bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The combination of astragalus injection and ambroxol hydrochloride in the adjuvant treatment of COPD: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhou Zubing , Yang Lele , Hu Chao , Gao Rui , Zhang Xiaobo , Shen Tao 
Published: December 2023

AbstractChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a severe condition that leads to premature mortality and places a significant financial burden on healthcare systems. An adjunctive therapy in COPD includes the simultaneous administration of astragalus injection and ambroxol hydrochloride. Despite its widespread use, the effectiveness of this combined approach in COPD treatment has not been systematically evaluated. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of combining astragalus injection with ambroxol hydrochloride as an adjuvant treatment for COPD. Six electronic databases were used to search for relevant randomized controlled trials, and data analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4. A total of 14 randomized controlled trials were included, involving 1070 patients who met the criteria. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that the combination of astragalus injection with ambroxol hydrochloride as an adjuvant treatment can improve various clinical parameters in patients with COPD compared to conventional treatment alone. These parameters include the clinical effective rate (OR = 5.44, 95% CI 3.51–8.43, I2 = 0%), partial pressure of oxygen in artery (MD = 1.12, 95% CI 0.87–1.36, I2 = 5%), partial pressure of carbon dioxide in artery (MD = − 1.43, 95% CI − 1.65 to − 1.21, I2 = 0%), forced expiratory volume in one second (MD = 0.30, 95% CI 0.18–0.42, I2 = 0%), percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second (MD = 16.18, 95% CI 12.60–19.76, I2 = 82%), forced vital capacity (MD = 0.33, 95% CI 0.21–0.45, I2 = 36%), hemoglobin (MD = − 16.17, 95% CI − 20.84 to − 11.51, I2 = 29%), and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity (MD = 2.51, 95% CI − 0.05 to 5.06, I2 = 0%). The combination of astragalus injection and ambroxol hydrochloride could be a selection of COPD patients as an adjuvant treatment. However, further validation is required to evaluate the effectiveness of combining astragalus injection and ambroxol hydrochloride as an adjunctive treatment for patients with COPD.
Rab7 localized on zymogen granules is involved in maturation but not in autophagy or regulated exocytosis in pancreatic acinar cells
Authors: Takahashi Kenichi , Mashima Hirosato , Sekine Masanari , Uehara Takeshi , Asano Takeharu , Sun-Wada Ge-Hong , Wada Yoh , Ohnishi Hirohide 
Published: December 2023

AbstractRab7 is known to function in the autophagy and endocytosis pathways in eukaryocytes and is related to various diseases. We recently reported that Rab7 plays a protective role against acute pancreatitis. However, its physiological function in exocytic cells remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the role of Rab7 in pancreas-specific Rab7 knockout mice (Rab7Δpan). Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that Rab7 colocalized with amylase in pancreatic acinar cells of wild-type mice, but not in Rab7Δpan mice. Western blotting confirmed Rab7 localization in the zymogen granule (ZG) membranes of wild-type mice. Cholecystokinin (CCK)-stimulated amylase secretion examined using isolated pancreatic acini was similar in Rab7Δpan and wild-type mice. In contrast, electron microscopy revealed that the diameters of ZGs were shorter and the number of ZGs was larger in the pancreatic acinar cells of Rab7Δpan mice than in those of wild-type mice. However, the number of ZGs decreased in both Rab7Δpan and wild-type mice after 24 h of starvation. In addition, the amount of amylase in the pancreas was decreased in both Rab7Δpan and wild-type mice. These data indicate that Rab7 localized on ZGs plays a crucial role in the maturation of ZGs but not in their autophagy or regulated exocytosis in pancreatic acinar cells.
Testing novel facial recognition technology to identify dogs during vaccination campaigns
Authors: Czupryna Anna Maria , Estepho Mike , Lugelo Ahmed , Bigambo Machunde , Sambo Maganga , Changalucha Joel , Lushasi Kennedy Selestin , Rooyakkers Philip , Hampson Katie , Lankester Felix 
Published: December 2023

