bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anticancer properties of bacterial cellulose membrane containing ethanolic extract of Epilobium angustifolium L
Authors: Perużyńska Magdalena , Nowak Anna , Birger Radosław , Ossowicz-Rupniewska Paula , Konopacki Maciej , Rakoczy Rafał , Kucharski Łukasz , Wenelska Karolina , Klimowicz Adam , Droździk Marek , Kurzawski Mateusz 
Published: February 2023

Epilobium angustifolium L. is a medicinal plant well known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties related to its high polyphenols content. In the present study, we evaluated the antiproliferative properties of ethanolic extract of E. angustifolium (EAE) against normal human fibroblasts (HDF) and selected cancer cell lines, including melanoma (A375), breast (MCF7), colon (HT-29), lung (A549) and liver (HepG2). Next, bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes were applied as a matrix for the controlled delivery of the plant extract (BC-EAE) and characterized by thermogravimetry (TG), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. In addition, EAE loading and kinetic release were defined. Finally, the anticancer activity of BC-EAE was evaluated against the HT-29 cell line, which presented the highest sensitivity to the tested plant extract (IC50 = 61.73 ± 6.42 µM). Our study confirmed the biocompatibility of empty BC and the dose and time-dependent cytotoxicity of the released EAE. The plant extract released from BC-2.5%EAE significantly reduced cell viability to 18.16% and 6.15% of the control values and increased number apoptotic/dead cells up to 37.53% and 66.90% after 48 and 72 h of treatment, respectively. In conclusion, our study has shown that BC membranes could be used as a carrier for the delivery of higher doses of anticancer compounds released in a sustained manner in the target tissue.
Biocontainment strategies for in vivo applications of Saccharomyces boulardii
Authors: Hedin Karl Alex , Kruse Vibeke , Vazquez-Uribe Ruben , Sommer Morten Otto Alexander 
Published: February 2023

The human gastrointestinal tract is a complex and dynamic environment, playing a crucial role in human health. Microorganisms engineered to express a therapeutic activity have emerged as a novel modality to manage numerous diseases. Such advanced microbiome therapeutics (AMTs) must be contained within the treated individual. Hence safe and robust biocontainment strategies are required to prevent the proliferation of microbes outside the treated individual. Here we present the first biocontainment strategy for a probiotic yeast, demonstrating a multi-layered strategy combining an auxotrophic and environmental-sensitive strategy. We knocked out the genes THI6 and BTS1, causing thiamine auxotrophy and increased sensitivity to cold, respectively. The biocontained Saccharomyces boulardii showed restricted growth in the absence of thiamine above 1 ng/ml and exhibited a severe growth defect at temperatures below 20°C. The biocontained strain was well tolerated and viable in mice and demonstrated equal efficiency in peptide production as the ancestral non-biocontained strain. In combination, the data support that thi6∆ and bts1∆ enable biocontainment of S. boulardii, which could be a relevant chassis for future yeast-based AMTs.
Study on performance and fractal characteristics of high-strength manufactured sand concrete with different MB values
Authors: Zhou Hailong , Ge Chenglong , Chen Yan , Song Xingfang 
Published: February 2023

