bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improving trans‐cinnamic acid production in a model cyanobacterium
Authors: Hunstiger Darcy , Ma Hayley , Paton Andrew J. , Peebles Christie A. M. 
Published: October 2024

Abstracttrans‐Cinnamic acid (tCA) is a precursor in the synthesis of many high‐value compounds with bio‐active qualities useful in applications like medicine, polymers, and cosmetics. Currently tCA is produced by industrial chemical synthesis from fossil fuels or cost‐prohibitive isolation from terrestrial plants. Cyanobacteria, a type of photosynthetic bacteria, can be readily engineered to convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into metabolites of interest at relatively high amounts compared to terrestrial plants. The purpose of this study is to advance the industrial and commercial value of cyanobacteria as a biological factory for renewable production of tCA. Production of tCA has previously been demonstrated in the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (S. 6803) via expression of non‐native phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) from various organisms. This project focuses on developing and characterizing a new high‐titer strain of S. 6803 expressing a plant PAL gene controlled by an inducible promoter. We assessed production in shake flasks under constant light, a 12 h:12 h light:dark cycle, and environmental photobioreactors (ePBRs) with a sinusoidal, rapidly fluctuating light environment. Our strain demonstrates a four‐fold increase in tCA production to ~500 mg L−1 by 14 days compared to previously reported titers in S. 6803 under shake flask cultivation and a 30–50% improved average tCA production per culture density (60 mg·L−1·OD730−1) in ePBRs over comparable previously reported culture methods. Our study progresses S. 6803 tCA bioproduction into higher culture volumes, up to 500 mL, while further validating the strength of an inducible system for tCA production in S. 6803.
How a collapsing state impacts child safeguarding: Reflecting on the challenges of implementing a hospital‐based child safeguarding program in Lebanon
Authors: Naddour Judith , Bosqui Tania , Issa Sara , El Assi Nour , Majdalani Marianne , Sawaya Rasha , Dirani Leyla Akoury 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIn Lebanon, a country facing multilayered crises and an increase in reported cases of child maltreatment, the availability of a unified and comprehensive child safeguarding protocol in healthcare facilities remains limited. Healthcare providers are frontline in recognizing and detecting child abuse and neglect (CAN) cases in hospital settings. Therefore, the adoption of a child protection system in healthcare settings is much needed. We attempted to establish a program for child safeguarding identification, intervention and monitoring mechanisms in Lebanese teaching hospitals. Despite high levels of need, the establishment of this program faced major challenges in the context of multiple national emergencies. The latter included fragmentation of the child protection system and the collapse of the health sector. This paper aims to share these challenges and extract lessons learned for future implementation of a unified child safeguarding protocol in Lebanese hospitals.
A new simple technique for stabilizing the guidewire position within the left ventricle during transcatheter mitral valve‐in‐valve implantation
Authors: Sivakumar Kothandam , Sagar Pramod , Thejaswi Puthiyedath , Pavithran Sreeja 
Published: October 2024

AbstractTranscatheter mitral valve‐in‐valve implantation is a preferred treatment for degenerating mitral bioprosthetic valves in high‐risk surgical patients. A balloon‐expandable transcatheter heart valve delivered through a postero‐inferior transseptal puncture is deployed within the prosthesis over a guidewire secured in the left ventricle. Patients with aneurysmal left atrium and altered angulation between the planes of atrial septum and mitral prosthesis have unstable position of the guidewire that flips out of the left ventricle into the left atrium when the valve delivery system is advanced. Instead of a transapical access to snare the guidewire and create a railroad in such instances, we report a new technique of transarterial retrograde snaring of the guidewire in the left ventricle for stabilization.
