bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and preclinical evaluation of a 89Zr-labelled human single chain antibody for non-invasive detection of hepatic myofibroblasts in acute liver injury
Authors: Pringle Toni A. , Ramon-Gil Erik , Leslie Jack , Oakley Fiona , Wright Matthew C. , Knight James C. , Luli Saimir
Published: January 2024

Synaptophysin is expressed on fibrogenic hepatic myofibroblasts. C1–3 is a single chain human antibody (scAb) that binds specifically to synaptophysin on hepatic myofibroblasts, providing a targeting vector for novel in vivo imaging agents of chronic liver disease. C1–3 and a negative control scAb, CSBD9, were radiolabelled with zirconium-89 via desferrioxamine chelation to enable non-invasive molecular imaging with positron emission tomography (PET). DFO-scAb conjugates were characterised by gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and MALDI-TOF spectrometry, and 89Zr-labelled with high radiolabelling efficiency (99%). [89Zr]Zr-DFO-C1–3 exhibited high in vitro stability (> 99%) in mouse and human sera over 3 days at 25 and 37 °C. Activated hepatic myofibroblasts incubated with [89Zr]Zr-DFO-C1–3 displayed significantly higher internalised activity (59.46%, P = 0.001) compared to the [89Zr]Zr-DFO-CSBD9 control, indicating synaptophysin-mediated uptake and high binding specificity of [89Zr]Zr-DFO-C1–3. Mice with CCl4-induced acute liver damage exhibited significantly higher liver uptake of [89Zr]Zr-DFO-C1–3, compared to controls, confirmed by both Cerenkov imaging and ex vivo gamma counting (4.41 ± 0.19%ID/g, P < 0.0001). CCl4-induced liver damage and the number of hepatic myofibroblasts was confirmed by αSMA staining of liver sections. These findings indicate that [89Zr]Zr-DFO-C1–3 has promising utility as a PET imaging agent for non-invasive detection of hepatic myofibroblasts following acute liver injury.
NMGMDA: a computational model for predicting potential microbe–drug associations based on minimize matrix nuclear norm and graph attention network
Authors: Liang Mingmin , Liu Xianzhi , Chen Qijia , Zeng Bin , Wang Lei
Published: January 2024

The prediction of potential microbe–drug associations is of great value for drug research and development, especially, methods, based on deep learning, have been achieved significant improvement in bio-medicine. In this manuscript, we proposed a novel computational model named NMGMDA based on the nuclear norm minimization and graph attention network to infer latent microbe–drug associations. Firstly, we created a heterogeneous microbe–drug network in NMGMDA by fusing the drug and microbe similarities with the established drug–microbe associations. After this, by using GAT and NNM to calculate the predict scores. Lastly, we created a fivefold cross validation framework to assess the new model NMGMDA's progressiveness. According to the simulation results, NMGMDA outperforms some of the most advanced methods, with a reliable AUC of 0.9946 on both MDAD and aBioflm databases. Furthermore, case studies on Ciprofloxacin, Moxifoxacin, HIV-1 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis were carried out in order to assess the effectiveness of NMGMDA even more. The experimental results demonstrated that, following the removal of known correlations from the database, 16 and 14 medications as well as 19 and 17 microbes in the top 20 predictions were validated by pertinent literature. This demonstrates the potential of our new model, NMGMDA, to reach acceptable prediction performance.
Genomic epidemiology and evolutionary analysis during XBB.1.16-predominant periods of SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant in Bangkok, Thailand: December 2022–August 2023
Authors: Puenpa Jiratchaya , Chansaenroj Jira , Suwannakarn Kamol , Poovorawan Yong
Published: January 2024

The growing occurrence of novel recombinants, such as XBB.1.16, has emerged and become predominant, raising concerns about the impact of genomic recombination on the evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study investigated the molecular epidemiological trends and evolution of the Omicron XBB.1.16 epidemic in Bangkok between December 2022 and August 2023. Partial spike and complete genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 samples collected from collaborating hospitals were performed. The analysis of 491 partial spike sequences identified 15 distinct lineages, with XBB.1.16 dominating the lineages beginning in March 2023. Phylogenetic analysis revealed at least four distinct XBB.1.16 lineages, suggesting multiple independent introductions into Bangkok. The estimated emergence of XBB.1.16 occurred approximately in January 2022, with an evolutionary rate of 0.79 × 10–3 substitutions per site per year. Monitoring the genomic epidemiology and evolution of XBB.1.16 is vital for the early detection of new strains or emerging variants, which may guide vaccine design and the inclusion of new vaccine strains.
Nano carbon-modified air purification filters for removal and detection of particulate matters from ambient air
Authors: Attia Yasser A. , Ezet Abd Elhakim , Saeed Samar , Galmed Ahmed H.
Published: January 2024

