bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship between HLA genetic variations, COVID-19 vaccine antibody response, and risk of breakthrough outcomes
Authors: Xie Junqing , Mothe Beatriz , Alcalde Herraiz Marta , Li Chunxiao , Xu Yu , Jödicke Annika M. , Gao Yaqing , Wang Yunhe , Feng Shuo , Wei Jia , Chen Zhuoyao , Hong Shenda , Wu Yeda , Su Binbin , Zheng Xiaoying , Cohet Catherine , Ali Raghib , Wareham Nick , Alhambra Daniel Prieto 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe rapid global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, with over a billion doses administered, has been unprecedented. However, in comparison to most identified clinical determinants, the implications of individual genetic factors on antibody responses post-COVID-19 vaccination for breakthrough outcomes remain elusive. Here, we conducted a population-based study including 357,806 vaccinated participants with high-resolution HLA genotyping data, and a subset of 175,000 with antibody serology test results. We confirmed prior findings that single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with antibody response are predominantly located in the Major Histocompatibility Complex region, with the expansive HLA-DQB1*06 gene alleles linked to improved antibody responses. However, our results did not support the claim that this mutation alone can significantly reduce COVID-19 risk in the general population. In addition, we discovered and validated six HLA alleles (A*03:01, C*16:01, DQA1*01:02, DQA1*01:01, DRB3*01:01, and DPB1*10:01) that independently influence antibody responses and demonstrated a combined effect across HLA genes on the risk of breakthrough COVID-19 outcomes. Lastly, we estimated that COVID-19 vaccine-induced antibody positivity provides approximately 20% protection against infection and 50% protection against severity. These findings have immediate implications for functional studies on HLA molecules and can inform future personalised vaccination strategies.
Microfibril-associated glycoprotein 4 forms octamers that mediate interactions with elastogenic proteins and cells
Authors: Wozny Michael R. , Nelea Valentin , Siddiqui Iram Fatima S. , Wanga Shaynah , de Waard Vivian , Strauss Mike , Reinhardt Dieter P. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractMicrofibril-associated glycoprotein 4 (MFAP4) is a 36-kDa extracellular matrix glycoprotein with critical roles in organ fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disorders, including aortic aneurysms. MFAP4 multimerises and interacts with elastogenic proteins, including fibrillin-1 and tropoelastin, and with cells via integrins. Structural details of MFAP4 and its potential interfaces for these interactions are unknown. Here, we present a cryo-electron microscopy structure of human MFAP4. In the presence of calcium, MFAP4 assembles as an octamer, where two sets of homodimers constitute the top and bottom halves of each octamer. Each homodimer is linked together by an intermolecular disulphide bond. A C34S missense mutation prevents disulphide-bond formation between monomers but does not prevent octamer assembly. The atomic model, built into the 3.55 Å cryo-EM map, suggests that salt-bridge interactions mediate homodimer assembly, while non-polar residues form the interface between octamer halves. In the absence of calcium, an MFAP4 octamer dissociates into two tetramers. Binding studies with fibrillin-1, tropoelastin, LTBP4, and small fibulins show that MFAP4 has multiple surfaces for protein-protein interactions, most of which depend upon MFAP4 octamer assembly. The C34S mutation does not affect these protein interactions or cell interactions. MFAP4 assemblies with fibrillin-1 abrogate MFAP4 interactions with cells.
