bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Extensive epigenomic dysregulation is a hallmark of homologous recombination deficiency in triple‐negative breast cancer
Authors: Chen Youdinghuan , Salas Lucas A. , Marotti Jonathan D. , Jenkins Nicole P. , Cheng Chao , Miller Todd W. , Kettenbach Arminja N. , Christensen Brock C. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractTriple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype with substantial disease heterogeneity, limited treatment options, and dismal clinical outcomes. Some TNBCs display homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), a phenotype with elevated genomic burden and worse prognosis if left untreated but chemotherapeutic sensitivity. While the molecular landscape of TNBC is distinct from other breast cancer subtypes, the TNBC‐specific link between HRD and epigenome‐wide methylation has not been established. This study reports two independent cohorts of TNBC tumors (n = 32 and n = 58) with HRD and epigenomic landscapes measured by the Multiplex Ligation‐dependent Probe Amplification assay and the Illumina MethylationEPIC arrays, respectively. Genome‐wide copy number and methylation alterations were significantly higher in HRD (all p <.05). Methylation of genome‐wide repeat element Alu and transcriptional regulatory regions were significantly lower in HRD (all p <.05). An age‐adjusted epigenome‐wide association study of the continuous HRD probability scores revealed significant loci (all FDR <0.05) that were depleted from the CpG‐rich “island” regions often seen in gene promoters but enriched in the CpG‐poor “open sea” regions localized to gene enhancers. The significant loci implicated well‐known candidate genes involved in the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition, Wnt signaling, and DNA damage response. Supervised machine learning of HRD with nucleotide‐specific methylation as the input enabled clinically relevant tumor stratification. Taken together, this study provides novel biological and translational insights into HRD in TNBCs.
Does Central Bank Independence Reduce Economic Vulnerability in Africa?
Authors: Messono Omang Ombolo , Zambo Fabrice Assoumou , Bouebe Alexandre Turpin Iroume A. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTWhile many studies have highlighted the influence of the degree of central bank independence on economic and financial dynamics, less is known about its importance for economic vulnerability. The objective of this paper is to examine, for the first time, the effect of central bank independence on economic vulnerability in Africa. Based on the hypothesis that countries with more independent central banks are less vulnerable to external shocks, we estimate a dynamic panel model using the system generalised method of moments in a sample of 44 African countries between 1990 and 2017. Our results show that an independent central bank can significantly reduce the economic vulnerability of African countries by allowing monetary policy decisions to be made outside political influence, promoting financial stability, and strengthening the credibility of economic policy. These results remain robust to alternative measures of the main variables. Furthermore, the analysis of transmission mechanisms reveals that central bank independence has a negative effect on economic vulnerability in Africa through channels such as GDP growth, financial development, exchange rate misalignments and budget balance. We suggest that policymakers promote central bank independence in the development of public policies to address economic vulnerability in Africa.
Protective Effects of NRF2 Activator Sulforaphane in Polyinosinic:Polycytidylic Acid‐Induced In Vitro and In Vivo Model
Authors: Matsagar Shailesh Vilas , Singh Rakesh Kumar 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTNRF2 is a nuclear transcription factor involved in the cellular protection against oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling. Sulforaphane is a known NRF2 activator used for its strong antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activity through regulation of Keap‐1‐HO‐1 pathway. However, there is a limited exploration about the role of NRF2 activator, sulforaphane in regulation of poly(I:C)‐induced oxidative stress, inflammation and injury in lung. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of sulforaphane in poly(I:C)‐induced responses using in vitro as well as in vivo model. We evaluated oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines in poly(I:C)‐induced RAW264.7 cells. We also employed in vivo animal study to evaluate tissue oxidative–antioxidative balance along with expression of NRF2, Keap‐1, histopathological assessment by hematoxylin–eosin staining and picrosirius red staining to explore the protective mechanisms of sulforaphane in poly(I:C)‐induced mouse model. Our results indicated that sulforaphane increased the expression of NRF2 and its downstream proteins. In addition, sulforaphane alleviated poly(I:C)‐induced activation of the oxidative and pro‐inflammatory pathways, histopathological changes, depleted expression of GSH and superoxide dismutase in lung tissue. This study suggested that sulforaphane may be one of the useful therapeutic alternatives for poly(I:C) induced lung injury and inflammation.
