bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interspecific competition predicts the potential impact of little fire ant Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) invasion on resident ants in southern China
Authors: Nie Lei , Bamisile Bamisope Steve , Li Yuling , Ran Hao , Wang Suhang , Wang Lei , Xu Yijuan 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe little fire ant Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger) is a major invasive species that seriously threatens the biodiversity of invaded areas. W. auropunctata was first reported in Chinese mainland in 2022 and its impact on native species is still unknown. To evaluate the impact of W. auropunctata invasion on the ant communities in southern China, a series of interspecific competition experiments were conducted in this study. The individual aggression index and group aggression experiments showed the advantage of W. auropunctata in competition with 5 resident ants under equal worker numbers. When encountering Anoplolepis gracilipes, Camponotus nicobarensis, Tetramorium bicarinatum, Polyrhachis dives, and Solenopsis invicta, W. auropunctata gradually gained a competitive advantage with an increase in its number of workers. In the group aggression experiments with equal worker numbers, there was a negative correlation between the body length and mortality rate of resident ants. The results of the foraging behavior experiments showed that W. auropunctata was able to dominate food resources under competition with Carebara diversa, which also displayed weak competition in the group aggression bioassay. In addition, the abilities to recruit workers and retrieve food were inhibited under competition with S. invicta and T. bicarinatum. The results of the nesting behavior experiments showed that in the 24‐h bout of space resource competition, W. auropunctata was dominant over C. diversa, S. invicta, and T. bicarinatum. The results of this study show that W. auropunctata has certain advantages in competition for food and space resources over resident ants in southern China, and some resident ant species may be replaced in the future.
NLRP13 inflammasome complex is hypermethylated in familial Mediterranean fever and global methylation correlates with the disease severity
Authors: Caldiran Feyzanur Yildirimtepe , Deveci Koksal , Cacan Ercan 
Published: December 2022

AbstractFamilial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disease caused by variations in the MEFV gene, which encodes the pyrin protein, a member of the inflammasomes. Despite the complex pathogenesis of FMF, epigenetic changes also play roles in the disease progression. In our previous study, we observed a relationship between NLRP13, which is one of the members of the inflammasome complex and has a pyrin domain in its structure, and the MEFV gene using the STRING database. In this study, we examined NLRP13 expression and methylation status in 40 patients with FMF attack and 20 healthy individuals. We then investigated the global DNA methylation status of patients with FMF in the attack period and control groups. We further examined the relationship between the clinical manifestation and global methylation as well as NLRP13 gene expression of patients with FMF and healthy individuals. As a result, we showed that hypomethylation in patients with FMF leads to different clinical outcomes in terms of disease severity. In addition, the data indicated that NLRP13 inflammasome is epigenetically controlled in patients with FMF and the presence of amyloidosis may affect the hypermethylation of this gene. Moreover, NLRP13 was silenced because of the hypermethylation of the promoter. The increase of methylation level at the promoter region participated in the inactivation of NLRP13. In the current study, we not only found a new gene that plays a role in the pathogenesis of FMF disease, but also new evidence for the epigenetic regulation of the disease.
Temporary 6TH cranial nerve paralysis after accidental durotomy in endoscopic disc surgery
Authors: Avci İdris , Gürsoy Tansu , Paksoy Kemal , Şentürk Salim , Yaman Onur , Özer Ali Fahir 
Published: December 2022

AbstractWe present a unique case of 6th nerve palsy following accidental durotomy in endoscopic lumbar spine surgery, which has not been reported in the literature before. A 72‐ year‐old female patient was admitted to our outpatient clinic complaining of right leg pain for 6 months. A 4/5 motor paresis was observed on her right toe with a positive Lasegue test at 45°. On her magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a L5‐S1 disc herniation was detected. The patient was planned for percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar disc surgery. The extruded disc was adherent to the dura. During removal, a dural tear was observed. She was relieved of her right leg pain immediately after surgery, but after 30 min postoperatively, she complained of double vision with left abducens nerve paralysis. On cranial MRI, no abnormality could be observed. Intravenous fluids were administered and the paralysis resolved on the postoperative 24th hour. The patient was discharged from the hospital and did not show any complaints on her follow‐ups. A 6th nerve palsy can be caused due to alterations of intracranial pressure or mechanic injury. We believe that the durotomy following removing of the disc fragment caused a rapid drainage of CSF, leading to intracranial hypotension and injury of the abducens nerve. Intracranial pressure should be monitored perioperatively and brisk deteriorations has to result in immediate finishing of the surgery to avoid further secondary damage.
Precision laparoscopic sentinel node navigation surgery for femoral skin cancer
Authors: Hanzawa Shunya , Teraishi Fuminori , Matsumi Yuki , Tachibana Kota , Fujiwara Toshiyoshi 
Published: December 2022

