bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dynamic control and manipulation of near-fields using direct feedback
Authors: Kher-Aldeen Jacob , Cohen Kobi , Lotan Stav , Frischwasser Kobi , Gjonaj Bergin , Tsesses Shai , Bartal Guy 
Published: October 2024

AbstractShaping and controlling electromagnetic fields at the nanoscale is vital for advancing efficient and compact devices used in optical communications, sensing and metrology, as well as for the exploration of fundamental properties of light-matter interaction and optical nonlinearity. Real-time feedback for active control over light can provide a significant advantage in these endeavors, compensating for ever-changing experimental conditions and inherent or accumulated device flaws. Scanning nearfield microscopy, being slow in essence, cannot provide such a real-time feedback that was thus far possible only by scattering-based microscopy. Here, we present active control over nanophotonic near-fields with direct feedback facilitated by real-time near-field imaging. We use far-field wavefront shaping to control nanophotonic patterns in surface waves, demonstrating translation and splitting of near-field focal spots at nanometer-scale precision, active toggling of different near-field angular momenta and correction of patterns damaged by structural defects using feedback enabled by the real-time operation. The ability to simultaneously shape and observe nanophotonic fields can significantly impact various applications such as nanoscale optical manipulation, optical addressing of integrated quantum emitters and near-field adaptive optics.
Osteopontin is a therapeutic target that drives breast cancer recurrence
Authors: Gu Yu , Taifour Tarek , Bui Tung , Zuo Dongmei , Pacis Alain , Poirier Alexandre , Attalla Sherif , Fortier Anne-Marie , Sanguin-Gendreau Virginie , Pan Tien-Chi , Papavasiliou Vasilios , Lin Nancy U. , Hughes Melissa E. , Smith Kalie , Park Morag , Tremblay Michel L. , Chodosh Lewis A. , Jeselsohn Rinath , Muller William J. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractRecurrent breast cancers often develop resistance to standard-of-care therapies. Identifying targetable factors contributing to cancer recurrence remains the rate-limiting step in improving long-term outcomes. In this study, we identify tumor cell-derived osteopontin as an autocrine and paracrine driver of tumor recurrence. Osteopontin promotes tumor cell proliferation, recruits macrophages, and synergizes with IL-4 to further polarize them into a pro-tumorigenic state. Macrophage depletion and osteopontin inhibition decrease recurrent tumor growth. Furthermore, targeting osteopontin in primary tumor-bearing female mice prevents metastasis, permits T cell infiltration and activation, and improves anti-PD-1 immunotherapy response. Clinically, osteopontin expression is higher in recurrent metastatic tumors versus female patient-matched primary breast tumors. Osteopontin positively correlates with macrophage infiltration, increases with higher tumor grade, and its elevated pathway activity is associated with poor prognosis and long-term recurrence. Our findings suggest clinical implications and an alternative therapeutic strategy based on osteopontin’s multiaxial role in breast cancer progression and recurrence.
Hydrogen isotope labeling unravels origin of soil-bound organic contaminant residues in biodegradability testing
Authors: Lennartz Sophie , Byrne Harriet A. , Kümmel Steffen , Krauss Martin , Nowak Karolina M. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractBiodegradability testing in soil helps to identify safe synthetic organic chemicals but is still obscured by the formation of soil-bound ‘non-extractable’ residues (NERs). Present-day methodologies using radiocarbon or stable (13C, 15N) isotope labeling cannot easily differentiate soil-bound parent chemicals or transformation products (xenoNERs) from harmless soil-bound biomolecules of microbial degraders (bioNERs). Hypothesizing a minimal retention of hydrogen in biomolecules, we here apply stable hydrogen isotope – deuterium (D) – labeling to unravel the origin of NERs. Soil biodegradation tests with D- and 13C-labeled 2,4-D, glyphosate and sulfamethoxazole reveal consistently lower proportions of applied D than 13C in total NERs and in amino acids, a quantitative biomarker for bioNERs. Soil-bound D thus mostly represents xenoNERs and not bioNERs, enabling an efficient quantification of xenoNERs by just measuring the total bound D. D or tritium (T) labeling could thus improve the value of biodegradability testing results for diverse organic chemicals forming soil-bound residues.
CSF d18:1 sphingolipid species in Parkinson disease and dementia with Lewy bodies with and without GBA1 variants
Authors: Lerche Stefanie , Wurster Isabel , Valente Enza Maria , Avenali Micol , Samaniego Daniela , Martínez-Vicente Marta , Hernández-Vara Jorge , Laguna Ariadna , Sturchio Andrea , Svenningsson Per , France Nicholas P. , Barlow Carrolee , Sankaranarayanan Sethu , Brockmann Kathrin 
Published: October 2024

