bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mechanism of action of carbon nanoparticle verified in rice: Improved water use efficiency is the key
Authors: Kumar Aman , S Lekshmi Manasa , Kashyap Jyotiprabha , Mandal Sikha , Mishra Gayatri , Rath Jnanendra , Rout Gyana Ranjan , Panigrahi Kishore CS , Panigrahy Madhusmita 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Mechanism of action and molecular basis of positive growth effects including yield increase due to carbon nanoparticle (CNP) treatment in rice plants is dissected here. CNP at 500–750 µg/mL were found to be the optimum dosages showing best seedling growth. CNP treatment resulted increase in stomata size, gaseous exchange and water use efficiency along with decrease in stomata frequency, relative humidity, internal CO2 concentration. CNP treatment exerted cold tolerance in seedlings and water stress tolerance in reproductive stage. CNP-coupled with water uptake was found to be endocytosis mediated, although CNP uptake was not affected by endocytosis inhibitor application in roots. Genomic analysis resulted major involvement of ABA pathway and stomata size and frequency genes in Arabidopsis and rice. Elevated endogenous ABA in rice seedlings and flag leaves along with increased expression of ABA biosynthetic genes in Arabidopsis and rice AtNCED3, AtNCED6, OsNCED1 confirmed increased ABA synthesis. Negative regulators of ABA pathway, OsSNRK2 down-regulation and up-regulation of stomagen (OsEPFL9) reconfirmed ABA’s involvement. CNP treatment resulted water stress tolerance by maintaining lower stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and higher relative water content. Increased ABA (OsSNRK1, OsSNRK2) and aquaporin (OsPIP2-5) genes’ expressions could explain the better water stress tolerance in rice plants treated with CNP. Altogether, due to thermomorphogenesis, down-regulation of Phytochrome B resulted altered the ABA pathway and stomatal distribution with size. These changes resulted improved water relation parameters and WUE showing improvement in yield. Detailed mechanism of action of CNP in abiotic stress tolerance can be exploited in in nano-agriculture.
The relationships between the expression of SPP1 and IL33 during the dedifferentiation of breast cancer associated adipocytes and the prognosis of breast cancer
Authors: Jiang Yuchan , Yang Chuang , Shi Han , Li Junfeng , Zhang Huan , Gao Yidan , Feng Xing , Tan Jinxiang 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Purpose
We aimed to determine the biomarkers for breast cancer by studying the relationship between breast cancer and the dedifferentiation process of adipose tissue.
Methods
The public databases Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) databases, the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2) database, the Kaplan-Meier Plotter database, the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database and the TIMER 2.0 database were used to analyze. Immunohistochemical experiment was carried out to verify the expression of Secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) gene and the interleukin 33 (IL-33) gene in adipose tissue and breast cancer tissue respectively.
Results
Totally, 19 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and mainly enriched in the three signaling pathways. Compared with normal controls, SPP1 microRNA and IL33 microRNA were differently expressed (P < 0.05). And SPP1 and IL33 gene were related to the prognosis of estrogen receptor (ER) positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) negative breast cancer patients (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical results showed that the positive expression rate of SPP1 and IL33 in breast cancer were higher than that in normal tissues; both associated with macrophages in breast cancer.
Conclusion
SPP1 and IL33 affect the prognosis of breast cancer during the dedifferentiation of breast cancer related adipocytes. The SPP1 and IL33 perhaps are potential biomarkers for breast cancer.
