bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Spatial–Temporal Effects of Bacterial Growth Substrates on Antibiotic Resistance Gene Spread in the Biofilm
Authors: Liu Shuzhen , Liu Bingwen , Zhu Yin , Qiu Yong , Li Bing
Published: July 2023

Biofilm is considered as the hotspot of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) dissemination. Bacterial growth substrates are important factors for biofilm formation, but its spatial–temporal effects on ARG spread in biofilm is still unclear. In this study, microfluidics combined with microscopic observation were used to reveal spatial–temporal effects of bacterial growth substrates on ARG transfer at real time. The initial horizontal gene transfer events were found to be independent of substrate levels. However, subsequent transfer processes varied greatly depending on the availability of growth substrates. The proportion of transconjugants was much higher (~12%) when observed in substrate-rich regions (under the channel) at 24 h, followed by an exponential decline, with the distance far from the channel. Furthermore, three-dimensional observation revealed that vertical gene transfer influenced by the concentrations of bacterial growth substrates was important for ARG spread in biofilm. The transfer frequency was 8.2 times higher in the high substrate concentration (50×) compared to low concentration (0.5×) in simulated sewage, underscoring the substantial impact of bacterial growth substrate variability on ARG dissemination. This study is helpful for in-depth understanding of ARG dissemination through biofilms and indicates that reducing pollutant emission is important for ARG control in the environment.
Melatonin Improves Turbot Oocyte Meiotic Maturation and Antioxidant Capacity, Inhibits Apoptosis-Related Genes mRNAs In Vitro
Authors: Zhang Jiarong , Li Feixia , Zhang Xiaoyu , Xie Ting , Qin Hongyu , Lv Junxian , Gao Yunhong , Li Mingyue , Gao Yuntao , Jia Yudong
Published: July 2023

High-quality eggs are essential for the sustainability of commercial aquaculture production. Melatonin is a potent candidate for regulating the growth and maturation of oocytes. Therefore, research on the effect of melatonin on marine fish oocytes in vitro has been conducted. The present study successfully established a culture system of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) oocytes in vitro and investigated the effect of melatonin on oocyte meiotic maturation, antioxidant capacity, and the expression of apoptosis-related genes. The cultures showed that turbot Scophthalmus maximus late-vitellogenic denuded oocytes, with diameters of 0.5–0.7 mm, had a low spontaneous maturation rate and exhibited a sensitive response to 17α, 20β-dihydroxyprogesterone (DHP) treatment in vitro. Melatonin increased by four times the rate of oocyte germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The mRNA of melatonin receptor 1 (mtnr1) was significantly upregulated in the oocyte and follicle after treatment with melatonin (4.3 × 10−9 M) for 24 h in vitro, whereas melatonin receptor 2 (mtnr2) and melatonin receptor 3 (mtnr3) remained unchanged. In addition, melatonin significantly increased the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase, as well as the levels of glutathione, while decreasing the levels of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in turbot oocytes and follicles cultures in vitro. p53, caspase3, and bax mRNAs were significantly downregulated in oocytes and follicles, whereas bcl2 mRNAs were significantly upregulated. In conclusion, the use of turbot late-vitellogenesis oocytes (0.5–0.7 mm) is suitable for establishing a culture system in vitro. Melatonin promotes oocyte meiotic maturation and antioxidative capacity and inhibits apoptosis via the p53-bax-bcl2 and caspase-dependent pathways, which have important potential to improve the maturation and quality of oocytes.
The Radical Scavenging Activities and Anti-Wrinkle Effects of Soymilk Fractions Fermented with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei MK1 and Their Derived Peptides
Authors: Lee Sulhee , Choi Sang-Pil , Jeong Huijin , Yu Won Kyu , Kim Sang Won , Park Young-Seo
Published: July 2023

Soybean-derived peptides exert several beneficial effects in various experimental models. However, only a few studies have focused on the radical scavenging and anti-wrinkle effects of soymilk-derived peptides produced via different processes, such as fermentation, enzymatic treatment, and ultrafiltration. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the radical scavenging and antiwrinkle effects of soymilk fractions produced using these processes. We found that 50SFMKUF5, a 5 kDa ultrafiltration fraction fermented with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei MK1 after flavourzyme treatment, exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay as well as potent anti-wrinkle effects assessed by type 1 procollagen production and tumor necrosis factor-α production in ultraviolet B (UVB)-treated human dermal fibroblasts and HaCaT keratinocytes. To identify potential bioactive peptides, candidate peptides were synthesized, and their anti-wrinkle effects were assessed. APEFLKEAFGVN (APE), palmitoyl-APE, and QIVTVEGGLSVISPK peptides were synthesized and used to treat UVB-irradiated fibroblasts, HaCaT keratinocytes, and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced B16F1 melanoma cells. Among these peptides, Pal-APE exerted the strongest effect. Our results highlight the potential of soymilk peptides as anti-aging substances.
Increased Hirsutella citriformis Conidia Shelf Life in Acacia and Hirsutella Gum Formulations
Authors: Flores-Villarreal Rosa A. , Orozco-Flores Alonso A. , Cantú-Bernal Servando H. , Gomez-Flores Ricardo , Pérez-González Orquídea , Tamez-Guerra Patricia
Published: July 2023