AbstractA lack of methods to identify individual animals can be a barrier to zoonoses control. We developed and field-tested facial recognition technology for a mobile phone application to identify dogs, which we used to assess vaccination coverage against rabies in rural Tanzania. Dogs were vaccinated, registered using the application, and microchipped. During subsequent household visits to validate vaccination, dogs were registered using the application and their vaccination status determined by operators using the application to classify dogs as vaccinated (matched) or unvaccinated (unmatched), with microchips validating classifications. From 534 classified dogs (251 vaccinated, 283 unvaccinated), the application specificity was 98.9% and sensitivity 76.2%, with positive and negative predictive values of 98.4% and 82.8% respectively. The facial recognition algorithm correctly matched 249 (99.2%) vaccinated and microchipped dogs (true positives) and failed to match two (0.8%) vaccinated dogs (false negatives). Operators correctly identified 186 (74.1%) vaccinated dogs (true positives), and 280 (98.9%) unvaccinated dogs (true negatives), but incorrectly classified 58 (23.1%) vaccinated dogs as unmatched (false negatives). Reduced application sensitivity resulted from poor quality photos and light-associated color distortion. With development and operator training, this technology has potential to be a useful tool to identify dogs and support research and intervention programs.
Enzyme mechanistic studies of NMA1982, a protein tyrosine phosphatase and potential virulence factor in Neisseria meningitidis
Authors: Wu Shuangding , Coureuil Mathieu , Nassif Xavier , Tautz Lutz 
Published: December 2023

AbstractProtein phosphorylation is an integral part of many cellular processes, not only in eukaryotes but also in bacteria. The discovery of both prokaryotic protein kinases and phosphatases has created interest in generating antibacterial therapeutics that target these enzymes. NMA1982 is a putative phosphatase from Neisseria meningitidis, the causative agent of meningitis and meningococcal septicemia. The overall fold of NMA1982 closely resembles that of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). However, the hallmark C(X)5R PTP signature motif, containing the catalytic cysteine and invariant arginine, is shorter by one amino acid in NMA1982. This has cast doubt about the catalytic mechanism of NMA1982 and its assignment to the PTP superfamily. Here, we demonstrate that NMA1982 indeed employs a catalytic mechanism that is specific to PTPs. Mutagenesis experiments, transition state inhibition, pH-dependence activity, and oxidative inactivation experiments all support that NMA1982 is a genuine PTP. Importantly, we show that NMA1982 is secreted by N. meningitidis, suggesting that this protein is a potential virulence factor. Future studies will need to address whether NMA1982 is indeed essential for N. meningitidis survival and virulence. Based on its unique active site conformation, NMA1982 may become a suitable target for developing selective antibacterial drugs.
Distinct brain dynamics and networks for processing short and long auditory time intervals
Authors: Thibault Nicola , Albouy Philippe , Grondin Simon 
Published: December 2023

AbstractPsychophysical studies suggest that time intervals above and below 1.2 s are processed differently in the human brain. However, the neural underpinnings of this dissociation remain unclear. Here, we investigate whether distinct or common brain networks and dynamics support the passive perception of short (below 1.2 s) and long (above 1.2 s) empty time intervals. Twenty participants underwent an EEG recording during an auditory oddball paradigm with .8- and 1.6-s standard time intervals and deviant intervals either shorter (early) or longer (delayed) than the standard interval. We computed the auditory ERPs for each condition at the sensor and source levels. We then performed whole brain cluster-based permutation statistics for the CNV, N1 and P2, components, testing deviants against standards. A CNV was found only for above 1.2 s intervals (delayed deviants), with generators in temporo-parietal, SMA, and motor regions. Deviance detection of above 1.2 s intervals occurred during the N1 period over fronto-central sensors for delayed deviants only, with generators in parietal and motor regions. Deviance detection of below 1.2 s intervals occurred during the P2 period over fronto-central sensors for delayed deviants only, with generators in primary auditory cortex, SMA, IFG, cingulate and parietal cortex. We then identified deviance related changes in directed connectivity using bivariate Granger causality to highlight the networks dynamics associated with interval processing above and below 1.2. These results suggest that distinct brain dynamics and networks support the perception of time intervals above and below 1.2 s.
Tropical cyclones over the South China Sea suppress the monsoonal rainfall in southern China
Authors: Li Xinyu , Lu Riyu , Chen Guixing , Chen Ruidan 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe tropical cyclones (TCs) often cause intense rain and destructive winds. While these catastrophic weather conditions capture our attention, the less-known impact of TCs remains overlooked. This study reveals that TCs have a notable suppressive effect on monsoonal rainfall in southern China when they traverse the South China Sea. This phenomenon can be attributed to the influence of these mesoscale disturbances on the quasi-stationary, large-scale monsoonal circulation, which alters the moisture pathway. Furthermore, the case-by-case analysis indicates that ~76% of TCs correspond to rainfall reduction, whereas the other 24% correspond to rainfall increase. The latter is due to the concurrent occurrence of another independent influencing factor: extratropical cyclonic anomalies that promote enhanced rainfall through favoring lower-tropospheric moisture convergence. This study suggests that TCs, as mesoscale disturbances, can change the moisture channel that is usually controlled by quasi-stationary and large-scale monsoonal airflows, and suppress the adjacent land rainfall over China.
Thoracic and abdominal outgrowths in early pterygotes: a clue to the common ancestor of winged insects?
Authors: Prokop Jakub , Rosová Kateřina , Leipner Angelika , Sroka Pavel 
Published: December 2023

