bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A biocompatible electrolyte enables highly reversible Zn anode for zinc ion battery
Authors: Li Guanjie , Zhao Zihan , Zhang Shilin , Sun Liang , Li Mingnan , Yuwono Jodie A. , Mao Jianfeng , Hao Junnan , Vongsvivut Jitraporn , Xing Lidan , Zhao Chun-Xia , Guo Zaiping
Published: October 2023

Progress towards the integration of technology into living organisms requires power devices that are biocompatible and mechanically flexible. Aqueous zinc ion batteries that use hydrogel biomaterials as electrolytes have emerged as a potential solution that operates within biological constraints; however, most of these batteries feature inferior electrochemical properties. Here, we propose a biocompatible hydrogel electrolyte by utilising hyaluronic acid, which contains ample hydrophilic functional groups. The gel-based electrolyte offers excellent anti-corrosion ability for zinc anodes and regulates zinc nucleation/growth. Also, the gel electrolyte provides high battery performance, including a 99.71% Coulombic efficiency, over 5500 hours of long-term stability, improved cycle life of 250 hours under a high zinc utilization rate of 80%, and high biocompatibility. Importantly, the Zn//LiMn2O4 pouch cell exhibits 82% capacity retention after 1000 cycles at 3 C. This work presents a promising gel chemistry that controls zinc behaviour, offering great potential in biocompatible energy-related applications and beyond.
Rationalizing kinetic behaviors of isolated boron sites catalyzed oxidative dehydrogenation of propane
Authors: Tian Hao , Li Wenying , He Linhai , Zhong Yunzhu , Xu Shutao , Xiao Hai , Xu Bingjun
Published: October 2023

Boron-based catalysts exhibit high alkene selectivity in oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODHP) but the mechanistic understanding remains incomplete. In this work, we show that the hydroxylation of framework boron species via steaming not only enhances the ODHP rate on both B-MFI and B-BEA, but also impacts the kinetics of the reaction. The altered activity, propane reaction order and the activation energy could be attributed to the hydrolysis of framework [B(OSi≡)3] unit to [B(OSi≡)3−x(OH···O(H)Si≡)x] (x = 1, 2, “···” represents hydrogen bonding). DFT calculations confirm that hydroxylated framework boron sites could stabilize radical species, e.g., hydroperoxyl radical, further facilitating the gas-phase radical mechanism. Variations in the contributions from gas-phase radical mechanisms in ODHP lead to the linear correlation between activation enthalpy and entropy on borosilicate zeolites. Insights gained in this work offer a general mechanistic framework to rationalize the kinetic behavior of the ODHP on boron-based catalysts.
Low-dose lithium adjunct to atypical antipsychotic treatment nearly improved cognitive impairment, deteriorated the gray-matter volume, and decreased the interleukin-6 level in drug-naive patients with first schizophrenia symptoms: a follow-up pilot study
Authors: Zhuo Chuanjun , Hu Shuiqing , Chen Guangdong , Yang Lei , Cai Ziyao , Tian Hongjun , Jiang Deguo , Chen Chunmian , Wang Lina , Ma Xiaoyan , Li Ranli
Published: October 2023

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of long-term low-dose lithium adjunct to antipsychotic agent use on the cognitive performance, whole-brain gray-matter volume (GMV), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) level in drug-naive patients with first-episode schizophrenia, and to examine relationships among these factors. In this double-blind randomized controlled study, 50 drug-naive patients with first-episode schizophrenia each took low-dose (250 mg/day) lithium and placebo (of the same shape and taste) adjunct to antipsychotic agents (mean, 644.70 ± 105.58 and 677.00 ± 143.33 mg/day chlorpromazine equivalent, respectively) for 24 weeks. At baseline and after treatment completion, the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) was used to assess cognitive performance, 3-T magnetic resonance imaging was performed to assess structural brain alterations, and serum IL-6 levels were quantified by immunoassay. Treatment effects were assessed within and between patient groups. Relationships among cognitive performance, whole-brain GMVs, and the IL-6 level were investigated by partial correlation analysis. Relative to baseline, patients in the lithium group showed improved working memory, verbal learning, processing speed, and reasoning/problem solving after 24 weeks of treatment; those in the placebo group showed only improved working memory and verbal learning. The composite MCCB score did not differ significantly between groups. The whole-brain GMV reduction was significantly lesser in the lithium group than in the placebo group (0.46% vs. 1.03%; P < 0.001). The GMV and IL-6 reduction ratios correlated with each other in both groups (r = −0.17, P = 0.025). In the lithium group, the whole-brain GMV reduction ratio correlated with the working memory improvement ratio (r = −0.15, P = 0.030) and processing speed (r = −0.14, P = 0.036); the IL-6 reduction ratio correlated with the working memory (r = −0.21, P = 0.043) and verbal learning (r = −0.30, P = 0.031) improvement ratios. In the placebo group, the whole-brain GMV reduction ratio correlated only with the working memory improvement ratio (r = −0.24, P = 0.019); the IL-6 reduction ratio correlated with the working memory (r = −0.17, P = 0.022) and verbal learning (r = −0.15, P = 0.011) improvement ratios. Both treatments implemented in this study nearly improved the cognitive performance of patients with schizophrenia; relative to placebo, low-dose lithium had slightly greater effects on several aspects of cognition. The patterns of correlation among GMV reduction, IL-6 reduction, and cognitive performance improvement differed between groups.
A model of conceptual bootstrapping in human cognition
Authors: Zhao Bonan , Lucas Christopher G. , Bramley Neil R.
Published: October 2023