Particulate matters (PMs) pose significant risks to human health and the environment, necessitating research to enhance air purification filters and reduce harmful emissions. This study focuses on the preparation of carbon nanomaterials, including graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (g-C3N4 NSs), reduced graphene oxide (r-GO), and carbon nanotubes (CNT), for modifying filters in air particle monitoring devices. The objective is to investigate the impact of these nanomaterials on enhancing PM adsorption efficiency. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the modified filters’ adsorption efficiency towards PMs are performed using spectroscopic techniques such as Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). The results reveal that CNT-modified filters exhibit superior adsorption efficiency compared to the control, g-C3N4, and r-GO-modified filters. The exceptional performance of CNTs is attributed to their large specific surface area and pore volume. Additionally, LIBS demonstrates its capability to detect heavy metals like Cd, which remain undetected by EDX and ICP. The technique proves sensitive for heavy metal monitoring. This novel approach is expected to garner significant attention and contribute to the development of improved air purification technologies.
Hyponatremia after COVID-19 is frequent in the first year and increases re-admissions
Authors: Biagetti Betina , Sánchez-Montalvá Adrián , Puig-Perez Albert , Campos-Varela Isabel , Pilia María Florencia , Anderssen-Nordahl Emilie , González-Sans Didac , Miarons Marta , Simó Rafael
Published: January 2024

Hyponatremia on admission has been related to worse outcomes in patients with COVID-19 infection. However, little is known about the frequency and the associated risk factors of hyponatremia after COVID-19 discharge. We performed an observational 24-month follow-up study of patients admitted during the first COVID-19 wave. Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the main variables in predicting hyponatremia on follow-up (HYPO-FU). A total of 161 out of 683 (24.4%) developed HYPO-FU. The group with HYPO-FU comprised of more men [(62.3%) vs. (49.2%); p < 0.01], older [65.6 ± 18.2 vs. 60.3 ± 17.0; p < 0.01] and more frequently re-admitted [(16.2%) vs. (3.8%); p < 0.01). The rate of HYPO-FU was higher in the first year 23.6 per 100 individuals per year. After Cox regression analysis, the independent risk factors of HYPO-FU were diabetes [OR 2.12, IC 95% (1.48–3.04)], hypertension [OR 2.18, IC 95% (1.53–3.12)], heart failure [OR 3.34, IC 95% (1.72–6.48)] and invasive ventilation support requirement [OR: 2.38, IC 95% (1.63–3.50)]. To conclude, HYPO-FU was frequent in the first year after COVID-19 infection, and the risk was higher in older men with comorbidities, increasing rehospitalisation. Further studies aimed at evaluating the beneficial effects of correcting hyponatremia in these patients are warranted.
Nanocarrier-mediated probiotic delivery: a systematic meta-analysis assessing the biological effects
Authors: Pandey Ramendra Pati , Gunjan  , Himanshu  , Mukherjee Riya , Chang Chung-Ming
Published: January 2024

Probiotics have gained a significant attention as a promising way to improve gut health and overall well-being. The increasing recognition of the potential health advantages associated with functional food products, leading to a specific emphasis on co-encapsulating probiotic bacteria and bioactive compounds within a unified matrix. To further explore this concept, a meta-analysis was performed to assess the effects of probiotics encapsulated in nanoparticles. A comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted, encompassing 10 papers published from 2017 to 2022, focusing on the encapsulation of probiotics within nanoparticles and their viability in various gastrointestinal conditions. The selection of these papers was based on their direct relevance to the research topic. Random-effect models were used to aggregate study-specific risk estimates. In the majority of studies, it was observed that nano-encapsulated nanoparticles showed improved viability over time compared to their free state counterparts. At various time intervals, the odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using fixed and random effect models. At 0 min, the OR (95%CI) was 2.79 (2.79; 2.80) and 2.38 (2.14; 2.64) for. At 30 and 60 min observation was at similar rate of 2.23 (2.23; 2.24) and 2.05 (1.73; 2.43). However, at 90 min it was 1.39 (1.39; 1.39) and 1.66 (1.29; 2.14) and at 120 min 2.41 (2.41; 2.42) and 2.03 (1.63; 2.52). Overall evaluation of encapsulation revealed an improvement in probiotic bacterial viability in simulated the gastrointestinal environments.
Optimizing strategy for the discovery of compositionally-biased or low-complexity regions in proteins
Authors: Harrison Paul M.
Published: January 2024

Proteins can contain tracts dominated by a subset of amino acids and that have a functional significance. These are often termed ‘low-complexity regions’ (LCRs) or ‘compositionally-biased regions’ (CBRs). However, a wide spectrum of compositional bias is possible, and program parameters used to annotate these regions are often arbitrarily chosen. Also, investigators are sometimes interested in longer regions, or sometimes very short ones. Here, two programs for annotating LCRs/CBRs, namely SEG and fLPS, are investigated in detail across the whole expanse of their parameter spaces. In doing so, boundary behaviours are resolved that are used to derive an optimized systematic strategy for annotating LCRs/CBRs. Sets of parameters that progressively annotate or ‘cover’ more of protein sequence space and are optimized for a given target length have been derived. This progressive annotation can be applied to discern the biological relevance of CBRs, e.g., in parsing domains for experimental constructs and in generating hypotheses. It is also useful for picking out candidate regions of interest of a given target length and bias signature, and for assessing the parameter dependence of annotations. This latter application is demonstrated for a set of human intrinsically-disordered proteins associated with cancer.
Seroincidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to and during the rollout of vaccines in a community-based prospective cohort of U.S. adults
Authors: Nash Denis , Srivastava Avantika , Shen Yanhan , Penrose Kate , Kulkarni Sarah G. , Zimba Rebecca , You William , Berry Amanda , Mirzayi Chloe , Maroko Andrew , Parcesepe Angela M. , Grov Christian , Robertson McKaylee M.
Published: January 2024