One‐Step Carbonization Synthesis of N, S Co‐Doped Carbon Materials Derived from Agricultural Waste Peanut Shells for High‐Performance Symmetric Supercapacitors
Authors: Cheng Xiaoyang , Zhang Lihua , Li Lingyan , Li Xinran , Wu Hao , Zheng Jinfeng , Yao Jiarong , Li Guifang 
Published: October 2024

AbstractBiomass carbon has the advantages of wide source, low cost and environmental protection, and has been widely used in the field of electrochemical energy storage. In this work, N and S co‐doped carbon materials were prepared by using peanut shell as carbon source and thiourea as activator. When the peanut shell and activator were 2 g and 4 g, respectively, the prepared NSPC‐4 had the largest specific surface area and special pore structure. Elemental analysis showed that the activator introduced more N, S and O atoms to the carbon material, and more heteroatoms helped to improve the surface structure of the carbon material and provide additional pseudocapacitance. In addition, NSPC‐4 contains a short‐range ordered graphite structure, which can provide excellent electrical conductivity. The electrochemical test results show that NSPC‐4 has the largest specific capacitance. When the mass of the activator is higher than or below 4 g, the electrochemical performance of the carbon material will be reduced. The symmetric supercapacitor (SSC) assembled by NSPC‐4 has an energy density of 8.3 Wh kg−1 when the power density is 350 W kg−1. The synthesis method is not only simple, green and economical, but also has important application value.
Size‐Dependent Copper Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotubes with Balanced Cu+ and Cu0 Dual Sites for the Selective Hydrogenation of Ethylene Carbonate
Authors: Li Huabo , Ji Deyuan , Zhang Yanfei , Cui Yuanyuan , Cheng Yinfeng , Wang Songlin , Dai Wei‐Lin 
Published: October 2024

AbstractCyclic carbonate hydrogenation offers an alternative for the efficient indirect CO2 utilization. In this study, a series of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) supported xCu/CNTs catalysts with different Cu loadings were fabricated using a convenient impregnation method, and exhibited excellent catalytic activity for the hydrogenation of ethylene carbonate to methanol and ethylene glycol. The structural and physicochemical properties revealed that acid treatment of CNTs resulted in plentiful oxygen‐containing functional groups, providing sufficient anchoring sites for copper species. The calcination process conducted under an inert atmosphere resulted in the formation of ternary CuO, Cu2O, and Cu composites, enhancing the metal‐support interaction and facilitating the formation of balanced Cu0 and Cu+ dual sites as well as high active surface area after reduction. Contributed to the synergetic effect of balanced Cu+ and Cu0 species proved by density functional theory calculation and the electron‐rich CNTs surface, the 40Cu/CNTs catalyst achieved strengthened catalytic performance with methanol yield of 83 %, ethylene glycol yield of 99 % at ethylene carbonate conversion of >99 %, and 150 h of long‐term running stability. Consequently, CNTs supported Cu serve as efficient non‐silica based catalyst for ester hydrogenation.
Evaluating the efficacy of palm waste in adsorption processes for wastewater treatment: A review
Authors: Putra Nicky Rahmana , Zaini Muhammad Abbas Ahmad , Zaini Ahmad Syahmi , Airlangga Bramantyo , Rizkiyah Dwila Nur , Kusuma Heri Septya , Agustini Sri , Abdullah Syahrial , Yustisia Yustisia , Khairullah Izhar , Dana Arsana I. Gusti Komang 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe growing environmental concerns related to industrial effluents and waste underscore the urgent need for sustainable and cost‐effective wastewater treatment solutions. This review investigates the efficacy of palm waste‐derived adsorbents for removing heavy metals and organic pollutants from wastewater. It explores various modifications—including physical, chemical, and nanomaterial enhancements—applied to palm waste materials such as palm kernel shells, empty fruit bunches, and palm oil fuel ash, aimed at improving their adsorption capacities. The review reveals that these modified palm waste adsorbents demonstrate high removal efficiencies for contaminants like Cu(II), Pb(II), and organic dyes, often surpassing conventional adsorbents. Nonetheless, challenges remain, such as optimizing adsorbent preparation, understanding adsorption mechanisms in multi‐component systems, and enhancing adsorbent reusability. This review highlights the need for continued research to address these issues and advance the application of palm waste‐based materials in sustainable wastewater treatment.