AbstractNavigation surgery using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging has been used in thoracoabdominal surgery, and its usefulness has been reported in many cases. In this study, laparoscopic lateral lymph node dissection was performed using ICG fluorescence imaging in a patient with left femoral spinous cell carcinoma with inguinal and external iliac lymph node metastases. Spinous cell carcinoma is classified as a rare cancer in Japan, and there is a scarcity of evidence for pelvic lymph node dissection, as well as a lack of studies that mention the dissection area. We hypothesized that visualization of lymph nodes and lymph flow using intraoperative ICG fluorescence imaging would indicate the area of dissection and lead to more efficient dissection. In conclusion, intraoperative ICG fluorescence imaging may be useful in this area where there is limited evidence, although there are some limitations.
Quantifying leg muscle deoxygenation during incremental cycling in hypoxemic patients with fibrotic interstitial lung disease
Authors: Marillier Mathieu , Bernard Anne‐Catherine , Verges Samuel , Moran‐Mendoza Onofre , Neder J. Alberto 
Published: December 2022

AbstractBackgroundHypoxaemia and cardiocirculatory abnormalities may impair muscle oxygen (O2) delivery relative to O2 requirements thereby increasing the rate of O2 extraction during incremental exercise in fibrotic interstitial lung disease (f‐ILD). Using changes in deoxyhaemoglobin concentration ([HHb]) by near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as a proxy of O2 extraction, we investigated whether a simplified (double‐linear) approach, previously tested in heart failure, would provide useful estimates of muscle deoxygenation in f‐ILD.MethodsA total of 25 patients (23 men, 72 ± 8 years; 20 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide = 44 ± 11% predicted) and 12 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls performed incremental cycling to symptom limitation. Changes in vastus lateralis [HHb] assessed by NIRS were analysed in relation to work rate (WR) and O2 uptake throughout the exercise.ResultsPatients showed lower exercise capacity than controls (e.g., peak WR = 67 ± 18% vs. 105 ± 20% predicted, respectively; p < 0.001). The [HHb] response profile was typically S‐shaped, presenting three distinct phases. Exacerbated muscle deoxygenation in patients versus controls was evidenced by: (i) a steeper mid‐exercise [HHb]‐WR slope (0.30 ± 0.22 vs. 0.11 ± 0.08 μmol/W; p = 0.008) (Phase 2), and (ii) a larger late‐exercise increase in [HHb] (p = 0.002) (Phase 3). Steeper [HHb]‐WR slope was associated with lower peak WR (r = –0.70) and greater leg discomfort (r = 0.77; p < 0.001) in f‐ILD.ConclusionThis practical approach to interpreting [HHb] during incremental exercise might prove useful to determine the severity of muscle deoxygenation and the potential effects of interventions thereof in hypoxemic patients with f‐ILD.
Efficacy and safety of total lymphoid irradiation in different chronic lung allograft dysfunction phenotypes
Authors: Geng‐Cahuayme Abraham André Arturo , Sáez‐Giménez Berta , Altabas‐González Manuel , Vázquez‐Varela Miriam , Berastegui‐Garcia Cristina , Giralt‐López de Sagredo Jordi , Zapata‐Ortega Marta , Recalde‐Vizcay Enar , López‐Meseguer Manuel 
Published: December 2022

