bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thin links and Conway spheres
Authors: Kotelskiy Artem , Watson Liam , Zibrowius Claudius
Published: May 2024

When restricted to alternating links, both Heegaard Floer and Khovanov homology concentrate along a single diagonal $\delta$-grading. This leads to the broader class of thin links that one would like to characterize without reference to the invariant in question. We provide a relative version of thinness for tangles and use this to characterize thinness via tangle decompositions along Conway spheres. These results bear a strong resemblance to the L-space gluing theorem for three-manifolds with torus boundary. Our results are based on certain immersed curve invariants for Conway tangles, namely the Heegaard Floer invariant $\operatorname {HFT}$ and the Khovanov invariant $\widetilde {\operatorname {Kh}}$ that were developed by the authors in previous works.
Bed rest impairs the vestibular control of balance
Authors: Mackenzie Stuart W. , Smith Craig P. , Tremblay Malcom F. , Day Brian L. , Reynolds Raymond F.
Published: May 2024

Prolonged bed rest impairs standing balance but the underlying mechanisms are uncertain. Previous research suggests strength loss is not the cause, leaving impaired sensorimotor control as an alternative. Here we examine vestibular control of posture in 18 male volunteers before and after 60 days of bed rest. Stochastic vestibular stimulation (SVS) was used to evoke sway responses before, 1 and 6 days after bed rest under different head yaw orientations. The directional accuracy and precision of these responses were calculated from ground reaction force vectors. Bed rest caused up to 63% increases in spontaneous standing sway and 31% reductions in leg strength, changes which were uncorrelated. The increase in sway was exacerbated when the eyes were closed. Mean directions of SVS‐evoked sway responses were unaffected, being directed towards the anodal ear and rotating in line with head orientation in the same way before and after bed rest. However, individual trial analysis revealed 25%–30% increases in directional variability, which were significantly correlated with the increase in spontaneous sway (r = 0.48–0.71;P ≤ 0.044) and were still elevated on day 6 post‐bed rest. This reveals that individual sway responses may be inappropriately oriented, a finding masked by the averaging process. Our results confirm that impaired balance following prolonged bedrest is not related to loss of strength. Rather, they demonstrate that the sensorimotor transformation process which converts vestibular feedback into appropriately directed balance responses is impaired.

image

Key points

Prolonged inactivity impairs balance but previous research suggests this is not caused by loss of strength.

Here we investigated vestibular control of balance before and after 60 days of bed rest using electrical vestibular stimulation (EVS) to evoke sway responses.

Spontaneous sway significantly increased and muscle strength reduced following bed rest, but, in keeping with previous research, these two effects were not correlated.

While the overall accuracy of EVS‐evoked sway responses was unaffected, their directional variability significantly increased following bed rest, and this was correlated with the increases in spontaneous sway.

We have shown that the ability to transform head‐centred vestibular feedback into an appropriately directed body sway response is negatively affected by prolonged inactivity; this may contribute to the impaired balance commonly observed following bed rest.
Probabilistic Deep Learning Approach for Fatigue Crack Width Estimation and Prognosis in Lap Joint Using Acoustic Waves
Authors: Ojha Shivam , Shelke Amit
Published: May 2024

Accurate fatigue crack width estimation is crucial for aircraft safety, however, limited research exists on (i) the direct relationship between fatigue crack width and Lamb wave signatures and (ii) probabilistic artificial intelligence approach for automated analysis using acoustic emission waveforms. This paper presents a probabilistic deep learning approach for fatigue crack width estimation, employing an automated wavelet feature extractor and probabilistic Bayesian neural network. A dataset constituting the fatigue experiment on aluminum lap joint specimens is considered, in which Lamb wave signals were recorded at several time instants for each specimen. Signals acquired from the piezo actuator–receiver sensor pairs are related to the optically measured surface crack length. The sensitive features are automatically extracted from the signals using decomposition techniques called maximal overlap discrete wavelet transform (MODWT). The extracted features are then mapped through the deep learning model, which incorporates Bayesian inference to account for both aleatoric as well as epistemic uncertainty, that provides outcomes in the form of providing probabilistic estimates of crack width with uncertainty quantification. Thus, employing an automated wavelet feature extractor (MODWT) on a dataset of fatigue experiments, the framework learns the relationship between Lamb wave signals and crack width. Validation on unseen in situ data demonstrates the efficacy of the approach for practical implementation, paving the way for more reliable fatigue life prognosis.
Numerical Calibration of the Mooring System for a Semi-Submersible Floating Wind Turbine Model
Authors: Bertozzi Andrea , Niosi Francesco , Jiang Xiaoli , Jiang Zhiyu
Published: May 2024

Numerical modeling of the floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT) dynamics plays a critical role at the design stage of a floating wind project. Still, there exist challenges for verification of efficient engineering models against experimental results. Recently, an experimental campaign was carried out for a 1:96 downscaled model of the OC4-DeepCWind semi-submersible platform with mooring lines made of fiber ropes and chains. Leveraging the results of this campaign, this paper focuses on the development and calibration of a numerical model for the semi-submersible platform with a focus on the dynamic responses under bichromatic waves. In the numerical model, the hydrodynamic loads are modeled based on the potential flow theory with Morison drag. The lumped mass method is applied to model the mooring system. Both free decay tests and bichromatic wave conditions are considered in the model calibration process, and key uncertain parameters (e.g., mooring line length) that affect the response have been identified and discussed. Using the proposed calibration procedure, we establish a reasonably good numerical model for prediction of the platform motion and mooring dynamics. The low-frequency responses of the platform under bichromatic waves are well-captured. These outcomes contribute to the development of efficient numerical FOWT models under experimental uncertainty.
Effect of hepatocyte damage in hepatic fibrogenesis of patients infected with
Schistosoma japonicum
Authors: Lu Yaqi , Tang Wangxian , Zhang Heng , Liu Jing , Zhong Shan
Published: May 2024

