bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultra-fast adsorption of radioactive technetium (99mTc) by using mining waste clay samples, Abu-Tartur, Egypt
Authors: Ahmed Ahmed Saleh , Hassan Walaa Ali , Mohamed Mohamed Abdel-Moneim , Ahmed Ezzat Abdalla , Shaalan Nagih M. , Abukhadra Mostafa Ragab
Published: September 2023

In this study, we have opened a great route to fabricate a high-performance nanocomposite for various functional applications based on the composite of a natural stone. A clay sample (black shale (B.Sh)) was collected from the Abu-Tartur area in Egypt. The black shale was organically modified with organic materials in our laboratory, which is called organo-black shale (O-B.Sh). The samples were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and XRF. These techniques confirmed that the samples have multi-oxide phases with approximately SiO2 at 54.1%, Al2O3 at 24.73%, Fe2O3 at 6.02%, K2O at 1.12%, MgO at 1.09%, and Na2O of 0.09%, as calculated by XRF. The two samples were applied to the adsorption processes of the radioactive technetium materials, which have been used for the medical treatment of the cancer institute of Upper Egypt. The adsorption processes were performed at various concentrations of the radioactive material and various amounts of clay samples. The as-collected B.Sh sample showed an adsorption activity of 65%, however, the organically modified materials showed a high adsorption rate toward technetium reaches to 100% in a very short time and without any further process. The present collected materials are very promising to withdraw the radioactive materials from the saline solution to save human and environmental health. We believe these multi-compound composites may open a new approach for creating new fabric composites with high performance for various applications.
Unraveling the controversial effect of Covid-19 on college students’ performance
Authors: Bonacini Luca , Gallo Giovanni , Patriarca Fabrizio
Published: September 2023

We disentangle the channels through which Covid-19 has affected the performance of university students by setting up an econometric strategy to identify separately changes in both teaching and evaluation modes, and the short and long term effects of mobility restrictions. We exploit full and detailed information from the administrative archives of one among the first universities to be shut down since the virus spread from Wuhan. The results help solving the inconsistencies in the literature by providing evidence of a composite picture where negative effects such as those caused by the sudden shift to remote learning and by the exposure to mobility restrictions, overlap to opposite effects due to a change in evaluation methods and home confinement during the exam’s preparation. Such overlap of conflicting effects, weakening the signaling role of tertiary education, would add to the learning loss by further exacerbating future consequences on the “Covid” generation.
Cytotoxic immune cells do not affect TDP-43 and p62 sarcoplasmic aggregation but influence TDP-43 localisation
Authors: McCord Bryony , Day Richard M.
Published: September 2023

Sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy with invasion of CD8 T cells in muscle and aggregation of proteins in the sarcoplasm. TDP-43 and p62 are two proteins that aggregate in affected muscle, and have been suggested as specific markers for sIBM over other inflammatory myopathies. TDP-43 is also mislocalised from the nucleus to the sarcoplasm in sIBM. It is not clear if inflammation precedes protein aggregation in sIBM. This study investigated if exposure to cytotoxic inflammatory cells caused TDP-43 and p62 aggregation or TDP-43 mislocalisation in cultured myotubes. TALL-104 coculture was highly cytotoxic to myotubes after 24 h. Secretion of IFNγ and TNFα were higher in cocultures compared to monocultured TALL-104 cells, indicating activation. TALL-104 cells attached to and infiltrated myotubes. There was no effect of TALL-104 coculture on TDP-43 or p62 sarcoplasmic aggregate size or frequency. However, there was decreased localisation of TDP-43 to the nucleus with TALL-104 coculture compared to control. In an in vitro setting, cytotoxic immune cells did not cause TDP-43 or p62 sarcoplasmic aggregation, suggesting cellular cytotoxicity may not trigger aggregation of these proteins. However TALL-104 coculture influenced TDP-43 localisation, suggesting cytotoxic immune cells may contribute to TDP-43 localisation shifts which is observed in sIBM.
Noradrenaline depresses facial stimulation-evoked cerebellar MLI-PC synaptic transmission via α2-AR/PKA signaling cascade in vivo in mice
Authors: Wang Jun-Ya , Weng Wen-Cai , Wang Ting-Qi , Liu Yue , Qiu De-Lai , Wu Mao-Cheng , Chu Chun-Ping
Published: September 2023

The noradrenergic fibers of the locus coeruleus, together with mossy fibers and climbing fibers, comprise the three types of cerebellar afferents that modulate the cerebellar neuronal circuit. We previously demonstrated that noradrenaline (NA) modulated synaptic transmission in the mouse cerebellar cortex via adrenergic receptors (ARs). In the present study, we investigated the effect of NA on facial stimulation-evoked cerebellar molecular layer interneuron (MLI)-Purkinje cell (PC) synaptic transmission in urethane-anesthetized mice using an in vivo cell-attached recording technique and a pharmacological method. MLI-PC synaptic transmission was induced by air-puff stimulation (duration: 60 ms) of the ipsilateral whisker pad, which exhibited positive components (P1 and P2) accompanied by a pause in simple spike activity. Cerebellar molecular layer application of NA (15 µM) decreased the amplitude and area under the curve of P1, and the pause in simple spike activity, but increased the P2/P1 ratio. The NA-induced decrease in P1 amplitude was concentration-dependent, and the half-inhibitory concentration was 10.94 µM. The NA-induced depression of facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC GABAergic synaptic transmission was completely abolished by blockade of α-ARs or α2-ARs, but not by antagonism of α1-ARs or β-ARs. Bath application of an α2-AR agonist inhibited MLI-PC synaptic transmission and attenuated the effect of NA on the synaptic response. NA-induced depression of MLI-PC synaptic transmission was completely blocked by a mixture of α2A- and 2B-AR antagonists, and was abolished by inhibition of protein kinase A. In addition, electrical stimulation of the molecular layer evoked MLI-PC GABAergic synaptic transmission in the presence of an AMPA receptor antagonist, which was inhibited by NA through α2-ARs. Our results indicate that NA inhibits MLI-PC GABAergic synaptic transmission by reducing GABA release via an α2-AR/PKA signaling pathway.
Assessing aerobic physical efficiency through temple surface temperature measurements during light, heavy exercise, and recovery
Authors: Jastrzębska Agnieszka Danuta , Hebisz Rafał , Hebisz Paulina
Published: September 2023

