bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blood volume reduction due to rapid plasma loss after birth in preterm piglets
Authors: Nguyen Tam M. T. , Morwood Holly , Bakrania Bhavisha A. , Miller Stephanie M. , Bjorkman Stella T. , Lingwood Barbara E. , Wright Ian M. R. , Eiby Yvonne A.
Published: May 2024

Background

Understanding changes in blood volume after preterm birth is critical to preventing cardiovascular deterioration in preterm infants. The aims were to determine if blood volume is higher in preterm than term piglets and if blood volume changes in the hours after birth.

Methods

Paired blood volume measurements were conducted in preterm piglets (98/115d gestation, ~28wk gestation infant) at 0.5–5 h (n = 12), 0.5-9 h (n = 44) and 5–11 h (n = 7) after birth, and in a term cohort at 0.5–9 h (n = 40) while under intensive care.

Results

At 30 min after birth, blood volume was significantly lower in preterm piglets compared to term piglets. By 9 h after birth, blood volume had reduced by 18% in preterm piglets and 13% in term piglets. By 5–9 h after birth, preterm piglets had significantly lower blood volumes than at term (61 ± 10 vs. 76 ± 11 mL/kg).

Conclusions

In contrast to clinical resources, preterm piglets have a lower blood volume than at term. Substantial reductions in blood volume after birth leave some preterm piglets hypovolemic. If this also occurs in preterm infants, this may have important clinical consequences. Modern studies of blood volume changes after birth are essential for improving preterm outcomes.

Impact

Preterm piglets do not have a higher blood volume than their term counterparts, in contrast to current clinical estimates.

Rapid reduction in blood volume after birth leads to hypovolemia in some preterm piglets.

There is a critical need to understand blood volume changes after birth in preterm infants in order to improve clinical management of blood volume.
Anti-T-lymphocyte globulin improves GvHD-free and relapse-free survival in myelofibrosis after matched related or unrelated donor transplantation
Authors: Rathje Kristin , Gagelmann Nico , Salit Rachel B. , Schroeder Thomas , Gurnari Carmelo , Pagliuca Simona , Panagiota Victoria , Rautenberg Christina , Cassinat Bruno , Thol Felicitas , Robin Marie , Oechsler Sofia , Heuser Michael , Rubio Marie-Thérèse , Maciejewski Jaroslaw P. , Reinhardt Hans Christian , Scott Bart L. , Kröger Nicolaus
Published: May 2024

Acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) are major complications of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). In vivo T-cell depletion with anti-T-lymphocyte globulin (ATLG) as part of the conditioning regimen prior to alloHCT is frequently used as GvHD prophylaxis, but data on its role in myelofibrosis is scarce. We took advantage of an international collaborative network to investigate the impact of ATLG in myelofibrosis undergoing first alloHCT. We included 707 patients (n = 469 ATLG and n = 238 non-ATLG prophylaxis). The cumulative incidence of acute GvHD grade II-IV was 30% for the ATLG group vs. 56% for the non-ATLG group (P < 0.001). Acute GvHD grade III-IV occurred in 20% vs. 25%, respectively (P = 0.01). Incidence of mild-to-severe chronic GvHD was 49% vs. 50% (P = 0.52), while ATLG showed significantly lower rates of severe chronic GvHD (7% vs. 18%; P = 0.04). GvHD-free and relapse-free survival (GRFS) at 6 years was 45% for the ATLG group vs. 37% for the non-ATLG group (P = 0.02), driven by significantly improved GRFS of ATLG in matched related and matched unrelated donors. No significant differences in risk for relapse, non-relapse mortality, and overall survival were observed. Multivariable modeling for GRFS showed a 48% reduced risk of GvHD, relapse, or death when using ATLG.
Multimodal fusion of brain signals for robust prediction of psychosis transition
Authors: Reinen Jenna M. , Polosecki Pablo , Castro Eduardo , Corcoran Cheryl M. , Cecchi Guillermo A. , Colibazzi Tiziano
Published: May 2024

The prospective study of youths at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis, including neuroimaging, can identify neural signatures predictive of psychosis outcomes using algorithms that integrate complex information. Here, to identify risk and psychosis conversion, we implemented multiple kernel learning (MKL), a multimodal machine learning approach allowing patterns from each modality to inform each other. Baseline multimodal scans (n = 74, 11 converters) included structural, resting-state functional imaging, and diffusion-weighted data. Multimodal MKL outperformed unimodal models (AUC = 0.73 vs. 0.66 in predicting conversion). Moreover, patterns learned by MKL were robust to training set variations, suggesting it can identify cross-modality redundancies and synergies to stabilize the predictive pattern. We identified many predictors consistent with the literature, including frontal cortices, cingulate, thalamus, and striatum. This highlights the advantage of methods that leverage the complex pathophysiology of psychosis.
Mendelian randomization analysis reveals causal associations of serum metabolites with sepsis and 28-day mortality
Authors: Jing Guoqing , Zuo Jing , Liu Zhi , Liu Huifan , Cheng Miao , Yuan Min , Gong Hailong , Wu Xiaojing , Song Xuemin
Published: May 2024

