bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of lipid metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Cheng Yulin , He Jun , Zuo Bin , He Yang
Published: June 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), an aggressive malignancy with a dismal prognosis, poses a significant public health challenge. Recent research has highlighted the crucial role of lipid metabolism in HCC development, with enhanced lipid synthesis and uptake contributing to the rapid proliferation and tumorigenesis of cancer cells. Lipids, primarily synthesized and utilized in the liver, play a critical role in the pathological progression of various cancers, particularly HCC. Cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming, an essential adaptation to the tumor microenvironment (TME), with fatty acid metabolism emerging as a key player in this process. This review delves into intricate interplay between HCC and lipid metabolism, focusing on four key areas: de novo lipogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, dysregulated lipid metabolism of immune cells in the TME, and therapeutic strategies targeting fatty acid metabolism for HCC treatment.
Internal Curing Utilising Recycled Concrete Aggregate: A Sustainable Approach for Improving High-Strength Concrete’s Performance
Authors: Whwah Mortada Sabeh , Mahmmod Laith Mohammed Ridha , Abdoulhaleem Huda Hafedh , Dulaimi Anmar
Published: June 2024

High-strength concrete (HSC) makes up the vast majority of materials used in the construction sector due to its exceptional mechanical characteristics and outstanding long-term behaviour. However, in cement-based materials with a low water-to-binder ratio (w/b), excessive autogenous shrinkage has become a prevalent issue. This work suggests the sustainable use of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) to internally cure HSC in order to reduce autogenous shrinkage during the hydration and curing processes. RCA was employed with various volumetric replacement percentages with natural coarse aggregate as a water storage agent (0%, 8%, 16%, 24%, 32%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) under sealed and unsealed conditions. The efficiency of the adopted materials for internal curing was investigated by determining the autogenous shrinkage in addition to unconfined compressive and flexural strength. The laboratory results reveal that the studied properties significantly improved by incorporating RCA into HSC, and the improvement depends on the substitution rate of the coarse aggregate. A better shrinkage behaviour can be obtained by raising the substitution percentage of coarse aggregate with RCA; in contrast, the strengths decrease with increased RCA. RCA can be utilised as an internal curing material for HSC to alleviate autogenous shrinkage with a percentage of around 40%, with the adopted ambient conditions in the early age of HSC with full replacement of virgin coarse aggregate. It is recommended to use 24% RCA as a substitution for natural coarse aggregate for internal curing to improve the characteristics of HSC and the sustainability advantages and reduce its negative environmental impacts.
Analysis of canal discharge management through remodeled structure at Guddu Barrage
Authors: Mukhtar Muhammad Ahsan , Shangguan Donghui , Sarwar Muhammad Kaleem , Yongjian Ding , Anjum Muhammad Naveed , Sajjad Wasim , Banerjee Abhishek , Yang Qin , Butt Asim Qayyum
Published: June 2024

As vital hydraulic infrastructure, barrages and canals are crucial for agricultural irrigation in Sindh Province, Pakistan. Any deviation from the intended design discharge can significantly impact water resource management, leading to economic losses. The Ghotki Canal in Sindh faced challenges in receiving its allocated inflow, prompting an extension of the divide wall at Guddu Barrage to 589.59 ft. However, this extension inadvertently exacerbated the problem by reducing the Ghotki canal's inflow, resulting in a 166.7 ft gap between the original and extended divide wall segments. This study takes a unique approach, using a non-distorted physical model at a scale ratio of 1:85, to assess the influence of the divide wall gap across five scenarios, varying gap width and river flow rates from 100,000 to 500,000 cusecs. The findings highlighted the disruptive effects of the gap on flow regimes, notably affecting critical infrastructure such as the silt excluder and left pocket capacity. Alterations in the divide wall gap width predominantly impact the Ghotki Canal discharge while minimally affecting the Rainee Canal. Without a divide wall gap, the Ghotki Canal's head regulator draws 88% of the designated capacity, while the Rainee Canal consistently receives its total inflow share of 10,000 Cusecs. In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of structure remodeling in barrages for effective water resource management, emphasizing the need for nuanced approaches to optimize canal performance and sustain agricultural livelihoods and regional development.
Spatiotemporal analysis of urban expansion in Srinagar city, Kashmir
Authors: Ahmad Wani Suhail , Jamal Saleha , Sharma Amit , Malik Ishfaq Hussain
Published: June 2024

Urbanization is a multifaceted process and a global phenomenon that encompasses various environmental and land cover changes. The expansion of Srinagar city, Kashmir, has changed its Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) due to an increase in population, horizontal expansion of the city, migration, and an increase in the built-up area. This has resulted in a change in Land Surface Temperature (LST). This study evaluates the dynamics of LULC in Srinagar city and its effect on LST using remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), statistical analysis techniques, and Landsat 4–5 TM and Landsat-8 OLI datasets. We analysed the LULC in Srinagar city from 2000 to 2020. The study calculated the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), LST, Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC), and Emissivity from satellite remote sensing data of Srinagar city and analysed the relationship between them. The study shows that in terms of percentage change in LULC in Srinagar city from the year 2000 to 2020, built-up area showed the maximum change (75.58), followed by dense forest (− 62.74), vegetation (− 40.2), water bodies (− 25.41%), crop (23.16%), swamp (− 8.22), sparse forest (− 7.89), and open spaces (− 6.02). The findings of this study hold significance for researchers, urban planners, and policymakers to understand urbanization trends and their implications in the city.
Hazard assessment and cytogenotoxic effect of different concentrations of mercury chloride sterilant using the Allium cepa assay
Authors: Animasaun David Adedayo , Adedibu Peter Adeolu , Afolabi Saheed Olarewaju , Abdulkareem Khadijah Abdulhamid , Ibrahim Sarafadeen , Krishnamurthy Ramar
Published: June 2024