LIN28‐Targeting Chromenopyrazoles and Tetrahydroquinolines Induced Cellular Morphological Changes and Showed High Biosimilarity with BRD PROTACs
Authors: Jiang Mao , Giannino Nicole , Goebel Georg L. , Sievers Sonja , Wu Peng 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe probing of small molecules with heterocyclic scaffolds covering unexplored chemical space and the evaluation of their biological relevance are essential parts of forward chemical genetics approaches and for the development of potential small‐molecule therapeutics. In this study, we profiled sets of chromenopyrazoles (CMPs) and tetrahydroquinolines (THQs), originally developed to target the protein–RNA interaction of LIN28–let‐7, in a cell painting assay (CPA) measuring cellular morphological changes. Selected LIN28‐inactive CMPs and THQs induced cellular morphological changes to different extents. The most CPA‐active CMPs 2 and 3 exhibited high bio‐similarity with the LCH and BET clusters, while the most CPA‐active THQs 13 and 20 indicated a mechanism of action beyond the currently established biosimilarity clusters. Overall, this work demonstrated that CPA is useful in revealing “hidden” biological targets and mechanisms of action for biologically inactive small molecules, which are CMPs and THQs targeting the RNA‐binding protein LIN28 in this case, evaluated in target‐based strategies. When compared with annotated reference compounds, CMP 3 exhibited a high biosimilarity with the dual BRD7/9 degrading PROTAC VZ185, suggesting that CPA could potentially function as a new phenotypic approach to identify degrader molecules.
Deterioration of Vestibular Motion Perception: A Risk Factor for Postural Instability and Falls in Elderly With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: La Scaleia Barbara , Siena Antonio , D'Onofrio Luca , Celli Alessia , Capuzzi Giorgio , Latino Alessandro , Nateri Cara Giada , Maddaloni Ernesto , Zampetti Simona , Buzzetti Raffaella , Zago Myrka , Lacquaniti Francesco 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTAimsTo assess whether impaired vestibular perception of self‐motion is a risk factor for unsteadiness and falls in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).Materials and methods113 participants (65–75 years old) with T2D underwent tests of roll and pitch discrimination, postural stability (Berg Balance Scale, Modified Romberg Test, and quantitative posturography), clinical examination and blood chemistry analyses. Falls 1‐year after enrolment were self‐reported. We performed cluster analysis based on the values of the vestibular motion thresholds, and logistic stepwise regression to compare the clinical‐biochemical parameters between clusters.ResultsWe identified two clusters (VC1 n = 65 and VC2 n = 48 participants). VC2 had significantly (p < 0.001) higher (poorer) thresholds than VC1: mean pitch threshold 1.62°/s (95% CI 1.48–1.78) in VC2 and 0.91°/s (95% CI 0.84–0.98) in VC1, mean roll threshold 1.34°/s (95% CI 1.21–1.48) in VC2 and 0.69°/s (95% CI 0.64–0.74) in VC1. Diabetes duration was significantly (p = 0.024) longer in VC2 (11.96 years, 95% CI 9.23–14.68) than in VC1 (8.37 years, 95% CI 6.85–9.88). Glycaemic control was significantly (p = 0.014) poorer in VC2 (mean HbA1c 6.74%, 95% CI 6.47–7.06) than in VC1 (mean HbA1c 6.34%, 95% CI 6.16–6.53). VC2 had a significantly higher incidence of postural instability than VC1, with a higher risk of failing the Modified Romberg Test C4 (RR = 1.57, χ2 = 5.33, p = 0.021), reporting falls during follow‐up (RR = 11.48, χ2 = 9.40, p = 0.002), and greater postural sway in the medio‐lateral direction (p < 0.025).ConclusionsAssessing vestibular motion thresholds identifies individuals with T2D at risk of postural instability due to altered motion perception and guides vestibular rehabilitation.
Dynamic evolution of meteorological and hydrological droughts under climatic and anthropogenic pressures in water‐scarce regions
Authors: Singh Achala , Solanki Harshvardhan , Sharma Priyank J. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractClimate change and anthropogenic influences amplify drought complexity, entangle non‐stationarity (NS) and further challenge drought comprehension. This study aims to understand the dynamic evolution of drought propagation patterns due to climatic and anthropogenic pressures by assessing the non‐stationary linkages between hydrological variables and drought characteristics. It employs four standardized drought indicators to comprehensively examine the spatio‐temporal evolution of meteorological (MD) and hydrological (HD) drought characteristics. Data from 29 semi‐arid catchments from six river basins in Peninsular India, are analyzed to uncover distinct drought propagation patterns. This study utilizes a novel Non‐overlapping Block‐stratified Random Sampling (NBRS) approach to detect NS in drought characteristics and hydrological variables, shedding light on the underlying drivers of this dynamic behavior. The results indicate similarities in drought behavior for the Sabarmati, Mahi and Tapi (SMT) basins compared with the Godavari, Krishna and Pennar (GKP) basins, with shorter (longer) propagation times noted for SMT (GKP) basins. While HD severity decreases over time in SMT basins, it intensifies in GKP basins, which are linked to intensive anthropogenic interventions such as river regulation and reservoir operations, thus resulting in prolonged and intensified droughts. Rainfall primarily exhibits time‐invariance, while significant NS is observed in potential evapotranspiration (particularly in the Krishna and Pennar basins), streamflow and baseflow across all basins. The study also identified three distinct drought propagation patterns in these basins, highlighting cases where MD did not transition to HD, instances of HD occurring without preceding MD and synchronous propagation of MD to HD. The study outcomes provide profound insights into the evolution of drought dynamics under climatic and anthropogenic pressures, which will aid policymakers and stakeholders in formulating strategies for drought preparedness and response.