Metabolic disorder has been found to be an important factor in the pathogenesis and progression of sepsis. However, the causation of such an association between serum metabolites and sepsis has not been established. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study. A genome-wide association study of 486 human serum metabolites was used as the exposure, whereas sepsis and sepsis mortality within 28 days were set as the outcomes. In MR analysis, 6 serum metabolites were identified to be associated with an increased risk of sepsis, and 6 serum metabolites were found to be related to a reduced risk of sepsis. Furthermore, there were 9 metabolites positively associated with sepsis-related mortality, and 8 metabolites were negatively correlated with sepsis mortality. In addition, “glycolysis/gluconeogenesis” (p = 0.001), and “pyruvate metabolism” (p = 0.042) two metabolic pathways were associated with the incidence of sepsis. This MR study suggested that serum metabolites played significant roles in the pathogenesis of sepsis, which may provide helpful biomarkers for early disease diagnosis, therapeutic interventions, and prognostic assessments for sepsis.
Supercapacitors and triboelectric nanogenerators based on electrodes of greener iron nanoparticles/carbon nanotubes composites
Authors: dos Reis Glaydson Simoes , de Oliveira Helinando Pequeno , Candido Iuri Custodio Montes , Freire Andre Luiz , Molaiyan Palanivel , Dotto Guilherme Luiz , Grimm Alejandro , Mikkola Jyri-Pekka
Published: May 2024

The development of supporting materials based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) impregnated with iron nanoparticles via a sustainable and green synthesis employing plant extract of Punica granatum L. leaves was carried out for the iron nanoparticle modification and the following impregnation into the carbon nanotubes composites (CNT-Fe) that were also coated with polypyrrole (CNT-Fe + PPy) for use as electrode for supercapacitor and triboelectric nanogenerators. The electrochemical characterization of the materials by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) assays revealed that the CNT-Fe + PPy gave rise to better performance due to the association of double-layer capacitance behavior of carbon derivative in association with the pseudocapacitance contribution of PPy resulting in an areal capacitance value 202 mF/ cm2 for the overall composite. In terms of the application of electrodes in triboelectric nanogenerators, the best performance for the composite of CNT-Fe + PPy was 60 V for output voltage and power density of 6 μW/cm2. The integrated system showed that the supercapacitors can be charged directly by the nanogenerator from 0 to 42 mV in 300 s. The successful green synthesis of iron nanoparticles on CNT and further PPy coating provides a feasible method for the design and synthesis of high-performance SCs and TENGs electrode materials. This work provides a systematic approach that moves the research front forward by generating data that underpins further research in self-powered electronic devices.
Ganoderma tsuage promotes pain sensitivity in aging mice
Authors: Yang Kai-Ning , Lin Chia-Ying , Li Wei-Nong , Tang Chao-Ming , Pradhan Jyotirmayee , Chao Ming-Wei , Tseng Chia-Yi
Published: May 2024

Advances in modern medicine have extended human life expectancy, leading to a world with a gradually aging society. Aging refers to a natural decline in the physiological functions of a species over time, such as reduced pain sensitivity and reaction speed. Healthy-level physiological pain serves as a warning signal to the body, helping to avoid noxious stimuli. Physiological pain sensitivity gradually decreases in the elderly, increasing the risk of injury. Therefore, geriatric health care receives growing attention, potentially improving the health status and life quality of the elderly, further reducing medical burden. Health food is a geriatric healthcare choice for the elderly with Ganoderma tsuage (GT), a Reishi type, as the main product in the market. GT contains polysaccharides, triterpenoids, adenosine, immunoregulatory proteins, and other components, including anticancer, blood sugar regulating, antioxidation, antibacterial, antivirus, and liver and stomach damage protective agents. However, its pain perception-related effects remain elusive. This study thus aimed at addressing whether GT could prevent pain sensitivity reduction in the elderly. We used a galactose-induced animal model for aging to evaluate whether GT could maintain pain sensitivity in aging mice undergoing formalin pain test, hot water test, and tail flexes. Our results demonstrated that GT significantly improved the sensitivity and reaction speed to pain in the hot water, hot plate, and formalin tests compared with the control. Therefore, our animal study positions GT as a promising compound for pain sensitivity maintenance during aging.
Novel enzymes for biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons identified by metagenomics and functional analysis in short-term soil microcosm experiments
Authors: Nagy Kinga K. , Takács Kristóf , Németh Imre , Varga Bálint , Grolmusz Vince , Molnár Mónika , Vértessy Beáta G.
Published: May 2024

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are highly toxic, carcinogenic substances. On soils contaminated with PAHs, crop cultivation, animal husbandry and even the survival of microflora in the soil are greatly perturbed, depending on the degree of contamination. Most microorganisms cannot tolerate PAH-contaminated soils, however, some microbial strains can adapt to these harsh conditions and survive on contaminated soils. Analysis of the metagenomes of contaminated environmental samples may lead to discovery of PAH-degrading enzymes suitable for green biotechnology methodologies ranging from biocatalysis to pollution control. In the present study, our goal was to apply a metagenomic data search to identify efficient novel enzymes in remediation of PAH-contaminated soils. The metagenomic hits were further analyzed using a set of bioinformatics tools to select protein sequences predicted to encode well-folded soluble enzymes. Three novel enzymes (two dioxygenases and one peroxidase) were cloned and used in soil remediation microcosms experiments. The experimental design of the present study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the novel enzymes on short-term PAH degradation in the soil microcosmos model. The novel enzymes were found to be efficient for degradation of naphthalene and phenanthrene. Adding the inorganic oxidant CaO2 further increased the degrading potential of the novel enzymes for anthracene and pyrene. We conclude that metagenome mining paired with bioinformatic predictions, structural modelling and functional assays constitutes a powerful approach towards novel enzymes for soil remediation.
Biochemical parameters, oxidative stress biomarkers, and anatomopathological changes in Wistar rats treated with 3′-demethoxy-6-O-demethylisoguaiacin and norisoguaiacin
Authors: Flores Jiménez Nancy Guadalupe , Zamorano Martha Manzano , Reséndiz-González Guillermo , Mercado-Márquez Crisóforo , Morales-Álvarez José Francisco , Cuéllar-Ordaz Jorge Alfredo , de-la- Cruz Cruz Héctor Alejandro , Adams-Vázquez Olivia , López-Arellano María Eugenia , Díaz-Torres Roberto , Noguera Patricia Ramírez , Higuera-Piedrahita Rosa Isabel
Published: May 2024

