bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization of keratinase production by keratinolytic fungus Chrysosporium tropicum and its potentiality in bidegradation of chicken feathers
Authors: Koutb Mostafa M. , Hassan Elhagag A. , Morsy Fatthy M. , Bagy Magdy M. K.
Published: December 2022

The current study has been designed to investigate the possible biodegradtion of native keratin by fungi isolated from chicken feathers collected from chicken farms in Egypt. Out of 56 fungal isolates 23 species and 2 species varieties showed different degrees of keratinolytic activity, with Chrysosporium tropicum showing the highest keratinase productivity (23.15 U/ml) as well as the highest value of specific activity for keratinase (197.90 U/mg protein) indicating a great degree of purity for the enzyme. Our present study indicates that the highest production of keratinase by C. tropicum was recorded at pH 8 and a temperature of 35 °C during a period of 20 days. In addition the optimal value of ionic strength for keratinase production was 100 mM NaCl. Monitoring the influence of constituents deprivation from basal salt medium on production of keratinase enzyme showed that K+, Fe2+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and Zn2+ were necessary for keratinase production. Sulfur deprivation has no significant influence on keratinase production. Keratinase activity of C. tropicum showed that, the optimal values of temperature and ionic strength were 35–40 °C and 80 mM NaCl, individually. The optimum pH range was (7.8–9). These promising findings demonstrate a high potentiality of C. tropicum keratinase in keratin proteolysis, suggesting that keratinase producing isolates of C. tropicum may be suitable as a biodegradation agent.
Some Results for Intuitionistic Fuzzy Inequality
Authors: Peng Xindong , Garg Harish , Luo Zhigang
Published: December 2022

Intuitionistic fuzzy sets, characterized by membership degree $$\mu $$
μ
, non-membership degree $$\upsilon $$
υ
and hesitation degree $$\pi $$
π
, are a meaningful extension of fuzzy set. Inequalities on intuitionistic fuzzy sets/values are very important in solving real problems. In this paper, some inequalities on intuitionistic fuzzy sets are derived from operations. Moreover, three unweighted intuitionistic fuzzy aggregation operators, including unweighted intuitionistic fuzzy Square, unweighted intuitionistic fuzzy Arithmetic and unweighted intuitionistic fuzzy Geometric, are developed. Later, some corresponding inequality relations on them are deeply explored. Finally, some inequalities on intuitionistic fuzzy value are constructed by equality $$\mu +\upsilon +\pi =1$$

μ
+
υ
+
π
=
1

in critical definition and proved by some existing famous inequalities, which provide a novel basis for the intuitionistic fuzzy inequalities in operations and aggregation operators.
Ralph Vaughan Williams and Adrian Boult
Authors: Simeone Nigel
Published: December 2022

The first detailed study of the working relationship and productive friendship between Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) and Adrian Boult (1889-1983).
The Modern Brass Ensemble in Twentieth-Century Britain
Authors: Miller John
Published: December 2022

The first study of the performance practice, repertoire and context of the modern 'brass ensemble' in the musical world.
Associations between participation and personal factors in community-dwelling adults post-stroke
Authors: Hoyle Melanie , Meredith Pamela , Ownsworth Tamara , Khan Asaduzzaman , Gustafsson Louise
Published: December 2022

Purpose:

To examine associations between post-stroke participation and personal factors, including demographic characteristics, self- and threat appraisals, and personality variables.

Methods:

An exploratory cross-sectional study with purpose-designed survey was completed online or via mail. The survey was comprised of demographic and health-related questions and multiple questionnaires, including the Stroke Impact Scale Version 3.0 (SISv3) (participation/perceived recovery), Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) (participation), Head Injury Semantic Differential III (pre- vs post-stroke self-concept/self-discrepancy), Appraisal of Threat and Avoidance Questionnaire (threat appraisal), Life Orientation Test – Revised (optimism) and Relationships Questionnaire (adult attachment style) that measured variables of interest. Sixty-two participants, aged 24–96 years who had experienced a stroke (one or multiple events) and had returned to community living, completed the survey. Associations were examined using correlations, and univariate and multiple linear regression analyses.

Results:

Regression analysis showed that greater participation, measured using the CIQ, was associated with younger age, female gender, lower self-discrepancy and higher perceived recovery, explaining 69% of the variability in CIQ participation. Further, greater participation on the SISv3 was associated with lower self-discrepancy and higher perceived recovery, explaining 64% of the variability in SISv3 participation.

Conclusions:

Results indicate that personal factors, particularly self-appraisals like self-concept/self-discrepancy, in combination with perceived recovery may be important in explaining a large portion of variance in post-stroke participation. Specifically, findings highlight the interrelatedness of self-concept change, perceived recovery and post-stroke participation. Further longitudinal research is needed to clarify the directionality of these associations throughout the hospital-to-home transition.
The Reputation of James VI and I Revisited
Authors: Questier Michael Corrie
Published: December 2022

