bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biosorption of carcinogenic metal ions using the immobilized microalgae Auxenochlorella protothecoides on a lignocellulosic matrix: Optimization, kinetic, isotherm and mechanism
Authors: NOUACER Imane , HAMMADI Soumia , BENALIA Mokhtar , DJEDID Mebrouk , BENCHEIKH Salah Eddine 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
An efficient carcinogenic metal biosorbent was prepared by immobilizing the microalgae Auxenochlorella protothecoides (AP) within a sugarcane bagasse (SB) lignocellulosic matrix. The characterization of AP-SB as a proposed biosorbent was performed by various spectroscopic methods, including Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA/DTA). The immobilization technique enhanced the biosorption of nickel by 32.25% at equilibrium compared with that of free Auxenochlorella protothecoides. The maximum metal biosorption capacities of free and immobilized Auxenochlorella protothecoides were calculated to be 42.08 and 62.1 mg/g, respectively. The removal efficiency of nickel ions was evaluated with a Box‒Behnken factorial design using three parameters: pH solution, contact time, and biosorbent concentration. A maximum metal removal rate of 97.96% was obtained using the RSM-DF platform with the following optimal conditions: pH 5.06, biosorbent concentration of 1.6 g/L, and contact time of 53.33 min. The experimental equilibrium adsorption isotherms for the nickel bioprocess were analysed using sixteen models with two, three, and four parameters. An evaluation of the goodness of fit of various nonlinear regression isotherms indicated that the Fritz–Schlünder (IV) model was the most suitable model to describe the equilibrium curves; this model was selected based on the values of four error functions: the coefficient of determination (R²), the hybrid fractional error function (HYBRID), Marquardt's percent standard deviation (MPSD), and the average relative error (ARE). The thermodynamic factors and kinetics analysis demonstrated that the bioprocess was exothermic, favourable, and spontaneous at 298–318 K. Finally, the biosorption of nickel ions on SB-AP was explained by four proposed mechanisms based on the network structure of cellulose, lignin, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosamine, and β-D-glucosamine units.
Dynamic characteristics analysis of deployable panel with clearance joint based on three-dimensional clearance measurement
Authors: Qiu Xuesong , Li Dong-sheng , Li Meng-xu , Wei Ya-kun 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
The main purpose of the research is to realize the dynamic characteristics analysis of deployable array with three-dimensional (3D) clearance joints through the 3D clearance measurement. Through the analysis of geometric and mechanical characteristics of 3D clearance joint, the dynamic model of deployable array with 3D clearance is established. The 3D clearance measurement system is built with reference to the space two-point method and the system error is eliminated. A verification experiment is set up to evaluate the measurement method. The feasibility of the theoretical model is verified by comparing the measurement results with the numerical data of the deployable panel, and the effects of deployment speed, clearance radius and deployment mode on the dynamic properties of the deployable panel are studied. The experimental results show that when the vertical deployment mode is adopted, the single deployment time ranges from 30 s to 60 s, and the clearance radius varies from 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm, the dynamic characteristics of deployable array are best.
A novel signed pressure force function for image segmentation by combining global and local information
Authors: Meng Xinchao , Mei Qian , Chen Jingyuan , Li Mengfan , Si Si 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
As we all know, it is difficult to deal with the weak boundary and noisy images by using local or global image information. Therefore, this paper proposes a signed pressure force function for image segmentation by combining global and local image information. First, the global and local gray fitted terms are given by using the global and local region information of the image respectively. Then, the global and local terms are linearly combined to construct a mixed signed pressure force function. Finally, the balloon force function is redefined to adaptively change the contour curve evolution rate of the level set. The numerical simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can not only accurately segment weak boundary and multi-target images, but also has a fast segmentation speed and a certain robustness to the noise.
