bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combining Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment for assessing the clinical efficacy of cholinesterase inhibitors in mild Alzheimer’s disease: a pilot study
Authors: Furneri Giovanna , Varrasi Simone , Guerrera Claudia Savia , Platania Giuseppe Alessio , Torre Vittoria , Boccaccio Francesco Maria , Testa Maria Federica , Martelli Federica , Privitera Alessandra , Razza Grazia , Santagati Mario , Di Nuovo Santo , Pirrone Concetta , Castellano Sabrina , Caraci Filippo , Monastero Roberto
Published: April 2024

Current drugs for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), such as cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs), exert only symptomatic activity. Different psychometric tools are needed to assess cognitive and non-cognitive dimensions during pharmacological treatment. In this pilot study, we monitored 33 mild-AD patients treated with ChEIs. Specifically, we evaluated the effects of 6 months (Group 1 = 17 patients) and 9 months (Group 2 = 16 patients) of ChEIs administration on cognition with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), while depressive symptoms were measured with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). After 6 months (Group 1), a significant decrease in MoCA performance was detected. After 9 months (Group 2), a significant decrease in MMSE, MoCA, and FAB performance was observed. ChEIs did not modify depressive symptoms. Overall, our data suggest MoCA is a potentially useful tool for evaluating the effectiveness of ChEIs.
Understanding poromechanical response of a biogenic coalbed methane reservoir
Authors: Pandey Rohit , Harpalani Satya
Published: April 2024

Biogenic coalbed methane (BCBM) reservoirs aim to produce methane from in situ coal deposits following microbial conversion of coal. Success of BCBM reservoirs requires economic methane production within an acceptable timeframe. The work reported here quantifies the findings of previously published qualitative work, where it was found that bioconversion induces strains in the pore, matrix and bulk scales. Using imaging and dynamic strain monitoring techniques, the bioconversion induced strain is quantified here. To understand the effect of these strains from a reservoir geomechanics perspective, a corresponding poromechanical model is developed. Furthermore, findings of imaging experiments are validated using core-flooding flow experiments. Finally, expected field-scale behavior of the permeability response of a BCBM operation is modeled and analyzed. The results of the study indicated that, for Illinois coals, bioconversion induced strains result in a decrease in fracture porosity, resulting in a detrimental permeability drop in excess of 60% during bioconversion, which festers itself exponentially throughout its producing life. Results indicate that reservoirs with high initial permeability that will support higher Darcian flowrates, would be better suited for coal bioconversion, thereby providing a site-selection criteria for BCBM operations.
Keine Popularisierung ohne Depopularisierung
Authors: Multhammer Michael , Werber Niels
Published: April 2024

1892 erscheint ein heute vergessener Aufsatz zur Popularität von Lesestoffen, der Überlegungen anstellt, die einer genaueren Betrachtung wert sind. Eduard Reyer entwirft eine wegweisende Theorie des Populären, die auf der empirischen Beobachtung der quantitativen Verteilung von Beachtung aufbaut und die Zeitdimension dieser Verteilung reflektiert – mit Blick auf Prozesse der Popularisierung und Depopularisierung. Der vorliegende Aufsatz arbeitet die theoretischen Implikationen Reyers heraus und erschließt einen Schlüsseltext zum Verständnis von Popularität, der zu seiner Zeit ohne Resonanz geblieben ist.
Cytotoxicity of Salvigenin from Asterohyptis stellulata in Combination with Clinical Drugs Against Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Rojas-Castaño Briand André , Hernández-Rojas Adriana C. , Pereda-Miranda Rogelio , Fragoso-Serrano Mabel
Published: April 2024

Flavonoids, abundant polyphenols in various plant-based sources, exhibit diverse health benefits, particularly in cancer prevention and treatment, attributed to their ability to mitigate oxidative stress. Salvigenin, a naturally occurring trimethoxylated flavone from the aerial parts of Asterohyptis stellulata Epling, Lamiaceae, has gained attention for its potential synergistic effects with conventional anticancer drugs. The present study describes the evaluation of salvigenin, a non-cytotoxic flavone (IC50 > 50 µM), in combination assays with clinical drugs in human colon carcinoma cells (HCT-116), which revealed significant differences as compared to single salvigenin treatments. Remarkably, IC50 values of 1.8 and 1.5 µM for the combination of salvigenin with sublethal concentrations of podophyllotoxin and colchicine (0.008 µM), respectively, were observed, indicating an enhancement in its cytotoxicity effectiveness. These findings emphasize the potential of salvigenin-based combination therapies as a promising strategy for colorectal cancer treatment, offering improved therapeutic results with reduced clinical drug doses and associated side effects.