Artemisia cina (Ac) is a plant with anthelmintic compounds such as 3′-demethoxy-6-O-demethylisoguaiacin (D) and norisoguaiacin (N). Three major objectives were proposed: (1) To evaluate biochemical parameters in blood (2) to determine the tissue oxidative stress by biomarkers as TBARS and glutathione peroxidase activity, and (3) to evaluate anatomopathological changes in organs such as the brain, liver, kidney, and lung after oral administration of n-hexane extract of Ac and D and N. D and N were administrated following the OECD guides for acute oral toxicity evaluation (Guide 420). Fifty Wistar rats were distributed into ten groups as follows: Group 1 (G1): 4 mg/Kg; G2: 40 mg/Kg; G3: 240 mg/Kg; G4: 1600 mg/Kg of n-hexane extract of Ac. G5: 2 mg/Kg; G6: 20 mg/Kg; G7: 120 mg/Kg; G8: 800 mg/Kg of D and N, G9: water and G10: polyvinylpyrrolidone at 2000 mg/Kg. At 14 days, the rats were euthanized, and the blood, liver, brain, kidney, and lung were taken for biochemical analysis, anatomopathological changes, and TBARS and GSH evaluation. Glucose, cholesterol, and phosphorus were altered. Histopathological analysis showed multifocal neuronal degeneration in the brain (G2). The kidney and lungs had changes in G7. The GSH and TBARS increased in G6 and G7. The TBARS activity was higher in G1 and G2. In conclusion, extract and D and N of Ac did not have damage at therapeutic doses. D, N, and n-hexane extract of A. cina do not cause histopathological damage at pharmaceutical doses. Still, the brain, kidney, and liver are related to biochemical parameters at higher doses. However, compounds are proposed as antioxidant agents.
Combined effect of Poynting-Robertson (P-R) drag, oblateness and radiation on the triangular points in the elliptic restricted three-body problem
Authors: Singh Jagadish , Ashagwu Blessing Samuel
Published: May 2024

This study investigates the motion of a test particle around triangular equilibrium points in the elliptic restricted three-body problem (ER3BP) under the influence of the two oblate and radiating primaries having Poynting-Robertson (P-R) drag. It is observed that the position of triangular points of the problem is affected by oblateness, radiation pressure, eccentricity, semi-major axis and Poynting-Robertson (P-R) drag. The stability of these points is demonstrated analytically by the Routh-Hurwitz criterion. It is seen that they are unstable under the combined effect of involved parameters. The effect of these parameters on the position of triangular points is examined numerically using the binary systems, 61 Cygni and Archird. The results obtained by these binary systems can be used to broaden the scope of interest in astronomy, astrophysics, space science and celestial mechanics in general.
The influence of obesity, diabetes mellitus and smoking on fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD)
Authors: Zwingelberg S. B. , Lautwein B. , Baar T. , Heinzel-Gutenbrunner M. , von Brandenstein M. , Nobacht S. , Matthaei M. , Bachmann B. O.
Published: May 2024

To detect environmental factors, which may be possible risk factors in the disease course of Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD). Evaluation of patients with FECD registered in the FECD genetics database of the Center for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Cologne. For the evaluation, disease onset, central corneal thickness, best spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA, logMAR), and modified Krachmer grading (grades 1–6) were correlated with the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM), body mass index (BMI), and smoking behavior. To put the age-related increase in Krachmer grading into perspective, a correction of grading were formed. Depending on the variables studied, differences between groups were examined by Mann–Whitney U test and chi-square test. The significance level was 5%. 403 patients with FECD were included in the analysis. The mean age of the patients was 70.0 ± 10.32 (range 28–96) years. The mean age at diagnosis of those patients was 63.1 ± 13.2 years. The female-to-male ratio was 1.46:1. Patients with a BMI > 30.0 kg/m2 developed FECD significantly earlier than patients with a BMI < 30 kg/m2, p = 0.001. Patients with DM showed significantly more often an Krachmer grade of 5, p = 0.015. Smoking had a negative effect on Krachmer grading (p = 0.024). Using the mediation analysis, the presence of DM correlated Krachmer Grade 5 (p = 0.015), and the presence of DM correlated with BMI > 30.0 kg/m2 (p = 0.012). In addition to smoking and DM our study shows for the first time that obesity may have a negative impact on the development of FECD. Whether dietary interventions and hormones can influence the development or progression of the disease needs to be investigated in future studies.
Observation of neutron emission during acoustic cavitation of deuterated titanium powder
Authors: Fomitchev-Zamilov Max
Published: May 2024