Heparin-Network-Mediated Long-lasting Coatings on Intravascular Catheters for Adaptive Antithrombosis and Antibacterial Infection
Authors: Liu Lin , Yu Huan , Wang Lei , Zhou Dongfang , Duan Xiaozheng , Zhang Xu , Luan Shifang , Shi Hengchong 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Bacteria-associated infections and thrombosis have become life-threatening complications to human health, particular in catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBIs) and catheter-related thrombosis (CRT). Herein, multifunctional coating complex was fabricated by a concise assembly of heparin (HS) with organosilicon quaternary ammonium surfactants (DAC). Different from the conventional one-time coatings, obtained HS/DAC complex can attach on kinds of devices with arbitrary shapes and compositions via facile dip, and further form robust coatings for treating CRBIs and CRT simultaneously. Taking advantage of adaptive dissociation and robustness, HS/DAC coatings not only exhibit good stability even under extreme conditions, but also significantly reduce thrombus adhesion by 84.6% and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity (> 99%) in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, ex-vivo rabbit model was used to verify the good antibacterial infection and antithrombic performances of HS/DAC coated catheters during the implantation. Such a substrate-independent and portable long-lasting multifunctional coating meets the growing anti-CRBIs and CRT demands in clinic.
Shuttle Peptide Delivers Base Editor RNPs to Rhesus Monkey Airway Epithelial Cells In Vivo
Authors: Kulhankova Katarina , Traore Soumba , Cheng Xue , Benk-Fortin Hadrien , Hallée Stéphanie , Harvey Mario , Roberge Joannie , Couture Frédéric , Gross Thomas , Newby Gregory , Liu David , Tarantal Alice , Guay David , McCray Paul 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Gene editing strategies for cystic fibrosis are challenged by the complex barrier properties of airway epithelia. We previously reported that the amphiphilic S10 shuttle peptide non-covalently combined with CRISPR-associated (Cas) ribonucleoprotein (RNP) enabled editing of human and mouse airway epithelial cells. Here, to improve base editor RNP delivery, we optimized S10 to derive the S315 peptide. Following intratracheal aerosol of Cy5-labeled peptide cargo in rhesus macaques, we confirmed delivery throughout the respiratory tract. Subsequently, we targeted CCR5 with co-administration of ABE8e-Cas9 RNP and S315. We achieved editing efficiencies of up to 5.3% in rhesus airway epithelia. Moreover, we documented persistence of edited epithelia for up to 12 months in mice. Finally, delivery of ABE8e-Cas9 targeting the CFTR R553X mutation restored anion channel function in cultured human airway epithelial cells. These results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of base editor delivery with S315 to functionally correct the CFTR R553X mutation in respiratory epithelia.
Programmable RNA detection with CRISPR-Cas12a
Authors: Jain Piyush , Rananaware Santosh , Vesco Emma , Shoemaker Grace , Anekar Swapnil , Sandoval Luke Samuel , Meister Katelyn , Macaluso Nicolas , Nguyen Long 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
CRISPR is a prominent bioengineering tool and the type V CRISPR-associated protein complex, Cas12a, is widely used in diagnostic platforms due to its innate ability to cleave DNA substrates. Here we demonstrate that Cas12a can also be programmed to directly detect RNA substrates without the need for reverse transcription or strand displacement. We discovered that while the PAM-proximal “seed” region of the crRNA exclusively recognizes DNA for initiating trans-cleavage, the PAM-distal region or 3’-end of the crRNA can tolerate both RNA and DNA substrates. Utilizing this property, we developed a method named Split Activators for Highly Accessible RNA Analysis or ‘SAHARA’ to detect RNA sequences at the PAM-distal region of the crRNA by merely supplying a short ssDNA or a PAM containing dsDNA to the seed region. Notably, SAHARA is Mg2+ concentration- and pH-dependent, and it was observed to work robustly at room temperature with multiple orthologs of Cas12a. SAHARA also displayed a significant improvement in the specificity for target recognition as compared to the wild-type CRISPR-Cas12a, at certain positions along the crRNA. By employing SAHARA we achieved amplification-free detection of picomolar concentrations of miRNA-155 and hepatitis C virus RNA. Finally, SAHARA can use a PAM-proximal DNA as a switch to control the trans-cleavage activity of Cas12a for the detection of both DNA and RNA targets. With this, multicomplex arrays can be made to detect distinct DNA and RNA targets with pooled crRNA/Cas12a complexes. In conclusion, SAHARA is a simple, yet powerful nucleic acid detection platform based on Cas12a that can be applied in a multiplexed fashion and potentially be expanded to other CRISPR-Cas enzymes.
