bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impaired amino acid uptake leads to global metabolic imbalance of Candida albicans biofilms
Authors: Böttcher Bettina , Driesch Dominik , Krüger Thomas , Garbe Enrico , Gerwien Franziska , Kniemeyer Olaf , Brakhage Axel A. , Vylkova Slavena
Published: October 2022

Candida albicans biofilm maturation is accompanied by enhanced expression of amino acid acquisition genes. Three state-of-the-art omics techniques were applied to detail the importance of active amino acid uptake during biofilm development. Comparative analyses of normoxic wild-type biofilms were performed under three metabolically challenging conditions: aging, hypoxia, and disabled amino acid uptake using a strain lacking the regulator of amino acid permeases Stp2. Aging-induced amino acid acquisition and stress responses to withstand the increasingly restricted environment. Hypoxia paralyzed overall energy metabolism with delayed amino acid consumption, but following prolonged adaptation, the metabolic fingerprints aligned with aged normoxic biofilms. The extracellular metabolome of stp2Δ biofilms revealed deficient uptake for 11 amino acids, resulting in extensive transcriptional and metabolic changes including induction of amino acid biosynthesis and carbohydrate and micronutrient uptake. Altogether, this study underscores the critical importance of a balanced amino acid homeostasis for C. albicans biofilm development.
Blood pressure variability and plasma Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers in older adults
Authors: Sible Isabel J. , Yew Belinda , Jang Jung Yun , Alitin John Paul M. , Li Yanrong , Gaubert Aimée , Nguyen Amy , Dutt Shubir , Blanken Anna E. , Ho Jean K. , Marshall Anisa J. , Kapoor Arunima , Shenasa Fatemah , Rodgers Kathleen E. , Sturm Virginia E. , Head Elizabeth , Martini Alessandra , Nation Daniel A.
Published: October 2022

Blood pressure variability is an emerging risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease in older adults, independent of average blood pressure levels. Growing evidence suggests increased blood pressure variability is linked to Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology indexed by cerebrospinal fluid and positron emission tomography markers, but relationships with plasma Alzheimer’s disease markers have not been investigated. In this cross-sectional study of 54 community-dwelling older adults (aged 55–88, mean age 69.9 [8.2 SD]), elevated blood pressure variability over 5 min was associated with lower levels of plasma Aβ1–42 (standardized ß =  − 0.36 [95% CI − 0.61, − 0.12]; p = 0.005; adjusted R2 = 0.28) and Aβ1–42: Aβ1–40 ratio (ß =  − 0.49 [95% CI − 0.71, − 0.22]; p < 0.001; adjusted R2 = 0.28), and higher levels of total tau (ß = 0.27 [95% CI 0.01, 0.54]; p = 0.04; adjusted R2 = 0.19) and Ptau181:Aβ1–42 ratio (ß = 0.26 [95% CI 0.02, 0.51]; p = 0.04; adjusted R2 = 0.22). Findings suggest higher blood pressure variability is linked to plasma biomarkers of increased Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology.
Probing patterning in microbial consortia with a cellular automaton for spatial organisation
Authors: Venkatraghavan Sankalpa , Anantakrishnan Sathvik , Raman Karthik
Published: October 2022

Microbial consortia exhibit spatial patterning across diverse environments. Since probing the self-organization of natural microbial communities is limited by their inherent complexity, synthetic models have emerged as attractive alternatives. In this study, we develop novel frameworks of bacterial communication and explore the emergent spatiotemporal organization of microbes. Specifically, we built quorum sensing-mediated models of microbial growth that are utilized to characterize the dynamics of communities from arbitrary initial configurations and establish the effectiveness of our communication strategies in coupling the growth rates of microbes. Our simulations indicate that the behavior of quorum sensing-coupled consortia can be most effectively modulated by the rates of secretion of acyl homoserine lactones. Such a mechanism of control enables the construction of desired relative populations of constituent species in spatially organized populations. Our models accurately recapitulate previous experiments that have investigated pattern formation in synthetic multi-cellular systems. Additionally, our software tool enables the easy implementation and analysis of our frameworks for a variety of initial configurations and simplifies the development of sophisticated gene circuits facilitating distributed computing. Overall, we demonstrate the potential of spatial organization as a tunable parameter in synthetic biology by introducing a communication paradigm based on the location and strength of coupling of microbial strains.
Synergetic synchronized oscillation by distributed neural integrators to induce dynamic equilibrium in energy dissipation systems
Authors: Hayashibe Mitsuhiro , Shimoda Shingo
Published: October 2022

The synchronization phenomenon is common to many natural mechanical systems. Joint friction and damping in humans and animals are associated with energy dissipation. A coupled oscillator model is conventionally used to manage multiple joint torque generations to form a limit cycle in an energy dissipation system. The coupling term design and the frequency and phase settings become issues when selecting the oscillator model. The relative coupling relationship between oscillators needs to be predefined for unknown dynamics systems, which is quite challenging problem. We present a simple distributed neural integrators method to induce the limit cycle in unknown energy dissipation systems without using a coupled oscillator. The results demonstrate that synergetic synchronized oscillation could be produced that adapts to different physical environments. Finding the balanced energy injection by neural inputs to form dynamic equilibrium is not a trivial problem, when the dynamics information is not priorly known. The proposed method realized self-organized pattern generation to induce the dynamic equilibrium for different mechanical systems. The oscillation was managed without using the explicit phase or frequency knowledge. However, phase, frequency, and amplitude modulation emerged to form an efficient synchronized limit cycle. This type of distributed neural integrator can be used as a source for regulating multi-joint coordination to induce synergetic oscillations in natural mechanical systems.
Volatility criteria and physicochemical properties of the promising dimethyl carbonate-gasoline blends
Authors: Amine Manal , Mohammed Hoda A. , Barakat Y
Published: October 2022