Biological control by beneficial microorganisms is known to significantly reduce the effect of pests on crops yield. Among the biocontrol strategies is the use of entomopathogenic fungi such as Hirsutella citriformis, which has been applied to infect and kill hemipteran insect pests, including Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) and Bactericera cockerelli Sulc. (Hemiptera: Triozidae). These biological agents are applied in the form of conidia that are often combined with other inert materials to facilitate application, protect conidia, and improve their shelf life. The aim of this study was to implement strategies for developing formulations to increase conidia shelf life. We evaluated gum produced from one strain and conidia from two different H. citriformis strains. Conidia were formulated by evaluating different concentrations of Acacia and Hirsutella gums to enhance conidia viability during storage at 4 °C or 25 °C. Results indicated that formulations maintained conidia viability for at least 90 d after storage at 25 °C (≥70% viability) and at least 120 d after storage at 4 °C, which was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher than that of the control, without observing changes in pH values. We also demonstrated 100% formulation purity from days 0 to 120, among all treatments. In conclusion, evaluated formulations maintained H. citriformis conidia viability for at least three months, when stored at 4 °C.
Finite-Time Height Control of Quadrotor UAVs
Authors: Zhao Shuaihe , Xia Yuanqing , Ma Liqun , Yang Hongjiu
Published: July 2023

The quadrotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) belongs to an open-loop unstable nonlinear system, which also has the characteristics of underdrive, strong coupling and external disturbance. In the height control of quadrotor UAVs, the traditional sliding mode control (SMC) and PID methods cannot quickly and effectively eliminate disturbance effects caused by gust, aerodynamic drag and other factors, which indicates that the quadrotor UAV cannot return to its predetermined trajectory. To this end, this paper proposes a dual closed-loop finite-time height control method for the quadrotor UAV. The proposed method is able to estimate and compensate for the disturbance in the height control and make up for the lack of anti-disturbance ability in the control process. More specifically, a finite-time Extended State Observer (ESO) and a finite-time super-twisting controller are designed for the velocity control system to compensate for the total disturbance and track the rapidly changing expected signal. An integral sliding mode controller is designed for the height control system. Simulation results show that the proposed method can reduce the chattering phenomenon of traditional SMC and improve both control accuracy and convergence speed.
Bi-LS-AttM: A Bidirectional LSTM and Attention Mechanism Model for Improving Image Captioning
Authors: Xie Tian , Ding Weiping , Zhang Jinbao , Wan Xusen , Wang Jiehua
Published: July 2023

The discipline of automatic image captioning represents an integration of two pivotal branches of artificial intelligence, namely computer vision (CV) and natural language processing (NLP). The principal functionality of this technology lies in transmuting the extracted visual features into semantic information of a higher order. The bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) has garnered wide acceptance in executing image captioning tasks. Of late, scholarly attention has been focused on modifying suitable models for innovative and precise subtitle captions, although tuning the parameters of the model does not invariably yield optimal outcomes. Given this, the current research proposes a model that effectively employs the bidirectional LSTM and attention mechanism (Bi-LS-AttM) for image captioning endeavors. This model exploits the contextual comprehension from both anterior and posterior aspects of the input data, synergistically with the attention mechanism, thereby augmenting the precision of visual language interpretation. The distinctiveness of this research is embodied in its incorporation of Bi-LSTM and the attention mechanism to engender sentences that are both structurally innovative and accurately reflective of the image content. To enhance temporal efficiency and accuracy, this study substitutes convolutional neural networks (CNNs) with fast region-based convolutional networks (Fast RCNNs). Additionally, it refines the process of generation and evaluation of common space, thus fostering improved efficiency. Our model was tested for its performance on Flickr30k and MSCOCO datasets (80 object categories). Comparative analyses of performance metrics reveal that our model, leveraging the Bi-LS-AttM, surpasses unidirectional and Bi-LSTM models. When applied to caption generation and image-sentence retrieval tasks, our model manifests time economies of approximately 36.5% and 26.3% vis-a-vis the Bi-LSTM model and the deep Bi-LSTM model, respectively.
Comparison of Fruit Quality Criteria and Heavy Metal Contents of Strawberries Grown in Organic and Conventional Agriculture
Authors: Şener Sevinç , Cantemur Mehmet Hadi
Published: July 2023

People often consume organic foods because they believe they are healthier and tastier foods. Agricultural products consumed by humans may contain harmful components such as chemical residues and heavy metals. The aim of this study is to compare the fruit quality parameters and heavy metal contents of strawberries grown in organic and conventional agriculture. Fruit, soil and water samples were taken from 10 organic and 10 conventional strawberry farms in the Hüyük district, located in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey, in 2019–2020. The fruit quality parameters of the obtained fruit samples were examined and it was determined whether there were significant differences in fruit, soil and water contents in terms of Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd. According to the study findings, fruit quality parameters were found to be higher in organic strawberries. Additionally, it was determined that there was Zn and Cu accumulation in both organic and conventional strawberry fruits, but the heavy metal accumulation did not exceed the acceptable limit. According to these results, it can be said that the products grown in the region where organic strawberry cultivation is intense do not show pollution in terms of heavy metals.
Content-Based Approach for Improving Bloom Filter Efficiency
Authors: Alsuhaibani Mohammed , Khan Rehan Ullah , Qamar Ali Mustafa , Alsuhibany Suliman A.
Published: July 2023

