bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High salt condition alters LPS synthesis and induces the emergence of drug resistance mutations in
Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Huang Hongming , Yang Huang , Feng Shunhang , Zhang Xiaoyan , Chen Chu , Yan Hongyu , Li Rui , Liu Mengxin , Lin Juan , Wen Yancheng , She Feifei
Published: September 2024

The burgeoning emergence of drug-resistant
Helicobacter pylori
strains poses a significant challenge to the clinical success of eradication therapies and is primarily attributed to mutations within drug-targeting genes that lead to antibiotic resistance. This study investigated the effect of high salt conditions on the occurrence of drug-resistance mutations in
H. pylori
. We found that high salt condition significantly amplifies the frequency of drug resistance mutations in
H. pylori
. This can be chiefly attributed to our discovery indicating that high salt concentration results in elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, initiating DNA damage within
H. pylori
. Mechanistically, high salt condition suppresses lipopolysaccharide (LPS) synthesis gene expression, inducing alterations in the LPS structure and escalating outer membrane permeability. This disruption of LPS synthesis attenuates the expression and activity of SodB, facilitates increased ROS levels, and consequently increases the drug resistance mutation frequency. Impairing LPS synthesis engenders a reduction in intracellular iron levels, leading to diminished holo-Fur activity and increased apo-Fur activity, which represses the expression of SodB directly. Our findings suggest a correlation between high salt intake and the emergence of drug resistance in the human pathogen
H. pylori
, implying that dietary choices affect the risk of emergence of antimicrobial resistance.

IMPORTANCE

Drug resistance mutations mainly contribute to the emergence of clinical antibiotic-resistant
Helicobacter pylori,
a bacterium linked to stomach ulcers and cancer. In this study, we explored how elevated salt conditions influence the emergence of drug resistance in
H. pylori
. We demonstrate that
H. pylori
exhibits an increased antibiotic resistance mutation frequency when exposed to a high salt environment. We observed an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) under high salt conditions, which can cause DNA damage and potentially lead to mutations. Moreover, our results showed that high salt condition alters the bacterium’s lipopolysaccharide (LPS) synthesis, leading to a reduced expression of SodB in a Fur-dependent manner. This reduction, in turn, elevates ROS levels, culminating in a higher frequency of drug-resistance mutations. Our research underscores the critical need to consider environmental influences, such as diet and lifestyle, in managing bacterial infections and combating the growing challenge of antibiotic resistance.
Oral pharmacokinetics and efficacy of oral phospholipid remdesivir nucleoside prodrugs against SARS-CoV-2 in mice
Authors: Carlin Aaron F. , Beadle James R. , Ardanuy Jeremy , Clark Alex E. , Rhodes Victoria , Garretson Aaron F. , Murphy Joyce A. , Valiaeva Nadejda , Schooley Robert T. , Frieman Matthew B. , Hostetler Karl Y.
Published: September 2024

Oral broad-spectrum antivirals are urgently needed for the treatment of many emerging and contemporary RNA viruses. We previously synthesized 1-
O
-octadecyl-2-
O
-benzyl-
sn
-glyceryl-P-RVn (ODBG-P-RVn, V2043), a phospholipid prodrug of GS-441524 (remdesivir nucleoside, RVn), and demonstrated its
in vivo
efficacy in a SARS-CoV-2 mouse model. Structure-activity relationship studies focusing on the prodrug scaffold identified two modifications, 3-fluoro-4-methoxy-benzyl (V2053) and 4-cyano-benzyl (V2067), that significantly enhanced the
in vitro
broad-spectrum antiviral activity against multiple RNA viruses when compared to V2043. Here, we demonstrate that V2043, V2053, and V2067 are all orally bioavailable, well-tolerated, and achieve high sustained plasma levels after single oral daily dosing. All three phospholipid prodrugs are significantly more active than RVn
in vitro
and significantly reduce SARS-CoV-2 lung titers in prophylaxis and treatment mouse models of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 infection. On a molar basis, V2043 and V2067 are substantially more active than obeldesivir/GS-5245 and molnupiravir
in vivo
. Together, these data support the continued development of phospholipid RVn prodrugs for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 and other RNA viruses of clinical concern.
Nanopore-based targeted sequencing test for direct tuberculosis identification, genotyping, and detection of drug resistance mutations: a side-by-side comparison of targeted next-generation sequencing technologies
Authors: Cabibbe Andrea Maurizio , Moghaddasi Kiarash , Batignani Virginia , Morgan Godstime Stephen Kojo , Di Marco Federico , Cirillo Daniela Maria
Published: September 2024

We investigated the performance of the targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS)-based Oxford Nanopore Diagnostics AmPORE TB assay, recently approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) as tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic test for the detection of drug resistance on respiratory specimens. A total of 104 DNA samples from Xpert MTB/RIF-positive TB sputum specimens were tested using the AmPORE TB kit, with the GenoScreen Deeplex Myc-TB as a comparative tNGS assay. For AmPORE TB, DNA samples were divided into five sequencing runs on the MinION device. Data analysis was performed using proprietary software. The WHO catalog of mutations was used for drug resistance interpretation. The assay achieved a high validity rate of 98% (102/104 DNA samples), homogeneous mean reads coverage across TB-positive specimens, and 100% positive and negative agreements for detecting mutations associated with resistance to rifampicin, pyrazinamide, fluoroquinolones, ethambutol, and capreomycin compared with Deeplex Myc-TB. The main discrepancies for the remaining drugs were attributable to the different assay panel designs. The AmPORE TB turnaround time was approximately 5–6 hours from extracted DNA to tNGS reporting for batches of 22 DNA samples. The AmPORE TB assay drastically reduced the time to tNGS reporting from days to hours and showed good performance for drug-resistant TB profiling compared with Deeplex Myc-TB.

