bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plasmodium sporozoite phospholipid scramblase interacts with mammalian carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 to infect hepatocytes
Authors: Cha Sung-Jae , Kim Min-Sik , Na Chan Hyun , Jacobs-Lorena Marcelo 
Published: November 2021

AbstractAfter inoculation by the bite of an infected mosquito, Plasmodium sporozoites enter the blood stream and infect the liver, where each infected cell produces thousands of merozoites. These in turn, infect red blood cells and cause malaria symptoms. To initiate a productive infection, sporozoites must exit the circulation by traversing the blood lining of the liver vessels after which they infect hepatocytes with unique specificity. We screened a phage display library for peptides that structurally mimic (mimotope) a sporozoite ligand for hepatocyte recognition. We identified HP1 (hepatocyte-binding peptide 1) that mimics a ~50 kDa sporozoite ligand (identified as phospholipid scramblase). Further, we show that HP1 interacts with a ~160 kDa hepatocyte membrane putative receptor (identified as carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1). Importantly, immunization of mice with the HP1 peptide partially protects them from infection by the rodent parasite P. berghei. Moreover, an antibody to the HP1 mimotope inhibits human parasite P. falciparum infection of human hepatocytes in culture. The sporozoite ligand for hepatocyte invasion is a potential novel pre-erythrocytic vaccine candidate.
One-pot fabrication of Ag @Ag2O core–shell nanostructures for biosafe antimicrobial and antibiofilm applications
Authors: Elyamny Shaimaa , Eltarahony Marwa , Abu-Serie Marwa , Nabil Marwa M. , Kashyout Abd El-Hady B. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractMicrobial contamination is one of the major dreadful problems that raises hospitalization, morbidity and mortality rates globally, which subsequently obstructs socio-economic progress. The continuous misuse and overutilization of antibiotics participate mainly in the emergence of microbial resistance. To circumvent such a multidrug-resistance phenomenon, well-defined nanocomposite structures have recently been employed. In the current study, a facile, novel and cost-effective approach was applied to synthesize Ag@Ag2O core–shell nanocomposites (NCs) via chemical method. Several techniques were used to determine the structural, morphological, and optical characteristics of the as-prepared NCs. XRD, Raman, FTIR, XPS and SAED analysis revealed a crystalline hybrid structure of Ag core and Ag2O shell. Besides, SEM and HRTEM micrographs depicted spherical nanoparticles with size range of 19–60 nm. Additionally, zeta potential and fluorescence spectra illustrated aggregated nature of Ag@Ag2O NCs by − 5.34 mV with fluorescence emission peak at 498 nm. Ag@Ag2O NCs exhibited higher antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and algicidal activity in dose-dependent behavior. Interestingly, a remarkable mycocidal potency by 50 μg of Ag@Ag2O NCs against Candida albican; implying promising activity against COVID-19 white fungal post-infections. Through assessing cytotoxicity, Ag@Ag2O NCs exhibited higher safety against Vero cells than bulk silver nitrate by more than 100-fold.
Isotopic investigation of skeletal remains at the Imdang tombs reveals high consumption of game birds and social stratification in ancient Korea
Authors: Choy Kyungcheol , Yun Hee Young , Kim Seung Hee , Jung Sangsoo , Fuller Benjamin T. , Kim Dae Wook 
Published: November 2021

