bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differential requirement of neutralizing antibodies and T cells on protective immunity to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern
Authors: Azevedo Patrick O. , Hojo-Souza Natália S. , Faustino Lídia P. , Fumagalli Marcílio J. , Hirako Isabella C. , Oliveira Emiliano R. , Figueiredo Maria M. , Carvalho Alex F. , Doro Daniel , Benevides Luciana , Durigon Edison , Fonseca Flávio , Machado Alexandre M. , Fernandes Ana P. , Teixeira Santuza R. , Silva João S. , Gazzinelli Ricardo T. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThe current COVID-19 vaccines protect against severe disease, but are not effective in controlling replication of the Variants of Concern (VOCs). Here, we used the existing pre-clinical models of severe and moderate COVID-19 to evaluate the efficacy of a Spike-based DNA vaccine (pCTV-WS) for protection against different VOCs. Immunization of transgenic (K18-hACE2) mice and hamsters induced significant levels of neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) to Wuhan and Delta isolates, but not to the Gamma and Omicron variants. Nevertheless, the pCTV-WS vaccine offered significant protection to all VOCs. Consistently, protection against lung pathology and viral load to Wuhan or Delta was mediated by nAbs, whereas in the absence of nAbs, T cells controlled viral replication, disease and lethality in mice infected with either the Gamma or Omicron variants. Hence, considering the conserved nature of CD4 and CD8 T cell epitopes, we corroborate the hypothesis that induction of effector T-cells should be a main goal for new vaccines against the emergent SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.
Asbestos exposure as an additional risk factor for small duct intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a pilot study
Authors: Vasuri Francesco , Deserti Marzia , Corradini Angelo G. , Tavolari Simona , Relli Valeria , Palloni Andrea , Frega Giorgio , Curti Stefania , Mattioli Stefano , Cescon Matteo , D’Errico Antonia , Brandi Giovanni 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIntrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a rare malignancy, recently classified in small duct and large duct morphological subtypes. Growing evidence suggests asbestos as a putative risk factor for iCCA, albeit no correlation between asbestos and iCCA morphology has been investigated so far. The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between asbestos exposure and iCCA morphological subtype. Forty patients with surgically removed iCCA were prospectively enrolled: asbestos exposure was assessed according to the Italian National Mesothelioma Register questionnaire. From the surgical iCCA specimens the main histopathological variables were collected, including the small duct (sd-iCCA, 32 patients) and large duct subtypes (ld-iCCA, 8 patients). Five sd-iCCA cases had a definite/probable occupational exposure to asbestos, while no cases of ld-iCCA were classified as being occupationally exposed (definite/probable). Other kind of asbestos exposure (i.e. possible occupational, familial, environmental) were recorded in 16 sd-iCCA and 3 ld-iCCA. Cases with unlikely exposure to asbestos were 11 sd-iCCA (35.5%) and 5 ld-iCCA (62.5%). In conclusion, these findings seem to indicate that sd-iCCA might be more frequently associated to asbestos exposure rather than ld-iCCA, suggesting that asbestos fibres might represent a parenchymal, rather than a ductal risk factor for iCCA. This pilot study must be confirmed by further case–control studies or large independent cohorts.
