bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding with liraglutide in adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes (GLIDE): a pilot randomised placebo controlled trial
Authors: Coelho Claudia , Dobbie Laurence J. , Crane James , Douiri Abdel , Learoyd Annastazia E. , Okolo Olanike , Panagiotopoulos Spyros , Pournaras Dimitri J. , Ramar Sasindran , Rubino Francesco , Singhal Rishi , le Roux Carel W. , Taheri Shahrad , McGowan Barbara
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Obesity drives type 2 diabetes (T2DM) development. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) has lower weight reduction than other bariatric procedures. Liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, improves weight and glycaemic control in patients with T2DM. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of liraglutide 1.8 mg in participants undergoing LAGB.

Methods

GLIDE, a pilot randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, evaluated LAGB with either liraglutide 1.8 mg or placebo in participants with T2DM and obesity. Participants were randomised (1:1) to 6-months therapy post-LAGB, with further 6 months off-treatment follow-up. The primary outcome was change in HbA1c from randomisation to the end of treatment, secondary outcomes included body weight change. A sample size of 58 (29 per group) had 80% power to detect a 0.6% difference in HbA1c between groups.

Results

Twenty-seven participants were randomised to liraglutide (n = 13) or placebo (n = 14). Multivariate analysis showed no difference between placebo and liraglutide arms in HbA1c at 6 months (HbA1c:0.2 mmol/mol, −11.3, 11.6, p = 0.98) however, at 12 months HbA1c was significantly higher in the liraglutide arm (HbA1c:10.9 mmol/mol, 1.1, 20.6, p = 0.032). There was no difference between arms in weight at 6 months (BW:2.0 kg, −4.2, 8.1, p = 0.50), however, at 12 months weight was significantly higher in the liraglutide arm (BW:8.2 kg, 1.6, 14.9, p = 0.02). There were no significant differences in adverse events between groups.

Conclusions

Our pilot data suggest no additional improvement in glycaemic control or BW with LAGB and liraglutide therapy. However, this trial was significantly underpowered to detect a significant change in the primary or secondary outcomes. Further trials are needed to investigate whether GLP-1 agonists, and particularly with more effective weekly agents (i.e. semaglutide or tirzepatide), are of benefit following metabolic surgery.

Clinical trial registration

EudraCT number 2015-005402-11.
Temperature, pressure, and humidity SAW sensor based on coplanar integrated LGS
Authors: Liang Xiaorui , Zhang Lei , Tan Qiulin , Cheng Wenhua , Hu Dan , Li Shuang , Jing Lin , Xiong Jijun
Published: September 2023

This paper presents a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor based on coplanar integrated Langasite (LGS) that is fabricated using wet etching, high-temperature bonding, and ion beam etching (IBE) processes. The miniaturized multiparameter temperature‒pressure-humidity (TPH) sensor used the MXene@MoS2@Go (MMG) composite to widen the humidity detection range and improve the humidity sensitivity, including a fast response time (3.18 s) and recovery time (0.94 s). The TPH sensor was shown to operate steadily between 25–700 °C, 0–700 kPa, and 10–98% RH. Coupling issues among multiple parameters in complex environments were addressed by decoupling the Δf-temperature coupling factor to improve the accuracy. Therefore, this work can be applied to simultaneous measurements of several environmental parameters in challenging conditions.
High-performance blue OLED using multiresonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence host materials containing silicon atoms
Authors: Park Dongmin , Kang Seokwoo , Ryoo Chi Hyun , Jhun Byung Hak , Jung Seyoung , Le Thi Na , Suh Min Chul , Lee Jaehyun , Jun Mi Eun , Chu Changwoong , Park Jongwook , Park Soo Young
Published: September 2023

We report three highly efficient multiresonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence blue-emitter host materials that include 5,9-dioxa-13b-boranaphtho[3,2,1-de]anthracene (DOBNA) and tetraphenylsilyl groups. The host materials doped with the conventional N7,N7,N13,N13,5,9,11,15-octaphenyl-5,9,11,15-tetrahydro-5,9,11,15-tetraaza-19b,20b-diboradinaphtho[3,2,1-de:1’,2’,3’-jk]pentacene-7,13-diamine (ν-DABNA) blue emitter exhibit a high photoluminescence quantum yield greater than 0.82, a high horizontal orientation greater than 88%, and a short photoluminescence decay time of 0.96–1.93 μs. Among devices fabricated using six synthesized compounds, the device with (4-(2,12-di-tert-butyl-5,9-dioxa-13b-boranaphtho[3,2,1-de]anthracen-7-yl)phenyl)triphenylsilane (TDBA-Si) shows high external quantum efficiency values of 36.2/35.0/31.3% at maximum luminance/500 cd m−2/1,000 cd m−2. This high performance is attributed to fast energy transfer from the host to the dopant. Other factors possibly contributing to the high performance are a T1 excited-state contribution, inhibition of aggregation by the bulky tetraphenylsilyl groups, high horizontal orientation, and high thermal stability. We achieve a high efficiency greater than 30% and a small roll-off value of 4.9% at 1,000 cd m−2 using the TDBA-Si host material.
Experimental signature of initial quantum coherence on entropy production
Authors: Hernández-Gómez Santiago , Gherardini Stefano , Belenchia Alessio , Trombettoni Andrea , Paternostro Mauro , Fabbri Nicole
Published: September 2023

