bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Absolute iron deficiency, coronary artery calcification and cardiovascular mortality in maintenance haemodialysis patients
Authors: Mizuiri Sonoo , Nishizawa Yoshiko , Yamashita Kazuomi , Doi Toshiki , Okubo Aiko , Morii Kenichi , Usui Koji , Arita Michiko , Naito Takayuki , Shigemoto Kenichiro , Masaki Takao 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAimThe effects of iron on vascular calcification in rats and vascular smooth muscle cells were recently reported, but clinical studies on iron and vascular calcification are scant. We studied the associations of absolute iron deficiency, coronary artery calcification and mortality in patients with maintenance haemodialysis (MHD).MethodsTransferrin saturation (TSAT), ferritin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and Agatston coronary artery calcium score (CACS) were studied at baseline in MHD patients and followed up for 3 years. Cox proportional hazard analyses for mortality and linear regression analyses for CACS were performed.ResultsIn 306 patients, the median age was 67 (56–81) years, dialysis duration was 76 (38–142) months, and diabetes prevalence was 42.5%. Fifty‐two patients had died by 3 years. Patients with absolute iron deficiency (TSAT <20% and ferritin <100 ng/mL) (n = 102) showed significantly higher CACS (p = .0266) and C‐reactive protein (p = .0011), but a lower frequency of iron formulation administration compared with patients without absolute iron deficiency at baseline (n = 204). Absolute iron deficiency was a significant predictor for 3‐year cardiovascular (CV) mortality (hazard ratio: 2.08; p = .0466), but not for 3‐year all‐cause mortality. CACS was significant predictor for both 3‐year CV and all‐cause mortality (p <.05). Absolute iron deficiency and MCH were significant determinants of CACS (p < .05).ConclusionMHD patients with absolute iron deficiency showed significantly higher CACS than others, and absolute iron deficiency was a significant risk factor for coronary artery calcification and 3‐year CV mortality in MHD patients, but was not a significant predictor for 3‐year all‐cause mortality.image
Redesigning a S‐nitrosylated pyruvate‐dependent GABA transaminase 1 to generate high‐malate and saline–alkali‐tolerant tomato
Authors: Liu Minghui , Cao Bili , Wei Jin‐Wei , Gong Biao 
Published: March 2024

Summary

Although saline–alkali stress can improve tomato quality, the detailed molecular processes that balance stress tolerance and quality are not well‐understood.

Our research links nitric oxide (NO) and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) with the control of root malate exudation and fruit malate storage, mediated by aluminium‐activated malate transporter 9/14 (SlALMT9/14). By modifying a specific S‐nitrosylated site on pyruvate‐dependent GABA transaminase 1 (SlGABA‐TP1), we have found a way to enhance both plant's saline–alkali tolerance and fruit quality.

Under saline–alkali stress, NO levels vary in tomato roots and fruits. High NO in roots leads to S‐nitrosylation of SlGABA‐TP1/2/3 at Cys316/258/316, reducing their activity and increasing GABA. This GABA then reduces malate exudation from roots and affects saline–alkali tolerance by interacting with SlALMT14. In fruits, a moderate NO level boosts SlGABA‐TP1 expression and GABA breakdown, easing GABA's block on SlALMT9 and increasing malate storage. Mutants of SlGABA‐TP1C316S that do not undergo S‐nitrosylation maintain high activity, supporting malate movement in both roots and fruits under stress.