An extensive study on multiple ETL and HTL layers to design and simulation of high-performance lead-free CsSnCl3-based perovskite solar cells
Authors: Hossain M. Khalid , Toki G. F. Ishraque , Kuddus Abdul , Rubel M. H. K. , Hossain M. M. , Bencherif H. , Rahman Md. Ferdous , Islam Md. Rasidul , Mushtaq Muhammad 
Published: February 2023

AbstractCesium tin chloride (CsSnCl3) is a potential and competitive absorber material for lead-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The full potential of CsSnCl3 not yet been realized owing to the possible challenges of defect-free device fabrication, non-optimized alignment of the electron transport layer (ETL), hole transport layer (HTL), and the favorable device configuration. In this work, we proposed several CsSnCl3-based solar cell (SC) configurations using one dimensional solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS-1D) with different competent ETLs like indium–gallium–zinc–oxide (IGZO), tin-dioxide (SnO2), tungsten disulfide (WS2), ceric dioxide (CeO2), titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), C60, PCBM, and HTLs of cuprous oxide (Cu2O), cupric oxide (CuO), nickel oxide (NiO), vanadium oxide (V2O5), copper iodide (CuI), CuSCN, CuSbS2, Spiro MeOTAD, CBTS, CFTS, P3HT, PEDOT:PSS. Simulation results revealed that ZnO, TiO2, IGZO, WS2, PCBM, and C60 ETLs-based halide perovskites with ITO/ETLs/CsSnCl3/CBTS/Au heterostructure exhibited outstanding photoconversion efficiency retaining nearest photovoltaic parameters values among 96 different configurations. Further, for the six best-performing configurations, the effect of the CsSnCl3 absorber and ETL thickness, series and shunt resistance, working temperature, impact of capacitance, Mott–Schottky, generation and recombination rate, current–voltage properties, and quantum efficiency on performance were assessed. We found that ETLs like TiO2, ZnO, and IGZO, with CBTS HTL can act as outstanding materials for the fabrication of CsSnCl3-based high efficiency (η ≥ 22%) heterojunction SCs with ITO/ETL/CsSnCl3/CBTS/Au structure. The simulation results obtained by the SCAPS-1D for the best six CsSnCl3-perovskites SC configurations were compared by the wxAMPS (widget provided analysis of microelectronic and photonic structures) tool for further validation. Furthermore, the structural, optical and electronic properties along with electron charge density, and Fermi surface of the CsSnCl3 perovskite absorber layer were computed and analyzed using first-principle calculations based on density functional theory. Thus, this in-depth simulation paves a constructive research avenue to fabricate cost-effective, high-efficiency, and lead-free CsSnCl3 perovskite-based high-performance SCs for a lead-free green and pollution-free environment.
Thioquinoline derivatives conjugated to thiosemicarbazide as potent tyrosinase inhibitors with anti-melanogenesis properties
Authors: Noori Milad , Sabourian Reyhaneh , Tasharoie Ali , Safavi Maliheh , Iraji Aida , Khalili Ghomi Minoo , Dastyafteh Navid , Irajie Cambyz , Zarenezhad Elham , Mostafavi Pour Seyyed Mehrdad , Rasekh Fatemeh , Larijani Bagher , Amini Mohsen , Hajimahmoodi Mannan , Mahdavi Mohammad 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIn the present study, a series of aryl-substituted thioqunoline conjugated to thiosemicarbazide were rationally designed and synthesized. The formation of target compounds was confirmed by spectral characterization techniques such as IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, ESI–MS, and elemental analysis. Among the synthesized derivatives, compound 10g bearing para-chlorophenyl moiety was proved to be the most potent tyrosinase inhibitor with an IC50 value of 25.75 ± 0.19 µM. Compound 10g as the most potent derivative exhibited a noncompetitive inhibition pattern against tyrosinase in the kinetic study. Furthermore, the in silico cavity detection, as well as the molecular docking assessments, were performed to follow the behavior of 10g within the proposed binding site. Besides, the toxicity of 10g and its potency to reduce the melanin content on A375 cell lines were also measured. Consequently, aryl-substituted thioqunolines conjugated to thiosemicarbazide might be a promising candidate in the cosmetics, medicine, and food industry as tyrosinase inhibitors.
Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of diabetic choroidopathy using ultra-widefield indocyanine green angiography
Authors: Choi Sang Uk , Kim Yoon Jeon , Lee Joo Yong , Lee Junyeop , Yoon Young Hee 
Published: February 2023

AbstractTo investigate angiographic characteristic features of diabetic choroidopathy, as well as choroidal vascular density (CVD) and fractal dimension (CFD) in diabetic eyes and controls using ultra-widefield (UWF) indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). All patients underwent UWF fluorescein angiography and ICGA. Using imageJ software, CVD and CFD was analyzed. SFCT was assessed using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. The image parameters were compared based on the DR stage and the presence of diabetic macular edema (DME). One-hundred six eyes from 63 patients (59.11 ± 16.31 years; male [%]: 23 [36.5%]) were included in the DM group, and 40 eyes from 22 subjects were included in the control group. The DM group had a mean age of 59.11 ± 16.31 years and a mean HbA1c percentage of 7.72 ± 1.28%. The most common ICGA findings of DC were choroidal hyperpermeability (57.5%), hypofluorescent spots (48.1%). Salt and pepper pattern (19.8%), inverted inflow phenomenon (3.8%), choroidal arterial tortuosity (24.5%), and late choroidal non-perfusion (6.6%) were more common in advanced DR. The CVD, CFD, and SFCT increased as the DR severity progressed. The DME group had a significantly higher CFD and SFCT than the non-DME group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.019, respectively). The qualitative and quantitative UWF ICGA image analysis revealed that choroidal blood vessels became dilated, complex, and hyperpermeable as the DR progressed. These features of diabetic choroidopathy (DC) were more severe in eyes with DME than the non-DME eyes.