We report on the experimental quantification of the contribution to non-equilibrium entropy production stemming from the quantum coherence content in the initial state of a qubit exposed to both coherent driving and dissipation. Our experimental demonstration builds on the exquisite experimental control of the spin state of a nitrogen-vacancy defect in diamond and is underpinned, theoretically, by the formulation of a generalized fluctuation theorem designed to track the effects of quantum coherence. Our results provide significant evidence of the possibility to pinpoint the genuinely quantum mechanical contributions to the thermodynamics of non-equilibrium quantum processes in an open quantum systems scenario.
Topically-applied collagen-binding serum albumin-fused interleukin-4 modulates wound microenvironment in non-healing wounds
Authors: Lauterbach Abigail L. , Wallace Rachel P. , Alpar Aaron T. , Refvik Kirsten C. , Reda Joseph W. , Ishihara Ako , Beckman Taryn N. , Slezak Anna J. , Mizukami Yukari , Mansurov Aslan , Gomes Suzana , Ishihara Jun , Hubbell Jeffrey A.
Published: September 2023

Non-healing wounds have a negative impact on quality of life and account for many cases of amputation and even early death among patients. Diabetic patients are the predominate population affected by these non-healing wounds. Despite the significant clinical demand, treatment with biologics has not broadly impacted clinical care. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a potent modulator of the immune system, capable of skewing macrophages towards a pro-regeneration phenotype (M2) and promoting angiogenesis, but can be toxic after frequent administration and is limited by its short half-life and low bioavailability. Here, we demonstrate the design and characterization of an engineered recombinant interleukin-4 construct. We utilize this collagen-binding, serum albumin-fused IL-4 variant (CBD-SA-IL-4) delivered in a hyaluronic acid (HA)-based gel for localized application of IL-4 to dermal wounds in a type 2 diabetic mouse model known for poor healing as proof-of-concept for improved tissue repair. Our studies indicate that CBD-SA-IL-4 is retained within the wound and can modulate the wound microenvironment through induction of M2 macrophages and angiogenesis. CBD-SA-IL-4 treatment significantly accelerated wound healing compared to native IL-4 and HA vehicle treatment without inducing systemic side effects. This CBD-SA-IL-4 construct can address the underlying immune dysfunction present in the non-healing wound, leading to more effective tissue healing in the clinic.
Akkermansia muciniphila exacerbates food allergy in fibre-deprived mice
Authors: Parrish Amy , Boudaud Marie , Grant Erica T. , Willieme Stéphanie , Neumann Mareike , Wolter Mathis , Craig Sophie Z. , De Sciscio Alessandro , Cosma Antonio , Hunewald Oliver , Ollert Markus , Desai Mahesh S.
Published: September 2023

Alterations in the gut microbiome, including diet-driven changes, are linked to the rising prevalence of food allergy. However, little is known about how specific gut bacteria trigger the breakdown of oral tolerance. Here we show that depriving specific-pathogen-free mice of dietary fibre leads to a gut microbiota signature with increases in the mucin-degrading bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila. This signature is associated with intestinal barrier dysfunction, increased expression of type 1 and 2 cytokines and IgE-coated commensals in the colon, which result in an exacerbated allergic reaction to food allergens, ovalbumin and peanut. To demonstrate the causal role of A. muciniphila, we employed a tractable synthetic human gut microbiota in gnotobiotic mice. The presence of A. muciniphila within the microbiota, combined with fibre deprivation, resulted in stronger anti-commensal IgE coating and innate type-2 immune responses, which worsened symptoms of food allergy. Our study provides important insights into how gut microbes can regulate immune pathways of food allergy in a diet-dependent manner.
BugSigDB captures patterns of differential abundance across a broad range of host-associated microbial signatures
Authors: Geistlinger Ludwig , Mirzayi Chloe , Zohra Fatima , Azhar Rimsha , Elsafoury Shaimaa , Grieve Clare , Wokaty Jennifer , Gamboa-Tuz Samuel David , Sengupta Pratyay , Hecht Issac , Ravikrishnan Aarthi , Gonçalves Rafael S. , Franzosa Eric , Raman Karthik , Carey Vincent , Dowd Jennifer B. , Jones Heidi E. , Davis Sean , Segata Nicola , Huttenhower Curtis , Waldron Levi
Published: September 2023

The literature of human and other host-associated microbiome studies is expanding rapidly, but systematic comparisons among published results of host-associated microbiome signatures of differential abundance remain difficult. We present BugSigDB, a community-editable database of manually curated microbial signatures from published differential abundance studies accompanied by information on study geography, health outcomes, host body site and experimental, epidemiological and statistical methods using controlled vocabulary. The initial release of the database contains >2,500 manually curated signatures from >600 published studies on three host species, enabling high-throughput analysis of signature similarity, taxon enrichment, co-occurrence and coexclusion and consensus signatures. These data allow assessment of microbiome differential abundance within and across experimental conditions, environments or body sites. Database-wide analysis reveals experimental conditions with the highest level of consistency in signatures reported by independent studies and identifies commonalities among disease-associated signatures, including frequent introgression of oral pathobionts into the gut.
Mutation rates and fitness consequences of mosaic chromosomal alterations in blood
Authors: Watson Caroline J. , Blundell Jamie R.
Published: September 2023