Graphical Abstract
The Impact of the Size of Bribes on Criminal Sanctions: An Integrated Philosophical and Economic Analysis
Authors: Dahan Katz Leora , Libson Adi
Published: April 2024

This article analyzes the question of how the size of bribes should impact criminal sanctions. In contrast to the commonly held view that punishment should increase with the size of the bribe, we argue to the contrary: that the punishment of the bribee should decrease with the size of the bribe. Our conclusion is based both on a philosophical argument and an economic argument. We argue that all else being equal, as an agent’s reservation price for selling public interests decreases, the culpability of the agent willing to receive a bribe increases. In addition, from an economic perspective, the expected social harm of an official acting with a low reservation price for bribes is much greater than one acting with a high reservation price: both the susceptibility of being bribed as well as the potential for social harm is much greater when the reservation price is low.
The onset of Neo-Tethys subduction in the Early Jurassic: evidence from the eclogites of the North Shahrekord Metamorphic Complex (Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone, W Iran)
Authors: Montemagni Chiara , Zanchetta Stefano , Malaspina Nadia , Javadi Hamid Reza , Zanchi Andrea
Published: April 2024

Geodynamic models implying subduction of continental crust either consider this process happening during collision, when the continental margin of the lower plate attempts subduction, or in pre-collisional stages, when tectonic erosion of the upper plate or subduction of continental extensional allochthons drag continental crust in the subduction channel. In the Zagros orogen (W Iran), high-pressure rocks are known only from the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone, NE of the Main Zagros Thrust. Here, eclogites of the North Shahrekord Metamorphic Complex suggest subduction of continental crust slices derived from the upper plate (Central Iran) during the onset of the Neo-Tethys subduction along the southern margin of Iran. Eclogites record a clockwise pressure-temperature-time path, with pre-eclogitic epidote-amphibolites-facies phase assemblages preserved in garnet cores, a high-pressure stage, and a subsequent retrogression at amphibolite-facies conditions. By means of forward thermodynamic modelling and 40Ar/39Ar geochronology, the peak metamorphism has been constrained at 1.9-2.1 GPa and 550-600 °C, in the 191-194 Ma time span. The following retrogression during exhumation lasted at least until 144 Ma. Our data suggest that the onset of the Neo-Tethys subduction traces back prior to 190 Ma, involving together with the Neo-Tethys oceanic lithosphere also slices of the upper plate continental crust scraped off by means of tectonic erosion processes.
Statistical analysis of species association indices
Authors: Mendoza Manuel , Mendoza Eduardo , Gutiérrez-Peña E.
Published: April 2024

The study of species association is of great interest in ecology due to its role in understanding key issues such as patterns of habitat use by animals, species coexistence, biotic interactions, and in general factors affecting community structure and assembly. There are many indices that ecologists commonly use, all based on the observed frequencies of organism occurrences, to evaluate the association between a pair of species. However, few of these indices correspond to proper statistical measures of association, and the inferential aspects of their analysis are often overlooked. In this paper, we propose a Bayesian approach based on a simple multinomial-Dirichlet structure to provide a comprehensive inferential framework for any set of association indices. Our approach provides a full statistical analysis for any association index of interest, free of special requirements on the sample size. We illustrate our procedure with a camera-trapping real-dataset, but the analysis of any other dataset of the same type can be readily produced using the R package basa that accompanies this paper.
Method and Validation of Real‐Time Global Ionosphere Modeling Constraint by Multi‐Source GNSS/LEO Data
Authors: Chen Jun , Ren Xiaodong , Xu Guozhen , Yang Pengxin , Liu Hang , Zhang Xiaohong
Published: April 2024

This study applies the zero‐differenced integer ambiguity method, named PPP‐Fixed, to extract real‐time ionospheric data and eliminate the latencies of rapid/final Global Ionosphere Maps (GIMs). The PPP‐Fixed method is also used to derive ionospheric data for post‐processed GIM generation, named SGG Post‐GIM, combined with low earth orbit satellite data. The obtained hardware delays are applied to revise real‐time ionospheric data. Meanwhile, the estimated multi‐source ionospheric model is regarded as historical data to estimate an ionospheric prediction model for constraint using the semi‐parameter model. Then, the Kalman filter is employed to estimate the parameters to generate real‐time GIM. Finally, the accuracy of estimated real‐time GIM, named SGG RT‐GIM, and SGG Post‐GIM is assessed. During the experimental period, the mean differences of SGG Post‐GIM and SGG RT‐GIM relative to GIMs provided by the international Global Navigation Satellite System service, named IGSG, are −0.46 and −0.57 Total Electron Content Unit (TECU), respectively. The corresponding Root Mean Square (RMS) values are 1.64 and 3.08 TECU. Over the test period, the mean positioning errors of the single‐frequency precise point positioning corrected by IGSG, SGG Post‐GIM, SGG RT‐GIM, and Klobuchar model are 0.14, 0.19, 0.21, and 0.25 m in the horizontal direction, respectively, while the corresponding errors are 0.36, 0.33, 0.38, and 0.64 m in the up direction. Further, the mean biases of experimental days for the self‐consistency assessment are 0.06, −0.01, and −0.07 TECU for IGSG, SGG Post‐GIM, and SGG RT‐GIM, respectively. The corresponding RMS values are 1.19, 1.15, and 1.57 TECU.
PGC-1a mediated mitochondrial biogenesis promotes recovery and survival of neuronal cells from cellular degeneration
Authors: You Wenting , Knoops Kèvin , Berendschot Tos T. J. M. , Benedikter Birke J. , Webers Carroll A. B. , Reutelingsperger Chris P. M. , Gorgels Theo G. M. F.
Published: April 2024

Neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by the progressive loss of structure and function of neurons, often including the death of the neuron. Previously, we reported that, by removing the cell death stimulus, dying/injured neurons could survive and recover from the process of regulated cell death, even if the cells already displayed various signs of cellular damage. Now we investigated the role of mitochondrial dynamics (fission/fusion, biogenesis, mitophagy) in both degeneration and in recovery of neuronal cells. In neuronal PC12 cells, exposure to ethanol (EtOH) induced massive neurite loss along with widespread mitochondrial fragmentation, mitochondrial membrane potential loss, reduced ATP production, and decreased total mitochondrial volume. By removing EtOH timely all these mitochondrial parameters recovered to normal levels. Meanwhile, cells regrew neurites and survived. Study of the mitochondrial dynamics showed that autophagy was activated only during the cellular degeneration phase (EtOH treatment) but not in the recovery phase (EtOH removed), and it was not dependent on the Parkin/PINK1 mediated mitophagy pathway. Protein expression of key regulators of mitochondrial fission, phospho-Drp1Ser616and S-OPA1, increased during EtOH treatment and recovered to normal levels after removing EtOH. In addition, the critical role of PGC-1α mediated mitochondrial biogenesis in cellular recovery was revealed: inhibition of PGC-1α using SR-18292 after EtOH removal significantly impeded recovery of mitochondrial damage, regeneration of neurites, and cell survival in a concentration-dependent manner. Taken together, our study showed reversibility of mitochondrial morphological and functional damage in stressed neuronal cells and revealed that PGC-1α mediated mitochondrial biogenesis played a critical role in the cellular recovery. This molecular mechanism could be a target for neuroprotection and neurorescue in neurodegenerative diseases.
An enzymatic continuous-flow reactor based on a pore-size matching nano- and isoporous block copolymer membrane
Authors: Zhang Zhenzhen , Gao Liang , Boes Alexander , Bajer Barbara , Stotz Johanna , Apitius Lina , Jakob Felix , Schneider Erik S. , Sperling Evgeni , Held Martin , Emmler Thomas , Schwaneberg Ulrich , Abetz Volker
Published: April 2024

Continuous-flow biocatalysis utilizing immobilized enzymes emerged as a sustainable route for chemical synthesis. However, inadequate biocatalytic efficiency from current flow reactors, caused by non-productive enzyme immobilization or enzyme-carrier mismatches in size, hampers its widespread application. Here, we demonstrate a general-applicable and robust approach for the fabrication of a high-performance enzymatic continuous-flow reactor via integrating well-designed scalable isoporous block copolymer (BCP) membranes as carriers with an oriented and productive immobilization employing material binding peptides (MBP). Densely packed uniform enzyme-matched nanochannels of well-designed BCP membranes endow the desired nanoconfined environments towards a productive immobilized phytase. Tuning nanochannel properties can further regulate the complex reaction process and fortify the catalytic performance. The synergistic design of enzyme-matched carriers and efficient enzyme immobilization empowers an excellent catalytic performance with >1 month operational stability, superior productivity, and a high space-time yield (1.05 × 105 g L−1 d−1) via a single-pass continuous-flow process. The obtained performance makes the designed nano- and isoporous block copolymer membrane reactor highly attractive for industrial applications.
Cross-link assisted spatial proteomics to map sub-organelle proteomes and membrane protein topologies
Authors: Zhu Ying , Akkaya Kerem Can , Ruta Julia , Yokoyama Nanako , Wang Cong , Ruwolt Max , Lima Diogo Borges , Lehmann Martin , Liu Fan
Published: April 2024

The functions of cellular organelles and sub-compartments depend on their protein content, which can be characterized by spatial proteomics approaches. However, many spatial proteomics methods are limited in their ability to resolve organellar sub-compartments, profile multiple sub-compartments in parallel, and/or characterize membrane-associated proteomes. Here, we develop a cross-link assisted spatial proteomics (CLASP) strategy that addresses these shortcomings. Using human mitochondria as a model system, we show that CLASP can elucidate spatial proteomes of all mitochondrial sub-compartments and provide topological insight into the mitochondrial membrane proteome. Biochemical and imaging-based follow-up studies confirm that CLASP allows discovering mitochondria-associated proteins and revising previous protein sub-compartment localization and membrane topology data. We also validate the CLASP concept in synaptic vesicles, demonstrating its applicability to different sub-cellular compartments. This study extends the scope of cross-linking mass spectrometry beyond protein structure and interaction analysis towards spatial proteomics, and establishes a method for concomitant profiling of sub-organelle and membrane proteomes.
Improvement of immune dysregulation in individuals with long COVID at 24-months following SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Phetsouphanh Chansavath , Jacka Brendan , Ballouz Sara , Jackson Katherine J. L. , Wilson Daniel B. , Manandhar Bikash , Klemm Vera , Tan Hyon-Xhi , Wheatley Adam , Aggarwal Anupriya , Akerman Anouschka , Milogiannakis Vanessa , Starr Mitchell , Cunningham Phillip , Turville Stuart G. , Kent Stephen J. , Byrne Anthony , Brew Bruce J. , Darley David R. , Dore Gregory J. , Kelleher Anthony D. , Matthews Gail V.
Published: April 2024