Possibility of nuclear reactions in solid state is intriguing for two reasons: (1) It provides a means of studying nuclear processes in conditions that are much different from traditional plasma-filled reactors or particle accelerators; (2) it dramatically lowers the cost and complexity of the experimental setups by eliminating the highly capital intensive components such as plasma/vacuum systems and particle accelerators. In this article we report the observation of neutron emission coincident with acoustic cavitation of deuterated titanium powder suspended in mineral oil. The resulting neutron emission was detected using an assembly of 3He proportional neutron counters. The peak neutron count rate was in excess of 6500 CPM, more than 10,000 times in excess of background. The observed neutron emission was coincident with the application of acoustic influence. The neutrons were present only when secondary acoustic waves originating from the complex bubble interactions inside the reactor constructively interfered resulting in massive, sharp pressure peaks on the order of a few thousand psi. We were able to sustain the neutron production for several hours and repeated the experiment multiple times under various conditions. We hypothesize that the observed neutrons originate from nuclear fusion of deuterium ions dissolved in titanium lattice due to the mechanical action of the impinging cavitation jets, although other processes (such as spallation) still need to be ruled out.
Strategies for multi-case physics-informed neural networks for tube flows: a study using 2D flow scenarios
Authors: Wong Hong Shen , Chan Wei Xuan , Li Bing Huan , Yap Choon Hwai
Published: May 2024

Fluid dynamics computations for tube-like geometries are crucial in biomedical evaluations of vascular and airways fluid dynamics. Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods. However, vanilla PINNs often demand longer training times than conventional CFD methods for each specific flow scenario, limiting their widespread use. To address this, multi-case PINN approach has been proposed, where varied geometry cases are parameterized and pre-trained on the PINN. This allows for quick generation of flow results in unseen geometries. In this study, we compare three network architectures to optimize the multi-case PINN through experiments on a series of idealized 2D stenotic tube flows. The evaluated architectures include the ‘Mixed Network’, treating case parameters as additional dimensions in the vanilla PINN architecture; the “Hypernetwork”, incorporating case parameters into a side network that computes weights in the main PINN network; and the “Modes” network, where case parameters input into a side network contribute to the final output via an inner product, similar to DeepONet. Results confirm the viability of the multi-case parametric PINN approach, with the Modes network exhibiting superior performance in terms of accuracy, convergence efficiency, and computational speed. To further enhance the multi-case PINN, we explored two strategies. First, incorporating coordinate parameters relevant to tube geometry, such as distance to wall and centerline distance, as inputs to PINN, significantly enhanced accuracy and reduced computational burden. Second, the addition of extra loss terms, enforcing zero derivatives of existing physics constraints in the PINN (similar to gPINN), improved the performance of the Mixed Network and Hypernetwork, but not that of the Modes network. In conclusion, our work identified strategies crucial for future scaling up to 3D, wider geometry ranges, and additional flow conditions, ultimately aiming towards clinical utility.
Lifestyle and metabolic risk factors, and diabetes mellitus prevalence in European countries from three waves of the European Health Interview Survey
Authors: Kovács Nóra , Shahin Balqees , Andrade Carlos Alexandre Soares , Mahrouseh Nour , Varga Orsolya
Published: May 2024

Population shift towards healthier lifestyles can help reduce the burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), therefore understanding and monitoring the lifestyle-related risk factors are crucial for setting up effective preventive strategies and disease management. The present study aimed to explore the changes in prevalence of DM and major risk factors including smoking, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, as well as body mass index (BMI) over three waves of European Health Interview Survey, and to investigate the association between risk factors and presence of DM across 11 European Union member states. Poisson regression models were used to evaluate the association between risk factors and DM, adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic variables. The estimated age-standardized prevalence of DM increased from 7.01% in 2009 to 7.96% in 2019, with substantial increase in subgroups with higher BMI and unhealthy lifestyle including physically inactive people, or current smokers. Obesity and overweight and physical inactivity were significantly associated with DM in all survey waves. Our findings underline that obesity prevention and weight loss promotion along with physical activity promotion are the subject of lifestyle interventions to reduce the burden of DM in EU member states.
Treg-derived TGF-β1 dampens cGAS-STING signaling to downregulate the expression of class I MHC complex in multiple myeloma
Authors: Zhang Disi , Zhan Dong , Zhang Rui , Sun Yunyan , Duan Ci , Yang Jiapeng , Wei Jia , Li Xianshi , Lu Yanqi , Lai Xun
Published: May 2024

Multiple myeloma (MM) progression involves diminished tumor antigen presentation and an immunosuppressive microenvironment, characterized by diminished expression of major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) class I molecule and elevated programmed death ligand 1 (PDL1) in MM cells, along with an enriched population of regulatory T cells (Tregs). To investigate Treg's influence on MM cells, we established a co-culture system using Tregs from MM patients and the MM cell lines (MM.1S and SK-MM-1) in vitro and assessed the effects of intervening in the relevant pathways connecting Tregs and MM cells in vivo. In vitro, Tregs induced transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) production, downregulated MHC I members, and increased PDL1 expression in MM cells. Treg-derived TGF-β1 suppressed the cGAS-STING pathway, contributing to the loss of MHC I molecule expression and PDL1 upregulation. Correspondingly, neutralizing TGF-β1 or activating the cGAS-STING pathway restored MHC I and PDL1 expression, effectively countering the pro-tumorigenic effect of Tregs on MM cells in vivo. These data elucidated how Tregs influence tumor antigen presentation and immunosuppressive signal in MM cells, potentially providing therapeutic strategies, such as neutralizing TGF-β1 or activating the cGAS-STING pathway, to address the immune escape and immunosuppressive dynamics in MM.
Spatial utilization of historical topographic map and its application in land reconstruction of ancient Chinese urban land use
Authors: Wan Zhiwei , Wu Hongqi
Published: May 2024