The mud powder in the manufactured sand will have an influence on the indicators of the manufactured sand concrete (MSC), and the methylene blue value can quantitatively indicate the mud powder content. To demonstrate the impact of MB values on the performance and microstructural characteristics of the manufactured sand concrete, the paper designed five high-strength MSC proportions at five MB values by controlling the clay powder content. On this basis, the workability, chloride migration coefficient, relative dynamic modulus of elasticity (P), mass loss rate (η), and dry shrinkage rate of MSC concrete were tested under five mix ratios, and the relationship between concrete microstructure, fractal characteristics, and compressive strength (fcc) was analyzed by combining SEM technology and fractal theory. The experiment showed that: the higher the MB, the lower the fluidity of the MSC, and the cohesiveness gradually increases, while the water retention remains basically unchanged. In addition, the chloride migration coefficient gradually increases, the P after 300 freeze-thaw cycles first increases and then gradually decreases, while the η and drying shrinkage first decreases and then gradually increases, and the MB value corresponding to the turning point of these three changes are all 1.10. With MB values of 0.85 and 1.10, the degree of hydration of MSC is higher and the overall structural compactness is better. The higher the MB value, the more inadequate the hydration of concrete, and the mineral components such as fly ash that have not been hydrated inside gradually increase, which leads to the gradual decrease of the overall structure compactness. In addition, when the MB value is small, the SEM image texture of concrete is relatively simple, the fractal dimension value is small, and the corresponding fcc is large. When the MB value is large, the texture of the SEM image is complex, the fractal dimension is large, and the corresponding fcc is small.
Different scan areas affect the detection rates of diabetic retinopathy lesions by high-speed ultra-widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography
Authors: Li Mengyu , Mao Mingzhu , Wei Dingyang , Liu Miao , Liu Xinyue , Leng Hongmei , Wang Yiya , Chen Sizhu , Zhang Ruifan , Zeng Yong , Wang Min , Li Jie , Zhong Jie 
Published: February 2023

IntroductionThe study aimed to determine the effect of the scanning area used for high-speed ultra-widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) on the detection rate of diabetic retinopathy (DR) lesions.MethodsThis prospective, observational study involved diabetic patients between October 2021 and April 2022. The participants underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination and high-speed ultra-widefield SS-OCTA using a 24 mm × 20 mm scanning protocol. A central area denoted as “12 mm × 12 mm-central” was extracted from the 24 mm × 20 mm image, and the remaining area was denoted as “12 mm~24mm-annulus.” The rates of detection of DR lesions using the two scanning areas were recorded and compared.ResultsIn total, 172 eyes (41 eyes with diabetes mellitus without DR, 40 eyes with mild to moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), 51 eyes with severe NPDR, and 40 eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) from 101 participants were included. The detection rates of microaneurysms (MAs), intraretinal microvascular abnormalities (IRMAs), and neovascularization (NV) for the 12 mm × 12 mm central and 24 mm × 20 mm images were comparable (p &gt; 0.05). The detection rate of NPAs for the 24 mm × 20 mm image was 64.5%, which was significantly higher than that for the 12 mm × 12 mm central image (52.3%, p &lt; 0.05). The average ischemic index (ISI) was 15.26% for the 12 mm~24mm-annulus, which was significantly higher than that for the 12 mm × 12 mm central image (5.62%). Six eyes had NV and 10 eyes had IRMAs that only existed in the 12 mm~24mm-annulus area.ConclusionsThe newly developed high-speed ultra-widefield SS-OCTA can capture a 24 mm × 20 mm retinal vascular image during a single scan, which improves the accuracy of detecting the degree of retinal ischemia and detection rate of NV and IRMAs.
The relationship between the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio and osteoporosis in postmenopausal females with T2DM: A retrospective study in Chinese population
Authors: Li Hailin , Zhang Xinqi , Zhang Qi , Zhang Qiong , Zhu Xueying , Xie Tuxiu , Wang Shuo 
Published: February 2023

IntroductionThe risk of fragility fractures is increased in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Many reports indicate that inflammatory and immune responses are associated with osteoporosis and osteopenia. The monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) is a novel potential marker of inflammatory and immune responses. The present study evaluated the associations between the MLR and osteoporosis in postmenopausal females with T2DM.MethodsData were obtained from 281 T2MD postmenopausal females, and divided into three groups: Osteoporosis group, osteopenia group and normal BMD group. ResultData analyses revealed that the MLR was significantly lower in T2MD postmenopausal females with osteoporosis than in those with osteopenia and normal BMD. Logistic regression showed that the MLR was an independent protective factor for osteoporosis in postmenopausal females with T2DM (odds ratio [OR]: 0.015, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.000–0.772). Based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the MLR for diagnosing osteoporosis in postmenopausal females with T2DM was projected to be 0.1019, an area under the curve of 0.761 (95% CI: 0.685–0.838), a sensitivity of 74.8% and a specificity of 25.9%. ConclusionsThe MLR have a high efficacy in diagnosis for osteoporosis in postmenopausal females with T2DM. MLR have the potential to be used as diagnosis marker for osteoporosis in postmenopausal females with T2DM.
Effects of different sperm sources on the clinical outcomes of in vitro oocyte maturation cycles combined with intracytoplasmic sperm injection
Authors: Li Jianhua , Chen Jing , Tian Shuang , Jiao Tingting , Wang Jianye , Wei Yan , Cheng Yanbin , Xu Ye , Chian Ri-Cheng , Li Youzhu , Zhang Shuiwen 
Published: February 2023

