bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid Ultrasonography for Shock and Hypotension Protocol Performed using Handheld Ultrasound Devices by Paramedics in a Moving Ambulance: Evaluation of Image Accuracy and Time in Motion
Authors: Azapoglu Kaymak Burcu , Eksioglu Merve
Published: May 2024

Introduction:

Handheld ultrasound (US) devices have become increasingly popular since the early 2000s due to their portability and affordability compared to conventional devices. The Rapid Ultrasonography for Shock and Hypotension (RUSH) protocol, introduced in 2009, has shown promising accuracy rates when performed with handheld devices. However, there are limited data on the accuracy of such examinations performed in a moving ambulance. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and accuracy of the RUSH protocol performed by paramedics using handheld US devices in a moving ambulance.

Objectives:

The study aimed to examine the performability of the RUSH protocol with handheld US devices in a moving ambulance and to evaluate the accuracy of diagnostic views obtained within an appropriate time frame.

Methods:

A prospective study was conducted with paramedics who underwent theoretical and practical training in the RUSH protocol. The participants performed the protocol using a handheld US device in both stationary and moving ambulances. Various cardiac and abdominal views were obtained and evaluated for accuracy. The duration of the protocol performance was recorded for each participant.

Results:

Nine paramedics completed the study, with 18 performances each in both stationary and moving ambulance groups. The accuracy of diagnostic views obtained during the RUSH protocol did not significantly differ between the stationary and moving groups. However, the duration of protocol performance was significantly shorter in the moving group compared to the stationary group.

Conclusion:

Paramedics demonstrated the ability to perform the RUSH protocol effectively using handheld US devices in both stationary and moving ambulances following standard theoretical and practical training. The findings suggest that ambulance movement does not significantly affect the accuracy of diagnostic views obtained during the protocol. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to validate these findings and explore the potential benefits of prehospital US in dynamic environments.
Realtors Interpret History: The Intellectual Origins of Early National Real Estate Organizing
Authors: Glotzer Paige
Published: May 2024

In 1891, when U.S. realtors attempted to establish their first national professional organization, the National Real Estate Association (NREA), they turned to history to provide a shared intellectual foundation to justify collective organization. Though the NREA was only in operation for a short period, the ways its members invoked history illuminate how key assumptions about race, property, and citizenship became central to a nascent national real estate industry, predating the more well-known real estate professionalization projects of the twentieth century. History united members from different regions with little in common who were skeptical of the need to form a national institution. They used history in three ways to sustain the organization: repeating narratives, theorizing historical change, and constructing historical subjects. They infused each of these with an imperial worldview fashioned from competing lines of thought in circulation at the time. Among these were sectional reconciliation, manifest destiny, and narratives of civilizational progress. Through their actions, they embedded white supremacist Gilded Age and Progressive Era formulations of history into real estate via the new institution.
Lunar Farside South Pole‐Aitken Basin Interior: Evidence for More Extensive Central Cryptomaria in the South Pole‐Aitken Compositional Anomaly (SPACA)
Authors: Wang Xing , Head James W. , Chen Yuan , Zhao Feiyue , Kreslavsky Mikhail A. , Wilson Lionel , Qian Yuqi , Liu Jianjun , Li Chunlai
Published: May 2024

In the central area of the South Pole‐Aitken (SPA) basin, an intermediate albedo, mafic compositional anomaly (SPA Compositional Anomaly, SPACA) has been documented by previous studies, but its origin remains uncertain. We conducted an investigation of stratigraphic units defined based on morphology and composition and their relative ages, and placed these in the context of basin topography and the observed sequence of geological events, all helping to distinguish between SPACA origins from: (a) SPA impact melt, (b) volcanism induced by the SPA event and (c) lunar cryptomaria. We conclude that SPACA represents extensive traditional cryptomare deposits overlying the SPA impact melt. We interpret the basin center to be filled with cryptomare deposits at least one km thick (>1 × 105 km3 in volume) with ages not younger than Early Imbrian. We attribute the relatively high albedo of SPACA to lateral mixing of ejecta from nearby highlands craters and basins, and conclude that the cryptomaria basalts are likely to be very similar to basalts on the nearside. Our findings imply a 0.5%–1.8% increase in the total volume of global lunar mare and cryptomare deposits. These results show that mare volcanism was common only in areas of thinnest crust on the lunar farside, a factor important in understanding lunar nearside‐farside asymmetries. Despite this significant increase in total cryptomare volume in the SPA basin center, SPA remains underfilled relative to nearside mascon basins. Return of mare basalts from the SPA region by Chang’E‐6 will help determine potential mantle source region differences and petrogenetic pathways.
Tonic excitation by astrocytic GABA causes neuropathic pain by augmenting neuronal activity and glucose metabolism
Authors: Ju Yeon Ha , Cho Jongwook , Park Ji-Young , Kim Hyunjin , Hong Eun-Bin , Park Ki Duk , Lee C. Justin , Chung Euiheon , Kim Hyoung-Ihl , Nam Min-Ho
Published: May 2024