AbstractUnderstanding the development of early states on the Korean Peninsula is an important topic in Korean archaeology. However, it is not clear how social structure was organized by these early states and what natural resources were utilized from their surrounding environments. To investigate dietary adaptation and social status in ancient Korea, stable isotope ratios and radiocarbon dates were measured from humans and animals from the Imdang cemetery, Gyeongsan city, South Korea. The results indicate that the Imdang diet was mainly based on C3 plants and terrestrial animals. Animal remains in the graves were directly consumed as daily food items as well as for ritual offerings. MixSIAR modeling results revealed that the dietary sources for the humans were: game birds > C3 plants > terrestrial herbivores > marine fish > C4 plants. The finding that the game birds represented the highest contribution to the whole diet, indicates that game birds must have been intensively hunted. Furthermore, elites consumed more game birds than their retainers and they also consumed seafood as a privileged dietary item in the Imdang society. This study demonstrates that the Apdok was a stratified society having high variations in the consumption of food items available to an individual and provides new insights about the subsistence and social status of the early ancient Apdok state on the Korean Peninsula.
Miniaturized spoof SPPs filter based on multiple resonators or 5G applications
Authors: Mazdouri Behnam , Honari Mohammad Mahdi , Mirzavand Rashid 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThis paper presents a novel and compact band-pass filter based on spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPPs) concept for 5G applications. In the first place, an SSPPs unit cell including L-shaped grooves and its equivalent circuit model are introduced. The obtained results from dispersion analysis shows that cut-off frequency of the cell can be considerably decreased thanks to its geometrical configuration. In the second place, a miniaturized SSPP transmission line (TL) consisting of the proposed unit cell with cut-off frequency of 29.5 GHz is designed. Two mode convertors have been employed for efficient connection between coplanar waveguides and SSPP TL. Moreover, a new method based on loading one unit cell of SSPP TL by stub resonators is proposed in order to block a specific frequency band. An equivalent circuit model for the cell with the resonators is proposed to predict rejected frequency range. Thereafter, as an example of our method, a SSPPs filter operating at 26.5–29.5 GHZ is designed by means of connecting stub resonators with different lengths to provide close resonance frequencies. The circuit model, full wave simulation, and measurement results are in a good agreement. The results of proposed groundless SSPP TL and filter structures are promising to make groundless 5G applications possible.
Alternative sources of cautery may improve post-operative hematoma rates but increase operative time in thyroid surgery
Authors: Best Corliss A. E. , Quimby Alexandra E. , Johnson-Obaseki Stephanie 
Published: November 2021

AbstractA retrospective risk-adjusted analysis was completed using data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) to (1) compare the risks of post-operative hematoma for thyroid surgery using conventional cautery compared alternative energy devices (defined as LigaSure and Harmonic Scalpel), and (2) compare operative times for the same. The primary outcome variable was post-operative hematoma occurrence. The secondary outcome variable was operative time. The exposure variable was use of conventional or alternative sources of cautery. All adult patients who underwent a total thyroidectomy, subtotal thyroidectomy or completion thyroidectomy between 2016 and 2018 were included. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to control for potentially confounding variables. A total of 13,330 cases were analyzed; 4342 used conventional cautery, and 8988 used alternative sources. There was a statistically significant decrease in post-operative hematoma risk using alternative sources of cautery compared to conventional cautery (OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.58–0.98) (p = 0.04). Use of alternative sources of cautery added 4.95 min onto operative time (95% CI 2.45–7.45) which was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). After controlling for confounding variables, there was a statistically significant lower rate of post-operative hematoma in thyroidectomies performed using alternative sources of cautery compared to those performed with traditional hemostatic methods. Alternative sources of cautery increased operative time by 4.95 min.
Enteropathogenic infections modulate intestinal serotonin transporter (SERT) function by activating Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2) in Crohn’s disease
Authors: Qasem Ahmad , Naser Abed Elrahman , Naser Saleh A. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractSerotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) is an intestinal neuromodulator that regulates several essential enteric physiological functions such as absorption or secretion of fluids, and peristaltic reflexes. Availability of the intestinal 5-HT is dependent on serotonin transporter (SERT), which uptakes 5-HT and facilitates its degradation. Interestingly, Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2) is co-localized with 5-HT, which suggests a possible impact of neuroendocrine cells in the inflammatory response through TLR-2 activation. Serum 5-HT levels were measured in 80 Crohn’s disease (CD) patients and 40 healthy control subjects. Additionally, fully differentiated Caco-2 monolayers were infected with Mycobacteria paratuberculosis (MAP), L. monocytogenes, or M. smegmatis in the presence of exogenous 5-HT at different concentrations. Cells were subsequently harvested and used for measuring SERT activity, RNA isolation followed by RT-PCR, protein quantification, and tissue damage markers (DHE, LDH, GSH and MDA). TLR-2 intracellular signaling pathways were assessed by pre-incubating Caco-2 monolayers with selective blockers of ERK, cAMP/PKA, p38 MAPK, and 5-HT3 receptors. MAP-infected CD patients (N = 40) had higher serum 5-HT levels (462.95 ± 8.55 ng/mL, N = 40) than those without MAP infection (385.33 ± 10.3 ng/mL, N = 40). TLR-2 activation by enteropathogenic bacteria inhibited SERT activity in the presence of exogenous 5-HT by up to 50%. These effects were increasing gradually over 72 h, and MAP infection had the greatest effect on SERT inhibition when cells were exposed to 5-HT in a concentration dependent manner. Additionally, inhibition of SERT activity was accompanied with higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8) and oxidative stress markers (DHE, LDH and MDA), whereas SERT expression and protein level were downregulated. Consequently, inhibition of TLR-2 and p38 MAPK signaling or blocking 5-HT3 receptors restored SERT activity and reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as reflected by the downregulation of oxidative stress and tissue damage markers. The involvement of TLR-2 in the intestinal pathology might be concluded not only from its innate immune role, but also from its effect on modulating the intestinal serotonergic response. Ultimately, regulating the intestinal serotonergic system can be therapeutically exploited to mitigate other enteropathogenic infections, which will help in understanding the gut-microbiome-brain connection.
Continuous wave high-power laser propagation in water is affected by strong thermal lensing and thermal blooming already at short distances
Authors: Reich Stefan , Schäffer Sebastian , Lueck Martin , Wickert Matthias , Osterholz Jens 
Published: November 2021

