bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Situ Loading and Time‐Resolved Synchrotron‐Based Phase Contrast Tomography for the Mechanical Investigation of Connective Knee Tissues: A Proof‐of‐Concept Study
Authors: Dejea Hector , Pierantoni Maria , Orozco Gustavo A. , B. Wrammerfors E. Tobias , Gstöhl Stefan J. , Schlepütz Christian M. , Isaksson Hanna
Published: March 2024

Articular cartilage and meniscus transfer and distribute mechanical loads in the knee joint. Degeneration of these connective tissues occurs during the progression of knee osteoarthritis, which affects their composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties. A deeper understanding of disease progression can be obtained by studying them simultaneously. Time‐resolved synchrotron‐based X‐ray phase‐contrast tomography (SR‐PhC‐µCT) allows to capture the tissue dynamics. This proof‐of‐concept study presents a rheometer setup for simultaneous in situ unconfined compression and SR‐PhC‐µCT of connective knee tissues. The microstructural response of bovine cartilage (n = 16) and meniscus (n = 4) samples under axial continuously increased strain, or two steps of 15% strain (stress–relaxation) is studied. The chondrocyte distribution in cartilage and the collagen fiber orientation in the meniscus are assessed. Variations in chondrocyte density reveal an increase in the top 40% of the sample during loading, compared to the lower half. Meniscus collagen fibers reorient perpendicular to the loading direction during compression and partially redisperse during relaxation. Radiation damage, image repeatability, and image quality assessments show little to no effects on the results. In conclusion, this approach is highly promising for future studies of human knee tissues to understand their microstructure, mechanical response, and progression in degenerative diseases.
Design of PD‐L1‐Targeted Lipid Nanoparticles to Turn on PTEN for Efficient Cancer Therapy
Authors: Kim Yelee , Choi Jiwoong , Kim Eun Hye , Park Wonbeom , Jang Hochung , Jang Yeongji , Chi Sung‐Gil , Kweon Dae‐Hyuk , Lee Kyuri , Kim Sun Hwa , Yang Yoosoo
Published: March 2024

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) exhibit remarkable mRNA delivery efficiency, yet their majority accumulate in the liver or spleen after injection. Tissue‐specific mRNA delivery can be achieved through modulating LNP properties, such as tuning PEGylation or varying lipid components systematically. In this paper, a streamlined method is used for incorporating tumor‐targeting peptides into the LNPs; the programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) binding peptides are conjugated to PEGylated lipids via a copper‐free click reaction, and directly incorporated into the LNP composition (Pep LNPs). Notably, Pep LNPs display robust interaction with PD‐L1 proteins, which leads to the uptake of LNPs into PD‐L1 overexpressing cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. To evaluate anticancer immunotherapy mediated by restoring tumor suppressor, mRNA encoding phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is delivered via Pep LNPs to PTEN‐deficient triple‐negative breast cancers (TNBCs). Pep LNPs loaded with PTEN mRNA specifically promotes autophagy‐mediated immunogenic cell death in 4T1 tumors, resulting in effective anticancer immune responses. This study highlights the potential of tumor‐targeted LNPs for mRNA‐based cancer therapy.
Synthesis of PEG‐Polycycloether Block Copolymers: Poloxamer Mimics Containing a Rigid Helical Block
Authors: Masclef Jean‐Baptiste , Prunet Joëlle , Schmidt Bernhard V. K. J.
Published: March 2024

Poloxamers are amphiphilic block copolymers consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(propylene glycol) segments. Their self‐assembly and interfacial properties are tied to the relative hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of each block and can therefore be adjusted by changing block lengths. Here, a series of PEG‐polycycloether block copolymers is synthesized that have the same structure as a poloxamer, but they encompass a rigid polycyclic backbone as the hydrophobic block. A variety of polymer structures are synthesized, for example diblock or triblock architectures, with/without olefinic units, atactic or isotactic backbone, and different block lengths. Due to their amphiphilicity, self‐assembly into spherical aggregates (diameters ranging from 64 to 132 nm) at low concentrations (critical aggregation concentration as low as 0.04 mg mL−1) is observed in water. Low surface tensions (as low as 26.7 mN m−1) are observed as well as the formation of stable high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) irrespective of the oil/water ratio. This contrasts with the properties of the commonly used poloxamers P188 or P407 and illustrates the significance of the rigid polycycloether block. These new colloidal properties offer new prospects for applications in emulsion formulations for biomedicine, cosmetics, and the food industry.
Integrative Dissection of Lignin Composition in Tartary Buckwheat Seed Hulls for Enhanced Dehulling Efficiency
Authors: Yang Wenqi , Duan Haiyang , Yu Ke , Hou Siyu , Kang Yifan , Wang Xiao , Hao Jiongyu , Liu Longlong , Zhang Yin , Luo Laifu , Zhao Yunjun , Zhang Junli , Lan Chen , Wang Nan , Zhang Xuehai , Tang Jihua , Zhao Qiao , Sun Zhaoxia , Zhang Xuebin
Published: March 2024