AbstractVariants in GBA1 result in dysregulated sphingolipids. We investigated five CSF d18:1 sphingolipid species in a longitudinal multicenter cohort comprising people with Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia with Lewy bodies with and without GBA1 variants and healthy controls. We found no increase of sphingolipid species in heterozygous GBA1 variant participants and no effect on development of cognitive impairment. Thus, CSF d18:1 sphingolipids are not suitable as state markers in Parkinson’s Disease.
Salmonella enterica virulence databases and bioinformatic analysis tools development
Authors: Han Jing , Tang Hailin , Zhao Shaohua , Foley Steven L. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractSalmonella enterica, a prominent foodborne pathogen, contributes significantly to global foodborne illnesses annually. This species exhibits significant genetic diversity, potentially impacting its infectivity, disease severity, and antimicrobial resistance. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) offers comprehensive genetic insights that can be utilized for virulence assessment. However, existing bioinformatic tools for studying Salmonella virulence have notable limitations. To address this gap, a Salmonella Virulence Database with a non-redundant, comprehensive list of putative virulence factors was constructed. Two bioinformatic analysis tools, Virulence Factor Profile Assessment and Virulence Factor Profile Comparison tools, were developed. The former provides data on similarity to the reference genes, e-value, and bite score, while the latter assesses the presence/absence of virulence genes in Salmonella isolates and facilitates comparison of virulence profiles across multiple sequences. To validate the database and associated bioinformatic tools, WGS data from 43,853 Salmonella isolates spanning 14 serovars was extracted from GenBank, and WGS data previously generated in our lab was used. Overall, the Salmonella Virulence database and our bioinformatic tools effectively facilitated virulence assessment, enhancing our understanding of virulence profiles among Salmonella isolates and serovars. The public availability of these resources will empower researchers to assess Salmonella virulence comprehensively, which could inform strategies for pathogen control and risk evaluations associated with human illnesses.
Enhancing transparency and fairness in automated credit decisions: an explainable novel hybrid machine learning approach
Authors: Nwafor Chioma Ngozi , Nwafor Obumneme , Brahma Sanjukta 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThis paper uses a generalised stacking method to introduce a novel hybrid model that combines a one-dimensional convolutional neural network 1DCNN with extreme gradient boosting XGBoost. We compared the predictive accuracies of the proposed hybrid architecture with three conventional algorithms-1DCNN, XGBoost and logistic regression (LR) using a dataset of over twenty thousand peer-to-peer (P2P) consumer credit observations. By leveraging the SHAP algorithm, the research provides a detailed analysis of feature importance, contributing to the model’s predictions and offering insights into the overall and individual significance of different features. The findings demonstrate that the hybrid model outperforms the LR, XGBoost and 1DCNN models in terms of classification accuracy. Furthermore, the research addresses concern regarding fairness and bias by showing that removing potentially discriminatory features, such as age and gender, does not significantly impact the hybrid model’s classification capabilities. This suggests that fair and unbiased credit scoring models can achieve high effectiveness levels without compromising accuracy. This paper makes significant contributions to academic research and practical applications in credit risk management by presenting a hybrid model that offers superior classification accuracy and promotes interpretability using the model agnostic SHAP framework.
Investigating the prevalence and associated factors of depression, anxiety, and loneliness among people with type-2 diabetes in Bangladesh: a community-based study
Authors: Pardhan Shahina , Siddique Abu Bakkar , Motahara Umma , Islam Md. Saiful 
Published: October 2024