IMPORTANCE

Targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
provides comprehensive resistance predictions matched to new multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis regimens and received World Health Organization approval for clinical use in respiratory samples in 2024. The advanced version of the Oxford Nanopore Diagnostics AmPORE TB tNGS kit was evaluated in this study for the first time and demonstrated good performance, flexibility, and faster turnaround time compared with the existing solutions.
Complete genome sequence of a
Histophilus somni
strain 91 isolated from a beef calf with pneumonia
Authors: Menghwar Harish , Ma Hao , Briggs Robert E. , Tatum Fred M. , Casas Eduardo , Dassanayake Rohana P.
Published: September 2024

Histophilus somni
is an important causative agent of bovine respiratory disease complex. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of a
Histophilus somni
strain 91, which was isolated from a pneumonic lung tissue sample collected from a beef calf.
Cerebral venous pressures, sinus trans-stenosis gradients, and intracranial pressures are dramatically augmented by head position
Authors: Fargen Kyle M , Midtlien Jackson P , Margraf Connor R , Wiater Angelina H , Marcet Paul A , Siddiqui Adnan H , Hui Ferdinand
Published: September 2024

Background

Cerebral venous pressures, sinus trans-stenosis gradients, and intracranial pressures are thought to be influenced by head position.

Objective

To investigate the intracranial manifestations of these changes in patients with cerebral venous outflow disorders (CVD).

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted on 22 consecutive adult patients who underwent diagnostic cerebral venography with rotational internal jugular vein (IJV) venography and superior sagittal sinus (SSS) pressure measurements in multiple head positions. Data on venous sinus pressures, IJV pressures, and lumbar puncture (LP) opening pressures (OP) were collected and analyzed.

Results

The study found that 21 (96%) patients experienced increases in SSS pressures with head rotation, with a mean increase of 25.4%. Intracranial trans-stenosis gradients showed significant variability with head position. Additionally, LP OP measurements increased by an average of 44.3% with head rotation. Dynamic IJV stenosis was observed in all patients during rotational testing.

Conclusion

Head position significantly affects cerebral venous pressures, trans-stenosis gradients, and intracranial pressures in patients with CVD or intracranial hypertension. These findings highlight the need for dynamic venography in the diagnostic evaluation of these conditions to better understand their pathophysiology and improve treatment strategies.
Thermodynamic properties and geometries of bardeen black hole surrounded by string clouds
Authors: Rani Shamaila , Jawad Abdul , Raza Hussnain , Shaymatov Sanjar , Muzaffar Maham , Riaz Hifza
Published: September 2024

In this work, we investigate the thermodynamic properties of Bardeen black hole which is coupled with cloud of strings and minimally coupled to nonlinear electrodynamics. The modified entropy in the form of Sharma–Mittal entropy is used to discuss these properties which include mass, temperature, pressure, Gibbs free energy and trace of Hessian matrix. We obtain stable behavior along with physical solution for some specific values of parameters a and q. Furthermore, our work provides a thermodynamic metric using the Hessian matrix of black hole mass, changing the conformal connection between Quevedo and Ruppeiner’s geometries. Investigating the first principle of thermodynamics for regular black holes, such as the Bardeen AdS black hole, exposes significant behavior changes during phase transitions in an extended phase space.
Equitable Efficiency and Decomposition of Preference Matrix in Multiobjective Optimization Problems
Authors: Ahmadi Fatemeh , Salajegheh Ali Reza , Foroutannia Davoud
Published: September 2024

In equitable multiobjective optimization, all of the objectives are uniformly optimized, but in some cases, the decision maker believes that some of them should be uniformly optimized. In order to solve the proposed problem, we introduce the concept of equitable [Formula: see text]-efficiency, where [Formula: see text] is a partition of the index set of objective functions and the preference matrix [Formula: see text] is the direct sum of the matrices [Formula: see text], in which [Formula: see text] is a preference matrix for the objective functions in the class [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text]. We examine some theoretical and practical aspects of equitably [Formula: see text]-efficient solutions and provide the some conditions that guarantee the relation of equitable [Formula: see text]-dominance is a [Formula: see text]-equitable rational preference.

