bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainable methane energy from bagasse treated via bokashi technology: comparative between neural network and mathematical modeling
Authors: Metwally Amany A. , Abo-bakr Rasha M. , Ahmed Dalia S.
Published: October 2023

Bagasse is the major leftover material from the sugarcane industry, and it has significant untapped energy. Biogas production from bagasse is employed as eco-friendly energy but its intricate composition makes it resistant to degradation. This study endeavors to explore the impact of bokashi technology, a technique that applies effective microorganisms on the potential methane production from bagasse. According to findings, bagasse had the ability to produce biogas but applying bokashi technology to bagasse led to getting more methane production. The methane production from treated bagasse for one month via bokashi bran was 243.80 LCH4/kgVS compared to 106.84 LCH4/kgVS only from fresh bagasse which is often attributed to improved fibrous carbohydrates degradation by the pre-treatment process. The reduction of total solids and chemical oxygen demand were more with treated bagasse. Two-dimensional mathematical modeling (TDMM) and artificial neural network (ANN) were utilized to forecast the production of methane through the anaerobic co-digestion process. The main advantage of ANN model is its ability to be constructed and trained for any experiment, regardless of the availability of a pre-existing study or understanding of the underlying phenomena. On the other hand, existence of a mathematical model that accurately describes the behavior of the current experiment is a fundamental requirement for constructing the TDMM model. The TDMM model remains stable in each run, as it relies on the established mathematical equations. On the other hand, ANN model may exhibit variations in each run due to the random initialization of weights.

Graphical abstract
Profiling apple volatile organic compounds in a New Zealand collection of germplasm as a resource for breeding cultivars with desirable flavors
Authors: Orcheski Benjamin , Hedderley Duncan , Hunt Martin , Rowan Daryl , Volz Richard
Published: October 2023

Flavor is a major component of the apple eating experience, along with taste, texture and appearance. Apples produce a wide array of volatile organic compounds that impart particular flavors. Cultivars producing increased or novel flavors may have more desirability for consumers and help to differentiate the fruit. Efficiently breeding more flavorful apples requires understanding the volatiles present in apple germplasm and their potential sensory impact. As an initial step towards the development of more flavorful apple cultivars, a New Zealand collection of germplasm was surveyed, and seventy-three volatiles were identified as being present in at least half the accessions. Substantial differences in the presence and relative abundance of specific volatiles were uncovered across the accessions and could sometimes be linked to an apple’s flavor profile. The large number of volatiles analyzed allowed relationships between and among molecule classes to be established. Esters were found to be the main drivers of volatile differentiation across accessions. Apples tended to produce either ethyl or acetate esters, suggesting there is different genetic control for these two ester types. Additionally, esters generally had larger broad-sense heritabilities, indicating they could be easier targets for modifying apple flavor. This volatile dataset is a valuable resource for apple breeding, and increases the understanding of an important consumer trait.
Green synthesis of nano-based drug delivery systems developed for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment: a review
Authors: Khafaga Doaa S. R. , El-Khawaga Ahmed M. , Elfattah Mohammed Rehab Abd , Abdelhakim Heba K.
Published: October 2023

This review presents an overview of one of the effective strategies for improving the anticancer impact of many drugs including sorafenib using a drug delivery system by employing nanoparticles that is produced through a biological system. The biological process has a lot of benefits, including being inexpensive and safe for the environment. Sorafenib is one of a multi-kinase inhibitor that inhibits molecularly targeted kinases. Because of its poor pharmacokinetic characteristics, such as fast elimination and limited water solubility, the bioavailability of Sorafenib is extremely low. More intelligent nano formulations of sorafenib have been developed to boost both the drug’s target ability and bioavailability. Researchers in a wide variety of sectors, including nanomedicine, have recently been interested in the topic of nanotechnology. It is possible for the body to develop resistance to widely used drugs available for treatment of liver cancer, including sorafenib. As a result, our goal of this research is to highlight the efficacy of nanomedicine-based drug delivery system to enhance drug’s cancer-fighting properties. Because of their magnetic properties, certain nanoparticle materials can be employed as a carrier for the medicine to the exact place where the cancer is located. This can lower the amount of the drug that is administered with no impact on the normal cells.
Assessing Dose-Exposure–Response Relationships of Miltefosine in Adults and Children using Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling Approach
Authors: Madu Shadrack J. , Wang Ke , Chirumamilla Siri Kalyan , Turner David B. , Steel Patrick G. , Li Mingzhong
Published: October 2023

Objectives

Miltefosine is the first and only oral medication to be successfully utilized as an antileishmanial agent. However, the drug is associated with differences in exposure patterns and cure rates among different population groups e.g. ethnicity and age (i.e., children v adults) in clinical trials. In this work, mechanistic population physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models have been developed to study the dose-exposure–response relationship of miltefosine in in silico clinical trials and evaluate the differences in population groups, particularly children and adults.

Methods

The Simcyp population pharmacokinetics platform was employed to predict miltefosine exposure in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in a virtual population under different dosing regimens. The cure rate of a simulation was based on the percentage of number of the individual virtual subjects with AUCd0-28 > 535 µg⋅day/mL in the virtual population.