AbstractDiabetes mellitus is a major worldwide health concern. Diabetes has been associated with a number of adverse mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, and loneliness that can negatively impact diabetes outcomes. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with depression, anxiety, and loneliness in people, in the community, suffering with diabetes in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 600 people with type-2 diabetes (54.83% females; mean age: 52.70 ± 11.56 years) between July and September 2022. Purposive sampling method was used to recruit the participants. A validated semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic and other data. Depression, anxiety, and loneliness were measured using the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and UCLA Loneliness scale, respectively. Bivariate and multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted to ascertain factors that were significantly associated with these mental health conditions. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and loneliness was 31.17%, 21.83%, and 28.00%, respectively. A lack of formal education, and not taking part in physical activities were significantly associated with all three mental health states. Duration of diabetes and being on medication for high cholesterol were also associated with depression and anxiety. Older age and being widowed were significantly associated with loneliness. This study found that depression, anxiety, and loneliness are prevalent among Bangladeshi people with diabetes, with certain sociodemographic and diabetes-related factors associated with increased risk. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to people within the communities, at grassroot levels in order to improve reduce health inequality, and improve the mental health of people living with diabetes.
Higher risk of recurrence in early-stage breast cancer patients with increased levels of ribosomal protein S6
Authors: Cascardo Florencia , Vivanco Micaela , Perrone María Cecilia , Werbach Andrea , Enrico Diego , Mando Pablo , Amat Mora , Martínez-Vazquez Paula , Burruchaga Javier , Mac Donnell María , Lanari Claudia , Zwenger Ariel , Waisberg Federico , Novaro Virginia 
Published: October 2024

AbstractPI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is implicated in breast cancer progression and recurrence. The identification of PIK3CA and AKT1 mutations and loss of PTEN serve as selection criterion for targeted therapies involving selective inhibitors. However, they do not consistently align with pathway activation, and high-cost determinations limit their routine application. PI3K-downstream epigenetic regulatory mechanisms broaden the alterations that amplify pathway activity and, consequently, sensitivity to selective inhibitors. In this retrospective observational study, conducted within a cohort of early-stage breast cancer patients, we determined phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 (pS6) at Ser240/244 by immunohistochemistry as an indicator of PI3K pathway activation. Log-Rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to analyze the clinical relevance of pS6, alone and together with clinicopathological variables, regarding recurrence-free survival. ROC curves and the area under the curves were used to evaluate the calibration and discrimination properties of uni- and multivariate models. Our results show that a high percentage of pS6 positive tumor cells was associated with an unfavorable prognosis in a cohort of 129 hormone receptor positive/HER2 negative breast cancer patients (Hazard Ratio = 5.92; Log-Rank p = 9.5e-08; median follow-up = 53 months). When assessed in combination with lymph node status, the predictive capacity was higher compared to both univariate models individually. In conclusion, pS6 could represent a novel independent marker for predicting recurrence risk in luminal breast cancer.
Design, synthesis, and evaluation of a pyrazole-based corrosion inhibitor: a computational and experimental study
Authors: Matine Abdelmalek , Es-Sounni Bouchra , Bakhouch Mohamed , Bahkali Ali H. , El Alaoui El Abdallaoui Habib , Wang Shifa , Syed Asad , Wong Ling Shing , Saleh Na’il , Zeroual Abdellah 
Published: October 2024