Different effects of menopausal hormone therapy on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease based on the route of estrogen administration
Authors: Kim Sung Eun , Min Ji-Song , Lee Saemi , Lee Dong-Yun , Choi DooSeok 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
The effects of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were compared based on the route of estrogen administration. The study included 368 postmenopausal women who received MHT for 12 months. Patients were divided into transdermal (n = 75) and oral (n = 293) groups based on the estrogen route. Changes in the prevalence of NAFLD were compared between the two groups before and after 12 months of MHT. In addition, differences in the progression of NAFLD after MHT based on the dose of estrogen and type of progestogen were evaluated in the oral group. After MHT, the prevalence of NAFLD decreased from 24–17.3% in the transdermal group but increased from 25.3–29.4% in the oral group. Little or no change was found in clinical characteristics and laboratory tests in the transdermal group during MHT. However, serum levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased and triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased significantly in the oral group. Furthermore, changes in the prevalence of NAFLD were not significantly different based on the dose of estrogen or type of progestogen. Our findings indicate that transdermal estrogen can be beneficial in terms of NAFLD progression.
Effect of straw biochar on soil evaporation and its mechanism
Authors: feng weiying , wang tengke , Yang Fang , Cen Rui , Liao Haiqing 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
High soil evaporation levels are a major contributor to loss of soil moisture in arid and semiarid regions globally. Therefore, it is important to use effective measures to slow down the evaporation from farmland soils. We applied various rates of straw biochar (BC) in a soil column experiment and a to study the influence of BC on soil evaporation and moisture content, respectively, so as to improve the water use efficiency of cultivated soil in arid areas. In the field experiment, cumulative evaporation in the treatments declined by 9.58% (Bo-10), 10.95% (Bo-30) and 4.2% (Bo-50) compared with that in the control group, 30 t/hm2 BC was the most effective at suppressing soil evaporation. Data from continuous monitoring of moisture content for 3 days during each growth period revealed that the increases in moisture replenishment were 18.5–79.6% at the seedling stage, 55.8–202.4% at the jointing stage, 270.8–587.5% at the tassel stage and 6.7–61.6% at the maturation stage, BC was shown to work best at the tassel stage. The addition of BC reduced soil evaporation and delayed water loss from the soil by evaporation. BC also delayed the time required for the soil moisture content to drop to field capacity and increased the upward transport of water from the deeper soil layers at night. The effective evidence of soil column experiment and field experiment showed that straw biochar could effectively reduce soil evaporation and increase soil moisture content.
A novel candidate subunit vaccine induces protective immunity against Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in a murine model
Authors: Liu Siguo , Shao Mingzhu , Cui Ning , Tang Yangyang , Chen Fanruo , Cui Yingying , Dang Guanghui 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) causes paratuberculosis (PTB), which is a granulomatous enteritis in ruminants that threatens the dairy industry’s healthy development and public health safety worldwide. Because the commercial inactivated vaccines are not completely protective and interfere with bovine tuberculosis diagnostics, we identified a polyprotein (66NC) from four fusion proteins, namely 66NC, 66CN, 90NC, and 90CN, which were constructed with MAP3257, Ag85B, and Hsp70 of MAP in different tandem combinations. Notably, 66NC, which encodes a 66 kDa fusion protein that combines in linear order MAP3527N40–232, Ag85B41–330, and MAP3527C231–361, induced a powerful and specific IFN-γ response. Immunization of C57BL/6 mice with the 66NC fusion protein formulated in MONTANIDE ISA 61 VG adjuvant generated robust Th1, Th2, and Th17 type immune responses and strong antibody responses. The 66NC vaccine protected C57BL/6 mice against virulent MAP K-10 infection. This resulted in a reduction of bacterial load and improvement of pathological damage in the liver and intestine, in addition to a reduction of body weight loss; significantly better protection than the reported 74F vaccine was also induced. Furthermore, vaccine efficacy correlated with the levels of IFN-γ-, TNF-α-, and IL-17A-secreting antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes as well as with serum IFN-γ and TNF-α levels after vaccination. These results demonstrate that recombinant protein 66NC is an efficient candidate for further development into a protective vaccine in terms of inducing specific protection against MAP.