Furthermore, we introduce the new problem with the preference matrix [Formula: see text] and we decompose it into a collection of smaller subproblems. In continuation, the subproblems are solved by the concept of equitable efficiency. Finally, two models are demonstrated to coordinate equitably efficient solutions of the proposed subproblems.
Effect of moisture on dielectric behavior of gluten-free grains in powder form at microwave frequencies
Authors: Gupta Swechchha , Jain Ritu , Bhargava Nidhi
Published: September 2024

Dielectric constant ([Formula: see text]) and dielectric loss factor ([Formula: see text]) of gluten-free grains viz., Finger millet, Amaranth and Buckwheat in powder form were measured at room temperature (22∘C) at frequency 9.76[Formula: see text]GHz for different moisture content samples. The method used was the Two-Point method which is based on the transmission line technique. Microwaves were employed to investigate dielectric properties and their moisture dependence. The results showed that dielectric constant and dielectric loss of Gluten-free grains increase with the increase in moisture content. It shows that for higher moisture there are more free molecules in comparison to bound water molecules. This work can be an effective guide in designing a moisture meter for gluten-free grains.
Influence of Ultrasonic Burnishing on Dynamic Behaviors of the Al7075 Alloy Friction System Studied by Recurrence Analysis
Authors: Ding Cong , Gong Chuansheng , Liu Xing , Wang Haidou , Li Jing , Cai Zhihai , Xing Zhiguo , Piao Zhongyu
Published: September 2024

Aiming to explore the influence of ultrasonic burnishing technology on the wear behaviors of Al7075 alloy friction pairs, the recurrence analysis method is employed to study the evolutions of recurrence plot (RP) and recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) parameters of friction coefficient signals. The results show that the RPs of burnishing Al7075 alloy specimens evolve from an abrupt structure to a homogeneous structure in the wear process. The average value of determinism [Formula: see text] and the average value of entropy [Formula: see text] of burnishing specimens as a whole are larger than those of nonburnishing specimens. For the burnishing specimens, the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are the highest under the load of 25[Formula: see text]N, with the values of 34.2008 and 4.3129, respectively. It demonstrates that the friction system of burnishing Al7075 alloy under the load of 25[Formula: see text]N has superior determinism and stability.
Existence of remnants of regular black holes with de Sitter centers
Authors: Dymnikova Irina
Published: September 2024

We address the question of the end point of the quantum evaporation of regular black holes with the de Sitter centers specified by the algebraic structure of their stress–energy tensors [Formula: see text]. Most of the presented in the literature regular solutions belong to this class. In the case of a nonzero background cosmological constant stress–energy tensors with [Formula: see text] connect smoothly two de Sitter vacua, in the center and at infinity, and generate regular solutions to the Einstein equations, which describe the spacetime structure of regular black holes and their remnants. We show that for this class black holes their spacetime symmetry prevents a complete evaporation and provides the existence of thermodynamically stable remnants.
PREPARATION OF TERNARY NANOCOMPOSITE OF (RGO+PANI+PB) FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE SUPERCAPACITOR ELECTRODE
Authors: MOAZEEN LUJAIN , ALMASSRI AYMAN , KELLAWI HASSAN
Published: September 2024

Nano-composite materials of reducing graphene oxide (RGO), polyaniline (Pani), and Prussian blue (PB) were prepared. RGO was prepared by the hammer oxidation method followed by reduction with olive leaf extract (OLE). Pani was prepared by chemical oxidation with ammonium persulfate (APS). PB was prepared by mixing two equal volumes of the same concentration of Fe(NO[Formula: see text] and K4Fe(CN)6. These three materials were ground with black activated carbon as filler and wetted with a binder to produce a slurry. A surgical blade was used to coat the GC substrate with the slurry and allowed to stand for two days. A comparative study of single, binary, and ternary components was performed. Fourier-transform-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to characterize the ternary composite and the SEM pattern was used to study the morphology of the nanomaterials. The electrochemical tests were performed using cyclic voltammetry and demonstrated high specific capacitance, high reversibility, and excellent stability, up to 98.2% of the initial value after 1000 cycles. Charge/discharge time which also demonstrates high-rate capability and high specific capacity, up to 850 F/g at 0.1 A/g was investigated. Finally, the resistance of the electrode/electrolyte interface based on the measurements obtained using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was considered. Achieved Made a prototype of a supercapacitor with a hybrid solid-state gel electrolyte using a Cu–Al foil folding current collector, which was tested using a rotating little fan.
An efficient noise reduction technique in underwater acoustic signals using enhanced optimization-based residual recurrent neural network with novel loss function
Authors: Madhusudhanarao Korrapati , Krishna K. Murali , Krishna Battula Tirumala
Published: September 2024

An important process for underwater acoustic signal is noise reduction. In ocean exploration and the military, the minimization of noise in the underwater environment is essential to provide a significant impact in our society. While considering the different acoustic channels and complexity of marine environment, the noise reduction process in acoustic signals is always difficult. Owing to these complexities, an advanced noise reduction mechanism for underwater acoustic signal denoising is performed using adaptive deep learning method is developed. The proposed model involves finding and analyzing the noises present in the underwater acoustic signal, which is helpful for underwater target detection, recognition and acoustic communication quality. Here, a Advanced Recurrent Neural Network with Novel Loss Function (ARRNN-NLF) is implemented for reducing noises in underwater acoustic signals. Hence, the input signal is given to the reduction process where the ARRNN-NLF network is utilized for densification. The high-order nonlinear features from the original signal are extracted and converted into subvectors with fixed lengths based on temporal dimension. Finally, the denoised signal is obtained from the developed ARRNN with a minimum loss between the predicted and target output. Here, the parameters from ARRNN-NLF are optimized by the Enhanced Osprey Optimization Algorithm (EOOA) for enhancing the denoising model. The resultant results are evaluated by diverse conventional denoising models to prove efficiency.
Eguchi–Hanson metrics arising from Kähler–Einstein edge metrics
Authors: Ji Yuxiang , Rubinstein Yanir A. , Zhang Kewei
Published: September 2024

