bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Genome Assembly and Annotation of the Bungarus multicinctus
Authors: Liu Boyang , Cui Liangyu , Deng Zhangwen , Ma Yue , Yang Diancheng , Gong Yanan , Xu Yanchun , Lan Tianming , Yang Shuhui , Huang Song
Published: June 2023

Snakes are a vital component of wildlife resources and are widely distributed across the globe. Bungarus multicinctus, a highly venomous snake, is found in central and southern China. B. multicinctus is a highly venomous snake and is distributed in central and southern China. Snakes are an ancient group of reptiles, and their genome resources can provide important clues for understanding the evolutionary history of reptiles. Meanwhile, genomic resources play a crucial role in comprehending the evolution of species. So far, the genomic resources of snakes are a rarity. In 2021, a snake sample was collected from Beiliu Longgukeng, Guangxi, which was identified as B. multicinctus through morphological identification. In this study, we present a highly contiguous genome of B. multicinctus with a size of 1.51 Gb. The genome contains a repeat content of 40.15%, with a total length exceeding 620 Mb. Additionally, we annotated a total of 24,869 functional genes. This research is of great significance for comprehending the evolution of B. multicinctus and provides a genomic basis for the genes involved in venom gland function.
SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Molecular Mechanisms of Endothelial Dysfunction in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Bouillet Laurence , DEROUX Alban , BENMARCE Meryem , GUERIN Chloé , BOUVET Laura , GARNIER Olivia , K. MARTIN Donald , VILGRAIN ISABELLE
Published: June 2023

Long COVID-19 syndrom appears after Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus (SARS-CoV-2) infection with acute damages to microcapillaries, microthombi and endotheliitis. However, the mech-anisms involved in these processes remain to be identified. All blood vessels are lined with a monolayer of endothelial cells called vascular endothelium of which one of the major properties is to prevent coagulation. VE cadherin is a component of endothelial cell junctions responsible for maintenance of the integrity of the vessels through homophilic interaction of its Ca++- dependent adhesive extracellular domain. We first provide evidence that VE-cadherin is a target in vitro for ACE2 cleavage because its extracellular domain (hrVE-ED) contains two amino acid sequences for ACE2 substrate recognition at the po-sitions 256P-F257 and 321PMKP-325L. Indeed, incubation of hrVE-ED with the active ecto-peptidase hrACE2 for 16 hrs in the presence of 10M ZnCl2 showed a dose-dependent (from 0.2 ng/ul to 2 ng/ul) decrease of the VE-cadherin immunoreactive band. In vivo, in the blood from patients having severe COVID-19, a circulating form of ACE2 was detected with an apparent molecular mass of 70 kDa while it was barely detectable in patients with mild infection. Of importance, in the patients with severe COVID-19 disease, the presence of three soluble fragments of VE-cadherin (70, 62, 54 kDa) were detected using the antiEC1 antibody while only the 54 kDa fragment was present in patients with mild disease. Altogether, these data clearly support a role for ACE2 on VE-cadherin cleavage leading to potential biomarkers in SARS-CoV2 infection related with the vascular disease in “Long COVID-19”.
Soil Moisture Retrieval in Bare Agricultural Areas using Sentinel-1 Images
Authors: Ettalbi Mouad , Baghdadi Nicolas , Garambois Pierre-André , Bazzi Hassan , Ferreira Emmanuel , Zribi Mehrez
Published: June 2023

Soil moisture maps are essential for hydrological, agricultural and risk assessment applications. To best meet these requirements, it is essential to develop soil moisture products at high spatial resolution which is now made possible using the free Sentinel-1 (S1) SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) data. Some soil moisture retrieval techniques using S1 data relied on the use of a priori weather information in order to increase the precision of soil moisture estimates, which required access to a weather forecasting framework. This paper presents an improved and fully automated solution for high-resolution soil moisture mapping in bare agricultural areas. The proposed solution derives a priori weather information directly from the original Sentinel images, thus bypassing the need for a weather forecasting framework. For soil moisture estimation, the neural network technique was implemented to ensure the optimum integration of radar information. The neural networks were trained using synthetic data generated by the modified Integral Equation Model (IEM) model and validated on real data from two study sites in France and Tunisia. Main findings showed that the use of radar signal averaged over grids of a few km2 in addition to radar signal at plot scale instead of a priori weather information, provides good soil moisture estimations. The accuracy is even slightly better comparatively to the accuracy obtained using a priori weather information.
Vegetation Identification in Hyperspectral Images Using Distance/Correlation Metrics
Authors: Chanchí Golondrino Gabriel E. , Ospina Alarcón Manuel A. , Saba Manuel
Published: June 2023