AbstractOne of the fundamental questions in insect evolution is the origin of their wings and primary function of ancestral wing precursors. Recent phylogenomic and comparative morphological studies broadly support a terrestrial ancestor of pterygotes, but an aquatic or semiaquatic ancestor cannot be ruled out. Here new features of the branchial system of palaeodictyopteran larvae of several different instars of Katosaxoniapteron brauneri gen. et sp. nov. (Eugereonoidea) from the late Carboniferous collected at Piesberg (Germany) are described, which consist of delicate dorsolateral and lamellate caudal abdominal gills that support an aquatic or at least semiaquatic lifestyle for these insects. Moreover, the similar form and surface microstructures on the lateral abdominal outgrowths and thoracic wing pads indicate that paired serial outgrowths on segments of both tagmata presumably functioned as ancestral type of gills resembling a protopterygote model. This is consistent with the hypothesis that the wing sheaths of later stage damselfly larvae in hypoxic conditions have a respiratory role similar to abdominal tracheal gills. Hence, the primary function and driving force for the evolution of the precursors of wing pads and their abdominal homologues could be respiration.
Video-rate 3D imaging of living cells using Fourier view-channel-depth light field microscopy
Authors: Yi Chengqiang , Zhu Lanxin , Sun Jiahao , Wang Zhaofei , Zhang Meng , Zhong Fenghe , Yan Luxin , Tang Jiang , Huang Liang , Zhang Yu-Hui , Li Dongyu , Fei Peng 
Published: December 2023