Insights into Immune Microenvironment and Therapeutic Targeting in Androgen-Associated Prostate Cancer Subtypes
Authors: Huang Liang , Xie Yu , Jiang Shusuan , Dai Tao , Xu Zhenzhou , Shan Hong 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Prostate cancer, one of the most prevalent malignancies among men worldwide, is intricately linked with androgen signaling, a key driver of its pathogenesis and progression. Understanding the diverse expression patterns of androgen-responsive genes holds paramount importance in unraveling the biological intricacies of this disease and prognosticating patient outcomes. In this study, utilizing consensus clustering analysis based on the expression profiles of androgen-responsive genes, prostate cancer patients from the TCGA database were stratified into two distinct subtypes, denoted as C1 and C2. Notably, the C1 subtype demonstrates a significant upregulation of certain genes, such as CGA and HSD17B12, along with a shorter progression-free survival duration, indicating a potentially unfavorable prognosis. Further analyses elucidated the immune infiltration disparities, mutation landscapes, and gene functional pathways characteristic of each subtype. Through integrated bioinformatics approaches and machine learning techniques, key genes such as BIRC5, CENPA, and MMP11 were identified as potential therapeutic targets, providing novel insights into tailored treatment strategies. Additionally, single-cell transcriptome analysis shed light on the heterogeneous expression patterns of these genes across different cell types within the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, virtual screening identified candidate drugs targeting the BIRC5 receptor, offering promising avenues for drug development. Collectively, these findings deepen our understanding of prostate cancer biology, paving the way for personalized therapeutic interventions and advancing the quest for more effective treatments in prostate cancer management.
A comparison of regression models for static and dynamic prediction of a prognostic outcome during admission in electronic health care records
Authors: Gao Shan , Albu Elena , Putter Hein , Stijnen Pieter , Rademakers Frank , Cossey Veerle , Debaveye Yves , Janssens Christel , Calster Ben van , Wynants Laure 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Hospitals register information in the electronic health records (EHR) continuously until discharge or death. As such, there is no censoring for in-hospital outcomes. We aimed to compare different dynamic regression modeling approaches to predict central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in EHR while accounting for competing events precluding CLABSI.
Methods
We analyzed data from 30,862 catheter episodes at University Hospitals Leuven from 2012 and 2013 to predict 7-day risk of CLABSI. Competing events are discharge and death. Static models at catheter onset included logistic, multinomial logistic, Cox, cause-specific hazard, and Fine-Gray regression. Dynamic models updated predictions daily up to 30 days after catheter onset (i.e. landmarks 0 to 30 days), and included landmark supermodel extensions of the static models, separate Fine-Gray models per landmark time, and regularized multi-task learning (RMTL). Model performance was assessed using 100 random 2:1 train-test splits.
Results
The Cox model performed worst of all static models in terms of area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration. Dynamic landmark supermodels reached peak AUCs between 0.741–0.747 at landmark 5. The Cox landmark supermodel had the worst AUCs (≤ 0.731) and calibration up to landmark 7. Separate Fine-Gray models per landmark performed worst for later landmarks, when the number of patients at risk was low.
Conclusions
Categorical and time-to-event approaches had similar performance in the static and dynamic settings, except Cox models. Ignoring competing risks caused problems for risk prediction in the time-to-event framework (Cox), but not in the categorical framework (logistic regression).
Acid-Induced In Situ Phase Separation and Percolation for Constructing Bi-Continuous Phase Hydrogel Electrodes with High Conductivity and Robust Mechanical Properties
Authors: Bai Shuo , Han Qingquan , Gao Xigang , Zhang Chao , Tian Yajie , Liang Sen , Li Xin , Jing Yafeng , Zhang Milin , Wang Anhe 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Conductive polymer hydrogels have emerged as promising materials for wearable bioelectronics due to their inherent biocompatibility and stability in physiological conditions. However, achieving hydrogel electrodes with excellent conductivity and mechanical properties is challenging due to the inherent contradiction between the hydrophobicity of conductive materials and the hydrophilicity of hydrogels. Herein, we introduce a hydrogel integrating PVA, PVP and PEDOT:PSS, and propose a single-step acid-induced strategy that not only facilitates gelation but also ensures in situ phase separation of PEDOT:PSS under mild conditions, resulting in a unique bi-continuous phase structure combining excellent electrical and mechanical properties. Upon reaching the percolation threshold at 4.8 mg mL-1 PEDOT:PSS, the electrical conductivity surges to 906 mS cm-1. The hydrogel also exhibits unprecedented mechanical resilience, with a fracture strain of 1103%, significantly surpassing previous reports of PEDOT:PSS-based conductive materials. This stretchability, coupled with low mechanical hysteresis (dissipation energy less than 1.2 kJ m-3) and a resilience rate of approximately 95%, highlights its superior mechanical integrity and fatigue resistance. The hydrogel electrodes demonstrate substantially lower noise power (4.9 μV²) compared to commercial gel electrodes (1541.8 μV²) and Ag/AgCl electrodes (>34.4 μV²). The hydrogel sets a new benchmark for the performance of conductive hydrogels in wearable bioelectronics, offering exceptional mechanical properties and superior electrical functionality for efficient and reliable monitoring of biological signals.
