledge and preventing major issues. Further research is needed on multi-drug abuse prevention, early detection, and intervention. The cross-sectional design allows for a snapshot of the immune system and hematological status among abusers, laying the groundwork for future longitudinal studies. Key Words: Drug Effect, Immunity, Epidemiology, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation.
An extensive investigation on human risk associated with PAHs in fish and sediment in Bushehr, Northern of Persian Gulf
Authors: Nourian Ghafour , Jaafarzadeh Haghighi Fard Neamat , Pazira Abdul Rahim , Kohgardi Esmaeil
Published: May 2024

Here, a comprehensive study was designed to estimate the human risk assessment attributed to exposure of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)in sediment and fish in most polluted shore area in north of Persian Gulf. To this end, a total of 20 sediment and inhabitual Fish, as one of most commercial fish, samples were randomly collected from 20 different stations along Bushehr Province coastline. The 16 different components of PAHs were extracted from sediment and edible parts of inhabitual fish and measured with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC), respectively. In addition, dietary daily intake (DDI) values of PAHs via ingestion Indian halibut and the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) attributed to human exposure to sediments PAHs via (a) inhalation, (b) ingestion, and (c) dermal contact for two groups of ages: children (1–11 years) and adults (18–70 years) were estimated. The results indicated that all individual PAHs except for Benzo(b)flouranthene (BbF) and Benzo(ghi) perylene (BgP) were detected in different sediment sample throughout the study area with average concentration between 2.275 ± 4.993 mg.kg–1 dw. Furthermore, Naphthalene (Nap) with highest average concentration of 3.906 ± 3.039 mg.kg–1 dw was measured at the Indian halibut. In addition, the human risk analysis indicated that excess cancer risk (ECR) attributed to PAHs in sediment and fish in Asaluyeh with high industrial activities on oil and derivatives were higher the value recommended by USEPA (10−6). Therefore, a comprehensive analysis on spatial distribution and human risk assessment of PAHs in sediment and fish can improve the awareness on environmental threat in order to aid authorities and decision maker to find a sustainable solution.
Analysis of numerical modeling of steady-state modes of methane–hydrogen mixture transportation through a compressor station to reduce CO2 emissions
Authors: Fetisov Vadim
Published: May 2024

This study presents a mathematical model to evaluate the performance of gas pipelines during hydrogen injection in a gas pipeline-compressor station. The developed model presents the calculation of methane–hydrogen mixture (CH4/H2) transportation through the compressor station, where the compensation of pressure drops in the mass and energy balance takes place. Simultaneously, in the operation of the centrifugal blower system of gas compressor stations, the emissions of CO2 are considered, considering the mixing of gas media and the compression of CH4/H2. This mathematical model is realized for the pipeline transportation of hydrogen, at which the principle of mixture expansion occurs. The aim is to solve the problem of CO2 emissions at compressor stations. The optimization procedure has been formulated using a system of nonlinear algebraic equalities. The research focuses on the adaptation of existing gas transportation systems to CH4/H2 transportation and the impact of environmental risks on the operation of compressor station equipment. In this case, it is possible to determine the quantitative amount of hydrogen that can be added to natural gas. By solving the problem of finding the inner point of sets using the system of nonlinear algebraic equalities, it is possible to obtain the control parameters for safety control of technological modes of CH4/H2 mixture transportation. The study findings reveal that the consumption of gas charger and hydrogen was 50.67 and 0.184 kg/s, respectively, and the estimated efficiency resulting from the modified turbine design was 75.1 percent. These results indicate that the equipment operates more efficiently when hydrogen is being transported. The numerical analytical results indicated in this study hold practical significance for design applications. It will assist in identifying and evaluating the restrictions that may develop during the technological, operational, and design stages of decision-making.
Prediction and mediation analysis for treatment responses to combined cognitive and physical training for older adults
Authors: Chuang I.-Ching , Chen I.-Chen , Wu Yih-Ru , Li Kuan-Yi
Published: May 2024

Diminished cognitive and physical functions negatively affect the daily functions of individuals. Although combined cognitive and physical training prevents instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) disability in older adults, no predictive model or mediation analysis of IADL after combined training exists. This study aims to employ prediction and mediation analysis to identify the predictors of IADL performance and to elucidate the mediators of the association between baseline global cognition and subsequent IADL performance following combined cognitive and physical training. This study involved 177 participants aged 60 years and older who underwent combined training. Cognitive function was measured with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Color Trails Test, Word List, and a dual task; physical function with the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test; daily function with the Lawton IADL Scale. We conducted regression analyses to identify the predictors of IADL performance, and mediation analysis to examine whether DSST and TUG mediate the relationship between MoCA and IADL. The pre-intervention DSST and TUG were significant independent predictors of post-intervention IADL. The association between the pre-intervention MoCA and post-intervention IADL was mediated by pre-intervention DSST and TUG. This study highlighted the importance of measuring and improving processing speed and functional mobility before and during interventions to enhance IADL outcomes.

