bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Bone Mineral Metabolism in Pre-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease: Quantitative Computed Tomography vs. Dual-Energy Absorptiometry and Correlation with Bone Turnover Markers
Authors: Mutis Alan Aydan , Sezer Zehra , Oz Ahmet , Karaca Cebrail , Dinçer Mevlüt Tamer , Murt Ahmet , Sag Fatma Beyza , Alagoz Selma , Sahin Serdar , Gonen Mustafa Sait , Güzel Elif , Trabulus Sinan , Seyahi Nurhan
Published: January 2025

Background and Objectives: Bone and mineral disease (BMD) is a prevalent complication of advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). The risk of fractures can be assessed via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT). This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two imaging modalities in identifying bone mineral status in individuals with pre-dialysis chronic renal disease and to assess their correlation with bone turnover markers. Materials and Methods: This controlled cross-sectional study, conducted at a single center from 2019 to 2022, assessed two groups of individuals aged 18 to 50. The patient cohort consisted of individuals with stage 4–5 chronic kidney disease, whereas the control cohort consisted of healthy participants. The participants’ bone and mineral status was evaluated using both QCT and DXA methods. Diagnostic measurements of the lumbar spine and femoral neck, obtained using DXA and QCT, were compared. Z-scores were utilized to evaluate low bone mineral density, with low Z-scores identified in either lumbar spine or femoral neck measures being seen as indicative of low bone mineral density. Results: Data from 38 participants (patient group: 18; control group: 20) who underwent QCT and/or DXA were evaluated. Thirty-three subjects were assessed using both QCT and DXA (patient group: 14; control group: 19). The median age of the patient cohort was 44 (range: 22–50), whereas the median age of the control cohort was 42 (range: 27–48) (p = 0.72). Women constituted 33% of the patient cohort and 50% of the control cohort (p = 0.23). In the patient cohort, low bone mineral density was detected in four individuals (28%) through QCT, and in just two patients (14%) through DXA. Compared to DXA, QCT identified a higher number of cases of low bone mineral density in the CKD cohort; however, no statistically significant difference was observed (p = 0.06). In addition, our study found that TRACP5b had a strong negative correlation with the DXA L1–L4 Z-score. Conclusions: This study revealed that QCT may be more sensitive than DXA for detecting low bone density in pre-dialysis CKD patients. Additionally, DXA may overestimate lumbar spine BMD in this population, and the strong negative correlation between TRACP5b levels and the DXA L1–L4 Z-score highlights the potential role of biochemical markers in assessing bone status in CKD
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Hemodialysis: Survival Comparison and Mortality-Related Factors
Authors: Lee Hwajeong , Kang Seok-Hui
Published: January 2025

Background and Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the outcome of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) by comparing the survival among HD patients with SLE, diabetes mellitus (DM), or other diseases in the Korean population. We also analyzed the factors affecting the survival of SLE patients undergoing HD. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed laboratory data from a national HD quality assessment program and claims data. The programs included maintenance HD patients aged ≥18 years. The patients were divided into three groups according to underlying comorbidities as follows: SLE (n = 569), DM (n = 24,665), and others (n = 31,004). Results: The Kaplan–Meier curve showed that the SLE group had better survival than the other two groups. Multivariate analysis showed that the hazard ratios were 0.89 (p = 0.334) in the others group and 1.32 (p = 0.015) in the DM group compared to those in the SLE group. In the SLE group, age, the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, hemoglobin, serum creatinine levels, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were associated with patient survival. Conclusions: This study showed that HD patients with SLE had better patient survival than those with DM and comparable survival with those with other diseases, except SLE or DM. In addition, age, CCI score, hemoglobin, serum creatinine level, and SBP were associated with survival in HD patients with SLE.
Enhancing Virus Filter Performance Through Pretreatment by Membrane Adsorbers
Authors: Isu Solomon , Chen Shu-Ting , Daneshpour Raheleh , Shirataki Hironobu , Strauss Daniel , Zydney Andrew L. , Qian Xianghong , Wickramasinghe Sumith Ranil
Published: January 2025

Virus filtration is used to ensure the high level of virus clearance required in the manufacture of biopharmaceutical products such as monoclonal antibodies. Flux decline during virus filtration can occur due to the formation of reversible aggregates consisting of self-assembled monomeric monoclonal antibody molecules, particularly at high antibody concentrations. While size exclusion chromatography is generally unable to detect these reversible aggregates, dynamic light scattering may be used to determine their presence. Flux decline during virus filtration may be minimized by pretreating the feed using a membrane adsorber in order to disrupt the reversible aggregates that are present. The formation of reversible aggregates is highly dependent on the monoclonal antibody and the feed conditions. For the pH values investigated here, pretreatment of the feed using a hydrophobic interaction membrane adsorber was the most effective in minimizing flux decline during virus filtration. Ion exchange membranes may also be effective if the monoclonal antibody and membrane are oppositely charged. Consequently, the effectiveness of ion exchange membrane adsorbers is much more dependent on solution pH when compared to hydrophobic interaction membrane adsorbers. Size based prefiltration was found to be ineffective at disrupting these reversible aggregates. These results can help guide the development of more effective virus filtration processes for monoclonal antibody production.
Simulation of Normally-Off Vertical GaN MOSFET with a Novel Enhanced Sidewall Channel by Selective Area Growth
Authors: Du Jiyao , Pu Taofei , Li Xiaobo , Li Liuan , Ao Jinping , Gao Hongwei
Published: January 2025