Individual identification and forensic applications with microsatellites in a non-invasive monitoring of Antilophia bokermanni
Authors: Oliveira Alison Honorio , Andrade Amanda Oliveira , Santos Marcos Aurelio Figueiredo , Alcântara Ana Cleide , Ribeiro Samuel Cardozo , Silva Maria Arlene Pessoa da , Coutinho Henrique Douglas Melo 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The applicability of a panel of microsatellites in studies focused on conservation can be decisive in obtaining information on endangered species, such as the Soldadinho-do-Araripe. In the present work, it was tested a set of 12 microsatellite loci in order to evaluate the potential of carrying out the individual identification process and the establishment of family relationships necessary for future conservation monitoring of the species. This set of microsatellites proved capable of carrying out the potential identification of exclusive genotypes, in addition to revealing the family pedigree between individuals, determining possible parents/offspring, full siblings and half-siblings. This research will provide support in obtaining predictions of one or more possible sites (springs that have family groups) that can serve as a source of rare alleles and from that translocation programs are implemented and consequently ecological stations function as in situ germplasm banks, enabling the current and future monitoring of this species whose maintenance and conservation will help as a model in the preservation of biodiversity in Chapada do Araripe, Ceará, Brazil.
Daily life mobility detects frailty, falls, and functioning in ADT-treated prostate cancer survivors
Authors: Tibbitts Deanne C. , Mancini Martina , Stoyles Sydnee , Dieckmann Nathan F. , Graff Julie N. , El-Gohary Mahmoud , Horak Fay B. , Winters-Stone Kerri M. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) increases the risk of frailty, falls, and, poor physical functioning in prostate cancer survivors. Detection of frailty is limited to self-report instruments and performance measures, so unbiased tools are needed. We investigated relationships between an unbiased measure – daily life mobility – and ADT history, frailty, falls, and functioning in ADT-treated prostate cancer survivors.
Methods
ADT-treated prostate cancer survivors (N=99) were recruited from an exercise clinical trial, an academic medical center, and the community. Participants completed performance measures and surveys to assess frailty, fall history, and physical functioning, then wore instrumented socks to continuously monitor daily life mobility. We performed a principal component analysis on daily life mobility metrics and used regression analyses to investigate relationships between domains of daily life mobility and frailty, fall history, and physical functioning.
Results
Daily life mobility metrics clustered into four domains: Gait Pace, Rhythm, Activity, and Balance. Worse scores on Rhythm and Activity were associated with increased odds of frailty (OR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.49 and OR 1.81, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.83, respectively). A worse score on Rhythm was associated with increased odds of ≥1 falls in the previous year (OR 1.60, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.47). Worse scores on Gait Pace, Rhythm, and Activity were associated with worse physical functioning. Mobility metrics were similar between current and past users of ADT.
Conclusions
Continuous passive monitoring of daily life mobility may identify prostate cancer survivors who have or are developing risk for frailty, falls, and declines in physical functioning.