Neuropathic pain is a debilitating condition caused by the hyperexcitability of spinal dorsal horn neurons and is often characterized by allodynia. Although neuron-independent mechanisms of hyperexcitability have been investigated, the contribution of astrocyte-neuron interactions remains unclear. Here, we show evidence of reactive astrocytes and their excessive GABA release in the spinal dorsal horn, which paradoxically leads to the tonic excitation of neighboring neurons in a neuropathic pain model. Using multiple electrophysiological methods, we demonstrated that neuronal hyperexcitability is attributed to both increased astrocytic GABA synthesis via monoamine oxidase B (MAOB) and the depolarized reversal potential of GABA-mediated currents (EGABA) via the downregulation of the neuronal K+/Cl− cotransporter KCC2. Furthermore, longitudinal 2-deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro-D-glucose microPET imaging demonstrated increased regional glucose metabolism in the ipsilateral dorsal horn, reflecting neuronal hyperexcitability. Importantly, inhibiting MAOB restored the entire astrocytic GABA-mediated cascade and abrogated the increased glucose metabolism and mechanical allodynia. Overall, astrocytic GABA-mediated tonic excitation is critical for neuronal hyperexcitability, leading to mechanical allodynia and neuropathic pain.
High-throughput mechanical phenotyping and transcriptomics of single cells
Authors: Shiomi Akifumi , Kaneko Taikopaul , Nishikawa Kaori , Tsuchida Arata , Isoshima Takashi , Sato Mayuko , Toyooka Kiminori , Doi Kentaro , Nishikii Hidekazu , Shintaku Hirofumi
Published: May 2024

The molecular system regulating cellular mechanical properties remains unexplored at single-cell resolution mainly due to a limited ability to combine mechanophenotyping with unbiased transcriptional screening. Here, we describe an electroporation-based lipid-bilayer assay for cell surface tension and transcriptomics (ELASTomics), a method in which oligonucleotide-labelled macromolecules are imported into cells via nanopore electroporation to assess the mechanical state of the cell surface and are enumerated by sequencing. ELASTomics can be readily integrated with existing single-cell sequencing approaches and enables the joint study of cell surface mechanics and underlying transcriptional regulation at an unprecedented resolution. We validate ELASTomics via analysis of cancer cell lines from various malignancies and show that the method can accurately identify cell types and assess cell surface tension. ELASTomics enables exploration of the relationships between cell surface tension, surface proteins, and transcripts along cell lineages differentiating from the haematopoietic progenitor cells of mice. We study the surface mechanics of cellular senescence and demonstrate that RRAD regulates cell surface tension in senescent TIG-1 cells. ELASTomics provides a unique opportunity to profile the mechanical and molecular phenotypes of single cells and can dissect the interplay among these in a range of biological contexts.
Genomic insights unveil the plasmid transfer mechanism and epidemiology of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Quynh , Nguyen Yen Thi Phuong , Ha Tuyen Thanh , Tran Dung Thi Ngoc , Voong Phat Vinh , Chau Vinh , Nguyen Phuong Luong Nha , Le Ngan Thi Quynh , Nguyen Lan Phu Huong , Nguyen To Thi Nguyen , Trinh Tan Van , Carrique-Mas Juan J. , Baker Stephen , Thwaites Guy , Rabaa Maia A. , Choisy Marc , Chung Hao The , Pham Duy Thanh
Published: May 2024

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) is a significant cause of severe invasive infections in Vietnam, yet data on its epidemiology, population structure and dynamics are scarce. We screened hvKp isolates from patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs) at a tertiary infectious diseases hospital in Vietnam and healthy individuals, followed by whole genome sequencing and plasmid analysis. Among 700 BSI-causing Kp strains, 100 (14.3%) were hvKp. Thirteen hvKp isolates were identified from 350 rectal swabs of healthy adults; none from 500 rectal swabs of healthy children. The hvKp isolates were genetically diverse, encompassing 17 sequence types (STs), predominantly ST23, ST86 and ST65. Among the 113 hvKp isolates, 14 (12.6%) carried at least one antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene, largely mediated by IncFII, IncR, and IncA/C plasmids. Notably, the acquisition of AMR conjugative plasmids facilitated horizontal transfer of the non-conjugative virulence plasmid between K. pneumoniae strains. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated hvKp isolates from BSIs and human carriage clustered together, suggesting a significant role of intestinal carriage in hvKp transmission. Enhanced surveillance is crucial to understand the factors driving intestinal carriage and hvKp transmission dynamics for informing preventive measures. Furthermore, we advocate the clinical use of our molecular assay for diagnosing hvKp infections to guide effective management.
Advancing interactive systems with liquid crystal network-based adaptive electronics
Authors: Lyu Pengrong , Broer Dirk J. , Liu Danqing
Published: May 2024

Achieving adaptive behavior in artificial systems, analogous to living organisms, has been a long-standing goal in electronics and materials science. Efforts to integrate adaptive capabilities into synthetic electronics traditionally involved a typical architecture comprising of sensors, an external controller, and actuators constructed from multiple materials. However, challenges arise when attempting to unite these three components into a single entity capable of independently coping with dynamic environments. Here, we unveil an adaptive electronic unit based on a liquid crystal polymer that seamlessly incorporates sensing, signal processing, and actuating functionalities. The polymer forms a film that undergoes anisotropic deformations when exposed to a minor heat pulse generated by human touch. We integrate this property into an electric circuit to facilitate switching. We showcase the concept by creating an interactive system that features distributed information processing including feedback loops and enabling cascading signal transmission across multiple adaptive units. This system responds progressively, in a multi-layered cascade to a dynamic change in its environment. The incorporation of adaptive capabilities into a single piece of responsive material holds immense potential for expediting progress in next-generation flexible electronics, soft robotics, and swarm intelligence.
Exon-junction complex association with stalled ribosomes and slow translation-independent disassembly
Authors: Bensaude Olivier , Barbosa Isabelle , Morillo Lucia , Dikstein Rivka , Le Hir Hervé
Published: May 2024