To tackle a hard problem, it is often wise to reuse and recombine existing knowledge. Such an ability to bootstrap enables us to grow rich mental concepts despite limited cognitive resources. Here we present a computational model of conceptual bootstrapping. This model uses a dynamic conceptual repertoire that can cache and later reuse elements of earlier insights in principled ways, modelling learning as a series of compositional generalizations. This model predicts systematically different learned concepts when the same evidence is processed in different orders, without any extra assumptions about previous beliefs or background knowledge. Across four behavioural experiments (total n = 570), we demonstrate strong curriculum-order and conceptual garden-pathing effects that closely resemble our model predictions and differ from those of alternative accounts. Taken together, this work offers a computational account of how past experiences shape future conceptual discoveries and showcases the importance of curriculum design in human inductive concept inferences.
Magneto-acoustic protein nanostructures for non-invasive imaging of tissue mechanics in vivo
Authors: Kim Whee-Soo , Min Sungjin , Kim Su Kyeom , Kang Sunghwi , An Soohwan , Criado-Hidalgo Ernesto , Davis Hunter , Bar-Zion Avinoam , Malounda Dina , Kim Yu Heun , Lee Jae-Hyun , Bae Soo Han , Lee Jin Gu , Kwak Minsuk , Cho Seung-Woo , Shapiro Mikhail G. , Cheon Jinwoo
Published: October 2023

Measuring cellular and tissue mechanics inside intact living organisms is essential for interrogating the roles of force in physiological and disease processes. Current agents for studying the mechanobiology of intact, living organisms are limited by poor light penetration and material stability. Magnetomotive ultrasound is an emerging modality for real-time in vivo imaging of tissue mechanics. Nonetheless, it has poor sensitivity and spatiotemporal resolution. Here we describe magneto-gas vesicles (MGVs), protein nanostructures based on gas vesicles and magnetic nanoparticles that produce differential ultrasound signals in response to varying mechanical properties of surrounding tissues. These hybrid nanomaterials significantly improve signal strength and detection sensitivity. Furthermore, MGVs enable non-invasive, long-term and quantitative measurements of mechanical properties within three-dimensional tissues and in vivo fibrosis models. Using MGVs as novel contrast agents, we demonstrate their potential for non-invasive imaging of tissue elasticity, offering insights into mechanobiology and its application to disease diagnosis and treatment.
A high-quality chromosome-level wild rice genome of Oryza coarctata
Authors: Zhao Hang , Wang Wenzheng , Yang Yirong , Wang Zhiwei , Sun Jing , Yuan Kaijun , Rabbi S. M. Hisam Al , Khanam Munnujan , Kabir Md. Shahjahan , Seraj Zeba I. , Rahman Md. Sazzadur , Zhang Zhiguo
Published: October 2023

Oryza coarctata (2n = 4X = 48, KKLL) is an allotetraploid, undomesticated relative of rice and the only species in the genus Oryza with tolerance to high salinity and submergence. Therefore, it contains important stress and tolerance genes/factors for rice. The initial draft genome published was limited by data and technical restrictions, leading to an incomplete and highly fragmented assembly. This study reports a new, highly contiguous chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation of O. coarctata. PacBio high-quality HiFi reads generated 460 contigs with a total length of 573.4 Mb and an N50 of 23.1 Mb, which were assembled into scaffolds with Hi-C data, anchoring 96.99% of the assembly onto 24 chromosomes. The genome assembly comprises 45,571 genes, and repetitive content contributes 25.5% of the genome. This study provides the novel identification of the KK and LL genome types of the genus Oryza, leading to valuable insights into rice genome evolution. The chromosome-level genome assembly of O. coarctata is a valuable resource for rice research and molecular breeding.
The rise of macropredatory pliosaurids near the Early-Middle Jurassic transition
Authors: Sachs Sven , Madzia Daniel , Thuy Ben , Kear Benjamin P.
Published: October 2023

The emergence of gigantic pliosaurid plesiosaurs reshaped the trophic structure of Mesozoic marine ecosystems, and established an  ~ 80 million-year (Ma) dynasty of macropredatory marine reptiles. However, the timescale of their ‘defining’ trait evolution is incompletely understood because the fossil record of gigantic pliosaurids is scarce prior to the late-Middle Jurassic (Callovian),  ~ 165.3 Ma. Here, we pinpoint the appearance of large body size and robust dentitions to early-Middle Jurassic (Bajocian) pliosaurids from northeastern France and Switzerland. These specimens include a new genus that sheds light on the nascent diversification of macropredatory pliosaurids occurring shortly after the Early-Middle Jurassic transition, around  ~ 171 Ma. Furthermore, our multivariate assessment of dental character states shows that the first gigantic pliosaurids occupied different morphospace from coeval large-bodied rhomaleosaurid plesiosaurs, which were dominant in the Early Jurassic but declined during the mid-Jurassic, possibly facilitating the radiation and subsequent ecomorph acme of pliosaurids. Finally, we posit that while the emergence of macropredatory pliosaurids was apparently coordinated with regional faunal turnover in the epeiric basins of Europe, it paralleled a globally protracted extinction of other higher trophic-level marine reptiles that was not completed until after the earliest-Late Jurassic,  ~ 161.5 Ma.
Optimized polarization-independent Chand-Bali nano-antenna for thermal IR energy harvesting
Authors: Elsharabasy Ahmed Y. , Bakr Mohamed H. , Deen M. Jamal
Published: October 2023