The study was conducted to determine thecorrelation between the selected measures of aerobic physical efficiency and changes in the temple surface temperature in response to light and heavy exercise. 25 physically active men aged 19–25 were recruited for the study. They performed a graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer to measure maximum power (Pmax) and a test verifying the value of maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max). Then, two 3-min submaximal efforts with constant-intensity of 2.2 W·kgLBM−1 and 5 W·kgLBM−1, respectively were performed. During the constant-intensity efforts, the temperature of the temple surface was measured. Then, the difference between the temperature of the temple measured at the end of the exercise and the temperature measured at the beginning of the exercise was calculated (ΔT1-2.2, ΔT1-5, respectively). It was shown that ΔT1-2.2 correlated statistically significantly with VO2max (ml·min−1·kg−1) (r = 0.49; p = 0.01) and Pmax (W·kg−1) (r = 0.41, p = 0.04). Moreover, ΔT1-5 correlated statistically significantly with VO2max (l·min−1) (r = − 0.41; p = 0.04). Changes in body surface temperature in response to light exercise positively correlate with measurements of aerobic physical efficiency, such as VO2max and Pmax. When the exercise intensity is high (5 W·kgLBM−1), the correlation between exercise body temperature changes and VO2max becomes negative.
High biosorption of cationic dye onto a novel material based on paper mill sludge
Authors: Merah Meriem , Boudoukha Chahra , Avalos Ramirez Antonio , Haroun Mohamed Fahim , Maane Samira
Published: September 2023

The valorization of paper mill sludge (PMS) is the main goal of this study. The emissions of PMS continue to increase at global scale, especially from packaging paper and board sectors. The raw sludge was used to prepare an adsorbent to remove toxic pollutants from wastewater, the methylene blue (MB), an organic dye. Firstly, the physico-chemical characterization of PMS was done determining the crystalline phases of PMS fibers, the content of main elements, and the pH zero point charge, which was determined at around pH 7. The adsorption of MB on PMS powder was studied at 18 °C with an agitation of 200 rpm, being the best operating conditions 30 min of contact time, 250 mg L−1 of initial MB concentration and 0.05 g in 25 mL of adsorbent dose. Experimental data of MB adsorption was fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations. The Langmuir model was more accurate for the equilibrium data of MB adsorption at pH 5.1. The PFOM and PSOM were adjusted to experimental adsorption kinetics data, being PSOM, which describes better the MB adsorption by PMS powder. This was confirmed by calculating the maximum adsorption capacity with PSOM, which was 42.7 mg g−1, being nearly similar of the experimental value of 43.5 mg g−1. The analysis of adsorption thermodynamics showed that the MB was adsorbed exothermically with a ΔH0 = − 20.78 kJ mol−1, and spontaneously with ΔG0 from − 0.99 to − 6.38 kJ mol−1 in the range of temperature from 291 to 363 K, respectively. These results confirm that the sludge from paper industry can be used as biosorbent with remarkable adsorption capacity and low cost for the treatment of wastewater. PMS can be applied in the future for the depollution of the effluents from the textile industry, which are highly charged with dyes.
Correlation between the presence of a cecal appendix and reduced diarrhea severity in primates: new insights into the presumed function of the appendix
Authors: Collard Maxime K. , Bardin Jérémie , Marquet Bertille , Laurin Michel , Ogier-Denis Éric
Published: September 2023

Increased severity or recurrence risk of some specific infectious diarrhea, such a salmonellosis or Clostridium difficile colitis, have been reported after an appendectomy in human patients. While several other mammals also possess an appendix, the suspected protective function against diarrhea conferred by this structure is known only in humans. From a retrospective collection of veterinary records of 1251 primates attributed to 45 species, including 13 species with an appendix and 32 without, we identified 2855 episodes of diarrhea, 13% of which were classified as severe diarrhea requiring a therapeutic medication or associated with a fatal issue. We identified a lower risk of severe diarrhea among primate species with an appendix, especially in the early part of life when the risk of diarrhea is maximal. Moreover, we observed a delayed onset of diarrhea and of severe diarrhea in species possessing an appendix. Interestingly, none of the primates with an appendix were diagnosed, treated or died of an acute appendicitis during the 20 years of veterinarian follow-up. These results clarify the function of the appendix among primates, as protection against diarrhea. This supports its presumed function in humans and is congruent with the existence of a selective advantage conferred by this structure.
Attenuation properties of hybrid nanocomposite film containing Ce2O, GO, and α-Al2O3 nanoparticles for high energy radiations
Authors: Mahmoudian Mehdi , Radmehr Mahsa , Alimoradlou Khadijeh , Zamani Asghar , Balkanloo Peyman Gozali
Published: September 2023