Exon junction complexes are deposited at exon-exon junctions during splicing. They are primarily known to activate non-sense mediated degradation of transcripts harbouring premature stop codons before the last intron. According to a popular model, exon-junction complexes accompany mRNAs to the cytoplasm where the first translating ribosome pushes them out. However, they are also removed by uncharacterized, translation-independent mechanisms. Little is known about kinetic and transcript specificity of these processes. Here we tag core subunits of exon-junction complexes with complementary split nanoluciferase fragments to obtain sensitive and quantitative assays for complex formation. Unexpectedly, exon-junction complexes form large stable mRNPs containing stalled ribosomes. Complex assembly and disassembly rates are determined after an arrest in transcription and/or translation. 85% of newly deposited exon-junction complexes are disassembled by a translation-dependent mechanism. However as this process is much faster than the translation-independent one, only 30% of the exon-junction complexes present in cells at steady state require translation for disassembly. Deep RNA sequencing shows a bias of exon-junction complex bound transcripts towards microtubule and centrosome coding ones and demonstrate that the lifetimes of exon-junction complexes are transcript-specific. This study provides a dynamic vision of exon-junction complexes and uncovers their unexpected stable association with ribosomes.
Mapping recurrent mosaic copy number variation in human neurons
Authors: Sun Chen , Kathuria Kunal , Emery Sarah B. , Kim ByungJun , Burbulis Ian E. , Shin Joo Heon ,   Brain Somatic Mosaicism Network, Gleeson Joseph G. , Breuss Martin W. , Yang Xiaoxu , Antaki Danny , Chung Changuk , Averbuj Dan , Ball Laurel L. , Roy Subhojit , Weinberger Daniel , Jaffe Andrew , Paquola Apua , Erwin Jennifer , Straub Richard , Narurkar Rujuta , Mathern Gary , Walsh Christopher A. , Lee Alice , Huang August Yue , D’Gama Alissa , Dias Caroline , Maury Eduardo , Ganz Javier , Lodato Michael , Miller Michael , Li Pengpeng , Rodin Rachel , Borges-Monroy Rebeca , Hill Robert , Bizzotto Sara , Khoshkhoo Sattar , Kim Sonia , Zhou Zinan , Park Peter J. , Barton Alison , Galor Alon , Chu Chong , Bohrson Craig , Gulhan Doga , Lim Elaine , Lim Euncheon , Melloni Giorgio , Cortes Isidro , Lee Jake , Luquette Joe , Yang Lixing , Sherman Maxwell , Coulter Michael , Kwon Minseok , Lee Semin , Lee Soo , Viswanadham Vinary , Dou Yanmei , Chess Andrew J. , Jones Attila , Rosenbluh Chaggai , Akbarian Schahram , Langmead Ben , Thorpe Jeremy , Cho Sean , Abyzov Alexej , Bae Taejeong , Jang Yeongjun , Wang Yifan , Molitor Cindy , Peters Mette , Gage Fred H. , Wang Meiyan , Reed Patrick , Linker Sara , Urban Alexander , Zhou Bo , Pattni Reenal , Zhu Xiaowei , Amero Aitor Serres , Juan David , Povolotskaya Inna , Lobon Irene , Moruno Manuel Solis , Perez Raquel Garcia , Marques-Bonet Tomas , Soriano Eduardo , Moran John V. , Flasch Diane A. , Frisbie Trenton J. , Kopera Huira C. , Moldovan John B. , Kwan Kenneth Y. , Mills Ryan E. , Zhou Weichen , Zhao Xuefang , Ratan Aakrosh , Vaccarino Flora M. , Cherskov Adriana , Jourdon Alexandre , Fasching Liana , Sestan Nenad , Pochareddy Sirisha , Scuder Soraya , Weinberger Daniel R. , Moran John V. , Kidd Jeffrey M. , Mills Ryan E. , McConnell Michael J.
Published: May 2024

When somatic cells acquire complex karyotypes, they often are removed by the immune system. Mutant somatic cells that evade immune surveillance can lead to cancer. Neurons with complex karyotypes arise during neurotypical brain development, but neurons are almost never the origin of brain cancers. Instead, somatic mutations in neurons can bring about neurodevelopmental disorders, and contribute to the polygenic landscape of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disease. A subset of human neurons harbors idiosyncratic copy number variants (CNVs, “CNV neurons”), but previous analyses of CNV neurons are limited by relatively small sample sizes. Here, we develop an allele-based validation approach, SCOVAL, to corroborate or reject read-depth based CNV calls in single human neurons. We apply this approach to 2,125 frontal cortical neurons from a neurotypical human brain. SCOVAL identifies 226 CNV neurons, which include a subclass of 65 CNV neurons with highly aberrant karyotypes containing whole or substantial losses on multiple chromosomes. Moreover, we find that CNV location appears to be nonrandom. Recurrent regions of neuronal genome rearrangement contain fewer, but longer, genes.
DeepDive: estimating global biodiversity patterns through time using deep learning
Authors: Cooper Rebecca B. , Flannery-Sutherland Joseph T. , Silvestro Daniele
Published: May 2024