Optimization of the hydrogen response characteristics of halogen-doped SnO2
Authors: Filippatos Petros-Panagis , Sharma Rohit , Soultati Anastasia , Kelaidis Nikolaos , Petaroudis Christos , Alivisatou Anastasia-Antonia , Drivas Charalampos , Kennou Stella , Christopoulos Stavros-Richard G. , Davazoglou Dimitris , Vasilopoulou Maria , Chroneos Alexander 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThe increasing demand for efficient sensing devices with facile low-cost fabrication has attracted a lot of scientific research effort in the recent years. In particular, the scientific community aims to develop new candidate materials suitable for energy-related devices, such as sensors and photovoltaics or clean energy applications such as hydrogen production. One of the most prominent methods to improve materials functionality and performance is doping key device component(s). This paper aims to examine in detail, both from a theoretical and an experimental point of view, the effect of halogen doping on the properties of tin dioxide (SnO2) and provide a deeper understanding on the atomic scale mechanisms with respect to their potential applications in sensors. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations are used to examine the defect processes, the electronic structure and the thermodynamical properties of halogen-doped SnO2. Calculations show that halogen doping reduces the oxide bandgap by creating gap states which agree well with our experimental data. The crystallinity and morphology of the samples is also altered. The synergy of these effects results in a significant improvement of the gas-sensing response. This work demonstrates for the first time a complete theoretical and experimental characterization of halogen-doped SnO2 and investigates the possible responsible mechanisms. Our results illustrate that halogen doping is a low-cost method that significantly enhances the room temperature response of SnO2.
Fabrication of untreated and silane-treated carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals and their reinforcement in natural rubber biocomposites
Authors: Lorwanishpaisarn Narubeth , Sae-Oui Pongdhorn , Amnuaypanich Sittipong , Siriwong Chomsri 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIn this study, cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) was extracted from Napier grass stems and subsequently functionalized to carboxylated cellulose nanocrystal (XCNC) by using an environmentally friendly method, namely, the KMnO4/oxalic acid redox reaction. The XCNC was subsequently modified with triethoxyvinylsilane (TEVS), called VCNC, by using ultrasound irradiation. The characterization of the prepared XCNC and VCNC was performed. The needle-like shape of XCNC was observed with an average diameter and length of 11.5 and 156 nm, respectively. XCNC had a carboxyl content of about 1.21 mmol g−1. The silane treatment showed no significant effects on the diameter and length of XCNC. When incorporated into natural rubber (NR), both XCNC and VCNC showed very high reinforcement, as evidenced by the substantial increases in modulus and hardness of the biocomposites, even at very low filler loadings. However, due to the high polarity of XCNC, tensile strength was not significantly improved with increasing XCNC loading up to 2 phr, above which it decreased rapidly due to the filler agglomeration. For VCNC, the silane treatment reduced hydrophilicity and improved compatibility with NR. The highly reactive vinyl group on the VCNC’s surface also takes part in sulfur vulcanization, leading to the strong covalent linkages between rubber and VCNC. Consequently, VCNC showed better reinforcement than XCNC, as evidenced by the markedly higher tensile strength and modulus, when compared at an equal filler loading. This study demonstrates the achievement in the preparation of a highly reinforcing bio-filler (VCNC) for NR from Napier grass using an environmentally friendly method and followed by a quick and simple sonochemical method.
