bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic tracing of the illegal trade of the white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) in western Central Africa
Authors: Din Dipita Alain , Missoup Alain Didier , Aguillon Samantha , Lecompte Emilie , Momboua Brice Roxan , Chaber Anne-Lise , Abernethy Katharine , Njiokou Flobert , Tindo Maurice , Ntie Stephan , Gaubert Philippe 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe white-bellied pangolin is subject to intense trafficking, feeding both local and international trade networks. In order to assess its population genetics and trace its domestic trade, we genotyped 562 pangolins from local to large bushmeat markets in western central Africa. We show that the two lineages described from the study region (WCA and Gab) were overlapping in ranges, with limited introgression in southern Cameroon. There was a lack of genetic differentiation across WCA and a significant signature of isolation-by-distance possibly due to unsuspected dispersal capacities involving a Wahlund effect. We detected a c. 74.1–82.5% decline in the effective population size of WCA during the Middle Holocene. Private allele frequency tracing approach indicated up to 600 km sourcing distance by large urban markets from Cameroon, including Equatorial Guinea. The 20 species-specific microsatellite loci provided individual-level genotyping resolution and should be considered as valuable resources for future forensic applications. Because admixture was detected between lineages, we recommend a multi-locus approach for tracing the pangolin trade. The Yaoundé market was the main hub of the trade in the region, and thus should receive specific monitoring to mitigate pangolins’ domestic trafficking. Our study also highlighted the weak implementation of CITES regulations at European borders.
An enhanced speech emotion recognition using vision transformer
Authors: Akinpelu Samson , Viriri Serestina , Adegun Adekanmi 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIn human–computer interaction systems, speech emotion recognition (SER) plays a crucial role because it enables computers to understand and react to users’ emotions. In the past, SER has significantly emphasised acoustic properties extracted from speech signals. The use of visual signals for enhancing SER performance, however, has been made possible by recent developments in deep learning and computer vision. This work utilizes a lightweight Vision Transformer (ViT) model to propose a novel method for improving speech emotion recognition. We leverage the ViT model’s capabilities to capture spatial dependencies and high-level features in images which are adequate indicators of emotional states from mel spectrogram input fed into the model. To determine the efficiency of our proposed approach, we conduct a comprehensive experiment on two benchmark speech emotion datasets, the Toronto English Speech Set (TESS) and the Berlin Emotional Database (EMODB). The results of our extensive experiment demonstrate a considerable improvement in speech emotion recognition accuracy attesting to its generalizability as it achieved 98%, 91%, and 93% (TESS-EMODB) accuracy respectively on the datasets. The outcomes of the comparative experiment show that the non-overlapping patch-based feature extraction method substantially improves the discipline of speech emotion recognition. Our research indicates the potential for integrating vision transformer models into SER systems, opening up fresh opportunities for real-world applications requiring accurate emotion recognition from speech compared with other state-of-the-art techniques.
Impact of in vitro SARS-CoV-2 infection on breast cancer cells
Authors: Sommariva Michele , Dolci Maria , Triulzi Tiziana , Ambrogi Federico , Dugo Matteo , De Cecco Loris , Le Noci Valentino , Bernardo Giancarla , Anselmi Martina , Montanari Elena , Pupa Serenella M. , Signorini Lucia , Gagliano Nicoletta , Sfondrini Lucia , Delbue Serena , Tagliabue Elda 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe pandemic of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), caused by severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), had severe repercussions for breast cancer patients. Increasing evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection may directly impact breast cancer biology, but the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on breast tumor cells are still unknown. Here, we analyzed the molecular events occurring in the MCF7, MDA-MB-231 and HCC1937 breast cancer cell lines, representative of the luminal A, basal B/claudin-low and basal A subtypes, respectively, upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. Viral replication was monitored over time, and gene expression profiling was conducted. We found that MCF7 cells were the most permissive to viral replication. Treatment of MCF7 cells with Tamoxifen reduced the SARS-CoV-2 replication rate, suggesting an involvement of the estrogen receptor in sustaining virus replication in malignant cells. Interestingly, a metagene signature based on genes upregulated by SARS-CoV-2 infection in all three cell lines distinguished a subgroup of premenopausal luminal A breast cancer patients with a poor prognosis. As SARS-CoV-2 still spreads among the population, it is essential to understand the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on breast cancer, particularly in premenopausal patients diagnosed with the luminal A subtype, and to assess the long-term impact of COVID-19 on breast cancer outcomes.