This study used repeat serologic testing to estimate infection rates and risk factors in two overlapping cohorts of SARS-CoV-2 N protein seronegative U.S. adults. One mostly unvaccinated sub-cohort was tracked from April 2020 to March 2021 (pre-vaccine/wild-type era, n = 3421), and the other, mostly vaccinated cohort, from March 2021 to June 2022 (vaccine/variant era, n = 2735). Vaccine uptake was 0.53% and 91.3% in the pre-vaccine and vaccine/variant cohorts, respectively. Corresponding seroconversion rates were 9.6 and 25.7 per 100 person-years. In both cohorts, sociodemographic and epidemiologic risk factors for infection were similar, though new risk factors emerged in the vaccine/variant era, such as having a child in the household. Despite higher incidence rates in the vaccine/variant cohort, vaccine boosters, masking, and social distancing were associated with substantially reduced infection risk, even through major variant surges.
Bioprospecting of endophytic fungi from medicinal plant Anisomeles indica L. for their diverse role in agricultural and industrial sectors
Authors: Toppo Prabha , Jangir Pooja , Mehra Namita , Kapoor Rupam , Mathur Piyush
Published: January 2024

Endophytes are microorganisms that inhabit various plant parts and cause no damage to the host plants. During the last few years, a number of novel endophytic fungi have been isolated and identified from medicinal plants and were found to be utilized as bio-stimulants and bio fertilizers. In lieu of this, the present study aims to isolate and identify endophytic fungi associated with the leaves of Anisomeles indica L. an important medicinal plant of the Terai-Duars region of West Bengal. A total of ten endophytic fungi were isolated from the leaves of A. indica and five were identified using ITS1/ITS4 sequencing based on their ability for plant growth promotion, secondary metabolite production, and extracellular enzyme production. Endophytic fungal isolates were identified as Colletotrichum yulongense Ai1, Colletotrichum cobbittiense Ai2, Colletotrichum alienum Ai2.1, Colletotrichum cobbittiense Ai3, and Fusarium equiseti. Five isolates tested positive for their plant growth promotion potential, while isolates Ai4. Ai1, Ai2, and Ai2.1 showed significant production of secondary metabolites viz. alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, etc. Isolate Ai2 showed maximum total phenolic concentration (25.98 mg g−1), while isolate Ai4 showed maximum total flavonoid concentration (20.10 mg g−1). Significant results were observed for the production of extracellular enzymes such as cellulases, amylases, laccases, lipases, etc. The isolates significantly influenced the seed germination percentage of tomato seedlings and augmented their growth and development under in vitro assay. The present work comprehensively tested these isolates and ascertained their huge application for the commercial utilization of these isolates both in the agricultural and industrial sectors.
Effects of various types of organo-mica on the physical properties of polyimide nanocomposites
Authors: Jeon Hara , Na Changyub , Kwac Lee Ku , Kim Hong Gun , Chang Jin-Hae
Published: January 2024

Poly(amic acid) (PAA) was synthesized using dianhydride 4,4’-oxydiphthalic anhydride and diamine 3,3'-dihydroxybenzidine, and polyimide (PI) hybrid films were synthesized by dispersing organo-mica in PAA through a solution intercalation method. Hexadimethrine-mica (HM-Mica), 1,2-dimethylhexadecylimidazolium-mica (MI-Mica), and didodecyldiphenylammonium-mica (DP-Mica), which were obtained via the organic modification of pristine mica, were used as the organo-micas for the PI hybrid films. The organo-mica content was varied from 0.5 to 3.0 wt% with respect to the PI matrix. The thermomechanical properties, morphology, and optical transparency of the resultant PI hybrid films were measured and compared. Dispersion of even small amounts of organo-mica effectively improved the physical properties of the PI hybrids, and maximum enhancements in physical properties were observed at a specific critical content. Electron microscopy of the hybrid films revealed that the organo-mica uniformly dispersed throughout the polymer matrix at the nanoscale level when added at low contents but aggregated in the matrix when added at levels above the critical content. Structural changes in the organo-mica closely influenced the changes in the physical properties of the hybrid films. All PI hybrid films with various organo-mica contents showed similar optical properties, but that prepared with MI-Mica demonstrated the best thermomechanical properties. All synthesized PI hybrid films were transparent regardless of the type and content of organo-mica used.
Investigation of the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction on a palladium H-beta zeolite with DFT calculations
Authors: Boekfa Bundet , Maihom Thana , Ehara Masahiro , Limtrakul Jumras
Published: January 2024

Metal or metal cluster-doped zeolites catalyse a wide variety of reactions. In this work, a coupling reaction between bromobenzene and phenylboronic acid to yield biphenyl with the Pd–H-Beta zeolite catalyst was investigated with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Utilizing a model system with tetrahedral Pd4 clusters within the H-Beta zeolite, it was demonstrated that the catalyst exhibited notable reactivity by effectively reducing the activation energy barrier for the reaction. Our investigation revealed that the zeolite framework facilitated electron transfer to the Pd cluster, thereby increasing the reaction activity. The coupling reaction was shown to be exothermic and comprise three main steps: oxidative addition of bromobenzene (C6H5Br), transmetallation with phenylboronic acid (C6H5B(OH)2), and reductive elimination of biphenyl (C12H10). Specifically, in the transmetallation step, which was the rate-determining step, the C–B bond breaking in phenylboronic acid (C6H5B(OH)2) and the phenylboronate anion (C6H5B(OH)3–) were compared under neutral and basic conditions, respectively. This comprehensive study clarifies the mechanism for the reaction with the modified Pd zeolite catalyst and highlights the essential role of the zeolite framework.
Comparison of mortality rates in patients with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales bacteremia according to carbapenemase production: a multicenter propensity-score matched study
Authors: Baek Moon Seong , Kim Jong Ho , Park Joung Ha , Kim Tae Wan , Jung Hae In , Kwon Young Suk
Published: January 2024

The spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) poses a public health threat worldwide. We aimed to compare the mortality rates between the carbapenemase-producing (CP) and non-CP CRE bacteremia. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in patients with CRE bacteremia after propensity score (PS) matching. We performed a Kaplan–Meier curve analysis to identify the cumulative hazard for 30-day mortality. There were 318 patients with CRE between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2022. There were 252 patients with CP-CRE and 66 with non-CP-RE, respectively. Before PS matching, the 30-day mortality rates were 40.9% in the non-CP-CRE group and 53.2% in the CP-CRE group (p = 0.097). In patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), the mortality rates were 49.0% in the non-CP-CRE group and 57.1% in the CP-CRE group (p = 0.340). After PS matching, the hazard ratio (HR) for mortality in the CP-CRE group was 1.49 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74–3.03), p = 0.266). In ICU patients, the HR of CP-CRE was 1.11 (95% CI 0.36–3.39, p = 0.860). The Kaplan–Meier curve for 30-day mortality showed no difference in cumulative hazard. After PS matching, there was no difference in 30-day mortality between patients with CP-CRE and non-CP-CRE bacteremia.
Development and validation of a novel lysosome-related LncRNA signature for predicting prognosis and the immune landscape features in colon cancer
Authors: Li Fengming , Wang Wenyi , Lai Guanbiao , Lan Shiqian , Lv Liyan , Wang Shengjie , Liu Xinli , Zheng Juqin
Published: January 2024

Lysosomes are essential components for managing tumor microenvironment and regulating tumor growth. Moreover, recent studies have also demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs could be used as a clinical biomarker for diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer. However, the influence of lysosome-related lncRNA (LRLs) on the progression of colon cancer is still unclear. This study aimed to identify a prognostic LRL signature in colon cancer and elucidated potential biological function. Herein, 10 differential expressed lysosome-related genes were obtained by the TCGA database and ultimately 4 prognostic LRLs for conducting a risk model were identified by the co-expression, univariate cox, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analyses. Kaplan–Meier analysis, principal-component analysis, functional enrichment annotation, and nomogram were used to verify the risk model. Besides, the association between the prognostic model and immune infiltration, chemotherapeutic drugs sensitivity were also discussed in this study. This risk model based on the LRLs may be promising for potential clinical prognosis and immunotherapeutic responses related indicator in colon cancer patients.
Utilizing molecular docking and cell validation to explore the potential mechanisms of lupenone attenuating the inflammatory response via NF‐κB pathway
Authors: Wang Xiangpei , Liu Mei , Li Xiaofen , Zhang Mei , Xu Feng , Liu Hongyun , Wu Hongmei
Published: January 2024

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a common microvascular complicating disease of diabetes. Lupenone, a pentacyclic triterpenoid, has anti-inflammatory effects and can prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus and treat renal damage, however, the effects and mechanisms of lupenone in DN remain unclear. Thereby,the MTT method was used to investigate the antiproliferative effect of lupenoneon the cell line rat glomerular mesangial cells (HBZY-1). Molecular docking was used to investigate the combination of lupenone and MCP-1, IL-1β, TNF-α, IKKβ, IκBα, and NF-κB p65 proteins. The expression of mRNA of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (MCP-1, IL-1β and TNF-α) and the NF-κB signalling pathway in HBZY-1 cells were assessed by RT-PCR. The protein expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and NF-κB pathway were got by Western blot. Result showed that lupenone inhibited the proliferative activity of HBZY-1 cells at non-cytotoxic concentrations. Molecular docking results showed that lupenone combined well with the target proteins. Moreover, lupenone could significantly reduced the mRNA and protein expressions for pro-inflammatory cytokines and IKKβ, p-p65 and p-IκBα. Lupenone may play an anti-inflammatory role in DN treatment by inhibiting the NF-κB signalling pathway. These results provided a new understanding of the pharmacological mechanisms of lupenone in treatment of DN.
Comparison of postoperative hypersensitivity between Total-etch and Universal adhesive system: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Javed Kiran , Noor Nouman , Nasir Muhammad Zubair , Manzoor Manzoor Ahmed
Published: January 2024

The objective was to determine the postoperative hypersensitivity of two-step Total-etch as compared to one-step Universal adhesives followed by composite restorations on 100 patients by applying Total-etch on one tooth and Universal adhesive on another tooth. The bonds and teeth were randomly selected. Postoperative hypersensitivity was recorded by visual analog scale before, immediately after, and 24 h after the restoration using cold stimulus. The Mann–Whitney test was applied for statistical comparison of postoperative hypersensitivity between the two bonds as well as for any significant difference in genders with each bond. No significant difference was found between postoperative hypersensitivity of the two adhesives before (p-value = 0.57), immediately after (p-value = 0.604), and 24 h after (p-value = 0.728) the restoration. Males showed more hypersensitivity with Total-etch as compared to females before (p-value = 0.037), immediately after (p-value = 0.047), and 24 h after the restoration (p-value = 0.022). No significant difference was found between gender and Universal adhesive at all three stages (p-value > 0.05). The results suggest no significant difference in postoperative hypersensitivity between the two materials when good sample size and proper technique were observed along with the removal of bias like different patients having different pain perceptions and multiple operators having different operating skills. Males showed more hypersensitivity to Total-etch.