Mosaic chromosomal alterations (mCAs) are common in cancers and can arise decades before diagnosis. A quantitative understanding of the rate at which these events occur, and their functional consequences, could improve cancer risk prediction and our understanding of somatic evolution. Using mCA clone size estimates from the blood of approximately 500,000 UK Biobank participants, we estimate mutation rates and fitness consequences of acquired gain, loss and copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity events. Most mCAs have moderate to high fitness effects but occur at a low rate, being more than tenfold less common than equivalently fit single-nucleotide variants. Notable exceptions are mosaic loss of X and Y, which we estimate have roughly 1,000-fold higher mutation rates than autosomal mCAs. Although the way in which most mCAs increase in prevalence with age is consistent with constant growth rates, some mCAs exhibit different behavior, suggesting that their fitness may depend on inherited variants, extrinsic factors or distributions of fitness effects.
Hobby engagement and mental wellbeing among people aged 65 years and older in 16 countries
Authors: Mak Hei Wan , Noguchi Taiji , Bone Jessica K. , Wels Jacques , Gao Qian , Kondo Katsunori , Saito Tami , Fancourt Daisy
Published: September 2023

Growing aging populations pose a threat to global health because of the social and psychological challenges they experience. To mitigate this, many countries promote hobby engagement to support and improve mental health. Yet, it remains unclear whether there is consistency in benefits across different national settings. We harmonized measures of hobby engagement and multiple aspects of mental wellbeing across 16 nations represented in five longitudinal studies (N = 93,263). Prevalence of hobby engagement varied substantially across countries, from 51.0% of Spanish respondents to 96.0% of Danish respondents. Fixed effects models and multinational meta-analyses were applied to compare the longitudinal associations between hobbies and mental wellbeing. Independent of confounders, having a hobby was associated with fewer depressive symptoms (pooled coefficient = −0.10; 95% confidence intervals (CI) = −0.13, −0.07), and higher levels of self-reported health (pooled coefficient = 0.06; 95% CI = 0.03, 0.08), happiness (pooled coefficient = 0.09; 95% CI = 0.06, 0.13) and life satisfaction (pooled coefficient = 0.10; 95% CI = 0.08, 0.12). Further analyses suggested a temporal relationship. The strength of these associations, and prevalence of hobby engagement, were correlated with macrolevel factors such as life expectancy and national happiness levels but overall, little variance in findings was explained by country-level factors (<9%). Given the relative universality of findings, ensuring equality in hobby engagement within and between countries should be a priority for promoting healthy aging.
DISCOVER-EEG: an open, fully automated EEG pipeline for biomarker discovery in clinical neuroscience
Authors: Gil Ávila Cristina , Bott Felix S. , Tiemann Laura , Hohn Vanessa D. , May Elisabeth S. , Nickel Moritz M. , Zebhauser Paul Theo , Gross Joachim , Ploner Markus
Published: September 2023

Biomarker discovery in neurological and psychiatric disorders critically depends on reproducible and transparent methods applied to large-scale datasets. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a promising tool for identifying biomarkers. However, recording, preprocessing, and analysis of EEG data is time-consuming and researcher-dependent. Therefore, we developed DISCOVER-EEG, an open and fully automated pipeline that enables easy and fast preprocessing, analysis, and visualization of resting state EEG data. Data in the Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS) standard are automatically preprocessed, and physiologically meaningful features of brain function (including oscillatory power, connectivity, and network characteristics) are extracted and visualized using two open-source and widely used Matlab toolboxes (EEGLAB and FieldTrip). We tested the pipeline in two large, openly available datasets containing EEG recordings of healthy participants and patients with a psychiatric condition. Additionally, we performed an exploratory analysis that could inspire the development of biomarkers for healthy aging. Thus, the DISCOVER-EEG pipeline facilitates the aggregation, reuse, and analysis of large EEG datasets, promoting open and reproducible research on brain function.
Mental stress recognition on the fly using neuroplasticity spiking neural networks
Authors: Weerasinghe Mahima Milinda Alwis , Wang Grace , Whalley Jacqueline , Crook-Rumsey Mark
Published: September 2023

Mental stress is found to be strongly connected with human cognition and wellbeing. As the complexities of human life increase, the effects of mental stress have impacted human health and cognitive performance across the globe. This highlights the need for effective non-invasive stress detection methods. In this work, we introduce a novel, artificial spiking neural network model called Online Neuroplasticity Spiking Neural Network (O-NSNN) that utilizes a repertoire of learning concepts inspired by the brain to classify mental stress using Electroencephalogram (EEG) data. These models are personalized and tested on EEG data recorded during sessions in which participants listen to different types of audio comments designed to induce acute stress. Our O-NSNN models learn on the fly producing an average accuracy of 90.76% (σ = 2.09) when classifying EEG signals of brain states associated with these audio comments. The brain-inspired nature of the individual models makes them robust and efficient and has the potential to be integrated into wearable technology. Furthermore, this article presents an exploratory analysis of trained O-NSNNs to discover links between perceived and acute mental stress. The O-NSNN algorithm proved to be better for personalized stress recognition in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and model interpretability.
Detailed numerical evaluation of diffusion convection equation in layered reservoirs during tracer injection
Authors: Moayyedi Mahmood , Sharifi Mohammad , Abbasi Mahdi , Shabani Mahdi
Published: September 2023