AbstractBy employing a synergistic blend of experimental and theoretical methodologies, we investigated the corrosion inhibition efficacy of a synthesized pyrazole derivative (BM-01) in a solution of hydrochloric acid (1 M). We utilized molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), density functional theory (DFT), complexation, plus electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). We conducted weight loss (WL) measurements from 298 to 328 K. Inhibition efficacy reached a maximum at a BM-01 concentration of 10−3 M, achieving 90.0% (EIS), 90.40% (WL), and 90.38% (potentiodynamic polarization (PDP)). SEM unveiled the shielding of the carbon-steel surface from acid-induced damage by BM-01. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm exhibited a robust fit with a low sum of squares, standard deviation, and a high correlation coefficient. PDP findings indicated that BM-01 acted as a mixed-type inhibitor, predominantly favoring the cathodic process, suggesting potential corrosion-mitigation properties. Theoretical analyses involving DFT, MD simulations, and radial distribution function were conducted to postulate a mechanism and identify an inhibitory layer. Theoretical outcomes aligned closely with experimental data, thereby reinforcing the validity of our findings.
Preliminary study on the effects of boysenberry juice intake on brown adipose tissue activity in healthy adults
Authors: Furuuchi Ryo , Kato Satoshi , Maejima Daisuke , Amano Tatsuro , Fujiki Shinya , Shimizu Ippei , Minamino Tohru 
Published: October 2024

AbstractBrown adipose tissue (BAT) plays an important role in energy metabolism because it uses fatty acids for thermogenesis during cold exposure. Preclinical studies found that boysenberry anthocyanins (BoyACs) activate BAT. Therefore, the aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate how BoyAC intake affects BAT in humans. We performed an open-label single-arm nonrandomized study in healthy volunteers. Before and after 4 weeks of daily consumption of 100 ml boysenberry juice (BoyJ) containing 61 mg of BoyACs, participants were assessed at 24 °C and then after 1 h of mild cold exposure (18 °C). An infrared thermography camera was used to measure skin surface temperatures in the supraclavicular BAT region (Tscv) and the non-BAT region of the upper chest (Tch). Energy metabolism was measured by indirect calorimetry. For each endpoint, we calculated Δ as the difference between values before and after cold exposure and compared the values before and after BoyJ intake. 10 volunteers participated (age: 36.1 ± 4.1, body mass index (BMI): 20.9 ± 0.6). After BoyJ intake, ΔTscv-ch was significantly higher (p = 0.029), but Δ energy expenditure, Δ fat oxidation, and Δ carbohydrate oxidation were not significantly different. We found a significant positive correlation between BMI and Δfat oxidation with BoyJ intake. The results indicate that 4 weeks of BoyJ intake activates cold-induced thermogenesis in the scv-BAT but does not have a significant effect on energy metabolism. BoyJ intake may increase fat oxidation during cold exposure in individuals with higher BMI.Trial registry number: UMIN000043476, 05/03/2021.
Nearsighted empathy: exploring the effect of empathy on distance perception, with eye movements as modulators
Authors: Golbabaei Soroosh , Borhani Khatereh 
Published: October 2024

AbstractEmpathy, a cornerstone of social interaction, involves shared representation, eliciting vicarious emotions. However, its influence on shared perceptual representations, particularly in foundational domains such as distance perception, remains unexplored. In this study, we introduce a novel adaptation of the empathy for pain task to investigate empathy’s influence on distance perception. We also examine how two personality traits, trait empathy and alexithymia, modulate this relationship. Utilizing eye-tracking technology, we examine how attention allocation to different facial and bodily features affects empathy’s impact on distance perception. Our findings indicate that empathy biases individuals to perceive targets as closer, with trait empathy reinforcing this effect and alexithymia attenuating it. Furthermore, we demonstrate that heightened attention to eyes and face correlates with perceiving targets as closer, while attention to hand shows the opposite trend. These results underscore the broader influence of empathy beyond shared emotions, revealing its capacity to alter perceptual processes. By elucidating the interplay between personality traits and visual inputs in shaping these alterations, our study offers valuable insights for future research exploring the role of shared representation in empathy across various perceptual domains.
International dietary quality index and its association with diabetes in RaNCD cohort study
Authors: Mokhtari Zahra , Abdollahzad Hadi , Rezaeian Shahab , Izadi Neda , Darbandi Mitra , Najafi Farid , Pasdar Yahya 
Published: October 2024