In the present study, a novel normally-off vertical GaN MOSFET with an enhanced AlGaN/GaN channel on the sidewall has been proposed using the technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulation. By using the selective area growth process, the trench structure and the enhanced sidewall channel are formed simultaneously, which is beneficial to enhance the conduction capability compared with the conventional trenched MOSFET. It demonstrates that a proper hole concentration and thickness of the p-GaN layer are key parameters to balance the threshold voltage, on-state resistance, and off-state breakdown voltage, resulting in the highest Baliga’s figure of merit value. Furthermore, a p-GaN shield layer is also adopted as a junction termination extension to modulate the electric field around the trench bottom. By optimizing the device parameters, a normally-off GaN MOSFET with good performance is designed.
Phenotypic Profiling of Selected Cellulolytic Strains to Develop a Crop Residue-Decomposing Bacterial Consortium
Authors: Shamshitov Arman , Satkevičiūtė Egidija , Decorosi Francesca , Viti Carlo , Supronienė Skaidrė
Published: January 2025

Slow decomposition rates of cereal crop residues can lead to agronomic challenges, such as nutrient immobilization, delayed soil warming, and increased pest pressures. In this regard, microbial inoculation with efficient strains offers a viable and eco-friendly solution to accelerating the decomposition process of crop residues. However, this solution often focuses mostly on selecting microorganisms based on the appropriate enzymic capabilities and neglects the metabolic versatility required to utilize both structural and non-structural components of residues. Therefore, this study aimed to address these limitations by assessing the metabolic profiles of five previously identified cellulolytic bacterial strains, including Bacillus pumilus 1G17, Micromonospora chalcea 1G49, Bacillus mobilis 5G17, Streptomyces canus 1TG5, and Streptomyces achromogenes 3TG21 using Biolog Phenotype Microarray analysis. Moreover, this study evaluated the impact of wheat straw inoculation with single strains and a bacterial consortium on soil organic carbon and nitrogen content in a pot experiment. Results revealed that, beyond the core subset of 12 carbon sources, the strains exhibited diverse metabolic capacities in utilizing 106 carbon sources. All strains demonstrated effective straw biomass degradation compared to the negative control, with significant differences detected only in oil seed rape straw biodegradation estimations. Furthermore, wheat straw inoculated with a bacterial consortium showed a significant increase in soil organic carbon content after 180 days in the pot experiment. Overall, these findings underscore the critical role of metabolic profiling in gaining a deeper understanding of microbial capabilities and addressing the complexities of residue composition and environmental variability.
In Vivo and In Vitro Studies Assessing the Antiviral Efficacy of Double Combinations Against Coxsackievirus B Infection
Authors: Stoyanova Adelina , Galabov Simeon , Makarov Vadim , Galabov Angel S.
Published: January 2025

Coxsackievirus B (CVB) infections, ranging from mild to severe diseases, lack specific antiviral treatments, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Drug therapy is an important tool for controlling enterovirus infections, but clinically effective drugs do not currently exist, mainly due to the development of drug resistance. Combination therapy with two or more drugs has the potential to successfully inhibit viral infection more effectively than either drug alone as well as delay the development of resistance. This study explores the consecutive alternating administration (CAA) scheme in mice with CVB1 infection, utilizing double antiviral combinations consisting of pleconaril and MDL-860, with guanidine hydrochloride and oxoglaucine. The CAA combinations of pleconaril achieved a survival rate, in infected mice, of up to 59%, while the combinations of MDL-860 showed no significant effects. CAA reduced mortality, prolonged mean survival time (up to 5 days), and mitigated drug resistance compared to monotherapy or simultaneous administration. Monotherapeutic courses and daily administration of double combinations had no effect. Phenotypic characterization using the IC50 marker of virus isolates from brain tissue of infected and treated mice was of particular importance for the evaluation of the CAA treatment scheme. The results show increased susceptibility of the virus isolates to the partner compounds in double CAA combinations. In contrast, virus isolates from the monotherapeutic groups manifested a diminished susceptibility to their respective compound, which signals the development of drug resistance. All data obtained prove the potential of the CAA scheme for the development of effective chemotherapy of enterovirus infections.
Clinical Evaluation of a Rapid Reciprocal-Flow PCR Assay and Real-Time PCR Assay with Quenching Probe for Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex
Authors: Kosai Kosuke , Matsumoto Keisuke , Ishikawa Takahisa , Kawamoto Yasuhide , Akamatsu Norihiko , Ota Kenji , Mitsumoto-Kaseida Fujiko , Kaku Norihito , Hasegawa Hiroo , Izumikawa Koichi , Mukae Hiroshi , Yanagihara Katsunori
Published: January 2025