The historical topographic map preserves rich geographic information and can provide direct assistance for the reconstruction of various geographic elements. Based on the historical data of cities throughout the Qing Dynasty, the land use scale data of cities across the country was obtained using GIS and urban perimeter conversion models. This study combines city information and city circumference records from the historical maps and archives of the late Qing Dynasty to quantitatively reconstruct the use patterns of ancient China’s urban land at a spatial resolution of 1° × 1°. Uncertainty analysis of the reconstruction results was conducted using modern remote sensing image data as the validation data set. The results showed the following. (1) During the late Qing Dynasty, the total area of urban land in the various provinces and regions was 1456.015 km2. The maximum value was 208.691 km2 in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the minimum value was 1.713 km2 in Qinghai, and the average value was 56.001 km2. (2) The results of grid reconstruction show that among the 398 grids with urban land distribution, the maximum value is 64.099 km2/grid, the minimum value is 0.013 km2/grid, and the average value is 3.658 km2/grid. (3) Of all the grids with urban land, the urban land grid to the west of the Hu Line accounts for 12.5% and the east to 87.5%. (4) During the late Qing Dynasty, urban land use in China was primarily concentrated in agriculturally developed areas such as the North China Plain, the Central Plains, Jiangnan, and the Sichuan-Chongqing region. (6) The results of a kernel density estimation showed that there were obviously three core areas of urban land agglomeration in China during the late Qing Dynasty: the North China Plain-Central Plains, the Jiangsu-Shanghai-Zhejiang-Anhui area, and the Sichuan-Chongqing urban core area. This study provides basic data for urban land use during historical periods and provides a basis for the quantitative reconstruction of relevant urban land data for historical archives.
A comparative study on the dose–effect of low-dose radiation based on microdosimetric analysis and single-cell sequencing technology
Authors: Wang Yidi , Gao Jin , Tang Bo , Mo Wei , Gao Han , Guo Jiahao , Kong Xianghui , Zhang Wenyue , Yin Yuchen , Jiao Yang , Sun Liang
Published: May 2024

The biological mechanisms triggered by low-dose exposure still need to be explored in depth. In this study, the potential mechanisms of low-dose radiation when irradiating the BEAS-2B cell lines with a Cs-137 gamma-ray source were investigated through simulations and experiments. Monolayer cell population models were constructed for simulating and analyzing distributions of nucleus-specific energy within cell populations combined with the Monte Carlo method and microdosimetric analysis. Furthermore, the 10 × Genomics single-cell sequencing technology was employed to capture the heterogeneity of individual cell responses to low-dose radiation in the same irradiated sample. The numerical uncertainties can be found both in the specific energy distribution in microdosimetry and in differential gene expressions in radiation cytogenetics. Subsequently, the distribution of nucleus-specific energy was compared with the distribution of differential gene expressions to guide the selection of differential genes bioinformatics analysis. Dose inhomogeneity is pronounced at low doses, where an increase in dose corresponds to a decrease in the dispersion of cellular-specific energy distribution. Multiple screening of differential genes by microdosimetric features and statistical analysis indicate a number of potential pathways induced by low-dose exposure. It also provides a novel perspective on the selection of sensitive biomarkers that respond to low-dose radiation.
Sericin promotes chondrogenic proliferation and differentiation via glycolysis and Smad2/3 TGF-β signaling inductions and alleviates inflammation in three-dimensional models
Authors: Fongsodsri Kamonpan , Tiyasatkulkovit Wacharaporn , Chaisri Urai , Reamtong Onrapak , Adisakwattana Poom , Supasai Suangsuda , Kanjanapruthipong Tapanee , Sukphopetch Passanesh , Aramwit Pornanong , Ampawong Sumate
Published: May 2024

Knee osteoarthritis is a chronic joint disease mainly characterized by cartilage degeneration. The treatment is challenging due to the lack of blood vessels and nerve supplies in cartilaginous tissue, causing a prominent limitation of regenerative capacity. Hence, we investigated the cellular promotional and anti-inflammatory effects of sericin, Bombyx mori-derived protein, on three-dimensional chondrogenic ATDC5 cell models. The results revealed that a high concentration of sericin promoted chondrogenic proliferation and differentiation and enhanced matrix production through the increment of glycosaminoglycans, COL2A1, COL X, and ALP expressions. SOX-9 and COL2A1 gene expressions were notably elevated in sericin treatment. The proteomic analysis demonstrated the upregulation of phosphoglycerate mutase 1 and triosephosphate isomerase, a glycolytic enzyme member, reflecting the proliferative enhancement of sericin. The differentiation capacity of sericin was indicated by the increased expressions of procollagen12a1, collagen10a1, rab1A, periostin, galectin-1, and collagen6a3 proteins. Sericin influenced the differentiation capacity via the TGF-β signaling pathway by upregulating Smad2 and Smad3 while downregulating Smad1, BMP2, and BMP4. Importantly, sericin exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect by reducing IL-1β, TNF-α, and MMP-1 expressions and accelerating COL2A1 production in the early inflammatory stage. In conclusion, sericin demonstrates potential in promoting chondrogenic proliferation and differentiation, enhancing cartilaginous matrix synthesis through glycolysis and TGF-β signaling pathways, and exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties.
A simple protocol to establish a conditionally immortalized mouse podocyte cell line
Authors: Huang Yujiao , Geng Jie , Wang Mengdan , Liu Wenbin , Hu Haikun , Shi Wei , Li Mei , Huo Guiyang , Huang Guangrui , Xu Anlong
Published: May 2024

