bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The application of PTR-MS and non-targeted analysis to characterize VOCs emitted from a plastic recycling facility fire
Authors: Vitucci Eva C. M. , Oladeji Oladayo , Presto Albert A. , Cannon Carolyn L. , Johnson Natalie M. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Background
On April 11th, 2023, the My Way Trading (MWT) recycling facility in Richmond, Indiana caught fire, mandating the evacuation of local residents and necessitating the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct air monitoring. The EPA detected elevated levels of plastic combustion-related air pollutants, including hydrogen cyanide and benzene.

Objective
We aimed to identify these and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present as well as to identify the potential hazard of each compound for various human health effects.

Methods
To identify the VOCs, we conducted air monitoring at sites within and bordering the evacuation zone using proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) and non-targeted analysis (NTA). To facilitate risk assessment of the emitted VOCs, we used the EPA Hazard Comparison Dashboard.

Results
We identified 46 VOCs, within and outside the evacuation zone, with average detection levels above local background levels measured in Middletown, OH. Levels of hydrogen cyanide and 4 other VOCs were at least 1.8-fold higher near the incidence site in comparison to background levels and displayed unique temporal and spatial patterns. The 46 VOCs identified had the highest hazardous potential for eye and skin irritation, with approximately 45% and 39%, respectively, of the VOCs classified as high and very high hazards for these endpoints. Notably, all detected VOC levels were below the hazard thresholds set for single VOC exposures; however, hazard thresholds for exposure to VOC mixtures are currently unclear.

Impact
This study serves as a proof-of-concept that PTR-MS coupled with NTA can facilitate rapid identification and hazard assessment of VOCs emitted following anthropogenic disasters. Furthermore, it demonstrates that this approach may augment future disaster responses to quantify additional VOCs present in complex combustion mixtures.
Unraveling the nature of sensing in electrostatic MEMS gas sensors
Authors: Shama Yasser S. , Rahmanian Sasan , Mouharrar Hamza , Abdelrahman Rana , Elhady Alaaeldin , Abdel-Rahman Eihab M. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis paper investigates the fundamental sensing mechanism of electrostatic MEMS gas sensors. It compares among the responsivities of a set of MEMS isopropanol sensors before and after functionalization, and in the presence and absence of electrostatic fields when operated in static and dynamic detection modes. In the static mode, we found that the sensors do not exhibit a measurable change in displacement due to added mass. On the other hand, bare sensors showed a clear change in displacement in response to isopropanol vapor. In the dynamic mode, functionalized sensors showed a measurable frequency shift due to the added mass of isopropanol vapor. In the presence of strong electrostatic fields, the measured frequency shift was found to be threefold larger than that in their absence in response to the same concentration of isopropanol vapor. The enhanced responsivity of dynamic detection allows the sensors to measure the vapor mass captured by the functional material, which is not the case for static detection. The detection of isopropanol by bare sensors in static mode shows that change in the medium permittivity is the primary sensing mechanism. The enhanced responsivity of dynamic mode sensors when operated in strong electrostatic fields shows that their sensing mechanism is a combination of a weaker added mass effect and a stronger permittivity effect. These findings show that electrostatic MEMS gas sensors are independent of the direction of the gravitational field and are, thus, robust to changes in alignment. It is erroneous to refer to them as ‘gravimetric’ sensors.
A transdiagnostic prodrome for severe mental disorders: an electronic health record study
Authors: Arribas Maite , Oliver Dominic , Patel Rashmi , Kornblum Daisy , Shetty Hitesh , Damiani Stefano , Krakowski Kamil , Provenzani Umberto , Stahl Daniel , Koutsouleris Nikolaos , McGuire Philip , Fusar-Poli Paolo 
Published: May 2024

