bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A somato-cognitive action network alternates with effector regions in motor cortex
Authors: Gordon Evan M. , Chauvin Roselyne J. , Van Andrew N. , Rajesh Aishwarya , Nielsen Ashley , Newbold Dillan J. , Lynch Charles J. , Seider Nicole A. , Krimmel Samuel R. , Scheidter Kristen M. , Monk Julia , Miller Ryland L. , Metoki Athanasia , Montez David F. , Zheng Annie , Elbau Immanuel , Madison Thomas , Nishino Tomoyuki , Myers Michael J. , Kaplan Sydney , Badke D’Andrea Carolina , Demeter Damion V. , Feigelis Matthew , Ramirez Julian S. B. , Xu Ting , Barch Deanna M. , Smyser Christopher D. , Rogers Cynthia E. , Zimmermann Jan , Botteron Kelly N. , Pruett John R. , Willie Jon T. , Brunner Peter , Shimony Joshua S. , Kay Benjamin P. , Marek Scott , Norris Scott A. , Gratton Caterina , Sylvester Chad M. , Power Jonathan D. , Liston Conor , Greene Deanna J. , Roland Jarod L. , Petersen Steven E. , Raichle Marcus E. , Laumann Timothy O. , Fair Damien A. , Dosenbach Nico U. F. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractMotor cortex (M1) has been thought to form a continuous somatotopic homunculus extending down the precentral gyrus from foot to face representations1,2, despite evidence for concentric functional zones3 and maps of complex actions4. Here, using precision functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) methods, we find that the classic homunculus is interrupted by regions with distinct connectivity, structure and function, alternating with effector-specific (foot, hand and mouth) areas. These inter-effector regions exhibit decreased cortical thickness and strong functional connectivity to each other, as well as to the cingulo-opercular network (CON), critical for action5 and physiological control6, arousal7, errors8 and pain9. This interdigitation of action control-linked and motor effector regions was verified in the three largest fMRI datasets. Macaque and pediatric (newborn, infant and child) precision fMRI suggested cross-species homologues and developmental precursors of the inter-effector system. A battery of motor and action fMRI tasks documented concentric effector somatotopies, separated by the CON-linked inter-effector regions. The inter-effectors lacked movement specificity and co-activated during action planning (coordination of hands and feet) and axial body movement (such as of the abdomen or eyebrows). These results, together with previous studies demonstrating stimulation-evoked complex actions4 and connectivity to internal organs10 such as the adrenal medulla, suggest that M1 is punctuated by a system for whole-body action planning, the somato-cognitive action network (SCAN). In M1, two parallel systems intertwine, forming an integrate–isolate pattern: effector-specific regions (foot, hand and mouth) for isolating fine motor control and the SCAN for integrating goals, physiology and body movement.
A novel immune score model predicting the prognosis and immunotherapy response of breast cancer
Authors: Lv Wenchang , He Xiao , Wang Yichen , Zhao Chongru , Dong Menglu , Wu Yiping , Zhang Qi 
Published: April 2023

AbstractBreast cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignancies. However, the existing pathological grading system cannot accurately and effectively predict the survival rate and immune checkpoint treatment response of BC patients. In this study, based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, a total of 7 immune-related genes (IRGs) were screened out to construct a prognostic model. Subsequently, the clinical prognosis, pathological characteristics, cancer-immunity cycle, tumour immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) score, and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) response were compared between the high- and low-risk groups. In addition, we determined the potential regulatory effect of NPR3 on BC cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. The model consisting of 7 IRGs was an independent prognostic factor. Patients with lower risk scores exhibited longer survival times. Moreover, the expression of NPR3 was increased but the expression of PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 was decreased in the high-risk group compared to the low-risk group. In addition, compared with si-NC, si-NPR3 suppressed proliferation and migration but promoted apoptosis in both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. This study presents a model for predicting survival outcomes and provides a strategy to guide effective personalized immunotherapy in BC patients.
Development of a lab-device for evaporation-free supply of pure liquid nitrogen for droplet- and jet-generation
Authors: Schremb Markus , Kalter Marijn , Vanapalli Srinivas 
Published: April 2023