Results

It is shown that both adult and paediatric PBPK models of miltefosine can be developed to predict the PK data of the clinical trials accurately. There was no significant difference in the predicted dose-exposure–response of the miltefosine treatment for different simulated ethnicities under the same dose regime and the dose-selection strategies determined the clinical outcome of the miltefosine treatment. A lower cure rate of the miltefosine treatment in paediatrics was predicted because a lower exposure of miltefosine was simulated in virtual paediatric in comparison with adult virtual populations when they received the same dose of the treatment.

Conclusions

The mechanistic PBPK model suggested that the higher fraction of unbound miltefosine in plasma was responsible for a higher probability of failure in paediatrics because of the difference in the distribution of plasma proteins between adults and paediatrics. The developed PBPK models could be used to determine an optimal miltefosine dose regime in future clinical trials.

Graphical Abstract
Multiple systems estimation for studying over-coverage and its heterogeneity in population registers
Authors: Mussino Eleonora , Santos Bruno , Monti Andrea , Matechou Eleni , Drefahl Sven
Published: October 2023

The growing necessity for evidence-based policy built on rigorous research has never been greater. However, the ability of researchers to provide such evidence is invariably tied to the availability of high-quality data. Bias stemming from over-coverage in official population registers, i.e. resident individuals whose death or emigration is not registered, can lead to serious implications for policymaking and research. Using Swedish Population registers and the statistical framework of multiple systems estimation, we estimate the extent of over-coverage among foreign-born individuals’ resident in Sweden for the period 2003–2016. Our study reveals that, although over-coverage is low during this period in Sweden, we observed a distinct heterogeneity in over-coverage across various sub-populations, suggesting significant variations among them. We also evaluated the implications of omitting each of the considered registers on real data and simulated data, and highlight the potential bias introduced when the omitted register interacts with the included registers. Our paper underscores the broad applicability of multiple systems estimation in addressing and mitigating bias from over-coverage in scenarios involving incomplete but overlapping population registers.
Dealing with Trust Deficit and Liabilities of Foreignness in Host Countries: Chinese Multinational Enterprises in Australia
Authors: Zhang Mingqiong Mike , Lu Ying , Zhu Jiuhua Cherrie , Zhang Kaixin
Published: October 2023

In the face of growing global tendencies of anti-globalization and de-globalization, emerging economy multinational enterprises (EMNEs) are suffering from a trust deficit and multiple liabilities of foreignness in leading economies. The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the coping strategies of EMNEs towards the challenging institutional environment in host countries. It adopts a qualitative approach, conducting longitudinal multiple cases studies among MNE subsidiaries and employing interviews as the main method of data collection. The findings reveal that EMNEs are not passive recipients of the adverse institutional environment and adopt institutional adaptation as the only response strategy. Given that a single strategy cannot be effective, they have developed both proactive and protective strategies to handle the multiple liabilities of foreignness and trust deficit. This study can help EMNEs gain a better understanding of the dominance effect and develop more effective measures to manage challenging institutional environments in host countries. Given that interactions between institutional environments and firm-level strategies of MNEs remain under-researched, this study advances understanding of strategies and behaviours of MNEs in host countries.
Differences in patterns of sexual assault among female victims preceding and during the COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis of encounters in an emergency department
Authors: Klasen Caroline M. , Teltrop Leandra , Belau Matthias H. , Lohner Larissa , Ondruschka Benjamin , Riecke Kerstin , Reuter Susanne , Schmalfeldt Barbara , Wilmes Sandra , Witzel Isabell
Published: October 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate how the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the number and patterns of sexual assault victims within a German metropolitan city. A retrospective single center analysis of the gynecology examination reports of all women presenting to the emergency department of a university hospital after a sexual offense between 03/2013 and 02/2021 (n = 1167). Comparison of the first year of the pandemic 03/2000-03/2021) to previous years (03/2017-02/2020) and comparison of periods of government-imposed social distancing (03/12/2020-05/23/2020 and 10/23/2020-02/28/2021) with corresponding periods of pre-pandemic years. The overall number of sexual assault cases did not change during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, during the stay-at-home orders, the number of women presenting to the emergency department decreased by 38% (n=45 vs. 72). Fewer victims filed a police report during the pandemic (49.5% vs. 73.9%, p<0.001) and the lockdown period (50% vs. 76.5%, p<0.001). Less genital injuries after sexual assault were detected during the pandemic (14.3% vs. 25.2%, p<0.02), but there was an increase of illegal substance abuse (19.5% vs. 9.3%, p<0.003). During the stay-at-home orders fewer victims reported alcohol consumption (42.4% vs. 62.5 %, p<0.023). Despite the decrease in sexual offense related police reports, the number of sexual assault cases remained consistent, and the usage of illegal drugs increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings represent the importance of providing support to sexual assault victims, as well as the implementation of preventative measures, especially in times of crisis.
What Sex Workers Do: Associations Between the Exchange of Sexual Services for Payment and Sexual Activities
Authors: Johansson Isabelle , Hansen Michael A.
Published: October 2023