Trial registration number: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials. Registry number: ACTRN12622001213730. (Retrospectively registered: 09/09/2022).
Evaluation of rock and fluid intermolecular interaction between asphaltene and sand minerals using electrochemical, analytical spectroscopy and microscopy techniques
Authors: Taheri-Shakib Jaber , Esfandiarian Ali , Rajabi-Kochi Mahyar , Kazemzadeh Ezzatallah , Afkhami Karaei Mohammad
Published: January 2024

Long-time contact of heavy crude oil with rock leads to an adsorption phenomenon, which causes the rock surface to become oil-wet and appears as a barrier to the fluid flow in the porous media. However precise understanding of how asphaltene fractions influence sand wettability is lacking. The wetness of neat and asphaltene-aged sandstone was calculated using two relative permeability and contact angle methods. Then the molecular interaction between asphaltene and sand minerals was systematically analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, the zeta potential was representative of electrostatic properties and surface charge alteration of the sand after these phenomena. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis also showed elemental mapping and dispersion of asphaltene particles on the rock surface. According to contact angle and EDX analyses of asphaltene samples, the contact angle rises from 115° to 141° by an increase in carbon adsorption on the sand surface from 8.23 to 41.56%. Spectroscopy results demonstrated that hydrogen-bonding, π-bonding, and sulfur-containing compounds such as sulfoxide improve asphaltene adsorption onto the sand surface. The higher the aromaticity index and hydrogen potential index of asphaltene, the greater the ability of asphaltene to change wettability. Adsorption of surface active components would make the surface charge of the sand more negative. The presence of nitrogen/sulfur-containing functional groups on the sand surface changed the electrostatic properties, as a sand surface coated with asphaltene would reduce the percentage of metal cations.
Axially lattice-matched wurtzite/rock-salt GaAs/Pb1−xSnxTe nanowires
Authors: Dad Sania , Dziawa Piotr , Zajkowska-Pietrzak Wiktoria , Kret Sławomir , Kozłowski Mirosław , Wójcik Maciej , Sadowski Janusz
Published: January 2024

We investigate the full and half-shells of Pb1−xSnxTe topological crystalline insulator deposited by molecular beam epitaxy on the sidewalls of wurtzite GaAs nanowires (NWs). Due to the distinct orientation of the IV–VI shell with respect to the III–V core the lattice mismatch between both materials along the nanowire axis is less than 4%. The Pb1−xSnxTe solid solution is chosen due to the topological crystalline insulator properties above some critical concentrations of Sn (x ≥ 0.36). The IV–VI shells are grown with different compositions spanning from binary SnTe, through Pb1−xSnxTe with decreasing x value down to binary PbTe (x = 0). The samples are analysed by scanning transmission electron microscopy, which reveals the presence of (110) or (100) oriented binary PbTe and (100) Pb1−xSnxTe on the sidewalls of wurtzite GaAs NWs.
Dapagliflozin ameliorates diabetes-induced spermatogenic dysfunction by modulating the adenosine metabolism along the gut microbiota-testis axis
Authors: Jin Zirun , Cao Yalei , Wen Qi , Zhang Haitao , Fang Zhuofan , Zhao Qiancheng , Xi Yu , Luo Zhichao , Jiang Hui , Zhang Zhe , Hang Jing
Published: January 2024

Male infertility is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). Dapagliflozin is widely used to manage the type II DM. This study aimed to assess the dapagliflozin’s effects on the spermatogenesis by administering either dapagliflozin (Dapa) or vehicle (db) to male db/db mice, and using littermate male db/m mice as the control (Con). We further performed the integrative analyses of the cecal shotgun metagenomics, cecal/plasmatic/testicular metabolomics, and testicular proteomics. We found that dapagliflozin treatment significantly alleviated the diabetes-induced spermatogenic dysfunction by improving sperm quality, including the sperm concentration and sperm motility. The overall microbial composition was reshaped in Dapa mice and 13 species (such as Lachnospiraceae bacterium 3–1) were regarded as potential beneficial bacteria. Metabolites exhibited modified profiles, in which adenosine, cAMP, and 2′-deoxyinosine being notably altered in the cecum, plasma, and testis, respectively. Testicular protein expression patterns were similar between the Dapa and Con mice. In vivo results indicated that when compared with db group, dapagliflozin treatment alleviated apoptosis and oxidative stress in testis tissues by down-regulating 2′-deoxyinosine. This was further validated by in vitro experiments using GC-2 cells. Our findings support the potential use of dapagliflozin to prevent the diabetes-induced impaired sperm quality and to treat diabetic male infertility.
Optical absorbance profilometry for tracking time-resolved particle redistribution in high volume fraction colloidal droplets
Authors: Bhatt Sheila J. , Routh Alexander F.
Published: January 2024