The use of diagnostic radiation in medical centers has spread due to the incidence of various diseases. Thus, it is essential that patients and medical staff wear protective clothing to protect themselves from their harmful effects. In the past, lead protective clothing has been used; however, the toxicity and heaviness of lead have limited the tendency to use these clothing. Recently, nanocomposites containing heavy element nanoparticles have been introduced as an alternative to lead coatings. In this study, hybrid nanocomposites containing ceria (CeO2), alumina (Al2O3), and graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles were studied for this purpose. Ceria, alumina, and graphene oxide nanoparticles were mixed with polyethylenevinylacetate (EVA) dissolved in chloroform and casted on a glass plate to form nanocomposite films. The prepared nanoparticles and films were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope, Thermal Gravimetric Analysis, and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis, and then the attenuation properties of the films against high-energy radiation (120 kV) were studied in two narrow and broad beam geometries. The results showed that hybrid films, despite having a lower percentage of nanoparticles, showed better attenuation properties, which indicated the synergistic effect of nanoparticles with different mechanisms in attenuating the radiations. The attenuation ability of these films was considerable due to their lower density compared to lead. The fabricated hybrid nanocomposite films with a suitable performance in attenuation of high-energy radiations used in therapeutic diagnostics, can be proposed as a suitable alternative to conventional lead clothing.
The social relevance and the temporal constraints of motor resonance in humans
Authors: Guidali Giacomo , Picardi Michela , Franca Maria , Caronni Antonio , Bolognini Nadia
Published: September 2023

In humans, motor resonance effects can be tracked by measuring the enhancement of corticospinal excitability by action observation. Uncovering factors driving motor resonance is crucial for optimizing action observation paradigms in experimental and clinical settings. In the present study, we deepen motor resonance properties for grasping movements. Thirty-five healthy subjects underwent an action observation task presenting right-hand grasping movements differing from their action goal. Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation was applied over the left primary motor cortex at 100, 200, or 300 ms from the onset of the visual stimulus depicting the action. Motor-evoked potentials were recorded from four muscles of the right hand and forearm. Results show a muscle-specific motor resonance effect at 200 ms after movement but selectively for observing a socially relevant grasp towards another human being. This effect correlates with observers’ emotional empathy scores, and it was followed by inhibition of motor resonance at 300 ms post-stimulus onset. No motor resonance facilitation emerged while observing intransitive hand movement or object grasping. This evidence highlights the social side of motor resonance and its dependency on temporal factors.
Shear strength characteristics of basalt fiber-reinforced loess
Authors: Chen Chong-kun , Li Gang , Liu Jia , Xi Yu , Nan Jing-jing
Published: September 2023

Loess owns the characteristics of collapsibility, disintegration and solubility, which pose a challenge to engineering construction. To examine the shear strength of basalt fiber-reinforced (BFR) loess, consolidated undrained (CU) triaxial tests were conducted to explore the impacts of water content (w), fiber length (FL), fiber content (FC) and cell pressure (σ3) on the shear strength. According to the results, the shear strength model was established taken into account the impacts of FL, FC, and fiber diameter (d). The results showed that the peak strength of BFR soils enhanced as FL, FC, and σ3 increasing, whereas it decreased with increasing of w. Compared to unreinforced soil, the peak strength of BFR loess improved 64.60% when FC was 0.2% and FL was 16 mm. The optimum reinforcement condition for experimental loess was that of FL was 16 mm and FC was 0.8%. The reinforcing mechanism of fibers was divided into a single tensile effect and spatial mesh effect. The experimental and calculated results agreed well, which suggested the model is suitable for predicting the shear strength of BFR loess. The research results can offer a guideline for the application of BFR loess in the subgrade and slope engineering.
Strong Rashba parameter of two-dimensional electron gas at CaZrO3/SrTiO3 heterointerface
Authors: Kwon Duhyuk , Kwak Yongsu , Lee Doopyo , Jo Wonkeun , Cho Byeong-Gwan , Koo Tae-Yeong , Song Jonghyun
Published: September 2023

We synthesized a CaZrO3/SrTiO3 oxide heterostructure, which can serve as an alternative to LaAlO3/SrTiO3, and confirmed the generation of 2-dimensional electron gas (2-DEG) at the heterointerface. We analyzed the electrical-transport properties of the 2-DEG to elucidate its intrinsic characteristics. Based on the magnetic field dependence of resistance at 2 K, which exhibited Weak Anti-localization (WAL) behaviors, the fitted Rashba parameter values were found to be about 12–15 × 10–12 eV*m. These values are stronger than the previous reported Rashba parameters obtained from the 2-DEGs in other heterostructure systems and several layered 2D materials. The observed strong spin–orbit coupling (SOC) is attributed to the strong internal electric field generated by the lattice mismatch between the CaZrO3 layer and SrTiO3 substrate. This pioneering strong SOC of the 2-DEG at the CaZrO3/SrTiO3 heterointerface may play a pivotal role in the developing future metal oxide-based quantum nanoelectronics devices.
Aortic pulse wave comparison between controls and triathletes in baseline conditions and in response to acute maximum exercise
Authors: Ianê-Siva Camila , Gonçalves Reginaldo , de Oliveira Otoni Claudinéia , Dias Koren C. R. , Stein Ricardo , Rezende Bruno Almeida , Rodrigues-Machado Maria Glória
Published: September 2023