This study suggests targeting SlGABA‐TP1Cys316 in tomato breeding could significantly improve plant's saline–alkali tolerance and fruit quality, offering a promising strategy for agricultural development.
Tooth agenesis related to a novel KDF1 variant: A case report and literature review
Authors: Intarak Narin , Manaspon Chawan , Theerapanon Thanakorn , Prommanee Sasiprapa , Samaranayake Lakshman , Shotelersuk Vorasuk , Porntaveetus Thantrira 
Published: March 2024

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate the role of Keratinocyte Differentiation Factor 1 (KDF1) in ectodermal dysplasia (ED) and nonsyndromic tooth agenesis (NSTA) and perform a literature review.MethodsGenome sequencing was used to identify genetic variants in a Thai, NSTA proband and validated through Sanger sequencing. Pathogenicity was assessed using ACMG guidelines, MetaRNN and AlphaMissense. A comprehensive review of KDF1/NSTA cases informed genotype–phenotype analysis of the proband.ResultsThe proband revealed multiple missing teeth, caries and extensive periodontal disease. Deep phenotyping showed no signs of ED beyond tooth agenesis. The identified novel KDF1 variant, p.Ile243Leu, was classified as ‘likely pathogenic’ by ACMG and predicted as ‘detrimental’ by MetaRNN and AlphaMissense analyses. A total of 14 reviewed KDF1 cases revealed ED‐associated variants (3 variants in 8 patients) clustering in the region of amino acids 251–275, within the DUF4656 domain, while NSTA‐causing variants (4 variants in 6 patients) were typically found in amino‐ or carboxy‐termini to this region. KDF1/NSTA cases exhibited an average of 15 missing teeth, with a higher prevalence in the mandible.ConclusionThis study identifies a novel KDF1 variant‐related NSTA in Thai people. The genotype–phenotype correlates suggest a distinctive pattern and tooth agenesis of KDF1‐related NSTA.
Effects of trastuzumab emtansine on canine urothelial carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Sakai Kosei , Kato Daiki , Yoshinaka Junka , Takahashi Yosuke , Ikeda Namiko , Aoki Susumu , Iguchi Takaaki , Ishikawa Shingo , Yamagishi Norio , Shimamura Shunsuke , Nakagawa Takayuki 
Published: March 2024

AbstractUrothelial carcinoma (UC) is the most common malignancy of the urinary tract in dogs and has aggressive behaviour. Although human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a known therapeutic target with evidence in canine UC, the efficacy of anti‐HER2 antibody drugs remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of anti‐HER2 antibody drugs including trastuzumab and trastuzumab emtansine (T‐DM1) on canine UC cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Four canine UC cell lines (Nene, TCCUB, Love, and Sora) were used. In western blotting, HER2 protein expression was observed in all the cell lines. Although both trastuzumab and T‐DM1 showed dose‐dependent growth inhibitory activity in the cell lines, T‐DM1 showed much stronger activity than that of trastuzumab. In flow cytometry analyses with the canine UC cell line (Sora), T‐DM1 but not trastuzumab significantly increased the percentages of early and late apoptotic cells in annexin V apoptotic assays and the sub‐G1 phase fraction in cell cycle analyses. For the in vivo experiment, the canine UC cells (Sora) were subcutaneously injected into nude mice. Four days after inoculation, trastuzumab, T‐DM1, or vehicle was administered intraperitoneally once a week for three times. Tumour volumes were significantly smaller in the T‐DM1 group compared to the trastuzumab and vehicle control groups. These findings indicate that T‐DM1 exerts a stronger antitumour effect than that of trastuzumab on canine UC cells in vitro and in vivo, possibly by inducing apoptosis due to DM1.
Long‐term control of diabetes by tofacitinib‐based immunosuppressive regimen after allo islet transplantation in diabetic rhesus monkeys that rejected previously transplanted porcine islets
Authors: Kim Jong‐Min , Kang Seong‐Jun , Hong So‐Hee , Chung Hyunwoo , Shin Jun‐Seop , Min Byoung‐Hoon , Kim Hyun Je , Ha Jongwon , Park Chung‐Gyu 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPorcine islet xenotransplantation has been highlighted as an alternative to allo islet transplantation. Despite the remarkable progress that has been made in porcine‐islet pre‐clinical studies in nonhuman primates, immunological tolerance to porcine islets has not been achieved to date. Therefore, allo islet transplantation could be required after the failure of porcine islet xenotransplantation. Here, we report the long‐term control of diabetes by allogeneic pancreatic islet transplantation in diabetic rhesus monkeys that rejected previously transplanted porcine islets. Four diabetic male rhesus monkeys received the porcine islets and then allo islets (5700—19 000 IEQ/kg) were re‐transplanted for a short or long period after the first xeno islet rejection. The recipient monkeys were treated with an immunosuppressive regimen consisting of ATG, humira, and anakinra for induction, and sirolimus and tofacitinib for maintenance therapy. The graft survival days of allo islets in these monkeys were >440, 395, >273, and 127, respectively, similar to that in allo islet transplanted cynomolgus monkeys that received the same immunosuppressive regimen without xeno sensitization. Taken together, it is likely that prior islet xenotransplantation does not affect the survival of subsequent allo islets under clinically applicable immunosuppressants.
Distinct adaptations of muscle endurance but not strength or hypertrophy to low‐load resistance training with and without blood flow restriction
Authors: Ida Akito , Sasaki Kazushige 
Published: March 2024