Characterization of heterogeneous reservoirs such as multilayered or fractured systems is an important issue in different disciplines such as hydrology, petroleum and geothermal systems. One of the popular methods that can be used for this purpose is tracer tests. Better understanding of the mechanisms of mass transfer (convection–diffusion process) is essential for having a proper test interpretation. In this study, the solutions of different scenarios of tracer flow in a pair of high and low-permeable layered reservoirs including convection and diffusion mechanisms are discussed. Although analytical solutions generally provided exact solutions, they involve several assumptions and might be hard to use for complex problems. As a result, numerical methods are selected for the investigation of different scenarios and addressing cases that are beyond access of analytical methods. In this study, several scenarios of considering diffusion and convection in low and high permeable zones and effective parameters on tracer concentration are investigated. According to the results of this study, the higher the porosity ratio of low to high permeable layer, the more time is needed to get the final concentration value. Also, by increasing the value of the dispersivity coefficient, the time needed to increase the concentration decreases. In other words, the sharp increase in concentration for lower times is seen in higher dispersivity values. The concentration profile variation is affected by Peclet number. The difference among concentration profiles in different cases is considerable, especially in low Peclet numbers where the diffusion mechanism is dominant. This behavior is more common in low permeable mediums such as multilayered tight or shale reservoirs.
Psychometric assessment of the 10-item, revised experience of close relationship (ECR-R-10) in nonclinical and clinical populations of adults and older adults in Thailand
Authors: Wongpakaran Nahathai , Wongpakaran Tinakon , Lerttrakarnnon Peerasak , Jiraniramai Surin , Saisavoey Nattha , Tantrarungroj Thanita , Satthapisit Sirina , DeMaranville Justin , Myint Khin Moe , Wedding Danny
Published: September 2023

The experiences of close relationships-revised (ECR-R) is a widely used 36-item self-report measurement for measuring adult attachment. However, various short versions of the ECR-R have been developed and tested psychometrically. Given the cultural impact, a short version of the Thai ECR-R should be derived from the existing Thai version of the ECR-R. This study aimed to develop a 10-item version of the ECR-R that demonstrates comparable psychometric properties to the previous Thai version and the 18-item ECR-R. This study included four studies with a total of 1,322 participants. In study 1, 434 adults in a nonclinical setting were used for the development of the 10-item Thai ECR-R and tested in an independent sample. Studies 2, 3, and 4 were conducted on 312 adults in the clinical setting, 227 older adults in the nonclinical, and 123 older adults in clinical settings. The Cronbach alphas and corrected correlations between the ECR-R-18 and the ECR-R-10 in each study were calculated. Confirmatory factor analysis of the first-order two-factor solution model with fit statistics was examined with each sample. Correlations of the ECR-R-18 and the ECR-R-10 with other measurements were presented and compared. Known-group validity and measurement invariance test were also examined. The Cronbach alphas of the ECR-R-10 among all samples were acceptable, ranging between .77 and .85 for avoidance subscales and between .82 and .86 for anxiety subscales. The corrected correlation between the ECR-R-18 and ECR-R-10 was between .61 (p < .001) and .82 (p < .001). The values of the comparative fit index and Tucker-Lewis index for the model of ECR-R-10 were between .903 and .985, whereas the root-mean-square error of approximation was between .082 and .036, indicating that the model fits were acceptable. The ECR-R-10 was related to the measurements with a similar construct; however, no difference in the magnitude of correlation was observed between ECR-R-18 and ECR-R-10. Known group validity was established. Measurement invariance was successfully established across different age and gender groups, although it was only partially achieved with respect to clinical status. The ECR-R-10 provided equal or superior psychometric properties to the ECR-R-18 across age groups and settings. As it is a briefer scale, the ECR-R-10 can be practically used in general and clinical samples to reduce the burden of assessment, especially with older adults. Further investigation is needed to test the scale's temporal stability.
Higher incidence of hematuria was observed in female children with microtia
Authors: Sun Na , Yang Yang , Jiang Fengli , Wu Yuanyuan , Pan Bo , Zhan Sien
Published: September 2023

The goals of this study were to investigate the incidence and characteristics of hematuria in patients with microtia, and to clarify that more attention should be paid to renal dysfunction in patients with microtia. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of a total 9447 children diagnosed with microtia (selected as study group, 7037 children) or pigmented nevus (selected as control group, 2410 children) at the Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College from January 2009 to June 2021. All of the routine urinalysis report of these children were reviewed to assess the incidence and characteristics of hematuria in each group. No statistically significant differences were observed when analyzing the overall incidence of hematuria between the study and control groups (P > 0.05). However, after grouping by sex, the incidence of hematuria in female children with microtia was significantly higher than that in femalecontrol group and no similar results were observed in the male patients. In addition, after further grouping by age in case group, the incidence of hematuria in girls of all ages with microtia was significantly higher than that in males with microtia (age 0–10:males: Girls = 1.89%:4.14%; age 0–5: males: Girls = 1.22%:3.73%; age 6–10: males:Girls = 1.97%:4.14%,P < 0.05), while no similar results were obtained in the control group.(age 0–10:males: Girls = 1.39%:2.22%; age 0–5: males: Girls = 1.07%:1.95%; age 6–10: males: Girls = 3.38%:3.17%, P > 0.05). Higher incidence of hematuria was observed in female children with microtia.
Nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete buildings with different heights and floor systems
Authors: Abd-Elhamed Ayman , Mahmoud Sayed , Alotaibi Khalid Saqer
Published: September 2023