This study investigated the diagnostic efficiencies of two assays for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex: (1) the reciprocal-flow real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based GeneSoC assay and (2) the real-time PCR based GENECUBE MTB assay with quenching probe. These assays were performed for stored clinical samples and results were compared with the confirmed results based on culture and COBAS TaqMan MTB assay. A total of 53 samples (20 confirmed positives and 33 confirmed negatives) were included in the performance analysis. The GeneSoC assay showed concordance in all 53 samples, regardless of specimen type, while the GENECUBE MTB assay showed concordance in 19 of the 20 confirmed positive samples and all 33 confirmed negative samples. The overall agreement was 100.0% for the GeneSoC assay and 98.1% for the GENECUBE MTB assay. Positive and negative percent agreements were 100.0% each for the GeneSoC assay and 95.0% and 100.0%, respectively, for the GENECUBE MTB assay. Both the GeneSoC and GENECUBE MTB assays exhibited excellent performance in detecting M. tuberculosis complex. The GeneSoC assay is useful for independent assays of individual samples, whereas the GENECUBE MTB assay is suitable for batch assays of multiple samples.
Changes in Lysine Methylation Contribute to the Cytotoxicity of Curcumin in Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Santarelli Roberta , Currà Paola , Di Crosta Michele , Gonnella Roberta , Gilardini Montani Maria Saveria , Cirone Mara
Published: January 2025

Epigenetic abnormalities play a critical role in colon carcinogenesis, making them a promising target for therapeutic interventions. In this study, we demonstrated that curcumin reduces colon cancer cell survival and that a decrease in lysine methylation was involved in such an effect. This correlated with the downregulation of methyltransferases EZH2, MLL1, and G9a, in both wild-type p53 (wtp53) HCT116 cells and mutant p53 (mutp53) SW480 cells, as well as SET7/9 specifically in wtp53 HCT116 cells. The effects induced by curcumin were more pronounced in wtp53 cells, where it induced a stronger apoptosis and ferroptosis. Interestingly, curcumin also reduced mutp53 expression, suggesting that it could enhance the efficacy of other therapies, particularly in overcoming drug resistance mechanisms associated with mutp53. For instance, in this study, we show that curcumin sensitized SW480 cells to SET7/9 inhibition by sinefungin, further supporting its potential as a combinatorial therapeutic agent. However, although to a lesser extent, curcumin also impaired cell survival in HCT 116 p53 null cells, suggesting that other molecular pathways or factors, beyond p53, may be involved in curcumin-induced cytotoxicity.
Achieving a Near-Infrared Absorption by A−DA’D−A Type Isoindigo-Based Small Molecular Acceptors for Organic Photovoltaics
Authors: Liu Hui , Wu Yu , Ye Dong-Nai , Chen Na , Huang Xu-Min , Liu Shi-Yong
Published: January 2025

Isoindigo (IID)-based non-fullerene acceptors, known for their broad absorption spectra and high charge carrier mobilities, play a crucial role in organic photovoltaics. In this study, two A−DA’D−A type unfused ring acceptors (URAs), IDC8CP-IC and IDC6CP-IC, were designed and synthesized using cyclopentadithiophene (CPDT) and IID core units, each functionalized with different alkyl chains (2-hexyldecyl and 2-octyldodecyl), through an atom- and step-efficient direct C–H arylation (DACH) method. Both URAs, despite the absence of non-covalent conformation locking between CPDT and IID, demonstrated favorable molecular planarity, broad absorption ranges, low band gaps, and high molar absorption coefficients. Notably, IDC6CP-IC exhibited stronger intermolecular charge transfer and J-aggregation. An organic solar cell (OSC) device based on IDC6CP-IC achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.10%, with a broad photoresponse range extending from 400 to 900 nm. This study highlights the significant impact of alkyl chain engineering on material synthesis, photoelectric properties, and corresponding device performance. Furthermore, DACH is shown to be a promising approach for synthesizing IID-based URAs with near-infrared (NIR) absorption, making it an excellent candidate for bulk heterojunction (BHJ) OSC applications.
Effect of Drying Temperature on Sensory Quality, Flavor Components, and Bioactivity of Lichuan Black Tea Processed by Echa No. 10
Authors: Su Dan , Zhu Junyu , Li Yuchuan , Qin Muxue , Lei Zhendong , Zhou Jingtao , Yu Zhi , Chen Yuqiong , Zhang De , Ni Dejiang
Published: January 2025

Lichuan black tea (LBT) is a well-known congou black tea in China, but there is relatively little research on its processing technology. Echa No. 10 is the main tea tree variety for producing LBT. This study investigated the sensory quality, flavor components, and bioactivity of Echa No. 10 Lichuan black tea (LBT) at different drying temperatures (70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, and 130 °C). During 80–120 °C, increasing the drying temperature enabled a higher sweet aroma concentration and enhanced the sweetness in the taste, in contrast to reducing the floral, fruity, and sweet aromas, and increasing the bitterness and astringency, at >120 °C. Additionally, with an increasing drying temperature, the contents of tea polyphenols and total catechins significantly decreased, with the theaflavins decreasing first and then increasing, and the alcohols, aldehydes, esters, and hydrocarbons increasing first and then decreasing. Meanwhile, compounds (including linalool, (Z)-linalool oxide (furanoid), (E)-linalool oxide (furanoid), cis-β-Ocimene, and methyl salicylate) contribute more to the floral and fruity aromas at <110 °C. Furthermore, low-temperature drying favors the antioxidant and inhibitory effects of the α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and glucose absorption activity. Both the tea quality and bioactivity results revealed 80–110 °C as the optimal drying temperature range for LBT.
Role of Copper and Zinc Ions in the Hydrolytic Degradation of Neurodegeneration-Related Peptides
Authors: Pirota Valentina , Monzani Enrico , Dell’Acqua Simone , Bacchella Chiara
Published: January 2025