MFH‐Net: A Hybrid CNN‐Transformer Network Based Multi‐Scale Fusion for Medical Image Segmentation
Authors: Wang Ying , Zhang Meng , Liang Jian'an , Liang Meiyan 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTIn recent years, U‐Net and its variants have gained widespread use in medical image segmentation. One key aspect of U‐Net's design is the skip connection, facilitating the retention of detailed information and leading to finer segmentation results. However, existing research often concentrates on enhancing either the encoder or decoder, neglecting the semantic gap between them, and resulting in suboptimal model performance. In response, we introduce Multi‐Scale Fusion module aimed at enhancing the original skip connections and addressing the semantic gap. Our approach fully incorporates the correlation between outputs from adjacent encoder layers and facilitates bidirectional information exchange across multiple layers. Additionally, we introduce Channel Relation Perception module to guide the fused multi‐scale information for efficient connection with decoder features. These two modules collectively bridge the semantic gap by capturing spatial and channel dependencies in the features, contributing to accurate medical image segmentation. Building upon these innovations, we propose a novel network called MFH‐Net. On three publicly available datasets, ISIC2016, ISIC2017, and Kvasir‐SEG, we perform a comprehensive evaluation of the network. The experimental results show that MFH‐Net exhibits higher segmentation accuracy in comparison with other competing methods. Importantly, the modules we have devised can be seamlessly incorporated into various networks, such as U‐Net and its variants, offering a potential avenue for further improving model performance.
Harnessing gut microbiota for longevity: Insights into mechanisms and genetic manipulation
Authors: Shi Peng , Xu Simin , Yang Ziling , Wang Liying , Wu Yalun , Li Ying , Zhu Zuobin 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe gut microbiota is pivotal in maintaining health, with most microorganisms being beneficial, except for a few pathogens. Emerging evidence suggests a link between the gut microbiome and aging, hinting at its potential role in longevity. However, understanding the relationship is challenging due to the microbiota's complexity. This perspective summarizes the mechanisms by which gut microbes regulate host lifespan and explores genetic manipulation strategies to promote healthy aging in the elderly.
Potential of Tambo Dam implementation as a flood control measure
Authors: Yoshikawa Natsuki , Koshiyama Naoko 
Published: October 2024

AbstractRecent climate change has resulted in severe and frequent natural disasters globally, prompting the need for adaptation to these events. As an adaptation measure, disaster prevention and mitigation using natural processes and mechanisms (or ‘green infrastructure’) have become widely recognized in many countries. Ecosystem‐based disaster risk reduction has been promoted in Japan since 2015. The ‘Tambo Dam’, a flood mitigation project using paddy fields in which the authors have participated, has the potential to become one of the most extensive forms of green infrastructure in Japan. This study outlines the runoff control mechanisms of Tambo Dams, demonstrates their effectiveness in reducing flood damage at the watershed scale, and discusses two key factors for successful sustainable efforts: the design of appropriate runoff control equipment and administrative schemes that support incentives for the efforts of farmers. The results indicated that Tambo Dam implementation represented a crucial strategy for managing agricultural resources. The functionality of paddy fields could be preserved by managing them as Tambo Dams. This approach not only contributes to flood control but also ensures a swift return to rice cultivation during emergencies. Moreover, establishing a system akin to the Tambo Dam initiative of Mitsuke City, supported by the ‘Direct Payment Scheme for Multifunctional Activities’ for maintenance and management, could ensure the feasibility of Tambo Dam implementation.