AbstractWhen laser beams propagate through media with non-vanishing absorption, the media is heated resulting in a change of the refractive index, which can lead to thermal lensing and thermal blooming. However, experimental details about both phenomena for propagations in water are lacking, especially for high-power lasers in the kilowatt range. We show that significant thermal lensing occurs only for high input powers before the onset of convective flow, while for low input powers, no strong thermal lens arises. After the onset of water flow, thermal blooming occurs at low input powers comparable to that known for propagations over kilometres in the air. However, for high input powers a thermal blooming on a qualitatively higher level is shown. By wavefront sensing, the change of refractive index distribution in water is investigated. This clearly shows the fast development of a strong thermal lens for high input powers and the onset of convection. Furthermore, a qualitatively good agreement of the accompanying simulations is observed. It is found that the absorption coefficient is linear with a value of $$\mu ={13.7}\,{\mathrm{m}^{-1}}$$

μ
=

13.7

m

-
1

at least up to 7.5 kW, i.e. 8 $$\mathrm{kW/cm}^2$$

kW
/
cm

2

. However, the directed transmission into an aperture is only constant before any thermal lensing of blooming occurs.
Allelic variants of full-length VAR2CSA, the placental malaria vaccine candidate, differ in antigenicity and receptor binding affinity
Authors: Renn Jonathan P. , Doritchamou Justin Y. A. , Tentokam Bergeline C. Nguemwo , Morrison Robert D. , Cowles Matthew V. , Burkhardt Martin , Ma Rui , Mahamar Almahamoudou , Attaher Oumar , Diarra Bacary S. , Traore Moussa , Dicko Alassane , Tolia Niraj H. , Fried Michal , Duffy Patrick E. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractPlasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (IE) sequester in the placenta via surface protein VAR2CSA, which binds chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) expressed on the syncytiotrophoblast surface, causing placental malaria (PM) and severe adverse outcomes in mothers and their offspring. VAR2CSA belongs to the PfEMP1 variant surface antigen family; PfEMP1 proteins mediate IE adhesion and facilitate parasite immunoevasion through antigenic variation. Here we produced deglycosylated (native-like) and glycosylated versions of seven recombinant full-length VAR2CSA ectodomains and compared them for antigenicity and adhesiveness. All VAR2CSA recombinants bound CSA with nanomolar affinity, and plasma from Malian pregnant women demonstrated antigen-specific reactivity that increased with gravidity and trimester. However, allelic and glycosylation variants differed in their affinity to CSA and their serum reactivities. Deglycosylated proteins (native-like) showed higher CSA affinity than glycosylated proteins for all variants except NF54. Further, the gravidity-related increase in serum VAR2CSA reactivity (correlates with acquisition of protective immunity) was absent with the deglycosylated form of atypical M200101 VAR2CSA with an extended C-terminal region. Our findings indicate significant inter-allelic differences in adhesion and seroreactivity that may contribute to the heterogeneity of clinical presentations, which could have implications for vaccine design.
A miniature dialysis-culture device allows high-density human-induced pluripotent stem cells expansion from growth factor accumulation
Authors: Torizal Fuad Gandhi , Lau Qiao You , Ibuki Masato , Kawai Yoshikazu , Horikawa Masato , Minami Masataka , Michiue Tatsuo , Horiguchi Ikki , Nishikawa Masaki , Sakai Yasuyuki 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThree-dimensional aggregate-suspension culture is a potential biomanufacturing method to produce a large number of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs); however, the use of expensive growth factors and method-induced mechanical stress potentially result in inefficient production costs and difficulties in preserving pluripotency, respectively. Here, we developed a simple, miniaturized, dual-compartment