Podocytes are specialized terminally differentiated cells in the glomerulus that are the primary target cells in many glomerular diseases. However, the current podocyte cell lines suffer from prolonged in vitro differentiation and limited survival time, which impede research progress. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a cell line that exhibits superior performance and characteristics. We propose a simple protocol to obtain an immortalized mouse podocyte cell (MPC) line from suckling mouse kidneys. Primary podocytes were cultured in vitro and infected with the SV40 tsA58 gene to obtain immortalized MPCs. The podocytes were characterized using Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR. Podocyte injury was examined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry. First, we successfully isolated an MPC line and identified 39 °C as the optimal differentiation temperature. Compared to undifferentiated MPCs, the expression of WT1 and synaptopodin was upregulated in differentiated MPCs. Second, the MPCs ceased proliferating at a nonpermissive temperature after day 4, and podocyte-specific proteins were expressed normally after at least 15 passages. Finally, podocyte injury models were induced to simulate podocyte injury in vitro. In summary, we provide a simple and popularized protocol to establish a conditionally immortalized MPC, which is a powerful tool for the study of podocytes.
Hospital costs of robotic-assisted and open treatment of large ventral hernias
Authors: Sabbatini Flaminia , La Regina Davide , Murgante Testa Nicole , Senatore Anna Maria , Saporito Andrea , Pini Ramon , Mongelli Francesco
Published: May 2024

Robotic-assisted treatment of ventral hernia offers many advantages, however, studies reported higher costs for robotic surgery compared to other surgical techniques. We aimed at comparing hospital costs in patients undergoing large ventral hernia repair with either robotic or open surgery. We searched from a prospectively maintained database patients who underwent robotic or open surgery for the treatment of the large ventral hernias from January 2016 to December 2022. The primary endpoint was to assess costs in both groups. For eligible patients, data was extracted and analyzed using a propensity score-matching. Sixty-seven patients were retrieved from our database. Thirty-four underwent robotic-assisted surgery and 33 open surgery. Mean age was 66.4 ± 4.1 years, 50% of patients were male. After a propensity score-matching, a similar total cost of EUR 18,297 ± 8,435 vs. 18,024 ± 7514 (p = 0.913) in robotic-assisted and open surgery groups was noted. Direct and indirect costs were similar in both groups. Robotic surgery showed higher operatory theatre-related costs (EUR 7532 ± 2,091 vs. 3351 ± 1872, p < 0.001), which were compensated by shorter hospital stay-related costs (EUR 4265 ± 4366 vs. 7373 ± 4698, p = 0.032). In the treatment of large ventral hernia, robotic surgery had higher operatory theatre-related costs, however, they were fully compensated by shorter hospital stays and resulting in similar total costs.
Virtual fitness buddy ecosystem: a mixed reality precision health physical activity intervention for children
Authors: Ahn Sun Joo , Schmidt Michael D. , Tate Allan D. , Rathbun Stephen , Annesi James J. , Hahn Lindsay , Novotny Eric , Okitondo Christian , Grimsley Rebecca N. , Johnsen Kyle
Published: May 2024

6–11-year-old children provide a critical window for physical activity (PA) interventions. The Virtual Fitness Buddy ecosystem is a precision health PA intervention for children integrating mixed reality technology to connect people and devices. A cluster randomized, controlled trial was conducted across 19 afterschool sites over two 6-month cohorts to test its efficacy in increasing PA and decreasing sedentary behavior. In the treatment group, a custom virtual dog via a mixed reality kiosk helped children set PA goals while sharing progress with parents to receive feedback and support. Children in the control group set PA goals using a computer without support from the virtual dog or parents. 303 children had 8+ hours of PA data on at least one day of each of the 3 intervention time intervals. Conversion of sedentary time was primarily to light-intensity PA and was strongest for children with low baseline moderate-to-vigorous PA than children above 45 min of baseline moderate-to-vigorous PA. Findings suggest that the VFB ecosystem can promote sustainable PA in children and may be rapidly diffused for widespread public health impact.
Selecting non-halogenated low-toxic hole transporting materials for Roll-to-Roll perovskite solar cells using carbon electrodes
Authors: Parvazian Ershad , Beynon David , Jenkins Olivia , Patidar Rahul , Mcgettrick James , Ngombe Samual , Patil Bhushan , Garcia-Rodriguez Rodrigo , Villalobos Karen Valadez , Davies Peter , Davies Mathew , Watson Trystan
Published: May 2024