Structural anisotropy results in mechano-directional transport of proteins across nuclear pores
Authors: Panagaki Fani , Tapia-Rojo Rafael , Zhu Tong , Milmoe Natalie , Paracuellos Patricia , Board Stephanie , Mora Marc , Walker Jane , Rostkova Elena , Stannard Andrew , Infante Elvira , Garcia-Manyes Sergi 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe nuclear pore complex regulates nucleocytoplasmic transport by means of a tightly synchronized suite of biochemical reactions. The physicochemical properties of the translocating cargos are emerging as master regulators of their shuttling dynamics. As well as being affected by molecular weight and surface-exposed amino acids, the kinetics of the nuclear translocation of protein cargos also depend on their nanomechanical properties, yet the mechanisms underpinning the mechanoselectivity of the nuclear pore complex are unclear. Here we show that proteins with locally soft regions in the vicinity of the nuclear-localization sequence exhibit higher nuclear-import rates, and that such mechanoselectivity is specifically impaired upon knocking down nucleoporin 153, a key protein in the nuclear pore complex. This allows us to design a short, easy-to-express and chemically inert unstructured peptide tag that accelerates the nuclear-import rate of stiff protein cargos. We also show that U2OS osteosarcoma cells expressing the peptide-tagged myocardin-related transcription factor import this mechanosensitive protein to the nucleus at higher rates and display faster motility. Locally unstructured regions lower the free-energy barrier of protein translocation and might offer a control mechanism for nuclear mechanotransduction.
Eugenol as a potential adjuvant therapy for gingival squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Issa Hawraa , Loubaki Lionel , Al Amri Abdullah , Zibara Kazem , Almutairi Mikhlid H. , Rouabhia Mahmoud , Semlali Abdelhabib 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAdoption of plant-derived compounds for the management of oral cancer is encouraged by the scientific community due to emerging chemoresistance and conventional treatments adverse effects. Considering that very few studies investigated eugenol clinical relevance for gingival carcinoma, we ought to explore its selectivity and performance according to aggressiveness level. For this purpose, non-oncogenic human oral epithelial cells (GMSM-K) were used together with the Tongue (SCC-9) and Gingival (Ca9-22) squamous cell carcinoma lines to assess key tumorigenesis processes. Overall, eugenol inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation while inducing cytotoxicity in cancer cells as compared to normal counterparts. The recorded effect was greater in gingival carcinoma and appears to be mediated through apoptosis induction and promotion of p21/p27/cyclin D1 modulation and subsequent Ca9-22 cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, in a p53-independent manner. At these levels, distinct genetic profiles were uncovered for both cell lines by QPCR array. Moreover, it seems that our active component limited Ca9-22 and SCC-9 cell migration respectively through MMP1/3 downregulation and stimulation of inactive MMPs complex formation. Finally, Ca9-22 behaviour appears to be mainly modulated by the P38/STAT5/NFkB pathways. In summary, we can disclose that eugenol is cancer selective and that its mediated anti-cancer mechanisms vary according to the cell line with gingival squamous cell carcinoma being more sensitive to this phytotherapy agent.
Gratitude practice helps undergraduates who experienced an earthquake in China find meaning in life
Authors: Cai Xueli , Zhou Ningyi , Chen Junpeng , Mao Zhuozhu , Wang Shujun , Luo Zaibing , Xie Mei , Mao Yanhui 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis study was conducted following a magnitude 6.8 earthquake that occurred in early September 2022, coinciding with the commencement of a positive psychology course for the affected students. A sample of 479 Chinese undergraduates was recruited for an intervention focused on weekly gratitude practice. Data were collected through an online questionnaire package at 3 time points: the first week of the course (Time 1), the fifth week (Time 2), and the ninth week (Time 3), assessing gratitude, learning engagement, and the meaning of life. Findings revealed that gratitude significantly predicted meaning in life through learning engagement over time. This highlights the significant mediating role of learning engagement in the context of earthquakes and provides insights for positive interventions aimed at facilitating personal growth among emerging adults in higher educational settings, particularly those who have experienced traumatic events such as earthquakes.