Spontaneous cleavage reactions normally occur in vivo on amino acid peptide backbones, leading to fragmentation products that can have different physiological roles and toxicity, particularly when the substrate of the hydrolytic processes are neuronal peptides and proteins highly related to neurodegeneration. We report a hydrolytic study performed with the HPLC-MS technique at different temperatures (4 °C and 37 °C) on peptide fragments of different neuronal proteins (amyloid-β, tau, and α-synuclein) in physiological conditions in the presence of Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions, two metal ions found at millimolar concentrations in amyloid plaques. The coordination of these metal ions with these peptides significantly protects their backbones toward hydrolytic degradation, preserving the entire sequences over two weeks in solution, while the free peptides in the same buffer are fully fragmented after the same or even shorter incubation period. Our data show that peptide cleavage is not only ruled by the chemical sensitivity of amino acids, but the peptide conformation changes induced by metal coordination influence hydrolytic reactions. The enhanced stability of neuronal peptides provided by metal coordination can increase local levels of amyloidogenic species capable of seeding fibril growth, resulting in aberrant protein depositions and deficits in neuronal activity.
2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid in the Gas and Crystal Phases and Its Intercalation in Montmorillonite—An Experimental and Theoretical Study
Authors: Sainz-Díaz Claro Ignacio , Jorge Nelly L. , Romero Jorge M. , Grand André , Hernández-Laguna Alfonso
Published: January 2025

Many properties of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) depend on its molecular environment, such as whether it is an isolated molecule, a dimer, or in a crystalline state. The molecular geometry, conformational analysis, and vibrational spectrum of 2,4-D were theoretically calculated using Density Functional Theory (DFT) methods. A new slightly more stable conformer was found, which is different to those previously reported. The most stable conformer shows a dimer by means of hydrogen bonds between the carboxylic groups of both molecules, which agrees with the experimental results. The crystal structure of 2,4-D was also calculated with 3D periodical boundary conditions at the DFT level. From the theoretical IR spectra, a vibrational analysis of this molecular species was accomplished, and the bands were reassigned. 1H and 13C NMR in the dissolution and solid states, respectively, showed intramolecular hydrogen bonds between carboxylic acid groups. The dimer is more stable than the isolated molecule. All these results indicated that the dimer can also exist in the solid state, which could explain the low solubility of this compound. In addition, the intercalation of 2,4-D into the confined interlayer space of montmorillonite was also calculated, and it was found that the adsorption is energetically favourable. This result was experimentally confirmed. These findings predicted that these natural clay minerals, which are found in the environment, can be excellent adsorbents for the 2,4-D pollutant.
A Microfabrication Technique for High-Performance Diffractive Optical Elements Tailored for Numerical Simulation
Authors: Dai Xingang , Hu Yanjun , Niu Bowen , Dai Qun , Ao Yu , Zhang Hongru , Jing Gaoshan , Li Yuan , Fan Guofang
Published: January 2025

Diffractive optical elements (DOEs) are specialized optical components that manipulate light through diffraction for various applications, including holography, spectroscopy, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), and light detection and ranging (LiDAR). The performance of DOEs is highly determined by fabricated materials and fabrication methods, in addition to the numerical simulation design. This paper presents a microfabrication technique optimized for DOEs, enabling precise control of critical parameters, such as refractive index (RI) and thickness. Using photolithography, we fabricated high-precision photoresist patterns on silicon and sapphire substrates, with 3 × 3 and 3 × 5 DOE beam splitter as examples. The results show a strong match between simulation and experimental data, with discrepancies of just 0.53% and 0.57% for DOE on silicon and sapphire substrates, respectively. This approach offers potential for advancing high-performance DOE devices in semiconductor manufacturing, supporting next-generation optical systems.
Mid-Infrared High-Power InGaAsSb/AlGaInAsSb Multiple-Quantum-Well Laser Diodes Around 2.9 μm
Authors: Yu Hongguang , Yang Chengao , Chen Yihang , Shi Jianmei , Cao Juntian , Geng Zhengqi , Wang Zhiyuan , Wen Haoran , Zhang Enquan , Zhang Yu , Tan Hao , Wu Donghai , Xu Yingqiang , Ni Haiqiao , Niu Zhichuan
Published: January 2025