AbstractInterrogation of subcellular biological dynamics occurring in a living cell often requires noninvasive imaging of the fragile cell with high spatiotemporal resolution across all three dimensions. It thereby poses big challenges to modern fluorescence microscopy implementations because the limited photon budget in a live-cell imaging task makes the achievable performance of conventional microscopy approaches compromise between their spatial resolution, volumetric imaging speed, and phototoxicity. Here, we incorporate a two-stage view-channel-depth (VCD) deep-learning reconstruction strategy with a Fourier light-field microscope based on diffractive optical element to realize fast 3D super-resolution reconstructions of intracellular dynamics from single diffraction-limited 2D light-filed measurements. This VCD-enabled Fourier light-filed imaging approach (F-VCD), achieves video-rate (50 volumes per second) 3D imaging of intracellular dynamics at a high spatiotemporal resolution of ~180 nm × 180 nm × 400 nm and strong noise-resistant capability, with which light field images with a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) down to -1.62 dB could be well reconstructed. With this approach, we successfully demonstrate the 4D imaging of intracellular organelle dynamics, e.g., mitochondria fission and fusion, with ~5000 times of observation.
Hypothalamic supramammillary neurons that project to the medial septum modulate wakefulness in mice
Authors: Liang Mengru , Jian Tingliang , Tao Jie , Wang Xia , Wang Rui , Jin Wenjun , Chen Qianwei , Yao Jiwei , Zhao Zhikai , Yang Xinyu , Xiao Jingyu , Yang Zhiqi , Liao Xiang , Chen Xiaowei , Wang Liecheng , Qin Han 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe hypothalamic supramammillary nucleus (SuM) plays a crucial role in controlling wakefulness, but the downstream target regions participating in this control process remain unknown. Here, using circuit-specific fiber photometry and single-neuron electrophysiology together with electroencephalogram, electromyogram and behavioral recordings, we find that approximately half of SuM neurons that project to the medial septum (MS) are wake-active. Optogenetic stimulation of axonal terminals of SuM-MS projection induces a rapid and reliable transition to wakefulness from non-rapid-eye movement or rapid-eye movement sleep, and chemogenetic activation of SuMMS projecting neurons significantly increases wakefulness time and prolongs latency to sleep. Consistently, chemogenetically inhibiting these neurons significantly reduces wakefulness time and latency to sleep. Therefore, these results identify the MS as a functional downstream target of SuM and provide evidence for the modulation of wakefulness by this hypothalamic-septal projection.
Longitudinal development of the human white matter structural connectome and its association with brain transcriptomic and cellular architecture
Authors: Feng Guozheng , Chen Rui , Zhao Rui , Li Yuanyuan , Ma Leilei , Wang Yanpei , Men Weiwei , Gao Jiahong , Tan Shuping , Cheng Jian , He Yong , Qin Shaozheng , Dong Qi , Tao Sha , Shu Ni 
Published: December 2023

AbstractFrom childhood to adolescence, the spatiotemporal development pattern of the human brain white matter connectome and its underlying transcriptomic and cellular mechanisms remain largely unknown. With a longitudinal diffusion MRI cohort of 604 participants, we map the developmental trajectory of the white matter connectome from global to regional levels and identify that most brain network properties followed a linear developmental trajectory. Importantly, connectome-transcriptomic analysis reveals that the spatial development pattern of white matter connectome is potentially regulated by the transcriptomic architecture, with positively correlated genes involve in ion transport- and development-related pathways expressed in excitatory and inhibitory neurons, and negatively correlated genes enriches in synapse- and development-related pathways expressed in astrocytes, inhibitory neurons and microglia. Additionally, the macroscale developmental pattern is also associated with myelin content and thicknesses of specific laminas. These findings offer insights into the underlying genetics and neural mechanisms of macroscale white matter connectome development from childhood to adolescence.
Scrutinizing the protein hydration shell from molecular dynamics simulations against consensus small-angle scattering data
Authors: Linse Johanna-Barbara , Hub Jochen S. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBiological macromolecules in solution are surrounded by a hydration shell, whose structure differs from the structure of bulk solvent. While the importance of the hydration shell for numerous biological functions is widely acknowledged, it remains unknown how the hydration shell is regulated by macromolecular shape and surface composition, mainly because a quantitative probe of the hydration shell structure has been missing. We show that small-angle scattering in solution using X-rays (SAXS) or neutrons (SANS) provide a protein-specific probe of the protein hydration shell that enables quantitative comparison with molecular simulations. Using explicit-solvent SAXS/SANS predictions, we derived the effect of the hydration shell on the radii of gyration Rg of five proteins using 18 combinations of protein force field and water model. By comparing computed Rg values from SAXS relative to SANS in D2O with consensus SAXS/SANS data from a recent worldwide community effort, we found that several but not all force fields yield a hydration shell contrast in remarkable agreement with experiments. The hydration shell contrast captured by Rg values depends strongly on protein charge and geometric shape, thus providing a protein-specific footprint of protein–water interactions and a novel observable for scrutinizing atomistic hydration shell models against experimental data.
Exceptional eruptive CO2 emissions from intra-plate alkaline magmatism in the Canary volcanic archipelago
Authors: Burton Mike , Aiuppa Alessandro , Allard Patrick , Asensio-Ramos María , Cofrades Ana Pardo , La Spina Alessandro , Nicholson Emma J. , Zanon Vittorio , Barrancos José , Bitetto Marcello , Hartley Margaret , Romero Jorge E. , Waters Emma , Stewart Alex , Hernández Pedro A. , Lages João Pedro , Padrón Eleazar , Wood Kieran , Esse Benjamin , Hayer Catherine , Cyrzan Klaudia , Rose-Koga Estelle F. , Schiavi Federica , D’Auria Luca , Pérez Nemesio M. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAlkaline mafic magmas forming intra-plate oceanic islands are believed to be strongly enriched in CO2 due to low-degree partial melting of enriched mantle sources. However, until now, such CO2 enhancement has not been verified by measuring CO2 degassing during a subaerial eruption. Here, we provide evidence of highly CO2-rich gas emissions during the 86-day 2021 Tajogaite eruption of Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma Island, in the Canary archipelago. Our results reveal sustained high plume CO2/SO2 ratios, which, when combined with SO2 fluxes, melt inclusion volatile contents and magma production rates at explosive and effusive vents, imply a magmatic CO2 content of 4.5 ± 1.5 wt%. The amount of CO2 released during the 2021 eruptive activity was 28 ± 14 Mt CO2. Extrapolating to the volume of alkaline mafic magmas forming La Palma alone (estimated as 4000 km3 erupted over 11 Ma), we infer a maximum CO2 emission into the ocean and atmosphere of 1016 moles of CO2, equivalent to 20% of the eruptive CO2 emissions from a large igneous province eruption, suggesting that the formation of the Canary volcanic archipelago produced a CO2 emission of similar magnitude as a large igneous province.
A potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation may stabilise eastern Amazonian rainforests
Authors: Nian Da , Bathiany Sebastian , Ben-Yami Maya , Blaschke Lana L. , Hirota Marina , Rodrigues Regina R. , Boers Niklas 
Published: December 2023