Evaluating the impact of patient–staff interactions on sleep opportunities using the electronic health record
Authors: Kadura Sullafa , Pink Lisa , Mazzotti Diego R. , Fear Kathleen 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundHospitalized patients often experience disrupted sleep due to nighttime patient–staff interactions (PSIs). This study evaluates how PSIs impact sleep opportunities in neurology inpatients using electronic health record (EHR) data and introduces surrogate measures of sleep such as longest uninterrupted sleep opportunity (LUSO) and interruptive episodes.ObjectiveTo develop a methodology leveraging time‐stamped EHR data to quantify and visualize the impact of PSIs on inpatient sleep opportunities.MethodsWe analyzed 3305 patient nights in an inpatient neurology unit, categorizing PSIs into six types: vital signs, neurological checks, medication administration, bedside diagnostic testing, off‐unit diagnostic testing, and bed changes. We calculated LUSO and interruptive episodes and used a linear mixed model to assess the relationship between PSIs and LUSO.ResultsPSIs occurred in 92% of patient nights, averaging 2.81 interruptive episodes and 4.06 h of LUSO per night. Vital signs and medication administrations were the most frequent PSIs. Neurological checks and off‐unit diagnostic testing were associated with the largest reductions in LUSO (approximately 40 min), followed by bed changes (−33.79 min).ConclusionThis study demonstrates the utility of LUSO and interruptive episodes as EHR‐based measures to link PSIs to sleep opportunities. While vital signs and medications were the most frequent PSIs, neurological checks and off‐unit testing were associated with the largest impact on reducing LUSO. The predominance of single‐PSI interruptive episodes underscores that the bundling of PSIs is not occurring. These findings highlight that PSIs impact sleep opportunities in distinct ways, supporting the use of this methodology to evaluate and address EHR‐linked disruptions to patient sleep.
Temporal Trends in and Patient Characteristics Associated with Surgery for Otitis Media
Authors: Dedhia Kavita , Maltenfort Mitchell , Briddell Jenna , Horn David , Li Carol , Pattisapu Prasanth , Preciado Diego , Pritchett Cedric V. , Wine Todd , Forrest Christopher B. 
Published: December 2024

ObjectivesTo evaluate temporal trends and identify patient characteristics associated with otitis media (OM) surgery.MethodsA retrospective cohort study performed using electronic health record data from seven large pediatric medical networks from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2022. Children <6 months old cohort entrance time and OM history were included and followed longitudinally.ResultsThe database included 1,448,390 children entering at age <6 months of which 5.3% underwent tympanostomy tube insertion (TTI). Inclusion criteria was met by 454,924 children. Age at first OM was 1.6 years (standard deviation [SD]: 1.1), with mean follow‐up of 6.3 years (SD 3.7), and 249,818 (54.9%) were male. Among children with OM 64,950 (14.3%) underwent only TTI, and 13,188 (2.9%) had TTI with adenoidectomy (TTI‐A). Over time, TTI only rates exhibited seasonal fluctuations with a drop in 2020, TTI‐A rates were flat. The following patient characteristics greatly increased TTI: sensorineural hearing loss (adjusted hazard ratio, aHR 4.0, [95% confidence interval, CI] 3.9–4.1), chronic adenoiditis (aHR 3.4 [95% CI 3.0–3.5]), and cleft palate (aHR 1.9 [95% CI 1.8–2.0]). Children 4–8 years old (aHR >11.7 [95% CI 10.6–16.4]), history of chronic adenoiditis (aHR 6.4 [95% CI 5.4–7.7]), or sleep disorders (aHR 4.9 [95% CI 4.7–5.2]) greatly increased TTI‐A odds.ConclusionsOverall TTI rate was 5.3%, which increased to approximately 20% in children with OM. Aside from the COVID‐19 pandemic, surgical rates have been stable. Though multiple characteristics increase the risk of TTI, sensorineural hearing loss for TTI only, and older age in the TTI‐A subset carried the highest risk.Level of Evidence3 Laryngoscope, 2024
