bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Wood cookstove use is associated with gastric cancer in Central America and mediated by host genetics
Authors: Rifkin Samara B. , Miller Anna K. , Montalvan-Sanchez Eleazar E. , Norwood Dalton A. , Martinez Enrique , Waterboer Tim , Beasley T. Mark , Dominguez Ricardo L. , Williams Scott M. , Morgan Douglas R. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBiomass cookstove food preparation is linked to aero-digestive cancers, mediated by ingested and inhaled carcinogens (e.g., heterocyclic amines, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). We investigated the association between gastric adenocarcinoma, wood cookstove use, H. pylori CagA infection and risk modification by variants in genes that metabolize and affect the internal dose of carcinogens. We conducted a population-based, case–control study (814 incident cases, 1049 controls) in rural Honduras, a high-incidence region with a homogeneous diet and endemic H. pylori infection, primarily with the high-risk CagA genotype. We investigated factors including wood cookstove use, H. pylori CagA serostatus, and 15 variants from 7 metabolizing genes, and the interactions between wood stove use and the genetic variants. Male sex (OR 2.0, 1.6–2.6), age (OR 1.04, 1.03–1.05), wood cookstove use (OR 2.3, 1.6–3.3), and CagA serostatus (OR 3.5, 2.4–5.1) and two SNPs in CYP1B1 (rs1800440 and rs1056836) were independently associated with gastric cancer in multivariate analysis. In the final multivariate model, a highly significant interaction (OR 3.1, 1.2–7.8) was noted between wood cookstove use and the rs1800440 metabolizing genotype, highlighting an important gene-environment interaction. Lifetime wood cookstove use associates with gastric cancer risk in the high-incidence regions of Central America, and the association is dependent on the rs1800440 genotype in CYP1B1. H. pylori CagA infection, wood cookstove use and the rs1800440 genotype, all of which are highly prevalent, informs who is at greatest risk from biomass cookstove use.
Counter-intuitive penetration of droplets into hydrophobic gaps in theory and experiment
Authors: Hagg Daniel , Eifert Alexander , Dörr Aaron , Bodziony Francisco , Marschall Holger 
Published: October 2023

AbstractDroplets that spontaneously penetrate a gap between two hydrophobic surfaces without any external stimulus seems counterintuitive. However, in this work we show that it can be energetically favorable for a droplet to penetrate a gap formed by two hydrophobic or in some cases even superhydrophobic surfaces. For this purpose, we derived an analytical equation to calculate the change in Helmholtz free energy of a droplet penetrating a hydrophobic gap. The derived equation solely depends on the gap width, the droplet volume and the contact angle on the gap walls, and predicts whether a droplet penetrates a hydrophobic gap or not. Additionally, numerical simulations were conducted to provide insights into the gradual change in Helmholtz free energy during the process of penetration and to validate the analytical approach. A series of experiments with a hydrophobic gap having an advancing contact angle of $$115^\circ$$

115
∘

, a droplet volume of about 10 $$\mu$$
μ
L and different gap widths confirmed the theoretical predictions. Limits and possible deviations between the analytical solution, the simulation and the experiments are presented and discussed.
Factors associated with poorer quality of life in people living with HIV in southwestern France in 2018–2020 (ANRS CO3 AQUIVIH-NA cohort: QuAliV study)
Authors: Barger Diana , Hessamfar Mojgan , Neau Didier , Farbos Sophie , Leleux Olivier , Cazanave Charles , Rouanes Nicolas , Duffau Pierre , Lazaro Estibaliz , Rispal Patrick , Dabis François , Wittkop Linda , Bonnet Fabrice 
Published: October 2023