The rigid hull encasing Tartary buckwheat seeds necessitates a laborious dehulling process before flour milling, resulting in considerable nutrient loss. Investigation of lignin composition is pivotal in understanding the structural properties of tartary buckwheat seeds hulls, as lignin is key determinant of rigidity in plant cell walls, thus directly impacting the dehulling process. Here, the lignin composition of seed hulls from 274 Tartary buckwheat accessions is analyzed, unveiling a unique lignin chemotype primarily consisting of G lignin, a common feature in gymnosperms. Furthermore, the hardness of the seed hull showed a strong negative correlation with the S lignin content. Genome‐wide detection of selective sweeps uncovered that genes governing the biosynthesis of S lignin, specifically two caffeic acid O‐methyltransferases (COMTs) and one ferulate 5‐hydroxylases, are selected during domestication. This likely contributed to the increased S lignin content and decreased hardness of seed hulls from more domesticated varieties. Genome‐wide association studies identified robust associations between FtCOMT1 and the accumulation of S lignin in seed hull. Transgenic Arabidopsis comt1 plants expressing FtCOMT1 successfully reinstated S lignin content, confirming its conserved function across plant species. These findings provide valuable metabolic and genetic insights for the potential redesign of Tartary buckwheat seed hulls.
Multimodal Autonomous Locomotion of Liquid Crystal Elastomer Soft Robot
Authors: Zhou Xiaorui , Chen Guancong , Jin Binjie , Feng Haijun , Chen Zike , Fang Mengqi , Yang Bo , Xiao Rui , Xie Tao , Zheng Ning
Published: March 2024

Self‐oscillation phenomena observed in nature serve as extraordinary inspiration for designing synthetic autonomous moving systems. Converting self‐oscillation into designable self‐sustained locomotion can lead to a new generation of soft robots that require minimal/no external control. However, such locomotion is typically constrained to a single mode dictated by the constant surrounding environment. In this study, a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) robot capable of achieving self‐sustained multimodal locomotion, with the specific motion mode being controlled via substrate adhesion or remote light stimulation is presented. Specifically, the LCE is mechanically trained to undergo repeated snapping actions to ensure its self‐sustained rolling motion in a constant gradient thermal field atop a hotplate. By further fine‐tuning the substrate adhesion, the LCE robot exhibits reversible transitions between rolling and jumping modes. In addition, the rolling motion can be manipulated in real time through light stimulation to perform other diverse motions including turning, decelerating, stopping, backing up, and steering around complex obstacles. The principle of introducing an on‐demand gate control offers a new venue for designing future autonomous soft robots.
Nutritive value and forage accumulation of a black oat germplasm in the northeastern United States
Authors: Jaramillo David M. , Soder Kathy , Blount Ann , Dubeux Jose C. B. , Harrison Stephen
Published: March 2024

Black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) might be an attractive forage species in the northeastern United States, since it is generally more heat tolerant and disease resistant than other cool‐season grasses. Black oat is currently recommended for fall and winter production in USDA Plant Hardiness ones 8b–10a, which is beyond the northeastern United States (Zones 2a–6a). The objective was to evaluate 10 black oat breeding lines (referred to as “UF1” through “UF10”) for forage accumulation, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (aNDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) concentrations. The experiment was carried out in April–July 2022 in Pennsylvania Furnace, PA. Triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack cv. TriCal 342) and Legend 567 oat (Avena sativa L.) were included as controls, as well as Haden oat and Gunner triticale, as regionally recommended cultivars. The forage accumulation within the black oat germplasm ranged from 364 to 864 lb dry matter (DM) acre−1, observed in UF7 and UF9, respectively, during the first harvest. During the second harvest, forage accumulation within black oat ranged from 1048 to 1408 lb DM acre−1, from UF8 and UF1, respectively. Crude protein concentrations ranged from 16% to 23% across all black oats, with no differences found within the germplasm. The IVDOM concentrations averaged 78% across all treatments during the first harvest and decreased to 66% during the second harvest. Overall, this study showed that black oat merits further evaluation as forage species in the northeastern United States, but further studies are required to address management of the species.
Novel ultrasensitive immunoassay for the selective quantification of tau oligomers and related soluble aggregates
Authors: Islam Tohidul , Kvartsberg Hlin , Sehrawat Anuradha , Kac Przemysław R. , Becker Bruno , Olsson Maria , Abrahamson Eric E. , Zetterberg Henrik , Ikonomovic Milos D. , Blennow Kaj , Karikari Thomas K.
Published: March 2024

INTRODUCTION

Tau aggregation into paired helical filaments and neurofibrillary tangles is characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related disorders. However, biochemical assays for the quantification of soluble, earlier‐stage tau aggregates are lacking. We describe an immunoassay that is selective for tau oligomers and related soluble aggregates over monomers.

METHODS

A homogeneous (single‐antibody) immunoassay was developed using a novel anti‐tau monoclonal antibody and validated with recombinant and brain tissue–derived tau.

RESULTS

The assay signals were concentration dependent for recombinant tau aggregates in solution but not monomers, and recognized peptides within, but not outside, the aggregation‐prone microtubule binding region. The signals in inferior and middle frontal cortical tissue homogenates increased with neuropathologically determined Braak staging, and were higher in insoluble than soluble homogenized brain fractions. Autopsy‐verified AD gave stronger signals than other neurodegenerative diseases.

DISCUSSION

The quantitative oligomer/soluble aggregate‐specific assay can identify soluble tau aggregates, including oligomers, from monomers in human and in vitro biospecimens.

Highlights

The aggregation of tau to form fibrils and neurofibrillary tangles is a key feature of Alzheimer's disease.

However, biochemical assays for the quantification of oligomers/soluble aggregated forms of tau are lacking.