The (in)capacity of the House of Stuart to provide competent royal government, in both Scotland and England, has been a staple topic in the historiography of the British Isles. Despite the increasing volume and sophistication of recent research in this area, the long shadow of past analytical habits of mind still colors modern approaches to the subject. This has been the case with King James VI and I, as with other Stuart sovereigns. Scholarly accounts of the Jacobean period have been affected by a persistent Anglocentricity in this field. Such attitudes have done little for the broader topic of post-Reformation politics and threaten to close several available avenues of research and interpretation. Here it is argued that accounts of Jacobean politics need to be located in their appropriate contexts in order to avoid presentist distortion in future research and publication on this topic and related issues of the period.
Exploring the demography and conservation needs of hawksbill sea turtles Eretmochelys imbricata in north-west Mexico
Authors: Martínez-Estévez Lourdes , Angulo Angulo Abelino , Astorga Mayra Estrella , Becerra Cosme Damián , Leyva Nazario Campaña , Amador Felipe Cuevas , Amador Juan Pablo Cuevas , de la Vega Carvajal Tania , Robledo Anely Fernández , Gaos Alexander R. , Hart Catherine E. , Weaver Amy Hudson , López José Luis , Lucero Jesus , Llamas Israel , Mancini Agnese , Oceguera Karen , Seminoff Jeffrey A. , Tershy Bernie R. , Yañez Ingrid L. , Zavala-Norzagaray Alan , Croll Donald A.
Published: December 2022

The hawksbill sea turtle Eretmochelys imbricata is categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and its population has declined by over 80% in the last century. The Eastern Pacific population is one of the most threatened hawksbill populations globally. Western Mexico is the northern distribution limit for hawksbill sea turtles in the Eastern Pacific and recent research indicates that the Mexican Pacific portion of the population is a separate management unit because of the restricted movements of these turtles. Here we use the most complete database of sighting records in the north-west Pacific of Mexico to identify sites where hawksbill turtles are present. We also develop a conservation index to determine the conservation status of hawksbill turtle sites. Our results demonstrate the importance of this region for juveniles and the relevance of rocky reefs and mangrove estuaries as habitats for hawksbill turtles. We identified 52 sites with records of hawksbill turtles. Most of these sites (71%) are not protected; however, sites with high conservation value included islands and coastal sites along the Baja California peninsula that are established as marine protected areas. Reefs and mangrove estuaries relevant for hawksbill turtles are probably also significant fish nursery areas that are important for local fishing communities, creating opportunities for conservation strategies that combine science, local engagement and policy to benefit both local fishing communities and hawksbill sea turtle conservation.
Exploring “ownership” of Irish traditional dance music: Heritage or property?
Authors: McDonagh Luke
Published: December 2022

Dance has rarely been accepted as the subject of copyright protection because works of dance and choreography have lacked commodified property-object status in intellectual property law. If dance is “haunted by its own ephemerality” and, thus, rarely embodied as property, then what of dance music? Music composed, performed, and recorded with a dance audience in mind has formed, on many occasions, the subject matter of intellectual property law claims, as the rancorous recent litigation over the nightclub (and online-streaming) hit “Blurred Lines” demonstrates. In this article, I utilize the case study of traditional Irish dance music to explore how traditional music occupies a space somewhat outside the formal legal system, defined by informal social norms such as reciprocity, sharing, and acknowledgment (attribution). I consider how Irish traditional music can be represented as heritage and as property, reflecting on the type of ownership at play in the Irish traditional music community. I observe that Irish traditional dance music provides an example of “heritage as resistance” – a mode of cultural and social practice that continues to thrive as a living tradition, even in the contemporary market-oriented world of the global North.
Estimated incidence and transmission intensity of rubella infection in Zambia pre-vaccine era 2005–2016
Authors: Mazaba Mazyanga L. , Bosomprah Samuel , Cohen Daniel , Monze Mwaka , Siziya Seter
Published: December 2022

The rubella disease burden in Zambia may be under-estimated. Using models, we describe the transmission dynamics, determine the incidence estimates and assess the level of underestimation of the real burden of rubella infection in Zambia during the pre-vaccination period 2005–2016. This study used both the deterministic compartmental model and likelihood-based method using a Bayesian framework to describe the epidemiology of rubella. A total of 1313 cases of rubella were confirmed with the highest annual number of 255 new cases recorded in 2008. However, 2014 recorded the highest monthly median positivity rate of 9.0%. The observed median rubella cases were 5.5. There was a seasonal pattern in the occurrence of laboratory-confirmed rubella, with higher test positivity rates of rubella infection usually recorded in the months of September, October and November. The modelled monthly median incidence of rubella infection among the general population was 76 and 20 among pregnant women. The incidence of rubella among the non-pregnant women was 44. The average effective reproductive number (Rt) between 2005 and 2016 was estimated as 1.2 with the peak of infection occurring in 2016. The measles surveillance system underestimates the observed burden of rubella. A mass vaccination campaign conducted between January and July is recommended.
The predictors of change in reflective parenting therapy: Uncovering the influence of parental reflective functioning and child temperament in predicting the improvement in parent–child relationship and child outcome following DUET group intervention
Authors: Menashe-Grinberg Atara , Atzaba-Poria Naama
Published: December 2022