dialysis-culture device based on a conventional membrane-culture insert with deep well plates. The device improved cell expansion up to approximately ~3.2 to 4×107 cells/mL. The high-density expansion was supported by reduction of excessive shear stress and agglomeration mediated by the addition of the functional polymer FP003. The results revealed accumulation of several growth factors, including fibroblast growth factor 2 and insulin, along with endogenous Nodal, which acts as a substitute for depleted transforming growth factor-β1 in maintaining pluripotency. Because we used the same growth-factor formulation per volume in the upper culture compartment, the cost reduced in inverse proportional manner with the cell density. We showed that growth-factor-accumulation dynamics in a low-shear-stress environment successfully improved hiPSC proliferation, pluripotency, and differentiation potential. This miniaturised dialysis-culture system demonstrated the feasibility of cost-effective mass production of hiPSCs in high-density culture.
Geometry of distributive multiparty entanglement in 4 − qubit hypergraph states
Authors: Sarkar Ramita , Banerjee Shreya , Bag Subhasish , Panigrahi Prasanta K. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractA detailed investigation of the multiparty entanglement present in the 4 − qubit quantum hypergraph states is presented, following a measurement‐based geometrical approach. Considering a classification of the 4 − party quantum system represented by a mathematical hypergraph based on the connections between its vertices, the genuine 4 − party entanglement present in each bi‐partition of the states have been measured. A strong correlation between the connectivity of the vertices of the hypergraphs and the genuine 4 − party entanglement has been found. The equivalence of the genuine 4 − party entanglement present in each bi‐partition is shown considering similar connectivity of the vertices. This explicates the cyclic permutation symmetry of the multiparty entanglement present in the 4 − qubit hypergraph states. Physically, one may expect the quantum systems with superposition of many states to behave in this symmetric manner while mapped into a network‐type picture, which the authors have quantified, as well as classified in this work.
Integrity monitoring of Global Navigation Satellite System/Inertial Navigation System integrated navigation system based on dynamic fading filter optimisation
Authors: Wang Zhipeng , Li Xin , Zhu Yanbo , Li Qiang , Fang Kun 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn the application of integrity monitoring of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)/Inertial Navigation System integrated navigation system in complex environments, such as vegetation covered areas, the Kalman filtering (KF) has the disadvantages of low positioning precision, poor performance of fault identification and error bounds. This study proposes an integrity monitoring method based on dynamic fading filter optimisation. According to the real‐time updates of filtering innovation, a fading filtering algorithm is designed, which can adjust the fading factor dynamically. The dynamic fading filtering algorithm is then combined with the fault identification algorithm, which integrates chi‐square and multiple solution separation. An optimisation strategy of setting a fading period to speed up the filter convergence is proposed. The simulation results show that compared with the KF, the dynamic fading filtering reduces the standard deviations of positioning errors by 26%, 39%, and 26%, respectively, in the east, north and up directions. By reducing the filter convergence period, the proposed dynamic fading filtering can enhance the accuracy of the identification results when the subsequent GNSS fault is minor. It can shorten the identification time to about 20% when the subsequent fault is large. The dynamic fading filtering can also limit the state errors below the bounds correctly.
Toward an X-ray inventory of nearby neutron stars
Authors: Vahdat A. , Posselt B. , Santangelo A. , Pavlov G. G. 
Published: November 2021