Schistosomiasis is a serious public health problem, and previous studies found that liver function and hepatic cells are damaged. To evaluate the serum parameters of liver function and fibrosis in schistosomiasis patients infected with
Schistosoma japonicum
(
Schistosoma J
.) and analyze the correlations between liver function and serum fibrosis markers in patients infected with
Schistosoma J
., this retrospective study enrolled 133 patients. The study population was divided into four groups: healthy people control group (
n
= 20), chronic schistosomiasis without liver cirrhosis (CS) group (
n
= 21), schistosomiasis cirrhosis without hypoalbuminemia (SC-HA) group (
n
= 68), and schistosomiasis cirrhosis with hypoalbuminemia (SC +HA) group (
n
= 24). Clinical and laboratory data were collected for analysis. In the multiple comparison of abnormal rates of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin (TBIL), the abnormal rate of the SC +HA group was significantly higher than that of the other three groups (
P
< 0.05), and the abnormal rate of γ-GT in the SC +HA group was significantly higher than that in the control group (
P
< 0.05). Multiple comparison results of serum levels of fibrosis markers showed that the SC group had a significantly higher level of indexes than other groups (
P
< 0.05). The levels of TGF-β1 in the CS group, SC-HA group and SC +HA group were significantly higher than those in the control group (
P
< 0.001). Our study demonstrated that the liver function and hepatic cells were damaged with the progression of liver disease in patients infected with
Schistosoma J.
, and they played an important role in the occurrence and development of liver fibrosis.
Changes in the type 2 diabetes gut mycobiome associate with metformin treatment across populations
Authors: Van Syoc Emily , Nixon Michelle Pistner , Silverman Justin D. , Luo Yuhong , Gonzalez Frank J. , Elbere Ilze , Klovins Janis , Patterson Andrew D. , Rogers Connie J. , Ganda Erika
Published: May 2024

The human gut teems with a diverse ecosystem of microbes, yet non-bacterial portions of that community are overlooked in studies of metabolic diseases firmly linked to gut bacteria. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is associated with compositional shifts in the gut bacterial microbiome and the mycobiome, the fungal portion of the microbiome. However, whether T2D and/or metformin treatment underpins fungal community changes is unresolved. To differentiate these effects, we curated a gut mycobiome cohort spanning 1,000 human samples across five countries and validated our findings in a murine experimental model. We use Bayesian multinomial logistic normal models to show that T2D and metformin both associate with shifts in the relative abundance of distinct gut fungi. T2D is associated with shifts in the Saccharomycetes and Sordariomycetes fungal classes, while the genera
Fusarium
and
Tetrapisipora
most consistently associate with metformin treatment. We confirmed the impact of metformin on individual gut fungi by administering metformin to healthy mice. Thus, metformin and T2D account for subtle, but significant and distinct variation in the gut mycobiome across human populations. This work highlights for the first time that metformin can confound associations of gut fungi with T2D and warrants the need to consider pharmaceutical interventions in investigations of linkages between metabolic diseases and gut microbial inhabitants.

IMPORTANCE

This is the largest to-date multi-country cohort characterizing the human gut mycobiome, and the first to investigate potential perturbations in gut fungi from oral pharmaceutical treatment. We demonstrate the reproducible effects of metformin treatment on the human and murine gut mycobiome and highlight a need to consider metformin as a confounding factor in investigations between type 2 diabetes mellitus and the gut microbial ecosystem.
Whole-genome sequence of six
Rhizobium laguerreae
strains
Authors: Kirichek Evgenii A. , Flores-Félix José D. , Velázquez Encarna , Tsyganova Anna V. , Tsyganov Viktor E.
Published: May 2024

Rhizobium laguerreae
is regarded as a promising candidate for biofertilization of legume plants worldwide through its high efficiency in symbiosis. In this paper, we report high-quality sequences of six
R. laguerreae
strains with total genome completeness from 93.5% to 97.5%.
Simple Method for Predicting the Heats of Formation of Energetic Metal–Organic Frameworks
Authors: Zeinab Dalirandeh  , Jafari Mohammad , Mousaviazar Ali
Published: May 2024

The heats of formation (HOF) of energetic materials is crucial in determining their performance. A novel approach has been introduced to accurately predict the condensed phase HOF of energetic metal-organic frameworks (EMOFs). The experimental condensed phase HOF data of 63 EMOFs were utilized to develop and evaluate the model. This model relies on particular chemical bonds, elemental composition, and some of the specific structural parameters that can be obtained from the chemical structures of EMOFs. This model can be easily applied to EMOFs with intricate compositions and structures, without the need for complicated computer codes. Statistical parameters along with the internal and external validation approaches were employed to assess the accuracy, precision, goodness-of-fit, and goodness-of-prediction of the model. Values of the coefficients of determination in training set, as well as internal and external validation, i.e., R2, $${\text{Q}}_{{{\text{LOO}}}}^{2}$$, $${\text{Q}}_{{5{\text{-fold}}}}^{2}$$, and $$R_{{{\text{External}}}}^{2}$$ are 0.96, 0.93, 0.91, and 0.94, respectively.
Endoscopic resection of invasive glomangiopericytoma following preoperative embolisation
Authors: Oliveira Vitor Manuel , Almeida Gonçalo Neto , Silva Deodato Rego , Escada Pedro Alberto
Published: May 2024