Discovery of Promising Sulfadiazine Derivatives With Anti‐Proliferative Activity Against Tumor Cell Lines
Authors: Mohamed‐Ezzat Reham A. , Kariuki Benson M. , Azzam Rasha A. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTA novel series of pyrimidine sulfonamide derivatives was synthesized through a strategic approach involving the creation of substituted dihydropyrimidinyl‐benzenesulfonamides and subsequent transformation into their chlorinated analogues. These compounds were then subjected to reactions with various amines and phenols, yielding unique substituted sulfapyrimidines. These novel structures integrated essential pharmacophores such as phenols, secondary amines, and benzenesulfonamide moieties, each contributing distinct biological potencies, chemical reactivity, and enhanced pharmacological features. In the pursuit of effective anticancer agents, the newly substituted pyrimidine sulfonamides were characterized using spectroscopic and x‐ray diffraction techniques. The compounds were evaluated for their anti‐proliferative potency against the NCI 60‐cell lines panel, revealing that compound 7c exhibited significant growth inhibition across multiple cancer cell lines. Further assessment through MTT assay on HCT‐116 and MCF‐7 cell lines demonstrated cytotoxicity, while cell cycle analysis of MCF‐7 cells treated with compound 7c revealed arrest at the S phase. Moreover, the effect of 7c on programmed cell death was evaluated using the Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay. The observed promising activity positions these pyrimidine‐based scaffolds as potential candidates for future drug development, offering valuable insights for medicinal chemists engaged in the design and synthesis of anticancer drugs.
N‐Methoxy Pyrazole‐4‐Carboxamide Derivatives: Synthesis, Spectral Analyses, Antifungal Activity, In Silico Molecular Docking, ADMET, and DFT Studies
Authors: Luo Zi‐Ting , Wang Bin , Wu Hong‐Ke , Min Li‐Jing , Zhang Li‐Qin , Liu Xing‐Hai 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTSuccinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) is an important fungicide to control grain diseases. For this reason, a series of novel pyrazole‐4‐carboxamide derivatives with an N‐methoxy group were designed and synthesized. All the target compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS. The compound 3c was further confirmed by X‐ray diffraction, which crystallized in the triclinic system, space group P‐1, Z = 2. The fungicidal activity results indicated that most of these compounds possessed good activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum at 50 ppm. Especially, compound 3h exhibited the best activity with the EC50 is 7.80 μg/mL, which is comparable with the positive control bixafen (EC50 = 6.70 μg/mL). Furthermore, the physicochemical properties, molecular docking simulation, ADMET analyses, DFT of compounds 3h, 3k and two commercial SDHIs, isoflucypram and pydiflumetofen, were investigated in this study.
How accurately do finite element models predict the fall impact response of ex vivo specimens augmented by prophylactic intramedullary nailing?
Authors: Bliven Emily K. , Fung Anita , Baker Alexander , Fleps Ingmar , Ferguson Stephen J. , Guy Pierre , Helgason Benedikt , Cripton Peter A. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractHip fracture prevention approaches like prophylactic augmentation devices have been proposed to strengthen the femur and prevent hip fracture in a fall scenario. The aim of this study was to validate the finite element model (FEM) of specimens augmented by prophylactic intramedullary nailing in a simulated sideways fall impact against ex vivo experimental data. A dynamic inertia‐driven sideways fall simulator was used to test six cadaveric specimens (3 females, 3 males, age 63–83 years) prophylactically implanted with an intramedullary nailing system used to augment the femur. Impact force measurements, pelvic deformation, effective pelvic stiffness, and fracture outcomes were compared between the ex vivo experiments and the FEMs. The FEMs over‐predicted the effective pelvic stiffness for most specimens and showed variability in terms of under‐ and over‐predicting peak impact force and pelvis compression depending on the specimen. A significant correlation was found for time to peak impact force when comparing ex vivo and FEM data. No femoral fractures were found in the ex vivo experiments, but two specimens sustained pelvic fractures. These two pelvis fractures were correctly identified by the FEMs, but the FEMs made three additional false‐positive fracture identifications. These validation results highlight current limitations of these sideways fall impact models specific to the inclusion of an orthopaedic implant. These FEMs present a conservative strategy for fracture prediction in future applications. Further evaluation of the modelling approaches used for the bone‐implant interface is recommended for modelling augmented specimens, alongside the importance of maintaining well‐controlled experimental conditions.