bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Diabetes Mellitus on Left Ventricular Function and Deformation in Patients with Restrictive Cardiomyopathies: A 3.0T CMR Feature Tracking Study
Authors: Gao Yue , Jiang Yi-Ning , Shi Rui , Guo Ying-Kun , Xu Hua-Yan , Min Chen-yan , Yang Zhi-gang , Yuan Li
Published: September 2023

Background
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most common metabolic disease worldwide and a major risk factor for adverse cardiovascular events, while the additive effects of DM on left ventricular (LV) deformation in restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) cohort remain unclear. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate the additive effects of DM on LV deformation in patients with RCM.
Materials and methods
One hundred thirty-six RCM patients without DM [RCM(DM−)], 46 with DM [RCM (DM+)] and 66 age- and sex-matched control subjects who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) scanning were included. LV function, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) type and LV global peak strains (including radial, circumferential and longitudinal directions) were measured. The determinant of reduced LV global myocardial strain for all RCM patients was assessed using multivariable linear regression analyses. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was performed to illustrate the relationship between DM and decreased LV deformation.
Results
Compared with normal controls, both RCM (DM −) and RCM(DM+) patients presented increased LV end-diastolic index and end-systolic volume index and decreased LV ejection fraction. LV GPS in all three directions and longitudinal PDSR progressively declined from the normal controls to the RCM(DM−) group to the RCM(DM+) group (all p < 0.05). DM was an independent determinant of impaired LV GPS in the radial, circumferential and longitudinal directions and longitudinal PDSR (β =−0.217, 0.176, 0.253,and − 0.263, all p < 0.05) in RCM patients. The multiparameter combination including DM showed an AUC with 0.81(95% CI = 0.75–0.87) to predict decreased LV GLPS and an AUC of 0.69 (95% CI = 0.62–0.76) to predict decreased LV longitudinal PDSR.
Conclusions
DM had an additive deleterious effect on LV dysfunction in patients with RCM, especially diastolic dysfunction in RCM patients, indicating the importance of early identification and initiation of treatment of DM in patients with RCM.
Electrochemical DNA Biosensor for detection of Avian Infectious Bronchitis virus (IBV) using Gold Modified Electrode with Glutaraldehyde as cross linker
Authors: Bhuiyan Md. Safiul Alam
Published: September 2023

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) belongs to the Gamma coronavirus family of avian species, which is characterized by respiratory infections, nephropathy, and permanent damage to the oviduct, resulting in high mortality in both layer and broiler chickens. IBV has caused significant financial losses and a lack of on-farm diagnostic tools, posing a significant challenge for disease prevention and control. The development of DNA biosensors has increased the importance of rapid and accurate detection of the viral disease in poultry. In this study, an electrochemical DNA biosensor was developed based on a gold electrode fabricated with a nanocomposite of chitosan (CS), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), and highly reactive glutaraldehyde (GLU). The biosensor utilized the target-specific Orf gene of IBV. Under optimal parameters, immobilization and hybridization efficiencies were evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), with methylene blue used as the redox indicator. The proposed DNA biosensor successfully detected the target DNA in a range of 2.0 x 10–12 to 2.0 x 10− 5 molL-1, with a limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 2.6 nM and 0.79 nM, respectively. Cross-reactivity studies were performed against non-IBV viruses, consistently validating its sensitivity for detection. The hybridization event was analyzed in real samples by applying the selected probe to the modified gold electrode, using crude cDNA and PCR products. The recovery rate ranged from 95.41–104.55%. These results demonstrate that the proposed DNA biosensor has the potential to accurately detect various strains of IBV in real samples. Additionally, it offers a rapid, sensitive, and alternative technique for diagnosing IBV disease, addressing the current challenges in disease prevention and control.
Pathogenicity of the root lesion nematode Pratylenchus neglectus depends on pre-culture conditions
Authors: Fatemi Ehsan , Jung Christian
Published: September 2023

The ability of a plant parasitic nematode to infect and reproduce within a host plant depends on its genotype and the environmental conditions before and during infection. We studied the culturing conditions of the root lesion nematode Pratylenchus neglectus to produce inoculum for plant infection tests. Nematodes were either cultivated on carrot calli for different periods or directly isolated from the roots of the host plants. After infection of wheat and barley plants in the greenhouse, nematodes were quantified by RT-qPCR and by visual counting of the nematodes. We observed drastically reduced infection rates after long-term (> 96 weeks) cultivation on carrot callus. In contrast, fresh isolates from cereal roots displayed much higher pathogenicity. We recommend using root lesion nematodes cultivated on carrot calli no longer than 48 weeks to guarantee uniform infection rates.
Natural deep eutectic solvents characteristics determine their extracting and protective power on chlorogenic acids from sunflower meal
Authors: Bezerra Fernanda de Sousa , Ramos Gabriela Soares Macello , Carvalho Matheus Grilo de Oliveira , Koblitz Maria Gabriela Bello
Published: September 2023