The Allium cepa assay represents a crucial in vivo model for evaluating the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of substances. This study investigated the cytogenotoxicity of mercury chloride (HgCl2), a laboratory disinfectant and catalyst, using the Allium cepa assay. Mitotic slides were prepared from onion root tip cells grown on media supplemented with different concentrations of HgCl2 (0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, and 1.0%). The slides were observed to evaluate cytogenotoxicity based on the assessment of the mitotic index, mitotic inhibition, clastogenic effect, and root length. The results showed that the concentrations used are harmful to the cell, leading to adverse impacts on the mitotic index, mitotic inhibition, root growth, and chromosome structure. Different chromosomal aberrations, such as bridge formation, fragmentation fragments, wandering chromosomes, stickiness, binucleate cells, and micronucleus formation, were detected depending on the concentration. Although lower concentrations (0.2–0.4%) had fewer effects on the cells, they still had a significant cytogenotoxic effect (p < 0.05) compared to that of the control (0.0%). The higher the concentration, the greater the effects on clastogenic changes. The abnormalities in both mitotic spread and root growth indicate that mercury chloride is cytotoxic even at low concentrations and can cause mito-depressive effects at higher concentrations. The results of this investigation can be used as a guide to guarantee sufficient safety precautions for people and organs during the regular use of HgCl2.
New design of materials, order and thicknesses of an aircraft windshield behaviour layers to increase its resistance against repeated bird impacts
Authors: Rezaei M. , Arezoo B. , Ziaei-Rad S.
Published: June 2024

There are instances when an aircraft encounters a bird’s flock or faces a heavy hailstorm, causing the windshield to sustain consecutive impacts. Therefore, the investigation of windshield resistance against repeated impacts is crucial. In this research, various tests such as tensile, split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB), and three-point bending are conducted to extract the mechanical properties of the materials used in a five-layers windshield under high strain rates. Using this information, the bird impact on the windshield is simulated using the smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method, and the results are compared with real bird impact test outcomes, and the validation of this simulation is confirmed. The simulation of two consecutive bird strikes indicates the current windshield lacks sufficient resistance against successive dual impacts; in such scenarios, the second bird penetrates the windshield after breaking it and tearing the interlayer. Considering new materials and thicknesses for each windshield layer, a Taguchi experimental design method is employed to examine various layer arrangements with different materials and thicknesses. The configurations in which the windshield can withstand a maximum of three bird impacts in succession are identified. Subsequently, using the “the smaller, the better” criterion in the Taguchi optimisation approach, the configuration that not only prevents bird penetration but also minimises the maximum strain in the inner layer is selected as the desired outcome. Thus, a new five-layer windshield with new materials and thicknesses is presented, which is resistant to the repeated collision of up to three birds, tearing in the interlayer and bird penetration does not happen.
Developing a Bayesian workshop for full-time staff statisticians
Authors: Khalatbari Shokoufeh , Baladandayuthapani Veera , Kaciroti Niko , Samuels Eli , Bugden Jane , Spino Cathie
Published: June 2024

Introduction:

There are two main schools of thought about statistical inference: frequentist and Bayesian. The frequentist approach relies solely on available data for predictions, while the Bayesian approach incorporates both data and prior knowledge about the event of interest. Bayesian methods were developed hundreds of years ago; however, they were rarely used due to computational challenges and conflicts between the two schools of thought. Recent advances in computational capabilities and a shift toward leveraging prior knowledge for inferences have led to increased use of Bayesian methods.

Methods:

Many biostatisticians with expertise in frequentist approaches lack the skills to apply Bayesian techniques. To address this gap, four faculty experts in Bayesian modeling at the University of Michigan developed a practical, customized workshop series. The training, tailored to accommodate the schedules of full-time staff, focused on immersive, project-based learning rather than traditional lecture-based methods. Surveys were conducted to assess the impact of the program.

Results:

All 20 participants completed the program and when surveyed reported an increased understanding of Bayesian theory and greater confidence in using these techniques. Capstone projects demonstrated participants’ ability to apply Bayesian methodology. The workshop not only enhanced the participants’ skills but also positioned them to readily apply Bayesian techniques in their work.