To determine the effects of intense training on aortic pulse wave variables and hemodynamic parameters at baseline and at recovery from maximal exercise testing (MaxET) in triathletes compared with sedentary individuals. In this prospective and experimental study, 21 triathletes and 21 sedentary individuals were recruited and evaluated prior and two minutes after the MaxET using the Mobil-O-Graph®, which estimates the aortic pulse wave from the brachial artery pressure. The augmentation index (AIx@75) was lower in triathletes after the MaxET compared to control group (16.34 ± 5.95 vs. 23.5 ± 8.53%, p = 0.001), while the pulse wave velocity (PWV) was similar between groups. The heart rate was significantly lower at baseline and after MaxET in triathletes group (55.70 ± 8.95 bpm 91.49 ± 11.39 bpm) compared with control group (62.11 ± 6.70 bpm; 102.08 ± 10.85 bpm). The stroke volume was significantly higher at baseline (96.08 ± 13.96 ml; 86.17 ± 11.24 ml) and after MaxET in triathletes group (69.15 ± 6.51 ml, 58.38 ± 6.99 ml) compared with control group. Triathetes show lower value of AIx@75 after MaxET in comparison with the control group. AIx@75, in addition to being an indirect measure of arterial stiffness, is also a measure of left ventricular afterload. Thus, the lower AIx@75 in triathletes may be due to their lower left ventricular afterload, lower myocardial oxygen demand, and greater coronary perfusion than sedentary individuals. The hemodynamic changes observed in triathletes at rest and during an acute exercise bout are distinctive characteristics of aerobic physical training.
Volcanic monitoring of the 2021 La Palma eruption using long-period magnetotelluric data
Authors: Piña-Varas P. , Ledo J. , Queralt P. , van Dorth D. Martínez , Marcuello A. , Cabrera-Pérez I. , D’Auria L. , Martí A.
Published: September 2023

Between September and December 2021, the first subaerial volcanic eruption in the Canary Islands in 50 years took place on the island of La Palma. Since November 2021, we have been conducting a long-period magnetotelluric (MT) monitoring experiment at a site located 2.4 km east of the volcanic cone. Having continuously recorded data since then, the obtained dataset shows significant changes in resistivity over the fourteen months following the eruption: more than ± 20% in apparent resistivity and ± 2 degrees in phase. These temporal variations in electrical resistivity, recorded continuously using long-period MT during both the syn- and post-eruptive stages, have not been reported to date, making this dataset unique. Four estimated impedances have been selected as representatives of the major temporal changes observed and inverted to generate new 3-D resistivity models. The results provide novel key information on the spatiotemporal evolution of the subsoil's electrical resistivity, enabling the characterization of a set of structures acting as preferred magmatic fluid pathways. Therefore, our study highlights the strong potential of MT as a volcanic monitoring tool and provides new insights about the evolution of the fluid pathways during the post-eruptive stage. These findings enhance our understanding of the magmatic system and may contribute to volcanic hazard mitigation in the future.
Urbanization alters atmospheric dryness through land evapotranspiration
Authors: Hao Lu , Sun Ge , Huang Xiaolin , Tang Run , Jin Kailun , Lai Yihan , Chen Dongxu , Zhang Yaoqi , Zhou Decheng , Yang Zong-Liang , Wang Lang , Dong Gang , Li Wenhong
Published: September 2023

‘Urban Dry (Wet) Islands’ (UDI/UWI) represents microclimate change that impacts ecosystems and human well-being. However, causes of the UDI (UWI) phenomena are not fully understood due to the lack of empirical data. Here, we quantify UDI (UWI) using global observations of atmospheric humidity, evapotranspiration (ET), and land surface characteristics across 25 large urban agglomerations. We show that UDI (17) and UWI (8) are closely tied to local ET, global warming, and ‘Urban Heat Islands’ through intertwined linkages with water and energy balances. UDI is most pronounced in humid vegetated regions where mean urban-rural annual ET differences are as high as 215 mm, whereas UWI is found in arid regions or in climates with dry summers. We conclude that ET can be used as a single variable to explain emerging urban environmental changes. Our study supports a concerted strategy of restoring nature’s ET power as effective ‘Nature-based Solutions’ to mitigate the negative environmental effects of urbanization.
Distinct aneuploid evolution of astrocytoma and glioblastoma during recurrence
Authors: Zhang Jinsen , Feng Yuan , Li Guanghao , Zhang Jianhua , Zhang Xin , Zhang Yi , Qin Zhiyong , Zhuang Dongxiao , Qiu Tianming , Shi Zhifeng , Zhu Wei , Zhang Rui , Wu Yonghe , Liu Haikun , Cao Dandan , Hua Wei , Mao Ying
Published: September 2023