AbstractTotal lymphoid irradiation (TLI) is an alternative treatment for chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). However, data regarding its efficacy and tolerance are scarce. This study included patients with CLAD treated with TLI at our center between 2011 and 2018. Clinical characteristics before and after TLI and related complications were analyzed. Forty patients with CLAD (twenty‐nine bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome [BOS], nine restrictive allograft syndrome [RAS], and two mixed) were included. Significant attenuation of the forced expiratory volume in 1‐sec (FEV1) decline slope was observed in all phenotypes, in both the BOS and RAS. The median FEV1 12, 6, and 3 months pre‐TLI were as follows: 1980 (IQR 1720‐2560), 1665 (IQR 1300‐2340) and 1300 (IQR 1040‐1740) ml (p < .001), while the median FEV1 at 3, 6, and 12 months post‐TLI was 1110 (IQR 810–1440), 1130 (IQR 860–1470), and 1115 (IQR 865–1490) ml (p = .769). No dropouts due to radiation toxicity were observed. The mean survival according to the Karnofsky Performance Status Scale (KPS) >70 or ≤70 at baseline was 1837 (IQR 259–2522) versus 298 (IQR 128–554) days (p < .0001), respectively. In conclusion, TLI may stop FEV1 decline in both BOS and RAS. Moreover, a good KPS score may be an important prognostic factor.
Serologic follow‐up of solid organ transplant recipients who received organs from donors with reactive syphilis tests: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Fernández García Oscar A. , Singh Ameeta E. , Gratrix Jennifer , Smyczek Petra , Doucette Karen 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe increased procurement of organs from donors with risk factors for blood‐borne diseases and the expanding syphilis epidemic have resulted in a growing number of organs transplanted from donors with reactive syphilis serology in our center. Based on guidelines, recipients typically receive therapy shortly after the transplant, but data on outcomes are limited. The primary objective of this study was to determine syphilis seroconversion rates at three months post‐transplant in recipients of solid organs procured from donors with reactive syphilis serology. Organ donors and recipients were tested for syphilis antibody; positive results were confirmed with Treponema pallidum Particle Agglutination (TPPA). Eleven donors with reactive syphilis antibody donated organs to 25 syphilis negative recipients. Three recipients seroconverted at post‐transplant month 3. All of them had received therapy shortly after transplant. TPPA was negative in all 3. Despite post‐transplant treatment, 3 of 25 (12%) syphilis negative recipients of organs from syphilis positive donors seroconverted at 3 months. All remained TPPA negative possibly reflecting passive antibody transfer or differing test sensitivity to low level treponemal antibodies. Further studies are needed to assess optimal syphilis transmission prevention strategies and follow up recipient testing in organ transplantation.
Using Active Learning Methods to Strategically Select Essays for Automated Scoring
Authors: Firoozi Tahereh , Mohammadi Hamid , Gierl Mark J. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractResearch on Automated Essay Scoring has become increasing important because it serves as a method for evaluating students’ written responses at scale. Scalable methods for scoring written responses are needed as students migrate to online learning environments resulting in the need to evaluate large numbers of written‐response assessments. The purpose of this study is to describe and evaluate three active learning methods that can be used to minimize the number of essays that must be scored by human raters while still providing the data needed to train a modern Automated Essay Scoring system. The three active learning methods are the uncertainty‐based, the topological‐based, and the hybrid method. These three methods were used to select essays included in the Automated Student Assessment Prize competition that were then classified using a scoring model that was trained with the bidirectional encoder representations from a transformer language model. All three active learning methods produced strong results, with the topological‐based method producing the most efficient classification. Growth rate accuracy was also evaluated. The active learning methods produced different levels of efficiency under different sample size allocations but, overall, all three methods were highly efficient and produced classifications that were similar to one another.
A unified probabilistic fatigue life prediction model for natural rubber components considering strain ratio effect
Authors: Liu Xiangnan , Zhao Xuezhi , Liu Xiao‐Ang 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe fatigue life of natural rubber (NR) components under a constant‐amplitude load is dispersed. The dispersion can be reflected by establishing a probabilistic fatigue life prediction model (also called the P–S–N curve). However, the effect of strain ratio on fatigue life is typically ignored in conventional P–S–N curves. Aiming at improving the prediction accuracy of conventional models, a unified P–S–N curve for NR components is proposed in the present study, in which the strain ratio effect is considered in the calculations. Using the dumbbell‐shaped rubber specimen fatigue test data, a polynomial function is proposed to describe the correlation between the equivalent strain amplitude, strain amplitude, and strain ratio. Then a calculation model of equivalent strain amplitude is established. Furthermore, a unified P–S–N curve for NR is established with equivalent strain amplitude as the damage parameter. By comparing the measured and predicted fatigue life of NR under different reliabilities, the accuracy of the established unified P–S–N curve is verified.
Multistep synthesis of VO2 (M) nanoparticles and their application to thermochromic hybrid films for IR modulation
Authors: Kwon Soon‐il , Hagiwara Manabu , Kim Sae‐hoon , Fujihara Shinobu 
Published: December 2022