Conclusions:

Accommodating the schedules of full-time biostatistical staff enabled full participation. The immersive project-based learning approach resulted in building skills and increasing confidence among staff statisticians who were unfamiliar with Bayesian methods and their practical applications.
Suspension in Inquiry
Authors: Staffel Julia
Published: June 2024

When we're inquiring to find out whether p is true, knowing that we'll get better evidence in the future seems like a good reason to suspend judgment about p now. But, as Matt McGrath has recently argued, this natural thought is in deep tension with traditional accounts of justification. On traditional views of justification, which doxastic attitude you are justified in having now depends on your current evidence, not on what you might learn later. McGrath proposes to resolve this tension by distinguishing between different ways of having a neutral attitude. I argue that McGrath's account is unable to account for the full range of cases in which an agnostic attitude is warranted. We can remedy this by pairing his account with my theory of transitional and terminal attitudes, which claims that attitudes are justified in different ways depending on whether they are formed in intermediate stages of deliberation or as conclusions of deliberation. I compare my view with an alternative, more parsimonious one, according to which deliberation itself is a source of new evidence. I argue that this alternative proposal is faced with a dilemma: it either generates a vicious regress, or it fails to capture the relevant cases.
The Rule of Law: A Core Premise for the Effectiveness of International Environmental Law
Authors: de Sadeleer Nicolas
Published: June 2024

International environmental law rarely refers to the rule of law. However, in fostering inter-state cooperation, international environmental agreements oblige parties to prohibit, restrict or control various activities that are harmful to the environment. The application of these constraints at the national level requires the rule of law to be taken into account.
Establishment and perturbation of human gut microbiome: common trends and variations between Indian and global populations
Authors: Chandel Nisha , Maile Anwesh , Shrivastava Suyesh , Verma Anil Kumar , Thakur Vivek
Published: June 2024

Human gut microbial species are crucial for dietary metabolism and biosynthesis of micronutrients. Digested products are utilised by the host as well as several gut bacterial species. These species are influenced by various factors such as diet, age, geographical location, and ethnicity. India is home to the largest human population in the world. It is spread across diverse ecological and geographical locations. With variable dietary habits and lifestyles, Indians have unique gut microbial composition. This review captures contrasting and common trends of gut bacterial community establishment in infants (born through different modes of delivery), and how that bacterial community manifests itself along infancy, through old age between Indian and global populations. Because dysbiosis of the gut community structure is associated with various diseases, this review also highlights the common and unique bacterial species associated with various communicable as well as noncommunicable diseases such as diarrhoea, amoebiasis, malnutrition, type 2 diabetes, obesity, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and gut inflammation and damage to the brain in the global and Indian population.
Connections between propulsive efficiency and wake structure via modal decomposition
Authors: Jones Morgan R. , Kanso Eva , Luhar Mitul
Published: June 2024

We present experiments on oscillating hydrofoils undergoing combined heaving and pitching motions, paying particular attention to connections between propulsive efficiency and coherent wake features extracted using modal analysis. Time-averaged forces and particle image velocimetry measurements of the flow field downstream of the foil are presented for a Reynolds number of

$Re=11\times 10^3$

and Strouhal numbers in the range

$St=0.16\unicode{x2013}0.35$

. These conditions produce 2S and 2P wake patterns, as well as a near-momentumless wake structure. A triple decomposition using the optimized dynamic mode decomposition method is employed to identify dominant modal components (or coherent structures) in the wake. These structures can be connected to wake instabilities predicted using spatial stability analyses. Examining the modal components of the wake provides insightful explanations into the transition from drag to thrust production, and conditions that lead to peak propulsive efficiency. In particular, we find modes that correspond to the primary vortex development in the wakes. Other modal components capture elements of bluff body shedding at Strouhal numbers below the optimum for peak propulsive efficiency and characteristics of separation for Strouhal numbers higher than the optimum.
Usefulness of Information for Achieving Goals with Disjunctive Premises
Authors: da Costa Pereira Célia , Cholvy Laurence
Published: June 2024

We propose a logic-based framework to model a system whose aim is to help provide the user with those pieces of information that are useful with respect to his/her current information need, as well as relevant to his/her query. More precisely, we propose three measures of information usefulness which take into account the fact that the user can be represented as a cognitive agent endowed with some beliefs—a partial “picture” about what it already knows—and goals—a certain state of affairs in which the agent would like to be. This paper extends a previous version of the framework by considering a more realistic hypothesis, according to which there are several ways to achieve goals. We present three different approaches: thebinary approach, theordinal approach, and thenumerical approach. We take information retrieval (IR) as a particular application domain, and we compare some existing measures with the usefulness measure we introduce here.
How are weeds named? A committee review of the WSSA composite list of names
Authors: Piskáčková Theresa Reinhardt , Gage Karla L. , Law Eugene P. , Schwartz-Lazaro Lauren M. , Campbell Joan M. , Taliga Christine
Published: June 2024

Plant names carry a significant amount of information without providing a lengthy description. This is an efficient shorthand for scientists and stakeholders to communicate about a plant, but only when the name is based on a common understanding. It is standard to think of each plant having just two names, a common name and a scientific name, yet both names can be a source of confusion. There are often many common names that refer to the same plant, or a single common name that refers to multiple different species, and some plants have no common name at all. Scientific names are based upon international standards; however, when the taxonomy is not agreed upon, two scientific names may be used to describe the same species. Weed scientists and practitioners can easily memorize multiple plant names and know that they refer to the same species, but when we consider global communication and far-reaching databases, it becomes very relevant to consider two sides of this shift: (1) a need for greater standardization (due to database management and risk of lost data from dropped cross-referencing); and (2) the loss of local heritage, which provides useful meaning through various common names. In addition, weed scientists can be resistant to changing names that they learned or frequently use. The developments in online databases and reclassification of plant taxonomy by phylogenetic relationships have changed the accessibility and role of the list of standardized plant names compiled by the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA). As part of an attempt to reconcile WSSA and USDA common names for weedy plants, the WSSA Standardized Plant Names Committee recently concluded an extensive review of the Composite List of Weeds common names and had small changes approved to about 10% of the list of more than 2,800 distinct species.
Lagged Response of MJO Convection and Precipitation to Solar Ultraviolet Variations on Intraseasonal Time Scales
Authors: Hoopes C. A. , Hood L. L. , Galarneau T. J.
Published: June 2024