We present a case of a 60-year-old woman with a 2-year history of nasal obstruction and unilateral recurrent epistaxis. Anterior rhinoscopy identified a unilateral hypervascular lobular mass occupying the entire left nasal cavity. Imaging studies documented an extensive soft tissue density lesion in the left nasal cavity with complete infiltration of the anterior ethmoid, limited indentation of the medial wall of the orbit, bone demineralisation of the cribriform plate and involvement of the anterior cranial fossa. The diagnosis of locally invasive glomangiopericytoma was obtained preoperatively through biopsy of the lesion, which resulted in a self-limited epistaxis that was easily controlled by nasal packing, confirming the vascular nature of the lesion. We discuss the diagnostic work up, imaging and surgical approach of this tumour, and review the recent literature on endoscopic treatment of these lesions.
Combination of MSC Marc and SE-FIT to simulate the direct laser deposition of the multi-layer Ti–6Al–4V
Authors: Gai Dongmin , You Xiaoping , Lin Kai-Chun , Hsu Chao-Ming , Yang Cheng-Fu
Published: May 2024

Modeling the impact of a laser heat source on Ti6Al4V deposition is crucial for optimizing additive manufacturing, particularly in multi-layer contexts. This modeling provides insights into the material’s behavior during the Ti6Al4V manufacturing process. In this study, simulations using MSC Marc were conducted to model the impact of a laser heat source on the deposition of the multi-layer Ti–6Al–4V (abbreviated as Ti6Al4V) using the Ti–6Al–4V metal powder, followed by SE-FIT simulation to characterize their deposition morphology. MSC Marc was utilized to simulate the impact of a laser heat source on the Ti6Al4V, with a focus on identifying the melting area. Thermal conductivity was represented in the form of a chart as a function of temperature. Next, the morphology after deposition was defined using SE-FIT based on volume and boundaries. In the MSC Marc numerical model, a combined heat transfer coefficient of radiation and convection was applied to the convective coefficient. In the section depicting the multi-layered deposition morphology, a laser with 750[Formula: see text]W power was utilized at a speed of 3.3[Formula: see text]mm/s. After simulation, the resulting layer height and appearance were compared with the literature for a 25-layer composite. The practical implications of this research extend to the broader field of laser-induced heat deposition on Ti6Al4V deposition, which has applications beyond titanium alloys. The findings may contribute to advancements in the design and manufacturing of various metal components, impacting industries such as automotive, electronics and energy.
Far-red emitting Li2TiO3: Cr3+ phosphor: Synthesis, luminescence properties and potential applications
Authors: Cheng Kang , Huang Weichao , Gong Xinyong , Deng Chaoyong
Published: May 2024

The Cr[Formula: see text]-activated phosphor can emit far-red light under the excitation of an external light source, mainly due to the transition of the outermost electrons of Cr[Formula: see text] from the 2E level to the 4A2 level in a strong crystal field environment. A novel far-red Li2TiO3: Cr[Formula: see text] phosphor was prepared by the solid-state method. Under the excitation of 356[Formula: see text]nm, the Li2TiO3: Cr[Formula: see text] phosphors emit intense far-red light in 600–850[Formula: see text]nm with a central wavelength of 732[Formula: see text]nm. The emission band of all samples was matched with the absorption bands of phytochrome P[Formula: see text]. The experimental data and theoretical calculation confirmed that Cr[Formula: see text] is surrounded by a strong crystal field environment. The effect of Cr[Formula: see text] doping concentration on the luminescence intensity was analyzed. These research works demonstrate that far-red Li2TiO3: Cr[Formula: see text] phosphors have potential applications in plant growth lights.
Effects of promoter and dedoping process on electrorheological response of polyaniline-graft-chitosan copolymer
Authors: Cabuk Mehmet , Yavuz Mustafa , Unal H. Ibrahim
Published: May 2024