AbstractLow‐load resistance training promotes muscle strength and hypertrophic adaptations when combined with blood flow restriction (BFR). However, the effect of BFR on muscle endurance remains unclear. The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of BFR on muscle performance and adaptation, with special reference to local muscle endurance. In experiment 1, eight healthy men performed unilateral elbow flexion exercise to failure at 30% of one‐repetition maximum with BFR (at 40% of estimated arterial occlusion pressure) and free blood flow (FBF). During the exercise, muscle activity and tissue oxygenation were measured from the biceps brachii. In experiment 2, another eight healthy men completed 6 weeks of elbow flexion training with BFR and FBF. The number of repetitions to failure at submaximal load (Rmax), the estimated time for peak torque output to decay by 50% during repetitive maximum voluntary contractions (half‐time), one‐repetition maximum, isometric strength and muscle thickness of elbow flexors were measured pre‐ and post‐training. Blood flow restriction resulted in fewer repetitions and lower muscle tissue oxygenation at the end of exercise than FBF, while the muscle activity increased similarly to repetition failure. Blood flow restriction also resulted in a smaller post‐training Rmax, which was strongly correlated with the total exercise volume over the 6 week period. Despite the smaller exercise volume, BFR resulted in similar improvements in half‐time, muscle strength and thickness compared with FBF. These results suggest that the application of BFR can attenuate muscle endurance adaptations to low‐load resistance training by decreasing the number of repetitions during exercise, both acutely and chronically.
Thermal Hydraulic Analysis of Turbulent Flow of Superheated Steam Through Multiple Configurations of 3D Angular Piping Bend in Power Plant Installations
Authors: Khan Mohammad , Haque Jehad , Putul Lubon , Sohel Shamsul Huda 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
One of the most vulnerable parts in high-pressure and temperature pipeline networks in steam turbine power plant installations is pipe bends, due to intense fluctuation of velocity and pressure of the superheated steam flowing through the piping bend. On the other hand, because of unique chemical and physical properties, the transportation of superheated steam can adversely effect on the integrity of the pipe bends in the piping network. Therefore, the potential risk of pipeline failure becomes more probable at bends. Therefore, to ensure the survivability of the piping network, thorough investigations of the superheated steam flowing through pipe bends are of great significance in better understanding its flow behavior. However, to predict flow behavior at piping bend, intensive research by direct experiment at high temperature and pressure might not be possible to some extent. In that case, computer codes and models can help us analyze flow behavior of superheated steam at pipe bends. The current work is a computational fluid dynamics investigation, where numerical examination is carried out by commercial code ansys fluent for thermal hydraulic analysis of flow behavior of superheated steam through multiple configurations of 3D angular piping bend: 90 deg, 120 deg, and 135 deg. Validation of credibility of the computational approach is done against Sudo et al.'s experiment. With relatively good agreement between the experiment and numerical result using air flowing through 90 deg elbow, single-phase turbulent flow of superheated steam is examined by the application of realizable turbulence model (k–ɛ). The final assessment of the computed results has been done using qualitative and quantitative analyses. The study reveals that unlike the pressure profiles, the radial velocity profiles at the bend exit are noticeably different from those at the bend inlet, since they exhibit more rounded peaks and gentler velocity gradients. The study also shows that the radial pressure and velocity profiles do not display any sign of the existence of a pair of vortices.
Investigation on the Influence of the Condenser Length and Its Coupling Effect With Elevation on the Performance of Loop Heat Pipe
Authors: Zhou Xue , Zheng Suzheng , Li Nanxi , Lin Bingyao , Chen De , Jiang Zhenhua , Lu Yan 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