Increased need for energy resources, as well as the urgent need to improve the air quality, have prompted further research to meet these challenges. Great efforts have been directed to reducing the impact of exhaust emissions. In literature, the effect of blending dimethyl carbonate (DMC) into fuel on engine performance and exhaust emissions has been investigated, and the obtained results were promising in decreasing exhaust emissions. In the present work, the effect of blending DMC into gasoline on the physicochemical properties was studied. Six fuel blends were prepared by blending base gasoline (G) with (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%) of DMC. The volatility characteristics of the fuel blends were studied, such as the distillation curve, vapor pressure, and driveability index. The octane rating and the physicochemical properties of the fuel blends were also studied. The results of the study showed interesting findings that encourage refineries to be interested in this promising fuel additive. The results showed that the addition of DMC to gasoline has a very slight effect on the volatility of gasoline, unlike other oxygenated additives like short chain alcohols which cause a significant increase in the fuel volatility. The addition of DMC to gasoline causes an insignificant increase in the vapor pressure as the addition of 10% of DMC increases the vapor pressure by 2 kPa while it does not affect the values of T10, T50, and T90, which are the most important parameters of the distillation curve. The results also showed that its addition causes a remarkable increase in the octane rating. The RON has increased for the G-10DMC blend by about 5 points making the DMC a promising octane booster.
Effects of incubation temperature on development, morphology, and thermal physiology of the emerging Neotropical lizard model organism Tropidurus torquatus
Authors: De-Lima Anderson Kennedy Soares , de Oliveira Carlos Henke , Pic-Taylor Aline , Klaczko Julia
Published: October 2022

Incubation temperature is among the main phenotypic trait variation drivers studied since the developmental trajectory of oviparous animals is directly affected by environmental conditions. In the last decades, global warming predictions have aroused interest in understanding its impacts on biodiversity. It is predicted that the effects of direct warming will be exacerbated by other anthropogenic factors, such as microclimatic edge effects. Although the Brazilian Cerrado biome is one of the most affected by these issues, little is known about the aforementioned effects on its biodiversity. Therefore, the aim of our study is to investigate the influence of incubation temperature on developmental parameters, morphology and thermal physiology traits of the collared lizard (Tropidurus torquatus). Furthermore, we discuss our findings regarding lizard developmental biology and the climate change paradigm. Therefore, we incubated T. torquatus eggs under five temperature regimes ranging from artificial nest temperature (28.7 °C) to 35.0 °C. We found that elevated incubation temperatures affect several investigated traits: egg mass gain is positively affected, without any influence in newborn mass; incubation period is broadly reduced with temperature increase; survival rate is negatively affected by temperature, constant 35.0 °C regime is confirmed as a lethal incubation temperature, and the sex ratio is affected at 30.0 °C, with a prevailing outbreak of females. Increased incubation temperature also affects body and head size but has no effect on limb size. Newborn thermoregulation and the critical thermal maximum (CTmax) are not affected by incubation temperature. On the other hand, basal body temperature (Tbb) and the critical thermal minimum (CTmin) were positively affected. Thermal physiology was also affected by age, with newborns differing from adults for all analyzed thermal traits. Our findings indicate that future modifications in incubation temperature regimes at nesting sites caused by warming may affect several features of the development, morphology, and thermal physiology of newborns of this species. Laboratory experiments have pointed to possible drastic effects of warming on lizard survival rates, also affecting aspects of its natural history and population distribution. Moreover, in addition to being more vulnerable than adults in aspects such as predation and feeding, T. torquatus newborns are also more vulnerable regarding thermal physiological traits.
Health state utilities of patients with hepatitis B and C and hepatitis-related conditions in Japan
Authors: Sugimori Hiroki , Hirao Maki , Igarashi Ataru , Yatsuhashi Hiroshi , Ikeda Shunya , Masaki Naohiko , Yotsuyanagi Hiroshi , Yoda Takeshi , Odajima Takeshi , Takura Tomoyuki , Hirao Tomohiro
Published: October 2022