This study investigates the humoral and cellular immune responses and health-related quality of life measures in individuals with mild to moderate long COVID (LC) compared to age and gender matched recovered COVID-19 controls (MC) over 24 months. LC participants show elevated nucleocapsid IgG levels at 3 months, and higher neutralizing capacity up to 8 months post-infection. Increased spike-specific and nucleocapsid-specific CD4+ T cells, PD-1, and TIM-3 expression on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were observed at 3 and 8 months, but these differences do not persist at 24 months. Some LC participants had detectable IFN-γ and IFN-β, that was attributed to reinfection and antigen re-exposure. Single-cell RNA sequencing at the 24 month timepoint shows similar immune cell proportions and reconstitution of naïve T and B cell subsets in LC and MC. No significant differences in exhaustion scores or antigen-specific T cell clones are observed. These findings suggest resolution of immune activation in LC and return to comparable immune responses between LC and MC over time. Improvement in self-reported health-related quality of life at 24 months was also evident in the majority of LC (62%). PTX3, CRP levels and platelet count are associated with improvements in health-related quality of life.
Climate damage projections beyond annual temperature
Authors: Waidelich Paul , Batibeniz Fulden , Rising James , Kikstra Jarmo S. , Seneviratne Sonia I.
Published: April 2024

Estimates of global economic damage from climate change assess the effect of annual temperature changes. However, the roles of precipitation, temperature variability and extreme events are not yet known. Here, by combining projections of climate models with empirical dose–response functions translating shifts in temperature means and variability, rainfall patterns and extreme precipitation into economic damage, we show that at +3 °C global average losses reach 10% of gross domestic product, with worst effects (up to 17%) in poorer, low-latitude countries. Relative to annual temperature damage, the additional impacts of projecting variability and extremes are smaller and dominated by interannual variability, especially at lower latitudes. However, accounting for variability and extremes when estimating the temperature dose–response function raises global economic losses by nearly two percentage points and exacerbates economic tail risks. These results call for region-specific risk assessments and the integration of other climate variables for a better understanding of climate change impacts.
Diversity-dependent speciation and extinction in hominins
Authors: van Holstein Laura A. , Foley Robert A.
Published: April 2024

The search for drivers of hominin speciation and extinction has tended to focus on the impact of climate change. Far less attention has been paid to the role of interspecific competition. However, research across vertebrates more broadly has shown that both processes are often correlated with species diversity, suggesting an important role for interspecific competition. Here we ask whether hominin speciation and extinction conform to the expected patterns of negative and positive diversity dependence, respectively. We estimate speciation and extinction rates from fossil occurrence data with preservation variability priors in a validated Bayesian framework and test whether these rates are correlated with species diversity. We supplement these analyses with calculations of speciation rate across a phylogeny, again testing whether these are correlated with diversity. Our results are consistent with clade-wide diversity limits that governed speciation in hominins overall but that were not quite reached by the Australopithecus and Paranthropus subclade before its extinction. Extinction was not correlated with species diversity within the Australopithecus and Paranthropus subclade or within hominins overall; this is concordant with climate playing a greater part in hominin extinction than speciation. By contrast, Homo is characterized by positively diversity-dependent speciation and negatively diversity-dependent extinction—both exceedingly rare patterns across all forms of life. The genus Homo expands the set of reported associations between diversity and macroevolution in vertebrates, underscoring that the relationship between diversity and macroevolution is complex. These results indicate an important, previously underappreciated and comparatively unusual role of biotic interactions in Homo macroevolution, and speciation in particular. The unusual and unexpected patterns of diversity dependence in Homo speciation and extinction may be a consequence of repeated Homo range expansions driven by interspecific competition and made possible by recurrent innovations in ecological strategies. Exploring how hominin macroevolution fits into the general vertebrate macroevolutionary landscape has the potential to offer new perspectives on longstanding questions in vertebrate evolution and shed new light on evolutionary processes within our own lineage.
Prevalence of breast cancer in rural population of Jaipur: a survey-based observational study
Authors: Singh Roshni , Kumar Sachin , Nakash Prashant , Kumar Ramesh , Kumar Govind , Pal Pusparghya , Mishra Shivang , Raj Preeti , Rajotiya Sumit , Singh Anurag Kumar , Debnath Sourav , Chaturvedi Bhumi , Bareth Hemant , Patel Akhilesh , Singh Mahaveer , Srivastava Anurag , Nathiya Deepak , Tomar Balvir Singh
Published: April 2024

Breast cancer, a global health concern predominantly affecting women, recorded 2.3 million new cases and 685,000 deaths in 2020. Alarmingly, projections suggest that by 2040, there could be over 3 million new cases and 1 million deaths. To assess breast cancer prevalence in 24 rural villages within a 60 km radius of NIMS Hospital, Tala Mod, Jaipur, Rajasthan, North India 303,121. A study involving 2023 participants conducted initial screenings, and positive cases underwent further tests, including ultrasound, mammography, and biopsy. SPSSv28 analysed collected data. Among 2023 subjects, 3 screened positive for breast lumps. Subsequent clinical examination and biopsy identified 1 normal case and 2 with breast cancer, resulting in a prevalence proportion of 0.0009 or 98 per 100,000. This study helps fill gap in breast cancer prevalence data for rural Rajasthan. The results highlight a concerning prevalence of breast cancer in the rural area near NIMS hospital, emphasizing the urgent need for increased awareness, early detection, and better healthcare access. Challenges like limited resources, awareness programs, and delayed diagnosis contribute to this high incidence. To address this, comprehensive approach is necessary, including improved screening programs and healthcare facilities in rural areas. Prioritizing rural healthcare and evidence-based strategies can reduce the burden of breast cancer and improve health outcomes.
Alkyl ammonium hydrogen sulfate immobilized on Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles: a highly efficient catalyst for the multi-component preparation of novel tetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-6-carboxamide derivatives
Authors: Khalaj Mehdi , Musavi Seyed Mahmoud , Ghashang Majid
Published: April 2024