Astrocytoma and glioblastoma (GB) are reclassified subtypes of adult diffuse gliomas based on distinct isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation in the fifth edition of the WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System. The recurrence of gliomas is a common and inevitable challenge, and analyzing the distinct genomic alterations in astrocytoma and GB could provide insights into their progression. This study conducted a longitudinal investigation, utilizing whole-exome sequencing, on 65 paired primary/recurrent gliomas. It examined chromosome arm aneuploidies, copy number variations (CNVs) of cancer-related genes and pathway enrichments during the relapse. The veracity of these findings was verified through the integration of our data with multiple public resources and by corroborative immunohistochemistry (IHC). The results revealed a greater prevalence of aneuploidy changes and acquired CNVs in recurrent lower grade astrocytoma than in relapsed grade 4 astrocytoma and GB. Larger aneuploidy changes were predictive of an unfavorable prognosis in lower grade astrocytoma (P < 0.05). Further, patients with acquired gains of 1q, 6p or loss of 13q at recurrence had a shorter overall survival in lower grade astrocytoma (P < 0.05); however, these prognostic effects were confined in grade 4 astrocytoma and GB. Moreover, acquired gains of 12 genes (including VEGFA) on 6p during relapse were associated with unfavorable prognosis for lower grade astrocytoma patients. Notably, elevated VEGFA expression during recurrence corresponded to poorer survival, validated through IHC and CGGA data. To summarize, these findings offer valuable insights into the progression of gliomas and have implications for guiding therapeutic approaches during recurrence.
capTEs enables locus-specific dissection of transcriptional outputs from reference and nonreference transposable elements
Authors: Li Xuemei , Lu Keying , Chen Xiao , Tu Kailing , Xie Dan
Published: September 2023

Transposable elements (TEs) serve as both insertional mutagens and regulatory elements in cells, and their aberrant activity is increasingly being revealed to contribute to diseases and cancers. However, measuring the transcriptional consequences of nonreference and young TEs at individual loci remains challenging with current methods, primarily due to technical limitations, including short read lengths generated and insufficient coverage in target regions. Here, we introduce a long-read targeted RNA sequencing method, Cas9-assisted profiling TE expression sequencing (capTEs), for quantitative analysis of transcriptional outputs for individual TEs, including transcribed nonreference insertions, noncanonical transcripts from various transcription patterns and their correlations with expression changes in related genes. This method selectively identified TE-containing transcripts and outputted data with up to 90% TE reads, maintaining a comparable data yield to whole-transcriptome sequencing. We applied capTEs to human cancer cells and found that internal and inserted Alu elements may employ distinct regulatory mechanisms to upregulate gene expression. We expect that capTEs will be a critical tool for advancing our understanding of the biological functions of individual TEs at the locus level, revealing their roles as both mutagens and regulators in biological and pathogenic processes.
GiRAFR improves gRNA detection and annotation in single-cell CRISPR screens
Authors: Yu Qian , Van Minsel Paulien , Galle Eva , Thienpont Bernard
Published: September 2023

Novel methods that combine single cell RNA-seq with CRISPR screens enable high-throughput characterization of transcriptional changes caused by genetic perturbations. Dedicated software is however lacking to annotate CRISPR guide RNA (gRNA) libraries and associate them with single cell transcriptomes. Here, we describe a CRISPR droplet sequencing (CROP-seq) dataset. During analysis, we observed that the most commonly used method fails to detect mutant gRNAs. We therefore developed a python tool to identify and characterize intact and mutant gRNAs, called GiRAFR. We show that mutant gRNAs are dysfunctional, and failure to detect and annotate them leads to an inflated estimate of the number of untransformed cells, attenuated downregulation of target genes, as well as an underestimated multiplet frequency. These findings are mirrored in publicly available datasets, where we find that up to 35% of cells are transduced with a mutant gRNA. Applying GiRAFR hence stands to improve the annotation and quality of single cell CRISPR screens.
METTL14-upregulated miR-6858 triggers cell apoptosis in keratinocytes of oral lichen planus through decreasing GSDMC
Authors: Wang Xiangyu , Li Shuangting , Song Huimin , Ding Yan , Gao Ruifang , Shi Xiaotong , Li Ran , Ge Xuejun
Published: September 2023

Oral lichen planus (OLP), a chronic inflammatory disorder, is characterized by the massive cell apoptosis in the keratinocytes of oral mucosa. However, the mechanism responsible for triggering oral keratinocyte apoptosis is not fully explained. Here, we identify that Gasdermin C (GSDMC) downregulation contributes to apoptosis in human oral keratinocytes. Mechanistically, we describe that activated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway induces overexpression of methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14), which increases N6-adenosine methylation (m6A) levels in the epithelial layer of OLP. m6A modification is capable of regulating primary miR-6858 processing and alternative splicing, leading to miR-6858 increases. miR-6858 can bind and promote GSDMC mRNA degradation. Forced expression of GSDMC is able to rescue cell apoptosis in human oral keratinocyte models resembling OLP. Collectively, our data unveil that m6A modification regulates miR-6858 production to decrease GSDMC expression and to trigger keratinocyte apoptosis in the context of OLP.
Prolonged fixation and post-mortem delay impede the study of adult neurogenesis in mice
Authors: Gallardo-Caballero M. , Rodríguez-Moreno C. B. , Álvarez-Méndez L. , Terreros-Roncal J. , Flor-García M. , Moreno-Jiménez E. P. , Rábano A. , Llorens-Martín M.
Published: September 2023