The distribution of components within colloidal suspensions is important in many complex biological and industrial fluids. A convenient method of measuring such distributions in low-volume-fraction suspensions is that of optical absorbance. Here we introduce a time-dependent validity criterion allowing extended use of optical absorbance to track colloidal distribution in high volume fraction suspensions. We define our validity criterion and show its use on a range of volume fractions from 15 to 55%, and also on larger micron sized particles, common for biological cells. Within the validity criterion, we establish the evaporative time duration in which the material’s intrinsic coefficient of extinction can be treated as constant. This method enables rapid, low-cost, time-based study of the advective flow of suspended particulates, enabling advection to be straightforwardly measured from digital imaging. The residue profile predicted using our method in two test systems is compared with conventional laser profilometry measurements of the final evaporated residue, with good agreement at most radial positions.
Pioneering predictions of AKI and AKIN severity in burn patients: a comprehensive CBC approach
Authors: Park Jongsoo , Kym Dohern , Kim Myongjin , Cho Yong Suk , Hur Jun , Chun Wook , Yoon Dogeon , Yoon Jaechul
Published: January 2024

This study aims to evaluate the utility of complete blood count (CBC) markers, in conjunction with the acute kidney injury network (AKIN) criteria, for the early detection, severity assessment, and prediction of mortality outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) in burn patients. The research seeks to fill existing gaps in knowledge and validate the cost-effectiveness of using CBC as a routine diagnostic tool for better management of AKI. The study was conducted at Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital. We performed a large-scale retrospective analysis of 2758 adult patients admitted to the burn intensive care unit over a 12-year period. Among these patients, AKI occurred in 1554 patients (56.3%). Based on the AKIN stage classification, 794 patients (28.8%) were categorized as AKIN 1, 494 patients (17.9%) as AKIN 2, and 266 patients (9.6%) as AKIN 3. We defined several ratio markers, including the Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), Monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and various mean platelet volume (MPV) ratios. Our statistical analyses, conducted using the R programming language, revealed significant correlations between these markers and AKI severity. The AUC values for neutrophil count and WBC count were 0.790 and 0.793, respectively, followed by immature granulocyte count with an AUC of 0.727. For red blood cell (RBC)-related parameters, the AUC values for hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb), and RBC count were 0.725, 0.713, and 0.713, respectively. Among the platelet-related parameters, only platelet distribution width (PDW) had an AUC of 0.677. Among the ratio markers, the NLR had the highest AUC at 0.772, followed by MPVNR and SII with AUC values of 0.700 and 0.680, respectively. The findings underscore the potential of CBC as an economical, routine test for AKI, thereby paving the way for enhanced patient outcomes. Our study suggests the utility of routine CBC tests, specifically WBC count and PLR, for predicting AKI and platelet, MPV, and NLR for mortality assessment in burn patients. These findings underscore the potential of easily accessible CBC tests in enhancing AKI management. However, further multicenter studies are needed for validation.
Perceived interpersonal distance changes in young Taiwanese pre and post SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
Authors: Chen Yi-Lang , Lee Yu-Chi , Hsu Che-Wei , Rahman Andi
Published: January 2024

The persistent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, spanning over three years, has profoundly impacted daily life worldwide. Crucial measures like interpersonal distance (IPD) and mask-wearing have become paramount in preventing infection. With SARS-CoV-2 now resembling an endemic condition similar to influenza, it is vital to assess the changes in IPD influenced by relevant factors during and after the pandemic. This study concentrated on two specific stages (the pandemic stage and the post-pandemic era) and investigated variations in IPD with different test combinations. Variables taken into account encompassed the pandemic stage, participant gender, target gender, and mask-wearing status. We examined IPD data from 100 young individuals (50 males and 50 females) at each stage, with a one-year interval between tests. The results highlighted the substantial impact of all variables on perceived IPD during the pandemic phase (all p < 0.001). However, in the post-pandemic stage, only mask-wearing demonstrated a notable effect on IPD (p < 0.001). As the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic subsides, the enduring influence of mask usage on IPD persists. Nevertheless, the gap between the two mask-wearing scenarios diminishes, contracting from around 50 cm during the epidemic phase to 20 cm in the post-epidemic phase. Across these two pandemic stages, there was an overall reduction of approximately 90 cm in IPD, indicating a noteworthy decrease in perceived personal space and a consequential shortening of social proximity during the post-pandemic stage. This decrease in IPD may suggest the successful socio-cultural adaptation of the young Taiwanese individuals in our study during the post-pandemic era.
Psychometric evaluation of an adult post-COVID-19 symptom tool: a development and validation study
Authors: Kuo Po-Yuan , Chen Ping-Ho , Tsai Shu-Feng , Lin Wan-Ling , Hung Chia-Tai , Huang Sheng-Miauh
Published: January 2024

The objective of this study was aimed to develop and validate an instrument for post-COVID-19 symptoms in adults. Data were collected from adults with a previous COVID-19 diagnosis in Taiwan. We developed the initial instrument through systematic review and expert feedback. Its validity was tested using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and criterion-related validity, while its reliability was tested using Cronbach’s alpha. In total, 310 adults participated in this study. Examination of the EFA clearly classified a five-factor model with 24 items (Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin = 0.903; Bartlett’s test of sphericity: X2 = 5242.956, df = 276, p < 0.01). The goodness of fit indices of the CFA were as follows: chi-square = 635.172 (p < 0.01), normed chi-square = 2.669, standardized root mean square residual = 0.077, root mean square error of approximation = 0.073, comparative fit index = 0.922, and Tuker and Lewis index = 0.910. The value of Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the total items was 0.941, and the values for the subscales ranged from 0.813 to 0.924. The instrument exhibited acceptable psychometric properties, proving it to be a valuable tool for evaluating post-COVID-19 symptoms in patients at hospitals.
Social visual attention as a treatment outcome: evaluating the social games for autistic adolescents (SAGA) intervention
Authors: Scherf K. Suzanne , Griffin Jason W. , Geier Charles F. , Smyth Joshua M.
Published: January 2024