In this, a three-component reaction for the preparation of novel tetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-6-carboxamide derivatives from N,N′-(sulfonylbis(1,4-phenylene))bis(3-oxobutanamide), aldehydes and 1H-tetrazol-5-amine is reported. The application of Fe3O4@SiO2-(PP)(HSO4)2 (A) as a catalyst afforded the desired products (a1–a18) in high yields in DMF as solvent as well as under solvent-free conditions.
Quantification of play behaviour in calves using automated ultra-wideband location data and its association with age, weaning and health status
Authors: Vázquez-Diosdado J. A. , Doidge C. , Bushby E. V. , Occhiuto F. , Kaler J.
Published: April 2024

Play behaviour can act as an indicator of positive animal welfare. Previous attempts to predict play behaviour in farmed calves are limited because of the classification methods used, which lead to overestimation, and the short time periods that calves are observed. The study aimed to automatically classify and quantify play behaviour in farmed calves using location data from ultra-wide band sensors and to investigate factors associated with play behaviour. Location data were collected from 46 calves in three cohorts for a period of 18 weeks. Behavioural observations from video footage were merged with location data to obtain a total of 101.36 h of labelled data. An AdaBoost ensemble learning algorithm was implemented to classify play behaviour. To account for overestimation, generally seen in low-prevalence behaviours, an adjusted count technique was applied to the outputs of the classifier. Two generalized linear mixed models were fitted to investigate factors (e.g. age, health) associated with duration of play and number of play instances per day. Our algorithm identified play behaviour with > 94% accuracy when evaluated on the test set with no animals used for training, and 16% overestimation, which was computed based on the predicted number of samples of play versus the number of samples labelled as play on the test set. The instances and duration of play behaviour per day significantly decreased with age and sickness, whilst play behaviour significantly increased during and after weaning. The instances of play also significantly decreased as mean temperature increased. We suggest that the quantification method that we used could be used to detect and monitor other low prevalence behaviours (e.g. social grooming) from location data, including indicators of positive welfare.
Recovery of neurophysiological measures in post-COVID fatigue: a 12-month longitudinal follow-up study
Authors: Maffitt Natalie J. , Germann Maria , Baker Anne M. E. , Baker Mark R. , Baker Stuart N. , Soteropoulos Demetris S.
Published: April 2024

One of the major consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the significant incidence of persistent fatigue following resolution of an acute infection (i.e. post-COVID fatigue). We have shown previously that, in comparison to healthy controls, those suffering from post-COVID fatigue exhibit changes in muscle physiology, cortical circuitry, and autonomic function. Whether these changes preceded infection, potentially predisposing people to developing post-COVID fatigue, or whether the changes were a consequence of infection was unclear. Here we present results of a 12-month longitudinal study of 18 participants from the same cohort of post-COVID fatigue sufferers to investigate these correlates of fatigue over time. We report improvements in self-perception of the impact of fatigue via questionnaires, as well as significant improvements in objective measures of peripheral muscle fatigue and autonomic function, bringing them closer to healthy controls. Additionally, we found reductions in muscle twitch tension rise times, becoming faster than controls, suggesting that the improvement in muscle fatigability might be due to a process of adaptation rather than simply a return to baseline function.
Phase-change behavior of RuSbTe thin film for photonic applications with amplitude-only modulation
Authors: Hatayama Shogo , Makino Kotaro , Saito Yuta
Published: April 2024

Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST), the most mature phase-change materials (PCM), functions as a recoding layer in nonvolatile memory and optical discs by contrasting the physical properties upon phase transition between amorphous and crystalline phases. However, GST faces challenges such as a large extinction coefficient (k) and low thermal stability of the amorphous phase. In this study, we introduce RuSbTe as a new PCM to address the GST concerns. Notably, the crystallization temperature of the amorphous RuSbTe is approximately 350 °C, significantly higher than GST. A one-order-of-magnitude increase in the resistivity contrast was observed upon phase transition. The crystalline (0.35–0.50 eV) and amorphous (0.26–0.37 eV) phases exhibit relatively small band gap values, resulting in substantial k. Although RuSbTe demonstrates a k difference of approximately 1 upon crystallization at the telecommunications C-band, the refractive index (n) difference is negligible. Unlike GST, which induces both phase retardation and amplitude modulation in its optical switch device, RuSbTe exhibits amplitude-only modulation. This study suggests that RuSbTe has the potential to enable new photonic computing devices that can independently control the phase and amplitude. Combining RuSbTe with phase-only modulators could open avenues for advanced applications.
Comparative proteomic analysis of papaya bud flowers reveals metabolic signatures and pathways driving hermaphrodite development
Authors: Pereira Duarte Rafaela , Cancela Ramos Helaine Christine , Rodrigues Xavier Lucas , Azevedo Vimercati Pirovani Adriana , Souza Rodrigues Alex , Turquetti-Moraes Dayana Kelly , Rodrigues da Silva Junior Izaias , Motta Venâncio Thiago , Silveira Vanildo , Gonzaga Pereira Messias
Published: April 2024