Melatonin‐Mediated Vacuolar Compartmentalization in Solanum nigrum L. Under Cadmium Stress
Authors: Yang Yan , Guan Wenjie , Li Zhishuai , Liu Yixuan , Yang Lan , Yu Hongyan , Zou Luyi , Xu Hai , Teng Yue 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTMelatonin has been identified as a potential mitigator of cadmium (Cd) stress in plants, though its precise cellular mechanisms remain poorly understood, particularly regarding its role in detoxification processes within the protoplast and vacuole. This study examines the effects of exogenous melatonin on Cd concentration and vacuolar compartmentalization in the leaf cells of
Solanum nigrum
L., a recognized hyperaccumulator plant. Employing subcellular separation techniques, we quantified levels of total Cd, Cd2+, ascorbic acid–glutathione (AsA‐GSH), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the protoplasts and vacuoles of leaf cells. Results reveal that vacuolar compartmentalization serves as a dynamic mechanism, balancing strategic sequestration and continuous metabolic activity in the cytoplasm, with 72.19%–79.89% of the Cd retained within the vacuole. Melatonin enhanced the effective allocation of these resources, contributing to the preservation of cellular homeostasis. In particular, outside the vacuole, melatonin treatment maintained relatively higher levels of glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) and ascorbic acid/dehydroascorbate (AsA/DHA) under 50 μM Cd stress. At this concentration, the AsA/DHA ratio increased from 0.71 to 2.20, and the GSH/GSSG ratio increased from 2.20 to 4.28 outside the vacuole, in comparison to treatment with Cd alone. These findings enhance our understanding of melatonin‐mediated cellular tolerance mechanisms, offer insights for improving plant Cd stress tolerance, and could inform genetic strategies for developing more efficient hyperaccumulator plants.
Flexible and Compact PVDF/PMMA‐Based Gel Polymer Electrolytes for High‐Performance Sodium Metal Batteries
Authors: Li Xiangfei , Zheng Zhuoyuan , Guo Weilong , Fu Genggui , Zhu Yusong 
Published: December 2024

AbstractSodium is gaining recognition as a promising alternative to lithium for battery applications, particularly in sodium metal batteries (SMBs), where the performance is critically influenced by the choice of electrolyte. Although conventional organic liquid electrolytes are widely used, they pose significant issues. Gel membrane (GM)‐based electrolytes have demonstrated enhanced reliability and stability. Nevertheless, there remains a pressing need to improve their electrochemical and mechanical properties to fulfill the demands of next‐generation batteries, which require extended lifespan, rapid charging capabilities, and excellent flexibility. To address these challenges, a compact and flexible GM is developed by gelating a cast Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) blend film. The resulting GM possesses a suitable sodium ionic conductivity of 0.507 mS cm−1 and an impressive ion transference number of 0.47, enabling dendrite‐free reversible sodium plating and stripping for up to 300 h at a current density of 0.8 mA cm−2. Furthermore, the effectiveness of sodium dendrite suppression is demonstrated in Na/GM/Na3V2(PO4)3 cells, which exhibit a high discharge capacity and excellent cycling stability. The flexible SMB retains stable voltage output and continues to function even when bent or twisted. This study introduces a novel strategy for creating gel electrolytes for high‐performance flexible SMBs.