Composite analyses of NOAA satellite‐based outgoing longwave radiation data and ERA5 reanalysis data for nearly six solar maximum periods support the existence of a response of tropical convection and precipitation to short‐term (∼27‐day) solar ultraviolet variations. Following solar UV peaks, the response consists of an increase in average convection and precipitation in the equatorial Indian Ocean and a decrease in the western and central tropical Pacific, with maximum amplitude at a lag of 4 to 8 days. The opposite occurs following short‐term solar UV minima. The observed responses are most detectable when the Madden‐Julian oscillation (MJO) is active and appear to be related to a reduced ability of the MJO to propagate across the Maritime Continent barrier following solar UV peaks relative to UV minima. A similar behavior has previously been found when the stratospheric quasi‐biennial oscillation is in its westerly phase relative to its easterly phase.
Lithologies and Chronologic Opportunities of Materials to Be Returned From the Artemis Exploration Zone
Authors: Patterson Ruby V. , Lapen Thomas J. , Kring David A. , Lemelin Myriam , Meier McKayla L.
Published: June 2024

The Artemis exploration zone is a geologically complex region likely to host some of the oldest and as‐yet‐unstudied materials on the Moon. We review six potential Artemis landing sites (001, 004, 007, 011, 102, and 105) within candidate Artemis III landing regions ”Connecting Ridge,“ “Peak Near Shackleton,” “Leibnitz Beta Plateau,” “de Gerlache Rim,” and “de Gerlache Rim 2.” Kaguya Spectral Profiler mineral data were used to determine the average lithological composition at each landing site. Potentially accessible geologic materials, their ages and significance, and appropriate application of radiometric chronometers are discussed in reference to return samples from each potential landing site. Chronological analyses of return samples from the Artemis exploration zone will enable the anchoring of the lunar impact flux curve, determine the absolute timing of pivotal events in lunar geologic history, and reveal the geological diversity of the differentiated lunar body.
Learning Sea Surface Height Interpolation From Multi‐Variate Simulated Satellite Observations
Authors: Archambault Théo , Filoche Arthur , Charantonis Anastase , Béréziat Dominique , Thiria Sylvie
Published: June 2024

Satellite‐based remote sensing missions have revolutionized our understanding of the Ocean state and dynamics. Among them, space‐borne altimetry provides valuable Sea Surface Height (SSH) measurements, used to estimate surface geostrophic currents. Due to the sensor technology employed, important gaps occur in SSH observations. Complete SSH maps are produced using linear Optimal Interpolations (OI) such as the widely used Data Unification and Altimeter Combination System (duacs). On the other hand, Sea Surface Temperature (SST) products have much higher data coverage and SST is physically linked to geostrophic currents through advection. We propose a new multi‐variate Observing System Simulation Experiment (OSSE) emulating 20 years of SSH and SST satellite observations. We train an Attention‐Based Encoder‐Decoder deep learning network (abed) on this data, comparing two settings: one with access to ground truth during training and one without. On our OSSE, we compare abed reconstructions when trained using either supervised or unsupervised loss functions, with or without SST information. We evaluate the SSH interpolations in terms of eddy detection. We also introduce a new way to transfer the learning from simulation to observations: supervised pre‐training on our OSSE followed by unsupervised fine‐tuning on satellite data. Based on real SSH observations from the Ocean Data Challenge 2021, we find that this learning strategy, combined with the use of SST, decreases the root mean squared error by 24% compared to OI.
A Method for Elevated Ducts Refinement Based on Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Zhu Xunyang , Yan Ke , Jiang Liquan , Tian Ling , Tian Bin
Published: June 2024

Elevated duct (EleD) is an abnormal atmospheric refraction structure with a suspended trapped layer. The precise and highly resolved elevated duct‐height‐based data (EleDH) is crucial for radio communication systems, especially in electromagnetic wave path loss prediction and EleDH‐producing systems. However, producing high‐resolution EleDH is challenging because of the massive details in the EleDH data. Direct and high‐time refinement procedures mostly lead to unrealistic outcomes. The study provides a Dense‐Linear convolutional neural network (DLCNN)‐based EleDH refinement technique based on the development of statistical downscaling and super‐resolution technologies. Additionally, the stack approach is used, and the refining order is taken into consideration to ensure precision in high‐time refinement and provide reliable outcomes. To demonstrate the strength of DLCNN in capturing complex internal characteristics of EleDH, a new EleD data set is first funded, which only contains the duct height. From this data set, we use the duct height as the core refinement of the EleD's trapped layer and the thickness of the trapped layer to ensure reliable duct height. Seven super‐resolution models are utilized for fair comparisons. The experimental results prove that the DLCNN has the highest refinement performance; also, it obtained excellent generalization capacity, where the minimum and maximum obtained Accuracy(20%), MAE, and RMSE were 85.22% ∓ 88.30%, 36.09 ∓ 45.97 and 8.68 ∓ 10.14, respectively. High‐resolution EleDH improves path loss prediction, where the minimum and maximum obtained bias were 2.37 ∓ 9.51 dB.
Role of Subauroral Polarization Streams in Deep Injections of Energetic Electrons Into the Inner Magnetosphere
Authors: Goyal R. , Zhao H. , Califf S. , Goldstein J. , Sarris T. E.
Published: June 2024