Bloom filters are a type of data structure that is used to test whether or not an element is a member of a set. They are known for being space-efficient and are commonly employed in various applications, such as network routers, web browsers, and databases. These filters work by allowing a fixed probability of incorrectly identifying an element as being a member of the set, known as the false positive rate (FPR). However, traditional bloom filters suffer from a high FPR and extensive memory usage, which can lead to incorrect query results and a slow performance. Thus, this study indicates that a content-based strategy could be a practical solution for these challenges. Specifically, our approach requires less bloom filter storage, consequently decreasing the probability of false positives. The effectiveness of several hash functions on our strategy’s performance was also evaluated. Experimental evaluations demonstrated that the proposed strategy could potentially decrease false positives by a substantial margin of up to 79.83%. The use of size-based content bits significantly contributes to the decrease in the number of false positives as well. However, as the volume of content bits rises, the impact on time is not considerably noticeable. Moreover, the evidence suggests that the application of a singular approach leads to a more than 50% decrease in false positives.
KTAT: A Complex Embedding Model of Knowledge Graph Integrating Type Information and Attention Mechanism
Authors: Liu Ying , Wang Peng , Yang Di
Published: July 2023

Knowledge graph embedding learning aims to represent the entities and relationships of real-world knowledge as low-dimensional dense vectors. Existing knowledge representation learning methods mostly aggregate only the internal information of triplets and graph structure information. Recent research has proved that multi-source information of entities is conducive to more accurate knowledge embedding tasks. In this paper, we propose a model based on an attention mechanism and integrating the type information of entities, named KTAT. This model is based on the graph attention mechanism, to distribute corresponding attention mechanisms according to different weights between nodes. We introduce a type-specific hyperplane, which enables entities to have different embedding representations according to their type in the current triplet. Simultaneously, we also used textual description information of entities to improve the performance of the model. We conducted link prediction experiments on the FB15k and FB15k-237 datasets. The experimental results show that our model outperforms previous advanced methods compared to some baseline models, and demonstrate that combining type information can effectively improve the performance of link prediction.
Load Forecasting with Machine Learning and Deep Learning Methods
Authors: Cordeiro-Costas Moisés , Villanueva Daniel , Eguía-Oller Pablo , Martínez-Comesaña Miguel , Ramos Sérgio
Published: July 2023

Characterizing the electric energy curve can improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings without any structural change and is the basis for controlling and optimizing building performance. Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques show much potential due to their accuracy and malleability in the field of pattern recognition, and using these models it is possible to adjust the building services in real time. Thus, the objective of this paper is to determine the AI technique that best forecasts electrical loads. The suggested techniques are random forest (RF), support vector regression (SVR), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), multilayer perceptron (MLP), long short-term memory (LSTM), and temporal convolutional network (Conv-1D). The conducted research applies a methodology that considers the bias and variance of the models, enhancing the robustness of the most suitable AI techniques for modeling and forecasting the electricity consumption in buildings. These techniques are evaluated in a single-family dwelling located in the United States. The performance comparison is obtained by analyzing their bias and variance by using a 10-fold cross-validation technique. By means of the evaluation of the models in different sets, i.e., validation and test sets, their capacity to reproduce the results and the ability to properly forecast on future occasions is also evaluated. The results show that the model with less dispersion, both in the validation set and test set, is LSTM. It presents errors of −0.02% of nMBE and 2.76% of nRMSE in the validation set and −0.54% of nMBE and 4.74% of nRMSE in the test set.
Digital Twins: The New Frontier for Personalized Medicine?
Authors: Cellina Michaela , Cè Maurizio , Alì Marco , Irmici Giovanni , Ibba Simona , Caloro Elena , Fazzini Deborah , Oliva Giancarlo , Papa Sergio
Published: July 2023

Digital twins are virtual replicas of physical objects or systems. This new technology is increasingly being adopted in industry to improve the monitoring and efficiency of products and organizations. In healthcare, digital human twins (DHTs) represent virtual copies of patients, including tissues, organs, and physiological processes. Their application has the potential to transform patient care in the direction of increasingly personalized data-driven medicine. The use of DHTs can be integrated with digital twins of healthcare institutions to improve organizational management processes and resource allocation. By modeling the complex multi-omics interactions between genetic and environmental factors, DHTs help monitor disease progression and optimize treatment plans. Through digital simulation, DHT models enable the selection of the most appropriate molecular therapy and accurate 3D representation for precision surgical planning, together with augmented reality tools. Furthermore, they allow for the development of tailored early diagnosis protocols and new targeted drugs. Furthermore, digital twins can facilitate medical training and education. By creating virtual anatomy and physiology models, medical students can practice procedures, enhance their skills, and improve their understanding of the human body. Overall, digital twins have immense potential to revolutionize healthcare, improving patient care and outcomes, reducing costs, and enhancing medical research and education. However, challenges such as data security, data quality, and data interoperability must be addressed before the widespread adoption of digital twins in healthcare. We aim to propose a narrative review on this hot topic to provide an overview of the potential applications of digital twins to improve treatment and diagnostics, but also of the challenges related to their development and widespread diffusion.
Temperature-Dependent Sheet Resistance and Surface Characterization of Thin Copper Films Bonded to FR4 Composite under Mechanical Vibrations
Authors: Azam Sufyan , Munshi Shadi , Hassan Mohamed K. , Fragoso Alex
Published: July 2023