AbstractWe evaluated people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus’ (PLWH) quality of life (QoL) and assessed whether their demographic, disease-related, socioeconomic, or behavioral characteristics were associated with poorer QoL. ANRS CO3 AQUIVIH-NA cohort participants (Nouvelle Aquitaine, France) were recruited to a cross-sectional study (2018–2020) and their QoL assessed (WHOQOL-BREF). We calculated median (Q1, Q3) QoL domain scores and assessed factors associated with poorer median QoL using bivariable and multivariable quartile regression. Of the 965 PLWH included, 98.4% were on antiretroviral therapy, 94.7% were virally-suppressed, 63.5% reported good/very good QoL. Median scores (0–100) were highest for physical (69;Q1, Q3: 56, 81) and environmental (69; 56, 75) QoL and lowest for social (56; 44, 69) and psychological (56; 44, 69) QoL. PLWH with ≥ 3 comorbidities, HIV-related stigma, or income of < 1500€/month had poorer median adjusted physical, psychological, social, and environmental QoL scores compared to reference groups. While more than half of PLWH reported good/very good QoL, we have not achieved good QoL in 90% of PLWH. Multi-morbidity, HIV-related stigma, and social determinants were consistently and independently associated with poorer QoL. Addressing structural factors in addition to those indirectly related to HIV is required to attain good QoL in all PLWH.
Immobilized enzyme microreactors for analysis of tryptic peptides in β-casein and β-lactoglobulin
Authors: Rodzik Agnieszka , Railean Viorica , Pomastowski Paweł , Buszewski Bogusław , Szumski Michał 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIn this study, our primary objective was to develop an effective analytical method for studying trypsin-digested peptides of two proteins commonly found in cow's milk: β-casein (βCN) and β-lactoglobulin (βLG). To achieve this, we employed two distinct approaches: traditional in-gel protein digestion and protein digestion using immobilized enzyme microreactors (μ-IMER). Both methods utilized ZipTip pipette tips filled with C18 reverse phase media for sample concentration. The μ-IMER was fabricated through a multi-step process that included preconditioning the capillary, modifying its surface, synthesizing a monolithic support, and further surface modification. Its performance was evaluated under HPLC chromatography conditions using a small-molecule trypsin substrate (BAEE). Hydrolysates from both digestion methods were analyzed using MALDI-TOF MS. Our findings indicate that the μ-IMER method demonstrated superior sequence coverage for oxidized molecules in βCN (33 ± 1.5%) and βLG (65 ± 3%) compared to classical in-gel digestion (20 ± 2% for βCN; 49 ± 2% for βLG). The use of ZipTips further improved sequence coverage in both classical in-gel digestion (26 ± 1% for βCN; 60 ± 4% for βLG) and μ-IMER (41 ± 3% for βCN; 80 ± 5% for βLG). Additionally, phosphorylations were identified. For βCN, no phosphorylation was detected using classical digestion, but the use of ZipTips showed a value of 27 ± 4%. With μ-IMER and μ-IMER–ZipTip, the values increased to 30 ± 2% and 33 ± 1%, respectively. For βLG, the use of ZipTip enabled the detection of a higher percentage of modified peptides in both classical (79 ± 2%) and μ-IMER (79 ± 4%) digestions. By providing a comprehensive comparison of traditional in-gel digestion and μ-IMER methods, this study offers valuable insights into the advantages and limitations of each approach, particularly in the context of complex biological samples. The findings set a new benchmark in protein digestion and analysis, highlighting the potential of μ-IMER systems for enhanced sequence coverage and post-translational modification detection.
Valorization of Spirodela polyrrhiza biomass for the production of biofuels for distributed energy