Antimonide laser diodes, with their high performance above room temperature, exhibit significant potential for widespread applications in the mid-infrared spectral region. However, the laser’s performance significantly degrades as the emission wavelength increases, primarily due to severe quantum-well hole leakage and significant non-radiative recombination. In this paper, we put up an active region with a high valence band offset and excellent crystalline quality with high luminescence to improve the laser’s performance. The miscibility gap of the InGaAsSb alloy was systematically investigated by calculating the critical temperatures based on the delta lattice parameter model. As the calculation results show, In0.54Ga0.46As0.23Sb0.77, with a compressive strain of 1.74%, used as the quantum well, is out of the miscibility gap with no spinodal decomposition. The quantum wells exhibit high crystalline quality, as evidenced by distinct satellite peaks in XRD curves with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 56 arcseconds for the zeroth-order peak, a smooth surface with a root mean square (RMS) roughness of 0.19 nm, room-temperature photoluminescence with high luminous efficiency and narrow FHWM of 35 meV, and well-defined interfaces. These attributes effectively suppress non-radiative recombination, thereby enhancing internal quantum efficiency in the antimonide laser. Furthermore, a novel epitaxial laser structure was designed to acquire low optical absorption loss by decreasing the optical confinement factor in the cladding layer and implementing gradient doping in the p-type cladding layer. The continuous-wave output power of 310 mW was obtained at an injection current of 4.6 A and a heatsink temperature of 15 °C from a 1500 × 100 μm2 single emitter. The external quantum efficiency of 53% was calculated with a slope efficiency of 0.226 W/A considering both of the uncoated facets. More importantly, the lasing wavelength of our laser exhibited a significant blue shift from 3.4 μm to 2.9 μm, which agrees with our calculated results when modeling the interdiffusion process in a quantum well. Therefore, the interdiffusion process must be considered for proper design and epitaxy to achieve mid-infrared high-power and high-efficiency antimonide laser diodes.
Trajectories of Nutritional Quality, Diet-Related Environmental Impact, and Diet Cost in China: How Much Does Ultra-Processed Food and Drink Consumption Matter?
Authors: Chang Zhiyao , Talsma Elise F. , Cai Hongyi , Fan Shenggen , Ni Yuanying , Wen Xin , van ‘t Veer Pieter , Biesbroek Sander
Published: January 2025

Background: Rapid socio-economic developments confront China with a rising consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and ultra-processed drinks (UPDs). This study aims to evaluate their potential impact on diet transformation towards sustainability including nutrition, environmental sustainability, and diet-related cost. Methods: Dietary intake was assessed by 24 h recalls in 27,311 participants (age: 40.5 ± 19.7; female, 51.1%) in the China Health and Nutrition Survey 1997–2011. The nutrient quality, environmental sustainability (greenhouse gas emission (GHGE), total water use (TWU), land use (LU), and diet cost were assessed as diet-related sustainability indicators. Foods and drinks were classified according to the degree of processing based on NOVA. Two-level mixed effects models were applied to explore the secular trends of the sustainability indicators being nested within random effect (individual level). Results: UPFs and UPDs are less nutrient-dense, containing more energy, sodium, and added sugar compared to unprocessed or minimally processed foods and drinks (MPFs and MPDs). UPFs and UPDs were higher for GHGE and TWU but lower for LU. Costs of UPDs tripled those of MPDs. In the period of 1997–2011, the percentage of UPFs and UPDs per 2000 kcal increased for both sexes. The increase in UPFs and UPDs was associated with a lower nutrient quality but a higher environmental impact and diet cost. Conclusions: From 1997 to 2011, there was a significant increase in the consumption of UPFs and UPDs in China. This trend had negative impacts on both the nutrient quality and environmental impact; meanwhile, it led to increased diet costs. Policies to reduce the production and consumption of UPFs and UPDs should be reinforced by making alternatives for ultra-processed breakfast cereals, snacks, and alcoholic beverages available and acceptable. Additionally, instead of only focusing on high-UPFD consumers, attention is needed on the currently low-UPFD consumers as their consumption has been growing rapidly in the last decades.
Dietary Intake, Mediterranean and Nordic Diet Adherence in Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: A Systematic Review
Authors: Christodoulou Christiana C. , Pitsillides Michalis , Hadjisavvas Andreas , Zamba-Papanicolaou Eleni
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Dementia is not a single disease but an umbrella term that encompasses a range of symptoms, such as memory loss and cognitive impairments, which are severe enough to disrupt daily life. One of the most common forms of dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), a complex neurodegenerative condition influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Recent research has highlighted diet as a potential modifiable risk factor for AD. Decades of research have explored the role of dietary patterns, including the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and its components, in neuroprotection and cognitive health. Systematic review examines studies investigating the impact of the Mediterranean Diet, Mediterranean-like diets, the Nordic Diet (ND), dietary intake patterns, and specific components such as extra virgin olive oil and rapeseed oil on cognitive function, disease onset, and progression in AD and dementia. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, the Directory of Open Access Journals, and the Social Science Research Network was conducted independently by two reviewers using predefined search terms. The search period included studies from 2006 to 2024. Eligible studies meeting the inclusion criteria were systematically reviewed, yielding 88 studies: 85 focused on the MD and its relationship to AD and dementia, while only 3 investigated the ND. Results: The findings suggest that adherence to the Mediterranean and Nordic diets is generally associated with improved cognitive function and delayed cognitive decline and that adherence to both these diets can improve cognitive function. Some studies identified that higher legume consumption decreased dementia incidence, while fruits and vegetables, carbohydrates, and eggs lowered dementia prevalence. Most studies demonstrated that high MD or ND adherence was associated with better cognitive function and a lower risk of poor cognition in comparison to individuals with lower MD or ND adherence. However, some studies reported no significant benefits of the MD on cognitive outcomes, while two studies indicated that higher red meat consumption was linked to better cognitive function. Conclusion: Despite promising trends, the evidence remains varying across studies, underscoring the need for further research to establish definitive associations between diet and cognitive function. These findings highlight the essential role of dietary interventions in the prevention and management of dementia and AD, therefore offering critical insights into the underlying mechanisms by which the diet may impact brain health.
Three-Dimensional Morphological Characterisation of Human Cortical Organoids Using a Customised Image Analysis Workflow
Authors: Handcock Sarah , Richards Kay , Karle Timothy J. , Kairath Pamela , Soch Alita , Chavez Carolina A. , Petrou Steven , Maljevic Snezana
Published: January 2025