Understanding how biodiversity has changed through time is a central goal of evolutionary biology. However, estimates of past biodiversity are challenged by the inherent incompleteness of the fossil record, even when state-of-the-art statistical methods are applied to adjust estimates while correcting for sampling biases. Here we develop an approach based on stochastic simulations of biodiversity and a deep learning model to infer richness at global or regional scales through time while incorporating spatial, temporal and taxonomic sampling variation. Our method outperforms alternative approaches across simulated datasets, especially at large spatial scales, providing robust palaeodiversity estimates under a wide range of preservation scenarios. We apply our method on two empirical datasets of different taxonomic and temporal scope: the Permian-Triassic record of marine animals and the Cenozoic evolution of proboscideans. Our estimates provide a revised quantitative assessment of two mass extinctions in the marine record and reveal rapid diversification of proboscideans following their expansion out of Africa and a >70% diversity drop in the Pleistocene.
Structural mechanisms for binding and activation of a contact-quenched fluorophore by RhoBAST
Authors: Zhang Yufan , Xu Zhonghe , Xiao Yu , Jiang Haodong , Zuo Xiaobing , Li Xing , Fang Xianyang
Published: May 2024

The fluorescent light-up aptamer RhoBAST, which binds and activates the fluorophore–quencher conjugate tetramethylrhodamine-dinitroaniline with high affinity, super high brightness, remarkable photostability, and fast exchange kinetics, exhibits excellent performance in super-resolution RNA imaging. Here we determine the co-crystal structure of RhoBAST in complex with tetramethylrhodamine-dinitroaniline to elucidate the molecular basis for ligand binding and fluorescence activation. The structure exhibits an asymmetric “A”-like architecture for RhoBAST with a semi-open binding pocket harboring the xanthene of tetramethylrhodamine at the tip, while the dinitroaniline quencher stacks over the phenyl of tetramethylrhodamine instead of being fully released. Molecular dynamics simulations show highly heterogeneous conformational ensembles with the contact-but-unstacked fluorophore–quencher conformation for both free and bound tetramethylrhodamine-dinitroaniline being predominant. The simulations also show that, upon RNA binding, the fraction of xanthene-dinitroaniline stacked conformation significantly decreases in free tetramethylrhodamine-dinitroaniline. This highlights the importance of releasing dinitroaniline from xanthene tetramethylrhodamine to unquench the RhoBAST–tetramethylrhodamine-dinitroaniline complex. Using SAXS and ITC, we characterized the magnesium dependency of the folding and binding mode of RhoBAST in solution and indicated its strong structural robustness. The structures and binding modes of relevant fluorescent light-up aptamers are compared, providing mechanistic insights for rational design and optimization of this important fluorescent light-up aptamer-ligand system.
Active droplets through enzyme-free, dynamic phosphorylation
Authors: Poprawa Simone M. , Stasi Michele , Kriebisch Brigitte A. K. , Wenisch Monika , Sastre Judit , Boekhoven Job
Published: May 2024

Life continuously transduces energy to perform critical functions using energy stored in reactive molecules like ATP or NADH. ATP dynamically phosphorylates active sites on proteins and thereby regulates their function. Inspired by such machinery, regulating supramolecular functions using energy stored in reactive molecules has gained traction. Enzyme-free, synthetic systems that use dynamic phosphorylation to regulate supramolecular processes have not yet been reported, to our knowledge. Here, we show an enzyme-free reaction cycle that consumes the phosphorylating agent monoamidophosphate by transiently phosphorylating histidine and histidine-containing peptides. The phosphorylated species are labile and deactivate through hydrolysis. The cycle exhibits versatility and tunability, allowing for the dynamic phosphorylation of multiple precursors with a tunable half-life. Notably, we show the resulting phosphorylated products can regulate the peptide’s phase separation, leading to active droplets that require the continuous conversion of fuel to sustain. The reaction cycle will be valuable as a model for biological phosphorylation but can also offer insights into protocell formation.
Disentangling the effects of structure and lone-pair electrons in the lattice dynamics of halide perovskites
Authors: Caicedo-Dávila Sebastián , Cohen Adi , Motti Silvia G. , Isobe Masahiko , McCall Kyle M. , Grumet Manuel , Kovalenko Maksym V. , Yaffe Omer , Herz Laura M. , Fabini Douglas H. , Egger David A.
Published: May 2024

Halide perovskites show great optoelectronic performance, but their favorable properties are paired with unusually strong anharmonicity. It was proposed that this combination derives from the ns2 electron configuration of octahedral cations and associated pseudo-Jahn–Teller effect. We show that such cations are not a prerequisite for the strong anharmonicity and low-energy lattice dynamics encountered in these materials. We combine X-ray diffraction, infrared and Raman spectroscopies, and molecular dynamics to contrast the lattice dynamics of CsSrBr3 with those of CsPbBr3, two compounds that are structurally similar but with the former lacking ns2 cations with the propensity to form electron lone pairs. We exploit low-frequency diffusive Raman scattering, nominally symmetry-forbidden in the cubic phase, as a fingerprint of anharmonicity and reveal that low-frequency tilting occurs irrespective of octahedral cation electron configuration. This highlights the role of structure in perovskite lattice dynamics, providing design rules for the emerging class of soft perovskite semiconductors.
Long-term relapse-free survival enabled by integrating targeted antibacteria in antitumor treatment
Authors: Wang Yuanlin , Han Yaqian , Yang Chenhui , Bai Tiancheng , Zhang Chenggang , Wang Zhaotong , Sun Ye , Hu Ying , Besenbacher Flemming , Chen Chunying , Yu Miao
Published: May 2024