The effects of condenser length and evaporator/condenser elevation on the performance of a loop heat pipe (LHP) in a gravity field were investigated, respectively, as well as their coupling effect. The refrigerant R40 was selected, and the condenser length was altered by changing the number of fins connected to the water-cooled plates. The experiments were conducted at three evaporator/condenser elevations: zero elevation, favorable elevation, and adverse elevation. The experimental results indicated that the evaporator temperatures of LHP with three different condenser lengths are very close when the LHP operates in variable conductance mode (VCM). However, an excessively long condenser will increase the LHP thermal resistance in VCM. In constant conductance mode (CCM), the longer the condenser, the lower the evaporator temperature. As the heat load increases, the LHP first exhibits gravity-driven mode and then capillarity-gravity-driven mode at a favorable elevation. The positive coupling effect on reducing the evaporator temperature by extending the condenser length and running at a favorable elevation manifests that the influence of condenser length is very small in gravity-driven mode, while in capillarity-gravity-driven mode, the effect of operating at a favorable elevation gets weakened, and the positive effects of the two factors cannot be simply calculated by the linear superposition principle. Additionally, reverse flow and flash evaporation were also observed and analyzed in depth. These results and conclusions can be used to guide the design of the condenser and the installation of LHP for ground applications.
Ignition of Aircraft Combustible Fluids by Hot Surface Under Ventilation
Authors: Wu Haitao , Chen Xiguang , Cong Beihua , Xie Fei 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Flight-fire is a crucial factor that affects the safety of aircraft. It mainly results from combustible fluid leakages on hot surfaces. Hence, this study investigates the ignition probability of a droplet on a hot surface under ventilation through experiments. Specifically, two types of widely used combustible fluids, No. 3 Jet Fuel and Mobile Jet Oil II, were investigated at varying surface temperatures ranging from 500 °C to 700 °C. This range covers the non-ignition to sure-ignition temperatures for the two fluids. The experiments were carried out considering the actual ventilation conditions of an aircraft, wherein the airflow rate ranged from 0 m/s to 3 m/s, and the airflow temperature ranged from room temperature to 380 °C. The experimental results indicate that environmental factors have a significant influence on droplet ignition probability, ignition probability corresponds with the airflow temperature but is opposite to the airflow rate. Furthermore, the degree of influence on ignition probability varies with the type of combustible liquid. The critical temperatures for non-ignition and sure-ignition on hot surfaces for No. 3 Jet Fuel and Mobile Jet Oil II under ventilation conditions have been acquired. Additionally, an empirical model is established to determine the ignition probability of No. 3 Jet Fuel under ventilation. The results of this work have instructional significance for aircraft fire protection design and airworthiness certificate of aircraft fire safety.
Hydrodynamic Performance Research of Underwater Oscillating Fin With the Compound Locomotion of Two Modes
Authors: Yin Qian , Xia Ming-hai , Zhang Wen-bin , Luo Yuan , Shang Jian-zhong , Luo Zi-rong 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
The fish-like propulsion robot is becoming a profound intelligent equipment due to its excellent swimming ability and good environmental adaptability. In this paper, we propose the oscillating fin based on the fish swimming mechanism, which is compounded with the locomotion modes of sway and yaw. The kinematic and dynamic models are established to study the locomotion mechanism of the oscillating fin. The hydrodynamic performance of underwater locomotion is investigated to analyze the velocity, the propulsive force, the pressure, the propulsive efficiency, and the vortices property. Finally, the experimental measurements of the robot with oscillating fin propulsion are carried out to analyze the underwater propulsion of the oscillating fin and the unsteady fluid flow with Strouhal number. The results illustrate that the propulsive force is fluctuating, and the velocity is increasing to the maximum value. The underwater propulsion velocity could reach 1.2 m/s in a period of 0.4 s. Besides, the high- and low-pressure regions change alternatively, and the fin deforming process illustrates the vortices property and the locomotion mechanism analyses. The propulsive efficiency of the oscillating fin with compound waves is increased by 11% compared with that of the one without deformation. The experiments of the robot prototype verify the numerical simulation, and the propulsive velocity with a period of 0.4 s is two times larger than that of a period of 0.8 s. The Strouhal number of each motion mode is obtained through theoretical and experimental analyses.
Protein disulfide isomerase 1 is required for RodA assembling-based conidial hydrophobicity of
Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Hu Xiaotao , Zhou Yao , Liu Renning , Wang Jing , Guo Lingyan , Huang Xiaofei , Li Jingyi , Yan Yunfeng , Liu Feiyun , Li Xueying , Tan Xinyu , Luo Yiqing , Wang Ping , Zhou Shengmin 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