Electrical boards, also called printed circuit boards, constitute the basis of most electronic devices. These boards are mainly fabricated of thin copper films bonded to fiber epoxy laminates, such as FR4. Being the most important functional component of these devices, they sometimes undergo mechanical stresses such as shock and vibration during transport and operation that can induce electrical failure and malfunction; hence, studies addressing the effects of vibrations on their electrical properties have important applications. In this paper, small cantilever samples made of bare copper bonded to FR4 with three isolated rectangular zones were studied to analyze, for the first time, variations in electrical properties such as sheet resistance and resistivity before and after 200 k, 500 k, and 800 k vibration cycles at three different temperatures (25, 35, and 45 °C). A significant rise in resistance equivalent to 1657% of the initial value was observed from 0 to 800 k vibration cycles. These changes were accompanied by a 95% decrease in conductivity, from 4.1 × 107 to 2.3 × 106 S/m, whereas very little change in the electrical properties was observed due to temperature rise. Surface analysis by ESEM showed cracks ~1 µm in width and several millimeters in length with a crack density of ~8 cracks per mm after 800 k cycles. The surface composition (100% copper) was not altered even upon a high number of vibration cycles, and static drop contact angle measurements of 117–119 degrees indicated an increase in the hydrophobicity of the surface attributed to increased surface roughness and the accumulation of very small air bubbles on the cracks.
Enhancing the Performance of Asphalt Mastic with Natural Fiber Reinforcement: Basalt and Bamboo Fibers
Authors: Xie Tingting , Ren Wenjuan , Chen Yifang , Sheng Jiajia , Wang Linbing
Published: July 2023

Incorporating fibers into asphalt mixtures as additives and stabilizers can significantly enhance the performance of asphalt pavements. This study aimed to analyze the impact of using basalt and bamboo fibers as modifiers on the properties of asphalt mastics. The effects of different types of fibers on rutting resistance, fatigue resistance, elastic recovery, and low-temperature cracking performance were tested using frequency scanning, linear amplitude scanning (LAS), multiple stress creep and recovery (MSCR), elastic recovery, and bending beam rheometer (BBR) experiments. The study results suggest that adding fibers into asphalt mastics can effectively improve their stiffness, and the higher the fiber content, the better the stiffness enhancement. Moreover, the characteristic flow index of asphalt mastics grows gradually with the rise in temperature, indicating that these materials exhibit near-Newtonian fluid behavior at elevated temperatures. Furthermore, incorporating fibers significantly enhances the high-temperature rutting resistance of asphalt mastics. However, the addition of fibers did not demonstrate any appreciable benefits in terms of fatigue resistance. The elasticity of asphalt mastics cannot be significantly changed by fiber content without compromising their elastic recovery. Surprisingly, the study’s findings showed that adding basalt fibers to asphalt mastics did not improve their resistance to low-temperature cracks. On the other hand, it was discovered that the ability of asphalt mastics to resist cracking at low temperatures could be made up for by the use of bamboo fibers as a modifier together with a raised temperature. Overall, it was discovered that bamboo fibers performed better than basalt fibers at improving the performance of modified asphalt mastics.
Research on an Intelligent Test Method for Interconnect Resources in an FPGA
Authors: Xie Weikun , Qi Wenjing , Lin Xiaohui , Wang Houjun
Published: July 2023

With the rapid development of integrated circuit production technology, the scale of FPGA circuits has expanded to billions of gates. The complexity of the internal resource structures in the FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays) is continually increasing, and there is an increasing possibility of various faults in these circuits, especially in interconnect resources. These occupy more than 80% of a chip’s area and have the highest fault rate. To ensure the reliability of the FPGAs, it is very important to perform high-coverage testing on the interconnect resources within them. This article uses AMD Xilinx’s Kintex-7 series FPGA as the research object and proposes a deep-priority algorithm based on graph-based models and improved priority algorithms to intelligently wire the FPGA interconnected resources. The routing results were produced using a configuration script written in the XDL language, and the FPGA configuration and testing were conducted accordingly. This approach achieved a high coverage and intelligent testing for the interconnect resources in the FPGAs.
Investigating VOCs Speciation Characteristics at the Fenceline of Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing Industries via Active and Passive Monitoring Techniques
Authors: Lee Hyo Eun , Lee Bong-Woo , Kim Jeong Hun
Published: July 2023