A core feature of autism involves difficulty perceiving and interpreting eye gaze shifts as nonverbal communicative signals. A hypothesis about the origins of this phenotype is that it emerges from developmentally different social visual attention (SVA). We developed Social Games for Autistic Adolescents (SAGA; Scherf et al. BMJ Open 8(9):e023682, 2018) as a serious game intervention for autistic individuals to discover the significance of eye gaze cues. Previously, we demonstrated the effectiveness of SAGA to improve the perception and understanding of eye gaze cues and social skills for autistic adolescents (Griffin et al. JCPP Adv 1(3):e12041, 2021). Here, we determine whether increases in social visual attention to faces and/or target gazed-at objects, as measured via eye tracking during the same Gaze Perception task in the same study sample, moderated this improvement. In contrast to predictions, SVA to faces did not differentially increase for the treatment group. Instead, both groups evinced a small increase in SVA to faces over time. Second, Prior to the SAGA intervention, attention to faces failed to predict performance in the Gaze Perception task for both the treatment and standard care control groups. However, at post-test, autistic adolescents in the treatment group were more likely to identify the object of directed gaze when they attended longer to faces and longer to target objects. Importantly, this is the first study to measure social visual attention via eye tracking as a treatment response in an RCT for autism. NCT02968225
Clinical evaluation of a novel plasma pTau217 electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Kivisäkk Pia , Fatima Hadia A. , Cahoon Danielle S. , Otieno Brunah , Chacko Leena , Minooei Farnaz , Demos Catherine , Stengelin Martin , Sigal George , Wohlstadter Jacob , Arnold Steven E.
Published: January 2024

A growing literature suggests that plasma levels of tau phosphorylated at amino acid 217 (pTau217) performs similarly to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and PET imaging to detect amyloid pathology and to provide diagnostic and prognostic information in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but a significant limiting factor thus far has been a lack of widely available immunoassays. We evaluated a novel pTau217 S-PLEX® assay developed by Meso Scale Discovery (MSD; Rockville, MD) in plasma from 131 individuals with AD confirmed by CSF biomarkers and controls. Technical performance of the assay was excellent with an LLOQ of 1.84 pg/mL and intra/interplate CVs of 5.5% (0.3–15.0%) and 5.7% (range 0.3–13.4%), respectively. The pTau217 plasma assay differentiated AD and controls with an AUC of 0.98 (95% CI 0.96–1.0) and pTau217 levels were 3.9-fold higher in individuals with AD. This performance was significantly better than what was observed for plasma pTau181, performed in parallel, and comparable to published data on existing pTau217 assays. While further clinical validation and head-to-head comparisons are needed to fully establish the role for the novel pTau217 S-PLEX assay, these data demonstrate the utility of the assay to detect AD pathology.
Derailed protein turnover in the aging mammalian brain
Authors: Rao Nalini R , Upadhyay Arun , Savas Jeffrey N
Published: January 2024

Efficient protein turnover is essential for cellular homeostasis and organ function. Loss of proteostasis is a hallmark of aging culminating in severe dysfunction of protein turnover. To investigate protein turnover dynamics as a function of age, we performed continuous in vivo metabolic stable isotope labeling in mice along the aging continuum. First, we discovered that the brain proteome uniquely undergoes dynamic turnover fluctuations during aging compared to heart and liver tissue. Second, trends in protein turnover in the brain proteome during aging showed sex-specific differences that were tightly tied to cellular compartments. Next, parallel analyses of the insoluble proteome revealed that several cellular compartments experience hampered turnover, in part due to misfolding. Finally, we found that age-associated fluctuations in proteasome activity were associated with the turnover of core proteolytic subunits, which was recapitulated by pharmacological suppression of proteasome activity. Taken together, our study provides a proteome-wide atlas of protein turnover across the aging continuum and reveals a link between the turnover of individual proteasome subunits and the age-associated decline in proteasome activity.
Efficient and safe therapeutic use of paired Cas9-nickases for primary hyperoxaluria type 1
Authors: Torella Laura , Klermund Julia , Bilbao-Arribas Martin , Tamayo Ibon , Andrieux Geoffroy , Chmielewski Kay O , Vales Africa , Olagüe Cristina , Moreno-Luqui Daniel , Raimondi Ivan , Abad Amaya , Torrens-Baile Julen , Salido Eduardo , Huarte Maite , Hernaez Mikel , Boerries Melanie , Cathomen Toni , Zabaleta Nerea , Gonzalez-Aseguinolaza Gloria
Published: January 2024

The therapeutic use of adeno-associated viral vector (AAV)-mediated gene disruption using CRISPR-Cas9 is limited by potential off-target modifications and the risk of uncontrolled integration of vector genomes into CRISPR-mediated double-strand breaks. To address these concerns, we explored the use of AAV-delivered paired Staphylococcus aureus nickases (D10ASaCas9) to target the Hao1 gene for the treatment of primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1). Our study demonstrated effective Hao1 gene disruption, a significant decrease in glycolate oxidase expression, and a therapeutic effect in PH1 mice. The assessment of undesired genetic modifications through CIRCLE-seq and CAST-Seq analyses revealed neither off-target activity nor chromosomal translocations. Importantly, the use of paired-D10ASaCas9 resulted in a significant reduction in AAV integration at the target site compared to SaCas9 nuclease. In addition, our study highlights the limitations of current analytical tools in characterizing modifications introduced by paired D10ASaCas9, necessitating the development of a custom pipeline for more accurate characterization. These results describe a positive advance towards a safe and effective potential long-term treatment for PH1 patients.
AIE active fluorescent organic nanoparticles based optical detection of Cu2+ ions in pure water: a case of aggregation–disaggregation reversibility
Authors: Saha Subhajit , Paul Suvendu , Debnath Rakesh , Dey Nilanjan , Biswas Bhaskar
Published: January 2024