Context. The X-ray emission of neutron stars enables a probe of their temperatures, geometries and magnetospheric properties. The current number of X-ray emitting pulsars is insufficient to rule out observational biases that may arise from poorly known distance, age, or location of the neutron stars. One approach to overcome such biases is to create a distance-limited sample with sufficiently deep observations.
Aims. With the aim of better sampling of the nearby (≲2 kpc) population of neutron stars, we started an XMM-Newton survey of pulsars to measure their X-ray fluxes or derive respective constraining upper limits.
Methods. We investigated 14 nearby pulsars for potential X-ray counterparts using different energy bands and detectors. In addition to our new XMM-Newton data, we also considered archival data and catalogs. We discuss source properties and also check for alternative counterparts to the X-ray sources.
Results. In our new XMM-Newton data, we found two pulsar counterpart candidates with significance above 4σ and one candidate with 3.5σ by combining EPIC camera detection likelihoods. We also report the detection of potential X-ray counterparts to eight radio pulsars in the 4XMM-DR10 catalog which have not been reported in the literature.
Uncovering astrometric black hole binaries with massive main-sequence companions with Gaia
Authors: Janssens S. , Shenar T. , Sana H. , Faigler S. , Langer N. , Marchant P. , Mazeh T. , Schürmann C. , Shahaf S. 
Published: November 2021

Context. In the era of gravitational wave astrophysics and with the precise astrometry of billions of stellar sources, the hunt for compact objects is more alive than ever. Rarely seen massive binaries with a compact object are a crucial phase in the evolution towards compact object mergers. With the upcoming third Gaia data release (DR3), the first Gaia astrometric orbital solutions for binary sources will become available, potentially revealing many such binaries.
Aims. We investigate how many black holes (BHs) with massive main-sequence dwarf companions (OB+BH binaries) are expected to be detected as binaries in Gaia DR3 and at the end of the nominal 5-year mission. We estimate how many of those are identifiable as OB+BH binaries and discuss the distributions of the masses of both components as well as of their orbital periods. We also explore how different BH-formation scenarios affect these distributions.
Methods. We apply observational constraints to tailored models for the massive star population, which assume a direct collapse and no kick upon BH formation, to estimate the fraction of OB+BH systems that will be detected as binaries by Gaia, and consider these the fiducial results. These OB+BH systems follow a distance distribution according to that of the second Alma Luminous Star catalogue (ALS II). We use a method based on astrometric data to identify binaries with a compact object and investigate how many of the systems detected as binaries are identifiable as OB+BH binaries. Different scenarios for BH natal kicks and supernova mechanisms are explored and compared to the fiducial results.
Results. In the fiducial case we conservatively estimate that 77% of the OB+BH binaries in the ALS II will be detected as binaries in DR3, of which 89% will be unambiguously identifiable as OB+BH binaries. By the end of the nominal 5-year mission, the detected fraction will increase to 85%, of which 82% will be identifiable. The 99% confidence intervals on these fractions are of the order of a few percent. These fractions become smaller for different BH-formation scenarios.
Conclusions. Assuming direct collapse and no natal kick, we expect to find around 190 OB+BH binaries in Gaia DR3 among the sources in the ALS II, which increases the known sample of OB+BH binaries by more than a factor of 20 and covers an uncharted parameter space of long-period binaries (10 ≲ P ≲ 1000 d). Our results further show that the size and properties of the OB+BH population that is identifiable using Gaia DR3 will contain crucial observational constraints that will help us improve our understanding of BH formation. An additional ∼5 OB+BH binaries could be identified at the end of the nominal 5-year mission, which are expected to have either very short (P ≲ 10 d) or long periods (P ≳ 1000 d).