AbstractCryogenic liquids such as liquid nitrogen are of relevance for numerous processes in engineering, and the food and pharmaceutical industries. However, as a result of its strong evaporation at ambient conditions, its handling for laboratory purposes and experimentation is so far cumbersome. In the present work an original design approach for a supply device for liquid nitrogen is developed and characterized in detail. With the device pure liquid nitrogen is supplied from a pressurized dewar flask to a hypodermic needle without contamination of the liquid with its own vapor or frost, finally enabling to generate a free liquid jet or single droplets in a way comparable to the handling of non-cryogenic liquids using a syringe and a hypodermic needle. Compared to previous approaches for the generation of liquid nitrogen droplets in scientific studies which mostly rely on a reservoir for liquid nitrogen from which droplets form at a bottom outlet due to gravity, the present design allows generation of droplets and free liquid jets in a significantly better controlled and more flexible way. The device is experimentally characterized for varying operational conditions during generation of a free liquid jet, and its versatility for laboratory research purposes is further briefly demonstrated.
Co-administration with A1M does not influence apoptotic response of 177Lu-octreotate in GOT1 neuroendocrine tumors
Authors: Rassol Nishte , Andersson Charlotte , Pettersson Daniella , Al-Awar Amin , Shubbar Emman , Kovács Anikó , Åkerström Bo , Gram Magnus , Helou Khalil , Forssell-Aronsson Eva 
Published: April 2023

AbstractRecombinant α1-microglobulin (A1M) is a proposed radioprotector during 177Lu-octreotate therapy of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). To ensure a maintained therapeutic effect, we previously demonstrated that A1M does not affect the 177Lu-octreotate induced decrease in GOT1 tumor volume. However, the underlying biological events of these findings are still unknown. The aim of this work was to examine the regulation of apoptosis-related genes in GOT1 tumors short-time after i.v. administration of 177Lu-octreotate with and without A1M or A1M alone. Human GOT1 tumor-bearing mice received 30 MBq 177Lu-octreotate or 5 mg/kg A1M or co-treatment with both. Animals were sacrificed after 1 or 7 days. Gene expression analysis of apoptosis-related genes in GOT1 tissue was performed with RT-PCR. In general, similar expression patterns of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes were found after 177Lu-octreotate exposure with or without co-administration of A1M. The highest regulated genes in both irradiated groups compared to untreated controls were FAS and TNFSFRS10B. Administration of A1M alone only resulted in significantly regulated genes after 7 days. Co-administration of A1M did not negatively affect the transcriptional apoptotic response of 177Lu-octreotate in GOT1 tumors.
The impact of pharmaceutical form and simulated side effects in an open-label-placebo RCT for improving psychological distress in highly stressed students
Authors: Winkler Alexander , Hahn Alannah , Hermann Christiane 
Published: April 2023

AbstractOpen-label placebo (OLP) may be utilized to reduce psychological distress. Yet, potential contextual effects have not been explored. We investigated the impact of pharmaceutical form and the simulation of side effects in a parallel group RCT (DRKS00030987). A sample of 177 highly stressed university students at risk of depression were randomly assigned by computer generated tables to a 1-week intervention with active or passive OLP nasal spray or passive OLP capsule or a no-treatment control group. After the intervention, groups differed significantly in depressive symptoms but not regarding other outcomes of psychological distress (stress, anxiety, sleep quality, somatization), well-being or treatment expectation. OLP groups benefitted significantly more compared to the no-treatment control group (d = .40), OLP nasal spray groups significantly more than the OLP capsule group (d = .40) and the active OLP group significantly more than the passive OLP groups (d = .42). Interestingly, before intervention, most participants, regardless of group assignment, believed that the OLP capsule would be most beneficial. The effectiveness of OLP treatments seems to be highly influenced by the symptom focus conveyed by the OLP rationale. Moreover, pharmaceutical form and simulation of side effects may modulate efficacy, while explicit treatment expectation seems to play a minor role.
Bogolon-mediated light absorption in atomic condensates of different dimensionality
Authors: Ko Dogyun , Sun Meng , Kovalev Vadim , Savenko Ivan 
Published: April 2023