Authors: Romanowska-Duda Z. , Piotrowski K. , Szufa S. , Sklodowska M. , Naliwajski M. , Emmanouil C. , Kungolos A. , Zorpas A. A. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractConsidering the main objectives of a circular economy, Lemnaceae plants have great potential for different types of techniques to valorize their biomass for use in biofuel production. For this reason, scientific interest in this group of plants has increased in recent years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of salt stress on the growth and development of S. polyrrhiza and the valorization of biomass for biofuel and energy production in a circular economy. Plants were grown in a variety of culture media, including standard 'Z' medium, tap water, 1% digestate from a biogas plant in Piaszczyna (54° 01′ 21″ N, 17° 10′ 19″ E), Poland) and supplemented with different concentrations of NaCl (from 25 to 100 mM). Plants were cultured under phytotron conditions at 24 °C. After 10 days of culture, plant growth, fresh and dry biomass, as well as physio-chemical parameters such as chlorophyll content index, gas exchange parameters (net photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance and intercellular CO2 concentration), chlorophyll fluorescence measurements were analyzed. After 10 days of the experiment, the percentage starch content of Spirodela shoot segments was determined. S. polyrrhiza was shown to have a high starch storage capacity under certain unfavorable growth conditions, such as salt stress and nutrient deficiency. In the W2 (50 mM NaCl) series, compared to the control (Control2), starch levels were 76% higher in shoots and 30% lower in roots. The analysis of the individual growth and development parameters of S. polyrrhiza plants in the experiment carried out indicates new possibilities for the use of this group of plants in biofuel and bioethanol production.
Midlife cardiovascular health factors as predictors of retirement age, work-loss years, and years spent in retirement among older businessmen
Authors: Haapanen Markus J. , Törmäkangas Timo , von Bonsdorff Monika E. , Strandberg Arto Y. , Strandberg Timo E. , von Bonsdorff Mikaela B. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractCardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of premature retirement. However, the relationship between CVD risk factors and workforce participation is not well known. We studied the relationship between midlife CVD risk, age at retirement, work-loss years, and survival in retirement. Middle-aged Finnish men (initial n = 3490, mean age = 47.8 years) were assessed for CVD risk factors and general health in the 1970s. They worked as business executives and provided information on their retirement status in the year 2000. Survival was followed up to the 9th decade of life with a follow-up of up to 44 years. Work-loss years were calculated as death or retirement occurring at age ≤ 65 years. Smoking, body mass index, and alcohol use were used as covariates, excluding models of CVD risk, which were adjusted for alcohol use only. Higher risk of 10-year fatal CVD was associated with 0.32 more years (relative risk < 1 vs. 1, covariate-adjusted β = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.13, 0.53) of work-loss. Higher risk of 5-year incident (covariate-adjusted time-constant HR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.19, 1.47) and 10-year fatal (covariate-adjusted time-dependent HR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.30, 1.85) CVD in midlife were associated with fewer years spent in retirement. Poorer self-rated health and physical fitness and higher levels of triglycerides were associated with increased hazard of earlier retirement, more work-loss years, and fewer years spent in retirement. Poorer health and greater midlife CVD risk may be associated with earlier exit from the workforce and fewer years spent in retirement. Management of CVD risk in midlife may support people to work longer.
Age-related differences in lower limb muscle activation patterns and balance control strategies while walking over a compliant surface
Authors: Jeon Woohyoung , Ramadan Ahmed , Whitall Jill , Alissa Nesreen , Westlake Kelly 
Published: October 2023