Parental reflective functioning (PRF) is the ability of parents to understand their child’s behavior in light of underlying mental processes; it is a core element in the parent–child relationship. RF is also considered crucial for self-regulation for both parents and their children. We investigated the relationship between improvement in PRF after DUET group intervention (a RF-based intervention) and improvement in the parent–child interaction, child RF, and child adjustment, and we examined whether these improvements were distinct for children with different temperamental traits (e.g., effortful control). Eighty-four parents completed the DUET program and were assessed before and after the intervention. PRF was measured using observation (mind-mindedness) and a questionnaire. Statistical analysis included hierarchical regression and moderation of regression analysis. Results showed that improvement in the parent–child interaction, child RF, and child behavioral problems were related to improvement in PRF. Furthermore, we found that child temperament acted as a moderator in the link between PRF and child RF, supporting a vantage sensitivity model, meaning that it was the more sensitive children who benefitted the most as a result of the positive change in their parents’ RF. Clinical and future directions of this study are discussed.
Prevalence, correlates and common conditions associated with adolescent dietary supplement use: a cross-sectional survey in Bangladesh
Authors: Amin Md. Bony , Aktarujjaman Md. , Meem Amatul Elah , Hossain Ekhtear , Islam Md. Nazrul , Roy Nitai
Published: December 2022

Objective:

There is a broad spectrum of dietary supplements (DS) and their accessibility worldwide. However, little is known about the prevalence of DS use among Bangladeshi adolescents. This study estimates the prevalence, correlates and common conditions related to DS use.

Design:

A cross-sectional, convenient sampling strategy was adopted using an interviewer-administered, structured questionnaire.

Setting:

Kurigram and Patuakhali districts of Bangladesh.

Participants:

702 adolescents aged 10–19 years.

Results:

The overall prevalence of DS use was 83 %. The majority of participants (93·4 %) agreed that DS were good for health, and 28·3 % reported general health and well-being as the reason for using DS. The most frequently used supplements were multivitamins (38·6 %) and Ca (37 %). DS use was more common among adolescents who had ≤5 siblings, good health status, no chronic diseases, a positive impression that DS are good for health and who had the tendency to encourage DS to others. DS use was also higher among those who received DS information from healthcare providers, professional literature, friends, family and relatives.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of DS use is relatively higher among Bangladeshi adolescents compared to Bangladeshi adults and adolescents from other countries, highlighting the inclination towards DS use. Guidelines for safe DS use for adolescents are warranted to control DS use and prevent adverse effects.
Hotel Suicides in Australia 2006–2017
Authors: Chen Nicola A. , Mok Katherine , McGillivray Lauren J. , Konings Paul , Passioura Jason , Torok Michelle H.
Published: December 2022

Abstract: Background: This study investigated the frequency, characteristics, and geospatial clustering of hotel suicides in Australia to inform suicide prevention efforts. Aims: (1) To determine the proportion of suicide deaths that occurred in hotels, (2) to determine differences in demographic characteristics of hotel deaths compared to other locations, (3) to assess level of planning, and (4) to determine whether these deaths form geographic clusters amenable to targeted suicide prevention activities. Methods: Archival data on suicide mortality were used to examine associations between incident location (hotels, home, away from home), demographic characteristics, and suicide means. Kernel density visualization was used to assess geospatial clustering of hotel suicides, and the degree of planning involved was assessed using the modified Suicide Intent Scale. Results: Hotels accounted for 2% of all suicide deaths and 6.2% of suicides occurring away from home. Females were over-represented ( p < .0001), as were deaths by drug overdoses ( p < .0001) and falls ( p < .0001). Approximately 40% of incidents occurred within seven geospatial clusters. 85% of those who died were state residents, with a median distance from home of 13.0 km. Most individuals checked in to the hotel alone, for short stays, and displayed a high degree of suicidal planning. Limitations: Coronial records had limited information on narrative circumstances of deaths; other indicators of risk may not have been identified. A comparison against a general population of hotel guests, rather than all other suicide deaths would be more useful in terms of preventative activities, however these data were not readily available. Conclusion: This study identified characteristics, behaviors, and geographic locations associated with hotel suicides to inform training of hotel staff to recognize and respond to signs of risk. Males of working age who live locally and arrive alone for short stays could be considered at a higher risk of suicide, and prevention efforts should be prioritized in the identified high-risk areas.
A Mechanistic Sea Spray Generation Function Based on the Sea State and the Physics of Bubble Bursting
Authors: Deike L. , Reichl B. G. , Paulot F.
Published: December 2022

Bubbles bursting at the ocean surface are an important source of ocean‐spray aerosol, with implications on radiative and cloud processes. Yet, very large uncertainties exist on the role of key physical controlling parameters, including wind speed, sea state and water temperature. We propose a mechanistic sea spray generation function that is based on the physics of bubble bursting. The number and mean droplet radius of jet and film drops is described by scaling laws derived from individual bubble bursting laboratory and numerical experiments, as a function of the bubble radius and the water physico‐chemical properties (viscosity, density and surface tension, all functions of temperature), with drops radii at production from 0.1 to 500 µm. Next, we integrate over the bubble size distribution entrained by breaking waves. Finally, the sea spray generation function is obtained by considering the volume flux of entrained bubbles due to breaking waves in the field constrained by the third moment of the breaking distribution (akin to the whitecap coverage). This mechanistic approach naturally integrates the role of wind and waves via the breaking distribution and entrained air flux, and a sensitivity to temperature via individual bubble bursting mechanisms. The resulting sea spray generation function has not been tuned or adjusted to match any existing data sets, in terms of magnitude of sea salt emissions and recently observed temperature dependencies. The remarkable coherence between the model and observations of sea salt emissions therefore strongly supports the mechanistic approach and the resulting sea spray generation function.
Stories Scribed on Palm Leaves Help Scientists Understand Ancient Eruption
Authors: Tripathy-Lang Alka
Published: December 2022