Optimal distribution grid allocation of reactive power with a focus on the particle swarm optimization technique and voltage stability
Authors: Candra Oriza , Alghamdi Mohammed I. , Hammid Ali Thaeer , Alvarez José Ricardo Nuñez , Staroverova Olga V. , Hussien Alawadi Ahmed , Marhoon Haydar Abdulameer , Shafieezadeh M. Mehdi 
Published: May 2024

AbstractA structured approach to managing reactive power is imperative within the context of power systems. Among the restructuring initiatives in the electrical sector, power systems have undergone delineation into three principal categories: generation, transmission, and distribution entities, each of which is overseen by an independent system operator. Notably, active power emerges as the predominant commodity transacted within the electrical market, with the autonomous grid operator assuming the responsibility of ensuring conducive conditions for the execution of energy contracts across the transmission infrastructure. Ancillary services, comprising essential frameworks for energy generation and delivery to end-users, encompass reactive power services pivotal in the regulation of bus voltage. Of particular significance among the array of ancillary services requisite in a competitive market milieu is the provision of adequate reactive power to uphold grid safety and voltage stability. A salient impediment to the realization of energy contracts lies in the inadequacy of reactive power within the grid, which poses potential risks to its operational safety and voltage equilibrium. The optimal allocation of the reactive power load is predicated upon presumptions of consistent outcomes within the active power market. Under this conceptual framework, generators are afforded continual compensation for the provision of reactive power indispensable for sustaining their active energy production endeavors.
Global transcriptome profiles provide insights into muscle cell development and differentiation on microstructured marine biopolymer scaffolds for cultured meat production
Authors: Bezjak Dragica , Orellana Nicole , Valdivia Guillermo , Acevedo Cristian A. , Valdes Jorge H. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBiomaterial scaffolds play a pivotal role in the advancement of cultured meat technology, facilitating essential processes like cell attachment, growth, specialization, and alignment. Currently, there exists limited knowledge concerning the creation of consumable scaffolds tailored for cultured meat applications. This investigation aimed to produce edible scaffolds featuring both smooth and patterned surfaces, utilizing biomaterials such as salmon gelatin, alginate, agarose and glycerol, pertinent to cultured meat and adhering to food safety protocols. The primary objective of this research was to uncover variations in transcriptomes profiles between flat and microstructured edible scaffolds fabricated from marine-derived biopolymers, leveraging high-throughput sequencing techniques. Expression analysis revealed noteworthy disparities in transcriptome profiles when comparing the flat and microstructured scaffold configurations against a control condition. Employing gene functional enrichment analysis for the microstructured versus flat scaffold conditions yielded substantial enrichment ratios, highlighting pertinent gene modules linked to the development of skeletal muscle. Notable functional aspects included filament sliding, muscle contraction, and the organization of sarcomeres. By shedding light on these intricate processes, this study offers insights into the fundamental mechanisms underpinning the generation of muscle-specific cultured meat.
Diabetes-related risk factors and survival among individuals with type 2 diabetes and breast, lung, colorectal, or prostate cancer
Authors: Laurberg Tinne , Witte Daniel Rinse , Gudbjörnsdottir Soffia , Eliasson Björn , Bjerg Lasse 
Published: May 2024

AbstractPremature death in diabetes is increasingly caused by cancer. The objectives were to estimate the excess mortality when individuals with type 2 diabetes(T2D) were diagnosed with cancer, and to examine the impact of modifiable diabetes-related risk factors. This longitudinal nationwide cohort study included individuals with T2D registered in the Swedish National Diabetes Register between 1998–2019. Poisson models were used to estimate mortality as a function of time-updated risk-factors, adjusted for sex, age, diabetes duration, marital status, country of birth, BMI, blood pressure, lipids, albuminuria, smoking, and physical activity. We included 690,539 individuals with T2D and during 4,787,326 person-years of follow-up 179,627 individuals died. Overall, the all-cause mortality rate ratio was 3.75 [95%confidence interval(CI):3.69–3.81] for individuals with T2D and cancer compared to those remaining free of cancer. The most marked risk factors associated to mortality among individuals with T2D and cancer were low physical activity, 1.59 (1.57–1.61) and smoking, 2.15 (2.08–2.22), whereas HbA1c, lipids, hypertension, and BMI had no/weak associations with survival. In a future with more patients with comorbid T2D and cancer diagnoses, these results suggest that smoking and physical activity might be the two most salient modifiable risk factors for mortality in people with type 2 diabetes and cancer.