We developed a new assay that preferentially binds to soluble tau aggregates, including oligomers and fibrils, versus monomers.

The assay signal increased corresponding to the total protein content, Braak staging, and insolubility of the sequentially homogenized brain tissue fractions in an autopsy‐verified cohort.

The assay recognized tau peptides containing the microtubule binding region but not those covering the N‐ or C‐terminal regions only.
Microglial ApoD‐induced NLRC4 inflammasome activation promotes Alzheimer's disease progression
Authors: Yu Yaliang , Lv Jianzhou , Ma Dan , Han Ya , Zhang Yaheng , Wang Shanlong , Wang Zhitao
Published: March 2024

Background

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with no effective therapies. It is well known that chronic neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the onset and progression of AD. Well‐balanced neuronal‐microglial interactions are essential for brain functions. However, determining the role of microglia—the primary immune cells in the brain—in neuroinflammation in AD and the associated molecular basis has been challenging.

Methods

Inflammatory factors in the sera of AD patients were detected and their association with microglia activation was analyzed. The mechanism for microglial inflammation was investigated. IL6 and TNF‐α were found to be significantly increased in the AD stage.

Results

Our analysis revealed that microglia were extensively activated in AD cerebra, releasing sufficient amounts of cytokines to impair the neural stem cells (NSCs) function. Moreover, the ApoD‐induced NLRC4 inflammasome was activated in microglia, which gave rise to the proinflammatory phenotype. Targeting the microglial ApoD promoted NSC self‐renewal and inhibited neuron apoptosis. These findings demonstrate the critical role of ApoD in microglial inflammasome activation, and for the first time reveal that microglia‐induced inflammation suppresses neuronal proliferation.

Conclusion

Our studies establish the cellular basis for microglia activation in AD progression and shed light on cellular interactions important for AD treatment.
Interpretability of bi‐level variable selection methods
Authors: Buch Gregor , Schulz Andreas , Schmidtmann Irene , Strauch Konstantin , Wild Philipp S.
Published: March 2024

Variable selection is usually performed to increase interpretability, as sparser models are easier to understand than full models. However, a focus on sparsity is not always suitable, for example, when features are related due to contextual similarities or high correlations. Here, it may be more appropriate to identify groups and their predictive members, a task that can be accomplished with bi‐level selection procedures. To investigate whether such techniques lead to increased interpretability, group exponential LASSO (GEL), sparse group LASSO (SGL), composite minimax concave penalty (cMCP), and least absolute shrinkage, and selection operator (LASSO) as reference methods were used to select predictors in time‐to‐event, regression, and classification tasks in bootstrap samples from a cohort of 1001 patients. Different groupings based on prior knowledge, correlation structure, and random assignment were compared in terms of selection relevance, group consistency, and collinearity tolerance. The results show that bi‐level selection methods are superior to LASSO in all criteria. The cMCP demonstrated superiority in selection relevance, while SGL was convincing in group consistency. An all‐round capacity was achieved by GEL: the approach jointly selected correlated and content‐related predictors while maintaining high selection relevance. This method seems recommendable when variables are grouped, and interpretation is of primary interest.
Discrete‐trial teaching: A scoping review
Authors: Frank‐Crawford Michelle A. , Borrero John C. , Fisher Alyssa , Talhelm Paige , Fernandez Nathalie
Published: March 2024

Discrete‐trial teaching (DTT) is an arrangement used in skill acquisition. The components that comprise DTT vary widely across applications, and previous reviews evaluating its efficacy have largely reported on DTT as part of a comprehensive intervention package. The purpose of this scoping review was twofold: to describe the component variations of DTT (descriptive analysis) and to evaluate the general efficacy of DTT in teaching new skills to individuals with disabilities (efficacy analysis). One hundred and thirty‐four studies were included in the descriptive analysis of DTT and 82 were included in the efficacy analysis. Results indicated that many of the components of DTT align well with best practice recommendations, including that reinforcers be delivered continuously and immediately following correct responses. Overall, DTT was efficacious in teaching new skills; however, there were limited evaluations of the maintenance, generality, and social validity of the findings. The outcomes are discussed in light of best practice recommendations and as a guide for future practice and research.
Comparisons of financial hardship in cancer care by family structure and among those with and without minor children using nationally representative data
Authors: Jewett Patricia I. , Purani Himal , Vogel Rachel I. , Parsons Helen M. , Borrero Maria , Blaes Anne
Published: March 2024

Introduction

While demographic risk factors of cancer‐related financial hardships have been studied, having minor children or being single have rarely been assessed in the context of healthcare‐related financial hardships.

Methods

Using data from the 2015 to 2018 National Health Interview Survey, we assessed financial hardship (material and psychological hardship; behavioral coping due to costs: delaying/foregoing care, reducing prescription costs, or skipping specialists or follow‐up care) among adults aged 18–59 years with cancer (N = 2844) by minor child parenting status and family structure. In a secondary analysis, we compared this group with individuals without cancer. Using logistic regression models, we compared those with and without children aged <18 years, further distinguishing between those who were single versus one of two or more adults in the family.