Deposits from the 1257 Samalas eruption may contain artifacts of an ancient kingdom, according to scientists who link volcanology studies with histories written onto palm leaves.
Tubular β-catenin alleviates mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death in acute kidney injury
Authors: Li Hongyu , Leung Joseph C. K. , Yiu Wai Han , Chan Loretta Y. Y. , Li Bin , Lok Sarah W. Y. , Xue Rui , Zou Yixin , Lai Kar Neng , Tang Sydney C. W.
Published: December 2022

Mitochondria take part in a network of intracellular processes that regulate homeostasis. Defects in mitochondrial function are key pathophysiological changes during AKI. Although Wnt/β-catenin signaling mediates mitochondrial dysfunction in chronic kidney fibrosis, little is known of the influence of β-catenin on mitochondrial function in AKI. To decipher this interaction, we generated an inducible mouse model of tubule-specific β-catenin overexpression (TubCat), and a model of tubule-specific β-catenin depletion (TubcatKO), and induced septic AKI in these mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and aseptic AKI with bilateral ischemia-reperfusion. In both AKI models, tubular β-catenin stabilization in TubCat animals significantly reduced BUN/serum creatinine, tubular damage (NGAL-positive tubules), apoptosis (TUNEL-positive cells) and necroptosis (phosphorylation of MLKL and RIP3) through activating AKT phosphorylation and p53 suppression; enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis (increased PGC-1α and NRF1) and restored mitochondrial mass (increased TIM23) to re-establish mitochondrial homeostasis (increased fusion markers OPA1, MFN2, and decreased fission protein DRP1) through the FOXO3/PGC-1α signaling cascade. Conversely, kidney function loss and histological damage, tubular cell death, and mitochondrial dysfunction were all aggravated in TubCatKO mice. Mechanistically, β-catenin transfection maintained mitochondrial mass and activated PGC-1α via FOXO3 in LPS-exposed HK-2 cells. Collectively, these findings provide evidence that tubular β-catenin mitigates cell death and restores mitochondrial homeostasis in AKI through the common mechanisms associated with activation of AKT/p53 and FOXO3/PGC-1α signaling pathways.
IL-4 induces reparative phenotype of RPE cells and protects against retinal neurodegeneration via Nrf2 activation
Authors: Zhou Tian , Yang Ziqi , Ni Biyan , Zhou Hong , Xu Huiyi , Lin Xiaojing , Li Yingmin , Liu Chunqiao , Ju Rong , Ge Jian , He Chang , Liu Xialin
Published: December 2022

Retinal degeneration is a kind of neurodegeneration characterized by progressive neuronal death and dysfunction of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, leading to permanent visual impairment. It still lacks effective therapeutic options and new drugs are highly warranted. In this study, we found the expression of IL-4, a critical regulator of immunity, was reduced in both patients and mouse models. Importantly, exogenous intravitreal IL-4 application could exert a novel neuroprotective effect, characterized by well-preserved RPE layer and neuroretinal structure, as well as amplified wave-amplitudes in ERG. The RNA-seq analysis revealed that IL-4 treatment suppressed the essential oxidative and pro-inflammatory pathways in the degenerative retina. Particularly, IL-4 upregulated the IL-4Rα on RPE cells and induced a reparative phenotype via the activation of Nrf2 both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the Nrf2-/- mice displayed no recovery in response to IL-4 application, highlighting a significant role of Nrf2 in IL-4-mediated protection. Our data provides evidence that IL-4 protects against retinal neurodegeneration by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory property through IL-4Rα upregulation and Nrf2 activation in RPE cells. The IL-4/IL-4Rα-Nrf2 axis maybe the potential targets for the development of novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
Pharmacological targeting of the mitochondrial calcium-dependent potassium channel KCa3.1 triggers cell death and reduces tumor growth and metastasis in vivo
Authors: Bachmann Magdalena , Rossa Andrea , Varanita Tatiana , Fioretti Bernard , Biasutto Lucia , Milenkovic Stefan , Checchetto Vanessa , Peruzzo Roberta , Ahmad Syed A. , Patel Sameer H. , Lukowski Robert , Edwards Michael J. , Ceccarelli Matteo , Gulbins Erich , Zoratti Mario , Mattarei Andrea , Szabo Ildiko
Published: December 2022