AbstractSubstantial evidence demonstrates that falls in older adults are leading causes of fatal and non-fatal injuries and lead to negative impacts on the quality of life in the aging population. Most falls in older fallers result from unrecoverable limb collapse during falling momentum control in the single limb support (SLS) phase. To understand why older adults are more likely to fall than younger adults, we investigated age-related differences in knee extensor eccentric control, lower limb muscle activation patterns, and their relation to balance control. Ten older and ten younger healthy adults were compared during balance control while walking on a compliant surface. There was a positive correlation between knee extensor eccentric work in the perturbed leg and the swinging leg’s speed and margin of stability. In comparison to younger adults, older adults demonstrated (1) less eccentric work, reduced eccentric electromyography burst duration in the perturbed leg, (2) higher postural sway during SLS, and (3) impaired swinging leg balance control. The group-specific muscle synergy showed that older adults had a prominent ankle muscle activation, while younger adults exhibited a more prominent hip muscle activation. These findings provide insight into targeted balance rehabilitation directions to improve postural stability and reduce falls in older adults.
Nonnegative/Binary matrix factorization for image classification using quantum annealing
Authors: Asaoka Hinako , Kudo Kazue 
Published: October 2023

AbstractClassical computing has borne witness to the development of machine learning. The integration of quantum technology into this mix will lead to unimaginable benefits and be regarded as a giant leap forward in mankind’s ability to compute. Demonstrating the benefits of this integration now becomes essential. With the advance of quantum computing, several machine-learning techniques have been proposed that use quantum annealing. In this study, we implement a matrix factorization method using quantum annealing for image classification and compare the performance with traditional machine-learning methods. Nonnegative/binary matrix factorization (NBMF) was originally introduced as a generative model, and we propose a multiclass classification model as an application. We extract the features of handwritten digit images using NBMF and apply them to solve the classification problem. Our findings show that when the amount of data, features, and epochs is small, the accuracy of models trained by NBMF is superior to classical machine-learning methods, such as neural networks. Moreover, we found that training models using a quantum annealing solver significantly reduces computation time. Under certain conditions, there is a benefit to using quantum annealing technology with machine learning.
Association of high intra-patient variability in tacrolimus exposure with calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity in kidney transplantation
Authors: Kim Hyokee , Han Ahram , Ahn Sanghyun , Min Seung-Kee , Ha Jongwon , Min Sangil 
Published: October 2023

AbstractTacrolimus intra-patient variability (IPV) is a novel predictive marker for long-term kidney transplantation outcomes. We examined the association between IPV and calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) nephrotoxicity and the impact of pharmacogenes on CNI nephrotoxicity and IPV. Among kidney transplant recipients at our hospital between January 2013 and December 2015, the records of 80 patients who underwent 1-year protocol renal allograft biopsy and agreed to donate blood samples for genetic analysis were retrospectively reviewed. The cohort was divided into the low and high IPV groups based on a coefficient variability cutoff value (26.5%). In multivariate analysis, the IPV group was involved in determining CNI nephrotoxicity (HR 4.55; 95% CI 0.05–0.95; p = 0.043). The 5-year graft survival was superior in the low IPV group than in the high IPV group (100% vs 92.4% respectively, p = 0.044). Analysis of the time above therapeutic range (TATR) showed higher CNI nephrotoxicity in the high IPV with high TATR group than in the low IPV with low TATR group (35.7% versus 6.7%, p = 0.003). Genetic analysis discovered that CYP3A4 polymorphism (rs2837159) was associated with CNI nephrotoxicity (HR 28.23; 95% CI 2.2–355.9; p = 0.01). In conclusion, high IPV and CYP3A4 polymorphisms (rs2837159) are associated with CNI nephrotoxicity.
Validation study on light scattering changes in kiwifruit during postharvest storage using time-resolved transmittance spectroscopy
Authors: Ma Te , Inagaki Tetsuya , Tsuchikawa Satoru 
Published: October 2023

AbstractVisible and near-infrared spectroscopy has been well studied for characterizing the organic compounds in fruit and vegetables from pre-harvest to late harvest. However, due to the challenge of decoupling of optical properties, the relationship between the collected samples’ spectral data and their properties, especially their mechanical properties (e.g., firmness, hardness, and resilience) is hard to understand. This study developed a time-resolved transmittance spectroscopic method to validate the light scattering changing characteristics in kiwifruit during shelf-life and in cold storage conditions. The experimental results demonstrated that the reduced scattering coefficient ($${\mu }_{s}^{\prime}$$

μ

s

′

) of 846 nm inside kiwifruit decreased steadily during postharvest storage and is more evident under shelf-life than in cold storage conditions. Moreover, the correlation between the $${\mu }_{s}^{\prime}$$

μ

s

′

and the storage time was confirmed to be much higher than that using the external color indexes measured using a conventional colorimeter. Furthermore, employing time-resolved profiles at this single wavelength, an efficacious mathematical model has been successfully formulated to classify the stages of kiwifruit softening, specifically early, mid-, and late stages. Notably, classification accuracies of 84% and 78% were achieved for the shelf-life and cold storage conditions, respectively.
Polydatin improves vascular endothelial function by maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis under high glucose conditions
Authors: Shah Wahid , Zhao Qiyue , Wang Sen , Zhang Miaomiao , Ma Hongyu , Guan Yue , Zhang Yi , Liu Yan , Zhu Chunhua , Wang Sheng , Zhang Xiangjian , Dong Jinghui , Ma Huijie 
Published: October 2023