The role of tumor-resident intracellular microbiota (TRIM) in carcinogenesis has sparked enormous interest. Nevertheless, the impact of TRIM-targeted antibacteria on tumor inhibition and immune regulation in the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains unexplored. Herein, we report long-term relapse-free survival by coordinating antibacteria with antitumor treatment, addressing the aggravated immunosuppression and tumor overgrowth induced by TRIM using breast and prostate cancer models. Combining Ag+ release with a Fenton-like reaction and photothermal conversion, simultaneous bacteria killing and multimodal antitumor therapy are enabled by a single agent. Free of immune-stimulating drugs, the agent restores antitumor immune surveillance and activates immunological responses. Secondary inoculation and distal tumor analysis confirm lasting immunological memory and systemic immune responses. A relapse-free survival of >700 days is achieved. This work unravels the crucial role of TRIM-targeted antibacteria in tumor inhibition and unlocks an unconventional route for immune regulation in TME and a complete cure for cancer.
Structural mechanism of bacteriophage lambda tail’s interaction with the bacterial receptor
Authors: Ge Xiaofei , Wang Jiawei
Published: May 2024

Bacteriophage infection, a pivotal process in microbiology, initiates with the phage’s tail recognizing and binding to the bacterial cell surface, which then mediates the injection of viral DNA. Although comprehensive studies on the interaction between bacteriophage lambda and its outer membrane receptor, LamB, have provided rich information about the system’s biochemical properties, the precise molecular mechanism remains undetermined. This study revealed the high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the bacteriophage lambda tail complexed with its irreversible Shigella sonnei 3070 LamB receptor and the closed central tail fiber. These structures reveal the complex processes that trigger infection and demonstrate a substantial conformational change in the phage lambda tail tip upon LamB binding. Providing detailed structures of bacteriophage lambda infection initiation, this study contributes to the expanding knowledge of lambda-bacterial interaction, which holds significance in the fields of microbiology and therapeutic development.
Short-time high-temperature oxidation behavior of nanocrystalline Ta coating at 850 °C
Authors: Niu Yunsong , Xing Lingling , Zhu Shenglong , Huang Jinfeng , Chen Minghui , Wang Fuhui , Chen Qiang
Published: May 2024

Short-time oxidation behavior of nanocrystalline Ta coating is studied at 850 °C in comparison with that of the Ta sheet. Owing to the large PBR value and insufficient expansion space, the oxide scale on Ta sheet is dramatically cracked, delaminated and pulverized, resulting in rapid deterioration. For nanocrystalline Ta coatings with columnar structures and quantitative grain boundaries, a rapid oxygen diffusion rate causes no initial Ta2O5 to form. The gap between columns provides spaces for bulk expansion, resulting in few opening cracks and delamination. Ta oxidation experiences a crystallization course from amorphous Ta oxide, leading to in situ temperature surging and thus pulverization.
Synthesis and utilization of titanium dioxide nano particle (TiO2NPs) for photocatalytic degradation of organics
Authors: Kholief M. G. , Hesham Abd El-Latif , Hashem F. S. , Mohamed F. M.
Published: May 2024

A green technique that emerged as a promise in the degradation of numerous organic contaminants is photocatalysis. The aim of this study concerns photocatalytic degradation of organic using titanium dioxide nano particles (TiO2 NPs) which syntheses from ilmenite by different leaching methods using different ingredients such as HCl, HNO3 and Aqua Regia. The affecting factors such as rate of addition, reaction time, ilmenite grain size, acid to ilmenite ratio and reaction temperature were conducted. Comprehensive physicochemical characterization of Ilmenite and TiO2 NPs were conducted using different analytical techniques such as XRD, XRF, SEM, TEM and FTIR. Photocatalytic degradation of organics is confirmed by studies of affecting factors on the effectiveness of TiO2 NPs such as dose, agitation forces, light intensity, initial concentration, pH, time, and temperature. The removal percentages of TSS, COD, BOD and TN of organics were explored. From the results the maximum removal percentage of TSS were 97.3 and 96.9% before and after secondary treatment conducted using ferric chloride (FC). The maximum removal percentage of TKN, BOD, and COD before secondary treatment were conducted using mixture of TiO2 NPs, FC, and chitosan, which reached 44.2, 44 and 46.3%, respectively. The maximum removal percentage of TKN, BOD, and COD after secondary treatment were conducted using mixture of TiO2 NPs, FC, and chitosan, which reached 94.9, 99.7 and 99.6%, respectively. Overall, the results derived from this investigation suggest that the TiO2 NPs/UV holds significant advanced treatment of sewage water, making it a viable choice for water reuse applications.
A sustainable green-approach for biofabrication of chitosan nanoparticles, optimization, characterization, its antifungal activity against phytopathogenic Fusarium culmorum and antitumor activity
Authors: El-Naggar Noura El-Ahmady , Shiha Alaa M. , Mahrous Hoda , Mohammed A. B. Abeer
Published: May 2024