Health state utilities are global measurements of quality of life and have been used to evaluate health outcomes for the cost-utility analysis. This study aimed to estimate the health state utilities of patients with hepatitis B (HB), hepatitis C (HC), and hepatitis-related diseases in Japan. We distributed a self-administered questionnaire, including the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L), to 9,952 outpatients with several clinical conditions caused by HB or HC virus infection (such as asymptomatic chronic hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, compensated cirrhosis, and decompensated cirrhosis) and estimated the condition-specific utilities of patients with HB or HC. In patients with more severe conditions (patients with acute hepatitis, fulminant hepatitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma and patients undergoing post-liver transplantation), the utilities of these severe conditions were estimated by three hepatitis experts using the EQ-5D-5L. The means of the utilities for acute hepatitis, fulminant hepatitis, asymptomatic chronic hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, compensated cirrhosis, compensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma stage I/II, hepatocellular carcinoma stage III/IV, and post-liver transplantation were 0.529, − 0.111, 0.904, 0.868, 0.845, 0.722, 0,675, 0,428, and 0.651 and 0.876, 0.821, 0.737, 0.671, 0.675, 0.428, and 0.651 in HB and HC, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that comprehensively assessed the health state utilities of patients with HB, HC and hepatitis-related conditions from a nationwide survey in Japan using the EQ-5D-5L.
MED1, a novel binding partner of BRCA1, regulates homologous recombination and R-loop processing
Authors: Honjoh Harunori , Tanikawa Michihiro , Wada-Hiraike Osamu , Oda Katsutoshi , Inaba Hirofumi , Kukita Asako , Kawata Yoshiko , Kusakabe Misako , Tsuchimochi Saki , Taguchi Ayumi , Miyamoto Yuichiro , Sone Kenbun , Tsuruga Tetsushi , Mori-Uchino Mayuyo , Matsumoto Yoko , Osuga Yutaka
Published: October 2022

Homologous recombination (HR) is a major repair pathway of DNA double-strand breaks and is closely related to carcinogenesis. HR deficiency has been established as a therapeutic target. The aim of this study was to elucidate the functions of a novel HR factor, Mediator complex subunit 1 (MED1), and its association with BRCA1. Formation of the MED1/BRCA1 complex was examined by immunoprecipitation and GST-pull down assays. The transcription cofactor role of BRCA1 was evaluated using luciferase assays. The roles of MED1 on DNA damage response and HR were analyzed by immunofluorescence and HR assays. R-loop accumulation was analyzed using immunofluorescence. R-loop-induced DNA damage was analyzed by comet assays. Immunoprecipitation and GST-pull down assays demonstrated that MED1 is a novel binding partner of BRCA1 and binds to the BRCT domain. Luciferase assays showed that MED1 potentiated the transcription ability of BRCT by two-fold. In MED1-depleted cells, recruitment of HR genes, such as RPA and γH2AX, to DNA damage sites was severely impaired. HR assays showed that MED1 knockdown significantly decreased HR activity. R-loop nuclear accumulation and R-loop-induced comet tails were observed in MED1-depleted cells. We conclude that the transcription factor MED1 contributes to the regulation of the HR pathway and R-loop processing.
Dissipation of field-aligned currents in the topside ionosphere
Authors: Giannattasio Fabio , Consolini Giuseppe , Coco Igino , De Michelis Paola , Pezzopane Michael , Pignalberi Alessio , Tozzi Roberta
Published: October 2022

Field-aligned currents (FACs) are electric currents parallel to the geomagnetic field and connecting the Earth’s magnetosphere to the high-latitude ionosphere. Part of the energy injected into the ionosphere by FACs is converted into kinetic energy of the surrounding plasma. Such a current dissipation is poorly investigated, mainly due to the high electrical conductivity and the small electric field strength expected in direction parallel to the geomagnetic field. However, previous results in literature have shown that parallel electric field is not null (and may be locally not negligible), and that parallel electrical conductivity is high but finite. Thus, dissipation of FACs may occur. In this work, for the first time, we show maps of power density dissipation features associated with FACs in the topside ionosphere of the Northern hemisphere. To this aim, we use a 6-year time series of data at one second cadence acquired by the European Space Agency’s “Swarm A” satellite flying at an altitude of about 460 km. In particular, we use data from the Langmuir probe together with the FAC product provided by the Swarm team. The results obtained point out that dissipation of FACs, even if small when compared to that associated with horizontal currents flowing about 350 km lower, is not null and shows evident features co-located with electron temperature at the same altitude. In particular, power density dissipation features are enhanced mainly in the ionospheric regions where intense energy injection from the magnetosphere occurs. In addition, these features depend on geomagnetic activity, which quantifies the response of the Earth’s environment to energetic forcing from magnetized plasma of solar origin.
Obesity-related measures and successful ageing among community-dwelling older adults in India: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Muhammad T. , Balachandran Arun , Kumar Pradeep , Srivastava Shobhit
Published: October 2022

Obesity is a chief lifestyle disease globally and causes a significant increase in morbidities. Overweight/ obesity prevalence has been rising faster in India compared to the world average. Therefore, the study examined the association between overweight/ obesity and successful ageing among older population in India. We also explored the gender difference in risks posed by obesity on successful ageing and the different socio-economic correlates associated with successful ageing. This study utilized data from India’s first nationally representative longitudinal ageing survey (LASI-2017-18). The effective sample size for the present study was 31,464 older adults with a mean age of 69.2 years (SD: 7.53). Overweight/ obesity was defined as having a body mass index of 25 or above. The study carried out a bivariate analysis to observe the association between dependent and independent variables. Further, multivariable analysis was conducted to examine the associations after controlling for individual socio-demographic, lifestyle and household/community-related factors. The study included 47.5% men and 52.5% women. It was found that the prevalence of obesity/overweight was higher among older women compared to older men (23.2% vs 15.5%). Similarly, high-risk waist circumference (32.7% vs 7.9%) and high-risk waist-hip ratio (69.2% vs 66.5%) were more prevalent among older women than older men. The study found significant gender differences (men-women: 8.7%) in the prevalence rate of successful ageing (p < 0.001). The chances of successful ageing were significantly higher among older adults who were not obese/overweight [AOR: 1.31; CI 1.31–1.55], had no high-risk waist circumference [AOR: 1.41; CI 1.29–1.54], and those who had no high-risk waist-hip ratio [AOR: 1.16; CI 1.09–1.24] compared to their respective counterparts. Interaction results revealed that older women who were not obese/overweight had a lower likelihood of successful ageing compared to the older men who was not obese/overweight [AOR: 0.86; CI 0.80–0.93]. Similarly, older womens who had no high-risk waist circumference [AOR: 0.86; CI 0.80–0.96] and no high risk-hip ratio [AOR: 0.81; CI 0.73–0.89] were less likely to have successful ageing compared to their counterparts, respectively. Being overweight/ obese and having high-risk waist circumference and waist-hip ratio were found to be significant factors associated with less successful ageing among older adults, especially women in this study. The current findings highlight the importance of understanding the modifiable factors, including nutritional awareness and developing targeted strategies for promoting successful ageing.
Pax3 loss of function delays tumour progression in kRAS-induced zebrafish rhabdomyosarcoma models
Authors: Kahsay A. , Rodriguez-Marquez E. , López-Pérez A. , Hörnblad A. , von Hofsten J.
Published: October 2022