Summary Statement: A tailored image analysis workflow was applied to quantify cortical organoid health, development, morphology and cellular composition over time. The assessment of cellular composition and viability of stem cell-derived organoid models is a complex but essential approach to understanding the mechanisms of human development and disease. Aim: Our study was motivated by the need for an image-analysis workflow, including high-cell content, high-throughput methods, to measure the architectural features of developing organoids. We assessed stem cell-derived cortical organoids at 4 and 6 months post-induction using immunohistochemistry-labelled sections as the analysis testbed. The workflow leveraged fluorescence imaging tailored to classify cells as viable and dying or non-viable and assign neuronal and astrocytic perinuclear markers to count cells. Results/Outcomes: Image acquisition was accelerated by capturing the organoid slice in 3D using widefield-fluorescence microscopy. This method used computational clearing to resolve nuclear and perinuclear markers and retain their spatial information within the organoid’s heterogeneous structure. The customised workflow analysed over 1.5 million cells using DAPI-stained nuclei, filtering and quantifying viable and non-viable cells and the necrotic-core regions. Temporal analyses of neuronal cell number derived from perinuclear labelling were consistent with organoid maturation from 4 to 6 months of in vitro differentiation. Overall: We have provided a comprehensive and enhanced image analysis workflow for organoid structural evaluation, creating the ability to gather cellular-level statistics in control and disease models.
Synthesis of Arginase Inhibitors: An Overview
Authors: Molaro Maria Cristina , Battisegola Chiara , Schiano Marica Erminia , Failla Mariacristina , Rimoli Maria Grazia , Lazzarato Loretta , Chegaev Konstantin , Sodano Federica
Published: January 2025

Arginase (ARG) is a binuclear manganese-containing metalloenzyme that can convert L-arginine to L-ornithine and urea and plays a key role in the urea cycle. It also mediates different cellular functions and processes such as proliferation, senescence, apoptosis, autophagy, and inflammatory responses in various cell types. In mammals, there are two isoenzymes, ARG-1 and ARG-2; they are functionally similar, but their coding genes, tissue distribution, subcellular localization, and molecular regulation are distinct. In recent decades, the abnormal expression of ARG-1 or ARG-2 has been reported to be increasingly linked to a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer. Therefore, considering the current relevance of this topic and the need to address the growing demand for new and more potent ARG inhibitors in the context of various diseases, this review was conceived. We will provide an overview of all classes of ARG inhibitors developed so far including compounds of synthetic, natural, and semisynthetic origin. For the first time, the synthesis protocol and optimized reaction conditions of each molecule, including those reported in patent applications, will be described. For each molecule, its inhibitory activity in terms of IC50 towards ARG-1 and ARG-2 will be reported specifying the type of assay conducted.
Spermine Significantly Increases the Transfection Efficiency of Cationic Polymeric Gene Vectors
Authors: Lv Yue , Xue Jiaoqin , Cui Pengfei , Qiu Lin
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Non-viral vectors have gained recognition for their ability to enhance the safety of gene delivery processes. Among these, polyethyleneimine (PEI) stands out as the most widely utilized cationic polymer due to its accessibility. Traditional methods of modifying PEI, such as ligand conjugation, chemical derivatization, and cross-linking, are associated with intricate preparation procedures, limited transfection efficiency, and suboptimal biocompatibility. Methods: In this investigation, enhanced transfection efficiency was achieved through the straightforward physical blending of PEI carriers with spermine. Results: Transfection assays explored the maximal enhancement potential conferred by spermine, alongside further methodological refinements aimed at optimizing transfection efficacy, showcasing a potential increase of up to 40.7%. Through the comparison of different addition sequences of spermine, the optimal complex PEI/Spermine/DNA for transfection efficiency was selected. Characterization of PEI/Spermine/DNA revealed that, compared to PEI/DNA, its particle size increased to approximately 150 nm. Molecular dynamics simulation results revealed that spermine can enhance the interaction between PEI and DNA, thereby forming a system with lower energy and greater stability. Mechanistic inquiries studies also disclosed that spermine augments the endosomal escape capability of PEI carriers without altering pathways involved in the cellular uptake of gene nanoparticles, thereby facilitating heightened gene expression. Conclusions: PEI-Sper emerges as a promising non-viral vector for gene delivery, distinguished by its simplicity in preparation, cost-effectiveness, and superior transfection efficiency.
Dual Regulation of Ionic Effect on Zostera marina L. Seed Germination and Leaf Differentiation in Low-Salinity Conditions
Authors: Li Peilong , Gao Yaping , Jiang Zengjie , Wang Linjie , Sun Xiaoli , Wang Jiaqi , Wang Jing , Sui Haidong , Wang Junwei , Zhang Yitao
Published: January 2025