Results

Compared to individuals from families with two or more adults/without children, single adults with children more often reported cancer‐related financial hardships, for example material hardship (45.9% vs. 38.8%), and reducing prescription costs, (50.7% vs. 34.4%, adjusted OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.07–2.28). Single adults without minor children and those from families with two or more adults/with minor children also reported greater financial hardships on some dimensions. Associations were similar among those without cancer, but the overall magnitude of financial hardships was lower compared to those with cancer.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that having minor children, and being a single adult are risk factors for cancer‐related financial hardship. Financial vulnerability associated with family structure should be taken into consideration in healthcare, and especially cancer care.
Country‐of‐origin, region‐of‐origin or terroir branding to entice premium Price? The curious case of geographic place origin construal and psychic distance
Authors: Tarabashkina Liudmila , Schepis Daniel , Purchase Sharon
Published: March 2024

Despite firms' long reliance on geographic place origin branding, such as country‐of‐origin (COO), region‐of‐origin (ROO), and terroir, to sell their products in international markets, little theoretical and empirical work has been carried out to investigate which level of geographic specificity stimulates greater premium price when entering new markets. An experiment was conducted in India and Saudi Arabia manipulating place origin as a 3 factorial design (COO vs. ROO vs. terroir) using Australia as the country context, and honey as the product context. Results suggest that COO, ROO, and terroir prompt different place construal, which interacts with psychic distance to people (individual consumer difference), resulting in varying premium price. The study explains under which conditions which of the three place origins benefit companies and which ones backfire.
Pediatric non‐Hodgkin lymphoma as a rare cause of spinal cord injury: When lymphoma hides in the canal
Authors: Zama Daniele , Candela Egidio , Pagano Gennaro , Venturelli Francesco , Melchionda Fraia , Toni Francesco , Zucchelli Mino , Pession Andrea
Published: March 2024

Key Clinical Message

Spinal cord compression from non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) should be considered as a potential diagnosis in cases of acute signs of myelopathy in pediatric patients.

Spinal cord compression in pediatric non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a rare presentation with potential diagnostic challenges. We report on two pediatric patients with NHL who exhibited myelopathy signs as initial presentation. Considering NHL as a differential diagnosis in pediatric patients presenting with spinal cord compression is crucial for optimizing the outcome of these patients.
Recent Development in Synthesis of N‐Methylamines with Amines and Methanol
Authors: Yu Xiaogang , Cui Xinjiang , Jing Huanwang , Qian Bo , Yuan Hangkong , Shi Feng
Published: March 2024

The N‐methylation reaction of amines with methanol via the borrowing‐hydrogen strategy is an important method for the construction of C−N bonds. Compared with other C1 sources, such as toxic formaldehyde or expensive formic acid, methanol is more suitable for N‐methylation reactions due to its eco‐friendliness and low price. Using this strategy, various types N‐methylated products, including biological and pharmaceutical molecules have been prepared. Here, we present a thorough survey of decades of articles showing current developments in N‐methylation reactions with methanol. We discuss homogenous, heterogenous and light‐driven catalytic systems for both N‐methylation and N,N‐dimethylation reactions. This review presents the shortcomings of current developments and provides future development progress in N‐methylation reactions with methanol.
Use oft‐distributed stochastic neighbour embedding in vibrational spectroscopy
Authors: Stevens François , Carrasco Beatriz , Baeten Vincent , Fernández Pierna Juan A.
Published: March 2024

Thet‐distributed stochastic neighbour embeddingalgorithm ort‐SNEis a non‐linear dimension reduction method used to visualise multivariate data. It enables a high‐dimensional dataset, such as a set of infrared spectra, to be represented on a single, typically two‐dimensional graph, revealing its global and local structure. t‐SNE is very popular in the machine learning community and has been applied in many fields, generally with the aim of visualising large datasets. In vibrational spectroscopy, t‐SNE is gaining notoriety but principal component analysis (PCA) remains by far the reference method for exploratory analysis and dimension reduction. However, t‐SNE may represent a real aid in the analysis of vibrational spectroscopic datasets. It provides an at‐a‐glance global view of the dataset allowing to distinguish the main factors influencing the spectral signal and the hierarchy between these factors, and gives an indication on the possibility of performing predictive modelling. It can also provide great support in the choice of the pre‐processing, by comparing rapidly different general pre‐processing approaches according to their effect on the variable of interest. Here we propose to illustrate these advantages using different datasets. We also propose an approach based on a synergy between the t‐SNE and PCA methods, allowing respective advantages of each to be exploited.
The Utilization of Metal‐Organic Frameworks and Their Derivatives Composite in Supercapacitor Electrodes
Authors: Liu Qianwen , Li Ruidong , Li Jie , Zheng Bingyue , Song Shuxin , Chen Lihua , Li Tingxi , Ma Yong
Published: March 2024

Up to now, the mainstream adoption of renewable energy has brought about substantial transformations in the electricity and energy sector. This shift has garnered considerable attention within the scientific community. Supercapacitors, known for their exceptional performance metrics like good charge/discharge capability, strong power density, as well as extended cycle longevity, have gained widespread traction across various sectors, including transportation and aviation. Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) with unique traits including adaptable structure, highly customizable synthetic methods, and high specific surface area, have emerged as strong candidates for electrode materials. For enhancing the performance, MOFs are commonly compounded with other conducting materials to increase capacitance. This paper provides a detailed analysis of various common preparation strategies and characteristics of MOFs. It summarizes the recent application of MOFs and their derivatives as supercapacitor electrodes alongside other carbon materials, metal compounds, and conductive polymers. Additionally, the challenges encountered by MOFs in the realm of supercapacitor applications are thoroughly discussed. Compared to previous reviews, the content of this paper is more comprehensive, offering readers a deeper understanding of the diverse applications of MOFs. Furthermore, it provides valuable suggestions and guidance for future progress and development in the field of MOFs.
High‐dose vitamin D to attenuate bone loss in patients with prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy: A phase 2 RCT
Authors: Peppone Luke J. , Kleckner Amber S. , Fung Chunkit , Puzas J. Edward , Reschke Jennifer E. , Culakova Eva , Inglis Julia , Kamen Charles , Friedberg Jonathan W. , Janelsins Michelle , Mustian Karen , Heckler Charles E. , Mohile Supriya
Published: March 2024