This study investigates people’s associations between the exchange of sexual services for payment and different sexual activities. Sex work entails a range of activities, from in person services to online performances. To date, no study has asked about the activities individuals associate with the exchange of sexual services for payment. The relationship between the exchange of sexual services for payment and specific activities is an important area for inquiry, as there exists considerable variance in people’s views on sex work and associations are impacted by a range of attitudes. Using an original survey involving a substantial sample size of adults in the U.S. (n = 1,034), respondents are asked their level of association between the exchange of sexual services for payment and seven activities: pornographic photos, pornographic videos, webcamming, erotic dancing, erotic massages, oral sex, and sexual intercourse. The results reveal that respondents are more likely to associate the exchange of sexual services for payment with activities requiring in person and physical contact between sex workers and clients than non-physical activities. In addition, we find that conservatives are more likely to associate the exchange of sexual services for payment with non-physical activities than liberals. Moreover, we find that people who view the exchange of sexual services for payment as acceptable are more likely to recognize a broader range of activities as associated with such exchanges than are those who hold more negative attitudes. Views on acceptability are more important than are previous experiences of paying for sexual services. Our findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and advocates seeking a comprehensive grasp of the complexities surrounding sex work in contemporary society.
$$L^p$$-Cohomology, Heat Semigroup and Stratified Spaces
Authors: Bei Francesco
Published: October 2023

Let (M, g) be an incomplete Riemannian manifold of finite volume and let $$2\le p<\infty $$

2
≤
p
<
∞

. In the first part of this paper we prove that under certain assumptions the inclusion of the space of $$L^p$$

L
p

-differential forms into that of $$L^2$$

L
2

-differential forms gives rise to an injective/surjective map between the corresponding $$L^p$$

L
p

and $$L^2$$

L
2

cohomology groups. Then in the second part we provide various applications of these results to the curvature and the intersection cohomology of compact Thom–Mather stratified pseudomanifolds and complex projective varieties with only isolated singularities.
Internalized Stigma and its Correlates Among Opioid Agonist Treatment Service Users in Nepal
Authors: Pant Sagun Ballav , Thapa Suraj Bahadur , Howard John , Ojha Saroj Prasad , Lien Lars
Published: October 2023

Opioid use disorder is associated with high levels of stigma and discrimination, which impact treatment seeking and compliance. Despite extensive evidence as an optimal intervention for opioid use disorder, enrollment in Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) in settings like Nepal, is accompanied by moral judgements and stigma with a broad narrative of it being merely a replacement of ‘one addiction with another’. Stigma is eventually internalized by many service users impacting enrollment and maintenance in OAT, and quality of life. This study aimed to assess internalized stigma among OAT service users in Nepal and to explore its association with sociodemographic characteristics, lifetime mental disorders and quality of life. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 231 OAT service users, the survey instrument included the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview for DSM-5, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Inventory (ISMI) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life –BREF. Factors associated with quality of life and internalized stigma were investigated using bivariate and multivariate analyses. More than half (56.28%) of respondents reported having high internalized stigma with a mean ISMI score of 2.71 ± 0.64. All 29 ISMI items were found to have a mean score greater than 2.5 indicating a high burden of internalized stigma. Service users reporting higher internalized stigma had significantly lower quality of life across all domains, greater medical co-morbidity, lifetime anxiety and depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder. To lessen stigma and its impacts, our findings recommend a national initiative targeting stigma reduction interventions for existing OAT services and beneficiaries.
Stability of a lined rock cavern for compressed air energy storage containing a weak interlayer during blasting in the adjacent cavern: model tests and numerical simulation
Authors: Zhang Mengchen , Luo Yi , Gong Hangli , Liu Xin , Deng Yunchen
Published: October 2023

To evaluate the stability of a lined rock cavern (LRC) for compressed air energy storage (CAES) containing a weak interlayer during blasting in the adjacent cavern, a newly excavated tunnel-type LRC was taken as the research object. By combining similar model tests and numerical simulation, the dynamic responses and deformation characteristics of the LRC for CAES under joint action of factors including the gas storage pressure, weak interlayer, and blast load were studied. The influences of the thickness, dip angle, and location of the weak interlayer on deformation of the LRC were discussed. The results show that as the gas storage pressure increases, the rate of change in strains in regions of the LRC near the weak interlayer is accelerated, and the gas storage pressure more significantly influences the sealing layer and lining than the surrounding rocks. The presence of the weak interlayer causes stress concentration in the LRC and increases the circumferential strain and residual strain of the LRC. Under the blast load, the right-side wall of the LRC shows the poorest stability, and the presence of the weak interlayer results in the energy loss in the propagation process of stress waves and an increment of peak strain in regions of the LRC around the interlayer. When the weak interlayer is separated from the LRC, as the thickness of the weak interlayer increases, the confinement of surrounding rocks at the interlayer on the LRC reduces and the circumferential strain increases. As the dip angle of the interlayer increases, the peak strain in the right upper side of the LRC grows significantly. As the distance from the weak interlayer to the LRC boundary increases, the circumferential strain in regions of the LRC near the interlayer decreases significantly. If the distance is less than 0.2r, the increment of the distance significantly affects the peak strain.
Rome in the Ninth Century
Authors: Osborne John
Published: October 2023