ATR-FTIR spectroscopy of plasma supported by multivariate analysis discriminates multiple sclerosis disease
Authors: Crocco Maria Caterina , Moyano María Fernanda Heredia , Annesi Ferdinanda , Bruno Rosalinda , Pirritano Domenico , Del Giudice Francesco , Petrone Alfredo , Condino Francesca , Guzzi Rita 
Published: February 2023

AbstractMultiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases showing various symptoms both of physical and cognitive type. In this work, we used attenuated total reflection Fourier transformed infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy to analyze plasma samples for discriminating MS patients from healthy control individuals, and identifying potential spectral biomarkers helping the diagnosis through a quick non-invasive blood test. The cohort of the study consists of 85 subjects, including 45 MS patients and 40 healthy controls. The differences in the spectral features both in the fingerprint region (1800–900 cm−1) and in the high region (3050–2800 cm−1) of the infrared spectra were highlighted also with the support of different chemometric methods, to capture the most significant wavenumbers for the differentiation. The results show an increase in the lipid/protein ratio in MS patients, indicating changes in the level (metabolism) of these molecular components in the plasma. Moreover, the multivariate tools provided a promising rate of success in the diagnosis, with 78% sensitivity and 83% specificity obtained through the random forest model in the fingerprint region. The MS diagnostic tools based on biomarkers identification on blood (and blood component, like plasma or serum) are very challenging and the specificity and sensitivity values obtained in this work are very encouraging. Overall, the results obtained suggest that ATR-FTIR spectroscopy on plasma samples, requiring minimal or no manipulation, coupled with statistical multivariate approaches, is a promising analytical tool to support MS diagnosis through the identification of spectral biomarkers.
Performance of classification and diagnostic criteria for IgG4-related disease and comparison of patients with and without IgG4-related disease
Authors: Kogami Masahiro , Abe Yoshiyuki , Ando Taiki , Makiyama Ayako , Yamaji Ken , Tamura Naoto 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) was recently described in Japan. It is characterised by extensive organ involvement with tissue fibrosis. We assessed the performance of the 2019 American College of Rheumatology and European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) classification criteria and the 2020 revised comprehensive diagnostic (RCD) criteria as well as differences between patients with and without IgG4-RD. In this retrospective, single-centre study of 50 patients admitted with suspected IgG4-RD, we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of both criteria. We also compared clinical characteristics and laboratory data of patients with IgG4-RD (n = 42) and patients without IgG4-RD (n = 8). The ACR/EULAR classification criteria had 88.1% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity for IgG4-RD diagnosis. The RCD criteria had 100% sensitivity and 50% specificity. Patients with IgG4-RD had significantly more affected organs (p = 0.002). Patients with a single affected organ and IgG4-RD had significantly higher serum IgG4/IgG ratios (p = 0.027), lower serum C-reactive protein levels (p = 0.020), and lower total haemolytic complement activity (p = 0.044) than those without IgG4-RD. The ACR/EULAR classification criteria have high specificity and the RCD criteria have high sensitivity for diagnosing IgG4-RD. The number of affected organs is important for diagnosing IgG4-RD.
Echo state graph neural networks with analogue random resistive memory arrays
Authors: Wang Shaocong , Li Yi , Wang Dingchen , Zhang Woyu , Chen Xi , Dong Danian , Wang Songqi , Zhang Xumeng , Lin Peng , Gallicchio Claudio , Xu Xiaoxin , Liu Qi , Cheng Kwang-Ting , Wang Zhongrui , Shang Dashan , Liu Ming 
Published: February 2023

AbstractRecent years have witnessed a surge of interest in learning representations of graph-structured data, with applications from social networks to drug discovery. However, graph neural networks, the machine learning models for handling graph-structured data, face significant challenges when running on conventional digital hardware, including the slowdown of Moore’s law due to transistor scaling limits and the von Neumann bottleneck incurred by physically separated memory and processing units, as well as a high training cost. Here we present a hardware–software co-design to address these challenges, by designing an echo state graph neural network based on random resistive memory arrays, which are built from low-cost, nanoscale and stackable resistors for efficient in-memory computing. This approach leverages the intrinsic stochasticity of dielectric breakdown in resistive switching to implement random projections in hardware for an echo state network that effectively minimizes the training complexity thanks to its fixed and random weights. The system demonstrates state-of-the-art performance on both graph classification using the MUTAG and COLLAB datasets and node classification using the CORA dataset, achieving 2.16×, 35.42× and 40.37× improvements in energy efficiency for a projected random resistive memory-based hybrid analogue–digital system over a state-of-the-art graphics processing unit and 99.35%, 99.99% and 91.40% reductions of backward pass complexity compared with conventional graph learning. The results point to a promising direction for next-generation artificial intelligence systems for graph learning.