ObjectivesTo evaluate the embryonic developments and clinical outcomes of different sperm sources with cycles of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and in vitro maturation (IVM).MethodsThis retrospective study was approved by the hospital ethics committee and conducted in the hospital in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic. From January 2005 to December 2018, 239 infertile couples underwent IVM–ICSI cycles and were divided into three groups according to different sperm sources. Group 1 comprised patients with percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA; n = 62, 62 cycles), group 2 comprised patients with testicular sperm aspiration (TESA; n = 51, 51 cycles), and group 3 comprised patients with ejaculated sperm (n = 126, 126 cycles). We calculated the following outcomes: 1) outcomes per IVM–ICSI cycle: fertilization rate, cleavage rate, and embryo quality; 2) outcomes per embryo transfer cycle: endometrial thickness, implantation rate, biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate.ResultsThere was no difference in basic characteristics among the three groups, such as the female partner’s age, basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), basal luteinizing hormone (LH), and antral follicle count (p &gt; 0.1). There were no statistically significant differences according to the IVM–ICSI cycle among the three groups in fertilization rate, cleavage rate, and rate of good-quality embryos (p &gt; 0.05). The results were similar among cycles regarding the number of transfer embryos and endometrial thickness per embryo transfer cycle among the three groups (p &gt; 0.05). There were also similar clinical outcomes per embryo transfer cycle among the three groups, such as the biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate (p &gt; 0.05).ConclusionsDifferent sperm sources, percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration, testicular sperm aspiration, and ejaculated sperm, do not affect the embryo and clinical outcomes after IVM–ICSI cycles.
Association of weight-adjusted-waist index with asthma prevalence and the age of first asthma onset in United States adults
Authors: Yu Longshan , Chen Yan , Xu Ming , Li Rongfu , Zhang Juan , Zhu Shouwei , He Zongbao , Chen Mingwei , Wang Gaosheng 
Published: February 2023

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess whether the weight-adjusted-waist index(WWI) is associated with the prevalence of asthma and age when first asthma onset appears in US adults.MethodsFor analysis we selected participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES)database between 2001 and 2018. A dose-response curve was calculated using logistic regression,subgroup analysis,and a dose-response curve.ResultsThe study included 44480 people over the age of 20,including 6061 reported with asthma, and the increase in asthma prevalence was 15% associated with each unit increase in the WWI, after adjusting for all confounders(odds ratio(OR)=1.15,95% CI:1.11,1.20). The sensitivity analysis was performed by trichotomizing the WWI, and compared to the lowest tertile, the highest tertile WWI group displayed a 29% increase in asthma prevalence(OR=1.29,95% CI:1.19,1.40). A nonlinear correlation was found between the WWI index and the risk of asthma onset, with a threshold saturation effect indicating an inflection point of 10.53 (log-likelihood ratio test, P&lt;0.05), as well as a positive linear correlation with age at first asthma onset.ConclusionsA higher WWI index was associated with an increased prevalence of asthma and an older age of first asthma onset.
Note on the performance of parametrization strategies to determine the decay heat of PWR fuel
Authors: Seidl Marcus , Basualdo Joaquin , Kadiroglu Mehmet , Glöde Helmut , Haendel Kai-Martin 
Published: February 2023