In this study, electrorheological (ER) properties of biodegradable and conducting polyaniline-graft-chitosan (PAni-g-CS) copolymer particles were investigated. For this purpose, PAni and PAni-g-CS particles were synthesized by using in situ oxidative radicalic polymerization method. At first, PAni and PAni-g-CS/silicone oil (SO) ER suspensions (15% V/V) were subjected to external electric field and they exhibited low ER activity. When the external electric field strengths ([Formula: see text] were increased, both the suspensions showed electrical breakdown. Therefore, virgin PAni and PAni-g-CS were first subjected to dedoping process by treating with 1.0 M NaOH(aq) and non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 (T-X) surfactant to enhance the expected ER activity and prevent the electrical breakdown. But we observed that the addition of T-X as promoter had no significant effect on the ER activity. On the other hand, electric filed-induced viscosities of both the suspensions were observed to enhance after the dedoping (DD) process and electrical breakdown prohibited. After the DD process, DD PAni-g-CS/SO ER system exhibited the highest electric field-induced viscosity by reaching 400[Formula: see text]Pa[Formula: see text]⋅[Formula: see text]s at [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]kV/mm. The highest ER efficiency was also obtained for DD PAni-g-CS/SO system at 15% (V/V) as 79. Additionally, typical shear thinning non-Newtonian viscoelastic behavior was observed under externally applied E. The conduction model of DD PAni-g-CS/SO system was determined to well fit the conduction model by showing a slope of [Formula: see text] calculated from the E vb. yield stress graph. In conclusion, conducting and biodegradable-dedoped PAni-g-CS particles would be a good candidate for potential ER applications as dry-based ER materials having high colloidal stability of 76%.
NONLINEARITY AND MEMORY EFFECTS: THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN THESE TWO CRUCIAL FACTORS IN THE HARRY DYM MODEL
Authors: KHATER MOSTAFA M. A. , ALFALQI SULEMAN H.
Published: May 2024

This study investigates the nonlinear time-fractional Harry Dym ([Formula: see text]) equation, a model with significant applications in soliton theory and connections to various other nonlinear evolution equations. The Harry Dym ([Formula: see text]) equation describes the propagation of nonlinear waves in various physical contexts, including shallow water waves, nonlinear optics, and plasma physics. The fractional-order derivative introduces a memory effect, allowing the model to capture nonlocal interactions and long-range dependencies in the wave dynamics. The primary objective of this research is to obtain accurate analytical solutions to the [Formula: see text] equation and explore its physical characteristics. We employ the Khater III method as the primary analytical technique and utilize the He’s variational iteration ([Formula: see text]) method as a numerical scheme to validate the obtained solutions. The close agreement between analytical and numerical results enhances the applicability of the solutions in practical applications of the model. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the [Formula: see text] equation’s behavior, particularly in the presence of fractional-order dynamics. The obtained solutions provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between nonlinearity and memory effects in the wave propagation phenomena described by the model. By shedding light on the physical characteristics of the [Formula: see text] equation, this study paves the way for further investigations into its potential applications in diverse physical settings.
FORECASTING THE BEHAVIOR OF FRACTIONAL MODEL OF EMDEN–FOWLER EQUATION WITH CAPUTO–KATUGAMPOLA MEMORY
Authors: SINGH JAGDEV , GUPTA ARPITA , NIETO JUAN J.
Published: May 2024

The main aim of this paper is to analyze the behavior of time-fractional Emden–Fowler (EF) equation associated with Caputo–Katugampola fractional derivative occurring in mathematical physics and astrophysics. A powerful analytical approach, which is an amalgamation of q-homotopy analysis approach and generalized Laplace transform with homotopy polynomials, is implemented to obtain approximate analytical solution of the time-fractional EF equation. Main advantage of this research work is that the implemented technique contains an auxiliary parameter to control the convergence region of obtained series solution. Some examples are considered to illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of the applied technique. Numerical results are demonstrated in the form of tabular and graphical representations.
THE IMPACT OF CHINA’S CARBON PLEDGE ON THE COUNTRY’S HYDROPOWER PRODUCTION: EVIDENCE FROM THE STOCK MARKET
Authors: LI YAMIN , ZHU LINCHUANG , KWEK KEH , WANG WENBIN
Published: May 2024

China’s national climate goals to “peak” its carbon emissions before 2030 and to achieve “carbon neutrality” before 2060 are considered to exert a considerable impact on the country’s production of hydropower, one of the major clean energy sources. Although the existing literature provides a large number of studies on the impacts of China’s “dual carbon” climate goals, only very few studies discuss their impact on the hydropower industry. This paper selects Chinese hydropower companies listed on the country’s stock market to examine. To overcome the traditional problem of the Chow test, the Quandt–Andrews test is used to identify the structural changes in the stock market performance data of those selected companies. The analysis provides essential evidence that shows the considerable impact of China’s announcement of “dual carbon” climate goals on the country’s hydropower industry.
Machine Learning-Based Diabetes Risk Prediction Using Associated Behavioral Features
Authors: Ibitoye Ayodeji O. J. , Akinyemi Joseph D. , Onifade Olufade F. W.
Published: May 2024

Diabetes is a global health concern that affects people of all races. With different uncertainties in human lifestyles, it is difficult to predict diabetes while assuming that the risk patterns are the same for all. The likelihood of diabetes in a patient is mostly predicted using machine learning (ML) models on features explicitly available in datasets, while the intrinsic relationship between features viz-a-viz their potential relevance to the presence of diabetes is oftentimes neglected. In this work, we explored feature importance and correlation to derive the top 15 feature pairs from a dataset of 263,882 samples of anonymized patient information. These top-15 feature pairs were fed into five different ML models (decision tree (DT), neural networks (NN), random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM) and extreme gradient boosting (XGB)) for predicting the likelihood of diabetes, while also feeding the direct features (without correlated pairing) separately into the same 5[Formula: see text]ML models. The models’ performances were evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall and F1-score and NN presented the best performance overall achieving an F1-score of 85% for the correlated feature pairs (CF) and 75% for the direct feature pairs. The results confirm the importance of the correlation/relationship between features in predicting the likelihood of diabetes in patients more accurately.
GIS analysis for the selection of optimal sites for mine water geothermal energy application: a case study of Scotland's mining regions
Authors: Walls D. B. , Banks D. , Kremer Y. , Boyce A. J. , Burnside N. M.
Published: May 2024