Alkane gene expression and its increased production in recombinant cyanobacteria
Authors: Nagao Misato , Ozaki Takato , Fukuda Hirofumi , Kanesaki Yu , Asayama Munehiko 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background: In cyanobacteria, the mechanism of the biosynthetic pathway of alkanes, which are useful materials for transportation biofuels in automobiles and airplanes, is being elucidated by genetic analytical methods. However, to date, no study has consistently analysed the transcription of alkane genes, molecular structure of mRNA, production of alkanes depending on the culture medium, catalytic activity of enzymes as indicated by the increased production of alkanes by the recombinant strain, or alkane accumulation in cells.
Results: Transcription start point (TSP) of alkane genes ado and aar in the representative cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and Limnothrix sp. SK1-2-1 strains producing C17H36 and C15H32, respectively, were determined at -88/-72 (6803_ado/aar) and -70/-20 (SK1-2-1_ado/aar). From the TSPs, consensus promoter sequences were identified, and the transcripts possessed unique stem and loop (S&L) structure at 5’- and 3’-UTR regions, which can regulate mRNA stability, translation initiation, and transcription termination. Alkane gene transcript levels were higher in nitrogen- and phosphorus-depleted BG11 media; however, higher amount of alkanes was produced in BG11 medium because of the reduced biomass. Transconjugants in which 6803_ado/aar or SK1-2-1_ado/aar were cloned into an algal expression vector and inserted into PCC 6803 strain produced approximately 1.6- to 2.2-times more C17 alkanes (C17H36) than that of wild-type strain in both cases. When alkane hyperaccumulator strains were cultured in BG11 or BG11-N/-P/-S medium, TEM observation showed clearly different cell shapes and accumulated products under each condition, but no significant accumulation, such as oil drops, was observed.
Conclusion: New transcription start sites and predicted promoter sequences were identified, and unique S&L structures were found in 5'-UTR and 3'-UTR regions of each transcript, indicating mRNA stability and efficiency of translation initiation or termination. Although nutrient-depleted media are effective for alkane gene mRNA accumulation, it is clear that alkane accumulation per unit medium volume is higher when BG11 medium is used, given the reduced biomass. Experiments using recombinant strains for alkane production have shown that not only the enzymatic activity of ADO/AAR but also the intracellular production level of fatty-acyl ACP substrate may be important for mass production of alkanes with the desired carbon chain lengths.
MPicker: Visualizing and Picking Membrane Proteins for Cryo-Electron Tomography
Authors: Li Xueming , Yan Xiaofeng , Li Shudong , Huang Weilin , Wang Hao , Zhao Tianfang , Huang Mingtao , Zhou Niyun , Shen Yuan 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Advancements in cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) allow the structure of macromolecules to be determined in situ, which is crucial for studying membrane protein structures and their interactions in the cellular environment. However, membranes are often highly curved and have a strong contrast in cryoET tomograms, which masks the signals from membrane proteins. These factors pose difficulties in observing and revealing the structures of membrane proteins in situ. Here, we report a membrane-flattening method and the corresponding software, MPicker, designed for the visualization, localization, and orientation determination of membrane proteins in cryoET tomograms. This method improves the visualization of proteins on and around membranes by generating a flattened tomogram that eliminates membrane curvature and reduces the spatial complexity of membrane protein analysis. In MPicker, we integrated approaches for automated particle picking and coarse alignment of membrane proteins for sub-tomogram averaging. MPicker was tested on tomograms of various cells to evaluate the method for visualizing, picking, and analyzing membrane proteins.
Combined duplicate origin and early bifurcated middle cerebral artery diagnosed by magnetic resonance angiography
Authors: Uchino Akira , Kobayashi Satoshi 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Purpose
To describe a case of combined duplicate origin and early bifurcated middle cerebral artery (MCA) incidentally diagnosed using magnetic resonance (MR) angiography.
Methods
A 51-year-old woman with an unruptured left MCA aneurysm underwent cranial MR angiography with a 3-Tesla scanner for presurgical evaluation. MR angiography was performed using a standard 3-dimensional time-of-flight technique.