KDM8 epigenetically controls cardiac metabolism to prevent initiation of dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Ahmed Abdalla , Syed Jibran Nehal , Chi Lijun , Wang Yaxu , Perez-Romero Carmina , Lee Dorothy , Kocaqi Etri , Caballero Amalia , Yang Jielin , Escalante-Covarrubias Quetzalcoatl , Ishimura Akihiko , Suzuki Takeshi , Aguilar-Arnal Lorena , Gonzales Gerard Bryan , Kim Kyoung-Han , Delgado-Olguín Paul 
Published: February 2023

AbstractCardiac metabolism is deranged in heart failure, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we show that lysine demethylase 8 (Kdm8) maintains an active mitochondrial gene network by repressing Tbx15, thus preventing dilated cardiomyopathy leading to lethal heart failure. Deletion of Kdm8 in mouse cardiomyocytes increased H3K36me2 with activation of Tbx15 and repression of target genes in the NAD+ pathway before dilated cardiomyopathy initiated. NAD+ supplementation prevented dilated cardiomyopathy in Kdm8 mutant mice, and TBX15 overexpression blunted NAD+-activated cardiomyocyte respiration. Furthermore, KDM8 was downregulated in human hearts affected by dilated cardiomyopathy, and higher TBX15 expression defines a subgroup of affected hearts with the strongest downregulation of genes encoding mitochondrial proteins. Thus, KDM8 represses TBX15 to maintain cardiac metabolism. Our results suggest that epigenetic dysregulation of metabolic gene networks initiates myocardium deterioration toward heart failure and could underlie heterogeneity of dilated cardiomyopathy.
Flybys in debris disk systems withGaiaeDR3
Authors: Bertini L. , Roccatagliata V. , Kim M. 
Published: February 2023

Context.Debris disks represent the last phase of the evolution of protoplanetary disks around young stellar objects where planetary systems had most likely already been formed. Resolved systems show peculiar structures, such as asymmetries or spirals, which may be associated with either the presence of a low-mass companion or dynamical interactions with a perturber during a flyby event.Aims.We aim to observationally and statistically constrain the influence of flybys in the formation and evolution of debris disks.Methods.We compiled a sample of 254 debris disks with ages between 2 Myr and 8 Gyr that are either part of an association or isolated, drawing the binary and planetary companions of the systems mainly from the literature. Using theGaiaeDR3 astrometric data and radial velocities of our sample, as well as all the sources in a specific region of the sky, we reconstructed the relative linear motions in the last 5 Myr and made predictions for the next 2 Myr. Relating the Hill radius of each debris disk system and the closest distances reached by the two sources, we defined the flyby events in terms of position and time.Results.We find that in the period between the last 5 Myrs and the next 2 Myrs, 90% of the analyzed systems have experienced at least a close flyby, while 7% of them have experienced flybys at distances greater than 0.5RHill. In particular, 75% of them have experienced at least one past close encounter and 36% multiple past close encounters. From the sub-sample of resolved debris disk (41 out of 94), 80% of the analyzed systems experience at least an encounter within 0.8 pc. From the subsample of 10 debris disks with planets, half of these systems do show misalignments between disk and planet, stirring, or asymmetries. Systems with a misalignment between the planetary orbit and the disk do indeed experience at least one flyby event. In particular, when the planet orbits have a difference with the disk inclination higher than about 20°, as in the case of HD 38529, we find that multiple close encounters have taken place in the last 5 Myr, as theoretically predicted.Conclusions.The high incidence of encounters, particularly close encounters, experienced by the systems in the last 5 Myr suggests the fundamental impact of flybys on the evolution of debris disks. Moreover, despite the low statistics, it is interesting to highlight that flybys that have been theoretically predicted so far in peculiar resolved systems have also been observationally constrained.
Das Konzept des funktionellen Schwindels
Authors: Schmid-Mühlbauer Gabriele , Lahmann Claas 
Published: February 2023

ZUSAMMENFASSUNGIn diesem Übersichtsartikel werden das Konzept des funktionellen Schwindels und seiner Unterformen, wie der persistierende postural-perzeptive Schwindel (PPPD: Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness), beschrieben. Prävalenzen und ätiologische Modelle (neurobiologische, anthropologische, psychodynamische und kognitiv-behaviorale) werden dargestellt. Im Hinblick auf die Diagnostik sind eine interdisziplinäre Herangehensweise und bi-perspektivische Simultandiagnostik somatischer und psychosozialer Faktoren indiziert und wichtig, um einer Chronifizierung der Beschwerden und einer erhöhten Inanspruchnahme des medizinischen Systems vorzubeugen. Die therapeutischen Optionen und Empfehlungen (Psychoedukation, Psychotherapie, Psychopharmakotherapie) werden vor dem Hintergrund aktueller Studien diskutiert.