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a soft tissue cancer that arises in skeletal muscle due to mutations in myogenic progenitors that lead to ineffective differentiation and malignant transformation. The transcription factors Pax3 and Pax7 and their downstream target genes are tightly linked with the fusion positive alveolar subtype, whereas the RAS pathway is usually involved in the embryonal, fusion negative variant. Here, we analyse the role of Pax3 in a fusion negative context, by linking alterations in gene expression in pax3a/pax3b double mutant zebrafish with tumour progression in kRAS-induced rhabdomyosarcoma tumours. Several genes in the RAS/MAPK signalling pathway were significantly down-regulated in pax3a/pax3b double mutant zebrafish. Progression of rhabdomyosarcoma tumours was also delayed in the pax3a/pax3b double mutant zebrafish indicating that Pax3 transcription factors have an unappreciated role in mediating malignancy in fusion negative rhabdomyosarcoma.
Emotional prosody recognition enhances and progressively complexifies from childhood to adolescence
Authors: Filippa M. , Lima D. , Grandjean A. , Labbé C. , Coll S. Y. , Gentaz E. , Grandjean D. M.
Published: October 2022

Emotional prosody results from the dynamic variation of language’s acoustic non-verbal aspects that allow people to convey and recognize emotions. The goal of this paper is to understand how this recognition develops from childhood to adolescence. We also aim to investigate how the ability to perceive multiple emotions in the voice matures over time. We tested 133 children and adolescents, aged between 6 and 17 years old, exposed to 4 kinds of linguistically meaningless emotional (anger, fear, happiness, and sadness) and neutral stimuli. Participants were asked to judge the type and intensity of perceived emotion on continuous scales, without a forced choice task. As predicted, a general linear mixed model analysis revealed a significant interaction effect between age and emotion. The ability to recognize emotions significantly increased with age for both emotional and neutral vocalizations. Girls recognized anger better than boys, who instead confused fear with neutral prosody more than girls. Across all ages, only marginally significant differences were found between anger, happiness, and neutral compared to sadness, which was more difficult to recognize. Finally, as age increased, participants were significantly more likely to attribute multiple emotions to emotional prosody, showing that the representation of emotional content becomes increasingly complex. The ability to identify basic emotions in prosody from linguistically meaningless stimuli develops from childhood to adolescence. Interestingly, this maturation was not only evidenced in the accuracy of emotion detection, but also in a complexification of emotion attribution in prosody.
Epidemiology, clinical features, therapeutic interventions and outcomes of mucormycosis in Shiraz: an 8-year retrospective case study with comparison between children and adults
Authors: Motamedi Marjan , Golmohammadi Zahra , Yazdanpanah Somayeh , Saneian S. Mojtaba , Shafiekhani Mojtaba
Published: October 2022

Mucormycosis is an invasive fungal infection with high morbidity and mortality rate despite the early diagnosis and proper therapeutic interventions. Given the importance of epidemiological data in reviewing the attitude toward infectious diseases in developing countries, the current retrospective case study aimed to compare the epidemiological aspects, risk factors, clinical characteristics, therapeutic interventions, and outcomes of mucormycosis between adults and children during eight years (2013–2021) in the main infectious disease referral centers in the southwest of Iran. The median age of 164 patients included in this study was 47 years (IQR 22–59). The median length of hospitalization was 33 days.The annual incidence of mucormycosis-related hospitalizations was estimated 1.76 per 10,000 admissions during the study period. Moreover, the incidence of infection was 2.4 times higher in males than females in children. Diabetes mellitus was the most frequent predisposing factor in adults (46.0%). The main risk factor in children was hematologic malignancy (52.6%), but a considerable proportion of them (28.9%) were immunocompetent.The most frequent antifungal agent used was liposomal amphotericin B (82.3%) as monotherapy. The combination therapy was used more in adults (15.8%) than children (7.9%). In addition, surgical intervention with antifungal therapy was considered the most effective therapeutic approach. The in-hospital mortality rate was 14.6% for adults, whereas it was zero for children. Our findings provide a recent epidemiologic analysis of mucormycosis among hospitalized patients in both children and adults. Mucormycosis mainly affects individuals with diabetes mellitus or hematological malignancies and presents as rhino-orbito-cerebral form. Proven diagnosis of mucormycosis according to clinical manifestations and histopathology observations accompanied by proper antifungal treatments may improve survival rates.
Intermittent hypoxia inhibits epinephrine-induced transcriptional changes in human aortic endothelial cells
Authors: Cetin-Atalay Rengul , Meliton Angelo Y. , Sun Kaitlyn A. , Glass Mariel E. , Woods Parker S. , Peng Ying-Jie , Fang Yun , Hamanaka Robert B. , Prabhakar Nanduri R. , Mutlu Gökhan M.
Published: October 2022