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) gives rise to new neurons throughout life. This phenomenon takes place in more than 120 mammalian species, including humans, yet its occurrence in the latter was questioned after one study proposed the putative absence of neurogenesis markers in the adult human hippocampus. In this regard, we showed that prolonged fixation impedes the visualization of Doublecortin+ immature neurons in this structure, whereas other authors have suggested that a dilated post-mortem delay (PMD) underlies these discrepancies. Nevertheless, the individual and/or additive contribution of fixation and the PMD to the detection (or lack thereof) of other AHN markers has not been studied to date. To address this pivotal question, we used a tightly controlled experimental design in mice, which allowed the dissection of the relative contribution of the aforementioned factors to the visualization of markers of individual AHN stages. Fixation time emerged as the most prominent factor globally impeding the study of this process in mice. Moreover, the visualization of other particularly sensitive epitopes was further prevented by prolonged PMD. These results are crucial to disambiguate current controversies related to the occurrence of AHN not only in humans but also in other mammalian species.
A ratiometric SERS sensor with one signal probe for ultrasensitive and quantitative monitoring of serum xanthine
Authors: Wu Yan , Yi Rongnan , Zang Honghui , Li Jing , Xu Rong , Zhao Fang , Wang Junli , Fu Cuicui , Chen Jinyang
Published: September 2023

A ratiometric SERS sensor for sensitive, rapid, and reliable detection of serum xanthine has been proposed.
Insights into Fe-doping effect-induced heterostructure formation for the oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Huang Xingyu , Yu Lice , Wang Xinzhong , Feng Ligang
Published: September 2023

Fe-doping effect-induced partial phase transfer and heterostructure formation were revealed significantly for the electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction.
Ultrafast dynamics in polymeric carbon nitride thin films probed by time-resolved EUV photoemission and UV-Vis transient absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Kuzkova Nataliia , Kiyan Igor Yu. , Wilkinson Iain , Merschjann Christoph
Published: September 2023

By combining EUV transient photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-Vis transient absorption spectroscopy studies, the electron dynamics of photoexcited polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) thin films can be accessed on the femtosecond to nanosecond timescales.
A hierarchical hollow Pt@H-UiO-66-NH2/CdS ternary catalyst for efficient visible light prompted photocatalysis
Authors: Liu Chao , Chang Gang-Gang , Luo Ting-Ting , Wang Yi-Tian , Xiao Shi-Tian , Yao Yao , Xu Hong-Jian , Tian Ge , Janiak Christoph , Yu Hai-Hu , Yang Xiao-Yu
Published: September 2023

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have great potential for producing photoelectrocatalyzed hydrogen and degrading pollutants, owing to several factors such as high porosity and tunable semiconductor-like properties.
Critical challenges and opportunities for the commercialization of alkaline electrolysis: high current density, stability, and safety
Authors: Kwon Jiseok , Choi Seunggun , Park Chanjin , Han Hyuksu , Song Taeseup
Published: September 2023

Alkaline electrolysis technology, which enables the production of “green hydrogen,” holds significant importance in the global pursuit of carbon neutrality.
Noble-metal-free Ni10MoCox/Mo–Ni–O as an active and durable catalyst for hydrogen generation from hydrazine monohydrate
Authors: Qin Si-Huan , Qiu Yu-Ping , Chen Mu-Hua , Wang Ping
Published: September 2023

The incorporation of a small amount of Co alloying elements on the surface of the Ni10Mo/Mo–Ni–O catalyst has significantly improved its overall catalytic performance for hydrogen generation from N2H4·H2O.
Continuous sign language recognition based on hierarchical memory sequence network
Authors: Xue Cuihong , Jia Jingli , Yu Ming , Yan Gang , Guo Yingchun , Liu Yuehao
Published: September 2023

With the goal of solving the problem of feature extractors lacking strong supervision training and insufficient time information concerning single‐sequence model learning, a hierarchical sequence memory network with a multi‐level iterative optimisation strategy is proposed for continuous sign language recognition. This method uses the spatial‐temporal fusion convolution network (STFC‐Net) to extract the spatial‐temporal information of RGB and Optical flow video frames to obtain the multi‐modal visual features of a sign language video. Then, in order to enhance the temporal relationships of visual feature maps, the hierarchical memory sequence network is used to capture local utterance features and global context dependencies across time dimensions to obtain sequence features. Finally, the decoder decodes the final sentence sequence. In order to enhance the feature extractor, the authors adopted a multi‐level iterative optimisation strategy to fine‐tune STFC‐Net and the utterance feature extractor. The experimental results on the RWTH‐Phoenix‐Weather multi‐signer 2014 dataset and the Chinese sign language dataset show the effectiveness and superiority of this method.
Political stability and foreign direct investment inflows in 25 Asia-Pacific countries: the moderating role of trade openness
Authors: Le Ai Ngoc Nhan , Pham Ha , Pham Dung Thi Ngoc , Duong Khoa Dang
Published: September 2023