A novel, polarization-independent, wide-angle reception Chand-Bali nano-antenna is proposed. An adjoint-based optimization algorithm is used to create the same resonance at both linear polarizations of the incident radiation. The nano-antenna optimal parameters reveal that two hot spots with a strong field enhancement are created. These hot-spots could be integrated with metal–insulator–metal (MIM) diodes to form a rectenna for infrared (IR) energy harvesting. The metallic resonators allow for selecting several materials to facilitate the fabrication of the nano-antenna and the MIM diode. The Chand-Bali-based IR rectennas are investigated and simulations demonstrate an improvement of more than one order of magnitude in efficiency compared to ones using traditional nano-antennas.
Health assessment of rice cultivated and harvested from plasma-irradiated seeds
Authors: Okumura Takamasa , Tanaka Hayate , Nakao Takumi , Anan Teruki , Arita Ryo , Shiraki Masaki , Shiraki Kayo , Miyabe Tomoyuki , Yamashita Daisuke , Matsuo Kayo , Attri Pankaj , Kamataki Kunihiro , Yamashita Naoto , Itagaki Naho , Shiratani Masaharu , Hosoda Satoshi , Tanaka Akiyo , Ishibashi Yushi , Koga Kazunori
Published: October 2023

This study provides the health effects assessment of rice cultivated from plasma-irradiated seeds. The rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivated from seeds with plasma irradiation showed a growth improvement (slope-ratios of with plasma to without plasma were 1.066, 1.042, and 1.255 for tiller, and earing, and ripening periods, respectively) and an 4% increase in yield. The cultivated rice was used for repeated oral administrations to mice for 4-week period. Distilled water and rice cultivated from seeds without plasma irradiation were also used as control. The weights of the lung, kidney, liver, and spleen, with corresponding average values of 0.22 g, 0.72 g, 2.1 g, and 0.17 g for w/ plasma group and 0.22 g, 0.68 g, 2.16 g, and 0.14 g for w/o plasma group, respectively, showing no effect due to the administration of rice cultivated from plasma-irradiated seeds. Nutritional status, liver function, kidney function, and lipid, neutral fat profiles, and glucose metabolism have no significant difference between with and without plasma groups. These results show no obvious subacute effects were observed on rice grains cultivated and harvested from the mother plant that experienced growth improvement by plasma irradiation. This study provides a new finding that there is no apparent adverse health effect on the grains harvested from the plasma-irradiated seeds.
Tumour area infiltration and cell count in endoscopic biopsies of therapy-naive upper GI tract carcinomas by QuPath analysis: implications for predictive biomarker testing
Authors: Scheel Andreas H. , Lamberty Hannah , Tolkach Yuri , Gebauer Florian , Schoemig-Markiefka Birgid , Zander Thomas , Buettner Reinhard , Rueschoff Josef , Bruns Christiane Josephine , Schroeder Wolfgang , Quaas Alexander
Published: October 2023

Guidelines regulate how many (tumour-bearing) tissue particles should be sampled during gastric cancer biopsy to obtain representative results in predictive biomarker testing. Little is known about how well these guidelines are applied, how the number of tissue particles correlates with the actual tumour-infiltrated area and how many absolute tumour cells are captured. The study included endoscopic biopsies of untreated carcinomas of the upper gastrointestinal (GI)-tract during the 2016–2020 review period. Archival (H&E)-stained histological sections were digitised and the tumour areas were manually annotated. The tumour-bearing tissue area and absolute carcinoma cell count per case were determined by image analysis and compared with a reference primary surgical specimen. Biopsies from 253 patients were analysed. The following mean values were determined: (a) tumour tissue particle number: 6.5 (range: 1–25, standard deviation (SD) = 3.33), (b) number of tumour-bearing tissue particles: 4.7 (range: 1–20, SD = 2.80), (c) tumour-infiltrated area: 7.5 mm2 (range: 0.18–59.46 mm2, SD = 6.67 mm2), (d) absolute tumour cell count: 13,492 (range: 193–92,834, SD = 14,185) and (e) tumour cell count in a primary surgical specimen (tumour size: 6.7 cm): 105,200,176. The guideline-recommended tissue particle count of 10 was not achieved in 208 patients (82.2%) and the required tumour-bearing tissue particle count of 5 was not achieved in 133 patients (52.6%). Tissue particle count, tumour-infiltrated area and tumour cell count were only weakly correlated. Most cases featured an infiltrated area ≥ 4.5 mm2 (156, 61.7%). Cases with more tissue particles showed only a moderate increase in infiltrated area and tumour cells compared to cases with fewer particles. Biopsies are often used to determine predictive biomarkers, particularly Her2/neu and PD-L1. Diagnostic standards to ensure representative material have been suggested in guidelines to reduce false-negative predictions. However, the real-world practice seems to substantially deviate from recommended standards. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic study describing the relationships between endoscopic tissue fragment number, actual infiltrated tumour area and carcinoma cell number. The data question the tissue particle number as a quality assessment parameter. We advocate histopathological reports indicating on which basis statements on therapy-relevant biomarkers were made. Digital pathology has the potential to objectively quantify the tissue for documentation, quality assessment and future clinical studies.
The J2 evolution model and control technology of the main roadway surrounding rock under superimposed influence of double-coal seam mining
Authors: Chen Dongdong , Li Zijian , Xie Shengrong , Wang Zhiqiang , Jiang Zaisheng , Jia Qingbo , Wang Yiyang
Published: October 2023