Calabi–Hirzebruch manifolds are higher-dimensional generalizations of both the football and Hirzebruch surfaces. We construct a family of Kähler-Einstein edge metrics singular along two disjoint divisors on the Calabi–Hirzebruch manifolds and study their Gromov–Hausdorff limits when either cone angle tends to its extreme value. As a very special case, we show that the celebrated Eguchi–Hanson metric arises in this way naturally as a Gromov–Hausdorff limit. We also completely describe all other (possibly rescaled) Gromov–Hausdorff limits which exhibit a wide range of behaviors, resolving in this setting a conjecture of Cheltsov–Rubinstein. This gives a new interpretation of both the Eguchi–Hanson space and Calabi’s Ricci flat spaces as limits of compact singular Einstein spaces.
Effects of electrokinetic stabilization combined with addition of calcium ions on soil shear strength characteristics in the hilly granitic region of southern China
Authors: Zhuo Zuopin , Wei Jia , Lin Jinshi , Li Xiaofei , Jiang Fangshi , Huang Yanhe , Zhang Yue
Published: September 2024

Enhancing soil shear strength is of great importance in preventing soil collapse and erosion in the hilly granitic region of southern China. However, limited studies have been conducted on improving soil shear strength in collapsing gullies. Electrokinetic stabilization (EKS) involves applying an electrical current through a soil mass to promote the migration of chemicals from injection points, thereby altering the chemical composition of the treated soil to improve its physical properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of adding calcium chloride (CaCl
2
) and using EKS techniques on the soil shear characteristics (shear strength and its two components: cohesion and internal friction angle) of three different soil layers in collapsing gullies. The results showed that the EKS techniques significantly increased the migration of calcium ions from the anode to the cathode region of the power supply device used in the soils. Using the EKS process alone did not increase or even decrease the soil shear strength, but combining EKS with CaCl
2
injection (Ca-EKS) increased the soil shear strength, and this increase was mainly due to the increase in soil cohesion. The soil cohesion after Ca-EKS treatment increased on average by 49.84%, 83.11% and 100.36% compared with the soil without treatments (CK) for the red soil, sandy soil and detritus, respectively. However, soil amended only by CaCl
2
addition, Water-EKS or Ca-EKS does not show an increase in soil internal friction angles compared with the CK. These results demonstrate that Ca-EKS can be applied to improve the soil shear strength and stability of gully walls in hilly granitic regions.
The evolution of instability at the A83 Rest and be Thankful from 2008 to 2023
Authors: Winter M. G. , Waaser T.
Published: September 2024

High-resolution panoramic imagery has been systematically captured at the A83 Rest and be Thankful landslide site in Scotland since 2016. This paper describes the derivation of quantitative data from the imagery obtained from two of the stations from which panoramic imagery has been captured. The high-resolution panoramic imagery has been supplemented by earlier lower-resolution panoramic and non-panoramic imagery, where available, to extend the time period that the data cover. The data-capture process involves measuring reference areas and areas of apparent instability on each image in the time series. Normalized areas affected are then plotted over time as percentages. The data presented here provide significant and valuable insights into the extent and temporal change in instability on the hillside over the past 15 and 11 years for the northern and southern parts of the slope, respectively. The data represent percentage areas of apparent instability and show relative change over time. The changes measured and reported confirm other observations that the extent of instability within the last decade has increased significantly, and the panoramic imagery monitoring forms an integral part of the overall monitoring and inspection strategy.
Material Deconstructions of Time: Posthumanist Interventions Through Media Art
Authors: Ciobanu Patricia , Fernaeus Ylva
Published: September 2024

The topic of time and how it can be unpacked, deconstructed and designed with is fundamental to HCI, but it is also extensively engaged within artistic practice. By analysing a selection of ten media artworks, all in different ways concerned with time and temporality, we explore how artists approach these matters as culturally and politically loaded. The selected projects align with the ongoing scholarly interest in alternatives to common perceptions on time, unmaking the normative clock time and the posthuman discourse. Following an analysis of the theoretical and material expressions of these artworks, we conceptualised four themes through which unmaking was represented:
dissecting temporality, the unmaking of the singular, unmaking as messing up
and
unmaking the other
. We close with a discussion on how these themes intersect with the current discourse on unmaking in HCI and reflect on challenges and opportunities for design and theory.
Real-World Scene Image Enhancement with Contrastive Domain Adaptation Learning
Authors: Zhang Yongheng , Cai Yuanqiang , Yan Danfeng , Lin Rongheng
Published: September 2024