Intended as a sequel to Rome in the Eighth Century (Cambridge, 2020), this survey of the material culture of the city of Rome spans the period from the imperial coronation of Charlemagne in 800 to the nadir of the fortunes of the Roman Church a century later. The evidence of standing buildings, objects, historical documents, and archaeology is brought together to create an integrated picture of the political, economic, and cultural situation in the city over this period, one characterized initially by substantial wealth resulting in enormous patronage of art and architecture, but then followed by almost total impoverishment and collapse. John Osborne also attempts to correct the widespread notion that the Franco-papal alliance of the late eighth century led to a political and cultural break between Rome and the broader cultural world of the Christian eastern Mediterranean. Beautifully illustrated, this book is essential for everyone interested in medieval Rome.
Entrainment, detrainment and enstrophy transport by small-scale vortex structures
Authors: Aligolzadeh Farid , Holzner Markus , Dawson James R.
Published: October 2023

The interaction of small-scale vortical structures with the surrounding fluid are studied using a fully resolved three-dimensional experimental data set of homogeneous turbulence measured at the centre of a von Kármán mixing flow facility and a direct numerical simulation (DNS) data set of forced isotropic turbulence. To identify the small-scale vortices and their boundaries, an objective observer-independent definition was implemented to avoid arbitrariness and is the first implementation applied to experimental measurements of small-scale turbulence. Volume-averaged and conditional statistics are presented to demonstrate consistency between the experimental and DNS data sets. To examine the interaction of the structures with the surrounding flow field, we examine the flow across the boundary of vortex structures by adopting a similar methodological approach to that used to investigate the local entrainment and detrainment across the turbulent–non-turbulent interface. The probability density function (p.d.f.) of entrainment velocity conditioned on the vortex boundary exhibited a non-Gaussian distribution that skewed slightly in favour of entrainment and is remarkably similar to the p.d.f.s of entrainment velocity observed in boundary layers and jets. We analyse the enstrophy transport equation conditioned on radial and axial coordinates of the vortices to quantify the inviscid and viscous components of the entrainment/detrainment process. A comparison with Burgers vortices is made and it is found that the Burgers vortex model captures the vortex structure average size and the mechanisms of enstrophy transport in the radial direction, but is unable to capture local statistics and describe the governing physics along the axes of the vortices.
How the first revolution affected the second: The setback of 1927 for the Chinese Communist Party Revolution in the 1920s
Authors: Zhou Luyang
Published: October 2023

The Bolsheviks’ world revolution encountered setbacks in the 1920s. Among the bloodiest of these was the massacre of 1927 when the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) entire central leadership was killed in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (GMD) coup. Existing explanations highlight Moscow’s miscalculation, infighting within the Kremlin, Soviet advisers’ information dilemma, and the CCP leaders’ political inexperience. This article compares the opening stages of the Bolshevik (or Russian) and Chinese Communist Party revolutions to explain why the 1927 setback became a catastrophe. It argues that the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 caused fundamental changes, which thwarted any attempt to replicate the 1917 victory in the post-1917 world. The CCP in 1927 faced three disadvantages that the Bolshevik Revolution had engendered: a misleading myth about the October Revolution, a Bolshevized system of repression created by Soviet advisers to the GMD, and the ‘red scare’ in Japan and British Southeast Asia, which blocked members of the CCP from escaping overseas. This article draws on leaders’ biographical materials to compare the two parties’ learning from foreign revolutions, records in suffering repression, and experiences as overseas refugees. The comparison shows that the Bolsheviks did not face these three disadvantages before 1917.
The curious origins of ownership
Authors: Tummolini Luca
Published: October 2023

What are the origins of ownership as a conceptual domain? By combining experimental evidence from cognitive science, a theoretical proposal from developmental psychology, and the computational framework of reinforcement learning, I argue that ownership concepts can develop as a by-product of our curiosity-based exploration and become grounded via our experience of control in physical and social environments.
What do infants need an ownership concept for? Frugal possession concepts can adequately support early reasoning about distributive dilemmas
Authors: Tatone Denis
Published: October 2023

Boyer's model posits that ownership intuitions are delivered by combining input representations of resource conflict and cooperative value, necessary to solve coordination dilemmas over resource access. Here I evaluate the implications of this claim for early social cognition and argue that cognitively frugal possession concepts can be leveraged to the same inferential end, making the ascription of ownership proper unnecessary.
Development, history, and a minimalist model of ownership psychology
Authors: Noles Nicholaus Samuel
Published: October 2023

Boyer's minimalist model is a compelling account of ownership psychology that is more efficient than previous models. However, it is unclear whether the two simple systems that make up this model – acquisitiveness and cooperation – are sufficient to both explain the nuanced development of ownership concepts and to account for the prominent influence that history has on ownership psychology.
Beyond personal ownership: Examining the complexities of ownership in culture
Authors: Belk Russell W. , Atasoy Özgün
Published: October 2023

We argue that ownership is a highly flexible concept, shaped by both innate and learned aspects, and heavily influenced by culture. Boyer's model focuses solely on universal personal ownership, neglecting other forms such as shared ownership, fractionalized property rights, and the ownership of the meanings and memories attached to possessions. A comprehensive understanding requires considering diverse human relationships with objects.
Hold it! Where do we put the body?
Authors: Wispinski Nathan J. , Enns James T. , Chapman Craig S.
Published: October 2023