Background

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) inhibits prostate cancer growth. However, ADT causes loss of bone mineral density (BMD) and an increase in fracture risk; effective interventions for ADT‐induced bone loss are limited.

Methods

A phase 2 randomized controlled trial investigated the feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of high‐dose weekly vitamin D (HDVD, 50,000 IU/week) versus placebo for 24 weeks in patients with prostate cancer receiving ADT, with all subjects receiving 600 IU/day vitamin D and 1000 mg/day calcium. Participants were ≥60 years (mean years, 67.7), had a serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D level <32 ng/mL, and initiated ADT within the previous 6 months. At baseline and after intervention, dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry was used to assess BMD, and levels of bone cell, bone formation, and resorption were measured.

Results

The HDVD group (N = 29) lost 1.5% BMD at the total hip vs. 4.1% for the low‐dose group (N = 30; p = .03) and 1.7% BMD at the femoral neck vs. 4.4% in the low‐dose group (p = .06). Stratified analyses showed that, for those with baseline 25‐hydroxyvitamin D level <27 ng/mL, the HDVD group lost 2.3% BMD at the total hip vs 7.1% for the low‐dose group (p < .01). Those in the HDVD arm showed significant changes in parathyroid hormone (p < .01), osteoprotegerin (p < 0.01), N‐terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (p < 0.01) and C‐terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (p < 0.01). No difference in adverse events or toxicity was noted between the groups.

Conclusions

HDVD supplementation significantly reduced hip and femoral neck BMD loss, especially for patients with low baseline serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels, although demonstrating safety and feasibility in prostate cancer patients on ADT.
Comprehensive evaluation of cytomorphologic, histologic, and molecular features of DICER1‐altered thyroid lesions on FNA: A multipractice experience
Authors: Lengyel Krisztina , Lubin Daniel J. , Hsiao Wen‐Yu , Sirotnikov Sam , Luo Guangju , Roberts James W. , Shi Qiuying , Magliocca Kelly , Lewis Melinda M. , Sears Donald L. , Ilyas Ghulam , Rogers Beverly B. , Viswanathan Kartik
Published: March 2024

Background

DICER1 mutations, though infrequent, are encountered on preoperative molecular testing of indeterminate adult and pediatric thyroid fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) specimens. Yet, published cytomorphologic features of DICER1‐altered thyroid lesions are limited. Cytomorphological features of DICER1‐altered thyroid lesions were examined in a multipractice FNA cohort with clinical, radiological, and histologic data.

Methods

The cohort comprised 18 DICER1‐altered thyroid FNAs, with 14 having slides available and eight having corresponding surgical resections. Smears, ThinPrep, and formalin‐fixed cell block slides were reviewed and correlated with histology, when available. Clinical and radiologic data were obtained from the medical record.

Results

Most DICER1‐altered FNAs were classified as atypia of undetermined significance (94.4%). DICER1 mutations occurred in codons 1709 (50%), 1810 (27.8%), and 1813 (22.2%). One patient had an additional DICER1 p.D1822N variant in both of their FNAs. Lesions were often hypoechoic (35.3%) and solid (47.1%) on ultrasound. Notable cytomorphologic features include mixed but prominent microfollicular or crowded component, variable colloid, and insignificant nuclear atypia. On resection (n = 10), histologic diagnoses ranged from benign follicular adenoma and low‐risk follicular thyroid carcinoma to high‐grade follicular–derived nonanaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Subcapsular infarct‐type change was the most common histologic change. There was no evidence of recurrence or metastasis in eight patients on limited follow‐up.

Conclusion

DICER1‐altered thyroid lesions occurred frequently in young females and FNAs show RAS‐like cytomorphology including crowded, mixed macro‐/microfollicular pattern, and bland nuclear features. On resection, DICER1‐altered thyroid lesions include benign (50%), low‐risk lesions (30%), or high‐risk malignancies (20%).
Developing an Approach for Calculating Theoretical Minimum Hydrogen Consumption during Catalytic Hydrotreating of Diesel
Authors: Liu Feng , Zhang Yubai , Luo Yong , Zhai Weiming , Lu Yutao , Liu Jiaxu , Li Mingfeng
Published: March 2024