Under double-seam mining, the main roadway surrounding rock is affected by the superposition of the advanced stress of the two-seam coal working faces. The stress superposition mode and degree are of great significance to the width calculation of the protective coal pillar and the determination of the critical control direction of the surrounding rock. This paper uses theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and site engineering practice to carry out targeted research. The conclusions are as follows: Under different lateral pressure coefficients, the superposition evolution law of maximum principal stress direction of two coal seams with different offsets; Two developmental trends and three types of evolution models of J2 peak zone (the critical area of the stress increase and deflection changes) under different superimposed loading modes are summarized. Based on the typical asymmetric evolution model of the J2 peak zone, an asymmetric truss-cable co-anchoring method is proposed aimed at the J2 critical zone. The field monitoring results show that the main roadway surrounding rock is stable after support when the upper coal seam protective coal pillar is left 80 m, and the lower one is 60 m wide. It is of great reference importance for similar engineering practices.
Perinatal events and development of juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis
Authors: Chaudhary Aysha , Nadeem Manahil , Townsend Jack , Miller Victoria J. , Hajrasouliha Amir R.
Published: October 2023

Uveitis is one of the most common manifestations of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Currently, JIA is associated with decreased gut microbiota diversity. Studies confirm that perinatal events can cause aberrant microbial colonization. The objective of this study is to determine if JIA is associated with perinatal events with a secondary focus on these variables to the development of JIA-uveitis. 369 patients with strabismus (n = 200) or JIA (n = 196) were included in the study. Completed surveys (JIA 37; strabismus 18) collected data about birth route, pregnancy and labor complications, JIA medications, and the presence of eye disorders. Analysis indicates that there is no relationship between JIA development and the perinatal events investigated. Similarly, no significance was found between JIA-uveitis and birth route or labor complications. Pregnancy complications, namely gestational diabetes (GD), were statistically higher in the JIA group with uveitis compared to JIA without uveitis. The data from this survey study showed that JIA-uveitis was highly associated with pregnancy complications, particularly with GD. However, no statistically significant association was found between JIA and route of delivery, labor complications, or pregnancy complications. Further studies are needed to understand the ways that GD interrelates with the development of uveitis in JIA patients.
Low-voltage ride-through capability in a DFIG using FO-PID and RCO techniques under symmetrical and asymmetrical faults
Authors: Sabzevari Kiomars , Khosravi Nima , Abdelghany Muhammad Bakr , Belkhier Youcef , Tostado-Véliz Marcos , Kotb Hossam , Govender Scott
Published: October 2023

The power grid faults study is crucial for maintaining grid reliability and stability. Understanding these faults enables rapid detection, prevention, and mitigation, ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply, safeguarding equipment, and preventing potential cascading failures, ultimately supporting the efficient functioning of modern society. This paper delves into the intricate challenge of ensuring the robust operation of wind turbines (WTs) in the face of fault conditions, a matter of substantial concern for power system experts. To navigate this challenge effectively, the implementation of symmetrical fault ride-through (SFRT) and asymmetrical fault ride-through (AFRT) control techniques becomes imperative, as these techniques play a pivotal role in upholding the stability and dependability of the power system during adverse scenarios. This study addresses this formidable challenge by introducing an innovative SFRT–AFRT control methodology based on rotor components optimization called RCO tailored for the rotor side converter (RSC) within a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) utilized in wind turbine systems. The proposed control strategy encompasses a two-fold approach: firstly, the attenuation of both positive and negative components is achieved through the strategic application of boundary constraints and the establishment of reference values. Subsequently, the optimization of the control characteristic ‘$$\beta$$
β
’ is accomplished through the utilization of a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm integrated within an optimization loop. This intricate interplay of mechanisms aims to optimize the performance of the RSC under fault conditions. To measure the efficacy of the proposed control technique, a comparative analysis is conducted. Fractional-order (FO) proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controllers are employed as an additional method to complement the novel approach. By systematically juxtaposing the performance of the proposed SFRT–AFRT control technique with the FO-PID controllers, a comprehensive evaluation of the proposed approach's effectiveness is attained. This comparative assessment lends valuable insights into the potential advantages and limitations of the novel control technique, thereby contributing to the advancement of fault mitigation strategies in WT systems. Finally, the paper highlights the economic viability of the proposed control method, suggesting its suitability for addressing broader power network issues, such as power quality, in future wind farm research.
Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in bud-derived supplements by magnetic molecular imprinted microparticles and GC-MS: D-optimal design for a fast method optimization
Authors: Benedetti Barbara , Tronconi Arianna , Turrini Federica , Di Carro Marina , Donno Dario , Beccaro Gabriele Loris , Boggia Raffaella , Magi Emanuele
Published: October 2023