AbstractObservations and models suggest that the Amazon rainforest might transition to a savanna-like state in response to anthropogenic climate and land use change. Here, we combine observations of precipitation, temperature and tree cover with high-resolution comprehensive climate model simulations to investigate the combined effect of global warming and a potential Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation collapse on the Amazon. Our results show that, while strong warming lead to forest dieback, an Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation collapse would stabilize the Amazon by increasing rainfall and decreasing temperature in most parts. Although an Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation collapse would have devastating impacts globally, our results suggest that it may delay or even prevent parts of the Amazon rainforest from dieback. Besides the many negative consequences of its collapse, the interactions we identify here make a tipping cascade, i.e., that an Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation collapse would trigger Amazon dieback, appear less plausible.
Sensitivity of extreme precipitation to climate change inferred using artificial intelligence shows high spatial variability
Authors: Bird Leroy J. , Bodeker Gregory E. , Clem Kyle R. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractEvaluating how extreme precipitation changes with climate is challenged by the paucity, brevity and inhomogeneity of observational records. Even when aggregating precipitation observations over large regions (obscuring potentially important spatial heterogeneity) the statistics describing extreme precipitation are often too uncertain to be of any practical value. Here we present an approach where a convolutional neural network (an artificial intelligence model) is trained on precipitation measurements from 10,000 stations to learn the spatial structure of the parameters of a generalised extreme value model, and the sensitivity of those parameters to the annual mean, global mean, surface temperature. The method is robust against the limitations of the observational record and avoids the short-comings of regional and global climate models in simulating the sensitivity of extreme precipitation to climate change. The maps of the sensitivity of extreme precipitation to climate change, on ~1.5 km × 1.5 km grids over North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, derived using the successfully trained convolutional neural network, show high spatial variability.
Oxygen and pH responsive theragnostic liposomes for early-stage diagnosis and photothermal therapy of solid tumours
Authors: Li Siyi , Wang Qinglin , Ren Yingying , Zhong Pengfei , Bao Pengtao , Guan Shanyue , Qiu Xiaochen , Qu Xiaozhong 
Published: December 2023

An oxygen and pH responsive liposomal theragnostic system is developed by co-assembly of an amphiphilic ruthenium complex with phosphatidylcholine and the encapsulation of ICG for tumoral hypoxic environment detection and photothermal therapy.