This article analyzes how trade openness and political stability affect foreign direct investment (FDI) in 25 Asia-Pacific countries from 1990 to 2020. This study employs the dynamic system Generalized Method of Moments to mitigate the heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation issues. We also perform the Johnson–Neyman test to examine whether trade openness moderates the relationship between political stability and FDI. Our findings show that trade openness positively affects FDI, while political stability has a negative effect. Noticeably, the Johnson–Neyman test indicates that Trade Openness moderates the relationship between political stability and FDI in Asia-Pacific nations. Trade openness and its moderating role remained robust before the 2008 financial crisis. The impacts of trade openness and political stability on FDI persist in non-tax-heaven countries. Our findings align with market-seeking, efficiency, resource-seeking, and regulatory risk theories. Finally, these findings are helpful for policymakers to attract FDI projects sustainably across the Asia-Pacific region.
The tightrope of real genesis: on philosophy’s generative thirdness and the creative self-grounding of thought
Authors: Fraser Will
Published: September 2023

Motivated to bypass the twin basins of absolute relativism and dogmatic absolutism, an antinomic polarity into which thought tendentially falls, this paper offers various conceptual frameworks for overcoming antinomies in philosophical thought, and ultimately asserts that this overcoming occurs at a philosophical system’s purported source: its active site of real genesis. The author traces a constellation of thinkers who all invoke this suspended thirdness in their own disciplinary and conceptual registers, from Jean Cavaillès to Gilles Châtelet, C.S. Peirce to Cécile Malaspina, ultimately and speculatively suggesting that this third space, the (abductive) hinge of real genesis, might precede and activate a priori the consequent diremptions into the polarities of the transcendental and the historical, the mathematical and the physical, the global and the local, the continuous and the discrete, the rational and the empirical, and so on. Such a genetic realism, then, places a radical exigency on philosophical thinking: to grasp its real genetic conditions, that is, without a previously given criterion or method. Ultimately, the paper is most interested in suggesting ways to reconfigure the conceptual landscape around this genetic tension or originating hinge, to encourage thought towards the genetic real and away from disciplinary stagnation, towards generative models for systematic thought itself.
Educating global Africans: possibilities of Chinese language learning in international higher education
Authors: XU Wen
Published: September 2023

The number of international students in Chinese higher education has expanded unprecedentedly over the past decade. As opposed to neoliberal marketisation, this expansion is backed up by a community of shared future for mankind rationale, which is well articulated within the policy rhetoric as well as keynote speeches by Chinese senior government officials. However, there is a paucity of research and thoresiation into how Chinese universities may be contributing to this strategic priority in specific contexts. This article presents a case study that examines the aspirations of a cohort of African international students enroled in a Chinese language programme in a vocational college in Southeast China. Their narratives highlight the previously neglected relevance of international higher education and Chinese language learning to the process of global citizenship education. The participants in this study displayed positive dispositions of global citizenship such as an in-depth understanding of the world, promoting hargramony and contributing to the common good. As such, this article underscores the affordances and possibilities of Chinese language learning in international higher education, in addressing a torrent of mounting concerns of ‘China threat’ to the world order.
Breaking through ingrained beliefs: revisiting the impact of the digital economy on carbon emissions
Authors: Wang Haisen , Yang Gangqiang , Yue Ziyang
Published: September 2023

The impact of the digital economy on carbon emissions has become a topic of contention due to the paucity of guiding theoretical and empirical research. This study presents a comprehensive causal mediation model based on an expanded structural equation model. Leveraging extensive big data analysis and data sourced from developing nations, this research aims to elucidate the precise impact of the digital economy on carbon emissions and unravel the underlying mechanism. The findings unequivocally demonstrate the pivotal role played by the digital economy in mitigating carbon emissions. Even after subjecting the conclusions to a battery of robustness and endogeneity tests, their validity remains intact. The mechanism analysis reveals that the digital economy effectively curbs carbon emissions through low-carbon technological innovation and industrial diversification. The disproportionate dominance of digital industrialization is a significant factor contributing to the emergence of the “Digital Economy Paradox”. Consequently, this paper not only introduces a novel analytical perspective that systematically comprehends the carbon impact of the digital economy but also presents fresh empirical evidence that advocates for the transformation and development of a low-carbon economy.
Topic and Accent Coverage in a Commercialized L2 Listening Test: Implications for Test-takers’ Identity
Authors: Aryadoust Vahid
Published: September 2023

I analyzed a corpus of the international English language testing system (IELTS) comprising 256 listening sections (1996–2021). The primary objective of the study was to gain insights into the assumptions made by test designers regarding the real-life contexts that test-takers will encounter. Overall, 15 superordinate topic areas and 300 subtopics were identified in the corpus. There was relatively more diversity in topic coverage before 2000. However, the test did not incorporate texts that would address sociocultural matters related to local or international contexts. Additionally, English-as-L2 accents were virtually unrepresented with only three samples from 514 speakers, potentially suggesting a racialized perspective on the listening construct. I argue that it is possible that this way of testing promotes and normalizes test designers’ ideologies, while overlooking the importance of the diversity of domains that test-takers will encounter in daily life. I discuss the potential construction of test-takers’ identity through exposure to these topics and suggest that test designers may consider reevaluating topic and accent coverage in the test to improve fairness and equity in the test. Finally, I provide ideas on how the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance quality of language assessments.
phippery: a software suite for PhIP-Seq data analysis
Authors: Galloway Jared G , Sung Kevin , Minot Samuel S , Garrett Meghan E , Stoddard Caitlin I , Willcox Alexandra C , Yaffe Zak A , Yucha Ryan , Overbaugh Julie , Matsen Frederick A
Published: September 2023

We present the phippery software suite for analyzing data from phage display methods that use immunoprecipitation and deep sequencing to capture antibody binding to peptides, often referred to as PhIP-Seq. It has three main components that can be used separately or in conjunction: (i) a Nextflow pipeline, phip-flow, to process raw sequencing data into a compact, multidimensional dataset format and allows for end-to-end automation of reproducible workflows. (ii) a Python API, phippery, which provides interfaces for tasks such as count normalization, enrichment calculation, multidimensional scaling, and more, and (iii) a Streamlit application, phip-viz, as an interactive interface for visualizing the data as a heatmap in a flexible manner.