The ZFHX3 GGC Repeat Expansion Underlying Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 4 has a Common Ancestral Founder
Authors: Chen Zhongbo , Alvarez Jerez Pilar , Anderson Claire , Paucar Martin , Lee Jasmaine , Nilsson Daniel , Macpherson Hannah , Scardamaglia Annarita , Montgomery Kylie , Hardy John , Singleton Andrew B. , Tucci Arianna , Mathews Katherine D. , Fu Ying‐Hui , Engvall Martin , Laffita‐Mesa José , Nennesmo Inger , Wedell Anna , Ptáček Louis J. , Blauwendraat Cornelis , Gustavsson Emil K. , Svenningsson Per , Ryten Mina , Houlden Henry 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe identification of a heterozygous exonic GGC repeat expansion in ZFHX3 underlying spinocerebellar ataxia type 4 (SCA4) has solved a 25‐year diagnostic conundrum. We used adaptive long‐read sequencing to decipher the pathogenic expansion in the index Utah family and an unrelated family from Iowa of Swedish ancestry. Contemporaneous to our discovery, other groups identified the same repeat expansion in affected individuals from Utah, Sweden, and Germany, highlighting the current pivotal time for detection of novel repeat expansion disorders.MethodsGiven that the pathogenic repeat expansion is rare on a population level, we proposed a common ancestor across all families. Here, we employed targeted long‐read sequencing through adaptive sampling, enriching for the chr16q22 region of interest.ResultsUsing phased sequencing results from individuals from Utah, Iowa, and Southern Sweden, we confirmed a common ~2000‐year‐old ancestral haplotype harbouring the repeat expansion.ConclusionThis study provides further insight into the genetic architecture of SCA4. © 2024 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Harnessing quantum power: Revolutionizing materials design through advanced quantum computation
Authors: Guo Zikang , Li Rui , He Xianfeng , Guo Jiang , Ju Shenghong 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe design of advanced materials for applications in areas of photovoltaics, energy storage, and structural engineering has made significant strides. However, the rapid proliferation of candidate materials—characterized by structural complexity that complicates the relationships between features—presents substantial challenges in manufacturing, fabrication, and characterization. This review introduces a comprehensive methodology for materials design using cutting‐edge quantum computing, with a particular focus on quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) and quantum machine learning (QML). We introduce the loop framework for QUBO‐empowered materials design, including constructing high‐quality datasets that capture critical material properties, employing tailored computational methods for precise material modeling, developing advanced figures of merit to evaluate performance metrics, and utilizing quantum optimization algorithms to discover optimal materials. In addition, we delve into the core principles of QML and illustrate its transformative potential in accelerating material discovery through a range of quantum simulations and innovative adaptations. The review also highlights advanced active learning strategies that integrate quantum artificial intelligence, offering a more efficient pathway to explore the vast, complex material design space. Finally, we discuss the key challenges and future opportunities for QML in material design, emphasizing their potential to revolutionize the field and facilitate groundbreaking innovations.
From High Dimensions to Human Insight: Exploring Dimensionality Reduction for Chemical Space Visualization
Authors: Orlov Alexey A. , Akhmetshin Tagir N. , Horvath Dragos , Marcou Gilles , Varnek Alexandre 
Published: December 2024

AbstractDimensionality reduction is an important exploratory data analysis method that allows high‐dimensional data to be represented in a human‐interpretable lower‐dimensional space. It is extensively applied in the analysis of chemical libraries, where chemical structure data ‐ represented as high‐dimensional feature vectors‐are transformed into 2D or 3D chemical space maps. In this paper, commonly used dimensionality reduction techniques ‐ Principal Component Analysis (PCA), t‐Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t‐SNE), Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP), and Generative Topographic Mapping (GTM) ‐ are evaluated in terms of neighborhood preservation and visualization capability of sets of small molecules from the ChEMBL database.
Viscoelastic‐Elastoplastic Analysis of Overconsolidated Structural Soft Soils
Authors: Ai Zhi Yong , Gu Gan Lin , Jiang Yuan Hao 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTSoft soils exhibit significant time‐dependent effects during long‐term deformation. To precisely describe the long‐term behavior of soft soils, it is necessary to employ elastoplastic theory and rheology principles for investigating the stress–strain relationship of the soils. In this paper, a super‐subloading modified Cam‐clay model is initially derived. Subsequently, by introducing the Kelvin model to describe the creep behavior of soils, and combining it with the modified Cam‐clay model, an overconsolidated structural viscoelastic‐elastoplastic model is further presented. After converting the equation into matrix form and programming it in Fortran, the proposed model is implemented by ABAQUS. Then, the accuracy of the developed model and program is verified through comparison with existing literature and experimental results. Finally, parametric analysis is conducted to explore the impact of viscoelasticity, structure, and overconsolidation on the responses of soft soils.