Perovskite solar cells hold promise for cost-effective, high-efficiency renewable energy generation; yet their commercialization is hindered by progress towards scalable fabrication methods. Roll-to-roll processing is a promising solution for large-scale production, and the incorporation of Roll-to-roll coated carbon electrodes offers several additional advantages, including low-cost manufacturing and high-stability. Introducing a compatible hole transporting layer between perovskite and carbon significantly improves performance. Here we present a study comparing four interlayers (Spiro-MeOTAD, PTAA, PEDOT, and P3HT) in printed devices, assessing efficiency, stability, and scalability. Our results reveal that spiro-MeOTAD and PTAA was not compatible with the carbon electrode however PEDOT and P3HT showed promising results. Beyond photovoltaic performance, comparison of P3HT and PEDOT in terms of stability, toxicity, and cost reveals that P3HT can be a superior choice for scaling up manufacturing. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing perovskite solar cells performance in scalable production via roll-to-roll printing.
A 300-year tree-ring δ18O-based precipitation reconstruction for the South American Altiplano highlights decadal hydroclimate teleconnections
Authors: Rodriguez-Caton Milagros , Morales Mariano S. , Rao Mukund Palat , Nixon Troy , Vuille Mathias , Rivera Juan Antonio , Oelkers Rose , Christie Duncan A. , Varuolo-Clarke Arianna M. , Ferrero M. Eugenia , Magney Troy , Daux Valérie , Villalba Ricardo , Andreu-Hayles Laia
Published: May 2024

Tropical South American climate is influenced by the South American Summer Monsoon and the El Niño Southern Oscillation. However, assessing natural hydroclimate variability in the region is hindered by the scarcity of long-term instrumental records. Here we present a tree-ring δ18O-based precipitation reconstruction for the South American Altiplano for 1700–2013 C.E., derived from Polylepis tarapacana tree rings. This record explains 56% of December–March instrumental precipitation variability in the Altiplano. The tree-ring δ18O chronology shows interannual (2–5 years) and decadal (~11 years) oscillations that are remarkably consistent with periodicities observed in Altiplano precipitation, central tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures, southern-tropical Andean ice core δ18O and tropical Pacific coral δ18O archives. These results demonstrate the value of annual-resolution tree-ring δ18O records to capture hydroclimate teleconnections and generate robust tropical climate reconstructions. This work contributes to a better understanding of global oxygen-isotope patterns, as well as atmospheric and oceanic processes across the tropics.
Submarine volcanic microbiota record three volcano-induced tsunamis
Authors: Lee Hoil , Choi Yire , Han Ji Hye , Lee Sang Deuk , Park Sujeong , Choi Jin-Hyuck
Published: May 2024

The precise determination of sediment provenance not only yields insights into past tsunami events but also offers a window into understanding the genesis of tsunamis in distinct environments, such as volcanic regions. Through meticulous analysis of core samples from a lagoon in east of Korea Peninsula, we unveil three previously undocumented tsunamis and identify specific bacterial taxa associated with submarine volcanism during distinct periods. Specific bacterial species (Sulfurimonas_f and Alicyclobacillus ferrooxydans) and the presence of the silicoflagellate Dictyocha byronalis indicate deep-sea volcanic origins for certain sediment layers. The presence of microfossils, typically found in high-salinity pelagic environments during Event I, strongly supports the occurrence of a tsunami. These findings align with heightened volcanic activity on Ulleung Island during Event I and provide valuable chronological insights into submarine volcanic processes near Ulleung Island for Events II and III. Our study highlights these biological markers as crucial indicator for understanding past tsunamis arising from volcanic activity.
Understanding pulmonary hypertension: the need for an integrative metabolomics and transcriptomics approach
Authors: Choudhury Priyanka , Dasgupta Sanjukta , Bhattacharyya Parthasarathi , Roychowdhury Sushmita , Chaudhury Koel
Published: May 2024

An integrated transcriptomics- and metabolomics-based approach in pulmonary hypertension overcomes single-omics challenges in understanding the complex disease mechanism thereby enabling identification of potential therapeutic/diagnostic targets.
Rapid catalytic reduction of environmentally toxic azo dye pollutant by Prussian blue analogue nanocatalyst
Authors: El Mously Dina A. , Mahmoud Amr M. , Gomaa Mohammed M. , Yamani Hend Z.
Published: May 2024

The paper discusses the synthesis and catalytic activity of a promising, cost-effective, and stable Prussian blue analogue nanocatalyst for the rapid elimination of hazardous azo dye in industrial effluents.
Design of potent tyrosinase inhibiting N-arylated-4-yl-benzamides bearing 2-aminothiazole-triazole bi-heterocycles: mechanistic insight through enzyme inhibition, kinetics and computational studies
Authors: Khan Farhan Mahmood , Abbasi Muhammad Athar , Rehman Aziz-ur , Siddiqui Sabahat Zahra , Sadiq Butt Abdul Rehman , Raza Hussain , Hassan Mubashir , Ali Shah Syed Adnan , Shahid Muhammad , Kim Song Ja
Published: May 2024

By using a convergent methodology, a unique series of N-arylated 4-yl-benzamides containing a bi-heterocyclic thiazole-triazole core was synthesized and the structures of these hybrid molecules, 9a–k, were corroborated through spectral analyses.
Construction of a pillar[5]arene-based supramolecular chiral polymer linked to aminophosphine salt for chiral recognition of enantiomers of mandelic acid
Authors: Lin Chong , Shen Yang , Guo Xiaojun , Duan Wengui , Huang Yan , Huang Guobao , Liu Luzhi
Published: May 2024