POF-based biosensors for cortisol detection in seawater as a tool for aquaculture systems
Authors: Arcadio Francesco , Soares Simone , Nedoma Jan , Aguiar Dayana , Pereira Ana Cristina , Zeni Luigi , Cennamo Nunzio , Marques Carlos 
Published: June 2024

AbstractA surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomenon implemented via D-shaped polymer optical fiber (POF) is exploited to realize cortisol biosensors. In this work, two immonosensors are designed and developed for the qualitative as well as quantitative measurement of cortisol in artificial and real samples. The performances of the POF-based biosensors in cortisol recognition are achieved using different functionalization protocols to make the same antibody receptor layer over the SPR surface via cysteamine and lipoic acid, achieving a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.8 pg/mL and 0.2 pg/mL, respectively. More specifically, the use of cysteamine or lipoic acid changes the distance between the receptor layer and the SPR surface, improving the sensitivity at low concentrations of about one order of magnitude in the configuration based on lipoic acid. The LODs of both cortisol biosensors are achieved well competitively with other sensor systems but without the need for amplification or sample treatments. In order to obtain the selectivity tests, cholesterol and testosterone were used as interfering substances. Moreover, tests in simulated seawater were performed for the same cortisol concentration range achieved in buffer solution to assess the immunosensor response to the complex matrix. Finally, the developed cortisol biosensor was used in a real seawater sample to estimate the cortisol concentration value. The gold standard method has confirmed the estimated cortisol concentration value in real seawater samples. Liquid–liquid extraction was implemented to maximize the response of cortisol in liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis.
Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein reactive Th17 cells drive Janus Kinase 1 dependent transcriptional reprogramming in astrocytes and alter cell surface cytokine receptor profiles during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Authors: Milne Sarah M. , Lahiri Anirudhya , Sanchez Cristina L. , Marshall Micah J. , Jahan Ishrat , Meares Gordon P. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractMultiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS). T helper (Th) 17 cells are involved in the pathogenesis of MS and its animal model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by infiltrating the CNS and producing effector molecules that engage resident glial cells. Among these glial cells, astrocytes have a central role in coordinating inflammatory processes by responding to cytokines and chemokines released by Th17 cells. In this study, we examined the impact of pathogenic Th17 cells on astrocytes in vitro and in vivo. We identified that Th17 cells reprogram astrocytes by driving transcriptomic changes partly through a Janus Kinase (JAK)1-dependent mechanism, which included increased chemokines, interferon-inducible genes, and cytokine receptors. In vivo, we observed a region-specific heterogeneity in the expression of cell surface cytokine receptors on astrocytes, including those for IFN-γ, IL-1, TNF-α, IL-17, TGFβ, and IL-10. Additionally, these receptors were dynamically regulated during EAE induced by adoptive transfer of myelin-reactive Th17 cells. This study overall provides evidence of Th17 cell reprogramming of astrocytes, which may drive changes in the astrocytic responsiveness to cytokines during autoimmune neuroinflammation.