Sunflower meal is a residue of the edible oil extraction and a promising source for the extraction of phenolic compounds, especially the chlorogenic acid family. Their clean extraction and later conservation may be improved by the use of natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES). This study evaluated the extraction and stability of phenolic compounds from sunflower meal using different combinations of NaDES and ethanol, as control. The principal aim was finding a clean extraction method for this rich bioactive compound by-product. The results showed that all solvents extracted similar phenolic compounds, but the most acidic NADES showed higher efficiency. In terms of stability, this acidic NaDES showed better protection against heat treatment and storage, while ethanol exhibited better stability under light exposure. The findings suggest that the NaDES composition, pH and other characteristics may influence both, extraction efficiency and stability, enabling the clean use and valorization of this residue from the agroindustry.
Cytogenomic investigation in 151 Brazilian infertile male patients: Experience of 14 years in a public genetic service
Authors: Adriano Márcia Regina Gimenes , Bortolai Adriana , Madia Fabricia Andreia Rosa , Carvalho Gleyson Francisco da Silva , Nascimento Amom Mendes , Zanardo Evelin Aline , Wolff Beatriz Martins , Waisberg Jaques , Bos-Mikich Adriana , Kulikowski Leslie Domenici , Dias Alexandre Torchio
Published: September 2023

Objectives
Male infertility accounts for approximately 30% of cases of reproductive failure. The characterization of genetic variants using cytogenomic techniques is essential for the adequate clinical management of these patients. We aimed to conduct a cytogenetic investigation of numerical and structural rearrangements and a genomic study of Y chromosome microdeletions/microduplications in infertile men derived from a single centre with over 14 years of experience.
Results
We evaluated 151 infertile men in a transversal study using peripheral blood karyotypes and 15 patients with normal karyotypes through genomic investigation by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) or polymerase chain reaction of sequence-tagged sites (PCR-STS) techniques. Out of the 151 patients evaluated by karyotype, 13 presented chromosomal abnormalities: 2 had numerical alterations, and 11 had structural chromosomal rearrangements. PCR-STS detected a BPY2 gene region and RBMY2DP pseudogene region microdeletion in one patient. MLPA analysis allowed the identification of one patient with CDY2B_1 and CDY2B_2 probe duplications (CDY2B gene) and one patient with BPY2_1, BPY2_2, and BPY2_4 probe duplications (BPY2 gene).
Virseqimprover: An Integrated Pipeline for Viral Contig Error Correction, Extension, and Annotation
Authors: Song Haoqiu , Tithi Saima , Aylward Frank , Jensen Roderick , Zhang Liqing
Published: September 2023

Background: Despite the recent surge of viral metagenomic studies, it remains a significant challenge to recover complete virus genomes from metagenomic data. The majority of viral contigs generated from de novo assembly programs are highly fragmented, presenting significant challenges to downstream analysis and inference.
Methods: We have developed Virseqimprover, a computational pipeline that can extend assembled contigs to complete or nearly complete genomes while maintaining extension quality. Virseqimprover first examines whether there is any chimeric sequence based on read coverage, breaks the sequence into segments if there is, then extends the longest segment with uniform coverage, and repeats these procedures until the sequence cannot be extended. Finally, Virseqimprover annotates the gene content of the resulting sequence.
Conclusion: Virseqimprover has good performance on correcting and extending viral contigs to their full lengths, hence can be a useful tool to improve the completeness and minimize the assembly errors of viral contigs. Both a web server and a conda package for Virseqimprover are provided to the research community free of charge.
Reactive oxygen species profiles reveal the tumor immune micro-environment and clinical outcomes of skin cutaneous melanoma
Authors: Yue Chao , Lian Wenqin , Duan Mengying , Xia Die , Cao Xianbin , Peng Jianzhong
Published: September 2023

Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is a cancer formed by the malignant transformation of melanocytes in the basal layer of the skin. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are thought to be a significant factor influencing tumor development, yet the link between SKCM and ROS is still unclear. Four datasets (TCGA-SKCM and GEO-GSE19234, GSE54467, and GSE65904) were adapted to perform multi-omics analysis. A total of 28 prognostic ROS-related genes (ROSRGs) were identified, and consensus clustering analysis was conducted to elucidate the prognostic value of ROSRGs in SKCM. ssGSEA and GSVA analyses were used to explore the potential biological and immunological implications of ROS clusters in SKCM patients. In addition, we built and validated a risk prognostic model for the ROSRGs signature in SKCM. The results indicated significantly shorter survival times for high-risk patients. The applicability of the established ROSRG signature to different patient populations was also demonstrated in the study. Go, KEGG, and mutation analysis were employed to explore the functions of the 446 DEGs. We used various algorithms to examine immune cell infiltration to discover insights into the immune microenvironment of SKCM. The high-risk group was also found to exhibit lower TIDE scores, suggesting the possibility of higher responsiveness to immunotherapy. Besides, we explored the possibility of personalized therapy regimens based on patient subgroups. Finally, we gain further insight into the immune microenvironment of SKCM at the single-cell level. Signature expression levels were higher in monocytes, macrophages, and B cells. In Conclusion, we explored the relationship between SKCM and ROS through multi-omics approaches and further investigated potential immune checkpoints in SKCM and genes affecting tumor heterogeneity in SKCM. Our findings provided novel ideas for personalized clinical treatment of SKCM patients and new evidence for improving the prognosis and preventing metastasis in SKCM patients.
Ontology Supported Semantic Based Image Retrieval
Authors: Gasi Akif , Dagtekin Mustafa , Ensari Tolga
Published: September 2023