Chitosan is a natural non-toxic, biocompatible, biodegradable, and mucoadhesive polymer. It also has a broad spectrum of applications such as agriculture, medical fields, cosmetics and food industries. In this investigation, chitosan nanoparticles were produced by an aqueous extract of Cympopogon citratus leaves as a reducing agent. According to the SEM and TEM micrographs, CNPs had a spherical shape, and size ranging from 8.08 to 12.01 nm. CNPs have a positively charged surface with a Zeta potential of + 26 mV. The crystalline feature of CNPs is determined by X-ray diffraction. There are many functional groups, including C꞊C, CH2-OH, C–O, C-S, N–H, CN, CH and OH were detected by FTIR analysis. As shown by the thermogravimetric study, CNPs have a high thermal stability. For the optimization of the green synthesis of CNPs, a Face centered central composite design (FCCCD) with 30 trials was used. The maximum yield of CNPs (13.99 mg CNPs/mL) was produced with chitosan concentration 1.5%, pH 4.5 at 40 °C, and incubation period of 30 min. The antifungal activity of CNPs was evaluated against phytopathogenic fungus; Fusarium culmorum. A 100% rate of mycelial growth inhibition was gained by the application of 20 mg CNPs/mL. The antitumor activity of the green synthesized CNPs was examined using 6 different cell lines, the viability of the cells reduced when the concentration of green synthesized CNPs increased, the IC50 dose of the green synthesized CNPs on the examined cell lines HePG-2, MCF-7, HCT-116, PC-3, Hela and WI-38 was 36.25 ± 2.3, 31.21 ± 2.2, 67.45 ± 3.5, 56.30 ± 3.3, 44.62 ± 2.6 and 74.90 ± 3.8; respectively.
Autonomous navigation and collision prediction of port channel based on computer vision and lidar
Authors: Zhang Zhan , Yang NanWu , Yang YiJian
Published: May 2024

This study aims to enhance the safety and efficiency of port navigation by reducing ship collision accidents, minimizing environmental risks, and optimizing waterways to increase port throughput. Initially, a three-dimensional map of the port’s waterway, including data on water depth, rocks, and obstacles, is generated through laser radar scanning. Visual perception technology is adopted to process and identify the data for environmental awareness. Single Shot MultiBox Detector (SSD) is utilized to position ships and obstacles, while point cloud data create a comprehensive three-dimensional map. In order to improve the optimal navigation approach of the Rapidly-Exploring Random Tree (RRT), an artificial potential field method is employed. Additionally, the collision prediction model utilizes K-Means clustering to enhance the Faster R-CNN algorithm for predicting the paths of other ships and obstacles. The results indicate that the RRT enhanced by the artificial potential field method reduces the average path length (from 500 to 430 m), average time consumption (from 30 to 22 s), and maximum collision risk (from 15 to 8%). Moreover, the accuracy, recall rate, and F1 score of the K-Means + Faster R-CNN collision prediction model reach 92%, 88%, and 90%, respectively, outperforming other models. Overall, these findings underscore the substantial advantages of the proposed enhanced algorithm in autonomous navigation and collision prediction in port waterways.
Basal forebrain volume and metabolism in carriers of the Colombian mutation for autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Teipel Stefan , Grazia Alice , Dyrba Martin , Grothe Michel J. , Pomara Nunzio
Published: May 2024

We aimed to study atrophy and glucose metabolism of the cholinergic basal forebrain in non-demented mutation carriers for autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease (ADAD). We determined the level of evidence for or against atrophy and impaired metabolism of the basal forebrain in 167 non-demented carriers of the Colombian PSEN1 E280A mutation and 75 age- and sex-matched non-mutation carriers of the same kindred using a Bayesian analysis framework. We analyzed baseline MRI, amyloid PET, and FDG-PET scans of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative ADAD Colombia Trial. We found moderate evidence against an association of carrier status with basal forebrain volume (Bayes factor (BF10) = 0.182). We found moderate evidence against a difference of basal forebrain metabolism (BF10 = 0.167). There was only inconclusive evidence for an association between basal forebrain volume and delayed memory and attention (BF10 = 0.884 and 0.184, respectively), and between basal forebrain volume and global amyloid load (BF10 = 2.1). Our results distinguish PSEN1 E280A mutation carriers from sporadic AD cases in which cholinergic involvement of the basal forebrain is already detectable in the preclinical and prodromal stages. This indicates an important difference between ADAD and sporadic AD in terms of pathogenesis and potential treatment targets.
Dietary intake, obesity, and metabolic risk factors among children and adolescents in the SEACO-CH20 cross-sectional study
Authors: Ramadas Amutha , Rizal Hussein , Rajakumar Sutha , Mariapun Jeevitha , Yasin Mohamed Shajahan , Armstrong Miranda E. G. , Su Tin Tin
Published: May 2024

We investigated the association between dietary intake and metabolic risk factors in children and adolescents within a semi-rural Malaysian community. Using an interviewer-led questionnaire, we surveyed 623 participants aged 7–18 from the South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO). Anthropometric and blood pressure data were collected from all participants, while a subset (n = 162) provided blood samples for biomarker analysis, including fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Metabolic syndrome was determined using the International Diabetes Federation’s Definition of Metabolic Syndrome in Children and Adolescents. Most participants were Malay (66.8%), with a median household income of MYR1,500 and a balanced sex distribution. Cereals, processed foods, beverages, fruits, and vegetables were commonly consumed. Obesity and abdominal obesity were prevalent, affecting more than a third of participants. Adherence to dietary recommendations was generally poor (ranging from 19.9 to 58.1%) and varied across age, sex, and ethnicity. Notably, some food groups displayed unexpected associations with health markers; for instance, fruit consumption was linked to abdominal obesity in children (abdominal obesity vs. normal: 2.4 servings/day vs. 1.6 servings/day). These findings emphasise the necessity of longitudinal studies to explore the complex relationship between diet and long-term health outcomes, including cardiometabolic diseases, while acknowledging the unique challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on data collection and analysis.
Radiomic profiles improve prognostication and reveal targets for therapy in cervical cancer
Authors: Halle Mari Kyllesø , Hodneland Erlend , Wagner-Larsen Kari S. , Lura Njål G. , Fasmer Kristine E. , Berg Hege F. , Stokowy Tomasz , Srivastava Aashish , Forsse David , Hoivik Erling A. , Woie Kathrine , Bertelsen Bjørn I. , Krakstad Camilla , Haldorsen Ingfrid S.
Published: May 2024