Results
An unruptured left MCA aneurysm at the M1-M2 junction was identified. The maximum aneurysm diameter was 9 mm. Two almost equally sized right MCAs arose from the terminal segment of the right internal carotid artery. These two channels soon anastomosed, and the temporal branch arose from the inferior channel. The aneurysm was successfully treated with coil embolization.
Conclusion
We herein report a case of a combined duplicate origin and early bifurcated MCA. This variation can also be regarded as anastomosis between the main MCA and the duplicated MCA. This variation has been previously reported as segmental duplication of the MCA. This is the third case of this rare MCA variation reported in the relevant English-language literature. The term “segmental duplication” may be confused with duplicate origin of the MCA, in which only one artery is located distal to the fusion.
The correlation of CT-derived muscle density, skeletal muscle index, and visceral adipose tissue with nutritional status in polytrauma patients
Authors: Ee Elaine P. X. van , Verheul Esmee A. H. , Dijkink Suzan , Krijnen Pieta , Veldhuis Wouter , Feshtali Shirin S. , Avery Laura , Lucassen Claudia J. , Mieog Sven D. , Hwabejire John O. , Schipper Inger B. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
This study explored if computerized tomography-derived body composition parameters (CT-BCPs) are related to malnutrition in severely injured (“polytrauma”) patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Methods
This prospective cohort study included polytrauma (Injury Severity Score ≥ 16) patients, admitted to the ICU of three level-1 trauma centers between 2018–2022. Abdominal CT scans were retrospectively analyzed to assess the CT-BCPs: muscle density (MD), skeletal muscle index (SMI), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). The Subjective Global Assessment was used to diagnose malnutrition at ICU admission and on day 5 of admission, and the modified Nutrition Risk in Critically ill at admission was used to assess the nutritional risk.
Results
Seven (11%) of the 65 analyzed patients had malnutrition at ICU admission, increasing to 23 patients (35%) on day 5. Thirteen (20%) patients had high nutritional risk. CT-BCPs were not related to malnutrition at ICU admission and on day 5. Patients with high nutritional risk at admission had lower MD (median (IQR) 32.1 HU (25.8–43.3) vs 46.9 HU (37.7–53.3); p < 0.01) and higher VAT (median 166.5 cm2 (80.6–342.6) vs 92.0 cm2 (40.6–148.2); p = 0.01) than patients with low nutritional risk.
Conclusion
CT-BCPs do not seem related to malnutrition, but low MD and high VAT may be associated with high nutritional risk. These findings may prove beneficial for clinical practice, as they suggest that CT-derived parameters may provide valuable information on nutritional risk in polytrauma patients, in addition to conventional nutritional assessment and screening tools.
The Effects of Depressive Symptoms and Self-Perceived Social Value on Adolescent Social Risk-Taking
Authors: Wang Weike , Evans Kylie , Schweizer Susanne 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The Social Risk Hypothesis of Depression proposes that individuals, who perceive themselves as low in value to their social groups are at risk of developing depression. Behaviorally lower self-perceived social value is proposed to reduce individuals’ propensity to take risks in social contexts to avoid further lowering their social worth. This is in contrast with adolescent-typical behaviour, which is characterized by heightened risk-taking in social contexts. The current study aimed to investigate how low self-perceived social value influences risk-taking in social compared to non-social contexts during adolescence. 114 adolescents (aged 12–23 years) completed the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) in individual and social contexts. The results demonstrated that older adolescents (18–23 years) took more risks than younger adolescents (12–17 years). Risk-taking across social and non-social contexts also varied as a function of self-perceived social value. In older adolescents lower self-perceived social value was associated with greater risk-taking in social compared to individual contexts. These findings suggest that self-perceived social value differentially influences social risk-taking across adolescence. In older adolescence, a time of peak risk-taking propensity, heightened social risk-taking may be a rational response for individuals with low self-perceived social value to avoid social exclusion by peers.