Identifying the unnecessary H2 consumption existing in diesel hydrotreating process and calculating theoretical minimum H2 consumption are extremely critical for reducing H2 consumption in consideration of carbon reduction and resource utilization improvement. In this work, chemical reactions happened during diesel hydrotreating were categorized into hydrodesulfurization (HDS), hydrodenitrogenation (HDN), saturation of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs), saturation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), hydrogenation of olefins (HGO) and hydrocracking reactions (HCR). Then, in order to gain insights into where and how much H2 can be reduced, the ideal molecular compositions of the products were analyzed when theoretical minimum H2 was achieved for each type of reactions, which can give a genuine value of average relative molecular weight and average number of moles of H2 consumed per mole of reactants, leading to the establishment of method for calculating theoretical minimum H2 consumption. Additionally, the above method was used to calculate theoretical minimum H2 consumption of five diesel feedstocks with different properties to study the influence of content of S, N and PAHs in the feed on theoretical minimum H2 consumption. This method can provide guidance for experiments of H2 consumption reduction, and also help the refineries to save potential costs of H2.
Mo3S13 Chalcogel: A High‐Capacity Electrode for Conversion‐Based Li‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Islam Taohedul , Chandra Roy Subrata , Bayat Sahar , Adigo Weret Misganaw , Hoffman Justin M. , Rao Keerthan R. , Sawicki Conrad , Nie Jing , Alam Robiul , Oketola Oluwaseun , Donley Carrie L. , Kumbhar Amar , Feng Renfei , Wiaderek Kamila M. , Risko Chad , Amin Ruhul , Islam Saiful M.
Published: March 2024

Despite large theoretical energy densities, metal‐sulfide electrodes for energy storage systems face several limitations that impact the practical realization. Here, we present the solution‐processable, room temperature (RT) synthesis, local structures, and application of a sulfur‐rich Mo3S13 chalcogel as a conversion‐based electrode for lithium‐sulfide batteries (LiSBs). The structure of the amorphous Mo3S13 chalcogel is derived through operando Raman spectroscopy, synchrotron X‐ray pair distribution function (PDF), X‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), and extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis, along with ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. A key feature of the three‐dimensional (3D) network is the connection of Mo3S13 units through S−S bonds. Li/Mo3S13 half‐cells deliver initial capacity of 1013 mAh g−1 during the first discharge. After the activation cycles, the capacity stabilizes and maintains 312 mAh g−1 at a C/3 rate after 140 cycles, demonstrating sustained performance over subsequent cycling. Such high‐capacity and stability are attributed to the high density of (poly)sulfide bonds and the stable Mo−S coordination in Mo3S13 chalcogel. These findings showcase the potential of Mo3S13 chalcogels as metal‐sulfide electrode materials for LiSBs.
Exploring NK cell receptor dynamics in paediatric leukaemias: implications for immunotherapy and prognosis
Authors: Tu Cui , Buckle Irina , Leal Rojas Ingrid , Rossi Gustavo Rodrigues , Sester David P , Moore Andrew S , Radford Kristen , Guillerey Camille , Souza‐Fonseca‐Guimaraes Fernando
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Immunotherapies targeting natural killer (NK) cell receptors have shown promise against leukaemia. Unfortunately, cancer immunosuppressive mechanisms that alter NK cell phenotype prevent such approaches from being successful. The study utilises advanced cytometry to examine how cancer immunosuppressive pathways affect NK cell phenotypic changes in clinical samples.

Methods

In this study, we conducted a high‐dimensional examination of the cell surface expression of 16 NK cell receptors in paediatric patients with acute myeloid leukaemia and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, as well as in samples of non‐age matched adult peripheral blood (APB) and umbilical cord blood (UCB). An unsupervised analysis was carried out in order to identify NK cell populations present in paediatric leukaemias.

Results

We observed that leukaemia NK cells clustered together with UCB NK cells and expressed relatively higher levels of the NKG2A receptor compared to APB NK cells. In addition, CD56dimCD16+CD57− NK cells lacking NKG2A expression were mainly absent in paediatric leukaemia patients. However, CD56br NK cell populations expressing high levels of NKG2A were highly represented in paediatric leukaemia patients. NKG2A expression on leukaemia NK cells was found to be positively correlated with the expression of its ligand, suggesting that the NKG2A‐HLA‐E interaction may play a role in modifying NK cell responses to leukaemia cells.

Conclusion

We provide an in‐depth analysis of NK cell populations in paediatric leukaemia patients. These results support the development of immunotherapies targeting immunosuppressive receptors, such as NKG2A, to enhance innate immunity against paediatric leukaemia.
A Novel Strategy for Preparing Nano‐Sized and High‐Performance LiMnxFe1−xPO4 Cathode Materials from Discarded LiMn2O4 and LiFePO4 Electrode
Authors: Zhang Yucai , Gao Ziwei , Su Zhi
Published: March 2024

The research strategy of using discarded lithium manganate (LiMn2O4, LMO) and lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4, LFP) electrode materials to obtain lithium manganese iron phosphate (LiMnxFe1−xPO4, LMFP) materials with high energy density and ionic conductivity is increasingly highlighted as powerful and effective. The study explores a new strategy to prepare high‐performance LMFP materials using high‐temperature sintering based on the successful recovery of LMO and LFP electrode wastes. X‐ray diffraction results show that the LMFP cathode materials are prepared successfully by using discarded LMO and LFP materials. LM0.4F0.6P and LM0.6F0.4P, whose manganese‐to‐iron molar ratio [MR(Mn/Fe)] 4:6 and 6:4, exhibit nano‐sized olivine spheres with lattice diagram corresponding to the (101) crystal planes. The constant current curves show that LM0.6F0.4P has a specific discharge capacity of 154.4 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C. The capacity retention rate is maintained at 96.2% after 100 cycles. The cyclic voltammetry curves show that two distinct pairs of redox potentials appeared for LM0.6F0.4P in the voltage interval located at (3.63 V/3.43 V) and (4.18 V/3.87 V). Thus, the proposed strategy predicts that the discarded LMO and LFP can be used as raw materials to prepare high‐performance LMFP cathode materials, significantly reducing energy consumption and environmental pollution.
Stomach size in anorexia nervosa: A new challenge?
Authors: Joyeux Marie‐Alix , Pierre Antoine , Barrois Marion , Hoeffel Christine , Devie Antoine , Brugel Mathias , Bertin Eric
Published: March 2024

Background & Aims

Changes in stomach size may impact eating behaviour. A recent study showed gastric dilatation in restrictive eating disorders using computed tomography scans. This study aimed to describe stomach size in the standing position in women with anorexia nervosa (AN).