AbstractIn the case of structureless bosons, cooled down to low temperatures, the absorption of electromagnetic waves by their Bose-Einstein condensate is usually forbidden due to the momentum and energy conservation laws: the phase velocity of the collective modes of the condensate called bogolons is sufficiently lower than the speed of light. Thus, only the light scattering processes persist. However, the situation might be different in the case of composite bosons or the bosons with an internal structure. Here, we develop a microscopic theory of electromagnetic power absorption by a Bose–Einstein condensates of cold atoms in various dimensions, utilizing the Bogoliubov model of a weakly-interacting Bose gas. Thus, we address the transitions between a collective coherent state of bosons and the discrete energy levels corresponding to excited internal degrees of freedom of non-condensed individual bosons. It is shown, that such transitions are mediated by one and two-bogolon excitations above the condensate, which demonstrate different efficiency at different frequencies and strongly depend on the condensate density, which influence varies depending on the dimensionality of the system.
Multi-scale study of load-bearing mechanism of uplift piles based on model tests and numerical simulations
Authors: Fang Jianping , Lin Songchao , Liu Kai 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe uplift pile is an anti-uplift measure in engineering widely used in practice. In order to study the mechanical parameters of the pile and the surrounding soil under the uplift load, a pile uplift model test and relevant numerical test were conducted. Image analysis technique was applied to the model test to investigate the soil displacements caused by pulling the pile. The load–displacement and pile axial force-lateral friction resistance relationships were investigated at three burial depths. Comparing the model test and numerical test results, it reveals that the pile primarily underwent four stages under the influence of uplift load: initial stage of loading, strain-hardening stage, peak of loading stage, and the strain-softening stage; the soil displacements around the pile exhibited inverted conical shape as the uplift load increases; and obvious soil arching effects could be observed near the ground surface. In addition, the development of force chains and major principal stresses indicated that the pile lateral frictional resistance first increased to its maximum value and then decreased sharply along the depth direction.
Automatic brain extraction and brain tissues segmentation on multi-contrast animal MRI
Authors: Nour Eddin Jamil , Dorez Hugo , Curcio Valentina 
Published: April 2023

AbstractFor many neuroscience applications, brain extraction in MRI images is the first pre-processing step of a quantification pipeline. Once the brain is extracted, further post-processing calculations become faster, more specific and easier to implement and interpret. It is the case, for example, of functional MRI brain studies, or relaxation time mappings and brain tissues classifications to characterise brain pathologies. Existing brain extraction tools are mostly adapted to work on the human anatomy, this gives poor results when applied to animal brain images. We have developed an atlas-based Veterinary Images Brain Extraction (VIBE) algorithm that encompasses a pre-processing step to adapt the atlas to the patient’s image, and a subsequent registration step. We show that the brain extraction is achieved with excellent results in terms of Dice and Jaccard metrics. The algorithm is automatic, with no need to adapt the parameters in a broad range of situations: we successfully tested multiple MRI contrasts (T1-weighted, T2-weighted, T2-weighted FLAIR), all the acquisition planes (sagittal, dorsal, transverse), different animal species (dogs and cats) and canine cranial conformations (brachycephalic, mesocephalic, dolichocephalic). VIBE can be successfully extended to other animal species, provided that an atlas for that specific species exists. We show also how brain extraction, as a preliminary step, can help to segment brain tissues with a K-Means clustering algorithm.
Impact of coronary artery revascularization on long-term outcome in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients: a nationwide population-based cohort study
Authors: Rhee Tae-Min , Kim Hyung-Kwan , Kim Bong-Seong , Han Kyung-Do , Lee Hyun-Jung , Hwang In-Chang , Lee Heesun , Park Jun-Bean , Yoon Yeonyee E. , Kim Yong-Jin , Cho Goo-Yeong 
Published: April 2023