Papaya (Carica papaya) is a trioecious species with female, male, and hermaphrodite plants. Given the sex segregation, selecting hermaphroditic plants is vital for orchard establishment due to their greater commercial value. However, selecting hermaphrodite plants through sexing is laborious and costly. Moreover, environmental stressors can exacerbate the issue by potentially inducing abnormal flower development, thus affecting fruit quality. Despite these challenges, the molecular mechanisms governing sex development in papaya remain poorly understood. Thus, this study aimed to identify proteins associated with sex development in female and hermaphrodite flowers of papaya through comparative proteomic analysis. Proteins from flower buds at the early and late developmental stages of three papaya genotypes (UENF-CALIMAN 01, JS12, and Sunrise Solo 72/12) were studied via proteomic analysis via the combination of the shotgun method and nanoESI-HDMSE technology. In buds at an early stage of development, 496 (35.9%) proteins exhibited significantly different abundances between sexes for the SS72/12 genotype, 139 (10%) for the JS12 genotype, and 165 (11.9%) for the UC-01 genotype. At the final stage of development, there were 181 (13.5%) for SS72/12, 113 (8.4%) for JS12, and 125 (9.1%) for UC-01. The large group of differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) between the sexes was related to metabolism, as shown by the observation of only the proteins that exhibited the same pattern of accumulation in the three genotypes. Specifically, carbohydrate metabolism proteins were up-regulated in hermaphrodite flower buds early in development, while those linked to monosaccharide and amino acid metabolism increased during late development. Enrichment of sporopollenin and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways characterizes hermaphrodite samples across developmental stages, with predicted protein interactions highlighting the crucial role of phenylpropanoids in sporopollenin biosynthesis for pollen wall formation. Most of the DAPs played key roles in pectin, cellulose, and lignin synthesis and were essential for cell wall formation and male flower structure development, notably in the pollen coat. These findings suggest that hermaphrodite flowers require more energy for development, likely due to complex pollen wall formation. Overall, these insights illuminate the molecular mechanisms of papaya floral development, revealing complex regulatory networks and energetic demands in the formation of male reproductive structures.
Training strategies of 10,074 athletes from 121 countries based on human development index in early COVID-19 lockdown
Authors: Galy Olivier , Washif Jad Adrian , Wattelez Guillaume , Farooq Abdulaziz , Hue Olivier , Sandbakk Øyvind , Beaven Christopher Martyn , Seiler Stephen , Ding Ding , Pyne David B. , Chamari Karim
Published: April 2024

The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between changes in training practices and human development index (HDI) levels, and identify strategies employed by athletes who consistently maintained their training quantity during the first 100 days of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 10,074 athletes (5290 amateur and 4787 professional athletes from 121 countries) completed an online survey between 17 May to 5 July 2020. We explored their training practices, including specific questions on training frequency, duration and quantity before and during lockdown (March–June 2020), stratified according to the human development index (HDI): low-medium, high, or very high HDI. During the COVID-19 lockdown, athletes in low-medium HDI countries focused on innovative training. Nevertheless, women and amateur athletes experienced a substantial reduction in training activity. Performance-driven athletes and athletes from higher HDI indexed countries, were likely to have more opportunities to diversify training activities during lockdowns, facilitated by the flexibility to perform training away from home. Factors such as lockdown rules, socioeconomic environment, and training education limited training diversification and approaches, particularly in low-medium and high HDI countries. Athletes (amateurs and professionals) who maintained the quantity of training during lockdown appeared to prioritize basic cardiovascular and strength training, irrespective of HDI level. Modifying training and fitness programs may help mitigate the decrease in training activities during lockdowns. Customized training prescriptions based on gender, performance, and HDI level will assist individuals to effectively perform and maintain training activities during lockdowns, or other challenging (lockdown-like) situations.
ANTsX neuroimaging-derived structural phenotypes of UK Biobank
Authors: Tustison Nicholas J. , Yassa Michael A. , Rizvi Batool , Cook Philip A. , Holbrook Andrew J. , Sathishkumar Mithra T. , Tustison Mia G. , Gee James C. , Stone James R. , Avants Brian B.
Published: April 2024

UK Biobank is a large-scale epidemiological resource for investigating prospective correlations between various lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors with health and disease progression. In addition to individual subject information obtained through surveys and physical examinations, a comprehensive neuroimaging battery consisting of multiple modalities provides imaging-derived phenotypes (IDPs) that can serve as biomarkers in neuroscience research. In this study, we augment the existing set of UK Biobank neuroimaging structural IDPs, obtained from well-established software libraries such as FSL and FreeSurfer, with related measurements acquired through the Advanced Normalization Tools Ecosystem. This includes previously established cortical and subcortical measurements defined, in part, based on the Desikan-Killiany-Tourville atlas. Also included are morphological measurements from two recent developments: medial temporal lobe parcellation of hippocampal and extra-hippocampal regions in addition to cerebellum parcellation and thickness based on the Schmahmann anatomical labeling. Through predictive modeling, we assess the clinical utility of these IDP measurements, individually and in combination, using commonly studied phenotypic correlates including age, fluid intelligence, numeric memory, and several other sociodemographic variables. The predictive accuracy of these IDP-based models, in terms of root-mean-squared-error or area-under-the-curve for continuous and categorical variables, respectively, provides comparative insights between software libraries as well as potential clinical interpretability. Results demonstrate varied performance between package-based IDP sets and their combination, emphasizing the need for careful consideration in their selection and utilization.
TIMM17A overexpression in lung adenocarcinoma and its association with prognosis
Authors: Miao Lili , Wu Dejun , Zhao Hongyu , Xie Aiwei
Published: April 2024