Cervical cancer (CC) is a major global health problem with 570,000 new cases and 266,000 deaths annually. Prognosis is poor for advanced stage disease, and few effective treatments exist. Preoperative diagnostic imaging is common in high-income countries and MRI measured tumor size routinely guides treatment allocation of cervical cancer patients. Recently, the role of MRI radiomics has been recognized. However, its potential to independently predict survival and treatment response requires further clarification. This retrospective cohort study demonstrates how non-invasive, preoperative, MRI radiomic profiling may improve prognostication and tailoring of treatments and follow-ups for cervical cancer patients. By unsupervised clustering based on 293 radiomic features from 132 patients, we identify three distinct clusters comprising patients with significantly different risk profiles, also when adjusting for FIGO stage and age. By linking their radiomic profiles to genomic alterations, we identify putative treatment targets for the different patient clusters (e.g., immunotherapy, CDK4/6 and YAP-TEAD inhibitors and p53 pathway targeting treatments).
The threat sensitivity scale: A brief self-report measure of dispositional sensitivity toward perceiving threats to physical harm
Authors: March David S. , Hasty Connor , Olivett Vincenzo
Published: May 2024

The possibility of experiencing physical harm caused by an object, animal, or person is an omnipresent risk in almost any situation. People show variability in their in the propensity to perceive the possibility of harm from any ostensibly innocuous object or situation—a so-called threat bias. Despite the important psychological and societal consequences resulting from individual differences in physical threat bias, there does not currently exist an easily administered means to capture this disposition. We therefore endeavored to create a brief reliable self-report index of threat sensitivity for use by the many fields interested in the role of threat processing. We present here a physical threat sensitivity scale (TSS) that captures the dispositional tendency to perceive the possibility of physical harm in ostensibly innocuous situations or objects. We detail the development and validation of the TSS as a reliable index of individual threat bias (Studies 1a and 1b) and provide strong convergent evidence of the relationship between TS and both relevant individual differences (Study 2) and behavioral and perceptual indicates of threat bias (Study 3 and Study 4).
Function of MYB8 in larch under PEG simulated drought stress
Authors: Zhao Qingrong , Xiong Huanhuan , Yu Hongying , Wang Chen , Zhang Sufang , Hao Junfei , Wang Junhui , Zhang Hanguo , Zhang Lei
Published: May 2024

Larch, a prominent afforestation, and timber species in northeastern China, faces growth limitations due to drought. To further investigate the mechanism of larch’s drought resistance, we conducted full-length sequencing on embryonic callus subjected to PEG-simulated drought stress. The sequencing results revealed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) primarily played roles in cellular activities and cell components, with molecular functions such as binding, catalytic activity, and transport activity. Furthermore, the DEGs showed significant enrichment in pathways related to protein processing, starch and sucrose metabolism, benzose-glucuronic acid interconversion, phenylpropyl biology, flavonoid biosynthesis, as well as nitrogen metabolism and alanine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid metabolism. Consequently, the transcription factor T_transcript_77027, which is involved in multiple pathways, was selected as a candidate gene for subsequent drought stress resistance tests. Under PEG-simulated drought stress, the LoMYB8 gene was induced and showed significantly upregulated expression compared to the control. Physiological indices demonstrated an improved drought resistance in the transgenic plants. After 48 h of PEG stress, the transcriptome sequencing results of the transiently transformed LoMYB8 plants and control plants exhibited that genes were significantly enriched in biological process, cellular component and molecular function. Function analyses indicated for the enrichment of multiple KEGG pathways, including energy synthesis, metabolic pathways, antioxidant pathways, and other relevant processes. The pathways annotated by the differential metabolites mainly encompassed signal transduction, carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and flavonoid metabolism.
Global intracranial arterial tortuosity is associated with intracranial atherosclerotic burden
Authors: Eun Mi-Yeon , Song Ha‑Na , Choi Jong‑Un , Cho Hwan‑Ho , Kim Hyung Jun , Chung Jong-Won , Song Tae-Jin , Jung Jin-Man , Bang Oh‑Young , Kim Gyeong‑Moon , Park Hyunjin , Liebeskind David S. , Seo Woo-Keun
Published: May 2024

The effect of arterial tortuosity on intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) is not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of global intracranial arterial tortuosity on intracranial atherosclerotic burden in patients with ischemic stroke. We included patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and classified them into three groups according to the ICAS burden. Global tortuosity index (GTI) was defined as the standardized mean curvature of the entire intracranial arteries, measured by in-house vessel analysis software. Of the 516 patients included, 274 patients had no ICAS, 140 patients had a low ICAS burden, and 102 patients had a high ICAS burden. GTI increased with higher ICAS burden. After adjustment for age, sex, vascular risk factors, and standardized mean arterial area, GTI was independently associated with ICAS burden (adjusted odds ratio [adjusted OR] 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09–1.62). The degree of association increased when the arterial tortuosity was analyzed limited to the basal arteries (adjusted OR 1.48; 95% CI 1.22–1.81). We demonstrated that GTI is associated with ICAS burden in patients with ischemic stroke, suggesting a role for global arterial tortuosity in ICAS.
Luminal androgen receptor subtype and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes groups based on triple-negative breast cancer molecular subclassification
Authors: Lee Miseon , Yoo Tae-Kyung , Chae Byung Joo , Lee Ahwon , Cha Yoon Jin , Lee Jieun , Ahn Sung Gwe , Kang Jun
Published: May 2024