Semantic-Based Image Retrieval (SBIR) is the process of searching for images in a database that have similar relationships between the objects detected in an image and the defined objects. The relationships in the subject-predicate-object structure are transformed into a structure that computers can make sense out of with Ontologies and are used to search for semantically similar images. In this study, a two-stage approach for developing a Semantic Based Image Retrieval system supported by Ontology is proposed. In the first stage, objects are detected with the Object Detection process from the image and a predicate describing the relationship between the two objects is determined with the developed Bi-directional Recurrent Neural Network (Bi-RNN) model. In the second stage, relations defined as are converted into Ontologies and used to search for semantically similar images. The Visual Genome dataset is used in the training of the developed Bi-RNN model and generation of the ontologies. In the performance measurement of the developed model, 91\% accuracy was obtained according to the Recall@100 (Top-5 accuracy) result. The proposed approach has the characteristics of a new method used in this field and gives more effective results compared to other similar methods that are used in Semantic Based Image Retrieval by using Ontologies.
C-terminal agrin fragment as a novel biomarker of kidney function in obese children and adolescents.
Authors: Medyńska Anna , Chrzanowska Joanna , Zubkiewicz-Kucharska Agnieszka , Zwolińska Danuta
Published: September 2023

Background: Obesity is a global health problem which has a negative impact on many organs, including kidneys. Studies, conducted mainly in obese adults have confirmed that obesity is associated with increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) development. So, the detection of early kidney lesions is crucial for the patients.
The aim of the study was to determine the usefulness of serum C-terminal fragment of agrin (t-CAF) and cystatin C levels along with hyperfiltration as indicators of kidney function damage in obese children and their relationship with the severity of obesity.
Material and methods: 125 children and adolescents with simple obesity and 33 healthy peers with normal body mass were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups, depending on SDS BMI values (below and over 4). The serum concentration of t-CAF and cyststic C were assessed by ELISA, eGFR was calculated using Schwartz formula
Results: t-CAF and cystatin C as well as eGFR were significantly higher in obese children compared to healthy peers (p< 0.000). However, there were no differences in t-CAF, cystatin C and eGFR between the obese groups. Albumin excretion did not distinguish obese groups from the controls.
Conclusions:
In obese children without overt signs of kidney damage, hyperfiltration promotes early kidney dysfunction. This is supported by elevated serum cystatin C and t-CAF levels. t-CAF seems to be a better biomarker than cystatin C due to its potential role in adipogenesis. The degree of obesity in children without significant metabolic disorders does not affect kidney function but further studies are needed to confirm it.
On a Simple Connection Between ∆-modular ILP and LP, and a New Bound on the Number of Integer Vertices
Authors: Gribanov Dmitry , Malyshev Dmitry , Shumilov Ivan
Published: September 2023

In our note we present a very simple and short proof of a new interesting fact about the faces of an integer hull of a given rational polyhedron. This fact has a complete analog in Linear Programming theory and can be useful to establish new constructive upper bounds on the number of vertices in integer hulls of $\Delta$-modular polyhedra, which can theoretically be useful for integer linear maximization problems with a convex or quasiconvex objective function. Additionally, we introduce the notion of \emph{deep bases} of a linear program. The problem to estimate their number by a non-trivial way seems to be quite challenging.
Alterations in the Tear Film and Ocular Surface in Pediatric Migraine Patients
Authors: Aşık Abdulvahit , Aydemir Gözde Aksoy , Aydemir Emre , Bilen Abdurrahman , İpek Rojan , Ballı Haci , Bayat Alper Halil , Türk Bilge Aydın
Published: September 2023

Purpose:To evaluate the ocular surface (OS) parameters in the pediatric migraine patients (PMPs).
Methods: This prospective case-control designed study consisted of 51 PMPs (PMP Group) and 55 healthy pediatric patients (HPP Group). In all participants were evaluated of tear function by subjective (Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire), objective (Schirmer tear test (STT) and tear film break-up time (TBUT)), clinical and laboratory investigations (conjunctival impression cytology (CIC)). The PMP Group was divided into 2 according to their aura.
Results: The mean age and gender distribution of the study groups were almost the same (for both of them: P > 0.05). In the PMP Group, both the STT value and the TBUT value were significantly lower than those determined in the HPP Group (P = 0.021, P = 0.018, respectively). In the PMP Group the OSDI scores of were higher than those in the HPP Group (P = 0.032). In the PMP Group, the goblet cell density (GCD) values were lower than those in the HPP Group (P = 0.01). In regard to the aura, the TBUT and STT values were non-significantly lower in the PMP aura-positive group than in the PMP aura-negative group (for both of them: P > 0.05). The OSDI assessment was similar in both of the groups. In regard to the goblet cell count, it was observed to be less in the PMP aura-positive group than in the PMP aura-negative group (P = 0.01).
Conclusion: Influence of the OS in children with migraine was also demonstrated with samples taken from the conjunctiva. These changes were also demonstrated by objective tests such as STT and TBUT. Both clinical objective evaluations and pathological changes were more prominent in the migraine with aura group.
Use of choline alfoscerate for newly diagnosed patients with Alzheimer’s disease in Korea
Authors: Kim Yeon Hee , Jeon Nakyung , Je Nam Kyung
Published: September 2023