AbstractEffective prevention of severe mental disorders (SMD), including non-psychotic unipolar mood disorders (UMD), non-psychotic bipolar mood disorders (BMD), and psychotic disorders (PSY), rely on accurate knowledge of the duration, first presentation, time course and transdiagnosticity of their prodromal stages. Here we present a retrospective, real-world, cohort study using electronic health records, adhering to RECORD guidelines. Natural language processing algorithms were used to extract monthly occurrences of 65 prodromal features (symptoms and substance use), grouped into eight prodromal clusters. The duration, first presentation, and transdiagnosticity of the prodrome were compared between SMD groups with one-way ANOVA, Cohen’s f and d. The time course (mean occurrences) of prodromal clusters was compared between SMD groups with linear mixed-effects models. 26,975 individuals diagnosed with ICD-10 SMD were followed up for up to 12 years (UMD = 13,422; BMD = 2506; PSY = 11,047; median[IQR] age 39.8[23.7] years; 55% female; 52% white). The duration of the UMD prodrome (18[36] months) was shorter than BMD (26[35], d = 0.21) and PSY (24[38], d = 0.18). Most individuals presented with multiple first prodromal clusters, with the most common being non-specific (‘other’; 88% UMD, 85% BMD, 78% PSY). The only first prodromal cluster that showed a medium-sized difference between the three SMD groups was positive symptoms (f = 0.30). Time course analysis showed an increase in prodromal cluster occurrences approaching SMD onset. Feature occurrence across the prodromal period showed small/negligible differences between SMD groups, suggesting that most features are transdiagnostic, except for positive symptoms (e.g. paranoia, f = 0.40). Taken together, our findings show minimal differences in the duration and first presentation of the SMD prodromes as recorded in secondary mental health care. All the prodromal clusters intensified as individuals approached SMD onset, and all the prodromal features other than positive symptoms are transdiagnostic. These results support proposals to develop transdiagnostic preventive services for affective and psychotic disorders detected in secondary mental healthcare.
Pannexins in the musculoskeletal system: new targets for development and disease progression
Authors: Luo Yan , Zheng Shengyuan , Xiao Wenfeng , Zhang Hang , Li Yusheng 
Published: May 2024

AbstractDuring cell differentiation, growth, and development, cells can respond to extracellular stimuli through communication channels. Pannexin (Panx) family and connexin (Cx) family are two important types of channel-forming proteins. Panx family contains three members (Panx1-3) and is expressed widely in bone, cartilage and muscle. Although there is no sequence homology between Panx family and Cx family, they exhibit similar configurations and functions. Similar to Cxs, the key roles of Panxs in the maintenance of physiological functions of the musculoskeletal system and disease progression were gradually revealed later. Here, we seek to elucidate the structure of Panxs and their roles in regulating processes such as osteogenesis, chondrogenesis, and muscle growth. We also focus on the comparison between Cx and Panx. As a new key target, Panxs expression imbalance and dysfunction in muscle and the therapeutic potentials of Panxs in joint diseases are also discussed.
BERNN: Enhancing classification of Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry data with batch effect removal neural networks
Authors: Pelletier Simon J. , Leclercq Mickaël , Roux-Dalvai Florence , de Geus Matthijs B. , Leslie Shannon , Wang Weiwei , Lam TuKiet T. , Nairn Angus C. , Arnold Steven E. , Carlyle Becky C. , Precioso Frédéric , Droit Arnaud 
Published: May 2024

AbstractLiquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) is a powerful method for profiling complex biological samples. However, batch effects typically arise from differences in sample processing protocols, experimental conditions, and data acquisition techniques, significantly impacting the interpretability of results. Correcting batch effects is crucial for the reproducibility of omics research, but current methods are not optimal for the removal of batch effects without compressing the genuine biological variation under study. We propose a suite of Batch Effect Removal Neural Networks (BERNN) to remove batch effects in large LC-MS experiments, with the goal of maximizing sample classification performance between conditions. More importantly, these models must efficiently generalize in batches not seen during training. A comparison of batch effect correction methods across five diverse datasets demonstrated that BERNN models consistently showed the strongest sample classification performance. However, the model producing the greatest classification improvements did not always perform best in terms of batch effect removal. Finally, we show that the overcorrection of batch effects resulted in the loss of some essential biological variability. These findings highlight the importance of balancing batch effect removal while preserving valuable biological diversity in large-scale LC-MS experiments.
Arabidopsis α-Aurora kinase plays a role in cytokinesis through regulating MAP65-3 association with microtubules at phragmoplast midzone
Authors: Deng Xingguang , Xiao Yu , Tang Xiaoya , Liu Bo , Lin Honghui 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe α-Aurora kinase is a crucial regulator of spindle microtubule organization during mitosis in plants. Here, we report a post-mitotic role for α-Aurora in reorganizing the phragmoplast microtubule array. In Arabidopsis thaliana, α-Aurora relocated from spindle poles to the phragmoplast midzone, where it interacted with the microtubule cross-linker MAP65-3. In a hypomorphic α-Aurora mutant, MAP65-3 was detected on spindle microtubules, followed by a diffuse association pattern across the phragmoplast midzone. Simultaneously, phragmoplast microtubules remained belatedly in a solid disk array before transitioning to a ring shape. Microtubules at the leading edge of the matured phragmoplast were often disengaged, accompanied by conspicuous retentions of MAP65-3 at the phragmoplast interior edge. Specifically, α-Aurora phosphorylated two residues towards the C-terminus of MAP65-3. Mutation of these residues to alanines resulted in an increased association of MAP65-3 with microtubules within the phragmoplast. Consequently, the expansion of the phragmoplast was notably slower compared to wild-type cells or cells expressing a phospho-mimetic variant of MAP65-3. Moreover, mimicking phosphorylation reinstated disrupted MAP65-3 behaviors in plants with compromised α-Aurora function. Overall, our findings reveal a mechanism in which α-Aurora facilitates cytokinesis progression through phosphorylation-dependent restriction of MAP65-3 associating with microtubules at the phragmoplast midzone.
Disentangling genetic effects on transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene regulation through integrating exon and intron expression QTLs
Authors: Brümmer Anneke , Bergmann Sven 
Published: May 2024