Availability and implementation

All software packages are publicly available under the MIT License. The phip-flow pipeline: https://github.com/matsengrp/phip-flow. The phippery library: https://github.com/matsengrp/phippery. The phip-viz Streamlit application: https://github.com/matsengrp/phip-viz.
Use of multimodal sensory cues in predator avoidance by wild-caught zebrafish shoals
Authors: Mukherjee Ishani , Malakar Aniket , Das Dipjyoti , Bhat Anuradha
Published: September 2023

Fishes rely on a multimodal sensory system to assess cues from environmental factors, such as predation, vegetation cover, water flow and food availability. Here, we conducted laboratory-based experiments to examine the immediate response of wild-caught zebrafish (Danio rerio) shoals, comprising ten individuals, to one of the following treatments: (1) olfactory predator cue; (2) visual predator cue; (3) both cues simultaneously; and (4) control with no cue. Experiments were performed in a 75cm × 75cm arena, and test shoals were provided with olfactory cues from a predator and with a model predator as visual information on the presence of a predator. Using the idTracker software, we tracked and analysed shoal responses across these treatments. We found that in comparison to the control treatment, shoals receiving either visual or olfactory cues had significantly greater: (1) cohesion (inter-individual distance); (2) polarization (tendency of shoal members to orient in a common direction); and (3) velocity (directional speed). Interestingly, when the shoals received both visual and olfactory cues simultaneously, the cohesion, polarization and velocity decreased, and such shoals exhibited significantly more individual freezing events. Therefore, our study not only indicates that zebrafish rely comparably on vision and olfaction to escape predation but also shows that the anti-predator response elicited by zebrafish varies based on the number of cues provided.
Unstable patterns of flower structure and development in the almost dioecious species Acer negundo (Sapindaceae, Sapindales)
Authors: Zavialov Alexander E , Remizowa Margarita V
Published: September 2023

Acer negundo L. is a wind-pollinated, dioecious tree that occasionally produces flowers with rudiments of the opposite sex. Both the male (staminate) and female (pistillate) flowers possess only two whorls: sepals and stamens or carpels, the arrangement of which is disputed. Here we present data on inflorescence and floral development, pollen fertility in staminodes and the diversity of male and female flowers. We found that the merism of male flowers is unstable, and the numbers of stamens and sepals vary independently. The different floral groundplans always occur within the inflorescences of the same generative shoot. The development of a flower begins with the initiation of sepals, but in female flowers, sepals are initiated sequentially and remain of different sizes, whereas in male flowers, sepals are initiated almost simultaneously and are equal. After the appearance of stamen primordia or carpel primordia, a part of the undifferentiated meristem remains. This unused meristem can be involved in producing staminodes or pistillodia. Both unisexual and (partly) bisexual flowers are found in the same inflorescence. Staminodes are either completely sterile or produce some amount of viable pollen. These features indicate the possibility of functional bisexuality in A. negundo.
SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Postacute Risk of Non–Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infectious Disease Hospitalizations: A Nationwide Cohort Study of Danish Adults Aged ≥50 Years
Authors: Andersson Niklas Worm , Thiesson Emilia Myrup , Lassaunière Ria , Hansen Jørgen Vinsløv , Hviid Anders
Published: September 2023

Background

Reports suggest that the potential long-lasting health consequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection may involve persistent dysregulation of some immune populations, but the potential clinical implications are unknown. We investigated the associated risk of hospitalization due to non–coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infectious diseases following the postacute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods

By cross-linking data from the comprehensive Danish test and surveillance system for COVID-19 together with nationwide healthcare and demographic registers, we established a study cohort of 2 430 694 individuals aged ≥50 years, from 1 January 2021 to 10 December 2022, with no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to study entry. Using Poisson regression, we compared the outcome rates of non-COVID-19 infectious disease hospitalizations following the acute phase of (a first) SARS-CoV-2 infection (defined as ≥29 days since the day of infection) in recovered individuals with rates among SARS-CoV-2–uninfected individuals.

Results

Among 2 430 694 included individuals (mean age, 66.8 [standard deviation, 11.3] years), 930 071 acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection during follow-up totaling 4 519 913 person-years. The postacute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 0.90 (95% confidence interval [CI]: .88–.92) for any infectious disease hospitalization. Findings (IRR [95% CI]) were similar for upper respiratory tract (1.08 [.97–1.20]), lower respiratory tract (0.90 [.87–.93]), influenza (1.04 [.94–1.15]), gastrointestinal (1.28 [.78–2.09]), skin (0.98 [.93–1.03]), urinary tract (1.01 [.96–1.08]), certain invasive bacterial (0.96 [.91–1.01]), and other (0.96 [.92–1.00]) infectious disease hospitalizations and in subgroups.

Conclusions

Our study does not support an increased susceptibility to non-COVID-19 infectious disease hospitalization following SARS-CoV-2 infection.