AbstractPrevious studies have shown that polydatin (Poly) confer cardioprotective effects. However, its underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This study showed that Poly (10 µM) treatment reversed the high glucose (HG)-induced decrease in acetylcholine-elicited vasodilation in aortas. Poly also improved the acetylcholine-induced vasodilation of aortic vessels isolated from diabetic rats. Meanwhile, Poly ameliorated the morphological damage of the thoracic aorta and improved the viability of HUVECs under HG conditions. Furthermore, analysis of the vasoprotective effect of Poly under HG conditions by transmission electron microscopy, Western blotting, and qPCR revealed that Poly improved endothelial pyroptosis through the NLRP3/Caspase/1-IL-1β pathway, enhanced dynamin-related protein 1-mediated mitochondrial fission, and increased the mitochondrial membrane potential under HG conditions. In conclusion, Poly restored acetylcholine-induced vasodilation impaired by HG incubation, which was associated with reduced oxidation, inflammation, and pyroptosis, the recovery of the mitochondrial membrane potential and maintenance of mitochondrial dynamic homeostasis of endothelial cells in the aortas.
Comprehensive analysis of cuproptosis and copper homeostasis genotyping and related immune land scape in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Luo Dayuan , Wang Xiang , Feng Wei 
Published: October 2023

AbstractCuproptosis is a manner of cell death which is related to the homeostasis of copper ions in the cellular environment and is expected to open a new direction of anti-tumor therapy. However, the studies on cuproptosis and copper homeostasis in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) are still limited. In this study, we identified new cuproptosis and copper homeostasis related genes (CHRGs) which were effective in stratifying genotyping clusters with survival differences based on transcriptomic data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) further expands the screening boundary of CHRGs, and finally we established a 10-CHRGs-based prognostic signature using lasso-penalized cox regression method, which were validated in GSE30219. Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis revealed these genes are potential regulators of modulating immunotherapy efficacy, drug resistance, tumor microenvironment infiltration, and tumor mutation patterns. Lastly, the scRNA-seq datasets GSE183219 and GSE203360 offers the evidences that CHRGs signature are mainly distributed in cancer epithelial cells, real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) also confirmed the differential expression of these genes between normal lung cell line and lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. Collectively, our findings revealed new cuproptosis and copper homeostasis related genotyping clusters and genes which may play important roles in predicting prognosis, influencing tumor microenvironment and drug efficacy in LUAD patients.
Research on dynamic characteristics and structural optimization of porous gas bearings in linear compressors
Authors: Li Jiangang , Wu Jianjun , Fan Jingdao , Wang Xin , Gao Zhongjie 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIn order to study the influence of structural parameters of porous gas bearing and operating parameters of linear compressor on the static and dynamic performance of porous gas bearing, based on gas lubrication theory, Darcy's law and Reynolds equation, the mathematical model and simulation model of porous gas bearing of linear compressor are derived and established. The static and dynamic characteristics of the porous gas bearing of the linear compressor are studied by using Fluent software simulation. According to the simulation results, the effects of inlet pressure, porous material thickness and gas gap on the gas consumption and bearing capacity of the porous gas bearing under different eccentricities are analyzed. The results show that the higher the inlet pressure is, the larger the gas consumption and bearing capacity; the thicker the porous material is, the smaller the gas consumption and the larger the bearing capacity, the thicker the gas gap is, the larger the gas consumption and the smaller the bearing capacity. On the basis of simulation research, considering the difficulties of processing and assembly, multi-objective optimization of porous gas bearings is carried out based on response surface methodology. Taking the bearing capacity and gas consumption as the objective functions, the intake pressure is set between 0.3 and 0.5 MPa, the thickness of porous materials is set between 3 and 5 mm, and the thickness of gas gaps is set between 10 and 20 μm. While ensuring the stable operation of the linear compressor, the optimal combination of design parameters is provided for the optimal design of gas bearings used in linear compressors.
Flexible near-infrared polarized photodetector based on CuPc single crystal grown by microspacing in-air sublimation
Authors: Li Mengru , Du Qianqian , Zhang Yanxun , Liu Yunlong , Wang Wenjun , Wang Fengqiu , Qin Shuchao 
Published: October 2023

Devices based on highly ordered CuPc single crystals shows an ultrahigh electronic bandwidth of ∼4 kHz and high-resolution, UV-NIR high-speed imaging capability.