Ion channels are non-conventional, druggable oncological targets. The intermediate-conductance calcium-dependent potassium channel (KCa3.1) is highly expressed in the plasma membrane and in the inner mitochondrial membrane (mitoKCa3.1) of various cancer cell lines. The role mitoKCa3.1 plays in cancer cells is still undefined. Here we report the synthesis and characterization of two mitochondria-targeted novel derivatives of a high-affinity KCa3.1 antagonist, TRAM-34, which retain the ability to block channel activity. The effects of these drugs were tested in melanoma, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and breast cancer lines, as well as in vivo in two orthotopic models. We show that the mitochondria-targeted TRAM-34 derivatives induce release of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, rapid depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane, fragmentation of the mitochondrial network. They trigger cancer cell death with an EC50in the µM range, depending on channel expression. In contrast, inhibition of the plasma membrane KCa3.1 by membrane-impermeant Maurotoxin is without effect, indicating a specific role of mitoKCa3.1 in determining cell fate. At sub-lethal concentrations, pharmacological targeting of mitoKCa3.1 significantly reduced cancer cell migration by enhancing production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation, and by downregulating expression of Bcl-2 Nineteen kD-Interacting Protein (BNIP-3) and of Rho GTPase CDC-42. This signaling cascade finally leads to cytoskeletal reorganization and impaired migration. Overexpression of BNIP-3 or pharmacological modulation of NF-κB and CDC-42 prevented the migration-reducing effect of mitoTRAM-34. In orthotopic models of melanoma and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the tumors at sacrifice were 60% smaller in treated versus untreated animals. Metastasis of melanoma cells to lymph nodes was also drastically reduced. No signs of toxicity were observed. In summary, our results identify mitochondrial KCa3.1 as an unexpected player in cancer cell migration and show that its pharmacological targeting is efficient against both tumor growth and metastatic spread in vivo.
Low atmospheric CO2 levels before the rise of forested ecosystems
Authors: Dahl Tais W. , Harding Magnus A. R. , Brugger Julia , Feulner Georg , Norrman Kion , Lomax Barry H. , Junium Christopher K.
Published: December 2022

The emergence of forests on Earth (~385 million years ago, Ma)1has been linked to an order-of-magnitude decline in atmospheric CO2levels and global climatic cooling by altering continental weathering processes, but observational constraints on atmospheric CO2before the rise of forests carry large, often unbound, uncertainties. Here, we calibrate a mechanistic model for gas exchange in modern lycophytes and constrain atmospheric CO2levels 410–380 Ma from related fossilized plants with bound uncertainties of approximately ±100 ppm (1 sd). We find that the atmosphere contained ~525–715 ppm CO2before continents were afforested, and that Earth was partially glaciated according to a palaeoclimate model. A process-driven biogeochemical model (COPSE) shows the appearance of trees with deep roots did not dramatically enhance atmospheric CO2removal. Rather, shallow-rooted vascular ecosystems could have simultaneously caused abrupt atmospheric oxygenation and climatic cooling long before the rise of forests, although earlier CO2levels are still unknown.
Synthesis of macrocyclic nucleoside antibacterials and their interactions with MraY
Authors: Nakaya Takeshi , Yabe Miyuki , Mashalidis Ellene H. , Sato Toyotaka , Yamamoto Kazuki , Hikiji Yuta , Katsuyama Akira , Shinohara Motoko , Minato Yusuke , Takahashi Satoshi , Horiuchi Motohiro , Yokota Shin-ichi , Lee Seok-Yong , Ichikawa Satoshi
Published: December 2022

The development of new antibacterial drugs with different mechanisms of action is urgently needed to address antimicrobial resistance. MraY is an essential membrane enzyme required for bacterial cell wall synthesis. Sphaerimicins are naturally occurring macrocyclic nucleoside inhibitors of MraY and are considered a promising target in antibacterial discovery. However, developing sphaerimicins as antibacterials has been challenging due to their complex macrocyclic structures. In this study, we construct their characteristic macrocyclic skeleton via two key reactions. Having then determined the structure of a sphaerimicin analogue bound to MraY, we use a structure-guided approach to design simplified sphaerimicin analogues. These analogues retain potency against MraY and exhibit potent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including clinically isolated drug resistant strains of S. aureus and E. faecium. Our study combines synthetic chemistry, structural biology, and microbiology to provide a platform for the development of MraY inhibitors as antibacterials against drug-resistant bacteria.
Mechanism of human Lig1 regulation by PCNA in Okazaki fragment sealing
Authors: Blair Kerry , Tehseen Muhammad , Raducanu Vlad-Stefan , Shahid Taha , Lancey Claudia , Rashid Fahad , Crehuet Ramon , Hamdan Samir M. , De Biasio Alfredo
Published: December 2022

During lagging strand synthesis, DNA Ligase 1 (Lig1) cooperates with the sliding clamp PCNA to seal the nicks between Okazaki fragments generated by Pol δ and Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1). We present several cryo-EM structures combined with functional assays, showing that human Lig1 recruits PCNA to nicked DNA using two PCNA-interacting motifs (PIPs) located at its disordered N-terminus (PIPN-term) and DNA binding domain (PIPDBD). Once Lig1 and PCNA assemble as two-stack rings encircling DNA, PIPN-term is released from PCNA and only PIPDBD is required for ligation to facilitate the substrate handoff from FEN1. Consistently, we observed that PCNA forms a defined complex with FEN1 and nicked DNA, and it recruits Lig1 to an unoccupied monomer creating a toolbelt that drives the transfer of DNA to Lig1. Collectively, our results provide a structural model on how PCNA regulates FEN1 and Lig1 during Okazaki fragments maturation.
BCM3D 2.0: accurate segmentation of single bacterial cells in dense biofilms using computationally generated intermediate image representations
Authors: Zhang Ji , Wang Yibo , Donarski Eric D. , Toma Tanjin T. , Miles Madeline T. , Acton Scott T. , Gahlmann Andreas
Published: December 2022