Most civil structures exhibit nonlinear behavior during moderate to severe earthquakes. Consequently, inelastic analysis is needed for seismic design. Several dynamic and static analysis methods are available for the assessment and design of engineering structures. Two of the available methods in terms of nonlinear dynamic time history analysis and nonlinear static analysis, which is known as pushover analysis, are employed herein to comprehensively study and investigate the seismic performance of multi-story building structures with different floor systems. Moreover, the study is extended to assess the actual values of the response reduction/modification factor (R-factor) for each building model, then evaluate the values with the code-recommended design values. Three-dimensional finite element building models with 5, 10 and 15 stories are developed for the evaluation process. The advanced computer program ETABS is used for developing and analyzing the buildings considering material and geometrical nonlinearity. A suit of seven earthquake records is considered and scaled according to the ASCE-16 seismic design code to excite the building models. The obtained results evidently reveal that the type of floor slab significantly impacts the seismic response of the building. More specifically, the effects of floor slabs on seismic demands are more evident in low- and mid-rise buildings. In addition, the type of slab system and height of the building have more influence on the response modification factors, especially for low-rise building models.
The amino acid metabolomics signature of differentiating myocardial infarction from strangulation death in mice models
Authors: Wang Song-Jun , Liu Bing-Rui , Zhang Fu , Su Xiao-Rui , Li Ya-Ping , Yang Chen-Teng , Zhang Zhi-Hua , Cong Bin
Published: September 2023

This study differentiates myocardial infarction (MI) and strangulation death (STR) from the perspective of amino acid metabolism. In this study, MI mice model via subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol and STR mice model by neck strangulation were constructed, and were randomly divided into control (CON), STR, mild MI (MMI), and severe MI (SMI) groups. The metabolomics profiles were obtained by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS)-based untargeted metabolomics. Principal component analysis, partial least squares-discriminant analysis, volcano plots, and heatmap were used for discrepancy metabolomics analysis. Pathway enrichment analysis was performed and the expression of proteins related to metabolomics was detected using immunohistochemical and western blot methods. Differential metabolites and metabolite pathways were screened. In addition, we found the expression of PPM1K was significantly reduced in the MI group, but the expression of p-mTOR and p-S6K1 were significantly increased (all P < 0.05), especially in the SMI group (P < 0.01). The expression of Cyt-C was significantly increased in each group compared with the CON group, especially in the STR group (all P < 0.01), and the expression of AMPKα1 was significantly increased in the STR group (all P < 0.01). Our study for the first time revealed significant differences in amino acid metabolism between STR and MI.
The association of low serum magnesium levels with frailty among hemodialysis patients
Authors: Hori Mayuko , Yasuda Kaoru , Takahashi Hiroshi , Morozumi Kunio , Maruyama Shoichi
Published: September 2023

Frailty is common among hemodialysis patients and is associated with mortality and fractures. Hypomagnesemia is also known to be a risk factor for mortality and fractures and has been shown to be significantly associated with muscle performance indexes. However, little is known about the association between hypomagnesemia and frailty. We enrolled 339 outpatients who underwent hemodialysis and assessed frailty using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), a 7-point subjective assessment tool based upon clinical judgment. We examined the association between serum magnesium levels and frailty evaluated using the CFS. The median CFS score was 3 points, and 49 (14.5%) patients had frailty (CFS score ≥ 5). In multiple regression analysis, serum magnesium levels were independently associated with increased CFS scores (β = − 0.126, P = 0.005) adjusted for age, body mass index, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, prevalent fractures, serum albumin and C-reactive protein. The adjusted odds ratio for frailty was 2.85 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23–6.97, P = 0.014] in the lower serum magnesium group categorized based on the median value. Furthermore, with regard to model discrimination, adding serum magnesium levels to the established risk factors significantly improved net reclassification (0.520, P < 0.001) and integrated discrimination (0.023, P = 0.031). Lower serum magnesium levels may be associated with the severity and definition of frailty independent of well-known risk factors.
Yoga maintains Th17/Treg cell homeostasis and reduces the rate of T cell aging in rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Gautam Surabhi , Kumar Romsha , Kumar Uma , Kumar Sanjeev , Luthra Kalpana , Dada Rima
Published: September 2023