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. While intermittent hypoxia (IH) and catecholamine release play an important role in this increased risk, the mechanisms are incompletely understood. We have recently reported that IH causes endothelial cell (EC) activation, an early phenomenon in the development of cardiovascular disease, via IH-induced catecholamine release. Here, we investigated the effects of IH and epinephrine on gene expression in human aortic ECs using RNA-sequencing. We found a significant overlap between IH and epinephrine-induced differentially expressed genes (DEGs) including enrichment in leukocyte migration, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, cell adhesion and angiogenesis. Epinephrine caused higher number of DEGs compared to IH. Interestingly, IH when combined with epinephrine had an inhibitory effect on epinephrine-induced gene expression. Combination of IH and epinephrine induced MT1G (Metallothionein 1G), which has been shown to be highly expressed in ECs from parts of aorta (i.e., aortic arch) where atherosclerosis is more likely to occur. In conclusion, epinephrine has a greater effect than IH on EC gene expression in terms of number of genes and their expression level. IH inhibited the epinephrine-induced transcriptional response. Further investigation of the interaction between IH and epinephrine is needed to better understand how OSA causes cardiovascular disease.
Changes in the deep vasculature assessed using anterior segment OCT angiography following trabecular meshwork targeted minimally invasive glaucoma surgery
Authors: Okamoto Yoko , Akagi Tadamichi , Kameda Takanori , Suda Kenji , Miyake Masahiro , Ikeda Hanako Ohashi , Numa Shogo , Tsujikawa Akitaka
Published: October 2022

The effect of trabecular meshwork (TM)-targeted minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) on the vasculature assessed using anterior segment (AS)-optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has not been established. In this prospective, longitudinal study, we investigated changes in the deep vasculature following TM-targeted MIGS using AS-OCTA for open-angle glaucoma in 31 patients. AS-OCTA images of the sclera and conjunctiva at the nasal corneal limbus were acquired preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively, and the vessel densities (VDs) of the superficial (conjunctival) and deep (intrascleral) layers were calculated. The VDs before and after MIGS were compared, and the factors associated with the change in VD following MIGS were analyzed. The mean deep VD decreased from 11.98 ± 6.80% at baseline to 10.42 ± 5.02% postoperatively (P = 0.044), but superficial VD did not change (P = 0.73). The multivariate stepwise regression analysis revealed that deep VD reduction was directly associated with IOP reduction (P < 0.001) and preoperative IOP (P = 0.007) and inversely associated with preoperative deep VD (P < 0.001). The deep VD reduction following MIGS was significant in the successful group (21 eyes) (P = 0.032) but not in the unsuccessful group (10 eyes) (P = 0.49). The deep VDs assessed using AS-OCTA decreased following TM-targeted MIGS, especially in the eyes with good surgical outcomes.
Design of piecewise deformed elliptical gear with closed pitch curve and its conjugate pair
Authors: Liu Youyu , Lu Songsong , Xu Jiao , Yang Siyang , Tao Wanbao
Published: October 2022

The family of elliptical gears with closed pitch curves includes elliptical gears and deformed elliptical gears. Elliptical gears are not only the most widely used non-circular gears but also the research hotspot in the field of non-uniform transmission. However, adjusting the shape of its pitch curve is difficult, which seriously restricts its popularization. This article proposes a piecewise deformed elliptical gear with a closed pitch curve, which realizes the unity of all kinds of elliptical gears in the mathematical model, makes the shape of the pitch curve and gear ratio easier to adjust, and expands the connotation and application scope of the family of elliptical gears. Moreover, the design approach of transmission with piecewise deformed elliptical gear was studied, and the inspection method of transmission performance was provided. The internal relationship between piecewise deformed elliptical gears and the family of elliptical gears was then analyzed. Finally, the method of computer-aided design (CAD) system developed was also provided. Additionally, a case was provided to verify the above theories. The designed conjugate pair can realize a correct meshing and adjust the gear ratio more flexibly, laying a theoretical foundation to expand the application field of non-uniform transmission.
Aging and the visual perception of object size
Authors: Norman J. Farley , Baig Maheen , Eaton Jerica R. , Graham Jiali D. , Vincent Taylor E.
Published: October 2022

An experiment evaluated the ability of 30 younger and older adults to visually judge object size under three conditions: (1) full cue, (2) in the dark, with linear perspective, and (3) in complete darkness. Each observer made repeated judgments for the same square stimuli (the task was to adjust a separation until it matched the perceived size of the squares), enabling an evaluation of precision as well as accuracy. The judgments were just as accurate in the dark with linear perspective condition as in the full cue condition, indicating that linear perspective serves as an important source of optical information to support the perception of object size). In contrast, in complete darkness (where linear perspective information was unavailable), the accuracy of the observers’ judgments was poor. Finally, there was no difference in either the accuracy or the precision of the observers’ judgments between the two age groups, despite the fact that the older adults were more than 50 years older than the younger adults (mean age of the younger and older adults was 22.3 and 74.1 years, respectively). The ability to visually perceive object size is well maintained with increasing age, unlike a number of other important visual abilities.
Antiretroviral therapy resistance mutations among HIV infected people in Kazakhstan
Authors: Mukhatayeva Ainur , Mustafa Aidana , Dzissyuk Natalya , Issanov Alpamys , Mukhatayev Zhussipbek , Bayserkin Bauyrzhan , Vermund Sten H. , Ali Syed
Published: October 2022