Purpose: Choline alfoscerate, a cholinergic precursor in the brain, improves dementia-related symptoms. Although it is widely available as a dietary supplement in several countries, including the U.S., the Korean healthcare system has incorporated it into its insurance coverage. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the utilization status of choline alfoscerate and factors influencing it in patients newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) using real-world data.Methods: We analyzed the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service research dataset to identify patients ≥ 60 years old who were newly diagnosed with AD. We determined whether the study population was prescribed choline alfoscerate in addition to AD medications (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, and memantine) within 60 d of the initial diagnosis. Moreover, the Cochran–Armitage test was used to confirm the statistical differences in the annual drug utilization trends.Results: Among the 330,326 study participants, 99,845 (33.08%) were consuming choline alfoscerate. Its use increased from 15.96% in 2012 to 47.65% in 2019. Factors that positively influenced the use of choline alfoscerate included male sex, MedAid insurance, and osteoarthritis. However, its use tended to decrease in the presence of certain comorbidities (hypertension, congestive heart failure, stroke/transient ischemic attack, chronic kidney disease, and depression).Conclusion: Utilization of choline alfoscerate has gradually increased in Korea, in part due to the absence of a disease-modifying therapy for AD and its inclusion in the country’s insurance coverage system. However, its use should be monitored due to the unclear efficacy and risk profile of this drug.
Ultrasonic Bone Curette‐Assisted Unilateral approach for bilateral decompression with MISTLIF for Severe lumbar spinal stenosis
Authors: Shao Minglei , Ren Yuebing , Nian Ying , Sun Tongxin
Published: September 2023

Purpose
We aim to evaluate the clinical efficacy of bilateral decompression with minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MISTLIF) assisted by ultrasonic bone Curette (UBC) in treating severe degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS) and traditional tool laminectomy decompression MISTLIF in treating severe DLSS.
Methods
The clinical data of 128 patients with single-segment severe DLSS admitted between January 2017 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 67 patients were treated with unilateral fenestration and bilateral decompression MIS-TLIF using ultrasonic bone Curette (UBC group), whereas 61 patients were treated with unilateral fenestration and bilateral decompression MIS-TLIF using traditional tools (traditional group, control). A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the low back pain before the operation, one week, and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after the operation. Oswestry disability index (ODI) and Zurich claudication score (ZCQ) were used to evaluate the improvement of low back function. At the last follow-up, the Bridwell bone graft fusion standard was used to evaluate the bone graft fusion.
Results
The decompression time of laminectomy was significantly shorter in the UBC group than in the traditional group (control group), and the intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage volume were significantly less than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The VAS, ODI, and ZCQ scores of the two groups after the operation were significantly improved compared to those before the operation (P < 0.05). The UBC group had better VAS and ODI scores than the control group one week after operation (P < 0.05). The incidence of perioperative complications, hospitalization time, dural sac cross-sectional area (CSA), and dural sac CSA improvement rate did not differ significantly between the two groups (P > 0.05). VAS and ODI scores did not differ significantly between the two groups before, six months, one year, and two years after operation (P > 0.05). ZCQ score did not differ significantly between the two groups before the operation, one week, six months, one year, and two years after the operation (P > 0.05). According to the Bridwell bone graft fusion standard, bone graft fusion did not occur significantly between the two groups (P > 0.05) at the last follow-up.
Conclusions
UBC unilateral fenestration bilateral decompression MIS-TLIF in treating severe DLSS can obtain similar clinical efficacy as traditional tools unilateral fenestration bilateral decompression MIS-TLIF and can reduce intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage. It can also shorten the operation time, effectively reduce the work intensity of the operator, and reduce the degree of low back pain during short-term follow-up. It is a safe and effective surgical method.
Few−shot learning of frame structure damage detection based on Meta−Learning and DCCMN model
Authors: Cai Chaozhi , Guo Xiaoyu , Fu Wenmei , Ren Jianhua
Published: September 2023

In response to the poor detection performance of frame structure under limited data conditions, this paper proposes a novel approach. This approach is based on the concepts of dynamic convolution and models such as ResNet and ShuffleNet. It introduces a Cross − Mix module and builds upon it to formulate the DCCMN (Dynamic Convolution Cross − Mix Network) model. Meta − Learning and the DCCMN model are applied to detect frame structure damage under few − shot scenarios (Meta + DCCMN). Experiments are conducted on the floor frame structure of Columbia University to validate the effectiveness of this approach. The proposed approach is subjected to N − way K − shot experiments and compared under the same conditions with SVM, ResNet − 18, DCCMN, and Meta + ResNet − 18 models. Experimental results demonstrate that, in the case of few − shot learning, the accuracy of this approach can reach 100% in 2 − way 5 − shot and 9 − way 10 − shot scenarios. Furthermore, the proposed damage detection approach outperforms other models, effectively addressing frame structure detection challenges under limited data conditions.
Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles from marine fungi Aspergillus flavus OQ651270: Their characterization and biological studies
Authors: Hamed Moaz , Kelany Mahmoud S
Published: September 2023