The electric fields of subauroral polarization streams (SAPS) have been suggested to affect energetic charged particles' dynamics in the inner magnetosphere, though their role on radiation belt electrons has never been properly quantified. A moderate geomagnetic storm on 2015‐09‐07 caused the deep injection of 10–100s of keV electrons in Earth's inner magnetosphere to low L* (L* < 4). Using a 2‐D test particle tracer, we present the effects of electric fields given by the Volland‐Stern model, a SAPS (Goldstein et al., 2005, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005ja011135) model, and a modified SAPS model on the energetic electron deep injections. The modified SAPS model reflects the SAPS electric field observations by the Van Allen Probes and is supported by Defense Meteorological Satellite Program observations. Simulations suggest that the SAPS electric field pushes 10–20 MeV/G electrons Earthward to L* ∼ 2.7 in 2.5 hr, much deeper compared to the Volland‐Stern electric field.
Resolving the Interpretation of Magnetic Coercivity Components From Backfield Isothermal Remanence Curves Using Unmixing of Non‐Linear Preisach Maps: Application to Loess‐Paleosol Sequences
Authors: Necula Cristian , Lascu Ioan , Panaiotu Cristian , Gheorghe Daniela
Published: June 2024

Unmixing of remanent magnetization curves, either isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) or backfield IRM, is widely used in rock magnetic and environmental magnetic studies to discriminate between magnetic coercivity components of different origins. However, the wide range of physical properties of natural magnetic particles gives rise to an ambiguous interpretation of these components. To reduce this ambiguity and provide a straightforward interpretation of coercivity components in terms of domain state, interactions, and constituent magnetic phases, we combined backfield IRM unmixing with unmixing of nonlinear Preisach maps for two typical mid‐latitude northern hemisphere loess‐paleosol sequences. Both backfield IRM and nonlinear Preisach maps unmixing are based on the same non‐parametric algorithm, and provide similar endmembers (EMs) in the two sections studied. The first EM (EM1) has a low median coercivity (∼21 mT) and is a non‐interacting single domain (SD) magnetite/maghemite of pedogenic origin. The second EM (EM2) has a moderate median coercivity (∼60 mT) and is a mixture of pseudo‐single domain/multidomain, SD magnetite/maghemite and non‐interacting SD hematite, all of eolian origin. The same EM1 found in both sections suggests that this component's grain size and coercivity are independent of pedogenesis intensity. The same EM2 indicates that a similar magnetic population is being transported and deposited, irrespective of the dust source area and loess granulometry. The approach outlined here provides strong evidence that non‐parametric backfield IRM unmixing isolates physically realistic EMs. Unmixing nonlinear Preisach maps elucidates these EMs in terms of domain states and their constituent magnetic phases.
Assessment of extremely premature lambs supported by the Extrauterine Environment for Neonatal Development (EXTEND)
Authors: Peers de Nieuwburgh Maureen , Dave Apeksha , Khan Sameer A. , Ngo Michelle , Hayes Kevin B. , Slipenchuk Matthew , Lieberman Evan , Youssef Mohanad R. , Crompton Dan , Choudhry Alia Mohsin , Guo Nan , Tian Zhiyun , Rychik Jack , Davey Marcus G. , Flake Alan W.
Published: June 2024

Background

Our team has previously reported physiologic support by the EXTra-uterine Environment for Neonatal Development (EXTEND) of 105 to 117 days gestational age (GA) lambs for up to 28 days with normal organ maturation. However, the fetal lamb brain matures more rapidly, requiring the study of 90-105 day GA fetal lambs to assess more neurodevelopmentally equivalent lambs to the 23–25 week GA extreme premature infant.

Methods

Extremely preterm lambs (90–95 days of GA) were delivered by C-section and supported by EXTEND. Estimated circuit flows were maintained at around 325 ml/kg/min. After support on EXTEND, MRI and histopathologic analysis were performed and compared to 105–112 days GA control lambs.

Results

The extremely preterm group includes 10 animals with a mean GA of 91.6 days, a mean weight at cannulation of 0.98 kg and a mean length of stay on EXTEND of 13.5 days (10–21 days). Hemodynamics and oxygenation showed stable parameters. Animals showed growth and physiologic cardiac function. MRI volumetric and diffusion analysis was comparable to controls. Histologic brain analysis revealed no difference between study groups.

Conclusion

EXTEND appears to support brain and cardiac development in an earlier gestation, less mature, lamb model.

Impact

Prolonged (up to 21 days) physiological support of extremely preterm lambs of closer neurodevelopmental equivalence to the 24–28 gestational week human was achieved using the EXTEND system.