Image enhancement methods leveraging learning-based approaches have demonstrated impressive results when trained on synthetic degraded-clear image pairs. However, when deployed in real-world scenarios, such models often suffer significant performance degradation due to the inherent domain gap between synthetic and real degradations. To bridge this gap, we propose a novel
Two-stage Contrastive Domain Adaptation image Enhancement (TCDAE)
framework consisting of two key strategies: (1)
Synthetic-to-Real Domain Transfer Learning (S2R-DTL)
that effectively translates images from the synthetic degraded domain to the real degraded domain, aligning the domains at the pixel level, and (2)
Degraded-to-Clear Domain Transfer Learning (D2C-DTL)
that further adapts the enhancement model from the synthetic to the real domain by translating images from the real degraded domain to the real clean domain in both supervised and unsupervised branches. A unique aspect of our approach is the integration of a
Domain Noise Contrastive Estimation (DoNCE)
loss in both learning strategies. This specialized loss formulation enables TCDAE to robustly translate images across domains, even in scenarios lacking strong positive examples. Consequently, our framework can generate enhanced images with natural, realistic appearances akin to real clear images. Comprehensive experiments on real-world degraded scenes across diverse tasks, including dehazing, deraining, and deblurring, demonstrate the superiority of TCDAE over state-of-the-art methods, achieving improved visual quality, quantitative metrics, and downstream task performance.
Triplet Contrastive Representation Learning for Unsupervised Vehicle Re-identification
Authors: Shen Fei , Du Xiaoyu , Zhang Liyan , Shu Xiangbo , Tang Jinhui
Published: September 2024

Part feature learning plays a crucial role in achieving fine-grained semantic understanding in unsupervised vehicle re-identification. However, existing approaches directly model part and global features, which can easily lead to severe gradient vanishing issues due to their unequal feature information and unreliable pseudo-labels. To address this problem, in this paper, we propose a triplet contrastive representation learning (TCRL) framework, which leverages cluster features to bridge the part features and global features for unsupervised vehicle re-identification. Specifically, TCRL devises three memory banks to store the instance/cluster features and proposes a proxy contrastive loss (PCL) to make contrastive learning between adjacent memory banks, thus presenting the associations between the part and global features as a transition of the part-cluster and cluster-global associations. Since the cluster memory bank copes with all the vehicle features, it can summarize them into a discriminative feature representation. To deeply exploit the instance/cluster information, TCRL proposes two additional loss functions. For the instance-level feature, a hybrid contrastive loss (HCL) re-defines the sample correlations by approaching the positive instance features and pushing all negative instance features away. For the cluster-level feature, a weighted regularization cluster contrastive loss (WRCCL) refines the pseudo labels by penalizing the mislabeled images according to the instance similarity. Extensive experiments show that TCRL outperforms many state-of-the-art unsupervised vehicle re-identification approaches.
Transform Analysis of Preemption Overhead in the M/G/1
Authors: Ramakrishna Shefali , Scully Ziv
Published: September 2024

Preemptive scheduling policies, which allow pausing jobs mid-service, are ubiquitous because they allow important jobs to receive service ahead of unimportant jobs that would otherwise delay their completion. The canonical example is Shortest Remaining Processing Time (SRPT), which preemptively serves the job with least remaining work at every moment in time [9]. There is a robust literature analyzing response time (elapsed time between a job's arrival and completion) in the M/G/1 queue under many preemptive policies [6, 10, 11], shedding light on questions such as how preemption affects the mean and tail of response time, and whether preemption is unfair towards low-priority jobs.
Non-stationary Bandits with Heavy Tail
Authors: Pan Weici , Liu Zhenhua
Published: September 2024

In this study, we investigate the performance of multi-armed bandit algorithms in environments characterized by heavytailed and non-stationary reward distributions, a setting that deviates from the conventional risk-neutral and sub- Gaussian assumptions.
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in pigs causes shifts in posttranscriptional checkpoints
Authors: Samani Stephanie L. , Barlow Shayne C. , Freeburg Lisa A. , Catherwood Grayson M. , Churillo Amelia M. , Jones Traci L. , Altomare Diego , Ji Hao , Shtutman Michael , Zile Michael R. , Shazly Tarek , Spinale Francis G.
Published: September 2024

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is an ever-growing cause for the HF burden. HFpEF is particularly difficult to treat as the mechanisms responsible for this specific form of HF are poorly understood. Using a relevant large animal model, this study uncovered a unique molecular signature with the development of HFpEF that regulates specific biological pathways relevant to the progression of this ever-growing cause of HF.
Gestational influenza A virus infection elicits nonresolving vascular dysfunction and T-cell accumulation in the aorta of mice
Authors: Oseghale Osezua , Quinn Kylie M. , Coward-Smith Madison , Liong Felicia , Miles Mark A. , Brooks Robert D. , Vlahos Ross , O’Leary John J. , Brooks Doug A. , Liong Stella , Selemidis Stavros
Published: September 2024

Pregnancy is a risk factor for cardiovascular complications to influenza A virus (IAV) infection. We demonstrate that gestational IAV infection caused endothelial dysfunction of the maternal aorta, which persisted for 60 days postinfection in mice. Various T cells accumulated within the aorta at 60 days because of the infection, and this was associated with elevated levels of the proinflammatory cytokine, IFN-γ. Our study demonstrates a novel “long influenza” cardiovascular phenotype in female mice.
ANCA‐Negative Pauci‐Immune Glomerulonephritis Associated with Bartonella Endocarditis
Authors: Ng Camille , Penney Angela , Sharaflari Rojin , Pathak Akash , Howard John H. , Jen Kuang-Yu
Published: September 2024