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, demands a deeper understanding of its molecular mechanisms and the identification of reliable biomarkers for better diagnosis and targeted therapy. Leveraging data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC), and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA), we investigated the mRNA and protein expression profiles of TIMM17A and assessed its prognostic significance through Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox regression analysis. Through Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, we explored the regulatory mechanisms of TIMM17A in LUAD progression and demonstrated its role in modulating the proliferative capacity of A549 cells, a type of LUAD cell, via in vitro experiments. Our results indicate that TIMM17A is significantly upregulated in LUAD tissues, correlating with clinical staging, lymph node metastasis, overall survival, and progression-free survival, thereby establishing it as a critical independent prognostic factor. The construction of a nomogram model further enhances our ability to predict patient outcomes. Knockdown of TIMM17A inhibited the growth of LUAD cells. The potential of TIMM17A as a biomarker and therapeutic target for LUAD presents a promising pathway for improving patient diagnosis and treatment strategies.
The impact of co-exposure to air and noise pollution on the incidence of metabolic syndrome from a health checkup cohort
Authors: Tang Jia-Hong , Jian Hong-Lian , Chan Ta-Chien
Published: April 2024

Previous studies have found associations between the incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and exposure to air pollution or road traffic noise. However, investigations on environmental co-exposures are limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between co-exposure to air pollution and road traffic noise and MetS and its subcomponents. Participants living in Taipei City who underwent at least two health checkups between 2010 and 2016 were included in the study. Data were sourced from the MJ Health database, a longitudinal, large-scale cohort in Taiwan. The monthly traffic noise exposure (Lden and Lnight) was computed using a dynamic noise map. Monthly fine particulate data at one kilometer resolution were computed from satellite imagery data. Cox proportional hazards regression models with month as the underlying time scale were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for the impact of PM2.5 and road traffic noise exposure on the risk of developing MetS or its subcomponents. Data from 10,773 participants were included. We found significant positive associations between incident MetS and PM2.5 (HR: 1.88; 95% CI 1.67, 2.12), Lden (HR: 1.10; 95% CI 1.06, 1.15), and Lnight (HR: 1.07; 95% CI 1.02, 1.13) in single exposure models. Results further showed significant associations with an elevated risk of incident MetS in co-exposure models, with HRs of 1.91 (95% CI 1.69, 2.16) and 1.11 (95% CI 1.06, 1.16) for co-exposure to PM2.5 and Lden, and 1.90 (95% CI 1.68, 2.14) and 1.08 (95% CI 1.02, 1.13) for co-exposure to PM2.5 and Lnight. The HRs for the co-exposure models were higher than those for models with only a single exposure. This study provides evidence that PM2.5 and noise exposure may elevate the risk of incident MetS and its components in both single and co-exposure models. Therefore, preventive approaches to mitigate the risk of MetS and its subcomponents should consider reducing exposure to PM2.5 and noise pollution.
Single-cell transcriptome analysis profiling lymphatic invasion-related TME in colorectal cancer
Authors: Wang Liping , Ma Liming , Song Zhaona , Zhou Li , Chen Kexin , Wang Xizi , Liu Zhen , Wang Baozhong , Shen Chen , Guo Xianchao , Jia Xiaodong
Published: April 2024

Lymphatic invasion (LI) is extremely aggressive and induces worse prognosis among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Thus, it is critical to characterize the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying LI in order to establish novel and efficacious therapeutic targets that enhance the prognosis of CRC patients. RNA-seq data, clinical and survival information of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) patients were obtained from the TCGA database. In addition, three scRNA-seq datasets of CRC patients were acquired from the GEO database. Data analyses were conducted with the R packages. We assessed the tumor microenvironment (TME) differences between LI+ and LI− based scRNA-seq data, LI+ cells exhibited augmented abundance of immunosuppression and invasive subset. Marked extracellular matrix network activation was also observed in LI+ cells within SPP1+ macrophages. We revealed that an immunosuppressive and pro-angiogenic TME strongly enhanced LI, as was evidenced by the CD4+ Tregs, CD8+ GZMK+, SPP1+ macrophages, e-myCAFs, and w-myCAFs subcluster infiltrations. Furthermore, we identified potential LI targets that influenced tumor development, metastasis, and immunotherapeutic response. Finally, a novel LIRS model was established based on the expression of 14 LI-related signatures, and in the two testing cohorts, LIRS was also proved to have accurate prognostic predictive ability. In this report, we provided a valuable resource and extensive insights into the LI of CRC. Our conclusions can potentially benefit the establishment of highly efficacious therapeutic targets as well as diagnostic biomarkers that improve patient outcomes.
An analysis of financial protection and financing incidence of out-of-pocket health expenditures in Kazakhstan from 2018 to 2021
Authors: Shaltynov Askhat , Semenova Yulia , Abenova Madina , Baibussinova Assel , Jamedinova Ulzhan , Myssayev Ayan
Published: April 2024