Water within flooded coal mines can be abstracted via boreholes or shafts, where heat can be extracted from (or rejected to) it to satisfy surface heating (or cooling) demands. Following use, water can be reinjected into the mine workings or discharged to a surface water receptor. Four criteria have been applied, using ArcGIS, to datasets describing mine workings and mine water below the Midland Valley of Scotland to provide an initial screening tool for suitability for mine water geothermal energy exploitation. The criteria are: (i) the presence of two or more worked coal seams below site; (ii) the absence of potentially unstable shallow (<30 m) workings; (iii) a depth to mine water piezometric head of less than 60 m; and (iv) a depth of coal mine workings of less than 250 m. The result is the Mine Water Geothermal Resource Atlas for Scotland (MiRAS). MiRAS suggests that a total area of 370 km
2
is ‘optimal’ for mine water geothermal development across 19 local authority areas, with greatest coverage in North Lanarkshire. This result should not be taken to suggest that mine water geothermal potential does not exist at locations outside the identified ‘optimal’ footprint. The MiRAS does not preclude the necessity for specialist engineering and geological input during a full feasibility study.
Make Two Trips
Authors: Limoncelli Thomas A.
Published: May 2024

Whether your project is as simple as carrying groceries into the house or as complex as a multiyear engineering project, "make two trips" can simplify the project, reduce the chance of error, improve the probability of success, and lead to easier explanations.
Nonbank Financial Intermediation: Stock Take of Research, Policy, and Data
Authors: Claessens Stijn
Published: May 2024

This article reviews research and policy work on nonbank financial intermediation (NBFI), taking a financial stability perspective. It first documents the growth in NBFI, reviews its possible drivers, and documents recent instability episodes. NBFI now often surpasses traditional bank financing, and research on it has increased, including research on its financial stability characteristics. Given NBFI's many forms and dimensions, the article focuses on its market-based forms. Taking a cross-country perspective, it reviews the benefits of NBFI, in terms of access to finance and economic impact, and its risks, specifically those related to interconnections, interactions between liquidity and leverage, and procyclicality. It describes policy steps—underway and possible—to reduce these risks, highlights outstanding issues, and suggests further analytical work. It also considers the current state of available data and the means to address remaining gaps.
Comparing Apples and Oranges: Advances in Disease Resistance Breeding of Woody Perennial Fruit Crops
Authors: Khan Awais , Švara Anže , Wang Nian
Published: May 2024

Apple and citrus are perennial tree fruit crops that are vital for nutritional security and agricultural economy and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Apple scab and fire blight, along with Huanglongbing, canker, and tristeza virus, stand out as their most notorious diseases and annually destabilize fruit supply. An environmentally sound approach to managing these diseases is improving tree resistance through breeding and biotechnology. Perennial fruit tree germplasm collections are distributed globally and offer untapped potential as sources of resistance. However, long juvenility, specific pollination and flowering habits, and extensive outcrossing hinder apple and citrus breeding. Advances in breeding approaches include trans- and cis-genesis, genome editing, and rapid-cycle breeding, which, in addition to conventional crossbreeding, can all facilitate accelerated integration of resistance into elite germplasm. In addition, the global pool of available sources of resistance can be characterized by the existing genetic mapping and gene expression studies for accurate discovery of associated loci, genes, and markers to efficiently include these sources in breeding efforts. We discuss and propose a multitude of approaches to overcome the challenges of breeding for resistance in woody perennials and outline a technical path to reduce the time required for the ultimate deployment of disease-resistant cultivars.
Tube-Like Copper Cobalt Oxide Anchored with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposite Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode for the Electrochemical Detection of Nilutamide
Authors: Sivaji Saravana Pandi , Mariappan Kiruthika , Chen Tse-Wei , Chen Shen-Ming , Sivaramakrishnan Vinothini , Chiu Te-Wei , Elsadek Mohamed Farouk , Al-Mohaimeed Amal M. , Elshikh Mohamed S. , Yu Jaysan
Published: May 2024

Developing a precise and effective method to detect Nilutamide (NIL) is essential due to its contamination of the environment, which poses significant risks to human health and the biosphere. In this study, we employed a simple hydrothermal technique to create a nanocomposite of CuCo2O4 (copper cobalt oxide) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), which was then anchored onto a glassy carbon electrode for NIL detection. Various spectroscopic techniques were employed to confirm the structure of the nanomaterial, and its electrochemical properties were examined using cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The CuCo2O4/MWCNT nanocomposite-modified electrode exhibited a wide linear detection range from 0.01 to 170 μM, a high sensitivity of 1.50 μA μM−1 cm−2, a low detection limit of 0.01 μM, outstanding stability, repeatability, and practical applicability for NIL detection.
Comparative Study of Chemical Activation and Physical Activation Approach to Optimize Biomass-Based Doped Carbons for Energy Applications
Authors: Denmark Iris , Alam Ahmad , Ahsan Rayaan , Watanabe Fumiya , Viswanathan Tito , Siraj Noureen
Published: May 2024