AbstractExpression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) studies typically consider exon expression of genes and discard intronic RNA sequencing reads despite their information on RNA metabolism. Here, we quantify genetic effects on exon and intron levels of genes and their ratio in lymphoblastoid cell lines, revealing thousands of cis-QTLs of each type. While genetic effects are often shared between cis-QTL types, 7814 (47%) are not detected as top cis-QTLs at exon levels. We show that exon levels preferentially capture genetic effects on transcriptional regulation, while exon-intron-ratios better detect those on co- and post-transcriptional processes. Considering all cis-QTL types substantially increases (by 71%) the number of colocalizing variants identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS). It further allows dissecting the potential gene regulatory processes underlying GWAS associations, suggesting comparable contributions by transcriptional (50%) and co- and post-transcriptional regulation (46%) to complex traits. Overall, integrating intronic RNA sequencing reads in eQTL studies expands our understanding of genetic effects on gene regulatory processes.
A Toxoplasma gondii O-glycosyltransferase that modulates bradyzoite cyst wall rigidity is distinct from host homologues
Authors: Kumar Pranav , Tomita Tadakimi , Gerken Thomas A. , Ballard Collin J. , Lee Yong Sok , Weiss Louis M. , Samara Nadine L. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractInfection with the apicomplexan protozoan Toxoplasma gondii can be life-threatening in immunocompromised hosts. Transmission frequently occurs through the oral ingestion of T. gondii bradyzoite cysts, which transition to tachyzoites, disseminate, and then form cysts containing bradyzoites in the central nervous system, resulting in latent infection. Encapsulation of bradyzoites by a cyst wall is critical for immune evasion, survival, and transmission. O-glycosylation of the protein CST1 by the mucin-type O-glycosyltransferase T. gondii (Txg) GalNAc-T3 influences cyst wall rigidity and stability. Here, we report X-ray crystal structures of TxgGalNAc-T3, revealing multiple features that are strictly conserved among its apicomplexan homologues. This includes a unique 2nd metal that is coupled to substrate binding and enzymatic activity in vitro and cyst wall O-glycosylation in T. gondii. The study illustrates the divergence of pathogenic protozoan GalNAc-Ts from their host homologues and lays the groundwork for studying apicomplexan GalNAc-Ts as therapeutic targets in disease.
Realizing thermoelectric cooling and power generation in N-type PbS0.6Se0.4 via lattice plainification and interstitial doping
Authors: Wang Lei , Wen Yi , Bai Shulin , Chang Cheng , Li Yichen , Liu Shan , Liu Dongrui , Wang Siqi , Zhao Zhe , Zhan Shaoping , Cao Qian , Gao Xiang , Xie Hongyao , Zhao Li-Dong 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThermoelectrics have great potential for use in waste heat recovery to improve energy utilization. Moreover, serving as a solid-state heat pump, they have found practical application in cooling electronic products. Nevertheless, the scarcity of commercial Bi2Te3 raw materials has impeded the sustainable and widespread application of thermoelectric technology. In this study, we developed a low-cost and earth-abundant PbS compound with impressive thermoelectric performance. The optimized n-type PbS material achieved a record-high room temperature ZT of 0.64 in this system. Additionally, the first thermoelectric cooling device based on n-type PbS was fabricated, which exhibits a remarkable cooling temperature difference of ~36.9 K at room temperature. Meanwhile, the power generation efficiency of a single-leg device employing our n-type PbS material reaches ~8%, showing significant potential in harvesting waste heat into valuable electrical power. This study demonstrates the feasibility of sustainable n-type PbS as a viable alternative to commercial Bi2Te3, thereby extending the application of thermoelectrics.
Tracing microplastic sources in urban water bodies combining their diversity, fragmentation and stability
Authors: Niu Jinqiong , Xu Dongyu , Wu Wenqiang , Gao Bo 
Published: May 2024