EXTEND treatment supported brain growth and development in extremely preterm fetal lambs and was not associated with intraventricular hemorrhage or white matter injury.

Daily echocardiography demonstrated physiologic heart function, absence of cardiac afterload, and normal developmental increase in cardiac chamber dimensions.

This study demonstrates hemodynamic and metabolic support by the EXTEND system in the extremely preterm ovine model.
Fairer AI in ophthalmology via implicit fairness learning for mitigating sexism and ageism
Authors: Tan Weimin , Wei Qiaoling , Xing Zhen , Fu Hao , Kong Hongyu , Lu Yi , Yan Bo , Zhao Chen
Published: June 2024

The transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in various fields highlights the need for it to be both accurate and fair. Biased medical AI systems pose significant potential risks to achieving fair and equitable healthcare. Here, we show an implicit fairness learning approach to build a fairer ophthalmology AI (called FairerOPTH) that mitigates sex (biological attribute) and age biases in AI diagnosis of eye diseases. Specifically, FairerOPTH incorporates the causal relationship between fundus features and eye diseases, which is relatively independent of sensitive attributes such as race, sex, and age. We demonstrate on a large and diverse collected dataset that FairerOPTH significantly outperforms several state-of-the-art approaches in terms of diagnostic accuracy and fairness for 38 eye diseases in ultra-widefield imaging and 16 eye diseases in narrow-angle imaging. This work demonstrates the significant potential of implicit fairness learning in promoting equitable treatment for patients regardless of their sex or age.
Atmospheric emissions of hexachlorobutadiene in fine particulate matter from industrial sources
Authors: Zhao Chenyan , Yang Lili , Sun Yuxiang , Chen Changzhi , Huang Zichun , Yang Qiuting , Yun Jianghui , Habib Ahsan , Liu Guorui , Zheng Minghui , Jiang Guibin
Published: June 2024

Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) is a concerning chemical that is included in the United States Toxic Substances Control Act, and the Stockholm Convention. Knowledge of the sources of HCBD is insufficient and is pivotal for accurate inventory and implementing global action. In this study, unintentional HCBD release and source emission factors of 121 full-scale industrial plants from 12 industries are investigated. Secondary copper smelting, electric arc furnace steelmaking, and hazardous waste incineration show potential for large emission reductions, which are found of high HCBD emission concentrations of > 20 ng/g in fine particulate matter in this study. The highest HCBD emission concentration is observed for the secondary copper smelting industry (average: 1380 ng/g). Source emission factors of HCBD for the 12 industries range from 0.008 kg/t for coal fire power plants to 0.680 kg/t for secondary lead smelting, from which an estimation of approximately 8452.8 g HCBD emissions annually worldwide achieved. The carcinogenic risks caused by HCBD emissions from countries and regions with intensive 12 industrial sources are 1.0-80 times higher than that without these industries. These results will be useful for formulating effective strategies of HCBD control.
Plants interfere with non-self recognition of a phytopathogenic fungus via proline accumulation to facilitate mycovirus transmission
Authors: Hai Du , Li Jincang , Jiang Daohong , Cheng Jiasen , Fu Yanping , Xiao Xueqiong , Yin Huanran , Lin Yang , Chen Tao , Li Bo , Yu Xiao , Cai Qing , Chen Wei , Kotta-Loizou Ioly , Xie Jiatao
Published: June 2024

Non-self recognition is a fundamental aspect of life, serving as a crucial mechanism for mitigating proliferation of molecular parasites within fungal populations. However, studies investigating the potential interference of plants with fungal non-self recognition mechanisms are limited. Here, we demonstrate a pronounced increase in the efficiency of horizontal mycovirus transmission between vegetatively incompatible Sclerotinia sclerotiorum strains in planta as compared to in vitro. This increased efficiency is associated with elevated proline concentration in plants following S. sclerotiorum infection. This surge in proline levels attenuates the non-self recognition reaction among fungi by inhibition of cell death, thereby facilitating mycovirus transmission. Furthermore, our field experiments reveal that the combined deployment of hypovirulent S. sclerotiorum strains harboring hypovirulence-associated mycoviruses (HAVs) together with exogenous proline confers substantial protection to oilseed rape plants against virulent S. sclerotiorum. This unprecedented discovery illuminates a novel pathway by which plants can counteract S. sclerotiorum infection, leveraging the weakening of fungal non-self recognition and promotion of HAVs spread. These promising insights provide an avenue to explore for developing innovative biological control strategies aimed at mitigating fungal diseases in plants by enhancing the efficacy of horizontal HAV transmission.
XIST dampens X chromosome activity in a SPEN-dependent manner during early human development
Authors: Alfeghaly Charbel , Castel Gaël , Cazottes Emmanuel , Moscatelli Madeleine , Moinard Eva , Casanova Miguel , Boni Juliette , Mahadik Kasturi , Lammers Jenna , Freour Thomas , Chauviere Louis , Piqueras Carla , Boers Ruben , Boers Joachim , Gribnau Joost , David Laurent , Ouimette Jean-François , Rougeulle Claire
Published: June 2024