The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by a Th17/Treg cell imbalance. A pro-inflammatory cytokine milieu that promotes the continued proliferation of Th17 cells is related to the development of autoinflammation. In RA, T cells have several hallmarks of cellular aging, and they accumulate DNA damage, predisposing to the occurrence of mutations and epigenetic alterations. Since the onset, progression, and treatment response are influenced by a variety of external stressors and environmental factors, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of 8-week yoga practice on disease severity, T cell subsets, markers of T cell ageing and inflammation, epigenetic alterations and gene expression patterns in active RA patients on standard disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). A total of 64 participants with active RA were randomized into 2 groups, yoga group (n = 32) or non-yoga group (n = 32); that were assessed for disease severity, at baseline and after 8 week duration, for Disease Activity Score (DAS28-ESR), T cell subsets [Th17 (CD3+ CD4+ IL17+ RORγt+) cells and Treg (CD3+ CD4+ CD25+ CD127-Foxp3+) cells], markers of T cell aging [aged Th17 cells (CD3+ CD4+ IL17+ RORγt+ CD28−) and aged Treg cells (CD3+ CD4+ CD25+ CD127-Foxp3+ CD28−)], pro-inflammatory markers [IL-6, and IL-17], anti-inflammatory markers [TGF-β, and IL-10], epigenetic alterations [5-methyl cytosine, 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine, and HDAC1] and gene expression patterns [RORγt, FoxP3, IL-17, IL-6, TGF-β, CXCL2, CXCR2, and JUN]. In yoga group, there was a significant improvement in DAS28-ESR scores at the end of 8-weeks of yoga program. The Th17 cells and aged T cell subsets showed a significant decline whereas Treg cell population showed a significant elevation in yoga group. There were significant improvements observed in epigenetic markers as well as inflammatory markers post 8-weeks of yoga practice. The yoga group showed downregulation of RORγt, IL-17, IL-6, CXCL2, CXCR2, and upregulation of FoxP3 and TGF-β transcripts. Yoga enables the maintenance of immune-homeostasis as evident by increased Treg cell population and reduced Th17 cell population. Yoga reduces the rate of immunological aging in T cells, as seen by the reduction in population of aged Th17 cells and aged Treg cells. Yoga positively modifies transcriptome and epigenome by normalization of various inflammatory markers, gene expression patterns and epigenetic alterations. Taken together, yoga reduces RA severity, and aids in immune-modulation and hence can be beneficial as an adjunct therapy.
Research on the influence of digital finance on the economic efficiency of energy industry in the background of artificial intelligence
Authors: He Qiao , Xue Ying
Published: September 2023

China's economic growth has reached a new plateau. It is no longer appropriate to use the old economic growth model, which relied on labor, land resources, mineral resources, and other economic considerations. Under the background of artificial intelligence, high-quality economic development is an inevitable trend. A new financial paradigm called "digital finance" integrates financial services with information technologies. Digital financial technology is thought to be a crucial foundation for fostering high-quality and sustainable economic and social development since it may offer more economic entities reduced cost of capital and more realistic financial service skills than in traditional financial models. In the era of artificial intelligence, how to reasonably release the momentum of digital finance for China's sustained economic growth has become a hot topic of discussion at this stage. This paper studies the impact of digital finance on the economic efficiency of the energy industry in the context of artificial intelligence. Relevant metrics were also calculated. The findings revealed that: The benchmark regression result of digital finance on the efficiency of the green economy was 0.4685 before adding the main restrictions; the benchmark regression result of digital finance on the efficiency of the green economy was 0.2243 after adding the main constraints. As a result, data finance had a favorable impact on the effectiveness of the green economy.
Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells relieve osteoarthritis in rats through immunoregulation and inhibition of chondrocyte apoptosis
Authors: Pan Xin , Li Xiongfeng , Zhang Ling , Wu Feifei , Zhang Qiang , Xu Shasha , Shen Chengchun , Liang Jinfeng , Pan Ruolang
Published: September 2023

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) in treating osteoarthritis (OA). Sprague–Dawley rats were used in in vivo experiments and divided into four groups: normal, OA model, saline, and UCMSC-treated groups (n = 6). An OA model was established by injecting iodoacetic acid into the joint cavity. The results indicate that UCMSC transplantation significantly reduced joint surface and articular cartilage damage, and the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and MMP13 in the joint fluid were significantly reduced after UCMSC treatment. In vitro experiments showed that co-culturing UCMSCs and chondrocytes promoted the expression of aggrecan, COL2, SOX9, and BCL-2; downregulated the expression of BAX and BAD in chondrocytes; and promoted the expression of IL-10 and TGF-β1 in UCMSCs. Additionally, the supernatant of UCMSCs inhibited the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α in the articular cavity and promoted the expression of COL2 and aggrecan in vivo. These effects were impaired when IL-10 and TGF-β1 were removed. Collectively, UCMSC transplantation appears to improve joint pathology, reduce inflammatory factors, and decrease chondrocyte apoptosis, likely through the involvement of IL-10 and TGF-β1, thus providing a potential therapeutic option for patients with OA.
Atlantic-Pacific influence on western U.S. hydroclimate and water resources
Authors: Stone Luke , Strong Courtenay , Bai Husile , Reichler Thomas , McCabe Greg , Brooks Paul D.
Published: September 2023