Perceptual learning deficits mediated by somatostatin releasing inhibitory interneurons of olfactory bulb in an early life stress mouse model
Authors: Pardasani Meenakshi , Ramakrishnan Anantha , Mahajan Sarang , Kantroo Meher , McGowan Eleanor , Das Susobhan , Srika Priyadharshini , Pandey Sanyukta , Abraham Nixon M. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Early life adversity (ELA) causes aberrant functioning of neural circuits affecting the health of an individual. While ELA-induced behavioural disorders resulting from sensory and cognitive disabilities can be assessed clinically, the neural mechanisms need to be probed using animal models by employing multi-pronged experimental methods. As ELA can alter perception, we investigated the effect of early weaning on murine olfaction. By implementing go/no-go odour discrimination paradigm, we observed olfactory learning and memory impairments in early life stressed (ELS) male mice. As olfactory bulb (OB) circuitry plays a critical role in odour learning, we studied the plausible
changes in the OB of ELS mice. Lowered c-Fos activity in the external plexiform layer and a reduction in the number of dendritic processes of somatostatin-releasing, GABAergic interneurons (SOM-INs) in the ELS mice led us to hypothesize the underlying circuit. We recorded reduced synaptic inhibitory feedback on mitral/tufted (M/T) cells, in the OB slices from ELS mice, explaining the learning deficiency caused by compromised refinement of OB output. The role of SOM-INs was revealed by
learning-dependent refinement of Ca2+ dynamics quantified by GCaMP6f signals. Further, the causal role of SOM-INs involving circuitry was investigated by optogenetic bi-directional modulation during odour discrimination learning. Photo-activating these neurons rescued ELA-induced learning deficits.
Conversely, photo-inhibition caused learning deficiency in control animals, while it completely abolished the learning in ELS mice, confirming the adverse effects mediated by SOM-INs. Our results thus establish the role of specific inhibitory circuit in pre-cortical sensory area in orchestrating ELAdependent changes.
Cancer survival prediction by learning comprehensive deep feature representation for multiple types of genetic data
Authors: Hao Yaru , Jing Xiao-Yuan , Sun Qixing 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background: Cancer is one of the leading death causes around the world. Accurate prediction of its survival time is significant, which can help clinicians make appropriate therapeutic schemes. Cancer data can be characterized by varied molecular features, clinical behaviors and morphological appearances. However, the data heterogeneity problem usually makes patient samples with different risks (i.e., short and long survival time) inseparable, thereby causing unsatisfactory prediction results. Clinical studies have shown that genetic data tends to contain more molecular biomarkers associated with cancer, and hence integrating multi-type genetic data may be a feasible way to deal with data heterogeneity. Although multi-type gene data have been used in the existing work, how to learn more effective features for cancer survival prediction has not been well studied.
Results: To this end, we propose a deep learning approach to reduce the negative impact of data heterogeneity and improve the cancer survival prediction effect. It represents each type of genetic data as the shared and specific features, which can capture the consensus and complementary information among all types of data. We collect mRNA expression, DNA methylation and microRNA expression data for four cancers to conduct experiments.
Conclusions: Experimental results demonstrate that our approach substantially outperforms established integrative methods and is effective for cancer survival prediction.