Vegetation identification using remote sensing is essential for understanding terrestrial ecosystems and monitoring climate change. This technology by providing high-resolution images of the Earth's surface from satellites, aircraft, and drones has revolutionized the way scientists study and un-derstand vegetation patterns, providing information on the distribution, structure, and health of plant communities in different regions and biomes.
However, identifying vegetation in multi and hyperspectral images remains a difficult, time-consuming, and costly process. Traditional methods for vegetation mapping involve the in-terpretation of spectral indices such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), alt-hough they often suffer from limitations such as manual interpretation and limited spatial resolution of satellite images. Furthermore, machine learning techniques, artificial neural networks, decision trees, support vector machines, and random forests have shown promising results in identifying and classifying vegetation cover from hyperspectral images. However, due to the need for per-son-nel with specialized expertise, their application on a large scale is still challenging.
On the other hand, correlation methods between curves have emerged as powerful and simplified tool for comparing spectral signatures of hyperspectral image pixels and efficiently classifying vegetation in a study area. Pearson's correlation coefficient and spectral angle mapper are among the most common correlation methods used in vegetation mapping. These correlation methods, among many others available, offer an easily implemented and computationally efficient approach, making them particularly useful for applications in developing countries or regions with limited resources.
In this article, a comparative study of correlation/distance metrics was conducted for the detection of vegetation pixels in hyperspectral images. The study allowed for the comparison of five distance and/or correlation metrics: direct correlation, cosine similarity, normalized Euclidean distance, Bray-Curtis’s distance, and Pearson correlation. The two metrics that yielded the best accuracy results in vegetation pixel detection were direct correlation and Pearson correlation. Based on the selected methods, a vegetation detection algorithm was implemented and validated on a hyper-spectral image of the Manga neighborhood in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. The spectral library was utilized for image processing, while the numpy and scipy libraries in the Python programming language were used for the mathematical calculation of correlations. Both the study's approach and the implemented algorithm aim to serve as a reference for conducting detection studies of various material types in hyperspectral images using open-access programming platforms.
Chemical Feedback in Templated Reaction-Assembly of Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles: A Molecular Simulation Study of the Kinetics and Clustering
Authors: Gioldasis Christos , Gkamas Apostolos , Moultos Othonas , Vlahos Costas Hristos
Published: June 2023

The chemical feedback between building blocks in templated polymerization of diblock copolymers and their consecutive micellization was studied for the first time by means of coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. Using a stochastic polymerization model, we were able to reproduce the experimental findings on the effect of chemical feedback on the polymerization rates at low and high solution concentrations. The size and shape of micelles were computed using a newly development software in python conjugated with graph theory. In full agreement with the experiments, our simulations revealed that micelles formed by the templated micellization are more spherical and have lower radius of gyration than those formed by the traditional two-step micellization method. Understanding the underlying mechanisms in templated reaction/assembly of polymers will help for rational design of new synthetic supramolecular materials.
Climate Change in the Sun and Shadow: Stories About the Margin
Authors: Arredondo-Hernandez Rene , Lopez-Vidal Yolanda , Martinez-Cruz Katya , Ponce de León Rosales Samuel
Published: June 2023

The global warming our generation is experiencing is just one of the great environmental crises of the Anthropocene, a geological period that began with the use of fossil fuels and that, in merely one century and a few decades of industrial activity, has altered ecosystemic processes that sustain human health and well-being. Beyond the loss of the “intrinsic value of nature”, changes in the magnitude and direction of biogeochemical cycles and increases in temperature are phenomena that not only accompany the loss of habitats and species but impair resilience by ultimately generating greater and more complex numbers and types of exposures that constitute a danger to human health.

In this study, we attempted to offer some notes about the margin, understood as that space with the greatest inequity and therefore the fastest growth of risk: the collision area where deprivation marks the social determinants of health and where the greatest interaction with causes of disease occur.
Earthquake Prediction for The Marmara Region of Düzce Province Using Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Pura Turgut , Güneş Peri , Güneş Ali , Hameed Ali Alaa
Published: June 2023

An earthquake is a natural event by its general definition. This natural event is a disaster that causes significant damage, loss of life, and other economic effects that will damage the state. The possibility of predicting a natural event such as an earthquake will minimize the reasons mentioned. Data collection, data processing, and data evaluation were carried out in this study. Earthquake forecasting was performed using the data and the RNN (Recurrent Neural Network) method. The study was carried out on seismic data with a magnitude of 3.0 and above belonging to Düzce Province between 1990 and 2022. In order to increase the learning potential of the method, the b and d values of the earthquake were calculated and included in the data set, except for the earthquake magnitude. The determination of earthquakes in a specific time interval in regions of Turkey, the classification of earthquake-related seismic data using artificial neural networks, and the production of predictions for the future reveal the importance of this study.
ASSESSMENT OF THE STABILITY OF THE FRONT PIVOT AXLE DURING STEADY-STATE MOTION OF A TRACTOR SELF-PROPELLED CHASSIS
Authors: Podrigalo Mikhail , Razarenov Leonid , Zakapko Oleksandr
Published: June 2023