Low-salinity conditions are generally used in land-based cultivation to promote the germination and growth of Zostera marina L. and to improve the restoration effect of seagrass beds. Different salinity conditions lead to morphological and physiological differences. To investigate the impacts of salinity and osmotic pressure on the germination and early development of Zostera marina seeds, this study utilized seawater with different salinity conditions and PEG-6000 solutions to simulate various non-ionic osmotic pressures and examine the germination, cotyledon growth, and leaf differentiation over 28 days, as well as determine the biochemical traits on days 1, 3, 5, and 7. The results show that the cumulative germination rate in LS-0 was 91.6%, but it was not significantly affected by the PEG solutions. The different salinities (5, 10, and 15) had no significant effect on the germination rate, which ranged from 76.4% to 78.8%: low salinity and low osmotic pressure stimulated the germination by accelerating the water uptake through increased osmotic pressure differences. The leaf differentiation was regulated by the osmotic pressure and salinity. In LS-10, the most used condition, the leaf differentiation rate was 35.2%, while PEG-10 displayed 6.4%. The total soluble sugar and soluble protein in the seeds decreased. Antioxidant enzyme activities were activated under low-salinity conditions, which supported germination within a tolerable oxidative stress range.
(aS)-Glucosciadopitysin, a New Biflavonoid Glycoside from the Leaves of Ginkgo biloba and Osteogenic Activity of Bioflavonoids
Authors: Jeong Se Yun , Lee Kwang Ho , Kim Seon Hee , Yang Min Hye , Lee Gakyung , Kim Ki Hyun
Published: January 2025

The leaves of Ginkgo biloba have been used in treating freckles and effectively reducing cough and sputum in folk medicines. Recently, investigations into the correlation between ginkgo leaves and the proliferative activity of osteogenic differentiation have been conducted. However, bioactive compounds that enhance osteogenesis or exhibit osteoporosis prevention from G. biloba have not been fully identified. Phytochemical investigation of the MeOH extract of G. biloba leaves led to the isolation and identification of a new biflavonoid glycoside, (aS)-glucosciadopitysin (1), along with five flavonoids (2–6), through LC/MS-guided isolation approach. The structure of the new compound 1 was elucidated by the spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR analysis, as well as HR-ESIMS. The absolute configuration of sugar moiety was established through acid hydrolysis, followed by chemical derivatization reaction and the axial chirality arising from the biaryl system with substituents was determined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. The isolated flavonoids (1–6) were tested for their effects on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation at 20 μM using Oil Red O and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining. Ginkgetin (2) was further evaluated for osteogenic activity on C3H10T1/2 cells at concentrations of 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 μM for 10 days. ALP staining and RT-PCR assessed the gene expression of osteogenic markers ALP and osteopontin (OPN). Ginkgetin (2) demonstrated the strongest osteogenic activity, significantly increasing the expression of ALP (12.5-fold) and OPN (4.0-fold) at 10 μM, comparable to the positive control, oryzativol A. Ginkgetin (2) shows potential as a therapeutic agent for osteopenia by promoting osteogenesis in MSCs, suggesting its promising role in treating osteoporosis.
Synthesis of P(AM/AA/SSS/DMAAC-16) and Studying Its Performance as a Fracturing Thickener in Oilfields
Authors: Wang Shuai , Wu Lanbing , Zhang Lu , Zhao Yaui , Qu Le , Li Yongfei , Li Shanjian , Chen Gang
Published: January 2025

In order to solve the problems of long dissolution and preparation time, cumbersome preparation, and easy moisture absorption and deterioration during storage or transportation, acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AA), sodium p-styrene sulfonate (SSS), and cetyl dimethylallyl ammonium chloride (DMAAC-16) were selected as raw materials, and the emulsion thickener P(AM/AA/SSS), which can be instantly dissolved in water and rapidly thickened, was prepared by the reversed-phase emulsion polymerization method. DMAAC-16, the influence of emulsifier dosage, oil–water ratio, monomer molar ratio, monomer dosage, aqueous pH, initiator dosage, reaction temperature, reaction time, and other factors on the experiment was explored by a single-factor experiment, and the optimal process was determined as follows: the oil–water volume ratio was 0.4, the emulsifier dosage was 7% of the oil phase mass, the initiator dosage was 0.03% of the total mass of the reaction system, the reaction time was 4 h, the reaction temperature was 50 °C, the aqueous pH was 6.5, and the monomer dosage was 30% of the total mass of the reaction system (monomeric molar ratio n(AM):n(AA):n(SSS):n(DMAAC-16) = 79.2:20:0.5:0.3). X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy analysis were carried out on the polymerization products. At the same time, a series of performance test experiments such as thickening performance, temperature and shear resistance, salt resistance, sand suspension performance, core damage performance, and fracturing fluid flowback fluid reuse were carried out to evaluate the comprehensive effect and efficiency of the synthetic products, and the results show that the P(AM/AA/SSS/DMAAC-16) polymer had excellent solubility and excellent properties such as temperature and shear resistance.
Multiscale Numerical Study of Enhanced Ductility Ratios and Capacity in Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Concrete Beams for Safety Design
Authors: Maidi Moab , Sherzer Gili Lifshitz , Gal Erez
Published: January 2025