Background
Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) have an astounding range of modern applications, which has led to extensive and cutting-edge research and development. Studies on the antibacterial properties of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were the focus of this work, along with their manufacture, characterization and some biological studies.
Results
Our extracellular biosynthetic approach to creating Ag-NPs was eco-friendly. Extracts of the marine fungus Aspergillus flavus MK4 were utilized as reducing agents to create the nanoparticles. UV-Visible spectroscopy was used to observe the production of colloidal Ag-NPs. The Plasmon absorbance of the Ag-NPs was observed as a peak in the UV-Visible spectrum at 450 nm. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques were used to characterize the Ag-NPs in terms of size and shape, and the results showed a size range of 15 nm with a spherical shape. Both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria were used to examine Ag-NPs' potential antibacterial effects. All the bacterial strains are demonstrating good antibacterial activity. The cytotoxic activity was tested against the HepG-2 cell line using the MTT assay, while the antioxidant property was analyzed using the radical scavenging (DPPH) assay. Silver nanoparticles synthesized in this way have properties that make them promising for antibacterial, anticancer, and wound-healing uses.
Conclusion
Aspergillus flavus MK4 has a strong ability to synthesize Ag-NPs, which has been well characterized and has been shown to have good antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer and wound healing ability.
Wheat straw-based particleboards with citric acid as adhesive; influence of mat moisture and adhesive content
Authors: Khatiri Amin , Shalbafan Ali , Najafi Saeed Kazemi
Published: September 2023

ABSTRAC
In this study, the properties of particleboard made from wheat straw using citric acid (CA) as a bio-adhesive were investigated. The effects of mat moisture content (MC) and adhesive on mechanical properties (flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, internal strength) and physical properties (thickness shrinkage and water absorption) of straw particleboard were evaluated. To control the MC of the mat, the resinated straw particles were oven dried at different times (2 to 14 hours) and temperatures (80 and 100 °C) to obtain a mat with MC between 20 and 0.5%. The effects of an adhesive content of 15, 20, 25 and 30% (based on the dry mass of the straw) on the properties of the panels were also studied. The best MC of the mat before hot pressing was about 11% (drying of the particles in 2 hours at 100 °C), and the corresponding board had the highest mechanical and the lowest physical properties. Further decreasing the MC of the mat from about 11% to 0.5% had a negative effect on the mechanical and physical properties of the straw particleboard. Increasing the adhesive content from 15% to 30% improved all mechanical and physical properties of the panels; however, the changes in the range of 20% to 30% of adhesive content on the flexural properties and water absorption were not significant. In general, the results showed that due to the acidic nature of CA, it is possible to produce particleboard from wheat straw without pretreating the straw particles before use.
Cerium oxide nanoparticles alleviate sepsis-related cognitive impairments in rats
Authors: Zhao Jungang , Liu Qian , Chen Qin , Hong Fei , Zhu Guoji , Liu Feng
Published: September 2023

Background
This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2NPs) in sepsis-related cognitive impairments.
Methods
X-ray diffractometer and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the nanoparticles. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis rat model was established. The rats were orally administered vehicle or different doses of CeO2NPs (4, 8, or 16 mg/kg) once daily for 7 days. Neurobehavioral assessment and Morris water maze test were carried out to evaluate the cognitive ability of the rats. The hippocampus and blood samples were collected at 7 days after treatment. ELISA was performed to measure the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers. Western blot analysis was conducted to determine the hippocampal expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).
Results
CeO2NPs were crystalline with diameters of approximately 30 nm. Compared with vehicle-treated septic rats, CeO2NPs-treated ones exhibited significantly increased neurobehavioral scores and survival rates, shortened escape latencies, increased numbers of platform crossings, as well as longer swimming paths and more time spent in the target quadrant. ELISA showed that CeO2NPs effectively reversed CLP-induced elevations in the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α) and oxidative stress indicators (SOD and CAT). Furthermore, CeO2NPs strongly abolished CLP-induced upregulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein expression related to blood-brain barrier disruption in the hippocampus of septic rats. Of note, all the effects of CeO2NPs were dose dependent.
Conclusion
CeO2NPs ameliorate cognitive ability and survival rate of septic rats possibly by alleviating systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and blood-brain barrier disruption.
Mitochondria-associated gene SLC25A32 as a novel prognostic and immunotherapy biomarker: From pan-cancer multi-omics analysis to breast cancer validation
Authors: Zuo Shiqi , He Siyuan , Zhang Yingying , Wu Ziqing , Tang Yao
Published: September 2023