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are prevalent emissions from a plethora of industries, known for their role in the formation of atmospheric ozone, thus contributing to secondary pollution. Both the United States and the European Union have presented various regulatory measures to mitigate VOC emissions. Nevertheless, the diversity of VOCs, some exhibiting carcinogenic properties, pose substantial challenges in devising comprehensive mitigation strategies. In light of this, the current study focuses on the synthetic rubber manufacturing industry, specifically analyzing VOCs with high emission volumes and elevated Photochemical Ozone Creation Potentials (POCPs). A total of 88 compounds, including PM-57 and TO-14A, were examined in this study. The Active and Passive monitoring methods, two out of the six recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Fenceline monitoring, were employed. For business entity ‘A’, the Active method revealed the highest emission rates of n-butane (13.5%) and n-Pentane (12.8%). In contrast, the Passive method indicated styrene (9.4%) and toluene (8.1%) as the most prominently emitted compounds. Benzene, though detected at all points ranging from 1~3 µg/m³, is not manipulated in this industry, suggesting potential influence from neighboring enterprises. Compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene demonstrated convertible concentrations using both Active and Passive methods, detected within the range of 0~3 µg/m³. Notably, the average concentrations determined by both methods exhibited remarkable similarity. For business entity ‘B’, the Active method detected significant levels of n-hexane (45.0%) and methylcyclopentane (14.4%), whereas the Passive method identified high concentrations of n-hexane (37.7%) and isopentane (8.8%). A general pattern emerged where high concentrations were exhibited at points 9, 10, and 11, located within the production area, while points 1, 2, and 3 displayed lower concentrations, likely due to the influence of eastward wind patterns. In terms of compounds with high POCPs, business entity ‘A’ demonstrated substantial emission of n-butane (38.80%) and n-hexane (27.15%) using the Active method, and toluene (28.62%) and n-hexane (25.23%) via the Passive method. For business entity ‘B’, n-hexane emerged dominantly, detected at 84.57% using the Active method and 68.85% via the Passive method. This suggests that in the synthetic rubber manufacturing industry, n-hexane should be prioritized in formulating effective emission reduction strategies.
Stable Isotopes Unravel the Sources and Transport of PM2.5 in the Yangtze River Delta, China
Authors: Zhang Han , Hong Zhenyu , Wei Lai , Thornton Barry , Hong Youwei , Chen Jinsheng , Zhang Xian
Published: July 2023

To understand the sources and migration pattern of PM2.5 in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), China, the total carbon (TC) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations and the corresponding stable isotope ratios (δ13CTC and δ15NTN) were determined in aerosol samples simultaneously collected from August 2014 to April 2015 at three different locations (Shanghai, Ningbo, Nanjing). Ningbo and Shanghai are geographically closer, the research results precisely divide Nanjing and the other two cities into two categories. Nanjing has a higher proportion of nitrogen in PM2.5 (13.2–15.3%) than Shanghai and Ningbo (8.6–12.6%), and the correlation analysis shows that nitrogen components (mainly ammonium nitrogen) might be the main driving force for the formation of PM2.5. The isotopes were proven to be sensitive sensors to reflect the impact of special events on PM2.5. For example, compared to other seasons, δ13CTC in autumn in the three cities are relatively depleted, indicating an input from biomass combustion to PM2.5 at this time. On New Year’s Eve, three cities simultaneously observed enriched δ13CTC due to the burning of fireworks. During the Qingming Festival, abnormally depleted nitrogen isotope ratios were observed, reflecting the vehicle exhaust pollution caused by people’s short travel. Isotopes are also used to trace the transport process of PM2.5. Postponing the sampling date in Nanjing by one day increased the linear fit (r2) of δ13CTC between Nanjing and Ningbo from 0.03 to 0.75, while that of δ15NTN improved from 0.16 to 0.63, which means PM2.5 might transport from Nanjing to Shanghai and Ningbo, and the transfer time takes one day.
Variational Approaches to Two-Dimensionally Symmetry-Broken Dipolar Bose–Einstein Condensates
Authors: Zhang Yong-Chang , Maucher Fabian
Published: July 2023

It has been shown that quantum fluctuations in dipolar Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) lead to a stabilisation against collapse, thereby providing access to a range of states with different symmetries. In this paper, we discuss variational approaches to approximately determine the phase diagrams for dipolar BECs that are trapped along the dipolar orientation and otherwise infinite in the perpendicular direction (thermodynamic limit). The two-dimensional symmetry breaking occurs in the plane perpendicular to the polarisation axis. We show in detail how to derive approximate expressions that are valid in a region where modulations to an otherwise unmodulated perfect superfluid emerge gradually with a small modulation amplitude and compare the results to rigorous numerics.
Infinitesimal Affine Transformations and Mutual Curvatures on Statistical Manifolds and Their Tangent Bundles
Authors: Peyghan Esmaeil , Seifipour Davood , Mihai Ion
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this paper is to find some conditions under which the tangent bundle TM has a dualistic structure. Then, we introduce infinitesimal affine transformations on statistical manifolds and investigate these structures on a special statistical distribution and the tangent bundle of a statistical manifold too. Moreover, we also study the mutual curvatures of a statistical manifold M and its tangent bundle TM and we investigate their relations. More precisely, we obtain the mutual curvatures of well-known connections on the tangent bundle TM (the complete, horizontal, and Sasaki connections) and we study the vanishing of them.
Characterization of Mechanical and Cellular Effects of Rhythmic Vertical Vibrations on Adherent Cell Cultures
Authors: Kwak Dongho , Combriat Thomas , Jensenius Alexander Refsum , Olsen Petter Angell
Published: July 2023