Rigid reinforced concrete (RC) frames are generally adopted as stiff elements to make the building structures resistant to seismic forces. However, a method has yet to be fully sought to provide earthquake resistance through optimizing beam and column performance in a rigid frame. Due to its high corrosion resistance, the integration of CFRP offers an opportunity to reduce frequent repairs and increase durability. This paper presents the structural response of CFRP beams integrated into rigid frames when subjected to seismic events. Without any design provision for CFRP systems in extreme events, multiscale simulations and parametric analyses were performed to optimize the residual state and global performance. Macroparameters, represented by the ductility ratio and microfactors, have been analyzed using a customized version of the modified compression field theory (MCFT). The main parameters considered were reinforcement under tension and compression, strength of concrete, height-to-width ratio, section cover, and confinement level, all of which are important to understand their influence on seismic performance. The parametric analysis results highlight the increased ductility and higher load-carrying capacity of the CFRP-reinforced tested component compared to the RC component. These results shed light on the possibility of designing CFRP-reinforced concrete components that could improve ductile frames with increased energy dissipation and be suitable for applications in non-corrosive seismic-resistant buildings. This also shows reduced brittleness and enhancement in the failure mode. Numerical simulations and experimental results showed a strong correlation with a deviation of about 8.3%, underlining the reliability of the proposed approach for designing seismic-resistant CFRP-reinforced structures.
Improved Honey Badger Algorithm Based on Elite Tangent Search and Differential Mutation with Applications in Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Ting He , Yong Chang , Peng Chen
Published: January 2025

This paper presents a critique of the Honey Badger Algorithm (HBA) with regard to its limited exploitation capabilities, susceptibility to local optima, and inadequate pre-exploration mechanisms. In order to address these issues, we propose the Improved Honey Badger Algorithm (IHBA), which integrates the Elite Tangent Search Algorithm (ETSA) and differential mutation strategies. Our approach employs cubic chaotic mapping in the initialization phase and a random value perturbation strategy in the pre-iterative stage to enhance exploration and prevent premature convergence. In the event that the optimal population value remains unaltered across three iterations, the elite tangent search with differential variation is employed to accelerate convergence and enhance precision. Comparative experiments on partial CEC2017 test functions demonstrate that the IHBA achieves faster convergence, greater accuracy, and improved robustness. Moreover, the IHBA is applied to the fault diagnosis of rolling bearings in electric motors to construct the IHBA-VMD-CNN-BiLSTM fault diagnosis model, which quickly and accurately identifies fault types. Experimental verification confirms that this method enhances the speed and accuracy of rolling bearing fault identification compared to traditional approaches.
Enhancement of Sulfur Autotrophic Denitrification by Solid-State Carbon Source PHBV for Nitrate Removal of Aquaculture Wastewater
Authors: Pan Boning , Xu Ligang
Published: January 2025

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a solid slow-release carbon source (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate, PHBV) on heterotrophic and sulfur autotrophic cooperative denitrification (HAD) of aquaculture wastewater. Batch tests were carried out to analyze the effect of different PHBV/S volume ratios in the range of 30–70% on the denitrification of synthetic aquaculture wastewater under a short hydraulic retention time (HRT). The performance of the HAD process showed that the NO3−-N removal was increased with an increase in the PHBV/S volume ratio. When the PHBV/S ratio reached 70%, the average NO3−-N concentration of effluent was 0.38 mg/L in the stable phase. The variation in pH and alkalinity showed that the average pH value and residual alkalinity were above 7.03 and 57.63 mg/L at the PHBV/S ratio of 50%. Based on the relationship between sulfate generation and nitrate removal under different ratios of PHBV/S, analysis of the proportion of autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrification (HD) showed that sulfur autotraophic denitrification (SAD) was enhanced at a PHBV/S ratio of 50%, and competition for nitrate substrates occurred between autotrophic and heterotrophic at a PHBV/S ratio of 70%.
Social Media Analysis of High-Impact Information and Communication Journals: Adoption, Use, and Content Curation
Authors: Cascón-Katchadourian Jesús , Guallar Javier , Artigas Wileidys
Published: January 2025

The use of social media to disseminate academic content is increasing, particularly in scientific journals. This study has the following two main objectives: first, exploring the use of social media by high-impact academic journals in two different SJR categories (Library and Information Sciences and Communication), and second, analyzing content curation carried out by the world’s most influential journals in both areas. The research methodology is descriptive with a quantitative approach regarding the items studied. The study finds that COM journals have a stronger social media presence than LIS journals, and X dominates in both categories and regions as the top social network, with significant influence as the only platform. On the other hand, content curation was found to a high degree in both areas, especially in the LIS area, with 93% vs. 80% in COM. The study highlights that both COM and LIS journals primarily focus on promoting recent articles, with COM diversifying content more than LIS. In terms of the content curation techniques used in both areas, the majority are abstracting and summarizing.