Methods

Women treated for AN at our institution were retrospectively included if they had undergone upper gastrointestinal radiography (UGR) after the diagnosis of AN. Two control groups (CG1 and CG2) were included, both comprising female patients: CG1 patients were not obese and underwent UGR for digestive symptoms of other aetiologies, and CG2 comprised obese individuals who had UGR before bariatric surgery. A UGR‐based Stomach Size Index (SSI), calculated as the ratio of the length of the stomach to the distance between the upper end of the stomach and the top of the iliac crests, was measured in all three groups. Gastromegaly was defined as SSI >1.00.

Results

45 patients suffering from AN (28 with restrictive and 17 with binge/purge subtype), 10 CG1 and 20 CG2 subjects were included in this study. Stomach Size Index was significantly higher in AN (1.27 ± 0.24) than in CG1 (0.80 ± 0.11) and CG2 (0.68 ± 0.09); p < 0.001, but was not significantly different between patients with the restrictive and binge/purge subtypes. Gastromegaly was present in 82.2% of patients with AN and not present in the control groups. In patients with AN, gastromegaly was present in 12/15 patients without digestive symptoms (80.0%) and in 25/30 patients with digestive complaints (83.3%) at time of UGR (p = 0.99). In the AN group, no significant relationship was found between SSI and body mass index.

Conclusion

Gastromegaly is frequent in AN and could influence AN recovery. This anatomical modification could partially explain the alterations of gastric motility previously reported in AN.
Multi‐dimensional resource management with deep deterministic policy gradient for digital twin‐enabled Industrial Internet of Things in 6 generation
Authors: Hu Yue , Cao Ning , Lu Hao , Jiang Yunzhe , Liu Yinqiu , He Xiaoming
Published: March 2024

In the era of sixth generation mobile networks (6G), industrial big data is rapidly generated due to the increasing data‐driven applications in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Effectively processing such data, for example, knowledge learning, on resource‐limited IIoT devices becomes a challenge. To this end, we introduce a cloud‐edge‐end collaboration architecture, in which computing, communication, and storage resources are flexibly coordinated to alleviate the issue of resource constraints. To achieve better performance in hyper‐connected experience, real‐time communication, and sustainable computing, we construct a novel architecture combining digital twin (DT)‐IIoT with edge networks. In addition, considering the energy consumption and delay issues in distributed learning, we propose a deep reinforcement learning‐based method called deep deterministic policy gradient with double actors and double critics (D4PG) to manage the multi‐dimensional resources, that is, CPU cycles, DT models, and communication bandwidths, enhancing the exploration ability and improving the inaccurate value estimation of agents in continuous action spaces. In addition, we introduce a synchronization threshold for distributed learning framework to avoid the synchronization latency caused by stragglers. Extensive experimental results prove that the proposed architecture can efficiently conduct knowledge learning, and the intelligent scheme can also improve system efficiency by managing multi‐dimensional resources.
The impact of chitooligosaccharides with a certain degree of polymerization on diabetic nephropathic mice and high glucose‐damaged HK‐2 cells
Authors: Liu Yuwen , Zhang Ran , Zou Jiaqi , Yin Hao , Zhao Mengyao , Zhao Liming
Published: March 2024

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a primary diabetic complication ascribed to the pathological changes in renal microvessels. This study investigated the nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2)/Kelch ECH associating protein (Keap1)/antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling pathway impact of chitooligosaccharides (COS) with a certain degree of polymerization (DP) on DN mouse models and high glucose‐damaged human kidney 2 (HK‐2) cells. The findings indicated that COS effectively reduced the renal function indexes (uric acid [UA], urinary albumin excretion rate [UAER], urine albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio [UACR], blood urea nitrogen [BUN], and creatinine [Cre]) of DN mice. It increased (p < .05) the superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), and catalase (CAT) antioxidant enzyme activity in the serum and kidneys, and decreased (p < .05) the malondialdehyde (MDA) content. The mechanistic investigation showed that COS significantly increased (p < .05) Nrf2 and downstream target gene (GCLM, GCLC, HO‐1, and NQO‐1) expression, and substantially decreased (p < .05) Keap1 expression. The protein level was consistent with the messenger RNA (mRNA) level in in vitro and in vivo models. The docking data indicated that COS and Keap1 protein binding included six hydrogen bond formation processes (Gly364, Arg415, Arg483, His436, Ser431, and Arg380). The COS intervention mechanism may be related to the Nrf2/Keap1/ARE antioxidant pathway. Therefore, it provides a scientific basis for COS application in developing special medical food for DN patients.
Socio‐demography induced social capital for community resilience in Bangladesh
Authors: Tuya Jannatun Hussna , Mahmud Khandakar Hasan
Published: March 2024