Within the world of natural food supplements, organic extracts deriving from young plant meristematic tissue (bud-derivatives) are becoming attractive, thanks to their richness in bioactive molecules. This natural source is scarce, but every year, tons of plant material, including buds, come from city pruning. If this sustainable source is rather promising from a circular economy point of view, the safety of the obtained supplements must be assessed. In fact, anthropic microcontaminants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), could adsorb onto the urban buds, leading to a possible contamination of the bud-derivatives. In this study, we developed a magnetic dispersive solid phase extraction (m-dSPE) based on molecularly imprinted microparticles, combined with GC-MS, to quantify the 16 priority PAHs in such extracts. The D-optimal experimental design was implemented to maximize analytes’ recovery with the smallest set of experiments. The optimized method was characterized by great selectivity thanks to the molecular imprinted polymer and ease of use provided by m-dSPE. Moreover, it complies with green principles, thanks to the minimum consumption of organic solvent (1.5 mL of acetone per sample). The recoveries ranged from 76 to 100% and procedural precision was below 10% for most PAHs. Despite the matrix complexity, low quantification limits (0.7–12.6 μg kg−1) were reached. This guaranteed the PAHs’ quantitation at levels below those indicated as safe by a European Community regulation on food supplements. None of the analyzed samples, coming from different anthropically impacted areas, showed concerning PAHs levels.
High sensitivity of Aeolus UV surface returns to surface reflectivity
Authors: Labzovskii L. D. , van Zadelhoff G. J. , Tilstra L. G. , de Kloe J. , Donovan D. P. , Stoffelen A.
Published: October 2023

Global ultraviolet (UV) surface reflectivity climatologies are all composed from daylight passive remote sensing observations of reflected UV light, generally integrated over a distribution of attainable reflection directions. We discovered the sensitivity of Aeolus lidar surface returns (LSR) to surface characteristics, providing the first evidence that active remote sensing can be effectively used for retrieving unidirectional UV surface reflectivity on global scales. LSR reproduces surface reflectivity monthly changes in Sahara, which are visible in the Lambertian Equivalent Reflectivity (LER) climatologies from TROPOMI and GOME-2. Very high correlations (r > 0.90) between gridded LSR and the LER climatologies are reported at global and regional scales for 36 different regions. Three clear land cover gradients are discerned from Aeolus LSR signal: (1) water/land, (2) vegetation/arid areas and (3) no snow/snow. The strongest LSR signal was retrieved over snow, while over vegetation, we found moderate negative agreement (r < − 0.60) between LSR and vegetation index proxy. Overall, the success of the first active remote sensing method for retrieving unidirectional UV surface reflectivity using Aeolus is demonstrated. Our approach can be effectively used to detect unresolved land and, especially, snow cover changes in high latitudes because, unlike passive instruments, Aeolus also provided nighttime observations.
Nociceptors regulate osteoimmune transcriptomic response to infection
Authors: Lillis Katherine V. , Austah Obadah , Grinceviciute Ruta , Garlet Gustavo P. , Diogenes Anibal
Published: October 2023

Osteoimmune diseases, such as apical periodontitis, are prevalent, often painful, inflammatory conditions resulting in bone loss and reduced quality of life. There is growing evidence that the nociceptive fibers densely innervating affected tissues regulate disease progression; therefore, we hypothesized that nociceptors regulate the transcriptomic profile of the periapical osteolytic lesion in a mouse model of apical periodontitis. Male control and nociceptor-ablated mice underwent pulp exposures, and after 0, 7, or 14 days, total RNA from periapical tissues was submitted for sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Pulp exposure triggers the differential expression of hundreds of genes over the course of infection. At 14 days post pulp exposure, 422 genes, including Tnf, Il1a, and Il1b, were differentially expressed between nociceptor-ablated and control mice with greater enrichment of biological processes related to inflammation in nociceptor-ablated mice. Nociceptor ablation regulates the transcriptomic profile of periapical lesions in a mouse model of apical periodontitis, shifting the gene expression profile to a greater enrichment of inflammatory genes, suggesting nociceptors play a role in the kinetics of the immune response. This newly uncovered neuro-immune axis and its mechanisms in apical periodontitis can be an important therapeutic target for the treatment of this prevalent disease.
Copper metabolism-related Genes in entorhinal cortex for Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Zhang Yan , Yang Yu-shen , Wang Cong-mei , Chen Wei-can , Chen Xin-li , Wu Fan , He He-fan
Published: October 2023

The pathological features of Alzheimer's disease are the formation of amyloid plaques and entanglement of nerve fibers. Studies have shown that Cu may be involved in the formation of amyloid plaques. However, their role has been controversial. The aim of this study was to explore the role of Cu in AD. We applied the “R” software for our differential analysis. Differentially expressed genes were screened using the limma package. Copper metabolism-related genes and the intersection set of differential genes with GSE5281 were searched; functional annotation was performed. The protein–protein interaction network was constructed using several modules to analyse the most significant hub genes. The hub genes were then qualified, and a database was used to screen for small-molecule AD drugs. We identified 87 DEGs. gene ontology analysis focused on homeostatic processes, response to toxic substances, positive regulation of transport, and secretion. The enriched molecular functions are mainly related to copper ion binding, molecular function regulators, protein-containing complex binding, identical protein binding and signalling receptor binding. The KEGG database is mainly involved in central carbon metabolism in various cancers, Parkinson's disease and melanoma. We identified five hub genes, FGF2, B2M, PTPRC, CD44 and SPP1, and identified the corresponding small molecule drugs. Our study identified key genes possibly related to energy metabolism in the pathological mechanism of AD and explored potential targets for AD treatment by establishing interaction networks.
Development and validation of a convolutional neural network to identify blepharoptosis
Authors: Abascal Azanza Cristina , Barrio-Barrio Jesús , Ramos Cejudo Jaime , Ybarra Arróspide Bosco , Devoto Martín H.
Published: October 2023