Identification of subclusters and prognostic genes based on GLS-associated molecular signature in ulcerative colitis
Authors: Xie Yang , Li Jun , Tao Qing , Wu Yonghui , Liu Zide , Chen Youxiang , Zeng Chunyan 
Published: June 2024

AbstractUlcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory disease that affects the colon and rectum. The response to treatment varies among individuals with UC. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify and explore potential biomarkers for different subtypes of UC and examine their association with immune cell infiltration. We obtained UC RNA sequencing data from the GEO database, which included the training set GSE92415 and the validation set GSE87473 and GSE72514. UC patients were classified based on GLS and its associated genes using consensus clustering analysis. We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in different UC subtypes through a differential expression analysis of the training cohort. Machine learning algorithms, including Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), and Support Vector Machine Recursive Feature Elimination (SVM-RFE), were utilized to identify marker genes for UC. The CIBERSORT algorithm was used to determine the abundance of various immune cells in UC and their correlation with UC signature genes. Finally, we validated the expression of GLS through in vivo and ex vivo experiments. The expression of GLS was found to be elevated in patients with UC compared to normal patients. GLS and its related genes were able to classify UC patients into two subtypes, C1 and C2. The C1 subtype, as compared to the C2 subtype, showed a higher Mayo score and poorer treatment response. A total of 18 DEGs were identified in both subtypes, including 7 up-regulated and 11 down-regulated genes. Four UC signature genes (CWH43, HEPACAM2, IL24, and PCK1) were identified and their diagnostic value was validated in a separate cohort (AUC > 0.85). Furthermore, we found that UC signature biomarkers were linked to the immune cell infiltration. CWH43, HEPACAM2, IL24, and PCK1 may serve as potential biomarkers for diagnosing different subtypes of UC, which could contribute to the development of targeted molecular therapy and immunotherapy for UC.
Investigation on dynamic mechanism of fault slip and casing deformation during multi-fracturing in shale gas wells
Authors: Zhao Chaojie , Jin Yanxin , Wang Xue 
Published: June 2024

AbstractFracturing horizontal well casing deformation has become very prominent, particularly in tectonic stress-concentrated shale gas fields, limiting the efficient development progress of shale gas. The main failure mode of casing shearing deformation had been attributed to fault slip caused by multi-fracturing. The current research did not provide a clear picture of the dynamic evolution relationship between hydraulic fracturing, fault slip, and casing deformation. In this paper, the dynamic model of fault slip induced by formation pressure change is established, incorporating the effects of stress drop, physical change of friction, and casing and cement-sheath resistance loads. The discontinuous displacement approach and explicit/implicit coupling iteration methods are used to reveal the relationships between the effective normal stress, shear stress, friction coefficient, and sliding velocity during the fault slip process. Furthermore, the microscopic process of casing deformation sheared by fault slip is investigated using static equilibrium theory, and a characterization method for determining the amount casing deformation caused by real-scale fault slip is proposed. The results show that three stages exist in the process of casing deformation sheared by fault slip, including trigger activation stage, accelerated slip stage, and deceleration slip stage. Fault slip is clearly influenced by fault strike. To reduce the amount of fault slip, the fault direction with the maximum in-situ stress should be avoided as much as possible. Serious casing deformation still occurs for large-scale activated faults even though the optimization measure of wellbore structure has been well taken. To fundamentally reduce the possibility of casing shear deformation, it is necessary to prevent fault slip through optimizing the design of hydraulic fracturing. This study lays the theoretical groundwork for the casing deformation control method in shale gas wells.
A genome-wide association study reveals a polygenic architecture of speech-in-noise deficits in individuals with self-reported normal hearing
Authors: Bhatt Ishan Sunilkumar , Garay Juan Antonio Raygoza , Bhagavan Srividya Grama , Ingalls Valerie , Dias Raquel , Torkamani Ali 
Published: June 2024

AbstractSpeech-in-noise (SIN) perception is a primary complaint of individuals with audiometric hearing loss. SIN performance varies drastically, even among individuals with normal hearing. The present genome-wide association study (GWAS) investigated the genetic basis of SIN deficits in individuals with self-reported normal hearing in quiet situations. GWAS was performed on 279,911 individuals from the UB Biobank cohort, with 58,847 reporting SIN deficits despite reporting normal hearing in quiet. GWAS identified 996 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), achieving significance (p < 5*10−8) across four genomic loci. 720 SNPs across 21 loci achieved suggestive significance (p < 10−6). GWAS signals were enriched in brain tissues, such as the anterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, entorhinal cortex, frontal cortex, hippocampus, and inferior temporal cortex. Cochlear cell types revealed no significant association with SIN deficits. SIN deficits were associated with various health traits, including neuropsychiatric, sensory, cognitive, metabolic, cardiovascular, and inflammatory conditions. A replication analysis was conducted on 242 healthy young adults. Self-reported speech perception, hearing thresholds (0.25–16 kHz), and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (1–16 kHz) were utilized for the replication analysis. 73 SNPs were replicated with a self-reported speech perception measure. 211 SNPs were replicated with at least one and 66 with at least two audiological measures. 12 SNPs near or within MAPT, GRM3, and HLA-DQA1 were replicated for all audiological measures. The present study highlighted a polygenic architecture underlying SIN deficits in individuals with self-reported normal hearing.