Boyer's formulation neglects that humans are embodied agents. It is a biological imperative to distinguish self from other. Ownership of ideas, bodies, objects, and locations is an inevitable extension of this. We argue that (1) the body's capability influences the inputs that guide future actions, and (2) bodies in action influence all of cognition, from perception to decision making.
Invested effort and our open-ended sense of ownership
Authors: Merker Bjorn
Published: October 2023

Pascal Boyer achieves a felicitous integration of what is known about human ownership psychology by deriving ownership intuitions from the interaction of resource acquisition and our cooperative sociality. By exploring the sense of ownership already present in the domain of resource acquisition, I sketch an evolutionary path to the open-ended nature of the specifically human version of that sense.
Ownership psychology as a “cognitive cell” adaptation: A minimalist model of microbial goods theory
Authors: Clark Kevin B.
Published: October 2023

Microbes perfect social interactions with intuitive logics and goal-directed reciprocity. These multilevel, cognition-resembling adaptations in Dictyostelid cellular molds enable individual-to-group viability through public/private bacterial farming and dynamic marketspaces. Like humans and animals, Dictyostelid livestock-ownership depends on environmental sensing, cooperation, and competition. Moreover, social-norm policing of cosmopolitan colonies coordinates farmer decisions, phenotypes, and ownership identities with bacteria herding, privatization, and consumption.
Alkohol und illegale Drogen unter Geflüchteten in Gemeinschaftsunterkünften
Authors: Zurhold Heike , Kuhn Silke
Published: October 2023

Zusammenfassung: Ziel: Angesichts des Mangels an empirischen Erkenntnissen zum Substanzkonsum von Geflüchteten in unterschiedlichen Lebensphasen ist es ein Ziel, den Alkohol- und Drogenkonsum in der Heimat, auf der Flucht und im Aufnahmeland zu vergleichen. Zudem wird untersucht, welche Risikofaktoren mit einer erhöhten Prävalenz des Substanzkonsums verbunden sind. Methode: In 52 Gemeinschaftsunterkünften in vier Bundesländern wurden 1 116 erwachsene Geflüchtete mit einem standardisierten Fragebogen in sechs Sprachen befragt. Ergebnisse: Die Befragten hatten eine niedrige Lebenszeitprävalenz des Alkohol- und Drogenkonsums (28.8 % Alkohol, 7.4 % Drogen), die nach Herkunftsland der Geflüchteten stark variierte. Die Prävalenz war auf der Flucht sehr niedrig und erreicht in Deutschland für Alkohol ein ähnliches Niveau wie im Herkunftsland oder erhöhte sich deutlich für Cannabis und Kokain. Geflüchtete mit einem Drogenkonsum sind eine besonders belastete Gruppe durch Fluchterlebnisse und unsicheren Asylstatus. Konsumierenden Geflüchteten war das deutsche Suchthilfesystem nahezu unbekannt. Schlussfolgerungen: In den Gemeinschaftsunterkünften für Geflüchtete ist eine aufsuchende Arbeit der Suchthilfe zu empfehlen, um zunächst grundsätzlich über das Suchthilfesystem in Deutschland zu informieren und Substanzkonsumierenden Beratungsmöglichkeiten aufzuzeigen. Eine substanzspezifische Aufklärung über Konsumrisiken, vor allem bezogen auf Alkohol, Cannabis und Kokain ist anzuraten.
STING activation in TET2-mutated hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells contributes to the increased self-renewal and neoplastic transformation
Authors: Xie Jiaying , Sheng Mengyao , Rong Shaoqin , Zhou Dan , Wang Chao , Wu Wanling , Huang Jingru , Sun Yue , Wang Yin , Chen Pingyue , Wu Yushuang , Wang Yuanxian , Wang Lan , Zhou Bo O. , Huang Xinxin , Walsh Colum P. , Bohlander Stefan K. , Huang Jian , Wang Xiaoqin , Xu Guo-Liang , Gao Hai , Shi Yuheng
Published: October 2023

Somatic loss-of-function mutations of the dioxygenase Ten-eleven translocation-2 (TET2) occur frequently in individuals with clonal hematopoiesis (CH) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These common hematopoietic disorders can be recapitulated in mouse models. However, the underlying mechanisms by which the deficiency in TET2 promotes these disorders remain unclear. Here we show that the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway is activated to mediate the effect of TET2 deficiency in dysregulated hematopoiesis in mouse models. DNA damage arising in Tet2-deficient hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) leads to activation of the cGAS-STING pathway which in turn promotes the enhanced self-renewal and development of CH. Notably, both pharmacological inhibition and genetic deletion of STING suppresses Tet2 mutation-induced aberrant hematopoiesis. In patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, STING inhibition specifically attenuates the proliferation of leukemia cells from TET2-mutated individuals. These observations suggest that the development of CH associated with TET2 mutations is powered through chronic inflammation dependent on the activated cGAS-STING pathway and that STING may represent a potential target for intervention of relevant hematopoietic diseases.
Human milk oligosaccharides modify the strength of priority effects in the Bifidobacterium community assembly during infancy
Authors: Laursen Martin F , Roager Henrik M
Published: October 2023