Blepharoptosis is a recognized cause of reversible vision loss and a non-specific indicator of neurological issues, occasionally heralding life-threatening conditions. Currently, diagnosis relies on human expertise and eyelid examination, with most existing Artificial Intelligence algorithms focusing on eyelid positioning under specialized settings. This study introduces a deep learning model with convolutional neural networks to detect blepharoptosis in more realistic conditions. Our model was trained and tested using high quality periocular images from patients with blepharoptosis as well as those with other eyelid conditions. The model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.918. For validation, we compared the model's performance against nine medical experts—oculoplastic surgeons, general ophthalmologists, and general practitioners—with varied expertise. When tested on a new dataset with varied image quality, the model's performance remained statistically comparable to that of human graders. Our findings underscore the potential to enhance telemedicine services for blepharoptosis detection.
Study on the plant and fish production in the aquaponic system as affected by different hydraulic loading rates
Authors: Khater El-Sayed , Bahnasawy Adel , Ali Samir , Abbas Wael , Morsy Osama , Sabahy Amr
Published: October 2023

Aquaponics is the combined culture of fish and plants in recirculating aquaculture systems, considered to be an innovative, eco-friendly and sustainable technology. The effect of the hydraulic loading rate (HLR) on the performance of fish and plants in the aquapoinc system was the main aim of this study. Four hydraulic loading rates were applied, 1.2, 1.8, 2.4 and 3.0 m day−1 under stocking density tilapia fish of 5 kg m−3 and lettuce population of 25 plant m−2 for a period of January to March, 2023. Water parameters, plant and fish parameters were determined. The most important results revealed that the highest plant nutrients removal was at HLR of 2.4 m day−1. The highest value of water parameters were found at the HLR of 2.4 m day−1. Root length increased with increasing HLR. Fresh and dry shoot and root weight values were higher at 2.4 m day−1 compared to other treatments under study. Meanwhile, fish growth parameter showed higher values at the HLR of 3.0 m day−1 compared to other treatments. The highest values of weight gain, feed growth rate, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio were 81.72 g, 1.36 g day−1, 1.88% day−1 and 1.20 g feed g−1 fish, respectively, for all treatments under study.
Effect of providing citrus pulp-integrated diet on fecal microbiota and serum and fecal metabolome shifts in crossbred pigs
Authors: Belloumi Dhekra , Calvet Salvador , Roca Marta Isabel , Ferrer Pablo , Jiménez-Belenguer Ana , Cambra-López María , García-Rebollar Paloma , Climent Eric , Martínez-Blanch Juan , Tortajada Marta , Chenoll Empar , Bermejo Almudena , Cerisuelo Alba
Published: October 2023

The study aimed to assess the impact of dehydrated citrus pulp (DCP) on growth performance, fecal characteristics, fecal bacterial composition (based on 16S rRNA analysis), and fecal and serum metabolomic profiles in crossbred pigs. 80 finishing pigs Duroc × (Landrace × Large White) were fed either a control diet (C) or a diet with 240 g/kg DCP (T) for six weeks. Including DCP in diets tended to decrease feed intake, increased (p < 0.05) the concentrations of acetic and heptanoic acids and decreased (p < 0.05) fecal butyric and branched-chain fatty acid concentrations in feces. Animals fed DCP exhibited a lower abundance of the genera Clostridium and Romboutsia, while Lachnospira significantly increased. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis plotted a clear separation of fecal and serum metabolites between groups. The main discriminant fecal metabolites were associated with bacterial protein fermentation and were downregulated in T-fed pigs. In serum, DCP supplementation upregulated metabolites related to protein and fatty acids metabolism. In conclusion, the addition of DCP as an environmentally friendly source of nutrients in pig diets, resulted in modifications of fecal bacterial composition, fermentation patterns, and overall pig metabolism, suggesting improvements in protein metabolism and gut health.
Quantitative analysis of gastrointestinal fluid absorption and secretion to estimate luminal fluid dynamics in rats
Authors: Funai Yuta , Ichijo Kazuki , Suzuki Satoru , Tateishi Yuta , Inoue Katsuhisa , Tamai Ikumi , Shirasaka Yoshiyuki
Published: October 2023

The drug absorption profile is dependent on the luminal drug concentration, which in turn is influenced by the gastrointestinal (GI) fluid dynamics. In the present study, therefore, we aimed to examine the luminal fluid dynamics by kinetically analyzing fluid absorption and secretion along the GI tract in rats using the in situ closed-loop technique with non-absorbable fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran 4000 (FD-4) and tritium water labeling ([3H]water) under different osmotic conditions. We found that the luminal fluid volume in the jejunum and ileum, but not the colon, gradually decreased and reached a steady state. In contrast, [3H]water almost completely disappeared in all intestinal regions. Kinetic analysis revealed the following rank order for the rate constant of fluid secretion: jejunum > ileum > colon, whereas a negligible regional difference was observed in the rate constant of fluid absorption. Fluid secretion under an isosmotic condition (300 mOsm/kg) was higher than that at 0 mOsm/kg in all intestinal regions, though no significant changes in fluid absorption were observed. Thus, the fluid secretion process appears to be the major determinant of the regional differences in GI fluid dynamics. Our findings indicate that the luminal fluid volume is altered as a result of water ingestion, absorption, and secretion, and finally reaches an apparent steady state, which is regulated mainly by the process of fluid secretion.
Facile synthesis of FeCeOx nanoparticles encapsulated carbon nitride catalyst for highly efficient and recyclable synthesis of substituted imidazoles
Authors: Azizi Najmedin , Saadat Mostafa , Edrisi Mahtab
Published: October 2023