Color matching of bicomponent (PET/PTT) filaments with high performances using genetic algorithm
Authors: Souissi Marwa , Chaouch Sabrine , Moussa Ali 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIn recent years, a great interest has focused on the use of bicomponent filaments in several high-performance textile articles such as swimwear, sportswear and even high-quality denim. To dye fabrics containing these filaments, it is necessary to establish appropriate dye recipes allowing to obtain desired shades. In this article, we developed a genetic algorithm to optimize the color matching step of these bicomponent filaments, especially (PET/PTT) filaments. Three disperse dyes with different molecular weights were used for dyeing. The objective is to reproduce the reference color by choosing the appropriate disperse dyes among the available dyestuffs and their corresponding quantities to use on the mixture. For modeling, two sets of parameters (lied to the color formulation problem and the genetic algorithm), the objective function as well as the different stages of the algorithm were defined and described. In addition, different techniques of selection and mutation were applied and evaluated. The optimization criterion is to reduce the CMC color difference between the desired reference colors and the colors proposed by the algorithm. The developed algorithm showed good performances with very small color differences. The results indicate that the roulette wheel selection technique outperforms both rank and uniform selection methods. Moreover, employing a simple mutation strategy yields favorable outcomes with CMC color differences all lower than 1.
Production and characterization of bacterial cellulose by Rhizobium sp. isolated from bean root
Authors: Almihyawi Raed A. H. , Musazade Elshan , Alhussany Nazeer , Zhang Sitong , Chen Huan 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBacterial cellulose (BC) is a natural polymer renowned for its unique physicochemical and mechanical attributes, including notable water-holding capacity, crystallinity, and a pristine fiber network structure. While BC has broad applications spanning agriculture, industry, and medicine, its industrial utilization is hindered by production costs and yield limitations. In this study, Rhizobium sp. was isolated from bean roots and systematically assessed for BC synthesis under optimal conditions, with a comparative analysis against BC produced by Komagataeibacter hansenii. The study revealed that Rhizobium sp. exhibited optimal BC synthesis when supplied with a 1.5% glucose carbon source and a 0.15% yeast extract nitrogen source. Under static conditions at 30 °C and pH 6.5, the most favorable conditions for growth and BC production (2.5 g/L) were identified. Modifications were introduced using nisin to enhance BC properties, and the resulting BC-nisin composites were comprehensively characterized through various techniques, including FE-SEM, FTIR, porosity, swelling, filtration, and antibacterial activity assessments. The results demonstrated that BC produced by Rhizobium sp. displayed properties comparable to K. hansenii-produced BC. Furthermore, the BC-nisin composites exhibited remarkable inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This study contributes valuable insights into BC’s production, modification, and characterization utilizing Rhizobium sp., highlighting the exceptional properties that render it efficacious across diverse applications.
Exploring the use of visual predictions in social scenarios while under anticipatory threat
Authors: Silva Fábio , Ribeiro Sérgio , Silva Samuel , Garrido Marta I. , Soares Sandra C. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractOne of the less recognized effects of anxiety lies in perception alterations caused by how one weighs both sensory evidence and contextual cues. Here, we investigated how anxiety affects our ability to use social cues to anticipate the others’ actions. We adapted a paradigm to assess expectations in social scenarios, whereby participants were asked to identify the presence of agents therein, while supported by contextual cues from another agent. Participants (N = 66) underwent this task under safe and threat-of-shock conditions. We extracted both criterion and sensitivity measures as well as gaze data. Our analysis showed that whilst the type of action had the expected effect, threat-of-shock had no effect over criterion and sensitivity. Although showing similar dwell times, gaze exploration of the contextual cue was associated with shorter fixation durations whilst participants were under threat. Our findings suggest that anxiety does not appear to influence the use of expectations in social scenarios.