Being a deltaic country and for its geographic location, Bangladesh faces devastating damages every year. In a new global index, Bangladesh has been ranked 7th among the countries most affected by extreme weather events in 20 years since 1998. The ability of a community to recover from a disaster is very much associated with strong social connections. For this research, both secondary and primary data sources have been considered. Socio‐demographic characteristics have been identified from a community‐based general questionnaire and BBS. Also, a newly developed integrated method has been used to measure the social capital of the community. Several statistical methods were used to analyse the data, such as factor analysis (PCA), ROC curve analysis and several GIS techniques, throughout the research. Results show that significant socio‐demographic variables help to develop a specific type of social capital. Consequently, social capital indirectly works as a key for recovering from any disaster impact and could build resilience to hazards.
A practical evaluation of measures derived from compressed sensing diffusion spectrum imaging
Authors: Radhakrishnan Hamsanandini , Zhao Chenying , Sydnor Valerie J. , Baller Erica B. , Cook Philip A. , Fair Damien A. , Giesbrecht Barry , Larsen Bart , Murtha Kristin , Roalf David R. , Rush‐Goebel Sage , Shinohara Russell T. , Shou Haochang , Tisdall M. Dylan , Vettel Jean M. , Grafton Scott T. , Cieslak Matthew , Satterthwaite Theodore D.
Published: March 2024

Diffusion Spectrum Imaging (DSI) using dense Cartesian sampling ofq‐space has been shown to provide important advantages for modeling complex white matter architecture. However, its adoption has been limited by the lengthy acquisition time required. Sparser sampling ofq‐space combined with compressed sensing (CS) reconstruction techniques has been proposed as a way to reduce the scan time of DSI acquisitions. However prior studies have mainly evaluated CS‐DSI in post‐mortem or non‐human data. At present, the capacity for CS‐DSI to provide accurate and reliable measures of white matter anatomy and microstructure in the living human brain remains unclear. We evaluated the accuracy and inter‐scan reliability of 6 different CS‐DSI schemes that provided up to 80% reductions in scan time compared to a full DSI scheme. We capitalized on a dataset of 26 participants who were scanned over eight independent sessions using a full DSI scheme. From this full DSI scheme, we subsampled images to create a range of CS‐DSI images. This allowed us to compare the accuracy and inter‐scan reliability of derived measures of white matter structure (bundle segmentation, voxel‐wise scalar maps) produced by the CS‐DSI and the full DSI schemes. We found that CS‐DSI estimates of both bundle segmentations and voxel‐wise scalars were nearly as accurate and reliable as those generated by the full DSI scheme. Moreover, we found that the accuracy and reliability of CS‐DSI was higher in white matter bundles that were more reliably segmented by the full DSI scheme. As a final step, we replicated the accuracy of CS‐DSI in a prospectively acquired dataset (n = 20, scanned once). Together, these results illustrate the utility of CS‐DSI for reliably delineating in vivo white matter architecture in a fraction of the scan time, underscoring its promise for both clinical and research applications.
Assessing brain involvement in Fabry disease with deep learning and the brain‐age paradigm
Authors: Montella Alfredo , Tranfa Mario , Scaravilli Alessandra , Barkhof Frederik , Brunetti Arturo , Cole James , Gravina Michela , Marrone Stefano , Riccio Daniele , Riccio Eleonora , Sansone Carlo , Spinelli Letizia , Petracca Maria , Pisani Antonio , Cocozza Sirio , Pontillo Giuseppe
Published: March 2024

While neurological manifestations are core features of Fabry disease (FD), quantitative neuroimaging biomarkers allowing to measure brain involvement are lacking. We used deep learning and the brain‐age paradigm to assess whether FD patients' brains appear older than normal and to validate brain‐predicted age difference (brain‐PAD) as a possible disease severity biomarker. MRI scans of FD patients and healthy controls (HCs) from a single Institution were, retrospectively, studied. The Fabry stabilization index (FASTEX) was recorded as a measure of disease severity. Using minimally preprocessed 3D T1‐weighted brain scans of healthy subjects from eight publicly available sources (N = 2160; mean age = 33 years [range 4–86]), we trained a model predicting chronological age based on a DenseNet architecture and used it to generate brain‐age predictions in the internal cohort. Within a linear modeling framework, brain‐PAD was tested for age/sex‐adjusted associations with diagnostic group (FD vs. HC), FASTEX score, and both global and voxel‐level neuroimaging measures. We studied 52 FD patients (40.6 ± 12.6 years; 28F) and 58 HC (38.4 ± 13.4 years; 28F). The brain‐age model achieved accurate out‐of‐sample performance (mean absolute error = 4.01 years, R2 = .90). FD patients had significantly higher brain‐PAD than HC (estimated marginal means: 3.1 vs. −0.1, p = .01). Brain‐PAD was associated with FASTEX score (B = 0.10, p = .02), brain parenchymal fraction (B = −153.50, p = .001), white matter hyperintensities load (B = 0.85, p = .01), and tissue volume reduction throughout the brain. We demonstrated that FD patients' brains appear older than normal. Brain‐PAD correlates with FD‐related multi‐organ damage and is influenced by both global brain volume and white matter hyperintensities, offering a comprehensive biomarker of (neurological) disease severity.