The hydrophobic layer of
Aspergillus
conidia, composed of RodA, plays a crucial role in conidia transfer and immune evasion. It self-assembles into hydrophobic rodlets through intramolecular disulfide bonds. However, the secretory process of RodA and its regulatory elements remain unknown. Since protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is essential for the secretion of many disulfide-bonded proteins, we investigated whether PDI is also involved in RodA secretion and assembly. By gene knockout and phenotypic analysis, we found that Pdi1, one of the four PDI-related proteins of
Aspergillus fumigatus
, determines the hydrophobicity and integrity of the rodlet layer of the conidia. Preservation of the thioredoxin-active domain of Pdi1 was sufficient to maintain conidial hydrophobicity, suggesting that Pdi1 mediates RodA assembly through its disulfide isomerase activity. In the absence of Pdi1, the disulfide mismatch of RodA in conidia may prevent its delivery from the inner to the outer layer of the cell wall for rodlet assembly. This was demonstrated using a strain expressing a key cysteine-mutated RodA. The dormant conidia of the Pdi1-deficient strain (Δ
pdi
) elicited an immune response, suggesting that the defective conidia surface in the absence of Pdi1 exposes internal immunogenic sources. In conclusion, Pdi1 ensures the correct folding of RodA in the inner layer of conidia, facilitating its secretion into the outer layer of the cell wall and allowing self-assembly of the hydrophobic layer. This study has identified a regulatory element for conidia rodlet assembly.

IMPORTANCE

Aspergillus fumigatus
is the major cause of invasive aspergillosis, which is mainly transmitted by the inhalation of conidia. The spread of conidia is largely dependent on their hydrophobicity, which is primarily attributed to the self-assembly of the hydrophobic protein RodA on the cell wall. However, the mechanisms underlying RodA secretion and transport to the outermost layer of the cell wall are still unclear. Our study identified a critical role for Pdi1, a fungal protein disulfide isomerase found in regulating RodA secretion and assembly. Inhibition of Pdi1 prevents the formation of correct S-S bonds in the inner RodA, creating a barrier to RodA delivery and resulting in a defective hydrophobic layer. Our findings provided insight into the formation of the conidial hydrophobic layer and suggested potential drug targets to inhibit
A. fumigatus
infections by limiting conidial dispersal and altering their immune inertia.