Maximum Principle for Optimal Control of Fully Coupled Mean‐Field Forward‐Backward Stochastic Differential Equations With Teugels Martingales Under Partial Observation
Authors: Saranya G. , Muthukumar P. , Hafayed Mokhtar 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThe necessary conditions for the optimal control of partially observed, fully coupled forward‐backward mean‐field stochastic differential equations driven by Teugels martingales are discussed in this paper. In this context, we make the assumption that the forward diffusion coefficient and the martingale coefficient are independent of the control variable, and the control domain may not necessarily be convex. For this class of optimal control problems, we derive the stochastic maximum principle based on the classical method of spike variations and the filtering techniques. The adjoint processes that are related to the variational equations are determined by the solutions of proposed forward‐backward stochastic differential equations in finite‐dimensional spaces. Further, the Hamiltonian function is used to obtain the maximum principle for the optimality of the given control system. Our results are then applied to the mean‐field type problem of linear quadratic stochastic optimization.
Design, synthesis and antimicrobial activity evaluation of novel tetrahydrocarbazole derivatives against phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria
Authors: Ding Yan‐Yan , Dai Tian‐Li , Luo Xiong‐Fei , Zhang Shao‐Yong , Zhang Zhi‐Jun , Mou Guo‐Liang , Qin Lu‐Lu , Jin Ya‐Rui , Liu Ying‐Qian 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundPlant pathogenic bacteria and fungi had a wide impact on various crops and caused serious economic losses. Compared to traditional antibiotics and fungicides, alkaloids are noteworthy for their significant biological activities. Tetrahydrocarbazole (THCz) was widely present in many indole alkaloids and had various pharmacological activities. This study used Fischer indole synthesis method and fragment splicing strategy to design and synthesize a novel drug like chemical entity based on THCz alkaloid guidance, evaluated the antimicrobial activities of these derivatives against plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi and discussed the structure–activity relationship.ResultsAmong these derivatives, compound KZa‐17 displayed good antibacterial activity against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, Pseudo‐monas sollamacearum and Erwinia aroideae. The MIC90 values were 3.12, 1.56, 6.25, 12.5 μg/mL, respectively, which were better than the positive control drugs thiodiazole copper and bismerthiazol. The results of in vivo antibacterial activity test showed that the protective effect of compound KZa‐17 on rice at 200 μg/mL was 32.76%, which was better than that of thiodiazole copper (24.73%). The biochemical experiments showed that compound KZa‐17 could inhibit biofilm formation of Xoo, reduce drug resistance and pathogenicity of bacteria, damage cell membrane integrity, increase permeability, and cause oxidative stress damage.ConclusionMost of the newly synthesized derivatives based on THCz alkaloid guidance showed favorable antimicrobial effects. In particular, compound KZa‐17 can be used as a candidate lead compound for further structural optimization and development. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
The Ties That Bind and Enable: Migrant Infrastructure and Entrepreneurial Javanese in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
Authors: Akhmad Fandi , Utomo Ariane , Dressler Wolfram 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTWhat allows migrant entrepreneurs to settle and thrive in new host destinations? What compels and enables migrants to fundamentally transform their livelihoods in new social and economic settings? This paper answers these questions by examining the role of migrant infrastructure in supporting mostly landless Javanese farmworkers' pivot to lucrative informal businesses in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. Drawing on data from a household survey and in‐depth interviews, our findings suggest that diverse social, cultural, technological, and economic infrastructures in host settings allow entrepreneurial migrants to establish themselves efficiently and effectively in these new settings. We show how Javanese informal businesses were able to thrive due to a complex web of support relations that include business opportunities in and around traditional markets in Kupang, as well as digitally mediated migrant networks and institutions. We argue that such trans‐local migrant infrastructure plays a key but often understated role in linking internal migration, shifting livelihoods, and ethnic entrepreneurship in Indonesia.
Privacy‐Preserving Coverage Control for Multiagent Systems with Limited Communication Ranges
Authors: Wang Peng , Song Cheng , Liu Lu 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThis work investigates the coverage control problem for networked mobile agents on a circle, considering both limited communication ranges and privacy preservation requirements. The objective of the agents is to cooperatively minimize the coverage cost function, which is the longest time required to arrive at any point on the circle from the optimal locations of the agents. A new confidential interaction protocol is proposed to drive the multiagent system to the optimal configuration. Moreover, the process required to implement the confidential interaction protocol is provided to handle the limited communication ranges during coverage tasks. Under the privacy‐preserving coverage control law, it is proved that networked mobile agents with limited communication ranges can be driven to optimal configuration with guaranteed privacy preservation. Finally, a simulation example is provided.