Two approaches have been utilized to optimize the energy storage characteristics of doped carbon materials derived from Lignosol, a biomass product, to address the rising energy demand issues. Herein, phosphorus and nitrogen co-doped carbon (PNDC) materials with varying doping agent volumes were synthesized by utilizing microwave irradiation. Chemical activation and physical activation were employed to enhance these materials’ characteristics. Chemical activation was performed in a one-pot, single-step process, rather than a traditional multi-step protocol, using small amounts of potassium hydroxide. Furthermore, the physical activation method required multiple steps: doped carbon was prepared via microwave, exposed to water, filtered, frozen and then dried. With this, the expansion properties of water at freezing temperatures were exploited to alter the materials’ surface characteristics. All materials were characterized and compared for their physicochemical properties. All defect ratios supported the presence of doping. Additional results revealed that both chemical and physical activation approaches effectively modify the topographical features as well as the electrochemical activity (charge storage) of the doped carbon materials. The chemically activated doped carbon exhibited the highest resulting surface area of 1352 m2 g−1 and a specific capacitance value of 347 F g−1 with excellent cycling stability as compared to other similarly synthesized materials.
Electrochemical Behaviour of Boron and Titanium Oxides in Carbamide Melt
Authors: Devyatkin Sergei , Serhii  , Yang Peixia , Meng Fan
Published: May 2024

Titanium borides belong to refractory compounds. In the series of refractory compounds, titanium borides are distinguished by a high chemical resistance in alkali metals; therefore, they are widely used in the industry as protective materials. The low melting point of aluminium (tm = 660 C) made impossible electrodeposition of Ti-B coatings from chloride-fluoride melts at tel = 700 C. In this case the electrodeposition of Ti-B coating on Al is possible only from ion-organic melts at tel = 70–200 C. In this work, coatings of Ti-B compound electrodeposition from carbamide melt containing titanium and boron oxides were investigated.
Pretreatments and Particle Size on the Glycemic Index and Rheological and Functional Food Properties of Bean Flours
Authors: Mejía-Terán Adriana , Blanco-Lizarazo Carla María , Leiva Mateus Jairo Eduardo , Sotelo-Díaz Indira , Mejía Terán Darío , Geffroy Enrique
Published: May 2024

The beans’ protein and slow-digesting carbohydrate content make it an appealing choice for healthy food development. However, its properties are influenced by the flour extraction processes. This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of particle size and three pretreatments—drying (D), soaking+cooking+dehydrating 3 h (SCD3), and soaking+cooking+dehydrating 24 h (SCD24)—on the estimated glycemic index (eGI) compared with raw bean flour (R). The methodology covered water absorption (WAI), water solubility (WSI), amylose content, starch digestibility, eGI, phenolic quantification, and rheology. The results showed that WAI correlated negatively with WSI and amylose, varying among pretreatments and sizes. WAI increased as D<SCD24<SCD3<R. Glucose release (HI) differed between fine (125 μm) and coarse fractions (242 μm), with SCD24 and R showing the lowest eGI (22.8–24.2). SCD3 had the highest flavonoid concentration, while R and D had more quercetin-3-glucoside. SCD24 displayed higher elastic/viscous moduli than R. Bean flours from all treatments had low GI and contained bioactive polyphenols (catechin, epicatechin, ferulic acid, quercetin). The optimal treatment was SCD24, particularly in the coarse fraction, showing potential for functional food development and novel applications such as precision nutrition.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice toward Skin Cancer among Patients of Dermatology Clinics and Medical Students/General Practitioners
Authors: Baghani Moein , Robati Reza M. , Mozafari Nikoo , Baghani Matin , Kassir Martin , Sheibani Fatemeh , Mansouri Vahid
Published: May 2024

This cross-sectional study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) regarding skin cancer among dermatology clinic patients, medical students, and general practitioners (GPs) in Tehran, Iran. The researchers collected data using a validated questionnaire administered online, measuring KAP on scales of 0–31, 0–16, and 0–28, respectively, with scores above 16, 8, and 14 indicating “good” levels. Of 2243 participants (mean age 28 years), 59.4% had good knowledge, 19.8% had good attitudes, 31.8% had good practices, and 29.8% had good overall KAP. Medical students/GPs scored higher on knowledge and attitudes, while patients scored better on practices. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices were positively correlated in professionals but inversely correlated in patients. The findings suggest that while knowledge was moderate, attitudes and behaviors remained poor, particularly among patients. Immediate interventions are needed to improve attitudes and prevention practices, as public health initiatives must focus on positively influencing both to translate knowledge into meaningful action and find the reasons why good knowledge may not always lead to good practice. These findings underline the need for targeted interventions to bridge the gap between knowledge and preventive behaviors, to effectively reduce the burden of skin cancer in the population.
Integrated Clinical Genotype–Phenotype Characteristics of STAT3-Mutated Myeloid Neoplasms
Authors: Ye Matthew T. , Zuo Zhuang , Calin Steliana , Ye Fengxi , He Hua , Kamata Wataru , Yang Yaling , You M. James
Published: May 2024

Purpose:

STAT3 is a key transcription factor that mediates cancer progression through phosphorylation or gain-of-function mutations. STAT3 activation in myeloid neoplasms (MN) is primarily mediated through phosphorylation. STAT3 mutation has only rarely been reported in MNs.

Experimental Design:

We assessed the clinicopathologic and molecular genetic features of 32 STAT3-mutated MNs.