Kidney complications can occur due to infective endocarditis, one of which is glomerulonephritis. Most often, an immune complex or complement‐mediated glomerulonephritis is seen on kidney biopsy. In a minor subset of cases, pauci‐immune glomerulonephritis may be present. Most often, such patients will demonstrate the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) on serologic testing. A growing number of cases of ANCA‐associated glomerulonephritis due to Bartonella endocarditis have been reported. This type of endocarditis can present diagnostic difficulties given that these patients are often culture negative. Herein, we report a challenging case of ANCA‐negative pauci‐immune glomerulonephritis showing florid crescents on biopsy that was associated with Bartonella endocarditis.
Nanocrystal Agglomerates of Curcumin Prepared by Electrospray Drying as an Excipient‐Free Dry Powder for Inhalation
Authors: Emami Shahram , Hemmati Zahra , Yaqoubi Shadi , Hamishehkar Hamed , Alvani Amin
Published: September 2024

Curcumin has shown beneficial effects on pulmonary diseases with chronic inflammation or abnormal inflammatory responses, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis. Clinical applications of curcumin are limited due to its chemical instability in solution, low water solubility, poor oral bioavailability, and intestinal and liver first‐pass metabolism. Pulmonary delivery of curcumin can address these challenges and provide a high concentration in lung tissues. The purpose of the current work was to prepare a novel inhalable dry powder of curcumin nanocrystals without added excipients using electrospray drying (ED) with improved dissolution and aerosolization properties. ED of curcumin was performed at 2 and 4% w/v concentrations in acetone. Physicochemical properties of the formulated powders were evaluated by powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), density and powder flow measurements, and in vitro dissolution. The in vitro deposition studies were conducted using next‐generation impactor (NGI) and aerosol performance and aerodynamic particle size parameters were calculated for prepared formulations. ED could produce agglomerates of nanocrystals with a size of about 500 nm at an acceptable yield of about 50%. PXRD and FTIR data revealed that prepared nanocrystals were in a stable crystalline state. The bulk and tapped density of prepared agglomerates were in the range appropriate for pulmonary delivery. Formed nanocrystals could significantly improve the dissolution rate of water‐insoluble curcumin. The optimized formulation exhibited acceptable recovered dose percentage, high emitted dose percentage, optimum mean mass median aerodynamic diameter, small geometric standard deviation, and high fine‐particle fraction that favors delivery of curcumin to the deep lung regions. The ED proved to be an efficient technique to prepare curcumin nanocrystals for pulmonary delivery in a single step, at a mild condition, and with no surfactant.
Indole May Help the Horizontal Transmission of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in E. coli Under Subinhibitory Concentrations of Cefotaxime Stress
Authors: Dong Weiqi , Du Panpan , Huang Ruisen , Lv Shuoyan , Chen Hong , Guan Songlei
Published: September 2024

Objectives: Subinhibitory concentration of antibiotics in the environment is an important risk factor for the horizontal transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The signaling mechanism of resistance gene transmission remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether indole could be used as a molecular signal to help the spread of ARGs under the stress of subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics.

Methods: The effect of indole on conjugation frequency was investigated through a conjugation test, and its effect on the Type IV secretion system and pili gene expression of E. coli was observed. Meanwhile, we were investigating the trend of changes in indole regulatory factors ibpA, tnaA, and concentration pumps. Subsequently, we predicted the receptors that specifically bind to indole. Finally, our study focused on elucidating the regulatory mechanism of indole synthesis.

Results: Conjugate frequency was significantly increased under 1/5MIC concentration cefotaxime stress. The transferred ARGs were blaCTX-M and foxA. The mobile plasmid was IncY or IncI2. Meanwhile, the concentration of endogenous indole was also significantly increased. And, surprisingly, inhibition of endogenous indole production resulted in a significant decrease in conjugate frequency. However, the conjugate frequency increased once again when the strains reacquired the exogenous indole. Furthermore, the fluctuation trends of indole‐regulated factor (ibpA, tnaA) mRNA and concentration pumps (acrEF, mtr) mRNA consistently with that of indole. Then, we found that the receptors of indole may be four targets of TCSs: CreC, PhoB, AtoC, and UhpA. More than that, when strains retrieved the exogenous indole again, the mRNA levels of T4SS (virB2, virB6, and virD4) and pppA (coding Pili precursor) genes significantly increased. This indicates that there is a close relationship between indole and conjugated channels, which are necessary for horizontal transfer of genetic material. And then, the trends of indole and tnaA mRNA were consistent with that of ibpA (one of SOS response). So, this result confirmed that indole was regulated by SOS response under subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics.

Conclusions: It is always known that subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics stimulate an SOS response in E. coli, which helps in the horizontal spread of ARGs by modulating indole.
MYC Drives mRNA Pseudouridylation to Mitigate Proliferation-Induced Cellular Stress during Cancer Development
Authors: Ding Jane , Bansal Mohit , Cao Yuxia , Ye Bingwei , Mao Rui , Gupta Anamika , Sudarshan Sunil , Ding Han-Fei
Published: September 2024