Association between Life’s Essential 8 and cataract among US adults
Authors: Meng Yang , Tan Zongbiao , Sawut Abdulla , Li Lu , Chen Changzheng 
Published: June 2024

AbstractCurrently, a comprehensive assessment of the relationship between ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) indicators and cataract risk is lacking. Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) is the latest concept proposed by the American Heart Association to comprehensively reflect CVH status. LE8 includes four health behaviors (diet, physical activity, smoking, and sleep) and four health factors (blood lipid, blood sugar, blood pressure, and body mass index). This study tried to evaluate the association between LE8 and cataract using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2008, a continuous research program which aims to monitor and evaluate the health and nutrition status of the US population. A cross-sectional study of 2720 non-cataract participants and 602 cataract participants. All participants were assigned to the poor, intermediate, and ideal CVH status groups based on LE8 score. Weighted multiple logistic regression was used to investigate the correlation between the LE8 score and cataract, as well as the correlation between each of the eight subitems and cataract, with potential confounding variables being adjusted. Then, restricted cubic spline analysis was used to further explore whether there was a nonlinear relationship between LE8 score and cataract. The proportion of cataract participants was 14.1%, 18.2%, and 20.6% in the ideal, intermediate, and poor CVH groups, respectively (P < 0.05). LE8 score was inversely associated with cataract risk, with each 10-point increase in LE8 score associated with a 14% reduction in cataract risk [odds ratio (OR) = 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.79–0.93, P < 0.01]. Among all the LE8 subitems, physical activity, sleep, and blood glucose were significantly associated with cataract risk (all P < 0.05). Better CVH, defined by a higher LE8 score, is associated with a lower cataract risk. Efforts to improve LE8 score (especially when it comes to physical activity, sleep, and blood glucose) may serve as a novel strategy to help reduce the risk of cataract.
Zinc oxide nano-fertilizer differentially effect on morphological and physiological identity of redox-enzymes and biochemical attributes in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Nazir Muneeba Anum , Hasan Murtaza , Mustafa Ghazala , Tariq Tuba , Ahmed Muhammad Mahmood , Golzari Dehno Rosa , Ghorbanpour Mansour 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe aim of current study was to prepared zinc oxide nanofertilzers by ecofriendly friendly, economically feasible, free of chemical contamination and safe for biological use. The study focused on crude extract of Withania coagulans as reducing agent for the green synthesis of ZnO nano-particles. Biosynthesized ZnO NPs were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR and GC–MS analysis. However, zinc oxide as green Nano fertilizer was used to analyze responses induced by different doses of ZnO NPs [0, 25, 50,100, 200 mg/l and Zn acetate (100 mg/l)] in Triticum aestivum (wheat). The stimulatory and inhibitory effects of foliar application of ZnO NPs were studied on wheat (Triticum aestivum) with aspect of biomass accumulation, morphological attributes, biochemical parameters and anatomical modifications. Wheat plant showed significant (p < 0.01) enhancement of growth parameters upon exposure to ZnO NPs at specific concentrations. In addition, wheat plant showed significant increase in biochemical attributes, chlorophyll content, carotenoids, carbohydrate and protein contents. Antioxidant enzyme (POD, SOD, CAT) and total flavonoid content also confirmed nurturing impact on wheat plant. Increased stem, leaf and root anatomical parameters, all showed ZnO NPs mitigating capacity when applied to wheat. According to the current research, ZnO NPs application on wheat might be used to increase growth, yield, and Zn biofortification in wheat plants.