Effect of fumigation height and time on cryopreservation of ram semen
Authors: Zhang Liuming , Wang Xuyang , Jiang Caiyu , Sun Yuxuan , Sohail Tariq , Sun Xiaomei , Wang Jian , Li Yongjun 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe cooling rate is a crucial factor in the process of freezing semen, influencing the overall freezing effectiveness. The height and time of fumigation can significantly impact the rate of cooling. Appropriate cooling rates can help minimize the formation of ice crystals in spermatozoa and reduce potential damage to them. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different fumigation heights and time for the cryopreservation of Hu ram semen. Experiments I–IV assessed the effect of semen cryopreservation by testing the post-thawed spermatozoa total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM) and kinetic parameters fumigated at distances of 2, 4, 6 and 8 cm for durations of 5, 10, 15 and 20 min, respectively. Based on the results of experiments I to IV, experiment V evaluated the effect of semen cryopreservation by testing the post-thawed spermatozoa TM, PM, kinetic parameters, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level fumigated at distances of 2, 4, 6 and 8 cm for duration of 20 min. The results indicated that fumigation at 2 cm for 20 min significantly (P < 0.05) improved spermatozoa TM, PM, mean angular displacement (MAD), plasma membrane integrity and acrosome integrity compared to other groups. Additionally, it significantly (P < 0.05) reduced spermatozoa ROS level compared to the 6 and 8 cm groups. In conclusion, fumigation for 20 min at a distance of 2 cm from the liquid nitrogen surface is the most suitable cooling method for the cryopreservation of Hu ram semen.
Research progress in modified mineral oil, natural ester and mixed oil in transformers
Authors: Peng Xiao , Wang Qi , Kang Shenglin , Chen Chen , Li Gang , Wang Ke , Liao Ruijin , Zhao Xuetong 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThree kinds of typical insulating oil including mineral oil (MO), natural ester (NE), and mixed insulating oil used in transformers are reviewed. The basic physicochemical, electrical properties and engineering application of the oil were firstly introduced. Then, the nano‐modified mechanism for MO and NE is explored. The effects of various nanofillers on electrical properties, thermal conductivity and ageing stability of MO and NE are compared. Moreover, the preparation process of mixed insulating oil is described, and the enhancement of electrical performance, thermal ageing properties, and kinematic viscosity of mixed insulating oil are analysed. Finally, the performance parameters of nano‐modified MO, NE and mixed insulating oil are analysed, and the future development trend of insulating oil is also discussed.
Enhanced electrical properties of polypropylene insulation based on β‐nucleated crystallization regulation for high‐voltage direct current cable
Authors: Wang Heyu , Li Zhonglei , Zheng Yaqing , Du Boxue 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis study investigates the effect of crystallisation regulation on the electrical properties of β‐modified polypropylene (PP) insulation. Various β‐modified polypropylene insulation samples are prepared by controlling the melting temperature within the range of 180°C–200°C, and the ensuing crystallization characteristics of polypropylene insulation are evaluated. It is observed that the crystallinity decreased with increase in melting temperature, while the β crystal fraction and the lamellae long period increased. Notably, PP insulation subjected to a melting temperature of 200 °C demonstrates a substantial 47.1% decrease in DC conductivity, accompanied by a notable 22.6% reduction in space charge accumulation, concomitant with a significant 14.6% enhancement in DC breakdown strength. Additionally, a higher β crystal fraction in PP insulation is found to correspond to an increased density of deep traps, notably at an energy level of 0.95 eV. The elevated melting temperature effectively eradicates the melting memory effect, thereby facilitating the induction of β crystals by the β‐nucleating agents. The parallel lamellae structure inherent in β crystals serves to diminish interface defects between spherulites, consequently mitigating carrier mobility, curtailing space charge accumulation and enhancing breakdown strength.