Pseudouridylation is a common RNA modification that is catalyzed by the family of pseudouridine synthases (PUS). Pseudouridylation can increase RNA stability and rigidity, thereby impacting RNA splicing, processing, and translation. Given that RNA metabolism is frequently altered in cancer, pseudouridylation may be a functionally important process in tumor biology. Here, we show that the MYC family of oncoproteins transcriptionally upregulates PUS7 expression during cancer development. PUS7 is essential for the growth and survival of MYC-driven cancer cells and xenografts by promoting adaptive stress responses and amino acid biosynthesis and import. ATF4, a master regulator of stress responses and cellular metabolism, was identified as a key downstream mediator of PUS7 functional activity. Induction of ATF4 by MYC oncoproteins and cellular stress required PUS7, and ATF4 overexpression overcame the growth inhibition caused by PUS7 deficiency. Mechanistically, PUS7 induced pseudouridylation of MCTS1 mRNA, which enhanced its translation. MCTS1, a noncanonical translation initiation factor, drove stress-induced ATF4 protein expression. A PUS7 consensus pseudouridylation site in the 3′ untranslated region of ATF4 mRNA was crucial for the induction of ATF4 by cellular stress. These findings unveil an MYC-activated mRNA pseudouridylation program that mitigates cellular stress induced by MYC stimulation of proliferation and biomass production, suggesting that targeting PUS7 could be a therapeutic strategy selectively against MYC-driven cancers.

Significance: Oncogene activation of mRNA pseudouridylation is a mechanism that facilitates metabolic reprogramming and adaptive responses to overcome cellular stress during cancer development.
The Pan-Tumor Vasculature under the Transcriptomic Magnifying Glass
Authors: Skandha Gopalan Krish , Bergers Gabriele
Published: September 2024

In the first pan-cancer analysis of the tumor vasculature, Pan and colleagues profile nearly 200,000 endothelial cells (EC) and mural cells, identifying novel subclusters and cell states using consensus trajectory inference. They identify differentiation trajectories in vascular and lymphatic ECs and subtype the pericyte (PC) population. During sprouting angiogenesis, venous cells dedifferentiate and transition to capillary and, finally, arterial ECs. Capillary ECs transition via “three angiogenic stages” (SI–SIII), during which APLN+ TipS1 cells were identified as potential modulators of tumor-induced neovascularization and antiangiogenic therapy response. In lymphatic ECs, differentiation was inversely correlated between the lymphangiogenic (T1) and antigen-presenting (T2) trajectories, with T2 associated with a better prognosis. Although several PC clusters were identified, BASP1+ matrix–associated PCs were associated with APLN+ TipS1 cells and had a worse prognosis. These findings present transcriptional validation of previous experimental findings and serve as a resource to examine the tumor vascular microenvironment in detail.
Cancer Screening, Knowledge, and Fatalism among Chinese, Korean, and South Asian Residents of New York City
Authors: Curro Isabel I. , Teasdale Chloe A. , Wyatt Laura C. , Foster Victoria , Yusuf Yousra , Sifuentes Sonia , Chebli Perla , Kranick Julie A. , Kwon Simona C. , Trinh-Shevrin Chau , LeCroy Madison N.
Published: September 2024

Background:

Asian New York City residents have the lowest cancer screening uptake across race and ethnicity. Few studies have examined screening differences across Asian ethnic subgroups in New York City.

Methods:

Cross-sectional survey data were analyzed using multivariable logistic and multinomial regression analyses. Differences among Chinese, Korean, and South Asian adults in breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening uptake; breast and colorectal cancer screening knowledge; and cancer fatalism were examined. Associations between breast and colorectal cancer screening knowledge and their uptake were also assessed along with associations between cancer fatalism and breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening uptake.

Results:

Korean women reported 0.52 times [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.31–0.89] lower odds of Pap test uptake compared with Chinese women; South Asian adults had 0.43 times (95% CI, 0.24–0.79) lower odds of colorectal cancer screening uptake compared with Chinese adults. Korean adults reported 1.80 times (95% CI, 1.26–2.58) higher odds of knowing the correct age to begin having mammograms compared with Chinese adults; South Asian adults had 0.67 times (95% CI, 0.47–0.96) lower odds of knowing the correct age to begin colorectal cancer screening compared with Chinese adults. Korean adults had 0.37 times (95% CI, 0.27–0.53) lower odds of reporting cancer fatalism compared with Chinese adults.

Conclusions:

Low cancer screening uptake among Asian American adults, low screening knowledge, and high cancer fatalism were found. Cancer screening uptake, knowledge, and fatalism varied by ethnic subgroup.

Impact:

Findings indicate the need for ethnicity-specific cultural and linguistic tailoring for future cancer screening interventions.
The University of North Carolina Cancer Survivorship Cohort: A Resource for Collaborative Survivorship Research
Authors: Anderson Chelsea , Bensen Jeannette T. , Allott Emma H. , Basta Patricia V. , Irwin Debra E. , Gerstel Adrian , Farnan Laura , Tan Hung-Jui , Kent Erin E. , Kuo Tzy-Mey , Baggett Christopher D. , Olshan Andrew F. , Earp H. Shelton , Nichols Hazel B.
Published: September 2024

Background:

Rapid growth in the number of US cancer survivors drives the need for ongoing research efforts to improve outcomes and experiences after cancer. In this study, we describe the University of North Carolina (UNC) Cancer Survivorship Cohort, a medical center–based cohort of adults with cancer that integrates medical record–abstracted cancer information, patient-reported outcomes, and biological specimens.

Methods:

Participants ages 18+ were recruited from UNC oncology clinics between April 2010 and August 2016. After enrollment, participants completed questionnaires on a range of topics including demographics, health history, healthcare access and utilization, quality of life, and symptoms. Blood samples and tumor tissue specimens were collected and processed by study staff, and cancer characteristics and other clinical data were abstracted from electronic medical records. Participants consented to recontact for future studies and linkage of their data with other data resources.