Despite the significant role of the gut microbiota in infant health and development, little is known about the ecological processes determining gut microbial community assembly. According to ecology theory, the timing and order of arrival of microbial species into an ecosystem affect microbial community assembly, a phenomenon termed priority effects. Bifidobacterium species are recognized as highly abundant early colonizers of the infant’s gut, partly due to their ability to selectively utilize human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) from breast milk. However, the role of priority effects in Bifidobacterium community assembly remains unclear. Here, we investigated the Bifidobacterium community assembly in the gut of 25 breastfed Danish infants longitudinally sampled throughout the first 6 months of life. Our results showed that the breastfed infants were often initially, but temporarily, dominated by suboptimal HMO-utilizing Bifidobacterium taxa, such as B. longum subsp. longum, before more efficient HMO-utilizers such as B. longum subsp. infantis, replaced the first colonizer as the dominant Bifidobacterium taxon. Subsequently, we validated this observation using gnotobiotic mice sequentially colonized with B. longum subsp. longum and B. longum subsp. infantis or vice versa, with or without supplementation of HMOs in the drinking water. The results showed that in the absence of HMOs, order of arrival determined dominance. Yet, when mice were supplemented with HMOs the strength of priority effects diminished, and B. longum subsp. infantis dominated regardless of colonization order. Our data demonstrate that the arrival order of Bifidobacterium taxa and the deterministic force of breast milk-derived HMOs, dictate Bifidobacterium community assembly in the infant’s gut.
Coalescence of Al0.3CoCrFeNi polycrystalline high-entropy alloy in hot-pressed sintering: a molecular dynamics and phase-field study
Authors: Guo Qingwei , Hou Hua , Wang Kaile , Li Muxi , Liaw Peter K. , Zhao Yuhong
Published: October 2023

Existing hot sintering models based on molecular dynamics focus on single-crystal alloys. This work proposes a new multiparticle model based on molecular dynamics to investigate coalescence kinetics during the hot-pressed sintering of a polycrystalline Al0.3CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy. The accuracy and effectiveness of the multiparticle model are verified by a phase-field model. Using this model, it is found that when the particle contact zones undergo pressure-induced evolution into exponential power creep zones, the occurrences of phenomena, such as necking, pore formation/filling, dislocation accumulation/decomposition, and particle rotation/rearrangement are accelerated. Based on tensile test results, Young’s modulus of the as-sintered Al0.3CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy is calculated to be 214.11 ± 1.03 GPa, which deviates only 0.82% from the experimental value, thus further validating the feasibility and accuracy of the multiparticle model.
Proteomic meta-study harmonization, mechanotyping and drug repurposing candidate prediction with ProHarMeD
Authors: Adamowicz Klaudia , Arend Lis , Maier Andreas , Schmidt Johannes R. , Kuster Bernhard , Tsoy Olga , Zolotareva Olga , Baumbach Jan , Laske Tanja
Published: October 2023

Proteomics technologies, which include a diverse range of approaches such as mass spectrometry-based, array-based, and others, are key technologies for the identification of biomarkers and disease mechanisms, referred to as mechanotyping. Despite over 15,000 published studies in 2022 alone, leveraging publicly available proteomics data for biomarker identification, mechanotyping and drug target identification is not readily possible. Proteomic data addressing similar biological/biomedical questions are made available by multiple research groups in different locations using different model organisms. Furthermore, not only various organisms are employed but different assay systems, such as in vitro and in vivo systems, are used. Finally, even though proteomics data are deposited in public databases, such as ProteomeXchange, they are provided at different levels of detail. Thus, data integration is hampered by non-harmonized usage of identifiers when reviewing the literature or performing meta-analyses to consolidate existing publications into a joint picture. To address this problem, we present ProHarMeD, a tool for harmonizing and comparing proteomics data gathered in multiple studies and for the extraction of disease mechanisms and putative drug repurposing candidates. It is available as a website, Python library and R package. ProHarMeD facilitates ID and name conversions between protein and gene levels, or organisms via ortholog mapping, and provides detailed logs on the loss and gain of IDs after each step. The web tool further determines IDs shared by different studies, proposes potential disease mechanisms as well as drug repurposing candidates automatically, and visualizes these results interactively. We apply ProHarMeD to a set of four studies on bone regeneration. First, we demonstrate the benefit of ID harmonization which increases the number of shared genes between studies by 50%. Second, we identify a potential disease mechanism, with five corresponding drug targets, and the top 20 putative drug repurposing candidates, of which Fondaparinux, the candidate with the highest score, and multiple others are known to have an impact on bone regeneration. Hence, ProHarMeD allows users to harmonize multi-centric proteomics research data in meta-analyses, evaluates the success of the ID conversions and remappings, and finally, it closes the gaps between proteomics, disease mechanism mining and drug repurposing. It is publicly available at https://apps.cosy.bio/proharmed/.
Realization of circular polarized multiple band multi-mode OAM antenna using a ring patch for IoT applications
Authors: Fayyaz Umar , Niazi Shahab Ahmad , AlJaloud Khaled , Aziz Abdul , Malik Waqar Ahmad , Hussain Rifaqat
Published: October 2023