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the tropical Pacific Ocean is an important driver of winter precipitation variability over western North America as a whole, but ENSO exhibits a weak and inconsistent relationship with precipitation in several critically important headwaters including the upper Colorado River Basin. We present interactions between North Atlantic sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and ENSO that influence western U.S. precipitation, accounting for substantial variability in areas where ENSO alone yields limited guidance. Specifically, we performed a statistical analysis on hemispheric SSTs and western U.S. winter precipitation in a century of observations and a 10,000-year perpetual current-climate simulation. In both frameworks, the leading coupled pattern is ENSO, and the second pattern links an Atlantic Quadpole Mode (AQM) of SST variability to precipitation anomalies over most of the western U.S., including the transition zone where ENSO provides little predictability. The AQM SST anomalies are expansive in latitude, but its primary mechanism appears to involve a strengthening/shifting of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) over northern South America and the tropical Atlantic. The ENSO pattern accounts for a larger fraction of the total covariance between SSTs and precipitation (65% versus 12% for the AQM pattern), but the percent anomalies of precipitation associated with ENSO and the AQM are comparable in magnitude, meaning 20% or larger over much of the western U.S. The interaction between ENSO and AQM influences precipitation across the western U.S., with cold AQM generally reducing precipitation irrespective of ENSO whereas warm AQM increases the amount of precipitation and the area of influence of ENSO; knowledge of these interactions can increase predictability of western U.S. precipitation.
Prolonged dephasing time of ensemble of moiré-trapped interlayer excitons in WSe2-MoSe2 heterobilayers
Authors: Durmuş Mehmet Atıf , Demiralay Kaan , Khan Muhammad Mansoor , Atalay Şeyma Esra , Sarpkaya Ibrahim
Published: September 2023

The moiré superlattices of transition metal dichalcogenide heterobilayers have a pronounced effect on the optical properties of interlayer excitons (IXs) and have been intensively studied in recent years. However, the impact of moiré potentials on the temporal coherence of the IXs has not yet been investigated in detail. Here, we systematically investigate the coherence properties of both the ensemble of delocalized and the ensemble of localized IXs trapped in moiré potentials of the hexagonal boron nitride encapsulated WSe2-MoSe2 heterostructures. Our low-temperature first-order correlation measurements show that prolonged T2 dephasing times with values up to 730 fs can be obtained from the ensemble of localized IXs under moderate pump powers. We observed up to almost a five-fold increase over the values we obtained from the delocalized IXs, while more than two-fold over the previously reported values of T2 ~ 300 fs from the delocalized IXs. The prolonged values of T2 dephasing times and narrow photoluminescence (PL) linewidths for the ensemble of moiré-trapped IXs compared to delocalized one indicate that dephasing mechanisms caused by exciton-low energy acoustic phonon and exciton-exciton scattering are significantly suppressed due to the presence of localization potentials. Our pump power-dependent T2 results show that ultra-long dephasing times can be expected if the dephasing time measurements are performed with the narrow photoluminescence emission line of a single moiré-trapped IX at a low pump power regime. The prolonged values of IX dephasing times would be critical for the applications of quantum information science and the development of two-dimensional material-based nanolasers.
Delineating mouse β-cell identity during lifetime and in diabetes with a single cell atlas
Authors: Hrovatin Karin , Bastidas-Ponce Aimée , Bakhti Mostafa , Zappia Luke , Büttner Maren , Salinno Ciro , Sterr Michael , Böttcher Anika , Migliorini Adriana , Lickert Heiko , Theis Fabian J.
Published: September 2023

Although multiple pancreatic islet single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets have been generated, a consensus on pancreatic cell states in development, homeostasis and diabetes as well as the value of preclinical animal models is missing. Here, we present an scRNA-seq cross-condition mouse islet atlas (MIA), a curated resource for interactive exploration and computational querying. We integrate over 300,000 cells from nine scRNA-seq datasets consisting of 56 samples, varying in age, sex and diabetes models, including an autoimmune type 1 diabetes model (NOD), a glucotoxicity/lipotoxicity type 2 diabetes model (db/db) and a chemical streptozotocin β-cell ablation model. The β-cell landscape of MIA reveals new cell states during disease progression and cross-publication differences between previously suggested marker genes. We show that β-cells in the streptozotocin model transcriptionally correlate with those in human type 2 diabetes and mouse db/db models, but are less similar to human type 1 diabetes and mouse NOD β-cells. We also report pathways that are shared between β-cells in immature, aged and diabetes models. MIA enables a comprehensive analysis of β-cell responses to different stressors, providing a roadmap for the understanding of β-cell plasticity, compensation and demise.
Dynamic lipidome alterations associated with human health, disease and ageing
Authors: Hornburg Daniel , Wu Si , Moqri Mahdi , Zhou Xin , Contrepois Kevin , Bararpour Nasim , Traber Gavin M. , Su Baolong , Metwally Ahmed A. , Avina Monica , Zhou Wenyu , Ubellacker Jessalyn M. , Mishra Tejaswini , Schüssler-Fiorenza Rose Sophia Miryam , Kavathas Paula B. , Williams Kevin J. , Snyder Michael P.
Published: September 2023