Trial registration: NCT03619577, 23/07/2018; NCT04689776, 29/12/2020.
A fungi hotspot deep in the ocean: explaining the presence of Gjaerumia minor in equatorial Pacific bathypelagic waters
Authors: Pernice Massimo C. , Forn Irene , Logares Ramiro , Massana Ramon
Published: May 2024

A plant parasite associated with the white haze disease in apples, the Basidiomycota Gjaerumia minor, has been found in most samples of the global bathypelagic ocean. An analysis of environmental 18S rDNA sequences on 12 vertical profiles of the Malaspina 2010 expedition shows that the relative abundance of this cultured species increases with depth while its distribution is remarkably different between the deep waters of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, being present in higher concentrations in the former. This is evident from sequence analysis and a microscopic survey with a species-specific newly designed TSA-FISH probe. Several hints point to the hypothesis that G. minor is transported to the deep ocean attached to particles, and the absence of G. minor in bathypelagic Atlantic waters could then be explained by the absence of this organism in surface waters of the equatorial Atlantic. The good correlation of G. minor biomass with Apparent Oxygen Utilization, recalcitrant carbon and free-living prokaryotic biomass in South Pacific waters, together with the identification of the observed cells as yeasts and not as resting spores (teliospores), point to the possibility that once arrived at deep layers this species keeps on growing and thriving.
Global arthropod beta-diversity is spatially and temporally structured by latitude
Authors: Seymour Mathew , Roslin Tomas , deWaard Jeremy R. , Perez Kate H. J. , D’Souza Michelle L. , Ratnasingham Sujeevan , Ashfaq Muhammad , Levesque-Beaudin Valerie , Blagoev Gergin A. , Bukowski Belén , Cale Peter , Crosbie Denise , Decaëns Thibaud , deWaard Stephanie L. , Ekrem Torbjørn , El-Ansary Hosam O. , Evouna Ondo Fidèle , Fraser David , Geiger Matthias F. , Hajibabaei Mehrdad , Hallwachs Winnie , Hanisch Priscila E. , Hausmann Axel , Heath Mark , Hogg Ian D. , Janzen Daniel H. , Kinnaird Margaret , Kohn Joshua R. , Larrivée Maxim , Lees David C. , León-Règagnon Virginia , Liddell Michael , Lijtmaer Darío A. , Lipinskaya Tatsiana , Locke Sean A. , Manjunath Ramya , Martins Dino J. , Martins Marlúcia B. , Mazumdar Santosh , McKeown Jaclyn T. A. , Anderson-Teixeria Kristina , Miller Scott E. , Milton Megan A. , Miskie Renee , Morinière Jérôme , Mutanen Marko , Naik Suresh , Nichols Becky , Noguera Felipe A. , Novotny Vojtech , Penev Lyubomir , Pentinsaari Mikko , Quinn Jenna , Ramsay Leah , Rochefort Regina , Schmidt Stefan , Smith M. Alex , Sobel Crystal N. , Somervuo Panu , Sones Jayme E. , Staude Hermann S. , St. Jaques Brianne , Stur Elisabeth , Telfer Angela C. , Tubaro Pablo L. , Wardlaw Tim J. , Worcester Robyn , Yang Zhaofu , Young Monica R. , Zemlak Tyler , Zakharov Evgeny V. , Zlotnick Bradley , Ovaskainen Otso , Hebert Paul D. N.
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Global biodiversity gradients are generally expected to reflect greater species replacement closer to the equator. However, empirical validation of global biodiversity gradients largely relies on vertebrates, plants, and other less diverse taxa. Here we assess the temporal and spatial dynamics of global arthropod biodiversity dynamics using a beta-diversity framework. Sampling includes 129 sampling sites whereby malaise traps are deployed to monitor temporal changes in arthropod communities. Overall, we encountered more than 150,000 unique barcode index numbers (BINs) (i.e. species proxies). We assess between site differences in community diversity using beta-diversity and the partitioned components of species replacement and richness difference. Global total beta-diversity (dissimilarity) increases with decreasing latitude, greater spatial distance and greater temporal distance. Species replacement and richness difference patterns vary across biogeographic regions. Our findings support long-standing, general expectations of global biodiversity patterns. However, we also show that the underlying processes driving patterns may be regionally linked.
Hyperthyroidism-driven bone loss depends on BMP receptor Bmpr1a expression in osteoblasts
Authors: Lademann Franziska , Rijntjes Eddy , Köhrle Josef , Tsourdi Elena , Hofbauer Lorenz C. , Rauner Martina
Published: May 2024