A multiband and multi-mode antenna with circular polarized conical patterns is suitable for achieving desired spectral efficiency, increased capacity, and spatial diversity for IoT applications. However, simultaneous excitation of such circular polarized multiple Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) modes through a single patch antenna is challenging due to the complexity of simultaneously fulfilling distinct requirements of each mode. In this paper, a ring patch antenna is designed to excite different OAM states at different frequencies simultaneously. First, characteristic mode analysis is used to analyze the possibility of simultaneous excitation of multiple OAM modes at corresponding frequencies through a simple ring patch antenna. Then, a dual port ring patch antenna is designed and fabricated to verify the capability of generating multiple OAM states at corresponding frequencies. Furthermore, it also presents the guidance to suppress unwanted OAM modes.
Blockchain-based privacy and security model for transactional data in large private networks
Authors: Yakubu Bello Musa , Sabi’u Jamilu , Bhattarakosol Pattarasinee
Published: October 2023

Cyberphysical systems connect physical devices and large private network environments in modern communication systems. A fundamental worry in the establishment of large private networks is mitigating the danger of transactional data privacy breaches caused by adversaries using a variety of exploitation techniques. This study presents a privacy-preserving architecture for ensuring the privacy and security of transaction data in large private networks. The proposed model employs digital certificates, RSA-based public key infrastructure, and the blockchain to address user transactional data privacy concerns. The model also guarantees that data in transit remains secure and unaltered and that its provenance remains authentic and secure during node-to-node interactions within a large private network. The proposed model has increased the encryption speed by about 17 times, while the decryption process is expedited by 4 times. Therefore, the average overall acceleration obtained was 16.5. Both the findings of the security analysis and the performance analysis demonstrate that the proposed model can safeguard transactional data during communications on large private networks more effectively and securely than the existing solutions.
Changes of cerebral functional connectivity induced by foot reflexology in a RCT
Authors: Descamps Emeline , Boussac Mathilde , Joineau Karel , Payoux Pierre
Published: October 2023

Non-Pharmacological Interventions (NPIs) are increasingly being introduced into healthcare, but their mechanisms are unclear. In this study, 30 healthy participants received foot reflexology (FR) and sham massage, and went through a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to evaluate NPIs effect on brain. Rs-fMRI revealed an effect of both NPIs on functional connectivity with changes occurring in the default-mode network, the sensorimotor network and a Neural Network Correlates of Pain (NNCP—a newly discovered network showing great robustness). Even if no differences were found between FR and SM, this study allowed to report brain biomarkers of well-being as well as the safety of NPIs. In further research, it could be relevant to study it in patients to look for a true reflexology induced-effect dependent of patient reported outcomes. Overall, these findings enrich the understanding of the neural correlates of well-being experienced with NPIs and provided insight into the basis of the mechanisms of NPIs.
Antcin-B, a phytosterol-like compound from Taiwanofungus camphoratus inhibits SARS-CoV-2 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLPro) activity in silico and in vitro
Authors: Dakpa Gyaltsen , Kumar K. J. Senthil , Nelen Jochem , Pérez-Sánchez Horacio , Wang Sheng-Yang
Published: October 2023

Despite the remarkable development of highly effective vaccines, including mRNA-based vaccines, within a limited timeframe, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is not been entirely eradicated. Thus, it is crucial to identify new effective anti-3CLPro compounds, pivotal for the replication of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we identified an antcin-B phytosterol-like compound from Taiwanofungus camphoratus that targets 3CLPro activity. MTT assay and ADMET prediction are employed for assessing potential cytotoxicity. Computational molecular modeling was used to screen various antcins and non-antcins for binding affinity and interaction type with 3CLPro. Further, these compounds were subjected to study their inhibitory effects on 3CLPro activity in vitro. Our results indicate that antcin-B has the best binding affinity by contacting residues like Leu141, Asn142, Glu166, and His163 via hydrogen bond and salt bridge and significantly inhibits 3CLPro activity, surpassing the positive control compound (GC376). The 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation studies showed that antcin-B formed consistent, long-lasting water bridges with Glu166 for their inhibitory activity. In summary, antcin-B could be useful to develop therapeutically viable drugs to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication alone or in combination with medications specific to other SARS-CoV-2 viral targets.
Risk factor analysis for cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity with the short hydration method in diabetic patients
Authors: Saito Yoshitaka , Kobayashi Masaki , Tamaki Shinya , Nakamura Katsuyuki , Hirate Daisuke , Takahashi Kenta , Takekuma Yoh , Sakakibara-Konishi Jun , Shimizu Yasushi , Kinoshita Ichiro , Sugawara Mitsuru
Published: October 2023