Background:
Mutations in SLC25A32 in humans cause riboflavin-responsive exercise intolerance, which is associated with various neurological and metabolic diseases. However, its specific mechanism of action in tumour development is poorly understood owing to the lack of multi-omics integrated analysis of SLC25A32 in pan-cancer.
Methods:
We used various analytical tools to comprehensively investigate the transcription, protein level, and promoter methylation of SLC25A32. Furthermore, the GSCA and cBioPortal databases were used to evaluate the inheritance impact and epigenetic alterations of SLC25A32 in pan-cancer. SLC25A32 expression and the prognostic significance of copy number alterations in multiple cancers were compared using the UCSCXenaShiny and GEPIA2.0 platforms, and its specific function in breast cancer was experimentally verified.
Results:
SLC25A32 is abnormally expressed at the transcriptional and protein levels in most cancer types, with aberrant DNA promoter methylation and significant gene amplification in most tumours. SLC25A32 is significantly associated with the survival prognosis of some cancers, immune infiltrating cells, tumour stemness, and immune-related markers. SLC25A32 knockdown decreased breast tumour cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis.
Conclusions:
This study aimed to reveal SLC25A32 as a novel prognostic biomarker for pan-cancer prediction and immunotherapy efficacy and specifically describes its underlying mechanism of action in breast cancer. SLC25A32 is widely differentially expressed in pan-cancer with prognostic significance and is correlated with immune infiltration. Additionally, it can affect breast cancer occurrence and development.
Elevated accumulation of lutein and zeaxanthin in a novel high-biomass strain Dunaliella sp. ZP-1 through EMS mutagenesis
Authors: Liu Chenglong , Huang Danqiong , Zhuo Xinran , Feng Jinwei , Wen Xueer , Liao Zixin , Wu Runling , Hu Zhangli , Lou Sulin , Li Hui
Published: September 2023

BackgroundDunaliellaalgae, such asDunaliella salinarich in β-carotene andDunaliella bardawilis rich in lutein and α-carotene, have been used in aquaculture, supplements, cosmetics and feed industries. The genusDunaliellais diverse and secretive, so characterization of novel strains and breeding new varieties through mutagenesis technology will promote natural carotenoid bioproduction. Results Salt stress test demonstrated microalgae strain ZP-1 was a halotolerant strain. Morphology observation and phylogeny analysis indicated this unicellular green algae ZP-1 was a member of the genusDunaliella. Biomass of ZP-1 in RAM medium is up to 2.45 g/L, showing an advantage over the commonDunaliellaalgae in terms of yield. Furthermore, a screen on ethyl methanesulfonate mutant library generated from this high-biomass strain was conducted to improve natural carotenoid productivity. A mutant strain selected through morphology observation combined with carotenoid quantification by HPLC was nominated asturn yellow dunaliella 4(tyd4). The mutanttyd4displayed an increased lutein productivity by 28.55% and an increased zeaxanthin productivity by 22.19%. Biomass oftyd4was promoted by 17.40% through continuous culture under red light. Application of exogenous 1.0 µM melatonin on the mutanttyd4lead to increased cell density and improved biomass. Conclusions The results together support that EMS mutagenesis was an effective breeding approach for improvement ofDunaliellasp. ZP-1, which was a high-biomass microalgae exhibiting potential to some extent overcome the bottleneck of low biomass of current commercialDunaliellastrains. The mutanttyd4had higher contents of both lutein and zeaxanthin, whose yield could be further elevated by red light and melatonin at lab-scale culture. Our study provided new algae resources for scientific research and technical reference to bioproduction of natural carotenoids.
Neuro-AI: Enhancing Digital Growth Metrics through Social Media Automation
Authors: Sharma Anshu , Sharma Chirag , Garg Rachit , Madaan Tanvi
Published: September 2023

The introduction of social media platforms transformed the way individuals and businesses engage, communicate, and advertise their goods and services. Understanding and anticipating the growth metrics of online content is critical for keeping a competitive edge in this continuously developing digital market. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) based on neurological patterns, this article proposes a novel technique to predicting digital growth indicators such as post engagement, reach, and user interactions. The discussed research topics are implemented using a provided approach, and the findings are discussed, including roughly 91% correctly predicted hashtags, 0.7 R2 scores, and an acceptance rate of approximately 78% by various influencers for the created post content. For these results, I collaborated with ten influencers ranging in size from small to medium who were willing to work on this method in private because data cannot be disclosed publicly.
Crosstalk between LncRNA HAGLR, Autophagy Regulation, and Prognosis in Gastric Cancer: Implications for Therapeutic Strategies
Authors: Fang ChangZhong , Yu Nanhui , Hu Yuejuan , Shi Wenbin
Published: September 2023

Objective
To examine the role of the autophagy-related gene LncRNA HAGLR in gastric cancer (GC) prognosis, co-regulation, and drug sensitivity.
Methods
RNA sequencing data retrieved from public databases were used to analyze HAGLR expression in GC tissues. Differentially expressed genes associated with HAGLR were screened. Various experiments were conducted to examine the HAGLR's effect on GC cell proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis, and drug sensitivity.
Results
HAGLR was significantly upregulated in GC and correlated with poor prognosis. A total of 265 differentially expressed genes linked to HAGLR were identified, which were primarily involved in nutrient digestion, absorption, and metabolism. Downregulation of HAGLR resulted in inhibition of GC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, increased apoptosis, and sensitivity to common GC drugs.
Conclusion
HAGLR influences prognosis, biological process regulation, and drug sensitivity in GC.
Analysis of clinical features, prognosis and potential target genes of refractory meningioma-- Research based on multiple databases
Authors: Li Shiwei , Li Mengjiao , Zhu Kaitao , Zhang Shanyi
Published: September 2023