Herein, we developed a novel composite called FeCeOx@g-C3N4 through a combination of sonication, sintering, and hydrothermal techniques to implement the principles of green chemistry by utilizing reusable nanocomposites in one-pot reactions. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the catalyst's structure, composition, and morphology, various characterization methods were employed. These included FT-IR analysis to examine chemical bonds, SEM and TEM imaging to visualize the catalyst's surface and internal structure, TGA to assess thermal stability, EDS for elemental composition analysis, and XRD to determine crystal structure. The FeCeOx@g-C3N4 nanocatalyst demonstrated remarkable efficacy in the one-pot synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted and 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazole. Noteworthy features of this catalyst included high percentage yield, mild reaction conditions, short reaction time, and an efficient and straightforward procedure. Furthermore, the FeCeOx@g-C3N4 composite exhibited excellent recyclability and reusability. It could be recycled and reused up to four times without a significant decline in catalytic activity.
Impact of trifluoromethyl and sulfonyl groups on the biological activity of novel aryl-urea derivatives: synthesis, in-vitro, in-silico and SAR studies
Authors: Sroor Farid M. , Mahrous Karima F. , El-Kader Heba A. M. Abd , Othman Abdelmageed M. , Ibrahim Nada S.
Published: October 2023

We designed and prepared a novel series of urea derivatives with/without sulfonyl group in their structures to investigate the impact of the sulfonyl group on the biological activity of the evaluated compounds. Antibacterial investigations indicated that derivatives 7, 8, 9, and 11 had the most antibacterial property of all the compounds examined, their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) determined against B. mycoides, E. coli, and C. albicans, with compound 8 being the most active at a MIC value of 4.88 µg/mL. Anti-cancer activity has been tested against eight human cancer cell lines; A549, HCT116, PC3, A431, HePG2, HOS, PACA2 and BJ1. Compounds 7, 8 and 9 emerged IC50 values better than Doxorubicin as a reference drug. Compounds 7 and 8 showed IC50 = 44.4 and 22.4 μM respectively against PACA2 compared to Doxorubicin (IC50 = 52.1 μM). Compound 9 showed IC50 = 17.8, 12.4, and 17.6 μM against HCT116, HePG2, and HOS, respectively. qRT-PCR revealed the down-regulation of PALB2 in compounds 7 and 15 treated PACA2 cells. Also, the down-regulation of BRCA1 and BRCA2 was shown in compound 7 treated PC3 cells. As regard A549 cells, compound 8 decreased the expression level of EGFR and KRAS genes. While compounds 7 and 9 down-regulated TP53 and FASN in HCT116 cells. Molecular docking was done against Escherichia coli enoyl reductase and human Son of sevenless homolog 1 (SOS1) and the results showed the promising inhibition of the studied proteins.
Host search behaviors of specialist and generalist root feeding herbivores (Diabrotica spp.) on host and non-host plants
Authors: Huynh Man P. , Geisert Ryan W. , Ludwick Dalton C. , Pekarcik Adrian J. , Hibbard Bruce E.
Published: October 2023

Western, northern, Mexican, and southern corn rootworms (WCR, NCR, MCR, and SCR) are serious corn pests. We evaluated host search behavior of these pests on six plant species using a video tracking system. After a 5-min exposure to plant roots, behavioral parameters were automatically recorded and used to quantify the search behavior. The search behavior was not observed for sorghum since no neonates survived after contacting sorghum roots. After exposures to corn roots, all neonates exhibited the localized search behaviors (i.e., shortening total distance traveled, lowering movement speed, increasing turn angle, moving farther from origin) which are used to stay in and search within root systems. When larvae contacted roots of wheat, barley, oats, soybean, or controls, they expanded the search area by extending the travel path, increasing velocity, and reducing turn angles and total distance moved. The intensity of the search expansion is highly associated with the host preferences known for the four rootworm species and subspecies. Neonates of each corn rootworm exhibited distinct search behaviors. In fact, NCR larvae had the highest speed, the greatest travel path, and the lowest turn angle, whereas MCR larvae had the highest turn angle and moved faster than WCR and SCR larvae.
Impact of different components of the Skyrme nucleon–nucleon effective interaction on the nuclear density distribution
Authors: Seif W. M. , Hashem A. S.
Published: October 2023