One novel pillar[5]arene-based supramolecular chiral polymer L-TPP-P has been synthesized. L-TPP-P has stable supramolecular chiral properties and could be used as a chiral solvation reagent for chiral recognition of mandelic acid MA.
Highly sensitive sensing of CO and HF gases by monolayer CuCl
Authors: Pervaiz Shamiala , Saeed M. Usman , Khan Sehrish , Asghar Bisma , Saeed Y. , Elansary Hosam O. , Bacha A. U. R.
Published: May 2024

Using a first-principles approach, the adsorption characteristics of CO and HF on a CuCl monolayer are studied with Grimme-scheme DFT-D2 for accurate description of the long-range (van der Waals) interactions.
Adsorption effects of acetone and acetonitrile on defected penta-PdSe2 nanoribbons: a DFT study
Authors: Tien Nguyen Thanh , Dang Nguyen Hai , Bich Thao Pham Thi , Vo K. Dien , Hoat D. M. , Nguyen Duy Khanh
Published: May 2024

Optimal geometries of the acetone and acetonitrile adsorptions on the ZZ7 p-PdSe2 nanoribbons (ZZ7) with double Se vacancies (V2Se).
Construction of NiCo-metaphosphate/hydroxide with synergistic heterostructure for sustainable biomass electro-oxidation
Authors: Xiong Jie , Wang Feng , Zhu Botao , You Kaixuan , Wu Shuo , Jin Peng , Feng Lai
Published: May 2024

A heterostructured NiCo-metaphosphate/hydroxide catalyst (NiCoPi/Oi) exhibits excellent activity towards electrooxidation of 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMFOR), enabling sustainable production of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA).
Optimising air quality prediction in smart cities with hybrid particle swarm optimization‐long‐short term memory‐recurrent neural network model
Authors: Dalal Surjeet , Lilhore Umesh Kumar , Faujdar Neetu , Samiya Sarita , Jaglan Vivek , Alroobaea Roobaea , Shaheen Momina , Ahmad Faizan
Published: May 2024

In smart cities, air pollution is a critical issue that affects individual health and harms the environment. The air pollution prediction can supply important information to all relevant parties to take appropriate initiatives. Air quality prediction is a hot area of research. The existing research encounters several challenges that is, poor accuracy and incorrect real‐time updates. This research presents a hybrid model based on long‐short term memory (LSTM), recurrent neural network (RNN), and Curiosity‐based Motivation method. The proposed model extracts a feature set from the training dataset using an RNN layer and achieves sequencing learning by applying an LSTM layer. Also, to deal with the overfitting issues in LSTM, the proposed model utilises a dropout strategy. In the proposed model, input and recurrent connections can be dropped from activation and weight updates using the dropout regularisation approach, and it utilises a Curiosity‐based Motivation model to construct a novel motivational model, which helps in the reconstruction of long short‐term memory recurrent neural network. To minimise the prediction error, particle swarm optimisation is implemented to optimise the LSTM neural network's weights. The authors utilise an online Air Pollution Monitoring dataset from Salt Lake City, USA with five air quality indicators for comparison, that is, SO2, CO, O3, and NO2, to predict air quality. The proposed model is compared with existing Gradient Boosted Tree Regression, Existing LSTM, and Support Vector Machine based Regression Model. Experimental analysis shows that the proposed method has 0.0184 (Root Mean Square Error (RMSE)), 0.0082 (Mean Absolute Error), 2002*109 (Mean Absolute Percentage Error), and 0.122 (R2‐Score). The experimental findings demonstrate that the proposed LSTM model had RMSE performance in the prescribed dataset and statistically significant superior outcomes compared to existing methods.
Magnetic field dragging in filamentary molecular clouds
Authors: Tapinassi Domitilla , Galli Daniele , Padovani Marco , Beuther Henrik
Published: May 2024

Context. Maps of polarized dust emission of molecular clouds reveal the morphology of the magnetic field associated with star-forming regions. In particular, polarization maps of hub-filament systems show the distortion of magnetic field lines induced by gas flows onto and inside filaments.

Aims. We aim to understand the relation between the curvature of magnetic field lines associated with filaments in hub-filament systems and the properties of the underlying gas flows.

Methods. We consider steady-state models of gas with finite electrical resistivity flowing across a transverse magnetic field. We derive the relation between the bending of the field lines and the flow parameters represented by the Alfvén Mach number and the magnetic Reynolds number.

Results. We find that, on the scale of the filaments, the relevant parameter for a gas of finite electrical resistivity is the magnetic Reynolds number, and we derive the relation between the deflection angle of the field from the initial direction (assumed perpendicular to the filament) and the value of the electrical resistivity, due to either Ohmic dissipation or ambipolar diffusion.

Conclusions. Application of this model to specific observations of polarized dust emission in filamentary clouds shows that magnetic Reynolds numbers of a few tens are required to reproduce the data. Despite significant uncertainties in the observations (the flow speed, the geometry and orientation of the filament), and the idealization of the model, the specific cases considered show that ambipolar diffusion can provide the resistivity needed to maintain a steady state flow across magnetic fields of significant strength over realistic time scales.