Objective:
Analyzing SEER database data on malignant meningiomas, we explored high-risk factors for refractory meningiomas (RMs). Additionally, we analyzed GEO database genes across WHO grades to identify key genes and malignant risk factors for RMs. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on WHO grade meningiomas' pathological specimens to verify hub gene expression differences.
Methods:
We included clinical cases of malignant meningiomas diagnosed in the SEER database. GEO database provided a gene expression profile dataset of 252 samples. Significant expression differences yielded screened genes, constructing a PPI network and identifying common hub genes. Hub gene-WHO classification correlation was assessed. A single center collected 38 meningioma samples grouped by WHO grade. Immunohistochemistry confirmed hub gene expressions.
Results:
SEER study: Multivariate COX analysis revealed age (P < 0.001), sex (P=0.071), chemotherapy (P < 0.001), and tumor size (P=0.003) as statistically significant prognostic factors.
Gene database analysis: Differential genes ErbB3 and EGFR were identified; Progesterone and estrogen receptors PR and ER were also included, with distinct expressions across WHO grades (P < 0.001), except for ER.
Pathological data study: EGFR correlated positively with WHO grade (r=0.396, P=0.014). ErbB3 (r=-0.487, p=0.002), ER (r=-0.396, P= 0.002), and egfr (r=-0.396, P=0.014) correlated negatively. nPR (r=-0.519, P < 0.001) and PR (r=-0.218, p=0.189) correlated negatively. nEGFR (r=-0.061, p=0.717) were not significant. ER (r=-0.316, P=0.065) and nPR (r=-0.443, P=0.008) correlated negatively with recurrence.
Conclusion:
EGFR, ErbB3, ER, and nPR might be potential RM diagnostic and treatment targets. mPR distribution discrepancies may hold diagnostic and therapeutic importance under new classifications or definitions.
Forecasting Social Cost of Carbon With Predictive Machine Learning Models for CO₂ And GHG Emissions
Authors: Sarkar Pratyayan , Chowdhury Arindam
Published: September 2023

Our study focuses on the Social Cost of Carbon in Relation to Climate Risk. Since information on the social cost of carbon and its effects on the climate is not easily accessible, we searched the internet for pertinent data sets. We have information on emissions from 470 oil and gas companies in 2021 as well as information on emissions in India, China, and the entire Asian continent from 1850 to 2021. We have observed a direct relationship between the upkeep of carbon emission monitoring systems and the carbon emissions of oil and gas firms. As the upkeep of the carbon emission monitoring systems increased, we discovered that oil and gas industries' carbon emissions decreased. To forecast the carbon emissions in India, China, and all of Asia, we also built a machine-learning model and gave it data from 1850 to 2021.
Multi-method computational evaluation of the inhibitors against leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 G2019S mutant for Parkinson's disease
Authors: Elhadi Ahmed , Zhao Dan , Ali Noman , Sun Fusheng , Zhong Shijun
Published: September 2023

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 G2019S mutant (LRRK2 G2019S) is a potential target for Parkinson's disease therapy. In this work, the computational evaluation of the LRRK2 G2019S inhibitors was conducted via a combined approach which contains a preliminary screening of a large database of compounds via similarity and pharmacophore, a secondary selection via structure-based affinity prediction and molecular docking, and a rescoring treatment for the final selection. MD simulations and MM/GBSA calculations were performed to check the agreement between different prediction methods for these inhibitors. 331 experimental ligands were collected, and 170 were used to build the structure-activity relationship. Eight representative ligand structural models were employed in similarity searching and pharmacophore screening over fourteen million compounds. The process for selecting proper molecular descriptors provides a successful sample which can be used as a general strategy in QSAR modelling. The rescoring used in this work presents an alternative useful treatment for ranking and selection.
On-farm diversity of Enset (Ensete ventricosum(Welw) cheesman) Landraces, Use, Management practice and Associated Indigenous knowledge.
Authors: Teshome Mikias , Awulachew Mengistu
Published: September 2023

Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) is a widely cultivated food crop in southern parts of Ethiopia. This highly valuable crop is only domesticated in Ethiopia and adapted to the high altitude areas, of Ethiopia. The overall objective of this study is to document the diversity of enset (Ensete ventricosum) landraces and associated indigenous knowledge of farmer's selected sites in the Kefa Zone (Gesha, Saylem, Decha, and Adiyo) district in southwestern Ethiopia. In the study data on enset landraces and farmers' indigenous methods of naming, classification, and identification of landraces were gathered using semi-structured interviews, field observation, and focus group discussion. The selections of study districts were made purposefully uniform method based on their agroecology and accessibility; three kebeles were made from each district bringing the total number of sampled households to 120. In the study a total of 76 enset landraces were recorded from households survey and among these, landraces locally called Bejo, Shelako, Nobo, Boco, Gushiro, Yeko, Menjio, and Adyio were found to be the most dominant, widely distributed and highly preferred landraces in the area. In the study, the highest number of landraces,48 were recorded from Adyio districts, and the least number of landraces 32 was recorded from Gesha districts with the relative, Simpson’s Diversity index values ranging between 0.96 (Saylem) to 0.98 (Adyio) while H′ ranged between 0.91(Gesha) to1.94 in Adyio. On the other hand, Sorenson’s similarity index value indicated the existence of high similarity between the Sylem and Decha districts, and the least similarity value was obtained between Adyio and Decha. For identification of different enset landraces farmers used morphological descriptors such as leaf color, pseudo stem color, midrib color, Plant size, and circumference of the Plant. Although there is a high diversity of enset landraces in the area, the production and productivity of the crop are reported to be under significant stress due to various environmental problems such as bacterial wilt and animal pests. Thus, there is a need for a multidisciplinary approach to resolve the problems, maintain the diversity of enset landraces, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the system.
Reduction of Nitrobenzene by Four Sulfide Minerals: Kinetics, Products, and Solubility
Authors: Yu Y. Shane , Bailey George W.
Published: September 2023