This paper presents an innovative experimental setup that employs the principles of audio technology to subject adherent cells to rhythmic vertical vibrations. We employ a novel approach that combines three-axis acceleration measurements and particle tracking velocimetry to evaluate the setup’s performance. This allows us to estimate crucial parameters such as root mean square acceleration, fluid flow patterns, and shear stress generated within the cell culture wells when subjected to various vibration types. The experimental conditions consisted of four vibrational modes: No Vibration, Continuous Vibration, Regular Pulse, and Variable Pulse. To evaluate the effects on cells, we utilized fluorescence microscopy and a customized feature extraction algorithm to analyze the F-actin filament structures. Our findings indicate a consistent trend across all vibrated cell cultures, revealing a reduction in size and altered orientation (2D angle) of the filaments. Furthermore, we observed cell accumulations in the G1 cell cycle phase in cells treated with Continuous Vibration and Regular Pulse. Our results demonstrate a negative correlation between the magnitude of mechanical stimuli and the size of F-actin filaments, as well as a positive correlation with the accumulations of cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. By unraveling these analyses, this study paves the way for future investigations and provides a compelling framework for comprehending the intricate cellular responses to rhythmic mechanical stimulation.
Long-Term Bilateral Neuromuscular Function and Knee Osteoarthritis after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Zandiyeh Payam , Parola Lauren R. , Costa Meggin Q. , Hague Madalyn J. , Molino Janine , Fleming Braden C. , Beveridge Jillian E.
Published: July 2023

Neuromuscular function is thought to contribute to posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) risk in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-reconstructed (ACLR) patients, but sensitive and easy-to-use tools are needed to discern whether complex muscle activation strategies are beneficial or maladaptive. Using an electromyography (EMG) signal analysis technique coupled with a machine learning approach, we sought to: (1) identify whether ACLR muscle activity patterns differed from those of healthy controls, and (2) explore which combination of patient outcome measures (thigh muscle girth, knee laxity, hop distance, and activity level) predicted the extent of osteoarthritic changes via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in ACLR patients. Eleven ACLR patients 10–15 years post-surgery and 12 healthy controls performed a hop activity while lower limb muscle EMG was recorded bilaterally. Osteoarthritis was evaluated based on MRI. ACLR muscle activity patterns were bilaterally symmetrical and differed from those of healthy controls, suggesting the presence of a global adaptation strategy. Smaller ipsilateral thigh muscle girth was the strongest predictor of inferior MRI scores. The ability of our EMG analysis approach to detect meaningful neuromuscular differences that could ultimately be related to thigh muscle girth provides the foundation to further investigate a direct link between muscle activation patterns and PTOA risk.
Secretion of Interleukin 6 in Human Skeletal Muscle Cultures Depends on Ca2+ Signalling
Authors: Calle-Ciborro Blanca , Espin-Jaime Teresa , Santos Francisco J. , Gomez-Martin Ana , Jardin Isaac , Pozo Maria J. , Rosado Juan A. , Camello Pedro J. , Camello-Almaraz Cristina
Published: July 2023

The systemic effects of physical activity are mediated by the release of IL-6 and other myokines from contracting muscle. Although the release of IL-6 from muscle has been extensively studied, the information on the cellular mechanisms is fragmentary and scarce, especially regarding the role of Ca2+ signals. The aim of this study was to characterize the role of the main components of Ca2+ signals in human skeletal muscle cells during IL-6 secretion stimulated by the Ca2+ mobilizing agonist ATP. Primary cultures were prepared from surgical samples, fluorescence microscopy was used to evaluate the Ca2+ signals and the stimulated release of IL-6 into the medium was determined using ELISA. Intracellular calcium chelator Bapta, low extracellular calcium and the Ca2+ channels blocker La3+ reduced the ATP-stimulated, but not the basal secretion. Secretion was inhibited by blockers of L-type (nifedipine, verapamil), T-type (NNC55-0396) and Orai1 (Synta66) Ca2+ channels and by silencing Orai1 expression. The same effect was achieved with inhibitors of ryanodine receptors (ryanodine, dantrolene) and IP3 receptors (xestospongin C, 2-APB, caffeine). Inhibitors of calmodulin (calmidazolium) and calcineurin (FK506) also decreased secretion. IL-6 transcription in response to ATP was not affected by Bapta or by the T channel blocker. Our results prove that ATP-stimulated IL-6 secretion is mediated at the post-transcriptional level by Ca2+ signals, including the mobilization of calcium stores, the activation of store-operated Ca2+ entry, and the subsequent activation of voltage-operated Ca2+ channels and calmodulin/calcineurin pathways.
Anti-Scg3 Gene Therapy to Treat Choroidal Neovascularization in Mice
Authors: Huang Chengchi , Ji Liyang , Kaur Avinash , Tian Hong , Waduge Prabuddha , Webster Keith A. , Li Wei
Published: July 2023