AbstractTracing the sources of microplastics (MPs) across various environmental media is currently facing significant challenges due to their complex transportable features. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive identification of MP sources in Beijing water bodies by combining MP diversity and the conditional fragmentation model, thoroughly considering local multiple sources. The resemblance in MP community compositions implied shared or similar sources in rivers and lakes, and the sources were assorted and equivalent based on the high diversity of MPs. The conditional fragmentation model can act as a proxy of fragmentation characteristics of MPs. According to the model, suburban sewage, soils, and dry and wet deposition constituted significant sources of MPs in the rivers and lakes of Beijing. The extremely high abundance of MPs (520,000 items·m−3) in suburban sewage also confirmed it as a potential source. For MPs with different polymer types and morphologies, non-fibrous polypropylene (PP) was primarily controlled by soils, whereas the contribution of sewage sludge to fibrous polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was notable. Our study provides insights for more accurate source apportionment and contributes to a better understanding of MP fate in urban environment.
County-level intensity of carbon emissions from crop farming in China during 2000–2019
Authors: Li Cheng , Jia Junwen , Wu Fang , Zuo Lijun , Cui Xuefeng 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAgriculture is an important contributor to global carbon emissions. With the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and China’s carbon neutral strategy, accurate estimation of carbon emissions from crop farming is essential to reduce agricultural carbon emissions and promote sustainable food production systems in China. However, previous long-term time series estimates in China have mainly focused on the national and provincial levels, which are insufficient to characterize regional heterogeneity. Here, we selected the county-level administrative district as the basic geographical unit and then generated a county-level dataset on the intensity of carbon emissions from crop farming in China during 2000–2019, using random forest regression with multi-source data. This dataset can be used to delineate spatio-temporal changes in carbon emissions from crop farming in China, providing an important basis for decision makers and researchers to design agricultural carbon reduction strategies in China.
Consumer electronics based smart technologies for enhanced terahertz healthcare having an integration of split learning with medical imaging
Authors: Satpathy Sambit , Khalaf Osamah Ibrahim , Shukla Dhirendra Kumar , Algburi Sameer , Hamam Habib 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe proposed work contains three major contribution, such as smart data collection, optimized training algorithm and integrating Bayesian approach with split learning to make privacy of the patent data. By integrating consumer electronics device such as wearable devices, and the Internet of Things (IoT) taking THz image, perform EM algorithm as training, used newly proposed slit learning method the technology promises enhanced imaging depth and improved tissue contrast, thereby enabling early and accurate disease detection the breast cancer disease. In our hybrid algorithm, the breast cancer model achieves an accuracy of 97.5 percent over 100 epochs, surpassing the less accurate old models which required a higher number of epochs, such as 165.
Mass spectrometric analysis of Odonthobuthus Doriae scorpion venom and its non-neutralized fractions after interaction with commercial antivenom
Authors: Abdollahnia Adel , Bahmani Kiumars , Aliahmadi Atousa , As’habi Mohammad Ali , Ghassempour Alireza 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIt is believed that antivenoms play a crucial role in neutralizing venoms. However, uncontrolled clinical effects appear in patients stung by scorpions after the injection of antivenom. In this research, non-neutralized components of the venom of the Iranian scorpion Odonthobuthus doriae were analyzed after interacting with the commercial antivenom available in the market. The venom and antivenom interaction was performed, then centrifuged, and the supernatant was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Two peaks of Odonthobuthus doriae venom were observed in the chromatogram of the supernatant. Two components were isolated by HPLC and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) instruments. Peptide sequencing was done by Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF MS/MS). Results indicate that the components of scorpion venom mainly have a molecular weight below 10 kDa, consisting of toxic peptides that disrupt the function of sodium and potassium channels. The MALDI-TOF MS results show that two toxic peptides with molecular masses of 6941 Da and 6396 Da were not neutralized by the antivenom. According to the MS/MS sequencing data, the components have been related to peptides A0A5P8U2Q6_MESEU and A0A0U4FP89_ODODO, which belong to the sodium and potassium channels toxins family, respectively.
Photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics and antimicrobial and anticancer activities of two-dimensional ZnO nanosheets
Authors: Bhuin Abhik , Udayakumar Saranya , Gopalarethinam Janani , Mukherjee Debdyuti , Girigoswami Koyeli , Ponraj Caroline , Sarkar Sujoy 
Published: May 2024

AbstractActive pharmaceutical ingredients have emerged as an environmentally undesirable element because of their widespread exploitation and consequent pollution, which has deleterious effects on living things. In the pursuit of sustainable environmental remediation, biomedical applications, and energy production, there has been a significant focus on two-dimensional materials (2D materials) owing to their unique electrical, optical, and structural properties. Herein, we have synthesized 2D zinc oxide nanosheets (ZnO NSs) using a facile and practicable hydrothermal method and characterized them thoroughly using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The 2D nanosheets are used as an efficient photocatalyst for antibiotic (herein, end-user ciprofloxacin (CIP) was used as a model antibiotic) degradation under sunlight. It is observed that ZnO NSs photodegrade ~ 90% of CIP within two hours of sunlight illumination. The molecular mechanism of CIP degradation is proposed based on ex-situ IR analysis. Moreover, the 2D ZNO NSs are used as an antimicrobial agent and exhibit antibacterial qualities against a range of bacterial species, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and MIC of the bacteria are found to be 5 μg/l and 10 μg/l, respectively. Despite having the biocompatible nature of ZnO, as-synthesized nanosheets have also shown cytotoxicity against two types of cancer cells, i.e. A549 and A375. Thus, ZnO nanosheets showed a nontoxic nature, which can be exploited as promising alternatives in different biomedical applications.