We systematically investigate the impact of the different terms of the Skyrme energy density functional of the effective nucleon-nucleon interaction, and of its associated nuclear matter (NM) properties, on the density distributions of spherical nuclei. Twenty five Skyrme force parameterizations are examined simultaneously, covering a broad range of each characteristic parameter and NM property. The diffuseness and the neutron-skin thickness are found to be the most sensitive density quantities to the force parameterization. The diffuseness is indicated to decrease with increasing the central zero-range and the effective mass terms of the effective force, and the power σ of its density dependent term, as well as with the coefficient of the NM symmetry energy (asym) and its density slope (L) at saturation density, and the incompressibility (Ko). In contrast, the proton and neutron diffuseness tend to increase with increasing the spin–orbit force and the isoscalar effective nucleon-mass (m*), and to increases slightly with the density dependence parameters other than the power σ. Opposite impacts are pointed out for the different parts of the finite-range, and J2 tensor terms on the proton and neutron density. While the neutron-skin thickness tends to increase significantly upon increasing the central zero-range and spin–orbit force terms, asym, L, and Ko, and to increase slightly with the finite-range and J2 tensor terms, and σ, it decreases with the effective-mass term, the density-dependence exchange parameter, and with the indicated isoscalar effective mass. The proton and neutron radii exhibit decreasing behavior with the central zero-range and the spin–orbit terms, and with Ko, and m*. Increasing asym and L indicate slightly less (larger) proton (neutron) radius.
Application of deep learning technology for temporal analysis of videofluoroscopic swallowing studies
Authors: Jeong Seong Yun , Kim Jeong Min , Park Ji Eun , Baek Seung Jun , Yang Seung Nam
Published: October 2023

Temporal parameters during swallowing are analyzed for objective and quantitative evaluation of videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS). Manual analysis by clinicians is time-consuming, complicated and prone to human error during interpretation; therefore, automated analysis using deep learning has been attempted. We aimed to develop a model for the automatic measurement of various temporal parameters of swallowing using deep learning. Overall, 547 VFSS video clips were included. Seven temporal parameters were manually measured by two physiatrists as ground-truth data: oral phase duration, pharyngeal delay time, pharyngeal response time, pharyngeal transit time, laryngeal vestibule closure reaction time, laryngeal vestibule closure duration, and upper esophageal sphincter opening duration. ResNet3D was selected as the base model for the deep learning of temporal parameters. The performances of ResNet3D variants were compared with those of the VGG and I3D models used previously. The average accuracy of the proposed ResNet3D variants was from 0.901 to 0.981. The F1 scores and average precision were 0.794 to 0.941 and 0.714 to 0.899, respectively. Compared to the VGG and I3D models, our model achieved the best results in terms of accuracy, F1 score, and average precision values. Through the clinical application of this automatic model, temporal analysis of VFSS will be easier and more accurate.
Application of digitization and visualization-based muscle strength measurement in ischemic stroke patients with motor dysfunction
Authors: Ren Zhongyu , Ye Shangrong , Nie Qi , Feng Junlin , Liu Kaixiang , Li Qinghua , Wen Jian
Published: October 2023

Ischemic stroke stands as a prevalent neurological ailment, where a paucity of methodologies exists for the assessment of functional outcomes post-stroke. Our objective was the development of a WeChat applet for the evaluation of muscle strength and the subsequent evaluation of its validity in ischemic stroke patients experiencing motor dysfunction. The assessment encompassed Lovett and NIHSS, followed by muscle strength values (MSV) and muscle strength ratios (MSR). These metrics were then scrutinized in relation to NIHSS and Lovett, followed by examination of their interrelationships. We enrolled a cohort of 157 patients, with an average age of 65 years, consisting of 96 males and 61 females. Lovett scores in the range of 2–4 and NIHSS scores spanning from 0 to 3 were found to correspond to specific values of MSV and MSR, respectively. Upon conducting correlation analysis, we noted that both MSV and MSR exhibited significant positive correlations with Lovett scores and NIHSS. Remarkably, the correlation of MSR with Lovett scores or NIHSS surpassed that of MSV. The WeChat applet offers a means of digitization and visualization of muscle strength. It correlates well with Lovett score and NIHSS, especially MSR. This bears potential significance in guiding the rehabilitation of stroke patients.
Novel porphyrin derivatives as corrosion inhibitors for stainless steel 304 in acidic environment: synthesis, electrochemical and quantum calculation studies
Authors: Fouda A. S. , Abdel-Wahed H. M. , Atia M. F. , El-Hossiany A.
Published: October 2023

A Novel 5,10,15,20-tetra (thiophen-2-yl) porphyrin (P1) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (5-Bromothiophen-2-yl) porphyrin (P2) were successfully synthesized, and their chemical structures were proved based on its correct elemental analysis and spectral data (IR and 1H-NMR). These compounds were examined as corrosion inhibitors for stainless steel 304 (SS304) in 2 M HCl utilizing mass reduction (MR) and electrochemical tests at inhibitor concentration (1 × 10–6–21 × 10–6 M). The protection efficiency (IE %) was effectively enhanced with improving the concentration of investigated compounds and reached 92.5%, 88.5% at 21 × 10–6 M for P1 & P2, respectively and decreases with raising the temperature. Langmuir's isotherm was constrained as the best fitted isotherm depicts the physical–chemical adsorption capabilities of P1 & P2 on SS304 surface with change in ΔGoads = 22.5 kJ mol−1. According to the PDP data reported, P1 and P2 work as mixed find inhibitors to suppress both cathodic and anodic processes. Porphyrin derivatives (P1 & P2) are included on the surface of SS304, according to surface morphology techniques SEM/EDX and AFM. Quantum calculations (DFT) and Monte Carlo simulation (MC) showed the impact of the chemical structure of porphyrin derivatives on their IE %.