The occurrence of cisplatin (CDDP)-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN) has decreased with advancements in supportive care. In contrast, we reported that baseline diabetes mellitus (DM) complications significantly worsen CIN. This study aimed to determine further risk factors associated with CIN development in DM patients. Patients with thoracic cancer requiring DM pharmacotherapy, who received CDDP (≥ 60 mg/m2)-containing regimens using the short hydration method (n = 140), were enrolled in this retrospective multicenter observational study. The primary endpoint of the present study was the elucidation of risk factors (patient factors, DM medication influence, and treatment-related factors) associated with CIN development in patients with DM. Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity occurred in 22.1% of patients with DM. The median worst variation of serum creatinine levels and creatinine clearance (worst level − baseline level) was 0.16 mg/dL (range: − 0.12–1.41 mg/dL) and − 15.9 mL/min (− 85.5–24.3 mL/min), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified female sex as the singular risk factor for CIN development in the DM population (adjusted odds ratio; 2.87, 95% confidence interval; 1.08–7.67, P = 0.04). Diabetes mellitus medication and treatment-related factors did not affect CIN development. In conclusion, our study revealed that female sex is significantly associated with CIN development in patients with DM and thoracic cancer.
Investigating influences of intravenous fluids on HUVEC and U937 monocyte cell lines using the magnetic levitation method
Authors: Kecili Seren , Kaymaz Sumeyra Vural , Ozogul Beyzanur , Tekin H. Cumhur , Elitas Meltem
Published: October 2023

Label-free analysis of cells exposed to intravenous fluids can be achieved through magnetic levitation technology coupled with cell-morphology characterization.
ECM proteins and cationic polymers coating promote dedifferentiation of patient-derived mature adipocytes to stem cells
Authors: Karanfil Aslı Sena , Louis Fiona , Sowa Yoshihiro , Matsusaki Michiya
Published: October 2023

Reprogramming of mature adipocytes is an attractive research area due to the plasticity of these cells.
Selective and benign alkylation of sulfido-oxo stannate clusters with propyl, pentyl, or hexyl substituents
Authors: Stuhrmann Gina , Schneider Jannik , Schmidt Kilian , Dehnen Stefanie
Published: October 2023

Salts of well-soluble clusters [Sn10O4S16(SR)4]4− (R = propyl, pentyl, hexyl) result from treatment of Na4[SnS4]·14H2O with symmetrically bis-alkyl-functionalized imidazolium-based ionic liquids.
Short-wave infrared sensitive broadband photodetectors based on an HgTe quantum dot film
Authors: Wen Shuai , Liu Huan , Deng Lier , Zhao Jijie , Du Yuxuan , Wang Shengyong , Gao Fei , Zhu Zhipeng , Xie Fei , Liu Weiguo
Published: October 2023

HgTe CQDs with tailored shapes (tetrapods, triangles, and distorted parallelograms) were successfully synthesized and employed to create vertical-structured broadband photodetectors.
Proton conductivity in multi-component ABO4-type oxides
Authors: Elameen Ashraf A.A. , Dawczak Arkadiusz , Miruszewski Tadeusz , Gazda Maria , Wachowski Sebastian
Published: October 2023

La1/5Nd1/5Sm1/5Gd1/5Eu1/5NbO4, La1/6Nd1/6Sm1/6Gd1/6Eu1/6Ho1/6NbO4 and La1/7Nd1/7Sm1/7Gd1/7Eu1/7Ho1/7Er1/7NbO4 oxides show a different relation of phase transition temperature and lower protonic conductivity than their single-element counterparts.
Three-dimensional porous borocarbonitride composed of pentagonal motifs as a high-performance pyroelectric material
Authors: Hou Changsheng , Shen Yiheng , Xin Jiaqi , Guo Yaguang , Wang Qian
Published: October 2023

PH-BCN possesses intrinsic polarization with a record high longitudinal electromechanical coupling coefficient, an extraordinary SHG response, and a record high shift current.
On the structure and electronic properties of Ptn clusters: new most stable structures for n = 16–17
Authors: Guevara-Vela José Manuel , Rocha-Rinza Tomás , Rodríguez-Kessler Peter L. , Muñoz-Castro Alvaro
Published: October 2023

Finding structures for Pt16 and Pt17. New stable structures were evaluated, and the origin of the relative isomer ordering was explored.
A comparison of the coordination behaviour of R2PCH2BMe2 (R = Me vs. Ph) ambiphilic ligands with late transition metals
Authors: Paskaruk Katia M. , Emslie David J. H. , Britten James F.
Published: October 2023

R2PCH2BMe2 ambiphilic ligands provided access to a range of rhodium, iridium and platinum compounds, including a borane-appended analogue of Wilkinson's catalyst.
Prioritizing molecular formulae identified by non-target analysis through high-throughput modelling: application to identify compounds with high human accumulation potential from house dust
Authors: Zhang Zhizhen , Li Li , Peng Hui , Wania Frank
Published: October 2023

Model calculations for molecular formulae are feasible, if there is a means of assembling collections of plausible isomers. Such calculations can aid in prioritizing chemical features from non-target analysis.
Measuring city-scale green infrastructure drawdown dynamics using internet-connected sensors in Detroit
Authors: Mason Brooke E. , Schmidt Jacquelyn , Kerkez Branko
Published: October 2023

A low-cost, low-maintenance sensor network and analytics toolchain is introduced for real-time, high-resolution monitoring and analysis of city-scale urban drainage.