Fabrication of heart tubes from iPSC derived cardiomyocytes and human fibrinogen by rotating mold technology
Authors: Andrée Birgit , Voß Nils , Kriedemann Nils , Triebert Wiebke , Teske Jana , Mertens Mira , Witte Merlin , Szádocka Sára , Hilfiker Andres , Aper Thomas , Gruh Ina , Zweigerdt Robert 
Published: June 2024

AbstractDue to its structural and functional complexity the heart imposes immense physical, physiological and electromechanical challenges on the engineering of a biological replacement. Therefore, to come closer to clinical translation, the development of a simpler biological assist device is requested. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of tubular cardiac constructs with substantial dimensions of 6 cm in length and 11 mm in diameter by combining human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) and human foreskin fibroblast (hFFs) in human fibrin employing a rotating mold technology. By centrifugal forces employed in the process a cell-dense layer was generated enabling a timely functional coupling of iPSC-CMs demonstrated by a transgenic calcium sensor, rhythmic tissue contractions, and responsiveness to electrical pacing. Adjusting the degree of remodeling as a function of hFF-content and inhibition of fibrinolysis resulted in stable tissue integrity for up to 5 weeks. The rotating mold device developed in frame of this work enabled the production of tubes with clinically relevant dimensions of up to 10 cm in length and 22 mm in diameter which—in combination with advanced bioreactor technology for controlled production of functional iPSC-derivatives—paves the way towards the clinical translation of a biological cardiac assist device.
FADS2 confers SCD1 inhibition resistance to cancer cells by modulating the ER stress response
Authors: Ikeda Toshikatsu , Katoh Yuki , Hino Hirotsugu , Seta Daichi , Ogawa Tadashi , Iwata Takashi , Nishio Hiroshi , Sugawara Masaki , Hirai Shuichi 
Published: June 2024

AbstractStearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) is an attractive target for cancer therapy. However, the clinical efficacy of SCD1 inhibitor monotherapy is limited. There is thus a need to elucidate the mechanisms of resistance to SCD1 inhibition and develop new therapeutic strategies for combination therapy. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which cancer cells acquire resistance to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-dependent cancer cell death induced by SCD1 inhibition. SCD1 inhibitor-sensitive and -resistant cancer cells were treated with SCD1 inhibitors in vitro, and SCD1 inhibitor-sensitive cancer cells accumulated palmitic acid and underwent ER stress response-induced cell death. Conversely, SCD1-resistant cancer cells did not undergo ER stress response-induced cell death because fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2) eliminated the accumulation of palmitic acid. Furthermore, genetic depletion using siRNA showed that FADS2 is a key determinant of sensitivity/resistance of cancer cells to SCD1 inhibitor. A549 cells, an SCD1 inhibitor-resistant cancer cell line, underwent ER stress-dependent cancer cell death upon dual inhibition of SCD1 and FADS2. Thus, combination therapy with SCD1 inhibition and FADS2 inhibition is potentially a new cancer therapeutic strategy targeting fatty acid metabolism.
Effect of digital multimedia on the adoption of agricultural green production technology among farmers in Liaoning Province, China
Authors: Yu Xueying , Sheng Guojun , Sun Dongshi , He Rui 
Published: June 2024

AbstractAgricultural green production technology (AGPT) is essential for the sustainable development of agriculture, yet adoption rates among farmers are often low due to limited access to education and information. Based on the extended technology acceptance model, this study takes Liaoning, a major agricultural province in China, as a representative region to explore how digital multimedia influences the adoption of AGPT by farmers. The findings show that the perceived ease of use of these technologies significantly enhances farmers' intentions to adopt, while perceived risks detract from these intentions. Although digital multimedia effectively promotes AGPT by improving its perceived ease of use and usefulness, its role in mitigating perceived risks is minimal. Based on these results, we recommend that the government improve the quality of information on digital platforms by involving experts in the field and offer specific digital marketing training to potential users to increase the adoption of sustainable agricultural technologies.