Accurate detection and segmentation of single cells in three-dimensional (3D) fluorescence time-lapse images is essential for observing individual cell behaviors in large bacterial communities called biofilms. Recent progress in machine-learning-based image analysis is providing this capability with ever-increasing accuracy. Leveraging the capabilities of deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs), we recently developed bacterial cell morphometry in 3D (BCM3D), an integrated image analysis pipeline that combines deep learning with conventional image analysis to detect and segment single biofilm-dwelling cells in 3D fluorescence images. While the first release ofBCM3D(BCM3D 1.0) achieved state-of-the-art 3D bacterial cell segmentation accuracies, low signal-to-background ratios (SBRs) and images of very dense biofilms remained challenging. Here, we presentBCM3D 2.0to address this challenge.BCM3D 2.0is entirely complementary to the approach utilized inBCM3D 1.0. Instead of training CNNs to perform voxel classification, we trained CNNs to translate 3D fluorescence images into intermediate 3D image representations that are, when combined appropriately, more amenable to conventional mathematical image processing than a single experimental image. Using this approach, improved segmentation results are obtained even for very low SBRs and/or high cell density biofilm images. The improved cell segmentation accuracies in turn enable improved accuracies of tracking individual cells through 3D space and time. This capability opens the door to investigating time-dependent phenomena in bacterial biofilms at the cellular level.
Biogeography of Rhaponticoides, an Irano-Turanian element in the Mediterranean flora
Authors: Bozkurt Meryem , Calleja Alarcón Juan Antonio , Uysal Tuna , Garcia-Jacas Nuria , Ertuğrul Kuddisi , Susanna Alfonso
Published: December 2022

Floristic relationships between the Irano-Turanian and Mediterranean regions have been known from old. However, only a few biogeographical analyses based on molecular data have evaluated the history of steppe plants within the Mediterranean basin. Our study aims to contribute to a better understanding of the migratory and diversification processes by reconstructing the biogeography ofRhaponticoides(Cardueae), distributed in the Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian regions. We generated nuclear and plastid sequences that were analyzed by Bayesian inference. We used the resulting phylogeny for dating the diversification of the genus and examining the dispersal pathways. Two clades were recovered, an Irano-Turanian clade and a Mediterranean clade. The origin of the genus was placed in the Anatolian plateau in the Middle Miocene. The genus experienced several diversifications and expansions correlated to the Messinian salinity crisis and the environmental changes in the Pliocene and the Quaternary.Rhaponticoidesmigrated following two routes reflecting the two souls of the genus: Irano-Turanian taxa colonized the steppes of Eurasia whilst Mediterranean species migrated via eastern and central Mediterranean and North Africa, leaving a trail of species; both pathways ended in the Iberian Peninsula. Our study also confirms that more work is needed to unravel phylogenetic relationships inRhaponticoides.
Defining the timeline of periostin upregulation in cardiac fibrosis following acute myocardial infarction in mice
Authors: Gil Hadas , Goldshtein Matan , Etzion Sharon , Elyagon Sigal , Hadad Uzi , Etzion Yoram , Cohen Smadar
Published: December 2022

After myocardial infarction (MI), the heart's reparative response to the ischemic insult and the related loss of cardiomyocytes involves cardiac fibrosis, in which the damaged tissue is replaced with a fibrous scar. Although the scar is essential to prevent ventricular wall rupture in the infarction zone, it expands over time to remote, non-infarct areas, significantly increasing the extent of fibrosis and markedly altering cardiac structure. Cardiac function in this scenario deteriorates, thereby increasing the probability of heart failure and the risk of death. Recent works have suggested that the matricellular protein periostin, known to be involved in fibrosis, is a candidate therapeutic target for the regulation of MI-induced fibrosis and remodeling. Different strategies for the genetic manipulation of periostin have been proposed previously, yet those works did not properly address the time dependency between periostin activity and cardiac fibrosis. Our study aimed to fill that gap in knowledge and fully elucidate the explicit timing of cellular periostin upregulation in the infarcted heart to enable the safer and more effective post-MI targeting of periostin-producing cells. Surgical MI was performed in C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Flow cytometry analyses of cells derived from the infarcted hearts and quantitative real-time PCR of the total cellular RNA revealed that periostin expression increased during days 2–7 and peaked on day 7 post-infarct, regardless of mouse strain. The established timeline for cellular periostin expression in the post-MI heart is a significant milestone toward the development of optimal periostin-targeted gene therapy.
A national, multicenter, secondary data use study evaluating efficacy and retention of first-line biologic treatment with tocilizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in real-life setting: results from TURKBIO registry
Authors: Yazici Ayten , Özdemir Işık Özlem , Dalkılıç Ediz , Koca Süleyman Serdar , Pehlivan Yavuz , Şenel Soner , Inanc Nevsun , Akar Servet , Yılmaz Sema , Soysal Gündüz Özgül , Cefle Ayse , Karakaş Ömer Fatih , Onen Fatos
Published: December 2022