Universal health coverage relies on providing essential medical services and shielding individuals from financial risks. Our study assesses the progressivity of out-of-pocket (OOP) payments, identifies factors contributing to healthcare expenditure inequality, and examines catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) prevalence in Kazakhstan from 2018 to 2021. Using retrospective analysis of National Statistics Bureau data, we employed STATA 13 version for calculations CHE incidence, progressivity, Lorenz and concentration curves. In 2020–2021, OOP expenditures in Kazakhstan decreased, reflecting a nearly twofold reduction in the CHE incidence to 1.32% and 1.24%, respectively. However, during these years, we observe a transition towards a positive trend in the Kakwani index to 0.003 and 0.005, respectively, which may be explained by household size and education level factors. Increased state financing and quarantine measures contributed to reduced OOP payments. Despite a low healthcare expenditure share in gross domestic product, Kazakhstan exhibits a relatively high private healthcare spending proportion. The low CHE incidence and proportional expenditure system suggest private payments do not significantly impact financial resilience, prompting considerations about the role of government funding and social health insurance in the financing structure.
A multi-cancer early detection blood test using machine learning detects early-stage cancers lacking USPSTF-recommended screening
Authors: Vittone Janet , Gill David , Goldsmith Alex , Klein Eric A. , Karlitz Jordan J.
Published: April 2024

US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines recommend single-cancer screening for select cancers (e.g., breast, cervical, colorectal, lung). Advances in genome sequencing and machine learning have facilitated the development of blood-based multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests intended to complement single-cancer screening. MCED tests can interrogate circulating cell-free DNA to detect a shared cancer signal across multiple tumor types. We report real-world experience with an MCED test that detected cancer signals in three individuals subsequently diagnosed with cancers of the ovary, kidney, and head/neck that lack USPSTF-recommended screening. These cases illustrate the potential of MCED tests to detect early-stage cancers amenable to cure.
Ginsenoside Rk1 improves endothelial function in diabetes through activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors
Authors: Miao Lingchao , Zhou Yan , Tan Dechao , Zhou Chunxiu , Ruan Cheng-Chao , Wang Shengpeng , Wang Yitao , Vong Chi Teng , Cheang Wai San
Published: April 2024

Ginsenoside Rk1 activates three peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) isoforms to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increase nitric oxide (NO) release, thereby improving aortic endothelial function in diabetic obese mice.
Protective effects of EGCG on acrolein-induced Caenorhabditis elegans and its mechanism of life extension
Authors: Song Yiming , Liu Danyang , Xie Jiayan , Xie Jianhua , Chen Yi , Chen Xinyi , Hu Xiaobo , Yu Qiang
Published: April 2024

In this study, it was found that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) could extend the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) induced by 100 μM acrolein (ACR) at all test concentrations (300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 μM).
An adsorbate biased dynamic 3D porous framework for inverse CO2 sieving over C2H2
Authors: Sikdar Nivedita , Laha Subhajit , Jena Rohan , Dey Anupam , Rahimi Faruk Ahamed , Maji Tapas Kumar
Published: April 2024

A three-dimensional MOF displaying inverse CO2 sieving over C2H2via interactive open metal sites in the pore channels.
Bio-inspired bimetallic models for electrochemical CO2 reduction
Authors: Feng Weifang , Xiong Ying , Zhang Ping , Li Minghong , Zhang Yaping , Li Fei , Chen Lin
Published: April 2024

Inspired by the carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODHs) active site, a family of rhenium dipyridine derivatives (1–3) with the potassium 1-aza-18-crown-6-ether (KN18C6) moiety functioning as Lewis acid to assist the CO2 reduction have been developed.
Superior electrochemical performance of alkali metal anodes enabled by milder Lewis acidity
Authors: Wang Linlin , Zhu Jiacheng , Li Nan , Zhang Zhe , Zhang Shiwan , Chen Yifan , Zhang Jianwen , Yang Yusi , Tan Lulu , Niu Xiaogang , Wang Xuefeng , Ji Xiao , Zhu Yujie
Published: April 2024

Weak Lewis acidity of potassium-ions promotes enhanced anion incorporation into the solvation shell, facilitating the formation of a more stable and dissolution-resistant solid electrolyte interphase for K metal compared with that for Li and Na metals.
A chelating coordination modulation method for the synthesis of Ti-MOF single crystals
Authors: Li Hui-Zi , Li Shangda , Wang Fei , Zhang Jian
Published: April 2024

A chelation coordination modulation (CCM) method has been developed for the synthesis of novel Ti-MOFs.
Scalable preparation of flexible heterogeneous graphene oxide structures for high-performance wet power generation
Authors: Gao Yu , Cai Xiaoming , Zhao Yuzhou , Huang Wentian , Lv Jian , Wang Jie , Liang Huiming , Hao Zhenliang , Tan Hongling , Cai Jinming
Published: April 2024

A heterostructured GO-rGO wet power generation device with volt-level potential difference generated by the interaction of water molecules with oxygen groups on graphene oxide and ion-induced diffusion.