AbstractLimited data are available on the long-term outcomes in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients with significant coronary artery disease (CAD) requiring revascularization. We investigated the risk of cardiovascular outcomes in HCM patients who underwent coronary revascularization compared to the control group without HCM. HCM patients aged ≥ 20 years were enrolled from the Korean National Health Insurance Database. Information on the diagnosis and previous medical history was obtained from the claims data. Cardiovascular outcomes were identified during 8-year after coronary revascularization in HCM patients (HCM group) and matched controls without HCM (non-HCM control group). A total of 431 patients in the HCM group and 1968 in the non-HCM control group were analyzed. The risk of all-cause death, cardiovascular death, sudden cardiac death (SCD), ischemic stroke, and hospitalization due to heart failure was significantly higher in the HCM group than in the non-HCM group, with prominent risk increase of cardiovascular death (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 2.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.63–3.15, P < 0.001) and ischemic stroke (adjusted HR 2.38, 95% CI 1.55–3.64, P < 0.001). Beyond 1-year after revascularization, the HCM group still had a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular death, SCD, and ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia compared to the non-HCM group. Mortality and major cardiovascular outcomes occurred more frequently in HCM patients with significant CAD requiring revascularization, compared to the matched non-HCM control group. Active and regular surveillance for concomitant risk factors and relevant intervention are warranted in HCM patients at increased risk for CAD.
Dentin defects caused by a Dspp−1 frameshift mutation are associated with the activation of autophagy
Authors: Liang Tian , Smith Charles E. , Hu Yuanyuan , Zhang Hong , Zhang Chuhua , Xu Qian , Lu Yongbo , Qi Ling , Hu Jan C.-C. , Simmer James P. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractDentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) is primarily expressed by differentiated odontoblasts (dentin-forming cells), and transiently expressed by presecretory ameloblasts (enamel-forming cells). Disease-causing DSPP mutations predominantly fall into two categories: 5’ mutations affecting targeting and trafficking, and 3’ − 1 frameshift mutations converting the repetitive, hydrophilic, acidic C-terminal domain into a hydrophobic one. We characterized the dental phenotypes and investigated the pathological mechanisms of DsppP19L and Dspp−1fs mice that replicate the two categories of human DSPP mutations. In DsppP19L mice, dentin is less mineralized but contains dentinal tubules. Enamel mineral density is reduced. Intracellular accumulation and ER retention of DSPP is observed in odontoblasts and ameloblasts. In Dspp−1fs mice, a thin layer of reparative dentin lacking dentinal tubules is deposited. Odontoblasts show severe pathosis, including intracellular accumulation and ER retention of DSPP, strong ubiquitin and autophagy activity, ER-phagy, and sporadic apoptosis. Ultrastructurally, odontoblasts show extensive autophagic vacuoles, some of which contain fragmented ER. Enamel formation is comparable to wild type. These findings distinguish molecular mechanisms underlying the dental phenotypes of DsppP19L and Dspp−1fs mice and support the recently revised Shields classification of dentinogenesis imperfecta caused by DSPP mutations in humans. The Dspp−1fs mice may be valuable for the study of autophagy and ER-phagy.
Estimation of silent phenotypes of calf antibiotic dysbiosis
Authors: Okada Shunnosuke , Inabu Yudai , Miyamoto Hirokuni , Suzuki Kenta , Kato Tamotsu , Kurotani Atsushi , Taguchi Yutaka , Fujino Ryoichi , Shiotsuka Yuji , Etoh Tetsuji , Tsuji Naoko , Matsuura Makiko , Tsuboi Arisa , Saito Akira , Masuya Hiroshi , Kikuchi Jun , Nagasawa Yuya , Hirose Aya , Hayashi Tomohito , Ohno Hiroshi , Takahashi Hideyuki 
Published: April 2023