Results:

The frequency of STAT3 mutation in MNs was <0.5%. Twenty (62.5%) cases were classified as acute myeloid leukemia, 7 (21.9%) as myelodysplastic syndrome, and 5 (15.6%) as chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, but none as myeloproliferative neoplasms. STAT3 mutations occurred at initial diagnosis in 22 (88%) cases or at relapse or upon leukemic transformation. Clonal hierarchy analysis revealed that STAT3 mutations represented the dominant clone in 30% of acute myeloid leukemia cases but were subclonal in myelodysplastic syndrome and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Most were missense mutations located at the SH2 domain, Y640F being the most common. STAT3 mutation was accompanied by coexisting mutations in all cases, most frequently SRSF2, TET2, ASXL1, and SETBP1. STAT3 mutations were usually associated with morphologic dysplasia, increased blasts, and monosomy 7/del7q. With a median follow-up of 24.5 months, 21 patients died, 6 had persistent disease, and 5 achieved complete remission after stem cell transplantation.

Conclusions:

STAT3 mutation is present in various MNs but not in myeloproliferative neoplasms. It is often an early event or occurs upon leukemic transformation, which suggests an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of MNs by activating the JAK-STAT pathway. It may help determine a subset of patients with MNs who may benefit from targeted therapy.

See related commentary by Hochman and Frank, p. 4554
Supplementary Tables S1 from Pharmacologic Targeting of Histone H3K27 Acetylation/BRD4-dependent Induction of ALDH1A3 for Early-phase Drug Tolerance of Gastric Cancer
Authors: Lee Jin , Mashima Tetsuo , Kawata Naomi , Yamamoto Noriko , Morino Shun , Inaba Saori , Nakamura Ayane , Kumagai Koshi , Wakatsuki Takeru , Takeuchi Kengo , Yamaguchi Kensei , Seimiya Hiroyuki
Published: May 2024

Primer sequences used in the study
Nucleolar Localization of the RNA Helicase DDX21 Predicts Survival Outcomes in Gynecologic Cancers
Authors: Aljardali Marwa W. , Kremer Kevin M. , Parker Jessica E. , Fleming Elaine , Chen Hao , Lea Jayanthi S. , Kraus W. Lee , Camacho Cristel V.
Published: May 2024

Cancer cells with DNA repair defects (e.g., BRCA1/2 mutant cells) are vulnerable to PARP inhibitors (PARPi) due to induction of synthetic lethality. However, recent clinical evidence has shown that PARPi can prevent the growth of some cancers irrespective of their BRCA1/2 status, suggesting alternative mechanisms of action. We previously discovered one such mechanism in breast cancer involving DDX21, an RNA helicase that localizes to the nucleoli of cells and is a target of PARP1. We have now extended this observation in endometrial and ovarian cancers and provided links to patient outcomes. When PARP1-mediated ADPRylation of DDX21 is inhibited by niraparib, DDX21 is mislocalized to the nucleoplasm resulting in decreased rDNA transcription, which leads to a reduction in ribosome biogenesis, protein translation, and ultimately endometrial and ovarian cancer cell growth. High PARP1 expression was associated with high nucleolar localization of DDX21 in both cancers. High nucleolar DDX21 negatively correlated with calculated IC50s for niraparib. By studying endometrial cancer patient samples, we were able to show that high DDX21 nucleolar localization was significantly associated with decreased survival. Our study suggests that the use of PARPi as a cancer therapeutic can be expanded to further types of cancers and that DDX21 localization can potentially be used as a prognostic factor and as a biomarker for response to PARPi.

Significance:

Currently, there are no reliable biomarkers for response to PARPi outside of homologous recombination deficiency. Herein we present a unique potential biomarker, with clear functional understanding of the molecular mechanism by which DDX21 nucleolar localization can predict response to PARPi.
Effects of Liraglutide on Leptin Promoter Methylation in Ovarian Granulosa Cells of Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Obesity
Authors: Zhao Hongli , Guo Yanying
Published: May 2024

Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the impacts of liraglutide on leptin (LEP) promoter methylation in ovarian granulosa cells of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and obesity. Methods: A total of 30 patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and obesity were retrospectively analyzed. According to the method of random grouping, the patients were divided into an observation group and a control group. The control group received metformin, and the observation group received a subcutaneous injection of liraglutide. The therapeutic effects of patients in the two groups were compared. Results: After therapy, the levels of glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism-related indicators, body mass index, LEP, and visfatin of patients were less than those before therapy, and the levels in the observation group were less than the control group (p < 0.05). After therapy, the FSH, E2 and LH levels of patients in the two groups were less than those before therapy, and those in the observation one were less than the control group (p < 0.05). After therapy, the LEP promoter methylation in luteinized granulosa cells in the observation group was less than the control group (p < 0.05). The menstrual cycle establishment ratio, normal ovulation rate, and natural pregnancy ratio of the observation group were greater than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Liraglutide has a therapeutic effect on patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and obesity by reducing the methylation of LEP promoter in luteinized granulosa cells and improving the natural pregnancy rate.
Association of Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Trajectories with Atrial Fibrillation Risk in Populations with Normal or Mildly Impaired Renal Function
Authors: Wang Chi , Xin Qian , Li Junjuan , Wang Jianli , Yao Siyu , Wang Miao , Zhao Maoxiang , Chen Shuohua , Wu Shouling , Xue Hao
Published: May 2024