Lipids can be of endogenous or exogenous origin and affect diverse biological functions, including cell membrane maintenance, energy management and cellular signalling. Here, we report >800 lipid species, many of which are associated with health-to-disease transitions in diabetes, ageing and inflammation, as well as cytokine–lipidome networks. We performed comprehensive longitudinal lipidomic profiling and analysed >1,500 plasma samples from 112 participants followed for up to 9 years (average 3.2 years) to define the distinct physiological roles of complex lipid subclasses, including large and small triacylglycerols, ester- and ether-linked phosphatidylethanolamines, lysophosphatidylcholines, lysophosphatidylethanolamines, cholesterol esters and ceramides. Our findings reveal dynamic changes in the plasma lipidome during respiratory viral infection, insulin resistance and ageing, suggesting that lipids may have roles in immune homoeostasis and inflammation regulation. Individuals with insulin resistance exhibit disturbed immune homoeostasis, altered associations between lipids and clinical markers, and accelerated changes in specific lipid subclasses during ageing. Our dataset based on longitudinal deep lipidome profiling offers insights into personalized ageing, metabolic health and inflammation, potentially guiding future monitoring and intervention strategies.
A thicker Antarctic ice stream during the mid-Pliocene warm period
Authors: Mas e Braga Martim , Jones Richard S. , Bernales Jorge , Andersen Jane Lund , Fredin Ola , Morlighem Mathieu , Koester Alexandria J. , Lifton Nathaniel A. , Harbor Jonathan M. , Suganuma Yusuke , Glasser Neil F. , Rogozhina Irina , Stroeven Arjen P.
Published: September 2023

Ice streams regulate most ice mass loss in Antarctica. Determining ice stream response to warmer conditions during the Pliocene could provide insights into their future behaviour, but this is hindered by a poor representation of subglacial topography in ice-sheet models. We address this limitation using a high-resolution model for Dronning Maud Land (East Antarctica). We show that contrary to dynamic thinning of the region’s ice streams following ice-shelf collapse, the largest ice stream, Jutulstraumen, thickens by 700 m despite lying on a retrograde bed slope. We attribute this counterintuitive thickening to a shallower Pliocene subglacial topography and inherent high lateral stresses at its flux gate. These conditions constrict ice drainage and, combined with increased snowfall, allow ice accumulation upstream. Similar stress balances and increased precipitation projections occur across 27% of present-day East Antarctica, and understanding how lateral stresses regulate ice-stream discharge is necessary for accurately assessing Antarctica’s future sea-level rise contribution.
Transcriptional and epigenetic decoding of the microglial aging process
Authors: Li Xiaoyu , Li Yuxin , Jin Yuxiao , Zhang Yuheng , Wu Jingchuan , Xu Zhen , Huang Yubin , Cai Lin , Gao Shuai , Liu Taohui , Zeng Fanzhuo , Wang Yafei , Wang Wenxu , Yuan Ti-Fei , Tian Hengli , Shu Yousheng , Guo Feifan , Lu Wei , Mao Ying , Mei Xifan , Rao Yanxia , Peng Bo
Published: September 2023

As important immune cells, microglia undergo a series of alterations during aging that increase the susceptibility to brain dysfunctions. However, the longitudinal characteristics of microglia remain poorly understood. In this study, we mapped the transcriptional and epigenetic profiles of microglia from 3- to 24-month-old mice. We first discovered unexpected sex differences and identified age-dependent microglia (ADEM) genes during the aging process. We then compared the features of aging and reactivity in female microglia at single-cell resolution and epigenetic level. To dissect functions of aged microglia excluding the influence from other aged brain cells, we established an accelerated microglial turnover model without directly affecting other brain cells. By this model, we achieved aged-like microglia in non-aged brains and confirmed that aged-like microglia per se contribute to cognitive decline. Collectively, our work provides a comprehensive resource for decoding the aging process of microglia, shedding light on how microglia maintain brain functions.
Assessing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and barriers to uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Wollburg Philip , Markhof Yannick , Kanyanda Shelton , Zezza Alberto
Published: September 2023

Background

Despite improved availability of COVID-19 vaccines in Sub-Saharan Africa, vaccination campaigns in the region have struggled to pick up pace and trail the rest of the world. Yet, a successful vaccination campaign in Sub-Saharan Africa will be critical to containing COVID-19 globally.

Methods

Here, we present new descriptive evidence on vaccine hesitancy, uptake, last-mile delivery barriers, and potential strategies to reach those who remain unvaccinated. Our data comes from national high frequency phone surveys in six countries in East and West Africa with a total population of 415 million people. Samples were drawn from nationally representative samples of households interviewed in recent in-person surveys. Our estimates are based on a survey module harmonized across countries and are re-weighted to mitigate potential sample selection biases.

Results

We show that vaccine acceptance remains generally high among respondents in Sub-Saharan Africa (between 95.1% and 63.3%) even though hesitancy is non-negligible among those pending vaccination. Many who are willing to get vaccinated are deterred by a lack of easy access to vaccines at the local level. Furthermore, social ties and perceptions as well as intra-household power relations matter for vaccine take-up. Among the unvaccinated population, radio broadcasts have widespread reach and medical professionals are highly trusted.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight that creating a positive social norm around COVID-19 vaccination, messaging that leverages trusted and accessible information sources and channels, and more easily accessible vaccination sites at the community level are promising policy options to boost vaccination campaigns in the region and end the pandemic everywhere.