Tocilizumab (TCZ) is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the IL-6 receptor. TCZ found to be efficacious and has a good tolerated safety profile in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The aim of this study was to describe the disease activity and retention rate in Turkish RA patients who were prescribed TCZ as first-line biologic treatment in a real-world setting. Secondary data obtained from adult RA patients’ files was used in a multicenter and retrospective context. Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Disease Activity Score in 28 joints with ESR (DAS28-ESR), and retention rates of TCZ were evaluated at related time points. 130 patients (87.7% female) with a mean age of 53 years (SD; 15.0) were included in the study. Mean RA duration was 14 years and median duration of follow-up was 18.5 months. Number of patients with ongoing TCZ treatment at 6, 12, and 24 months were 121 (93%), 85 (65%), and 46 (35%), respectively. Remission rates at 6, 12, and 24 months per CDAI (< 2.8) and DAS28-ESR (< 2.6) scores were 61.5, 44.6, 30%, and 54.6, 40.8, 27.7%, respectively. Both CDAI and DAS28-ESR scores significantly improved at 6, 12 and 24 months (p < 0.001 for both). At 24 months, 23 patients (17.6%) discontinued TCZ, of whom majority (17/23) were due to unsatisfactory response. Retention rates of TCZ at 6, 12, and 24 months were 93, 84.3, and 72.2%, respectively. In this real-world study, TCZ as a first-line biologic therapy was found to be efficacious and showing high retention rates. These real-world study results are in line with previous randomized studies.
The impacts of shape factor and heat transfer on two-phase flow of nano and hybrid nanofluid in a saturated porous medium
Authors: Ananth Subray P. V. , Hanumagowda B. N. , Varma S. V. K. , Hatami Mohammad
Published: December 2022

The focus of this article is to obtain the effect of shape factor of the hybrid nanoparticles on the convective heat and mass transference of two immiscible fluids in an inclined duct by employing the perturbation technique. The hybrid nanoparticle of Carbon Nanotube & Sodium alginate is being used with Silicon oil as the base fluid to study the heat and mass phenomena due to the soret effect, viscous dissipation, Darcy and Thermal diffusion. The physical flow problem is then modelled into a set of differential equations. The system of equations is solved analytically to obtain various graphical and numerical results for analyzing the impact of various material parameters on velocity and thermal field. The heat transfer rate and skin friction analysis for the flow dynamics are also investigated. It is observed that the shape factor enhances the fluid flow and temperature distribution. In specific lamina shape particles have better performance comparatively, significance of the soret number can also be observed.
Design and control of soft biomimetic pangasius fish robot using fin ray effect and reinforcement learning
Authors: Youssef Samuel M. , Soliman MennaAllah , Saleh Mahmood A. , Elsayed Ahmed H. , Radwan Ahmed G.
Published: December 2022

Soft robots provide a pathway to accurately mimic biological creatures and be integrated into their environment with minimal invasion or disruption to their ecosystem. These robots made from soft deforming materials possess structural properties and behaviors similar to the bodies and organs of living creatures. However, they are difficult to develop in terms of integrated actuation and sensing, accurate modeling, and precise control. This article presents a soft-rigid hybrid robotic fish inspired by the Pangasius fish. The robot employs a flexible fin ray tail structure driven by a servo motor, to act as the soft body of the robot and provide the undulatory motion to the caudal fin of the fish. To address the modeling and control challenges, reinforcement learning (RL) is proposed as a model-free control strategy for the robot fish to swim and reach a specified target goal. By training and investigating the RL through experiments on real hardware, we illustrate the capability of the fish to learn and achieve the required task.
Novel multimorbidity clusters in people with eczema and asthma: a population-based cluster analysis
Authors: Mulick Amy R. , Henderson Alasdair D. , Prieto-Merino David , Mansfield Kathryn E. , Matthewman Julian , Quint Jennifer K. , Lyons Ronan A. , Sheikh Aziz , McAllister David A. , Nitsch Dorothea , Langan Sinéad M.
Published: December 2022

Eczema and asthma are allergic diseases and two of the commonest chronic conditions in high-income countries. Their co-existence with other allergic conditions is common, but little research exists on wider multimorbidity with these conditions. We set out to identify and compare clusters of multimorbidity in people with eczema or asthma and people without. Using routinely-collected primary care data from the U.K. Clinical Research Practice Datalink GOLD, we identified adults ever having eczema (or asthma), and comparison groups never having eczema (or asthma). We derived clusters of multimorbidity from hierarchical cluster analysis of Jaccard distances between pairs of diagnostic categories estimated from mixed-effects logistic regressions. We analysed 434,422 individuals with eczema (58% female, median age 47 years) and 1,333,281 individuals without (55% female, 47 years), and 517,712 individuals with asthma (53% female, 44 years) and 1,601,210 individuals without (53% female, 45 years). Age at first morbidity, sex and having eczema/asthma affected the scope of multimorbidity, with women, older age and eczema/asthma being associated with larger morbidity clusters. Injuries, digestive, nervous system and mental health disorders were more commonly seen in eczema and asthma than control clusters. People with eczema and asthma of all ages and both sexes may experience greater multimorbidity than people without eczema and asthma, including conditions not previously recognised as contributing to their disease burden. This work highlights areas where there is a critical need for research addressing the burden and drivers of multimorbidity in order to inform strategies to reduce poor health outcomes.
High-accuracy model recognition method of mobile device based on weighted feature similarity
Authors: Li Ruixiang , Wang Xiuting , Luo Xiangyang
Published: December 2022