In known scientific and technical literature, insufficient attention is paid to the study of dynamic processes of wheeled vehicles with a steering front axle. The use of front swivel axle on a self-propelled chassis makes it possible to minimize the moment of resistance to turning and reduce the wear of front wheel tires in comparison with rotary guide wheels. This modernization can provide a wider range of attachments for mechanized work equipment. The aim of this work is to increase the stability of the rectilinear steady-state motion of a self-propelled tractor chassis by creating stabilizing moments on the front pivot axle by shifting the axis of rotation of the front axle in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the machine. The stability of the rectilinear steady-state motion of a self-propelled tractor chassis is investigated when creating stabilizing moments on the front steering axle by shifting the vertical axis of rotation of the front axle in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the machine. This scientific article shows that when the steering axle moves, it is possible to reduce the lateral force on the front axle to zero, which makes it possible to reduce the moment of resistance to turning. A straight-line steady-state movement of a tractor is considered, where a violation of the stability of the front steering axle may occur during a short-term impact on an obstacle on the road.  In some cases, the angular acceleration and angular velocity of the bridge in the road plane may be the exciting factor. The loading scheme of a front swing bridge under the action of an exciting angular acceleration is determined.  The calculation of the effect of the exciting factors on the power steering cylinder is presented. The stabilizing moment that occurs when the axis of the vertical shaft of the front steering axle drive is displaced is determined. The differential equation of the front axle's circular motion was analyzed, which revealed its stability under the action of short-term excitatory forces in the rectilinear steady-state motion of the self-propelled chassis. An estimation of the motion of the front steering axle of a self-propelled chassis is presented, with the determined proportionality coefficients and coefficients of the differential equation, which describes the stable motion of the front steering axle in the steady-state rectilinear motion of the machine under the action of short-term disturbing forces.
Keywords: self-propelled chassis, front swivel axle, stability, stabilizing moment, steady-state motion
A Quantitative Evaluation Method for Nonstationarity of Training Image Based on Pattern Tiles Distance
Authors: Yu Siyu , Li Shaohua , Dou Mengjiao , Su Linye
Published: June 2023

An a priori model for multipoint statistics (MPS) modeling approaches is a training image. Before using MPS modeling, it must be determined whether the training images satisfy the spatial statistical stationarity. Modeling can be performed using the regular MPS approach if a training image is stationary. Otherwise, an enhanced method of nonstationary modeling is required. For instance, partition-based nonstationary modeling is an option. This study proposes a nonstationary evaluation metric based on pattern tile distances. It is possible to more accurately quantify the characteristics of the various distributions of spatial structure features in the entire space and achieve the goal of quantitatively evaluating the nonstationary metrics of training images by quantifying the distances of lower-level subpatterns in the pattern. Furthermore, an automatic partitioning approach based on pattern tile discrepancy is proposed for nonstationary training images to avoid the subjective and inefficient issues of manual partitioning when the training images cannot meet the stationary requirement of MPS modeling.
Boosting succinylation-dependent LPS biosynthesis to overcome colistin resistance
Authors: Wu Jia-han , Chen Xuan-wei , Liu Ying-li , Cao Yun-cao , Li De-li , Chen Zhuanggui , Zheng Jun , Peng Bo
Published: June 2023

Antibiotic resistance has become a global crisis that threatens human health and sustainable agriculture. Polymyxins, a type of cationic polypeptide antibiotics, represents one of the last lines of defense against pan-drug resistant Gram-negative pathogens. However, this antibiotic is challenged by the emergence of resistance, especially by mobilized colistin determinants (mcr-1). Overcoming polymyxin resistance is necessary to revive this antibiotic in regular therapy. Here, we present a metabolite-enabled approach to resensitize polymyxin-resistant bacteria to colistin. By applying functional metabolomics, we find that mcr-1represses the pyruvate cycle, where succinate is the crucial biomarker. Exogenous succinate reverses polymyxin resistance for both of mcr-1-positive and mcr-1-negative polymyxin-resistant bacteria isolated from animal husbandry and medical settings. This effect is confirmed in vivo by mouse and fish infection models. Furthermore, succinate increases LPS biosynthesis by promoting succinylation of transcription factors, CpxR and PdhR. The increased LPS biosynthesis in turn reduces the portion of LPS modified by mcr-1, restores surface charge and enhances colistin binding. α-ketoglutarate and metoprolol succinate, a prescribed drug, also boosts succinylation to reverse polymyxin resistance. Thus, our study presents a succinylation-based approach to reverse polymyxin resistance and reveals a previously unrecognized post-translational modification on the control of LPS biogenesis.
The Family Involvement Role in Assisting with Hypertension Management: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Simamane Mandisa , Constantinou Demitri , Watson Estelle
Published: June 2023

Background
Comprehensive management of hypertension requires both pharmacological and lifestyle modification. Many hypertensive patients may need support to manage their blood pressure successfully (e.g., family). Therefore, the aim of this qualitative study was to explore the extent the role family involvement has in assisting with hypertension management, in terms of understanding what hypertension is and how is it managed.
Methods
The study utilised a grounded theory method for the qualitative inquiry for this study. The participants were purposefully selected through having conversations with the study participants of the intervention study group. Participants were invited and recruited from Umlazi Township, KwaZulu-Natal and the research invited participants that are closest family members. The recorded in-person interviews took approximately 30 to 60 minutes depending on conversations with participants.
Results
Four themes emerged and found the more family is involved in their management; hypertension patients feel empowered to also take charge of their own healing and better understand their condition and how to improve their lifestyle. The more informed the hypertensive patient in understanding the physiological aspect of the condition, the more it seems to empower them to be able to have better knowledge to manage it.
Conclusion
A plan to engage families more in hypertension management must be developed, in a manner that takes into consideration the patients’ needs and lack of resources that might be a challenge to the family members.
Identifying predictors and developing a risk score for preterm birth among Kenyan pregnant women
Authors: Larsen Anna , Pintye Jillian , Abuna Felix , Dettinger Julia C. , Gomez Laurén , Marwa Mary M. , Ngumbau Nancy , Odhiambo Ben , Richardson Barbra A. , Watoyi Salphine , Stern Joshua , Kinuthia John , John-Stewart Grace
Published: June 2023

Background: Preterm birth (PTB) is a leading cause of neonatal mortality, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where 40% of global neonatal deaths occur. We identified and combined correlates of PTB among Kenyan women to develop a risk score.
Methods: We used data from a prospective study enrolling HIV-negative women from 20 antenatal clinics in Western Kenya (NCT03070600). Depressive symptoms were assessed by study nurses using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10), intimate partner violence (IPV) with the Hurt, Insult, Threaten, Scream scale (HITS), and social support using the Medical Outcomes Survey scale (MOS-SSS). Predictors of PTB (birth <37 weeks gestation) were identified using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models, clustered by facility. We used stratified k-fold cross-validation methods for risk score derivation and validation. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was used to evaluate discrimination of the risk score and Brier score for calibration.
Results: Among 4084 women, 19% had PTB (incidence rate: 70.9 PTB per 100 fetus-years (f-yrs)). Predictors of PTB included being unmarried (HR:1.29, 95% CI:1.08-1.54), lower education (years) (HR:0.97, 95% CI:0.94-0.99), IPV (HITS score ≥5, HR:1.28, 95% CI:0.98-1.68), higher CESD-10 score (HR:1.02, 95% CI:0.99-1.04), lower social support score (HR:0.99, 95% CI:0.97-1.01), and mild-to-severe depressive symptoms (CESD-10 score ≥5, HR:1.46, 95% CI:1.07-1.99). The final risk score included being unmarried, social support score, IPV, and MSD. The risk score had modest discrimination between PTB and term deliveries (AUROC:0.56, 95% CI:0.54-0.58), and Brier Score was 0.4672. Women considered “high risk” for PTB (optimal risk score cut-point) had 40% higher risk of PTB (83.6 cases per 100 f-yrs) than “low risk” women (59.6 cases per 100 f-ys; HR:1.6, 95% CI:1.2-1.7, p<0.001).
Conclusion: A fifth of pregnancies were PTB in this large multisite cohort; PTB was associated with several social factors amenable to intervention. Combining these factors in a risk score did not predict PTB, reflecting the multifactorial nature of PTB and need to include other unmeasured factors. However, our findings suggest PTB risk could be alleviated by integrating mental health and support services into routine antenatal care.
Increased Incidence of DACH1 Mutation in Appalachian Women with Uterine Cancer and Altered Chemotherapy Sensitivity
Authors: Riggs McKayla , Lin Nan , Hill Kristen , Mao Guogen , Knicely Breanna , Piecoro Dava , Schneider Bryan P. , Chon Hye , Carpten John D. , Churchman Michelle , Corr Bradley , Washington Christina , Dood Robert , Edge Stephen , Leiser Aliza , Siegel Erin , Ueland Frederick , Miller Rachel , Goellner Eva , Kolesar Jill
Published: June 2023

Background: DACH1 is a tumor suppressor with increased mutation frequency in uterine cancers in Kentucky. We compared the frequency of DACH1mutations between women with uterine cancer in Appalachian versus non-Appalachian regions in the Oncology Research Information Exchange Network (ORIEN). The effect of DACH1 mutation on RNA expression, clinical outcomes, and the impact of DACH1 knock-outs on DNA repair and drug sensitivity.
Methods: We obtained data for 691 patients with endometrial cancer from nine U.S. institutions within the ORIEN network. We evaluated the frequency of DACH1 mutations and their association with clinical and genomics factors. DACH1knock-outs were created and assessed for impact on DNA repair, drug sensitivity, and synergy.
Results: Appalachian women with endometrial cancer had an increased frequency of DACH1 mutations (14.6%) verses non-Appalachian women (4.1%) p-value=0.010. DACH1 mutated patients have a higher tumor mutation burden (TMB) compared to DACH1 wild-type (32.2 vs. 4.62, p-value=2.17E-10) with no difference in microsatellite instability (p-value=0.35). DACH1 mutations showed significant co-occurrence with POLE, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2. DACH1knock-outs were deficient in non-homologous end joining and resistant to cisplatin, however, addition of ATR inhibitors reversed resistance.
Conclusions: DACH1mutations are prevalent in Appalachain Kentucky women with endometrial cancer. DACH1mutations are associated with high TMB suggesting DACH1 as a candidate biomarker for immunotherapy. DACH1 knockouts are cisplatin resistant which may partialy explain the excess mortality in this population, which may be overcome with addition of an ATR inhibitor, supporting further development of the combination for women with DACH1 mutated gynecological cancers.
The protective effects of Zingiber zerumbet rhizome against pyrexia in rats
Authors: Salleh Haslinda Mohd , Ablat Abdulwali , Chong Soon-Lim , Hazni Hazrina , Tohar Norsita , Fauzi Nurulwahidah , Wahab Habibah A. , Othman Muhamad Aqmal , Liew Sook Yee , Awang Khalijah
Published: June 2023

Background
The Zingiber zerumbet rhizomes are traditionally used to treat fever, and in vitro inhibitory effect of ethyl acetate extract from Zingiber zerumbet rhizomes (ZZEA) against DENV2 NS2B/NS3 has been reported early. This study was carried out to establish an acute toxicity profile and evaluate the anti-pyretic activities of ZZEA in yeast-induced pyrexia in rats.
Methods
The toxicity of ZZEA was evaluated using OECD Test Guideline 425 (tg-425) with minor modifications at concentrations of 2000 mg/kg, 3000 mg/kg, and 5000 mg/kg of ZZEA. Antipyretic effect was determined by yeast-induced pyrexia in rats.
Results
The acute toxicity study showed that ZZEA is safe at the highest 5000 mg/kg body weight dose in Sprague Dawley rats. Rats treated with ZZEA at doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg exhibited a significant reduction in rectal temperature (TR) in the first 1 hour. ZZEA at the lower dose of 125 mg/kg showed substantial potency against yeast-induced pyrexia up to 2 hours compared to 0 hours. A significant reduction of TR was observed in rats treated with standard drug aspirin (ASA) at the 3rd and 4th hours.
Conclusions
Based on the present findings, ethyl acetate extract of Zingiber zerumbet rhizomes could be considered safe up to the dose of 5000 mg/kg, and active ingredients of Zingiber zerumbet rhizomes may be a novel target for the treatment of fever with dengue virus infection.
Analysis of thermal discomfort associated with synoptic conditions in the city of Pelotas, extreme south of Brazil
Authors: Trassante Franciele da Costa , de Freitas Rose Ane Pereira , NEDEL ANDERSON SPOHR , de Medeiros Marco Antônio Flores , Lindemann Douglas da Silva , Nascimento Ana Lucia da Silva , Alonso Marcelo Felix , Machado Raquel
Published: June 2023

This study aims to evaluate the outdoor environment conditions (synoptic weather conditions) on extreme events of human thermal discomfort in the city of Pelotas, Brazil, between 18th January and 20th August, 2019. Digital thermohygrographs were installed outside the residences in order to record of air temperature data, dew point temperature and air relative humidity. Five different macro-regions of the city were analyzes applying two different biometeorological indices. For the summer months, the Humidex Index was used, and for fall and winter, the wind chill index was used. The findings showed that the afternoons during the summer months were the most thermally uncomfortable, while the nights presented the greatest sensations of comfort. In the winter months, the opposite occurred: afternoons with more comfortable periods and nights with more thermally uncomfortable periods were observed. It was also noted that in the situation of extreme heat stress, in the summer, there was the influence of the South Atlantic Subtropical Anticyclone (SASA) on the region, which, in association with the low humidity of the air on the continent, favored, then, the extreme discomfort sensations. Likewise, situations of extreme discomfort due to cold that were also associated with low air humidity, and high atmospheric pressure systems (not necessarily the SASA), which caused drops in temperature and dry air.
Coupling of WetSpass-M and MODFLOW Models for Groundwater Flow Assessment
Authors: Dowlatabadi Sepideh , Amirabadizadeh Mahdi , Zarei Mahdi
Published: June 2023

Recharge is considered a key parameter in groundwater models for sustainable management of aquifers, which is influenced by factors such as land use, soil, weather, etc. The present study was conducted to couple WetSpass-M and MODFLOW models for evaluating Neyshabour aquifer condition in steady and transient states. To this aim, the simulated recharge by the WetSpass-M model was applied as an input of MODFLOW to assess the groundwater balance. The hydrodynamic coefficients were determined by calibrating the model, evaluating and the model sensitivity to the hydraulic conductivity coefficient, specific yield (Sy), and recharge. The results indicated that the annual average of surface runoff, actual evapotranspiration, interception, and recharge during 1991–2017 equaled 18, 36, 7.6, and 42.6% of the average annual precipitation in the basin, respectively, with the simulated water balance error 4.2%. The average annual recharge of the basin varies between 0-257.41 mm with an average of 105.25 mm/y. Accordingly, the maximum and minimum average monthly recharge occurs during March and July, respectively. The appropriate matching of the simulated and observed water levels and obtaining the suitable values of RMSE, R2, ME, and MAE evaluation criteria in steady and transient states indicate the adequate accuracy of the WetSpass-M model in estimating the recharge and success of the couple two models. Based on the simulated groundwater balance, the aquifer faces a deficit of 421.3 MCM per year and 97.41 cm in the annual groundwater level. The model displayed more sensitivity to the hydraulic conductivity coefficient compared to other parameters.
The causal relationships between early sexual behaviors and cancer risks in individuals of European ancestry: a two-step Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Xue Ping , Dai Jingjing , Kuai Benxin , Su Xiao-qin , Shi Yue , Guo Yujie
Published: June 2023

Background
Sexual behaviors have been found to be linked to a variety of cancer risks. While The association between early sexual behaviors and cancer risk, as well as its underlying mechanism, remains unclear.
Methods
Two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) was conducted to evaluate the association between sexual behaviors and cancer risks. We define sexual behaviors as the external manifestation represented by age at first sexual intercourse (AFS) and age at first birth (AFB). The large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of ten types of cancer were used as outcomes. Moreover, two-step Mendelian randomization was conducted to investigate the role of mediation. Causal steps approach and product of coefficients approach was performed in two-step MR study.
Results
Our results indicate that increased AFS was associated with the following cancers: cervical cancer [odds ratio, 0.996 95% CI = 0.994–0.998], endometrial cancer [odds ratio, 0.815 95% CI = 0.676–0.984], liver cell carcinoma [odds ratio, 0.999 95%CI = 0.999–0.999], lung cancer [odds ratio, 0.626 95% CI 0.501 to 0.783], oropharyngeal cancer [odds ratio, 0.343 95%CI = 0.173–0.681] and prostate cancer [odds ratio, 1.143 95%CI = 1.019–1.281], as well as increased AFB result in a reduced risk of certain cancers, including cervical cancer [odds ratio, 0.999 95%CI = 0.998–0.999], lung cancer [odds ratio, 0.862 95%CI = 0.791–0.940]. In two-step MR study, fasting insulin, BMI and daily cigarettes previously smoked were mediators for the relationship between sexual behaviors and the risk of certain types of cancer.
Conclusions
Early sexual behaviors are associated with the increased risk of cancer. Mediators for this relationship include fasting insulin, BMI and daily cigarettes previously smoked.
A Sideroflexin/Connexin adaptor ties kinesin-3 to mitochondria in neurons
Authors: Barmaver Syed , Wagner Oliver
Published: June 2023

We identified SFXN-1.2 to regulate both morphologies as well as dynamics of mitochondria. SFXN-1.2 is an ortholog of human Sideroflexin 1/3 associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. We show that SFXN-1.2 binds to kinesin-3 KIF1A(UNC-104) via CX32 (Connexin 32), a protein known to be linked to Charcot-Marie-Tooth diseases. While SFXN-1.2 and CX32 affect the dynamics of mitochondria, they also affect the motility of the molecular motor UNC-104 alone. We found no role of the motor's PH domain in linking the motor to mitochondria. SFXN-1.2 has no effect on synaptic vesicle trafficking underlining the specificity of its role on mitochondria transport. We narrowed down critical interaction schemes of the UNC-104/CX32/SFXN-1.2 complex. Strikingly, mutations in SFXN-1.2 lead to motor- and sensory neuron defects in C. elegans affecting the animal's touch responses as well as restricting body movements. Lastly, we revealed that neither mitochondrial bioenergetics nor mitophagy are affected by the sfxn-1.2 mutation.
Prediction of malnutrition in newbornInfants using machine learning techniques
Authors: Kishore K. Krishna , Suman Jami Venkata , Mnikyamba I. Lakshmi , Polamuri Subba Rao , Venkatesh B.
Published: June 2023

This paper aims to predict malnutrition in newborn babies using various machine learning techniques. Malnutrition is characterized by the insufficient acquisition of fat and muscle mass during intrauterine growth. It is primarily caused by poor maternal nutrition and placental insufficiency, resulting in increased neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this study, we calculate the Z-score of newborns, taking into account factors such as age in months, weight, height, and sex, to determine the presence of malnutrition. The dataset utilized for this project is obtained from UNICEF for network training. The dataset is divided into two parts: one for validation and another for testing. We calculate WAZ (underweight) and LAZ (stunting) and train the models to detect neonatal malnutrition. Various machine learning models, including SVM, KNN, logistic regression, Naïve Bayes, and a two-layer neural network, are employed to identify malnutrition in children. Among these models, logistic regression demonstrates superior accuracy compared to the other algorithms.
The effects of Tubacin, a HDAC6 inhibitor on skin wound healing and its mechanism
Authors: Liang Jia-Qiang , Wang Tingyu , Gan Bin , Xue Yuan-Ye , Wen Yu-Ying , Yang Yang , Peng Xin-Sheng , Zhou Yan-fang
Published: June 2023

Background Wound healing is a common clinical pathological process that is interrupted when abnormal pathological factors are present, which can significantly delay wound healing and lead to complication. Epigenetic modification plays an important role in wound repair, including histone deacetylase HDAC6-mediated regulation of cell morphology, autophagy, migration, inflammation, and oxidative stress.Therefore, this study aimed to investigate how HDAC6 inhibitors affect the proliferation and migration of dermal fibroblasts in allogeneic skin wound repair. Methods and results We effectively isolated primary skin fibroblasts from newborn rat skin tissue, and the effects of TGFB1 and different concentrations of HDAC6 inhibitor Tubacin on skin fibroblast growth and migration were detected using the MTT assay and scratch test. Tubacin was discovered to decrease fibroblast growth and migration. Tubacin down-regulated the expression levels of COL3, p-AKT, HDAC6, Col1a1, -SMA, and p-ERK, which were up-regulated by TGF-1, in fibroblasts treated with TGF-1 and different doses of Tubacin. Tubacin also increased the protein levels of ace–tubulin and CD31 (platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule). To examine the impact of the HDAC6 inhibitor Tubacin in skin wound regeneration, we created a full-thickness wound model on the back of rats and used Western blot to assess the expression levels of HDAC6, acetylated -tubulin, COL1A1, COL3, and -SMA. The results demonstrated that trauma increased the expression levels of HDAC6 and acetylated -tubulin in the skin; these findings suggest that HDAC6 and acetylated -tubulin may be involved in wound repair. Tubacin, on the other hand, decreased the protein levels of HDAC6 and acetylated-tubulin, as well as the protein levels of COL1A1 and COL3. The mechanism could be that COL1A1, COL3, and -SMA expression, which are involved in pathological wound repair, are blocked via modulating the TGF-β-PI3K-Akt pathway and MAPK/ERK signaling.Thus, our results implies that inhibiting HDAC6 plays a beneficial function in wound healing and scar formation. Conclusion Tubacin inhibits fibroblast proliferation and migration, as well as the expression of COL1A1, COL3, and -SMA, all of which are involved in pathological wound repair. It also promotes the expression of CD31, which is associated with inflammation or angiogenesis, by regulating the tgf-PI3K-Akt pathway and the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway.
Prebiotic galactooligosaccharide feed modifies the chicken gut microbiota to efficiently clear Salmonella
Authors: Richards Philip J , Almutrafy Abeer , Liang Lu , Lafontaine Geraldine M Flaujac , King Elizabeth , Fish Neville M , Connerton Amber J , Connerton Phillippa L , Connerton Ian F
Published: June 2023

Background Chicken meat can be contaminated with Salmonella originating from the gastrointestinal tract of infected chickens during slaughter. Total eradication of Salmonella from flocks of broiler (meat) chickens through hygiene measures and/or vaccination regimes is not deemed cost-effective, so complementary approaches are sought. A mature gut microbiota is an obstruction to Salmonella infection in chickens and deliberate fortification of colonization resistance in juvenile chickens through prebiotic feed formulations would benefit both public health and the poultry industry. Prebiotic galactooligosaccharides have been shown to hasten clearance of Salmonellafrom the gut of infected chickens. To better understand the role of galactooligosaccharides in colonization resistance broiler chickens were raised on a wheat-soybean meal-based feed, with or without added galactooligosaccharide for the first 24-days of life. Chickens were then orally challenged with Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis at 20-days-old and the effect of supplementary galactooligosaccharides characterized by profiling Salmonella colonization, gut microbiota, host innate immune response and cecal SCFA concentrations.
Results Exposure to dietary galactooligosaccharides shortened the time required for chickens to clear S. Enteritidis from the ceca. Differential abundance analysis of the cecal microbiota associated Salmonella-challenge with a bacterial taxon belonging to the Acidaminococcaceae family. Increased concentrations of the short chain fatty acids propionate and valerate were measured in the ceca of Salmonella-challenged chickens sustained on either control or galactooligosaccharide-supplemented feed relative to mock-challenged controls; but far greater concentrations were detected in chickens fed a galactooligosaccharide-supplemented diet in early life. Propionate and valerate concentrations corresponded with the abundance of the Acidaminococcaceae taxon. The absence of cecal proinflammatory chemokine/cytokine transcriptional responses suggest that the Salmonella-clearance observed for the galactooligosaccharide-supplemented diet was not linked to the modulation of innate immune function.
Conclusions We hypothesise that catabolism of galactooligosaccharide and its breakdown products by indigenous taxa colonizing the cecal pouches yield excess levels of propionate. In the absence of gross inflammation propionate is inimical to Salmonellawhich hastens the clearance time. Work presented here identifies some of the bacterial taxa responsible for colonization resistance to Salmonellacolonization in broiler chickens. Deliberate cultivation of these taxa with prebiotic galactooligosaccharide presents a straight-forward, safe and cost-effective intervention against Salmonella.
Three-dimensional atomic positions and local chemical order of medium- and high-entropy alloys
Authors: Moniri Saman , Yang Yao , Yuan Yakun , Zhou Jihan , Yang Long , Zhu Fan , Liao Yuxuan , Yao Yonggang , Hu Liangbing , Ercius Peter , Ding Jun , Miao Jianwei (John)
Published: June 2023

Medium- and high-entropy alloys (M/HEAs) mix multiple principal elements with near-equiatomic composition and represent a paradigm-shift strategy for designing new materials for metallurgy1-8, catalysis9-14, and other fields15-18. One of the core hypotheses of M/HEAs is lattice distortion5,19,20, which has been investigated by numerical simulations, x-ray diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy21-26. However, experimentally determining the three-dimensional (3D) local lattice distortion in M/HEAs remains a challenge. Additionally, the presumed random elemental mixing in M/HEAs has been questioned by atomistic simulations, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and electron diffraction, which suggest the existence of local chemical order in M/HEAs27-33. However, the 3D local chemical order has eluded direct experimental observation since the EDS elemental maps integrate the composition of atomic columns along the zone axes7,32,33, and the diffuse reflections/streaks in electron diffraction of M/HEAs may originate from planar defects instead of local chemical order34. Here, we determine the 3D atomic positions of M/HEA nanocrystals using atomic electron tomography35, and quantitatively characterize the local lattice distortion, strain tensor, twin boundaries, dislocation cores, and chemical short-range order (CSRO) with unprecedented 3D detail. We find that the local lattice distortion and strain tensor in the HEAs are larger and more heterogeneous than in the MEAs. We observe CSRO-mediated twinning in the MEAs, that is, twinning occurs in energetically unfavoured CSRO regions but not in energetically favoured CSRO ones. This observation confirms the atomistic simulation results of the bulk CrCoNi MEA27,29 and represents the first experimental evidence of correlating local chemical order with structural defects in any material system. We expect that this work will not only expand our fundamental understanding of this important class of materials, but also could provide the foundation for tailoring M/HEA properties through lattice distortion and local chemical order.
Assessing the Utility of a Proposed System for Routine Assessment of Tumour Budding in Core Biopsies of Breast Cancer, a Robust Adjunct to Conventional Grading to Improve Prediction of Stage, Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Prognosis
Authors: Akakpo Patrick Kafui , Imbeah Emmanuel Gustav , Akyea Cornelia Obiri , Ulzen-Appiah Kofi
Published: June 2023

Background
Tumour budding is a predictor lymph node metastasis and prognosis in colon cancer. Recent studies suggest that tumor budding can be useful in prognostication of breast cancer. We determined the utility of a proposed system that relies on combined assessment Tumour Budding and Nest Size (B-TBNS) for grading breast cancers on core biopsy as a predictor of prognosis. We assessed the relationship between B-TBNS grade and tumour characteristics such as traditional grade, stage, molecular type, and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Methods
A descriptive, cross-section study design, with a retrospective review of breast core biopsy (H&E) slides from January 2020 to December 2021 was carried out. B-TBNS grades were determined on core biopsy samples by three pathologists independently and related to tumour characteristics on core biopsy and matched excision with axillary lymph node dissection. Data were analysed with SPSS v 20.0. Descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages were used to describe categorical variables. Cross-tabulation and chi-square test was done at 95% confidence interval with significance established at p < 0.05.
Results
A total of Eighty-five (85) cases were included in the study with mean age at 52.74 ± 14.443 years. There was a statistically significant relationship between, nest size (NS) of tumour buds in core biopsy samples and size of tumour at excision (p < 0.039), ER (p < 0.026), HER-2 (p < 0.035), Receptor status (ER & or PR) (p < 0.011), Molecular subtype (p < 0.019), HER-2 enriched (p < 0.008). There was also a significant association between Tumour budding activity and tumour size (p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Tumour budding and nest size in breast core biopsies are related to tumour characteristics such as size, lymph node involvement, molecular subtype, and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Simple hematoxylin and eosin morphology-based systems such as our B-TBNS grading system that assess tumour budding and nest size on initial core biopsies will help better stratify patients into risk categories for management and ensure improved prognosis.
Assessing the Internal Variability of Large-Eddy Simulations for Microscale Pollutant Dispersion Prediction in an Idealized Urban Environment
Authors: Lumet Eliott , Jaravel Thomas , Rochoux Mélanie C. , Vermorel Olivier , Lacroix Simon
Published: June 2023

This study aims at estimating the inherent variability of microscale boundary-layer flows and its impact on the air pollutant dispersion in urban environment. For this purpose, we present a methodology combining a high-fidelity Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) model and a stationary bootstrap algorithm, to estimate the internal variability of time-averaged quantities over a given analysis period thanks to sub-averages samples. A detailed validation of a LES microscale air pollutant dispersion model in the framework of the Mock Urban Setting Test (MUST) field-scale experiment is performed. We show that the LES results are in overall good agreement with the experimental measurements of wind velocity and tracer concentration, especially in terms of fluctuations and peaks of concentrations. We also show that both LES estimates and the MUST experimental measurements are subject to a significant internal variability, which is therefore essential to take it into account in the model validation exercise. Moreover, we demonstrate that the LES model is able to accurately reproduce the observed internal variability. This study only accounts for the microscale wind fluctuations, and is therefore a first step in measuring the complete effect of the atmospheric boundary-layer (ABL) internal variability on pollutant dispersion.
A Wide Temperature 10 V Solid-state Electrolyte with a Critical Current Density of over 20 mA cm-2
Authors: Wei Yiqi , Li Zhenglong , Chen Zichong , Gao Panyu , Gao Mingxi , Yan Chenhui , Wu Zhijun , Ma Qihang , Jiang Yinzhu , Yu Xuebin , Zhang Xin , Liu Yongfeng , Yang Yaxiong , Gao Mingxia , Sun Wenping , Chen Jian , Pan Hongge
Published: June 2023

The use of solid-state electrolytes in all-solid-state batteries is a prospective technology for increasing energy densities. However, poor oxidative stability and issues with the dendrite significantly hamper their applicability. LiBH4 is considered as one of the most promising candidates due to its irreplaceable thermodynamic stability to Li. Herein, an in situ melting reaction is proposed to generate the covalently bonded coordination on the particle surfaces of electrolytes to resolve those issues. This coordination thermodynamically shuts down the electronic exchanges during the anionic oxidation decomposition by covalently bonding the local high-concentration electrons on the anions, and it kinetically blocks electronic percolation on the particle surfaces of electrolytes; this phenomenon leads to an unprecedented voltage window (0 ~ 10 V) with a peak oxidation current that is 370 times lower and an electronic conductivity that is 3 orders of magnitude lower than the counterpart at 25 ℃. The coordination can act as a binder to bond electrolyte particles, achieving a remarkable Young’s modulus of 208.45 GPa; this modulus is twice as high as the counterpart to adapt the sustained stress-strain release in Li plating and stripping. With these merits, the electrolyte displays a record-breaking critical current density of 21.65 mA cm− 2 at 25 ℃ (twice the best-reported data in Li-ion solid-state electrolytes), cycling stabilities under 10.83 mA cm− 2 for 6000 h and 10 V for 1000 h, and an operational temperature window of -30 to 150 ℃. Their Li-LiCoO2 cells exhibit superior reversibility under high voltage. Our findings illuminate a clear direction for oxidative stability and dendrite suppression in solid-state electrolytes, making tremendous progress in high-voltage lithium batteries.