AbstractDiabetes and its complications pose a significant threat to global health. Various factors contribute to the development of diabetes, with diet being an important trigger. The Dietary Quality Index-International (DQI-I) serves as an indicator of changes in diet and its association with chronic diseases, including diabetes. The aim of this study is to examine the association between DQI-I and diabetes in adults. Data from the first phase of the Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease Cohort Study (RaNCD) were used for this cross-sectional study. The study included individuals from western Iran aged between 35 and 65 years. The DQI-I was used to assess diet quality and the essential aspects of a healthy diet. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to compare DQI-I total score and diabetes. A total of 7,079 individuals were included, including 608 diabetic and 6,471 healthy individuals. The mean DQI-I score was 60.51 ± 8.47 in healthy individuals and 63.12 ± 8.64 in diabetics. The odds of developing diabetes were higher in individuals with a higher DQI-I (adjusted odds ratio: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.30–1.73). The variety was 13.43 ± 4.47 in diabetics and 12.59 ± 4.79 in healthy individuals. Adequacy was 33.23 ± 3.71 in diabetics and 33.79 ± 3.37 in healthy individuals. Moderation was 13.27 ± 6.05 in diabetics and 11.79 ± 5.47 in healthy individuals. The overall balance was 2.88 ± 2.21 in the healthy group and 2.61 ± 2.13 in the diabetics. The macronutrient ratio was 2.15 ± 1.88 in the healthy group and 2.04 ± 1.84 in the diabetics. The fatty acid ratio was 0.72 ± 1.29 in the healthy group and 0.56 ± 1.17 in the diabetic group. The overall balance score was higher in the healthy subjects. The DQI-I total score was higher in diabetics, indicating a positive association between diabetes and the DQI-I. Therefore, the importance of continuous dietary management and education of diabetic patients should be emphasized.
Cellular fate of a plant virus immunotherapy candidate
Authors: Omole Anthony O. , Affonso de Oliveira Jessica Fernanda , Sutorus Lucas , Karan Sweta , Zhao Zhongchao , Neun Barry W. , Cedrone Edward , Clogston Jeffrey D. , Xu Jie , Sierk Michael , Chen Qingrong , Meerzaman Daoud , Dobrovolskaia Marina A. , Steinmetz Nicole F. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractCowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) is a plant virus that is currently being developed for intratumoral immunotherapy. CPMV relieves the immune system from tumor-induced immunosuppression; reprograms the tumor microenvironment to an activated state whereby the treated and distant tumors are recognized and eradicated. Toward translational studies, we investigated the safety of CPMV, specifically addressing whether pathogenicity would be induced in mammalian cells. We show that murine macrophage immune cells recognize CPMV; however, there is no indication of de novo viral protein synthesis or RNA replication. Furthermore, we show that CPMV does not induce hemolysis, platelet aggregation and plasma coagulation amongst other assays in human blood and immune cells. Taken together, we anticipate that these results will reinforce the development of CPMV as an immunotherapeutic platform.
Characterizing heatwaves based on land surface energy budget
Authors: Tian Yinglin , Kleidon Axel , Lesk Corey , Zhou Sha , Luo Xiangzhong , Ghausi Sarosh Alam , Wang Guangqian , Zhong Deyu , Zscheischler Jakob 
Published: October 2024

AbstractHeat extremes pose pronounced threats to social-ecological systems and are projected to become more intense, frequent, and longer. However, the mechanisms driving heatwaves vary across heatwave types and are not yet fully understood. Here we decompose perturbations in the surface energy budget to categorize global heatwave-days into four distinct types: sunny–humid (38%), sunny-dry (26%), advective (18%), and adiabatic (18%). Notably, sunny-dry heatwave-days decrease net ecosystem carbon uptake by 0.09 gC m−2 day−1 over harvested areas, while advective heatwave-days increase the thermal stress index by 6.20 K in populated regions. In addition, from 2000 to 2020, sunny-dry heatwaves have shown the most widespread increase compared to 1979 to 1999, with 67% of terrestrial areas experiencing a doubling in their occurrence. Our findings highlight the importance of classifying heatwave-days based on their underlying mechanisms, as this can enhance our understanding of heatwaves and improve strategies for heat adaptation.