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a leading cause of blindness in the elderly in developed countries. The disease is currently treated with anti-angiogenic biologics, including aflibercept, against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) but with limited efficacy, treatment resistance and requirement for frequent intravitreal injections. Although anti-VEGF gene therapy may provide sustained therapy that obviates multiple injections, the efficacy and side effects related to VEGF pathway targeting remain, and alternative strategies to block angiogenesis independently of VEGF are needed. We recently reported that secretogranin III (Scg3) induces only pathological angiogenesis through VEGF-independent pathways, and Scg3-neutralizing antibodies selectively inhibit pathological but not physiological angiogenesis in mouse proliferative retinopathy models. Anti-Scg3 antibodies synergize dose-dependently with VEGF inhibitors in a CNV model. Here, we report that an adeno-associated virus-8 (AAV8) vector expressing anti-Scg3 Fab ameliorated CNV with an efficacy similar to that of AAV-aflibercept in a mouse model. This study is the first to test an anti-angiogenic gene therapy protocol that selectively targets pathological angiogenesis via a VEGF-independent mechanism. The findings support further safety/efficacy studies of anti-Scg3 gene therapy as monotherapy or combined with anti-VEGF to treat nAMD.
Anticancer Activity and Molecular Targets of Piper cernuum Substances in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Models
Authors: Machado Thaíssa Queiróz , Lima Maria Emanuelle Damazio , da Silva Rafael Carriello , Macedo Arthur Ladeira , de Queiroz Lucas Nicolau , Angrisani Bianca Roberta Peres , da Fonseca Anna Carolina Carvalho , Câmara Priscilla Rodrigues , Rabelo Vitor Von-Held , Carollo Carlos Alexandre , de Lima Moreira Davyson , de Almeida Elan Cardozo Paes , Vasconcelos Thatyana Rocha Alves , Abreu Paula Alvarez , Valverde Alessandra Leda , Robbs Bruno Kaufmann
Published: July 2023

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a worldwide public health problem, with high morbidity and mortality rates. The development of new drugs to treat OSCC is paramount. Piper plant species have shown many biological activities. In the present study, we show that dichloromethane partition of Piper cernuum (PCLd) is nontoxic in chronic treatment in mice, reduces the amount of atypia in tongues of chemically induced OSCC, and significantly increases animal survival. To identify the main active compounds, chromatographic purification of PCLd was performed, where fractions 09.07 and 14.05 were the most active and selective. These fractions promoted cell death by apoptosis characterized by phosphatidyl serine exposition, DNA fragmentation, and activation of effector caspase-3/7 and were nonhemolytic. LC–DAD–MS/MS analysis did not propose matching spectra for the 09.07 fraction, suggesting compounds not yet known. However, aporphine alkaloids were annotated in fraction 14.05, which are being described for the first time in P. cernuum and corroborate the observed cytotoxic activity. Putative molecular targets were determined for these alkaloids, in silico, where the androgen receptor (AR), CHK1, CK2, DYRK1A, EHMT2, LXRβ, and VEGFR2 were the most relevant. The results obtained from P. cernuum fractions point to promising compounds as new preclinical anticancer candidates.
The Impact of Metabolic Syndrome on Bone Mass in Men: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Rył Aleksandra , Szylińska Aleksandra , Skonieczna-Żydecka Karolina , Miazgowski Tomasz , Rotter Iwona
Published: July 2023

Studies to date have yielded conflicting results on associations between components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and bone mineral density (BMD), particularly in men. This current systematic review and meta-analysis addresses the existing gap in the literature and aims to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) at the femoral neck (FN) and lumbar spine (LS) in men diagnosed with MetS. The two study authors independently searched PubMed, Cinahl, Embase, and Web of Science up to 8 February 2022 for studies in English. The inclusion criteria were (i) diagnosis of MetS according to the NCEP-ATP III 2001 criteria; (ii) adult male demographic; (iii) analyzable data on BMD in at least two sites using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and (iv) original observational studies. Case reports and non-English articles were excluded. We analyzed the results of seven studies providing data on bone density in men with MetS. Results: Based on random effect weights, the mean BMD of the femoral neck and lumbar spine were 0.84 and 1.02, respectively. The mean lumbar spine T-score was −0.92. In meta-regression analysis, the variances in mean BMD in the lumbar spine and femoral neck could not be significantly explained by BMI (lumbar BMD: Q = 1.10, df = 1, p = 0.29; femoral neck BMD: Q = 0.91, df = 1, p = 0.34). Our meta-analysis suggests normal bone mass in adult males with MetS. Due to the high heterogeneity in the seven analyzed studies and the lack of control groups in these studies, further research is needed to fully elucidate the associations between MetS and its components and BMD in men.
Platelet Adhesion Mediated by von Willebrand Factor at High Shear Rates Is Associated with Premature Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Okhota Sergey , Kozlov Sergey , Avtaeva Yuliya , Melnikov Ivan , Saburova Olga , Guria Konstantin , Matroze Evgeny , Gabbasov Zufar
Published: July 2023