XIST (X-inactive specific transcript) long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is responsible for X chromosome inactivation (XCI) in placental mammals, yet it accumulates on both X chromosomes in human female preimplantation embryos without triggering X chromosome silencing. The XACT (X-active coating transcript) lncRNA coaccumulates with XIST on active X chromosomes and may antagonize XIST function. Here, we used human embryonic stem cells in a naive state of pluripotency to assess the function of XIST and XACT in shaping the X chromosome chromatin and transcriptional landscapes during preimplantation development. We show that XIST triggers the deposition of polycomb-mediated repressive histone modifications and dampens the transcription of most X-linked genes in a SPEN-dependent manner, while XACT deficiency does not significantly affect XIST activity or X-linked gene expression. Our study demonstrates that XIST is functional before XCI, confirms the existence of a transient process of X chromosome dosage compensation and reveals that XCI and dampening rely on the same set of factors.
Semi-empirical model for Henry’s law constant of noble gases in molten salts
Authors: Lee Kyoung O. , Williams Wesley C. , McFarlane Joanna , Kropaczek David , de Wet Dane
Published: June 2024

Henry’s law constant, which describes the proportionality of dissolved gas to partial pressure of free gas in liquid–gas equilibrium systems, can also be applied to mass transport applications. In this work, we investigated an approach for determining the solubility of noble gases in a molten salt liquid utilizing the equilibrium concept of Henry’s gas constant. Henry’s gas constant is described as a mathematical function dependent on the van der Waals radius of the noble gas and the temperature of the molten salt. The alteration in Gibbs free energy encompasses contributions from both surface and volume energies. Enthalpy and entropy are deduced from these surface and volume energies in the Gibbs free energy formulation. A comparative analysis was conducted between the conventional method and our proposed model. Moreover, useful chemical properties can be determined from examination of surface and volume energies. Our findings provide an accurate and general theory of Gibbs free energy that can be validated experimentally based on the model proposed herein. This work unifies the prediction of Henry gas constant and subsequently the entropy and enthalpy calculation for noble gases in a molten salt solution to a single functional form using van der Waals radius of the gas and temperature of the system. This functional form is then used to perform a multiple regression method to find two parameters corresponding to the surface energy and volume energy. These two parameters are consistent between all combinations of noble gas and molten salt.
A comparative analysis of clinical outcomes between conversion to mTOR inhibitor and calcineurin inhibitor reduction in managing BK viremia among kidney transplant patients
Authors: Cho Ara , Park Sunghae , Han Ahram , Ha Jongwon , Park Jae Berm , Lee Kyo Won , Min Sangil
Published: June 2024

BK virus-associated nephropathy (BKVAN) exerts a substantial impact on allograft survival, however, the absence of robust clinical evidence regarding treatment protocols adds to the complexity of managing this condition. This study aimed to compare the two treatment approaches. The study population consisted of patients who underwent kidney transplantation between January 2016 and June 2020 at two tertiary hospitals in Korea. Patients diagnosed with BK viremia were evaluated based on their initial viral load and the treatment methods. The ‘Reduction group’ involved dose reduction of tacrolimus while the ‘Conversion group’ included tacrolimus discontinuation and conversion to sirolimus. A total of 175 patients with an initial viral load (iVL) ≥ 3 on the log10 scale were evaluated within two iVL intervals (3–4 and 4–5). In the iVL 4–5 interval, the Reduction group showed potential effectiveness in terms of viral clearance without statistically significant differences. However, within the iVL 3–4 interval, the Reduction group demonstrated superior viral clearance and a lower incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR) than the Conversion group. The renal function over 12 months after BKV diagnosis showed no statistically significant difference. Reducing tacrolimus compared to converting to mTORi would be a more appropriate treatment approach for BK viral clearance in kidney transplantation. Further research is warranted in a large cohort of patients.
Predictive value of lymphocyte subsets and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio in assessing the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer
Authors: Zhang Hao , Li Yan , Liu Ya-Wen , Liu Ye-Gang , Chen Xin
Published: June 2024

Lymphocyte subsets are the most intuitive expression of the body’s immune ability, and the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) also clearly reflect the degree of chronic inflammation activity. The purpose of this study is to investigate their predictive value of lymphocyte subsets and LMR to neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) efficacy in breast cancer patients. In this study, lymphocyte subsets and LMR were compared between breast cancer patients (n = 70) and benign breast tumor female populations (n = 48). Breast cancer patients were treated with NAT, and the chemotherapy response of the breast was evaluated using established criteria. The differences in lymphocyte subsets and LMR were also compared between pathological complete response (pCR) and non-pCR patients before and after NAT. Finally, data were analyzed using SPSS. The analytical results demonstrated that breast cancer patients showed significantly lower levels of CD3 + T cells, CD4 + T cells, CD4 + /CD8 + ratio, NK cells, and LMR compared to benign breast tumor women (P < 0.05). Among breast cancer patients, those who achieved pCR had higher levels of CD4 + T cells, NK cells, and LMR before NAT (P < 0.05). NAT increased CD4 + /CD8 + ratio and decreased CD8 + T cells in pCR patients (P < 0.05). Additionally, both pCR and non-pCR patients exhibited an increase in CD3 + T cells and CD4 + T cells after treatment, but the increase was significantly higher in pCR patients (P < 0.05). Conversely, both pCR and non-pCR patients experienced a decrease in LMR after treatment. However, this decrease was significantly lower in pCR patients (P < 0.05). These indicators demonstrated their predictive value for therapeutic efficacy. In conclusion, breast cancer patients experience tumor-related immunosuppression and high chronic inflammation response. But this phenomenon can be reversed to varying degrees by NAT. It has been found that lymphocyte subsets and LMR have good predictive value for pCR. Therefore, these markers can be utilized to identify individuals who are insensitive to NAT early on, enabling the adjustment of treatment plans and achieving precise breast cancer treatment.
Effects of intravenous inflammasome inhibitor (NuSepin) on suppression of proinflammatory cytokines release induced by cardiopulmonary bypass in swine model: a pilot study
Authors: Yoon Seung Zhoo , Park Jeong Jun , Jung Jae Seung , Kim Ji Eon , Lee Seung Hyong , Lee Jeonghoon , Kim Eung Hwi
Published: June 2024