Hyperthyroidism is a well-known trigger of high bone turnover that can lead to the development of secondary osteoporosis. Previously, we have shown that blocking bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling systemically with BMPR1A-Fc can prevent bone loss in hyperthyroid mice. To distinguish between bone cell type-specific effects, conditional knockout mice lacking Bmpr1a in either osteoclast precursors (LysM-Cre) or osteoprogenitors (Osx-Cre) were rendered hyperthyroid and their bone microarchitecture, strength and turnover were analyzed. While hyperthyroidism in osteoclast precursor-specific Bmpr1a knockout mice accelerated bone resorption leading to bone loss just as in wildtype mice, osteoprogenitor-specific Bmpr1a deletion prevented an increase of bone resorption and thus osteoporosis with hyperthyroidism. In vitro, wildtype but not Bmpr1a-deficient osteoblasts responded to thyroid hormone (TH) treatment with increased differentiation and activity. Furthermore, we found an elevated Rankl/Opg ratio with TH excess in osteoblasts and bone tissue from wildtype mice, but not in Bmpr1a knockouts. In line, expression of osteoclast marker genes increased when osteoclasts were treated with supernatants from TH-stimulated wildtype osteoblasts, in contrast to Bmpr1a-deficient cells. In conclusion, we identified the osteoblastic BMP receptor BMPR1A as a main driver of osteoporosis in hyperthyroid mice promoting TH-induced osteoblast activity and potentially its coupling to high osteoclastic resorption.
Distributed and dynamical communication: a mechanism for flexible cortico-cortical interactions and its functional roles in visual attention
Authors: Ni Shencong , Harris Brendan , Gong Pulin
Published: May 2024

Perceptual and cognitive processing relies on flexible communication among cortical areas; however, the underlying neural mechanism remains unclear. Here we report a mechanism based on the realistic spatiotemporal dynamics of propagating wave patterns in neural population activity. Using a biophysically plausible, multiarea spiking neural circuit model, we demonstrate that these wave patterns, characterized by their rich and complex dynamics, can account for a wide variety of empirically observed neural processes. The coordinated interactions of these wave patterns give rise to distributed and dynamic communication (DDC) that enables flexible and rapid routing of neural activity across cortical areas. We elucidate how DDC unifies the previously proposed oscillation synchronization-based and subspace-based views of interareal communication, offering experimentally testable predictions that we validate through the analysis of Allen Institute Neuropixels data. Furthermore, we demonstrate that DDC can be effectively modulated during attention tasks through the interplay of neuromodulators and cortical feedback loops. This modulation process explains many neural effects of attention, underscoring the fundamental functional role of DDC in cognition.
Scientists’ identities shape engagement with environmental activism
Authors: Finnerty Samuel , Piazza Jared , Levine Mark
Published: May 2024

Scientists are increasingly joining environmental movements. As knowledge producers and influential figures in society, scientists are uniquely positioned to drive change. Here we explore how scientist identity shapes engagement in environmental activism using qualitative and quantitative data from a multinational survey of 329 scientists from 41 countries. Scientist identity content, specifically perception of the science-activism relationship, was a stronger explanatory variable than strength of identification as a scientist. Perceiving a harmonious relationship between science and activism, endorsing environmental stewardship as a scientist’s duty, and believing objectivity and impartiality remained uncompromised by activism, each had significant correlations with engagement. These components formed a composite variable, which remained a robust explanatory variable of engagement even when accounting for the influence of activist identity. Scientists embracing scientist-activist compatibilism were also less inclined to view new technologies as a panacea for the climate crisis. This research underscores the important role of scientist identity content in shaping climate actions and perspectives.
The impact of agricultural credit on the cattle inventory and deforestation in Colombia: a spatial analysis
Authors: Mejía Tejada Daniela , Díaz Baca Manuel Francisco , Enciso Valencia Karen Johanna , Bravo Parra Aura María , Flórez Jesús Fernando , Junca Paredes John Jairo , Burkart Stefan
Published: May 2024

The relationship between agricultural credit and agricultural production as well as the impacts on sustainable development (i.e., poverty alleviation, reduction of inequalities, food and nutrition security, and stimulation of economic growth) have been widely documented. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of credit on cattle production and deforestation in Colombia through spatial panel data models. For this purpose, a departmental data panel for the period 2011–2020 was built, based on available information from public entities. The results suggest that in Colombia, the relationship between access to credit and cattle production is significant and can be either negative or positive. In addition, there is evidence of spatial dependence, meaning that cattle production in one department is being affected by cattle production in a neighboring department or by all the departments that make up the national territory. Regarding deforestation, results show that, although the number of cattle present in a department does affect its annual deforestation rate due to a poor coverage of sustainably intensified cattle ranching systems, there is no relationship between deforestation and the access to credit nor any spatial correlations.
Landing a global report on national territories: the reception of AR6 in France and Switzerland
Authors: Gaveau Adèle
Published: May 2024

This article explores the reception of the IPCC reports on a national scale, focusing on the case of the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) in France and Switzerland. It sheds light on the orchestration processes of national reception by the actors involved in the two science-policy interfaces, and introduces the theoretical concept of “landing” for the comparative analysis. Using mixed qualitative methods, it reveals that in both case studies, the domestic science-policy interactions stemming from the landing deviated significantly from expectations. Unusual actors different from the IPCC National Focal Points got involved in framing the conditions of the report’s domestic reception, and AR6 faced challenges when entering national Parliament. The results are discussed within the broader context of a global reflection on the imperative to enhance the dissemination channels of the IPCC scientific results to political audiences.