In Kazakhstan, the number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) has increased steadily by 39% since 2010. Development of antiretroviral therapy (ART) resistance mutations (ARTRM) is a major hurdle in achieving effective treatment and prevention against HIV. Using HIV pol sequences from 602 PLHIV from Kazakhstan, we analyzed ARTRMs for their association with factors that may promote development of ARTRMs. 56% PLHIV were infected with HIV subtype A6 and 42% with CRF02_AG. The ARTRM Q174K was associated with increased viral load and decreased CD4+ cell count, while infection with CRF02_AG was associated with a lower likelihood of Q174K. Interestingly, CRF02_AG was positively associated with the ARTRM L10V that, in turn, was observed frequently with darunavir administration. Infection with CRF02_AG was positively associated with the ARTRM S162A that, in turn, was frequently observed with the administration of nevirapine, also associated with lower CD4 counts. Zidovudine or Nevirapine receipt was associated with the development of the ARTRM E138A, that, in turn, was associated with lower CD4 counts. Determination of a patient’s HIV variant can help guide ART choice in Kazakhstan. For example, PLHIV infected with CRF02_AG will benefit less from darunavir and nevirapine, and emtricitabine should replace zidovudine.
Alzheimer’s disease large-scale gene expression portrait identifies exercise as the top theoretical treatment
Authors: Hill Mason A. , Gammie Stephen C.
Published: October 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder that affects multiple brain regions and is difficult to treat. In this study we used 22 AD large-scale gene expression datasets to identify a consistent underlying portrait of AD gene expression across multiple brain regions. Then we used the portrait as a platform for identifying treatments that could reverse AD dysregulated expression patterns. Enrichment of dysregulated AD genes included multiple processes, ranging from cell adhesion to CNS development. The three most dysregulated genes in the AD portrait were the inositol trisphosphate kinase, ITPKB (upregulated), the astrocyte specific intermediate filament protein, GFAP (upregulated), and the rho GTPase, RHOQ (upregulated). 41 of the top AD dysregulated genes were also identified in a recent human AD GWAS study, including PNOC, C4B, and BCL11A. 42 transcription factors were identified that were both dysregulated in AD and that in turn affect expression of other AD dysregulated genes. Male and female AD portraits were highly congruent. Out of over 250 treatments, three datasets for exercise or activity were identified as the top three theoretical treatments for AD via reversal of large-scale gene expression patterns. Exercise reversed expression patterns of hundreds of AD genes across multiple categories, including cytoskeleton, blood vessel development, mitochondrion, and interferon-stimulated related genes. Exercise also ranked as the best treatment across a majority of individual region-specific AD datasets and meta-analysis AD datasets. Fluoxetine also scored well and a theoretical combination of fluoxetine and exercise reversed 549 AD genes. Other positive treatments included curcumin. Comparisons of the AD portrait to a recent depression portrait revealed a high congruence of downregulated genes in both. Together, the AD portrait provides a new platform for understanding AD and identifying potential treatments for AD.
Intelligent risk prediction in public health using wearable device data
Authors: Raza Marium M. , Venkatesh Kaushik P. , Kvedar Joseph C.
Published: October 2022

The importance of infection risk prediction as a key public health measure has only been underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent study, researchers use machine learning to develop an algorithm that predicts the risk of COVID-19 infection, by combining biometric data from wearable devices like Fitbit, with electronic symptom surveys. In doing so, they aim to increase the efficiency of test allocation when tracking disease spread in resource-limited settings. But the implications of technology that applies data from wearables stretch far beyond infection monitoring into healthcare delivery and research. The adoption and implementation of this type of technology will depend on regulation, impact on patient outcomes, and cost savings.
Engineering non-Hermitian skin effect with band topology in ultracold gases
Authors: Zhou Lihong , Li Haowei , Yi Wei , Cui Xiaoling
Published: October 2022

Non-Hermitian skin effect(NHSE) describes a unique non-Hermitian phenomenon that all eigen-modes are localized near the boundary, and has profound impact on a wide range of bulk properties. In particular, topological systems with NHSE have stimulated extensive research interests recently, given the fresh theoretical and experimental challenges therein. Here we propose a readily implementable scheme for achieving NHSE with band topology in ultracold gases. Specifically, the scheme realizes the one-dimensional optical Raman lattice with two types of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and an additional laser-induced dissipation. By tuning the dissipation and the SOC strengths, NHSE and band topology can be individually controlled such that they can coexist in a considerable parameter regime. To identify the topological phase in the presence of NHSE, we have restored the bulk-boundary correspondence by invoking the non-Bloch band theory, and discussed the dynamic signals for detection. Our work serves as a guideline for engineering topological lattices with NHSE in the highly tunable environment of cold atoms, paving the way for future studies of exotic non-Hermitian physics in a genuine quantum many-body setting.
Non-Hermitian elastodynamics in gyro-odd continuum media
Authors: Gao Penglin , Qu Yegao , Christensen Johan
Published: October 2022