AbstractReducing antibiotic usage among livestock animals to prevent antimicrobial resistance has become an urgent issue worldwide. This study evaluated the effects of administering chlortetracycline (CTC), a versatile antibacterial agent, on the performance, blood components, fecal microbiota, and organic acid concentrations of calves. Japanese Black calves were fed with milk replacers containing CTC at 10 g/kg (CON group) or 0 g/kg (EXP group). Growth performance was not affected by CTC administration. However, CTC administration altered the correlation between fecal organic acids and bacterial genera. Machine learning (ML) methods such as association analysis, linear discriminant analysis, and energy landscape analysis revealed that CTC administration affected populations of various types of fecal bacteria. Interestingly, the abundance of several methane-producing bacteria at 60 days of age was high in the CON group, and the abundance of Lachnospiraceae, a butyrate-producing bacterium, was high in the EXP group. Furthermore, statistical causal inference based on ML data estimated that CTC treatment affected the entire intestinal environment, potentially suppressing butyrate production, which may be attributed to methanogens in feces. Thus, these observations highlight the multiple harmful impacts of antibiotics on the intestinal health of calves and the potential production of greenhouse gases by calves.
The impact of digital transformation on the total factor productivity of heavily polluting enterprises
Authors: Su Jinqi , Wei Yinying , Wang Shubin , Liu Qilei 
Published: April 2023

AbstractIn the digital economy, the relationship between digital transformation and a company's total factor productivity has profound implications for high-quality business development. Heavy polluters are given more environmental responsibility because of their high pollution and emission characteristics. This paper analyses the theoretical framework for the impact of digital transformation on the total factor productivity of heavily polluting firms. Using a sample of Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share heavy polluters from 2010 to 2020, we explore how the digital transformation of heavy polluters affects the total factor productivity of firms. The study found that the digital transformation of heavily polluting companies can effectively improve total factor productivity, internally by increasing their level of green technology innovation and externally by increasing their willingness and capacity for corporate social responsibility. At the same time, digital transformation can improve total factor productivity by reducing cost stickiness, revealing the "black box" in which digital transformation affects the total factor productivity of an enterprise. It was further found that the digital transformation of companies with high levels of environmental investment, large enterprises, those in non-manufacturing industries, and heavy polluters of a state-owned nature had a more significant impact on total factor productivity. The findings of the study provide empirical evidence for the digital transformation of heavily polluting companies to improve productivity and the green transformation of the economy for companies under the low carbon goal.
Parahydrogen-induced polarization allows 2000-fold signal enhancement in biologically active derivatives of the peptide-based drug octreotide
Authors: Lins Jonas , Miloslavina Yuliya A. , Carrara Stefania C. , Rösler Lorenz , Hofmann Sarah , Herr Kevin , Theiß Franziska , Wienands Laura , Avrutina Olga , Kolmar Harald , Buntkowsky Gerd 
Published: April 2023

AbstractOctreotide, a somatostatin analogue, has shown its efficacy for the diagnostics and treatment of various types of cancer, i.e., in octreotide scan, as radio-marker after labelling with a radiopharmaceutical. To avoid toxicity of radio-labeling, octreotide-based assays can be implemented into magnetic resonance techniques, such as MRI and NMR. Here we used a Parahydrogen-Induced Polarization (PHIP) approach as a cheap, fast and straightforward method. Introduction of l-propargyl tyrosine as a PHIP marker at different positions of octreotide by manual Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS) led to up to 2000-fold proton signal enhancement (SE). Cell binding studies confirmed that all octreotide variants retained strong binding affinity to the surface of human-derived cancer cells expressing somatostatin receptor 2. The hydrogenation reactions were successfully performed in methanol and under physiologically compatible mixtures of water with methanol or ethanol. The presented results open up new application areas of biochemical and pharmacological studies with octreotide.
Atypical weather patterns cause coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia during the 2021–2022 La Niña
Authors: McGowan Hamish , Theobald Alison 
Published: April 2023

AbstractWidespread coral bleaching was observed over the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, the world’s largest coral reef during the 2021–2022 La Niña. This raised concerns that background global warming may have crossed a critical threshold causing thermal stress to corals during a climate state historically associated with increased cloud cover, rainfall and cooler summer water temperatures. Here we present an analysis of recent summer La Niña events focused on their synoptic meteorology and corresponding water temperatures over the Great Barrier Reef. Results show that the 2021–2022 summer La Niña caused accumulated coral heat stress to exceed previous La Niña conditions by 2.5 times. We find that weather patterns that favoured the build-up of heat in water overlying the Great Barrier Reef during the 2021–2022 summer were likely the result of repositioning of planetary scale atmospheric longwaves. This insight provides an additional means to predict potential future atmospheric conditions that increase the risk of extremely high water temperatures and coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef.