bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of transcriptional profiles associated with stress-induced neuronal activation in Arc-GFP mice
Authors: Gerber Susanne , Butto Tamer , Winter Jennifer , Chongtham Monika , Hartwich Dewi , Linke Matthias , Ruffini Nicolas , Radyushkin Konstantin , Schweiger Susann , Mungikar Kanak
Published: September 2023

Chronic stress has become a predominant factor associated with a variety of psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety, in both humans and animal models. Although multiple studies have looked at transcriptional changes after social defeat stress, these studies mostly focus on bulk tissues, which might dilute important molecular signatures of social interaction in activated cells. In this study, we employed the Arc-GFP mouse model in conjunction with chronic social defeat (CSD) to selectively isolate activated nuclei (AN) populations in the ventral hippocampus (vHIP) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) of resilient and susceptible animals. Nuclear RNA-seq of susceptible vs. resilient populations revealed distinct transcriptional profiles linked predominantly with neuronal and synaptic regulation mechanisms. In the vHIP, susceptible AN exhibited increased expression of genes related to cytoskeleton and synaptic organization while resilient AN showed upregulation of cell adhesion genes and differential expression of major glutamatergic subunits. In the PFC, susceptible mice exhibited upregulation of synaptotagmins, and immediate early genes (IEGs), suggesting a potentially over-amplified neuronal activity state. Our findings provide a novel view of stress-exposed neuronal activation and the molecular response mechanisms in stress-susceptible versus resilient animals, which may have important implications for understanding mental resilience.
Midwives’ lived experiences of caring for women with mobility disabilities during pregnancy, labour and puerperium in Eswatini: A qualitative study
Authors: Magagula Fortunate , Temane Annie , Nolte Anna
Published: September 2023

Background
Midwives encounter various difficulties while aiming to achieve excellence in providing maternity care to women with mobility disabilities. The study aimed to explore and describe midwives’ experiences caring for women with mobility disabilities during pregnancy, labour and puerperium in Eswatini and formulate guidelines to facilitate support and holistic maternity care for these women.
Methods
A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, contextual research design with a phenomenological approach was followed. Twelve midwives working in maternal health facilities in the Hhohho and Manzini regions in Eswatini were interviewed. Purposive sampling was used to select midwives to participate in the research. In-depth phenomenological interviews were conducted, and Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological method was used for data analysis.
Results
Three themes emerged from the data analysis: midwives experienced physical and emotional strain in providing maternity care to women with mobility disabilities, they experienced frustration due to the lack of equipment to meet the needs of women with mobility disabilities, and they faced challenges in providing support and holistic care to women with mobility disabilities during pregnancy, labour and puerperium.
Conclusions
Midwives experienced challenges caring for women with mobility disabilities during pregnancy, labour and the puerperium in Eswatini. There is a need to develop and empower midwives with the knowledge and skill to implement guidelines and enact protocols. Moreover, equipment and infrastructure are required to facilitate support and holistic maternity care for women with mobility disabilities.
Sustainable Astronomy: A comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Off-grid Hybrid Energy Systems to supply large Telescopes
Authors: Viole Isabelle , Shen Li , Camargo Luis Ramirez , Zeyringer Marianne , Sartori Sabrina
Published: September 2023

Purpose
Supplying off-grid facilities such as astronomical observatories with renewable energy-based systems (RES) instead of diesel generators can considerably reduce their environmental impact. However, RES require oversized capacities to counter intermittency and comply with reliability requirements, hence shifting the environmental impact from operation to construction phase. We assess whether 100% RES scenarios are favorable from an environmental point of view, and discuss the trade-offs in systems with backup fossil generators versus 100% renewable ones.
Methods
In this comparative life cycle assessment (LCA), we study various RES supply systems to power a new telescope in the Atacama desert, Chile. We compare six setups, including 100% RES scenarios, namely photovoltaics (PV) with batteries and hydrogen energy storage; high-renewable scenarios, with fossil fuel power generation next to RES and storage; and a system combining PV with diesel generation. We base system sizing on a techno-economical optimization for the start of operation in 2030. Foreground data stem from recent life cycle inventories of RES components and 2030 electricity mix assumptions of production places. We assess environmental impact in the categories climate change, mineral resource depletion and water use.
Results and discussion
We find that 100% RES and high-renewable scenarios result in emissions of 0.077-0.115kg CO2e/kWh supplied, compared to 0.917kg CO2e/kWh in the reference case with solely diesel generation. 100% RES scenarios have a lower CO2e impact than high-renewable scenarios. However, the latter lower the mineral resource depletion and water use by about 27% compared to 100% RES scenarios. Applying hybrid energy storage systems increases the water use impact, while reducing the mineral resource depletion.
Conclusions
None of the six energy systems we compared was clearly the best in all environmental impacts considered. Trade-offs must be taken when choosing an energy system to supply the prospective off-grid telescope in Chile. We find high-renewable systems with some fossil generation as the better option regarding power reliability, mineral resource depletion and water use, while inducing slightly higher greenhouse gas emissions than the 100% RES scenarios.
As remote research facilities and off-grid settlements today are mainly supplied by fossil fuels, we expect to motivate more multifaceted decisions for implementing larger shares of RES for these areas. To advance the LCA community in the field of energy systems, we should strive to incorporate temporal and regional realities into our life cycle inventories. To ease the path for upcoming studies, we publish this work’s inventories as detailed activity level datasets.
Assessment of the seasonal and altitudinal gradients in fish diversity of a tropical river of western ghats biosphere using multivariate analysis
Authors: PAUL THANKAM Theresa , Sudheesan Deepa , Saha Ajoy , Madayil Roshith Chakkiyath , Suresh Vettath Raghavan , Sharma Sravan , Manoharan Shanmugham , Ratheesan Athira Nambrattil , Ramachandran Srinath , Srika Samantha
Published: September 2023

The study attempted to investigate the seasonal and spatial (altitudinal) gradients in fish diversity with respect to hydrobiological variables of Chaliyar river (encompassed in western Ghats biosphere). Fish and water quality samples were collected seasonally and analysed inorder to identify the drivers determining fish diversity of the river. 66 fish sp. belonging to 57 families and 12 orders were recorded during the study period (2017–2020). The year-wise diversity analysis revealed that higher diversity was recorded in 2019(1.43) compared to 2018. Seasonal and altitudinal (stretch wise) diversity analysis showed that the pre-monsoon season of 2017 (3.19) and lower stretch (2.18) of the river recorded the highest diversity. Phosphate (0.036ppm ± 0.039), calcium hardness (35.18 ± 101.61ppm), transparency (1.04 ± 0.6m), total hardness (330.21 ± 795.66ppm), and magnesium hardness (60.57ppm ± 142.42) were positive drivers influencing the diversity of Chaliyar as assessed using step-wise regression. Majority of fishes belong to least concern category except Horabagrus brachysoma (yellow spotted catfish) and Bhavania australis (westernghat loach). Community mobilisation, enhanced scientific interpretation and identification of appropriate habitat indices would be considered the next step in devising management measures in Chaliyar river.
Geomorphological and Geotechnical Investigations of Shallow-rainfall Induced Landslides Along Murree Expressway, a Case Study of Khajut Landslide, District Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Authors: Ahmed Shahid , Hussain Khadim , Lu Baoliang , Ishtiaq Muhammad
Published: September 2023

Landslide is a recurrent environmental hazard in the hilly regions and effects the socioeconomic development in Pakistan. The study area lies in the Tehsil Murree, Western Himalayas, Pakistan. The present study deals with detailed geomorphological mapping and geotechnical investigations of shallow rainfall-induced landslide i.e., Khajut Landslide, the Murree Expressway. The extensive field survey and detailed geomorphological, geological mapping and laboratory testing was carried out. Based on field observations, geotechnical investigations and longitudinal profiling, the Khajut landslide is classified as a rotational slide. The slope angle of the Khajut landslide is > 42º. The particle size distribution analysis of soil samples of Khajut landslide indicate that the landslide body consists of coarser particles i.e., sand and gravels. The average specific gravity of the soil sample collected from the Khajut landslide range from 2.89 kg/m3. The liquid limit of Khajut landslide soil samples ranges from 14%- 19%. The plasticity chart shows that soil is inorganic silt and inorganic clays of low to medium plasticity. The plastic limit of Khajut landslide ranges from 5%- 16%. Based on these results, it is concluded that frequent, cyclic wetting & drying during heavy rainfall strongly influence the shrink & swell behavior of the soil on the studied landslide which as a result can deform soils & damage Murree Expressway and other man-made structures.
An update of Clinical value of circulating tumor DNA in esophageal cancer： a systematic review and meta- analysis
Authors: Zhang Yaozhong , Du Huazhen , Wang Na , Wang Lei , Hang Yajie
Published: September 2023

Background
Esophageal cancer is a deadly disease with limited therapeutic options. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) could be a promising tool in this regard, although the data is limited. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the clinical applicability of the next-generation sequencing (NGS) and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) technology on the ctDNA detection of the EC and list its current challenges.
Methods
We systematically searched MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase (via OVID), ISI Web of Science database and Cochrane Library from January, 2000 to April, 2023. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were set as primary outcome endpoints. Pathologic response was evaluated by tumor regression grade (TRG), accord to the eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). Major pathologic regression (MPR) was defined as TRG 1 and 2. The MPR was set as secondary endpoint. Hazard rate (HR) and associated 95% CI were used as the effect indicators the association between ctDNA and prognosis of EC. MPR rates were also calculated. Fixed-effect model (Inverse Variance) or random-effect model (Mantel-Haenszel method) was performed depending on the statistically heterogeneity.
Results
Twenty-two studies, containing 1144 patients with EC, were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that OS (HR = 3.87; 95% CI, 2.86–5.23) and PFS (HR = 4.28; 95% CI, 3.34–5.48) were worse in ctDNA-positive patients. In the neoadjuvant therapy, the sensitivity analysis showed the clarified HR of ctDNA-positive was 1.13(95% CI, 1.01–1.28). In addition, the estimated MPR rate was 50% (95%CI:14%-86%) of patients changed positive to negative; and 51% (95%CI:33%-69%) for patients kept negative from beginning to end. We also found that TP53, NOTCH1, CCND1 and CNKN2A are most frequent mutation genes.
Conclusions
Detection of ctDNA had prognostic value for EC patients. Positive ctDNA is associated with poor prognosis. A standardized technique needs to be established in order to introduce ctDNA analysis into routine clinical practice. Longitudinal ctDNA monitoring might be a better strategy in the neoadjuvant therapy. In an era of personalized medicine, ctDNA could be a promising tool to individualize treatment planning and to improve outcomes in esophageal cancer.
Identification of MDK as a diagnostic biomarker for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and its association with immune cell infiltration
Authors: Bai Yang , Zhan Ke , You Dengxia
Published: September 2023

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare and progressive disease, of which the diagnosis primarily relies on clinical, radiological, and pathological findings without considering the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and corresponding diagnostic biomarkers.
Aims: We tried to discover the potential diagnostic biomarkers for IPF and evaluate the contribution of immune cell infiltration in IPF pathogenesis.
Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed between IPF patients and healthy controls, and functional analyses were performed. Diagnostic biomarkers for IPF were identified simultaneously using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression and support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) algorisms. The CIBERSORT was applied to investigate the immune cell infiltration in IPF, of which the association with identified diagnostic biomarkers was evaluated.
Results: 6 common DEGs were discovered by the LASSO and SVM-RFE algorisms simultaneously, of which MDK was ultimately identified as a diagnostic biomarker for IPF, with areas under the curve of 1.000, 0.637, 1.000, and 0.524 in the GSE53845, GSE38958, GSE24206, and GSE101286 datasets, respectively. The IPF pathogenesis might be associated with increased infiltration of monocytes and decreased infiltration of neutrophils, memory B cells, resting memory CD4+ T cells, and naive CD4+ T cells. Moreover, MDK was significantly associated with M0 macrophages and T follicular helper cells.
Conclusion: MDK can be used as a diagnostic marker for IPF, and more studies are needed to elucidate the specific correlation between MDK and immune cell infiltration in IPF pathogenesis.
Perioperative Factors Associated With Survival Following Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer – a Nationwide Analyses of 473 Cases From Denmark
Authors: Spore Laura Marr , Dencker Emilie Even , Kvanner Eske Aasvang , Hansen Carsten Palnaes , Burgdorf Stefan Kobbelgaard , Krohn Paul Suno , Kollbeck Sophie Louise Gisela , Storkholm Jan Henrik , Sillesen Martin
Published: September 2023

Background
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most lethal cancer diseases worldwide, with an overall 5-year survival rate of only 5%. The effects of perioperative treatment factors including operation time, blood transfusions as well as choice of anesthesia and analgesia techniques on overall survival (OS) following pancreatic resections for PDAC, is currently not well known. We hypothesized that these perioperative factors could be associated with OS following pancreatic resections for PDAC.
METHODS
Retrospective study from a nationwide cohort of PDAC patients from 2011 to 2020 in Denmark. Data was obtained by joining the national Danish Pancreatic Cancer Database (DPCD) and the Danish Anesthesia Database (DAD). Associations between OS as the primary endpoint, and perioperative factor were assessed using Hazard Ratios (HRs) calculated by cox regression controlled for relevant confounders.
RESULTS
Overall, data from 473 resected PDAC patients were available. Multivariate cox regression indicated that perioperative blood transfusions were associated with shorter OS (HR 2.53, p = 0.005), with survival estimates of 8.8% in transfused vs. 28.0% in non-transfused patients at 72 months after surgery. No significant associations could be identified for operation time or anesthesia/analgesia techniques.
CONCLUSION
In this study, the use of perioperative blood transfusions was associated with shorter OS.
Fusarium species and strains involved in Fusarium Head Blight are differentially affected by the promising TickCore3-based plant care solution.
Authors: Leannec-Rialland Valentin , Atanasova Vessela , Cabezas-Cruz Alejandro , Chereau Sylvain , Minh-Trang Tran , Pinson-Gadais Laetitia , Richard-Forget Florence
Published: September 2023

Cereal crops are frequently affected by Fusarium species that are responsible for the devastating fungal disease Fusarium Head Blight (FHB). These Fusarium species are also capable of producing mycotoxins that accumulate in grains. Reducing the use of synthetic fungicides in agriculture while guaranteeing low levels of mycotoxin contamination in crops requires the development of innovative and environment-friendly solutions. TickCore3 (TC3) is an antimicrobial peptide derived from a defensin DefMT3 of the tick Ixodes ricinus. This peptide was previously reported as a potent antifungal and anti-mycotoxin agent but was only tested against one strain of Fusarium graminearum, which is only one of the species causing FHB. In this study, we demonstrated that TC3 is active against major Fusarium species infecting wheat and has the capacity to inhibit the production of various mycotoxins. Fungal susceptibility to this peptide was shown to greatly vary according to the species and even the strain. We found that TC3 is highly efficient when applied at the spore stage and has a strong anti-germination activity. Using a FITC-labeled TC3 peptide and confocal microscopy, we showed that TC3 has strong affinity for the conidia surface and surrounds these fungal structures. While this study provides further arguments supporting the huge potential of TC3 as a novel and efficient anti-fungal agent, it also highlights the need for further studies to ensure that the application of TC3 in wheat fields will not induce a shift in Fusarium population such as in mycotoxin profile contaminating grains.
First report of Acinetobacter pittii acute community-acquired pneumonia in an immunocompetent patient in France following a heat wave
Authors: Souhail Bérénice , Danjean Maxime , Mercier-Darty Mélanie , Amaddeo Giuliana , Sessa Anna , Fihman Vincent , Galy Adrien , Woerther Paul Louis , Lepeule Raphaël
Published: September 2023

Background: In recent years, Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex (ABC) infections have attracted attention, mainly because of the impact of carbapenem-resistant isolates in hospital-acquired infections. However, acute community acquired ABC infections are not uncommon in warm and humid countries, where they are responsible for community-acquired infections with specific clinical features. So far, such infection has not been reported in France.
Case presentation: We report the case of a 55-year-old non-immunocompromised patient, living in France, with no known risk factors for community acquired ABC infections, presented a pneumonia with bloodstream infection, due to wild type A. pittii. The outcome was favorable after a 7 days antibiotic treatment with cefepime. We confirmed bacterial identification with whole-genome sequencing, and we looked into A. pitii core-genome phylogeny for genomic cluster.
Conclusions: This situation is uncommon in Europe and occurred after a heat wave in France with temperatures above 38°C. Herein, we discuss the possibility that this pneumonia may be emerging in the current context of global warming.
Impact of COVID-19 infection during the postoperative period in patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery
Authors: Ryu Hyo Seon , Jung Se Hoon , Cho Eun Hye , Choo Jeong Min , Kim Ji-Seon , Baek Se-Jin , Kim Jin , Kwak Jung-Myun
Published: September 2023

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused numerous casualties worldwide. Patients undergoing surgery are more vulnerable to infections and have a higher risk of morbidity and mortality. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 infection during the postoperative period in patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery.
Methods
This retrospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary center and patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery between January 2022 and February 2023 were included. Postoperative COVID-19 infection was defined as patients in whom SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected by RT-PCR within 14 days after surgery. Propensity score matching was performed including age, sex, ASA, and emergency operation between the COVID-19-negative and -positive groups. The primary outcome was major complications.
Results
Following 1:2 propensity score matching, 21 and 42 COVID-19-positive and -negative patients, respectively were included in the study. Of the COVID-19-positive patients, 14 (67%) had symptoms and 11 (52%) received antiviral therapy. No significant differences were observed in the clinical characteristics of the patients. Compared to the COVID-19-negative group, the COVID-19-positive group had a higher proportion of open surgeries than minimally invasive surgeries (57 vs. 28.6%, P = 0.053). In the COVID-19-positive group, the postoperative complication rate was significantly higher than in the COVID-19-negative group (52.4 vs. 23.8%, P = 0.023). Respiratory morbidity occurred in 47.6 and 38.1% of the COVID-19-positive and -negative groups, respectively (P = 0.48). Respiratory mortality was reported in one patient in the COVID-19-positive group and in none in the COVID-19-negative group. Thirty-day mortality was 4.8% in both groups (P = 0.98). Mechanical ventilator requirement, ICU admission, and readmission rate did not significantly differ between the two groups. The median length of ICU (19 vs. 4 days, P < 0.001) and hospital stay (18 vs. 8 days, P = 0.015) were significantly longer in the COVID-19-positive group. In the relative risk (RR) analyses, patients with COVID-19 had a 2.4-times higher risk of major complications than patients without COVID-19 (RR 2.37; 95% CI, 1.254–4.467; P = 0.015).
Conclusion
COVID-19 infection during the postoperative period in gastrointestinal surgery may have adverse outcomes which may increase the risk of major complications. Preoperative COVID-19 screening and protocols for COVID-19 prevention in surgical patients should be maintained.
Music neurofeedback training improves college students' negative emotions and attention status
Authors: Liu Jiahe , Zhang Hailin , Liang Feng
Published: September 2023

In psychology, emotions such as anxiety, tension, anger, depression, sadness, and pain are collectively referred to as negative emotions. Such emotional experiences are not positive, and the body will feel uncomfortable, and even affect work and life. The probability of college students suffering from negative emotions is higher than that of other groups, which is a group that needs special attention. Emotion and cognition are closely related. Studies have shown that negative emotions can cause problems such as decreased attention and memory. We used Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) to evaluate negative emotions, and screened out those with SAS and SDS scores greater than 35 points and PANAS with moderate negative emotions. 50 Yanshan University student subjects with emotional score greater than 20 points. There were 20 subjects for music stimulation test, 20 subjects for neurofeedback training and 10 subjects for control group. The trial lasted for two weeks, 5 days a week, 5 minutes a day. Before the test on the first day and after the test on the last day, neuropsychological scales and attention tests were completed. Before training and after training every day, the EEG signals of the subjects in the resting state were collected. We analyzed the effects of the two intervention methods on the characteristic parameters of brain function, and then analyzed their effects on mood and cognition improvement. In particular, we analyzed differences in laterality of the brain by relative power changes, interhemispheric EEG coherence. The results of neuropsychological scale test and attention evaluation showed that both negative emotion and attention were improved with statistical significance. The change in the control group was not statistically significant. It is noted that the trail has been prospectively registered in ChiCTR on Oct 25, 2022. The trail registration number (TRN) is ChiCTR2101245362.
The role of bile acids in the development of Barrett’s Oesophagus and Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma: a systematic review
Authors: Cutliffe Alana L. , Vázquez Ana Ramón , McKenna Sharon L. , Drummond Frances J. , Mackrill John J.
Published: September 2023

Oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) and its precursor, Barrett’s oesophagus (BO), have
overlapping risk factors, including gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Refluxed contents
contain bile acids (BAs) in an acidic environment. The aim of the current study was to
investigate, in human subjects, tissues and cell-lines, potential associations of BAs with
development or progression of BO to OAC, and to identify mechanisms underlying these
effects. A systematic review of six computerised databases was conducted on original
articles involving oesophageal tissue from human subjects or oesophageal cell-lines. All
articles retrieved for inclusion examined effects of BAs, at neutral pH, on development or
risk reduction of BO or OAC. Key findings from the 25 studies included were that deoxycholic acid exerted effects on BA-induced BO and OAC through several potentially co-operating mechanisms, including oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammation, proliferation,
apoptosis, enhanced clonogenicity and angiogenesis. In BO, taurodeoxycholic acid was
associated with oxidative-stress, DNA damage and increased proliferation. Ursodeoxycholic
acid prevented deoxycholic-acid-induced inflammation in non-malignant human
oesophageal cells and BO. Lithocholic acid increased levels of SMAD4, promoting apoptosis
in BO. In conclusion, BAs are associated with biological features linked to cancer
development, which could be targeted therapeutically, through medication, bacterial
supplementation, or lifestyle modifications.
Shaping Carbon into Carbon matrices with Tuneable Diameter and Photo luminescent Properties
Authors: Torre Alessandro La
Published: September 2023

We report on a new form of nanoscale carbon in the shape of hemispherical carbon matrices and with the bonding characteristics of either sp1 or sp2 carbon. The carbon matrices are formed spontaneously at high temperature from organic molecules adsorbed on the surface of colloidal nanoparticles, with the metal core acting simultaneously as catalyst and template for the carbon matrices growth. This new method of synthesis has demonstrated unprecedented levels of control over the carbon matrices formation, as thermally driven Ostwald ripening of the metal core provides for precise control of the carbon matrices diameter, whilst the propensity of metal nanoparticles to self-assemble into super-lattices enables the formation of highly ordered hexagonal arrays of the carbon matrices on different types of surfaces. Significantly, this new form of carbon exhibits photo luminescent activity in the visible and near-IR ranges, with the wavelength of emitted light determined by the length of sp1 chains which link sp2 domains.
Common and divergent gene regulatory networks control injury-induced and developmental neurogenesis in zebrafish retina.
Authors: Blackshaw Seth , Lyu Pin , Zhai Yijie , Qian Jiang , Iribarne Maria , Serjanov Dmitri , Campbell Leah , Boyd Patrick , Hyde David , Palazzo Isabella , Hoang Thanh , Nagashima Mikiko , Silva Nicholas , Hitchcock Peter
Published: September 2023

Following acute retinal damage, zebrafish possess the ability to regenerate all neuronal subtypes. This regeneration requires Müller glia (MG) to reprogram and divide asymmetrically to produce a multipotent Müller glia-derived neuronal progenitor cell (MGPC). This raises three key questions. First, does loss of different retinal cell subtypes induce unique MG regeneration responses? Second, do MG reprogram to a developmental retinal progenitor cell state? And finally, to what extent does regeneration recapitulate retinal development? We examined these questions by performing single-nuclear and single-cell RNA-Seq and ATAC-Seq in both developing and regenerating retinas. While MG reprogram to a state similar to late-stage retinal progenitors in developing retinas, there are transcriptional differences between reprogrammed MG/MGPCs and late progenitors, as well as reprogrammed MG in outer and inner retinal damage models. Validation of candidate genes confirmed that loss of different subtypes induces differences in transcription factor gene expression and regeneration outcomes. This work identifies major differences between gene regulatory networks activated following the selective loss of different subtypes of retina neurons, as well as between retinal regeneration and development.
Optimizing the key parameter to accelerate the recovery of AMOC under a rapid increase in greenhouse gas forcing
Authors: REN Haolan , ZHENG Fei , CAO Tingwei , WANG Qiang
Published: September 2023

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) plays a central role in long-term climate variations through its heat and freshwater transports, which can collapse under a rapid increase in greenhouse gas forcing in climate models. Previous studies have suggested that the deviation of model parameters is one of the major factors inducing inaccurate AMOC simulations. In this work, with a low-resolution Earth system model, we try to explore whether reasonably adjusting the key model parameter can help to re-estabilish the AMOC after its collapse. Through a new optimization strategy, the freshwater flux (FWF) parameter is determined to be the dominant one on affecting the AMOC’s variability. Traditional ensemble optimal interpolation (EnOI) data assimilation and new machine learning methods are adopted to optimize the FWF parameter in an abrupted 4×CO2 forcing experiment to improve the adaptability of model parameters and accelerate the recovery of AMOC. The results show that under an abrupted 4×CO2 forcing in millennial simulations, the AMOC will first collapse and then be slowly re-established by the default FWF parameter. However, during the parameter adjustment process, the saltier and colder sea water over the North Atlantic region are the dominant factors in usefully improving the adaptability of the FWF parameter and accelerating the recovery of AMOC, according to their physical relationship with FWF on the interdecadal timescale.
Energy Efficiency influence of Gaussian and Ring-shaped beam profiles for LPBF
Authors: Cozzolino Ersilia , Tiley Austin , Ramirez Antonio J. , Astarita Antonello , Herderick Edward D.
Published: September 2023

Additive Manufacturing (AM) has the potential for improving sustainability of metal processing through decreased energy and materials usage compared to casting and forging. Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) of high temperature alloys such as nickel alloy 718 is one of the key modalities supporting this effort. One of the major drawbacks to LPBF is its slow build speed on the order of 5–10 cubic centimeters per hour print speed. This experimental study investigates how to increase the productivity of LPBF process by switching from a traditional Gaussian laser shape to a ring laser shape using an nLight multi-modal laser. The objective is to increase productivity, reducing energy consumption and time, without sacrificing mechanical properties by switching to the ring laser thereby improving the sustainability for LPBF. Results include measuring the energy consumption of an Open Additive LPBF system during 718 printing and comparing the microstructure and mechanical properties of the two different lasers.
On the contribution of Land use, Extreme Events, and Ocean Tidal Regime for Flooding events into a Brazilian Exorheic River Basin
Authors: de Carvalho Victor Matheus da Cruz , Guimarães Gabriel do Nascimento , Bravo João Vitor Meza
Published: September 2023

Floods are one of the most harmful natural disasters for humans and the intensification of rainfall and the increase in mean sea level caused by rising global temperatures can cause the occurrence of floods in coastal cities to emerge or worsen. Thus, the Reta do João XXIII region in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has recently suffered two floods, one in 2019 and another in 2020. To better understand what could be causing these phenomena, this paper aims to investigate the occurrence of floods in the urban area of Reta do João XXIII, located in the lower basins of the rivers Guandu and Guandu-Mirim. The methodological procedures were mainly based on the acquisition of data referring to precipitation records, ocean tide oscillations and other variables influencing the exorheic hydrographic basins. Furthermore, the Analytic Hierarchy Process method was fundamental to understanding the existing flood susceptibility in the research area and the execution of some calculations to determine the influence exerted by the oceanic tides in conjunction with the extreme rainfall records at the site.
Application of Response surface methodology in industrial wastewater treatment using Alpha-amylase from Bacillus amyloliquificiens grown on bread waste
Authors: Abd-Elhalim Basma T. , Gamal Rawia F. , El-Sayed Salwa M. , Abu-Hussien Samah H.
Published: September 2023

Food waste is characterized as food loss by consumers or merchants as a result of inadequate storage and a lack of awareness. The objective of this study is to produce alpha-amylase on bread brown waste (BBW) and bread white waste (BWW) using solid medium and submerged fermentation and to use the amylase produced in the treatment of industrial wastewater. B. amyloliquificiens showed the highest starch hydrolysis ratio (SHR) and -amylase activity on both solid medium and submerged fermentation. The production of α-amylase was optimized using the one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) method. By inoculating BBW (pH 7.0) with 2% (2.3 106 CFU/mL) B. amyloliquificiens and incubating for 24 hours at 37°C and 200 rpm while submerged, the maximum alpha-amylase activity was approached, reaching 695.2 U/mL. The crude enzyme was collected and immobilized on calcium alginate beads. It had an efficiency (IE%) of 96.6% and 88.5% remaining activity after 12 runs of useability. The interaction between the process parameters and the ideal conditions was determined using the Box-Behnken (BBD) statistical design. The quadratic model and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were produced by the BBD to represent the degradation of starch. The experimental values obtained for starch hydrolysis (%) were found to be very close to the predicted response values. According to the design, the ideal conditions were pH 9, 45°C, and 70% and 27.5 U/mL, respectively, of starch after 15 minutes, indicating a high value for the coefficient of determination, R2 (0.83). The alkaliphilic and thermophilic nature of the enzyme activity was confirmed by the ANOVA results, which showed that the quadratic model created from the RSM was statistically significant for starch hydrolysis. At concentrations ranging from 10.9 to 695.1 U/mL, the crude-amylase enzyme was used in the 15-minute desizing process for clothing at 45°C and pH 9.0, and it was discovered to maintain 96.3% of the desizing efficiency. From the study, it could be concluded that the RSM can be a useful tool for optimization and moderation of the process parameters to maximize starch hydrolysis in industrial wastewater treatment.
CRISPR/Cas9 screenings unearth protein arginine methyltransferase 7 as a novel driver of metastasis in prostate cancer
Authors: Gutierrez-Uzquiza Alvaro , Rodrigo-Faus Maria , Vincelle-Nieto Africa , Vidal Natalia , Puente Javier , Saiz-Pardo Melchor , Lopez-Garcia Alejandra , Mendiburu-Eliçabe Marina , Palao Nerea , Baquero Cristina , Cuesta Angel , Qu Hui-Qi , Hakonarson Hakon , Musteanu Monica , Reyes-Palomares Armando , Porras Almudena , Bragado Paloma
Published: September 2023

Owing to the inefficacy of available treatments, the survival rate of patients with metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) is severely decreased. Therefore, it is crucial to identify new therapeutic targets to increase the survival of mPCa patients. This study aim was to identify the most relevant regulators of mPCa onset by performing two high-throughput CRISPR/Cas9 screenings. Furthermore, some of the top hits were validated using small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology, with protein arginine methyltransferase 7 (PRMT7) being the best candidate. Its inhibition, by genetic and pharmacological approaches, or its depletion, via CRISPR, significantly reduced mPCa cell capacities in vitro. Furthermore, PRMT7 ablation reduced mPCa appearance in chicken chorioallantoic membrane and mouse xenograft assays. Molecularly, PRMT7 reprograms the expression of several adhesion molecules through methylation of several transcription factors, such as FoxK1 or NR1H2, which results in primary tumor PCa cell adhesion loss and motility gain. Moreover, PRMT7 is upregulated in advanced stages of Spanish PCa tumor samples and PRMT7 pharmacological inhibition reduces the dissemination of mPCa cells. Thus, here is shown that PRMT7 is a potential therapeutic target and biomarker of mPCa.
Simulation Tool for Optical Systems: Evaluating and Optimizing Autofocals and Beyond
Authors: Hosp Benedikt , Sauer Yannick , Agarwala Rajat , Wahl Siegfried
Published: September 2023

The development and evaluation of autofocal glasses require robust and efficient tools for assessing their performance in various real-world scenarios. This study presents a novel virtual reality (VR) simulation tool designed to evaluate the control algorithms of autofocal glasses. The tool incorporates a matching task involving Landolt rings and Sloan letters presented on different screens at varying distances and a NASA Task Load Index (TLX) questionnaire to assess participants’ subjective workload and convenience. By employing this experimental design, we aimed to gain insights into the effectiveness and efficiency of the evaluated control algorithms for autofocals within our VR-based simulation tool. Our results indicate that the developed VR simulation tool provides a valuable platform for assessing the performance of autofocal glasses in a controlled environment, ultimately contributing to the development of more efficient and user-friendly autofocal glasses.
Comparative Clinical Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Left Main Coronary Artery Disease: Impacts of the SYNTAX score I, II and SYNTAX score II 2020
Authors: Sung Wei-Ting , Chuang Ming-Ju , Tsai Yi-Lin , Chou Ruey-Hsing , Chang Chun-Chin , Huang Po-Hsun
Published: September 2023

Introduction
Patients with left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) with a high SYNTAX score (SS) were excluded from randomized studies that comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We sought to compare PCI and CABG in the real-world practice and investigate the impact of SS I, SS II, and SS II 2020 on clinical outcomes.
Methods
In total, 292 Patients with LMCAD (173 PCI, 119 CABG) treated between 2017 and 2021 were enrolled. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of all-cause death, stroke, or myocardial infarction (MI).
Results
The mean SS I was high in both groups (PCI vs. CABG: 31.64 ± 11.45 vs. 32.62 ± 11.75, P = 0.660). The primary outcome occurred in 28 patients (16.2%) in the PCI group and in 19 patients (16.0%) in the CABG group without significant difference [adjusted hazard ratio, 95% CI = 0.98 (0.51–1.90), P = 0.97] over the follow-up period (26.9 ± 17.7 months). No significant difference was observed in all-cause mortality (11.6% vs. 11.8%, p = 0.93) or stroke rates (3.5% vs. 5.0%, p = 0.51) between groups. However, PCI was associated with higher MI (4.6% vs. 0.8%, p < 0.05) and revascularization rates (26% vs. 5.9%, p < 0.001). Prognostic value of the SS I, SS II and SS II 2020 on the primary outcome was not relevant in the PCI group.
Conclusion
Among patients with LMCAD, PCI and CABG did not significantly differ in the composite endpoint of all-cause death, stroke, and MI. These results support the potential expansion of PCI indications in LMCAD management for whom are ineligible for CABG with complex coronary artery disease.
Incorporating rock pools in coastal guards, an eco-engineered approach to enhance biodiversity
Authors: Saeid Shirin , Nasrolahi Ali , Afzali Amin
Published: September 2023

Driven by growing human populations and climate change concerns, artificial coastal structures have become crucial for meeting population needs. However, these structures often differ from natural counterparts and undermine biodiversity. Integrating eco-engineering methods during their construction is, therefore, essential to counteract the negative impact on marine biodiversity. In this study, we incorporated rock pools of two different sizes to three distinct intertidal levels within a concrete block breakwater in Bandar Abbas, Iran, and conducted an in-situ assessment of their biota. A total of 17 taxa were identified, with the barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite being the most prevalent species. The findings revealed a fivefold increase in cumulative species number and a 30% rise in abundance due to the presence of rock pools. The results of PERMANOVA indicated that both rock pool size and intertidal levels, along with their interaction, significantly influenced species richness. Notably, small rock pools within the low intertidal level exhibited the highest species richness and abundance, whereas larger rock pools situated in high intertidal levels displayed lower richness and abundance. Our investigation underscores the effectiveness of integrating rock pools as an ecological engineering approach to enrich biodiversity on human-made structures within intertidal zones. The selection of rock pool dimensions and tidal positioning should be thoughtfully determined, considering the prevailing environmental conditions and the project's objectives.
The Impact of mindfulness-based counseling on stress and anxiety before surgery in pregnant women with a history of cesarean section: A Controlled Interventional Study
Authors: Ansari Niloufar , Omidvar Shabnam , Azizi Alireza , Shirafkan Hoda , Mohsenzadeh-Ledari Farideh
Published: September 2023

Background
Stress and anxiety are difficult concepts in the preoperative care of pregnant women with a history of cesarean section and are associated with maternal complications.
Objectives
This study aimed to determine the impact of mindfulness-based counseling on the stress and anxiety of women with a history of cesarean section.
Methods
Using convenience sampling, the present study was a quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design conducted on 134 women with a history of cesarean section. The women were randomly assigned to intervention (mindfulness-based counseling) and control groups. The intervention group received five 45-minute weekly mindfulness-based counseling over five weeks, led by the researcher via WhatsApp. Data were collected using a demographic information and the Spielberger anxiety, and Cohen's perceived stress Questionnaire before and after the intervention, completed by both groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 statistical software.
Results
The mean latent anxiety scores the beginning and end of the study were(49.85 ± 7.47 vs 62.76 ± 5.14)in the control and (47.65 ± 10.35vs53.35 ± 5.92)in the intervention groups(P ≤ 0.001,MD=-31.41, %95CI:-32.80_-29.97 ,η2 = 0.93).The mean manifest anxiety scores the beginning and end of the study were (40.10 ± 7.67vs61.65 ± 4.82)in the control and(30.37 ± 3.81vs38.49 ± 6.79),in the intervention groups(P ≤ 0.001,MD=-31.79, %95CI:-34.23_ -29.35,η2 = 0.92). The mean stress scores the beginning and end of the study were(28.61 ± 6.20vs36.07 ± 4.83) in the control and (21.31 ± 7.67vs 27.85 ± 5.21) in the intervention groups (P ≤ 0.001, MD=-24.14, %95CI: -25.45_ -22.83, η2 = 0.91).
Conclusions
Considering the positive impact of mindfulness-based counseling on stress and anxiety, this approach can be used in preoperative care to reduce perceived stress and anxiety.
Clinical Trial Registration:
Not applicable we were not allowed to register according to the law of our country.
Five new hub genes that have an impact on the survival rate of adrenocortical carcinoma were discovered using a correlation network approach in a comprehensive meta-analysis
Authors: Jafari Zahra , Javadirad Seyed-Morteza
Published: September 2023

Identifying hub genes that contribute to the aggressiveness of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is of the utmost importance. The GEO database found 14 microarray datasets for Homo sapiens, but some were excluded due to missing phenotype information, lncRNA expression, and treatment exposure. The study involved 171 human specimens, including 128 ACCs, 17 ACAs, and 26 normal adrenal cortex samples. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was utilized to identify ACC hub genes and their differential expression was assessed with microarray meta-analysis. Survival analysis was conducted in two steps, with and without sex. The expression level of survival genes was compared between ACC stages, and the impact of TP53 gene mutations was assessed. Enrichment, coexpression, and network analyses were performed. The diagnostic and predictive potential of the genes was evaluated using single gene and multivariate regression analyses. It was discovered that twenty hub genes exhibited increased expression in both benign and malignant tissues. Moreover, a set of five genes demonstrated a significant correlation with ACC survival, namely DNAJC9, ATAD2, RFC4, GGH, and PCLAF. The genes GGH and RFC4 were recently discovered associated with ACC. Women with survival genes overexpression experienced earlier catastrophic deaths than men. Patients with TP53 mutations showed PCLAFand DNAJC9 overexpression. There was an association between increased RFC4gene expression and ACC tumor progression. Coexpression analysis substantiated the fact that survival genes exhibited a significant positive correlation. An analysis of the network revealed that RFC4 and ATAD2 were the most essential proteins. GGH had the greatest diagnostic potential for ACC and combining GGH, PCLAF, DNAJC9 and RFC4 led to an outstanding ACC diagnosis. A limitation of the study was the rarity of ACC tumors.