The systemic inflammatory response syndrome can occur due to an inflammatory reaction to the release of cytokines, and it has been linked to the circulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) system is known to activate numerous inflammatory pathways. Applying CPB in large animals for an extended period may be useful as a controlled experimental model for systemic inflammatory responses. The authors hypothesized that 0.2 mg/kg NuSepin® would inhibit CBP-induced proinflammatory cytokine release, and attenuate CPB-induced vasoplegia. CPB was maintained for 2 h in 8 male Yorkshire pigs. Ten ml of saline was administered intravenously to the control group, while the study group received 10 ml of NuSepin® (0.2 mg/kg), before start of CPB. Blood samples were collected at four different time points to evaluating the level of cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8) release during and after CBP. All vital signals were recorded as continuous waveforms using the vital recorder®. Our study demonstrated that IL-6 increased in both groups during CPB remained unchanged. However, in the Nusepin group, IL-6 levels rapidly decreased when CPB was stopped and the proinflammatory reaction subsided. Furthermore, the dose of norepinephrine required to maintain a mean pressure of 60 mmHg was also lower in the Nusepin group.
Retinal blood flow association with age and weight in infants at risk for retinopathy of prematurity
Authors: Cho Euna , Das Urjita , Sidelnikov Danielle , Balasubramanian Tara , Shats Daniel , Mansoor Shaiza , Forbes He Eun , Zhou Jason , Kapoor Ria , Chase Sera , Kore Madi , Williams Kristin , Saeedi Osamah , Sundararajan Sripriya , Levin Moran Roni , Magder Laurence , Alexander Janet Leath
Published: June 2024

This prospective study evaluated the relationship between laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) ocular blood flow velocity (BFV) and five birth parameters: gestational age (GA), postmenstrual age (PMA) and chronological age (CA) at the time of measurement, birth weight (BW), and current weight (CW) in preterm neonates at risk for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). 38 Neonates with BW < 2 kg, GA < 32 weeks, and PMA between 27 and 47 weeks underwent 91 LSCI sessions. Correlation tests and regression analysis were performed to quantify relationships between birth parameters and ocular BFV. Mean ocular BFV index in this cohort was 8.8 +/− 4.0 IU. BFV positively correlated with PMA (r = 0.3, p = 0.01), CA (r = 0.3, p = 0.005), and CW (r = 0.3, p = 0.02). BFV did not correlate with GA nor BW (r = − 0.2 and r = − 0.05, p > 0.05). Regression analysis with mixed models demonstrated that BFV increased by 1.2 for every kilogram of CW, by 0.34 for every week of CA, and by 0.36 for every week of PMA (p = 0.03, 0.004, 0.007, respectively). Our findings indicate that increased age and weight are associated with increased ocular BFV measured using LSCI in premature infants. Future studies investigating the associations between ocular BFV and ROP clinical severity must control for age and/or weight of the infant.
Compact metamaterial-based single/double-negative/near-zero index resonator for 5G sub-6 GHz wireless applications
Authors: Ibrahim Sura Khalil , Al-Bawri Samir Salem , Singh Mandeep Jit , Ibrahim Husam Hamid , Islam Mohammad Tariqul , Islam Md Shabiul , Abdulkawi Wazie M. , Sheta Abdel-Fattah A.
Published: June 2024

The concept, performance, and analyses of distinctive, miniaturized metamaterial (MTM) unit cell addressing the forthcoming Sub 6 GHz 5G applications are presented in this paper. Two circular split-ring resonators (CSRR) with two parallel rectangular copper elements in front of the design and a slotted square element in the background make up the suggested metamaterial. It has a line segment with tunable features that is positioned in the center of the little ring copper structure. The suggested design offers a significant operating frequency band of 220 MHz together with a resonance of transmission coefficient S21 at 3.5 GHz. Furthermore, in two (z & x) principal axes of wave propagation, wide-range achievement, single/double-negative (S/DNG) refractive index, negative permittivity, and near-zero permeability properties were demonstrated. Through varying central slotted-strip line length, resonance frequencies can be selectively altered. Moreover, the metamaterial has overall dimensions of 9 × 9 mm2 and is composed on a Rogers 5880 RT substrate. In order to create the suggested MTM's equivalent circuit, which shows similar coefficient of transmission (S21), a proposed design’s numerical simulation is carried out in the CST micro-wave studio. This simulation is after that put to comparison with manufacturing of the design.