Accurately model recognition of mobile device is of great significance for identifying copycat device and protecting intellectual property rights. Although existing methods have realized high-accuracy recognition about device’s category and brand, the accuracy of model recognition still needs to be improved. For that, we propose Recognizer, a high-accuracy model recognition method of mobile device based on weighted feature similarity. We extract 20 features from the network traffic and physical attributes of device, and design feature similarity metric rules, and calculate inter-device similarity further. In addition, we propose feature importance evaluation strategies to assess the role of feature in recognition and determine the weight of each feature. Finally, based on all or part of 20 features, the similarity between the target device and known devices is calculated to recognize the brand and model of target device. Based on 587 models of mobile devices of 17 widely used brands such as Apple and Samsung, we carry out device recognition experiments. The results show that Recognizer can identify the device’s brand and model than existing methods more effectively. In average, the model recognition accuracy of Recognizer is 99.08% (+ 9.25%↑) when using 20 features and 92.08% (+ 29.26%↑) when using 13 features.
Synergistic effect of polysaccharides and flavonoids on lipid and gut microbiota in hyperlipidemic rats
Authors: Bai Yun-fei , Yue Zhi-Liang , Wang Ya-nan , Li Yan-dong , Li Chong , Liu Xin-tong , Shi Ruo-han , Huo Ning-ning , Li Dan-dan , Gao Shan , Han Xue
Published: December 2022

HDC interventions prevent hyperlipidemia by regulating intestinal microbiota and lipid absorption and metabolism in the intestine, and have a synergistic effect.
Critical roles of linker length in determining the chemical and self-assembly stability of SN38 homodimeric nanoprodrugs
Authors: Wang Xin , Liu Tian , Huang Yuetong , Dong Fudan , Li Lingxiao , Song Jiaxuan , Zuo Shiyi , Zhu Zhengyang , Kamei Ken-ichiro , He Zhonggui , Sun Bingjun , Sun Jin
Published: December 2022

A schematic illustration of the different linker lengths of disulfide bond-bridged SN38 homodimeric prodrug nanoassemblies for cancer therapy.
Photoresponse enhancement in a cavity–antenna-coupled graphene terahertz detector
Authors: Deng Jie , Zhou Jing , Dai Xu , Bu Yonghao , Li Zhifeng , Chen Xiaoshuang
Published: December 2022

A cavity–antenna hybrid structure is proposed to enhance the THz absorption in a graphene flake through interference manipulation and impedance matching. Our device exhibits a responsivity of 10.2 mA W−1 and a noise-equivalent power of 0.92 nW Hz−0.5.
Recent advances of cobalt-based nitride catalysts in solar energy conversion
Authors: Qi Weiliang , Wang Huan , Liu Jiahao , Thomas Tiju , Liu Siqi , Yang Minghui
Published: December 2022

This review predominantly focuses on the progress of a variety of cobalt-based nitride materials, especially pertaining to their photo(electro)catalytic applications in solar energy conversion.
On-surface synthesis of non-benzenoid conjugated polymers by selective atomic rearrangement of ethynylarenes
Authors: Jiménez-Martín Alejandro , Villalobos Federico , Mallada Benjamin , Edalatmanesh Shayan , Matěj Adam , Cuerva Juan M. , Jelínek Pavel , Campaña Araceli G. , de la Torre Bruno
Published: December 2022

Here, we report a new on-surface synthetic strategy to precisely introduce five-membered units into conjugated polymers from specifically designed precursor molecules that give rise to low-bandgap fulvalene-bridged bisanthene polymers.
Chemical insights into the base-tuned hydrothermal treatment of side stream biomasses
Authors: Tkachenko Vitalii , Marzban Nader , Vogl Sarah , Filonenko Svitlana , Antonietti Markus
Published: December 2022

Underlining chemical pathways of artificial humic substance formation in pH-programmed hydrothermal treatment of waste biomass aiming CO2 sequestration and soil improvement for sustainable and efficient agricultural processes.
Boosting photocatalytic H2 evolution through interfacial manipulation on a lotus seedpod shaped Cu2O/g-C3N4 p-n heterojunction
Authors: Tian Fengyu , Wu Xinyao , Liu Shuai , Gu Yawei , Lin Zezhou , Zhang Honglei , Yan Xuemin , Liao Guangfu
Published: December 2022

A novel lotus seedpod shaped Cu2O/g-C3N4 p–n heterojunction composite was fabricated by in situ filling the g-C3N4 framework with Cu2O hollow nanospheres for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.
Redox mediators promote electrochemical oxidation of nitric oxide toward ambient nitrate synthesis
Authors: Liang Jie , Zhang Longcheng , He Xun , Wang Yan , Luo Yongsong , Zheng Dongdong , Sun Shengjun , Cai Zhengwei , Zhang Jing , Ma Ke , Zheng Yinyuan , Sun Xuping , Tang Chengwu
Published: December 2022

Under ambient conditions, using low concentration NO (1%), ultrahigh nitrate formation rates in a two-electrode system can be achievedviathe eCOR-NOOR. The structure changes of electrode materials under real reaction conditions are revealed.
Advances in metal–organic framework-based hydrogel materials: preparation, properties and applications
Authors: Sun Wang , Zhao Xianhui , Webb Erin , Xu Gang , Zhang Weijie , Wang Yang
Published: December 2022

This review provides the engineering strategies, systematic classification and representative applications of MOF-based hydrogels, and future prospects have also been presented in detail.