Dissecting 16p11.2 hemi-deletion to study sex-specific striatal phenotypes of neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Abel Ted , Kim Jaekyoon , Vanrobaeys Yann , Peterson Zeru , Kelvington Benjamin , Gaine Marie , Nickl-Jockschat Thomas 
Published: February 2023

Abstract

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are polygenic in nature and copy number variants (CNVs) are ideal candidates to study the nature of this polygenic risk. The disruption of striatal circuits is considered a central mechanism in NDDs. The 16p11.2 hemi-deletion (16p11.2 del) is one of the most common CNVs associated with NDD, and 16p11.2 del/+ mice show sex-specific striatum-related behavioral phenotypes. However, the critical genes among the 27 genes in the 16p11.2 region that underlie these phenotypes remain unknown. Previously, we applied a novel strategy to identify candidate genes associated with the sex-specific phenotypes of 16p11.2 del/+ mice and identified 3 genes of particular importance within the deleted region: thousand and one amino acid protein kinase 2 (Taok2), seizure-related 6 homolog-like 2 (Sez6l2), and major vault protein (Mvp). Using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique, we generated 3 gene hemi-deletion (3g del/+) mice carrying null mutations inTaok2,Sez6l2, andMvp. We assessed striatum-dependent phenotypes of these 3g del/+ mice in behavioral, molecular, and imaging studies. Hemi-deletion ofTaok2,Sez6l2, andMvpinduces sex-specific behavioral alterations in striatum-dependent behavioral tasks, specifically male-specific hyperactivity and impaired motivation for reward seeking, resembling behavioral phenotypes of 16p11.2 del/+ mice. Moreover, RNAseq analysis revealed that 3g del/+ mice exhibit gene expression changes in the striatum similar to 16p11.2 del/+ mice, but only in males. Pathway analysis identified ribosomal dysfunction and translation dysregulation as molecular mechanisms underlying male-specific, striatum-dependent behavioral alterations. Together, the mutation of 3 genes within the 16p11.2 region phenocopies striatal sex-specific phenotypes of 16p11.2 del/+ mice, unlike single gene mutation studies. These results support the importance of a polygenic approach to study NDDs and our novel strategy to identify genes of interest using gene expression patterns in brain regions, such as the striatum, which are impacted in these disorders.
Development of novel artifact-less imaging-guidance marker for MRI, CT, and Ultrasound imaging-modalities aiming for organ-preserving therapies of prostate cancer
Authors: Okihara Koji , Ueda Takashi , Fujihara Atsuko , Shiraishi Takumi , Iwasaki Hiroshi , Nomoto Takeshi , Masui Koji , Ito-Ihara Toshiko , Hara Eri , Nakai Ryusuke , Shiina Takeshi , Ukimura Osamu 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Introduction: We have developed a fiducial imaging-guidance marker for prostate with less imaging-artifacts than the currently commercially available markers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the imaging-artifact and potential usefulness and safety of the novel fiducial imaging-marker under the preclinical experiments.
Materials and Methods: We selected the specific metal materials and shape that can minimize artifacts, under having obtained a license for a metal with a gold-platinum (Au-Pt) alloy composition that maximized artifact-free MRI images. The both phantom test and dog-prostate test were conducted in order to evaluate the imaging-artifacts for three imaging modalities of MRI, CT, and ultrasound, and also the risk of migration of the markers from inserted site to other as well as their crushing.
Results: Newly developed Au-Pt material is less imaging-artifact for all of MRI, CT, and ultrasound imaging modalities in comparison to currently commercially available fiducial markers made by gold material only, and the Au-Pt markers had sufficient strength and durability, and is considered as potential clinically useful and safe marker.
Conclusion: The developed Au-Pt marker can be an indispensable device for accurate lesion-targeted organ-preserving therapy such as lesion-targeted focal therapy and active surveillance, than the conventional whole-gland surgical or radiation therapy.
Synthetic symbiosis between a cyanobacterium and a ciliate toward novel chloroplast-like endosymbiosis
Authors: Azuma Yuki , Tsuru Saburo , Habuchi Masumi , Takami Risa , Takano Sotaro , Yamamoto Kayo , Hosoda Kazufumi 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Chloroplasts are thought to have co-evolved through endosymbiosis, after a cyanobacterial-like prokaryote was engulfed by a eukaryotic cell; however, it is impossible to observe the process toward chloroplasts. In this study, we constructed an experimental symbiosis model to observe the initial stage in the process from independent organisms to a chloroplast-like organelle. Our system of synthetic symbiosis is capable of long-term coculture of two model organisms: a cyanobacterium (Synechocystissp. PCC6803) as a symbiont and a ciliate (Tetrahymena thermophila) as a host with endocytic ability. The experimental system was clearly defined, because we used a synthetic medium and the cultures were shaken to avoid spatial complexity. We determined the experimental conditions for sustainable coculture, by analyzing population dynamics using a mathematical model. We experimentally demonstrated that the coculture was sustainable for at least 100 generations, through serial transfers. Moreover, we found that cells isolated after the serial transfer improved the growth stability of the coculture. The constructed system will be useful for understanding the initial stage of primary endosymbiosis from cyanobacteria to chloroplasts, i.e., the origin of algae and plants.