In our previous study, we developed a triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype classification that correlated with the TNBC molecular subclassification. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the predictor variables of this subtype classification on the whole slide and to validate the model’s performance by using an external test set. We explored the characteristics of this subtype classification and investigated genomic alterations, including genomic scar signature scores. First, TNBC was classified into the luminal androgen receptor (LAR) and non-luminal androgen receptor (non-LAR) subtypes based on the AR Allred score (≥ 6 and < 6, respectively). Then, the non-LAR subtype was further classified into the lymphocyte-predominant (LP), lymphocyte-intermediate (LI), and lymphocyte-depleted (LD) groups based on stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) (< 20%, > 20% but < 60%, and ≥ 60%, respectively). This classification showed fair agreement with the molecular classification in the test set. The LAR subtype was characterized by a high rate of PIK3CA mutation, CD274 (encodes PD-L1) and PDCD1LG2 (encodes PD-L2) deletion, and a low homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) score. The non-LAR LD TIL group was characterized by a high frequency of NOTCH2 and MYC amplification and a high HRD score.
Use of the CytoSorb adsorber in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure
Authors: Haselwanter Patrick , Scheiner Bernhard , Balcar Lorenz , Semmler Georg , Riedl-Wewalka Marlene , Schmid Monika , Reiberger Thomas , Zauner Christian , Schneeweiss-Gleixner Mathias
Published: May 2024

CytoSorb is a hemoadsorptive column used to remove high concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines in septic shock. Data on CytoSorb application in acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is lacking. This retrospective observational study analyzed 21 ACLF patients admitted to ICUs at the Vienna General Hospital who received CytoSorb adsorber therapy between 2017 and 2023. Median ICU length of stay was 8 days (IQR: 3–13), the ICU survival rate was 23.8% (n = 5). Significant decreases in bilirubin (median peak: 20.7 mg/dL to median post-treatment: 10.8 mg/dL; − 47.8%; p < 0.001), procalcitonin (1.34 to 0.74 pg/mL; − 44.6%; p < 0.001), interleukin-6 (385 to 131 ng/mL; − 66.0%; p = 0.0182)—but also of platelets (72 to 31 G/L; − 56.9%; p = 0.0014) and fibrinogen (230 to 154 mg/dL; − 33.0%; p = 0.0297) were detected. ICU survivors had a trend towards a stronger relative decrease in bilirubin (− 76.1% vs. − 48.2%), procalcitonin (− 90.6% vs. − 23.5%), and IL-6 (− 54.6% vs. − 17.8%) upon CytoSorb treatment. Moreover, no serious CytoSorb-attributed complications were detected. In conclusion, use of CytoSorb adsorber in ACLF patients results in a significant decrease in bilirubin and proinflammatory cytokines, while platelets and fibrinogen were also lowered. Prospective trials are warranted to investigate the impact of CytoSorb on clinical outcomes of ACLF patients with high proinflammatory cytokine levels.
Uncertainty quantification of the lattice Boltzmann method focussing on studies of human-scale vascular blood flow
Authors: McCullough Jon W. S. , Coveney Peter V.
Published: May 2024

Uncertainty quantification is becoming a key tool to ensure that numerical models can be sufficiently trusted to be used in domains such as medical device design. Demonstration of how input parameters impact the quantities of interest generated by any numerical model is essential to understanding the limits of its reliability. With the lattice Boltzmann method now a widely used approach for computational fluid dynamics, building greater understanding of its numerical uncertainty characteristics will support its further use in science and industry. In this study we apply an in-depth uncertainty quantification study of the lattice Boltzmann method in a canonical bifurcating geometry that is representative of the vascular junctions present in arterial and venous domains. These campaigns examine how quantities of interest—pressure and velocity along the central axes of the bifurcation—are influenced by the algorithmic parameters of the lattice Boltzmann method and the parameters controlling the values imposed at inlet velocity and outlet pressure boundary conditions. We also conduct a similar campaign on a set of personalised vessels to further illustrate the application of these techniques. Our work provides insights into how input parameters and boundary conditions impact the velocity and pressure distributions calculated in a simulation and can guide the choices of such values when applied to vascular studies of patient specific geometries. We observe that, from an algorithmic perspective, the number of time steps and the size of the grid spacing are the most influential parameters. When considering the influence of boundary conditions, we note that the magnitude of the inlet velocity and the mean pressure applied within sinusoidal pressure outlets have the greatest impact on output quantities of interest. We also observe that, when comparing the magnitude of variation imposed in the input parameters with that observed in the output quantities, this variability is particularly magnified when the input velocity is altered. This study also demonstrates how open-source toolkits for validation, verification and uncertainty quantification can be applied to numerical models deployed on high-performance computers without the need for modifying the simulation code itself. Such an ability is key to the more widespread adoption of the analysis of uncertainty in numerical models by significantly reducing the complexity of their execution and analysis.