AbstractVanadium dioxide (VO2) is widely known as one of the excellent thermochromic materials based on a reversible insulator‐to‐metal phase transition upon temperature change. In this study, VO2 (M) powder was initially synthesized through a hydrothermal method and a subsequent post‐annealing treatment. Additionally, a particle size of the VO2 (M) powder was reduced and uniformized by introducing a ball‐milling process. The resultant VO2 (M) nanoparticles (NPs) were dispersed in ethanol with the addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The ethanolic dispersion was then coated on a transparent heater used as a substrate by spin‐coating to produce VO2 (M)/PVP composite films. We have attained an exact temperature control of the films by applying voltages to the heater for the assessment of their thermochromic performance such as the solar and the infrared modulation ability. For example, the film temperature could be raised from room temperature to 85.5°C within 180 s at a low voltage of 11 V, which was enough for inducing the phase transition of the VO2 (M) NPs showing the infrared modulation ability of 19.3%. The combination of the composite films and the heater was thus proved to be a promising way for realizing transparent thermochromic devices.
Epigenetic regulation of osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells in periodontitis
Authors: Cao Jingwei , Zhang Qiong , Yang Qiyuan , Yu Yue , Meng Mingmei , Zou Jing 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPeriodontitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by alveolar bone loss. Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) have osteogenic differentiation potential, which can be influenced by epigenetics regulation in periodontitis. Therefore, this review aimed to shed light on the role of different epigenetic mechanisms in the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs and to consider the prospects of their possible therapeutic applications in periodontitis. Databases MEDLINE (through PubMed) and Web of Science were searched for the current knowledge of epigenetics in osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs using the keywords “periodontal ligament stem cells”, “epigenetic regulation”, “epigenetics”, “osteogenic differentiation”, and “osteogenesis”. All studies introducing epigenetic regulation and PDLSCs were retrieved. This review shows that epigenetic factors like DNMT, KDM6A, HDACi, some miRNAs, and lncRNAs can induce the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs in the noninflammatory microenvironment. However, the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs is inhibited in the inflammatory microenvironment through the upregulated DNA methylation of osteogenesis‐related genes and specific changes in histone modification and noncoding RNA. Epigenetics of osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs in inflammation exhibits the contrary effect compared with a noninflammatory environment. The application of epigenetic drugs to regulate the abnormal epigenetic status in periodontitis and focus on alveolar bone regeneration is promising.
SlBBX20 attenuates JA signalling and regulates resistance to Botrytis cinerea by inhibiting SlMED25 in tomato
Authors: Luo Dan , Sun Wenhui , Cai Jun , Hu Guoyu , Zhang Danqiu , Zhang Xiaoyan , Larkin Robert M. , Zhang Junhong , Yang Changxian , Ye Zhibiao , Wang Taotao 
Published: December 2022