This study investigated von Willebrand factor (VWF)-mediated platelet adhesion at high shear rates in patients with premature coronary artery disease (CAD). The study included 84 patients with stable premature CAD and 64 patients without CAD. Whole blood samples were perfused through a microfluidic cell over a collagen-coated surface at a shear rate of 1300 s−1. Measurements were performed before and after the inhibition of VWF-specific platelet GPIb receptors with an anti-GPIb monoclonal antibody (mAb). Platelet adhesion decreased by 77.0% (55.9; 84.7) in patients with premature CAD and by 29.6% (0.0; 59.7) in control patients after the inhibition of VWF–platelet interaction with anti-GPIb mAb (p < 0.001). After adjusting for traditional risk factors, the odds ratio for premature CAD per 1% decrease in GPIb-mediated platelet adhesion was 1.03 (95% CI, 1.02–1.05; p < 0.001). The optimal cut-off level value of GPIb-mediated platelet adhesion was 62.8%, with 70.2% sensitivity and 81.2% specificity for CAD. The plasma levels of VWF or antiplatelet therapy did not affect the GPIb-mediated component of platelet adhesion. Thus, the GPIb-mediated component of platelet adhesion was more pronounced in patients with premature CAD. This may indicate the possible role of excessive VWF–platelet interactions in the development of premature CAD.
Inverse Correlation of Cholesterol Efflux Capacity with Peripheral Plaque Volume Measured by 3D Ultrasound
Authors: Noflatscher Maria , Hunjadi Monika , Schreinlechner Michael , Sommer Philip , Lener Daniela , Theurl Markus , Kirchmair Rudolf , Bauer Axel , Ritsch Andreas , Marschang Peter
Published: July 2023

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a systemic multifocal illness called atherosclerosis that causes artery constriction and blockage. By causing cholesterol to build up in the artery wall, hypercholesterolemia is a major factor in the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic plaque development. Reverse cholesterol transport is the process of transporting cholesterol from the periphery back to the liver through cholesterol efflux mediated by high-density lipoprotein (HDL). It was suggested that the cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), which is inversely linked with cardiovascular risk, can serve as a stand-in measure for reverse cholesterol transport. In this work, we sought to investigate a potential link between the peripheral plaque volume (PV) and CEC. Methods: Since lipid-lowering therapy interferes with CEC, we performed a cross-sectional study of 176 patients (48.9% females) with one cardiovascular risk factor or known CVD that did not currently take lipid-lowering medication. CEC was determined using cAMP-treated 3H-cholesterol-labeled J774 cells. Cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP)-mediated cholesterol ester transfer was measured by quantifying the transfer of cholesterol ester from radiolabeled exogenous HDL cholesterol to Apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins. PV in the carotid and the femoral artery, defined as the total PV, was measured using a 3D ultrasound system equipped with semi-automatic software. Results: In our patients, we discovered an inverse relationship between high total PV and CEC (p = 0.027). However, there was no connection between total PV and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lipoprotein (a), or CETP-mediated cholesterol ester transfer. Conclusion: In patients not receiving lipid-lowering treatment, CEC inversely correlates with peripheral atherosclerosis, supporting its role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis.
Amino Acid Profiling Identifies Disease-Specific Signatures in IgE-Mediated and Non-IgE-Mediated Food Allergy in Pediatric Patients with Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Packi Kacper , Matysiak Joanna , Plewa Szymon , Klupczyńska-Gabryszak Agnieszka , Matuszewska Eliza , Rzetecka Natalia , Bręborowicz Anna , Matysiak Jan
Published: July 2023

An IgE-mediated food allergy (FA) in atopic dermatitis (AD) children should be easily differentiated from other immune-mediated adverse effects related to food. Specific IgEs for particular protein components has provided additional diagnostic value. However, component-resolved diagnostics (CRD) has not solved all diagnostic problems either. We analysed the serum profile of 42 amino acids (AAs) in 76 AD children aged 2–60 months with an IgE-mediated FA (n = 36), with a non-IgE-mediated FA (n = 15) and without an FA (n = 25) using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and an aTRAQ kit. We identified homocitrulline (Hcit), sarcosine (Sar) and L-tyrosine (Tyr) as features that differentiated the studied groups (one-way ANOVA with least significant difference post hoc test). The Hcit concentrations in the non-IgE-mediated FA group were significantly decreased compared with the IgE-mediated FA group (p = 0.018) and the control group (p = 0.008). In AD children with a non-IgE-mediated FA, the Tyr levels were also significantly reduced compared with the controls (p = 0.009). The mean concentration of Sar was the highest in the non-IgE-mediated FA group and the lowest in the IgE-mediated FA group (p = 0.047). Future studies should elucidate the involvement of these AAs in the molecular pathway of IgE- and non-IgE-mediated allergic responses.