Linear elasticity has long been considered a well-established research area using conservative field theory. However, the discovery of odd-elasticity challenges the essential energy conservation assumption, which together with gyroscopic ingredients compromise the fundamental theory of elasticity, but to the same effect, enable new directions in active elastodynamics. Here, we consider two-dimensional continuum mechanics in a more general framework containing active constituents from both gyroscopic and odd-elastic effects, which gives rise to non-reciprocal and non-Hermitian elastic waves in a highly unconventional guise. We discuss how these unusual media can extract energy from odd-elastic engine cycles comprising remarkable features of stability transitions, in which the energy exchange process reverses. Beyond bulk waves, akin to the unidirectional characteristics of a 2D quantum-Hall insulator, we demonstrate the existence of non-Hermitian Rayleigh surface waves which, in contrast to the classical ones in passive solids, display one-way and interference-free transport characteristics, which even remain resilient in finite sharp or curved geometries. The findings reported here may provide new possibilities to manipulate elastic waves in unusual ways.
Permafrost degradation increases risk and large future costs of infrastructure on the Third Pole
Authors: Ran Youhua , Cheng Guodong , Dong Yuanhong , Hjort Jan , Lovecraft Amy Lauren , Kang Shichang , Tan Meibao , Li Xin
Published: October 2022

The damage to infrastructure caused by near-surface permafrost degradation is directly related to the well-being of 10 million people and the sustainable development on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Third Pole of the Earth. Here we identify the economic damage caused by permafrost degradation to infrastructure on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau by integrating data-driven projection, multihazard index, and lifespan replacement model. We found that additional cost of approximately $6.31 billion will be needed to maintain the service function of current infrastructure under the historical scenario (SSP245) by 2090. While 20.9% of these potential costs can be saved with strategic adaptations. Controlling global warming to below 1.5 °C will reduce the costs by $1.32 billion relative to the 2 °C target of Paris Agreement. These findings highlight the importance of mitigating global warming and of investment in the adaptation and maintenance of infrastructure on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which has a sparse population but is a climate hotspot.
Evaluation of transfection efficacy, biodistribution, and toxicity of branched amphiphilic peptide capsules (BAPCs) associated with mRNA
Authors: Kunte Nitish , Westerfield Matthew , McGraw Erin , Choi Jiyeong , Akinsipe Tosin , Whitaker Susan K. , Brannen Andrew , Panizzi Peter , Tomich John M. , Avila L. Adriana
Published: October 2022

BAPCs are PEG free nanoparticles with potential to deliver therapeutic mRNA in vivo. Association of mRNA with BAPCs surface enhanced localization in lung by avoiding liver and spleen. Therefore, potentiating their application in lung therapy.
Essential data for industrially relevant development of bifunctional cathodes and biopolymer electrolytes in solid-state zinc–air secondary batteries
Authors: Frattini Domenico , García Gaitán Estíbaliz , Bustinza Murguialday Ainhoa , Armand Michel , Ortiz-Vitoriano Nagore
Published: October 2022

The development of bio-based gel polymer electrolytes and bifunctional cathodes with no/less CRM-based catalysts is urgently required for ZABs to push sustainability for full cell design and validation by adopting correct protocols and metrics.
Effect of pH on endogenous sunlight inactivation rates of laboratory strain and wastewater sourced E. coli and enterococci
Authors: Chiyenge Mwale , Silverman Andrea I.
Published: October 2022

Solution pH was observed to impact the solar disinfection rates of key fecal indicator bacteria in a sensitizer-free water matrix, with elevated solar disinfection rates observed at the pH extremes.
Geometry-asymmetric photodetectors from metal–semiconductor–metal van der Waals heterostructures
Authors: Fu Xiao , Li Tangxin , Li Qing , Hao Chunhui , Zhang Lei , Fu Dejun , Wang Jinjin , Xu Hangyu , Gu Yue , Zhong Fang , He Ting , Zhang Kun , Panin Gennady N. , Lu Wei , Miao Jinshui , Hu Weida
Published: October 2022

The geometry-asymmetric metal–semiconductor–metal devices based on the mixed-dimensional vdW heterostructures of SnS layered nanosheets and SnS2nanoparticles demonstrate great potential in self-rectifying devices and photovoltaic detection.
A rare polyoxometalate cluster [NiW12O44]14−based solid as a pre-catalyst for efficient and long-term oxygen evolution
Authors: Sood Parul , Joshi Arti , Singh Monika
Published: October 2022

A rare POM cluster [NiW12O44]14−based solid was explored for OER. It acts as an efficient and highly sustained pre-catalyst in alkaline medium with an overpotential of 347 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2and stability up to 96 h.
Bimetallic RuNi-decorated Mg-CUK-1 for oxygen-tolerant carbon dioxide capture and conversion to methane
Authors: Zurrer Timothy , Lovell Emma , Han Zhaojun , Liang Kang , Scott Jason , Amal Rose
Published: October 2022

A metal–organic framework, known as Mg-CUK-1, is loaded with Ru and Ni nanoparticles and evaluated as a hybrid sorbent/catalyst for the integrated capture and conversion of carbon dioxide to methane under temperature-swing operating conditions.
Recent advances in nanoparticles towards sustainability and their application in organic transformations in aqueous media
Authors: Attar Suraj R. , Kamble Santosh B.
Published: October 2022