Nitrobenzene was used as a molecular probe to study electron donor properties of four sulfide minerals. Nitrobenzene was selected as a probe because its reaction in aqueous systems has been well characterized. Suspensions of the four minerals were reacted with nitrobenzene under anaerobic conditions for various time periods. Nitrobenzene and its reaction products in both the solution and the solid phase were analyzed by liquid chromatography and UV‐visible spectroscopy. The observed half‐lives of nitrobenzene are 7.5, 40, 105, and 360 h, respectively, for reaction with sodium sulfide (Na2S), alabandite (MnS), sphalerite (ZnS), and molybdenite (MoS2) under anaerobic conditions, at a 0.24 mol L−1 water‐mineral mixture concentration. The log plot of calculated sulfide ion concentration of minerals vs. reaction halflife shows a linear relationship. Nitrobenzene reduction by sulfide minerals is a solution phenomena. The sulfide mineral dissolution rate and its solubility, however, influence the reduction rate.
Assessment of Spatial Variation of Cesium‐137 in Small Catchments
Authors: van der Perk Marcel , Slávik Ondrej , Fulajtár Emil
Published: September 2023

Surface contamination by bomb‐derived and Chernobyl‐derived 137Cs has been subject to changes due to physical decay and lateral transport of contaminated soil particles, which have resulted in an ongoing transfer of radionuclides from terrestrial ecosystems to surface water, river bed sediments, and flood plains. Knowledge of the different sources of spatial variation of 137Cs is particularly essential for estimating 137Cs transfer to fluvial systems and for successfully applying 137Cs as an environmental tracer in soil erosion studies. This study combined a straightforward sediment redistribution model and geostatistical interpolation of point samples of 137Cs activities in soil to distinguish the effects of sediment erosion and deposition from other sources of variation in 137Cs in the small Mochovce catchment in Slovakia. These other sources of variation could then be interpreted. Besides erosion and deposition processes, the initial pattern of 137Cs deposition, floodplain sedimentation, and short‐range spatial variation were identified as the major sources of spatial variation of the 137Cs inventory.
Plant Nutrient Issues for Sustainable Land Application
Authors: Pierzynski Gary M. , Gehl Katherine A.
Published: September 2023

Interest in plant nutrient issues for sustainable land application of residuals is increasingly driven by environmental concerns. The indicators of concern are P and N in surface waters, nitrate leaching, and emissions of ammonia and greenhouse gases. Federal regulations require residual application rates to be on a N basis at most, and on a P basis when risk of P loss in surface runoff is high. Modeling of mineralization offers the potential for more accurate determinations of potentially available nitrogen (PAN) and quick tests could allow the determination of PAN on residuals immediately before land application. Methods for reducing ammonia emissions from livestock operations and new techniques for quantifying emissions under field conditions are being developed. Calibration and validation of P loss assessment tools is an ongoing concern and the interpretation of edge of field P losses warrants further attention. The solubility of P in residuals and soils can be influenced by various amendments or treatment processes. High available P grains or phytase enzyme supplementation can reduce total and soluble P in animal manures by reducing the need for diet supplementation with inorganic P. The use of synchrotron‐based X‐ray absorption spectroscopy has identified chemical forms of inorganic P. Considerable progress has been made addressing plant nutrient issues for sustainable land application and interest in this topic will remain strong into the foreseeable future.
Radioactive Materials in Biosolids: National Survey, Dose Modeling, and Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) Guidance
Authors: Bastian R. K. , Bachmaier J. T. , Schmidt D. W. , Salomon S. N. , Jones A. , Chiu W. A. , Setlow L. W. , Wolbarst A. B. , Yu C. , Goodman J. , Lenhart T.
Published: September 2023

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced the availability of three new documents concerning radioactive materials in sewage sludge and ash from publicly owned treatment works (POTW). One of the documents is a report presenting the results of a volunteer survey of sewage sludge and ash samples provided by 313 POTWs. The second document is a dose modeling document, using multiple exposure pathway modeling focused on a series of generic scenarios, to track possible exposure of POTW workers and members of the general public to radioactivity from the sewage sludge or ash. The third document is a guidance report providing recommendations on the management of radioactivity in sewage sludge and ash for POTW owners and operators. This paper explains how radioactive materials enter POTWs, provides criteria for evaluating levels of radioactive material in sludge and ash, and gives a summary of the results of the survey and dose modeling efforts.