Introduction: The association between the longitudinal patterns of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in populations with normal or mildly impaired renal function is not well characterized. We sought to explore the eGFR trajectories in populations with normal or mildly impaired renal function and their association with AF. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 62,407 participants who were free of AF, cardiovascular diseases, and moderate to severe renal insufficiency (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2) before 2010. The eGFR trajectories were developed using latent mixture modeling based on examination data in 2006, 2008, and 2010. Incident AF cases were identified in biennial electrocardiogram assessment and a review of medical insurance data and discharge registers. We used Cox regression models to estimate the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident AF. Results: According to survey results for the range and changing pattern of eGFR during 2006–2010, four trajectories were identified: high-stable (range, 107.47–110.25 mL/min/1.73 m2; n = 11,719), moderate-increasing (median increase from 83.83 to 100.37 mL/min/1.73 m2; n = 22,634), high-decreasing (median decrease from 101.72 to 89.10 mL/min/1.73 m2; n = 7,943), and low-stable (range, 73.48–76.78 mL/min/1.73 m2; n = 20,111). After an average follow-up of 9.63 years, a total of 485 cases of AF were identified. Compared with the high-stable trajectory, the adjusted hazard ratios of AF were 1.70 (95% CI, 1.09–2.66) for the moderate-increasing trajectory, 1.92 (95% CI, 1.18–3.13) for the high-decreasing trajectory, and 2.28 (95% CI, 1.46–3.56) for the low-stable trajectory. The results remained consistent across a number of sensitivity analyses. Conclusion: The trajectories of eGFR were associated with subsequent AF risk in populations with normal or mildly impaired renal function.
Cadherin Expression Is Regulated by Mechanical Phenotypes of Fibroblasts in the Perivascular Matrix
Authors: Bala Vaishali , Patel Vidhi , Sewell-Loftin Mary Kathryn
Published: May 2024

Introduction: The influence of mechanical forces generated by stromal cells in the perivascular matrix is thought to be a key regulator in controlling blood vessel growth. Cadherins are mechanosensors that facilitate and maintain cell-cell interactions and blood vessel integrity, but little is known about how stromal cells regulate cadherin signaling in the vasculature. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between mechanical phenotypes of stromal cells with cadherin expression in 3D tissue engineering models of vascular growth. Methods: Stromal cell lines were subjected to a bead displacement assay to track matrix distortions and characterize mechanical phenotypes in 3D microtissue models. These cells included human ventricular cardiac (NHCF), dermal (NHDF), lung (NHLF), breast cancer-associated (CAF), and normal breast fibroblasts (NBF). Cells were embedded in a fibrin matrix (10 mg/mL) with fluorescent tracker beads; images were collected every 30 min. We also studied endothelial cells (ECs) in co-culture with mechanically active or inactive stromal cells and quantified N-Cad, OB-Cad, and VE-Cad expression using immunofluorescence. Results: Bead displacement studies identified mechanically active stromal cells (CAFs, NHCFs, NHDFs) that generate matrix distortions and mechanically inactive cells (NHLFs, NBFs). CAFs, NHCFs, and NHDFs displaced the matrix with an average magnitude of 3.17 ± 0.11 μm, 3.13 ± 0.06 μm, and 2.76 ± 0.05 μm, respectively, while NHLFs and NBFs displaced the matrix with an average of 1.82 ± 0.05 μm and 2.66 ± 0.06 μm in fibrin gels. Compared to ECs only, CAFs + ECs as well as NBFs + ECs in 3D co-culture significantly decreased expression of VE-Cad; in addition, Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient for N-Cad and VE-Cad showed a strong correlation (>0.7), suggesting cadherin colocalization. Using a microtissue model, we demonstrated that mechanical phenotypes associated with increased matrix deformations correspond to enhanced angiogenic growth. The results could suggest a mechanism to control tight junction regulation in developing vascular beds for tissue engineering scaffolds or understanding vascular growth during developmental processes. Conclusion: Our studies provide novel data for how mechanical phenotype of stromal cells in combination with secreted factor profiles is related to cadherin regulation, localization, and vascularization potential in 3D microtissue models.
A Youthful Touch: Reversal of Aging Hallmarks by Cell Reprogramming
Authors: Miliotou Eleni , de Lázaro Irene
Published: May 2024

Background: With the elderly population projected to double by 2050, there is an urgent need to address the increasing prevalence of age-related debilitating diseases and ultimately minimize discrepancies between the rising lifespan and stagnant health span. Cellular reprogramming by overexpression of Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2, and cMyc (OKSM) transcription factors is gaining attention in this context thanks to demonstrated rejuvenating effects in human cell cultures and live mice, many of which can be uncoupled from dedifferentiation and loss of cell identity. Summary: Here, we review current evidence of the impact of cell reprogramming on established aging hallmarks and the underlying mechanisms that mediate these effects. We also provide a critical assessment of the challenges in translating these findings and, overall, cell reprogramming technologies into clinically translatable antiaging interventions. Key Messages: Cellular reprogramming has the potential to reverse at least partially some key hallmarks of aging. However, further research is necessary to determine the biological significance and duration of such changes and to ensure the safety of cell reprogramming as a rejuvenation approach. With this review, we hope to stimulate new research directions in the quest to extend health span effectively.