The new era of organic transformations in aqueous media is shifting toward sustainability with the help of various advances in nanoparticles.
The effect of the structure of a helical nanofilament of the B4 phase of bent-core liquid crystals on the nano-phase separation mixed with a rod-like cholesteric liquid crystal mixture
Authors: Takanishi Yoichi , Araoka Fumito , Iwayama Hiroshi
Published: October 2022

We studied the structure of a helical nano-filament of the B4 phase in mixtures of a cholesteric liquid crystal mixture and a bent-core molecule using a resonant soft X-ray scattering (RSoXS) technique.
Multi-scale hybrid spherical graphite composites: a light weight thermal interface material with high thermal conductivity and simple processing technology
Authors: Yan Dingbang , Li Zexian , Kong Nizao , Huang Min , Tian Yexin , Ye Chong , Fu Liqin , Wen Bingjie , Liu Jinshui , Tan Ruixuan , Han Fei
Published: October 2022

A new carbon-based thermal conductive filler, a new calculation method of multi-scale spherical particle mixing and a model for predicting thermal conductivity by tap density.
Antimicrobial potentials of natural products against multidrug resistance pathogens: a comprehensive review
Authors: Elmaidomy Abeer H. , Shady Nourhan Hisham , Abdeljawad Khaled Mohamed , Elzamkan Mohamed Badran , Helmy Hussein Hykel , Tarshan Emad Ashour , Adly Abanoub Nabil , Hussien Yasmin Hamdy , Sayed Nesma Gamal , Zayed Ahmed , Abdelmohsen Usama Ramadan
Published: October 2022

Antibiotic resistance is one of the critical health issues, describing a significant social health complication globally.
Influence of the anionic structure and central atom of a cation on the properties of LCST-type draw solutes for forward osmosis
Authors: Cho Yeonsu , Kang Hyo
Published: October 2022

Thermo-responsive ionic compounds having lower critical solution temperature were utilized as a draw solute for eco-sustainable forward osmosis.
Mechanism of calcium in melatonin enhancement of functional substance-phenolic acid in germinated hulless barley
Authors: Tian Xin , He Xudong , Xu Jinpeng , Yang Zhengfei , Fang Weiming , Yin Yongqi
Published: October 2022

Exogenous melatonin mediates accumulation of phenolic acids in barley under salt stress and stimulates germination growth.
Stochastic economic evaluation of different production pathways for renewable propylene glycol production via catalytic hydrogenolysis of glycerol
Authors: Omoarukhe Fredrick O. , Epelle Emmanuel I. , Ogbaga Chukwuma C. , Okolie Jude A.
Published: October 2022

The impact of the hydrogen production method on the economic feasibility and environmental friendliness of propylene glycol production from glycerol hydrogenolysis is explored.
Effect of the nickel impregnation method on clay supports in the hydroconversion reaction of n-decane
Authors: Amaya Jahaziel , Calderón Cesar , Molina Rafael , Moreno Sonia
Published: October 2022

Ni bifunctional catalysts supported on vermiculite, halloysite and bentonite previously modified by means of delamination or acid treatment were synthesized.
Ni–Fe synergic effect in Fe–NiOHxboosting oxygen evolution under large current density enabled by the “in situself-corrosion” strategy
Authors: Huang Liang-ai , Chen Jiu , Xu Yue , Huang Yucong , Shen Shijie , Wang Zongpeng , Li Lei , Zhong Wenwu
Published: October 2022

We developed anin situself-corrosion photodeposition method for the fabrication of a self-standing hollow Fe–NiOHxcatalyst with an excellent OER activity and remarkable stability in alkaline media.
A vinyl-decorated covalent organic framework for ferroptotic cancer therapy via visible-light-triggered cysteine depletion
Authors: Guan Qun , Zhou Le-Le , Zhou Wei , Dong Yu-Bin
Published: October 2022

Intracellular cysteine depletion induced by a COF-based click photoreaction achieves effective cancer therapy by ferroptosis.
Dissipativity‐based adaptive integral sliding mode control of Takagi‐Sugeno fuzzy descriptor systems
Authors: Huang Xiaorong , Huang Haibo , Peng Yiqiang , Ralescu Anca L. , Sun Shulei
Published: October 2022

This paper focuses on the problem of adaptive integral sliding mode control (ISMC) with dissipativity for a type of complex non‐linear system represented by Takagi‐Sugeno (T‐S) fuzzy descriptor models. First, T‐S fuzzy descriptor systems with different derivative matrices are transformed into augmented systems that have the same properties as the original systems, and an integral sliding mode surface function is designed considering the descriptor matrices. Then, based on the dissipativity theory and the non‐parallel distributed compensation (non‐PDC) method, ISMC strategies and dissipativity‐based ISMC strategies are proposed, and the system uncertainties and external disturbances with unknown upper bounds are addressed with an adaptive controller. According to the Lyapunov theory and the dissipativity theory, a fuzzy Lyapunov function is designed, and the obtained criteria are presented in the form of strict linear matrix inequalities (LMIs); this approach guarantees that the closed‐loop system is asymptotically stable and strictly dissipative. Moreover, the controller gain matrices and Lyapunov matrices are decoupled by introducing the corresponding auxiliary variables and employing Finsler's lemma. Finally, two examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness and merit of the proposed method.