SummaryJasmonic acid (JA) plays an important role in regulating plant growth and defence responses. Here, we show that a transcription factor that belongs to the B‐box (BBX) family named SlBBX20 regulates resistance to Botrytis cinerea in tomato by modulating JA signalling. The response to JA was significantly suppressed when SlBBX20 was overexpressed in tomato. By contrast, the JA response was enhanced in SlBBX20 knockout lines. RNA sequencing analysis provided more evidence that SlBBX20 modulates the expression of genes that are involved in JA signalling. We found that SlBBX20 interacts with SlMED25, a subunit of the Mediator transcriptional co‐activator complex, and prevents the accumulation of the SlMED25 protein and transcription of JA‐responsive genes. JA contributes to the defence response against necrotrophic pathogens. Knocking out SlBBX20 or overexpressing SlMED25 enhanced tomato resistance to B. cinerea. The resistance was impaired when SlBBX20 was overexpressed in plants that also overexpressed SlMED25. These data show that SlBBX20 attenuates JA signalling by regulating SlMED25. Interestingly, in addition to developing enhanced resistance to B. cinerea, SlBBX20‐KO plants also produced higher fruit yields. SlBBX20 is a potential target gene for efforts that aim to develop elite crop varieties using gene editing technologies.
Pyrroline‐5‐carboxylate dehydrogenase is an essential enzyme for proline dehydrogenase function during dark‐induced senescence in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Zheng Yao , Cabassa‐Hourton Cécile , Planchais Séverine , Crilat Emilie , Clément Gilles , Dacher Matthieu , Durand Nina , Bordenave‐Jacquemin Marianne , Guivarc'h Anne , Dourmap Corentin , Carol Pierre , Lebreton Sandrine , Savouré Arnould 
Published: December 2022

AbstractDuring leaf senescence, nitrogen is remobilized and carbon backbones are replenished by amino acid catabolism, with many of the key reactions occurring in mitochondria. The intermediate Δ1‐pyrroline‐5‐carboxylate (P5C) is common to some catabolic pathways, thus linking the metabolism of several amino acids, including proline and arginine. Specifically, mitochondrial proline catabolism involves sequential action of proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) and P5C dehydrogenase (P5CDH) to produce P5C and then glutamate. Arginine catabolism produces urea and ornithine, the latter in the presence of α‐ketoglutarate being converted by ornithine δ‐aminotransferase (OAT) into P5C and glutamate. Metabolic changes during dark‐induced leaf senescence (DIS) were studied in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves of Col‐0 and in prodh1prodh2, p5cdh and oat mutants. Progression of DIS was followed by measuring chlorophyll and proline contents for 5 days. Metabolomic profiling of 116 compounds revealed similar profiles of Col‐0 and oat metabolism, distinct from prodh1prodh2 and p5cdh metabolism. Metabolic dynamics were accelerated in p5cdh by 1 day. Notably, more P5C and proline accumulated in p5cdh than in prodh1prodh2. ProDH1 enzymatic activity and protein amount were significantly down‐regulated in p5cdh mutant at Day 4 of DIS. Mitochondrial P5C levels appeared critical in determining the flow through interconnected amino acid remobilization pathways to sustain senescence.
D‐A‐D‐based Unsymmetrical Thiosquaraine Dye for the Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells†
Authors: Jadhav Avinash P. , Singh Ambarish Kumar , Maibam Ashakiran , Krishnamurty Sailaja , Krishnamoorthy Kothandam , Nithyanandhan Jayaraj 
Published: December 2022

AbstractIn dye‐sensitized solar cell, modulating the electronic properties of the sensitizer by varying the donor, π‐spacer, acceptor and anchoring groups help optimizing the structure of the dye for better device performance. Here, a donor–acceptor–donor‐based unsymmetrical thiosquaraine sensitizer (SQ5S) has been designed and synthesized. Photophysical, electrochemical, theoretical and photovoltaic characterizations of SQ5S dye have been compared with its oxygen analog, SQ5. The incorporation of the sulfur atom in the acceptor unit of SQ5S dye showed an intense peak at 688 nm, which was 38 nm of red‐shifted and showed the panchromatic light harvesting response with the onset of 850 nm compared with SQ5 dye. The LUMO and HOMO energy levels are well aligned with the conduction band of TiO2 and the redox potential of electrolyte for the charge injection and the dye‐regeneration processes, respectively. Photovoltaic efficiency of 1.51% (VOC 610 mV, JSC 3.07 mA cm−2, ff 81%) has been achieved for SQ5S dye, whereas SQ5 showed the device performance of 5.43% (VOC 723 mV, JSC 9.3 mA cm−2, ff 80%). The decreased device performance for the dye SQ5S has been attributed to the favorable intersystem crossing process associated with the photoexcited SQ5S that reduces the driving force for the charge injection process.