This work highlights the development of an AIE active pyrene-terpyridine derivative turning out to be fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONs) in an aqueous medium which undergoes disaggregation towards Cu2+ ions in a pure water medium.
Electrostatic co-assembly of FePS3 nanosheets and surface functionalized BCN heterostructures for hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Patra Abhinandan , Pramoda K. , Hegde Shridhar , K. Aravind , Mosina Kseniia , Sofer Zdenek , Rout Chandra Sekhar
Published: January 2024

The figure shows the electrostatic restacking of FePS3 and BCN for HER applications.
Increasing the stability of calixarene-capped porous cages through coordination sphere tuning
Authors: Dey Avishek , Dworzak Michael R. , Korathotage Kaushalya D. P. , Ghosh Munmun , Hoq Jahidul , Montone Christine M. , Yap Glenn P. A. , Bloch Eric D.
Published: January 2024

Chemically and thermally stable permanently porous coordination cages are appealing candidates for separations, catalysis, and as the porous component of new porous liquids.
Efficient improvement in the electrochemical performance of petal-like lamellar NiMn–LDHs with affluent oxygen vacancies derived from Mn MOF-74
Authors: Shi Jing , Tai Hongbo , Xu Dongwei , Kang Xiaomin , Liu Zhiliang
Published: January 2024

A petal-like lamellar O–LDH as an electrode exhibits remarkable improvement in specific capacitance (990%) compared to Mn MOF-74.
Iron deficiency anemia: a critical review on iron absorption, supplementation and its influence on gut microbiota
Authors: Sun Bolun , Tan Beibei , Zhang Panxue , Zhu Lianlian , Wei Huamao , Huang Tao , Li Chao , Yang Wenge
Published: January 2024

The review comprehensively examines the intricate regulation of iron uptake and metabolism in the human body, shedding light on the essential role of various transporters and hormones in maintaining human health.
Correction: Sub-nL thin-film differential scanning calorimetry chip for rapid thermal analysis of liquid samples
Authors: Ni Sheng , Zhu Hanliang , Neuzil Pavel , Yobas Levent
Published: January 2024

Correction for ‘Sub-nL thin-film differential scanning calorimetry chip for rapid thermal analysis of liquid samples’ by Sheng Ni et al., Lab Chip, 2023, 23, 1926–1934, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC01094A.
Selective α-oxidation of amides via visible-light-driven iron catalysis
Authors: Liu Shu-Hong , Dong Zhi-Chao , Zang Zhong-Lin , Zhou Cheng-He , Cai Gui-Xin
Published: January 2024

Hydroxyl radical-induced selective N-α C(sp3)–H bond oxidation of amides was investigated via the visible-light-induced homolysis (VLIH) of iron(iii) complexes.
Pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline scaffolds for developing anti-cancer agents
Authors: García Maza Leidy J. , Salgado Arturo Mendoza , Kouznetsov Vladimir V. , Meléndez Carlos M.
Published: January 2024

Fused pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines have emerged as compelling molecules with remarkably potent cytotoxic activity and topoisomerase inhibitors.
Construction of a conjugated covalent organic framework for iodine capture
Authors: Gao Chao , Guan Xuhui , Chen Lei , Hu Haoran , Shi Lei , Zhang Chong , Sun Chengguo , Du Yang , Hu Bingcheng
Published: January 2024

A conjugated two-dimensional covalent organic framework, TPB-TMPD-COF, has been constructed for iodine capture, which exhibited a vapor high iodine capacity of 4.75 g g−1 at 350 K and atmospheric pressure conditions.
Retraction: Robust, highly active, and stable supported Co(ii) nanoparticles on magnetic cellulose nanofiber-functionalized for the multi-component reactions of piperidines and alcohol oxidation
Authors: Ghamari Kargar Pouya , Bagherzade Ghodsieh
Published: January 2024

Retraction of ‘Robust, highly active, and stable supported Co(ii) nanoparticles on magnetic cellulose nanofiber-functionalized for the multi-component reactions of piperidines and alcohol oxidation’ by Pouya Ghamari Kargar et al., RSC Adv., 2021, 11, 23192–23206, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RA00208B.
Retraction: Introduction of a trinuclear manganese(iii) catalyst on the surface of magnetic cellulose as an eco-benign, efficient and reusable novel heterogeneous catalyst for the multi-component synthesis of new derivatives of xanthene
Authors: kargar Pouya Ghamari , Bagherzade Ghodsieh , Eshghi Hossein
Published: January 2024

Retraction of ‘Introduction of a trinuclear manganese(iii) catalyst on the surface of magnetic cellulose as an eco-benign, efficient and reusable novel heterogeneous catalyst for the multi-component synthesis of new derivatives of xanthene’ by Pouya Ghamari kargar et al., RSC Adv., 2021, 11, 4339–4355, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0RA09420J.