Results:

In total, 3,999 participants with a cancer diagnosis were enrolled in the cohort. The most common cancer types among those enrolled included breast (N = 866), uterine (N = 458), colorectal (N = 300), prostate (N = 296), and head and neck (N = 248) cancers. Blood specimens were collected for 3,027 participants (76%). Additional participants without cancer (N = 1,299) were also enrolled, and the majority (62%) provided biospecimen samples.

Conclusions:

We encourage a wide collaboration with investigators across institutions seeking to advance research in cancer survivorship. Procedures are in place to support proposals for use of existing or linked data and for proposals that require participant recontact or analysis of biospecimens.

Impact:

The UNC Cancer Survivorship Cohort is a unique resource for cancer survivorship research.
Exploring Associations of Somatic Symptom Disorder with Personality Dysfunction and Specific Maladaptive Traits
Authors: von Schrottenberg Victoria , Kerber André , Sterner Philipp , Teusen Clara , Beigel Pauline , Linde Klaus , Henningsen Peter , Herpertz Sabine C. , Gensichen Jochen , Schneider Antonius ,   for the POKAL-Study Group
Published: September 2024

Introduction: According to ICD-11, personality disorders (PDs) are defined by the severity of self and interpersonal dysfunction in terms of personality functioning (PF) and an optional assessment of specific maladaptive personality trait expressions. Also, somatoform disorders are replaced by somatic symptom disorder (SSD). This study examines associations using the novel diagnostic criteria of SSD in an unselected primary care sample, PF, and maladaptive traits in patients with and without SSD. Methods: An anonymized cross-sectional study was conducted. A questionnaire including SSD-12 (Somatic Symptom Disorder B Criteria Scale-12) and PHQ-15 (Patient Health Questionnaire-15), LPFS-BF 2.0 (Level of Personality Functioning Scale – Brief Form) and PID-5BF+M (Modified Personality Inventory for DSM-5 – Brief Form Plus) was used. A bifactor (S-1) model was calculated with PF (reference for general factor) and personality traits (specific factors) to estimate associations between PF, specific maladaptive personality traits, and SSD. Differences in personality scales between SSD and non-SSD patients were calculated with the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: A total of 624 patients in six general practices participated (mean age 47 years; 60.4% female). SSD-12 and PHQ-15, respectively, showed significant associations with PF (γ = 0.51; γ = 0.48; p < 0.001), negative affectivity (γ = 0.50; γ = 0.38, p < 0.001) and psychoticism (γ = 0.29; γ = 0.28; p < 0.010). Besides, SSD-12 was significantly associated with disinhibition (γ = −0.38; p < 0.010) and anankastia (γ = −0.16; p < 0.010). Patients with SSD showed significantly impaired PF and maladaptive traits in all scales (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Impaired PF explains moderate to large amounts of the SSD symptoms and maladaptive personality traits negative affectivity, psychoticism, disinhibition, and anankastia show specific associations beyond PF. An in-depth understanding of these relations might be helpful to improve doctor-patient communication and treatment in SSD.
Advancing Sustainable Development Goals through Enhanced Literacy in Nuclear Science and Technology: Emphasizing Hands-On Experiences
Authors: Saengkaew Phannee , Chanyotha Supitcha , Pengvanich Phongphaeth , Srijaroen Benjawan , Phruksarojanakun Phiphat , Cherdchu Chainarong , Takaki Rieko , Iimoto Takeshi
Published: September 2024

In alignment with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDG s), nuclear science and technology (NST) significantly contributes to nine out of seventeen SDG s. As an integral component of nuclear human resource development (HRD), it is imperative to introduce young students to NST through effective STEAM or STEM methodologies. However, Thailand’s progress in NST literacy and public awareness has been suboptimal, despite over five decades of nuclear HRD initiatives. While various nuclear-related organizations have undertaken numerous activities, their lack of coordination and comprehensiveness poses challenges for sustainable development. To address this, concerted efforts must involve collaboration with schoolteachers to integrate NST into the national science curriculum and syllabus. This entails a review and revision process aimed at incorporating more hands-on experiments to ignite students’ curiosity and enthusiasm for NST. Through strategic planning and implementation, Thai students will develop a deeper familiarity with NST, thereby enhancing their overall NST literacy and contributing to the nation’s sustainable development goals.
The Effects of the Developments in Artificial Intelligence and Open-Access Software on the Visions of Academicians
Authors: Deveciyan Meri Taksi , Bataklar Sinan
Published: September 2024

This research aims to examine the effects of developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and open-access software on the visions of academicians. The research was conducted using the phenomenology pattern, one of the qualitative research methods, and semi-structured in-depth interviews were preferred during the data collection process. Descriptive and coding-based qualitative content analysis methods were used in the research process. Emerging themes include the use of artificial intelligence in higher education; situation analysis of the use of AI in academics (SWOT); and strategic dimension of using AI in higher education. These themes explain in detail the potential effects of AI and open-access software on the strategy and competitiveness dimensions of academics’ visions. It is expected that the study will make significant contributions to understanding the changes that AI and open-access software will create in the academic world and how these technologies can be integrated into the way academics work.