The behavior of fuel assembly safety properties such as decay heat is often parametrized by a set of proxy variables such as burnup and by categorical variables like UOX or MOX. The standards ANS5.1 and DIN-25463 are examples of this strategy. They face the challenge to accurately approximate a wide range of possible fuel assembly states which occur in practice because they traditionally do not follow the nuclide vector evolution with a detailed microscopic model. While burnup is widely regarded as an important fuel parameter it is only an approximation or proxy for the physical relevant quantity which is the fuel nuclide vector. The performance of one of the latest and most advanced decay heat standards, DIN-25463-2014, is compared with Studsvik’s best-estimate code SSP SNF which uses a state-of-the-art microscopic model. Both the differences in initial nuclide vector after irradiation and the differences in decay heat between 1 s and 60 years are analyzed. Comparisons with realistic PWR core fuel inventories show that the margin between SSP SNF and DIN-25463-2014 varies in a range ±5% which is a manifestation of the challenge to accurately approximate the fuel state without detailed microscopic model. Given today’s small compute footprint of best-estimate codes for decay heat determination we conclude that parametrization strategies have little advantage except for applications like system codes used in transient analyses.
High sedimentation rates lead to rapid vegetation recovery in tidal brackish wetland restoration
Authors: van Proosdij Danika , Graham Jennie , Lemieux Ben , Bowron Tony , Poirier Emma , Kickbush Jocelyn , Ellis Kirsten , Lundholm Jeremy 
Published: February 2023

IntroductionTidal wetland restoration in the Bay of Fundy involves restoring tidal hydrology to sites with tidal restrictions. Most have focused on salt marsh sites close to the mouth of estuaries, but there are also many tidally restricted wetlands closer to the freshwater end of tidal rivers. Recovery of salt marsh vegetation has been rapid in past projects, but little is known about sediment and vegetation dynamics post restoration in tidal brackish or freshwater environments.MethodsWe implemented tidal wetland restoration projects on two tidal rivers near the inland limit of saltwater. Hydrological restoration involved breaching (St. Croix) or realigning agricultural dykes (Belcher Street). We monitored hydrology, sediment accretion and vegetation at replicated plots on restoration sites and nearby reference tidal marshes; and conducted habitat mapping and elevation surveys using drones.ResultsAfter re-establishing tidal flow, sediment accretion was very rapid, leading to a deep layer of new sediments. Plant colonization at both sites resulted in a high diversity of halophytes in the first 2 years post restoration, but the St. Croix site transitioned to freshwater wetland species dominating by the fifth year post- restoration. The Belcher St. site has a mix of freshwater and brackish wetland species after the fourth-year post-restoration.DiscussionHigh suspended sediment concentrations at both sites suggest that each site was positioned closed to the estuarine turbidity maximum within its river. Tidal wetland restoration at the head of estuaries may benefit from the large ecological disturbance associated with rapid sediment accretion, providing a productive substrate with little competition from prior vegetation. However ultimate vegetation patterns may take longer to develop as elevation gains alter tidal flooding frequency. Low salinities suggest that the physical disturbance of sediment burying prior vegetation is the main mechanism creating a clean slate for plant recolonization, rather than mortality of terrestrial vegetation due to salt water. The majority of elevation change was due to allochthonous sediment deposition, with belowground processes playing a minor role. The wetlands restored showed substantial net elevation gains in the first years following tidal hydrological restoration, but long-term monitoring is required to track their overall resilience in the face of sea level rise.
Comprehensive analysis of cuproptosis-related prognostic gene signature and tumor immune microenvironment in HCC
Authors: Qin Haotian , Sheng Weibei , Zhang Geng , Yang Qi , Yao Sen , Yue Yaohang , Zhang Peng , Zhu Yuanchao , Wang Qichang , Chen Yixiao , Zeng Hui , Weng Jian , Yu Fei , Yang Jun 
Published: February 2023

Background: Copper is an indispensable mineral element involved in many physiological metabolic processes. Cuproptosis is associated with a variety of cancer such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between the expression of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) and tumor characteristics, including prognosis and microenvironment of HCC.Methods: The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between high and low CRGs expression groups in HCC samples were identified, and further were analyzed for functional enrichment analysis. Then, CRGs signature of HCC was constructed and analyzed utilizing LASSO and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Prognostic values of CRGs signature were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis, independent prognostic analysis and nomograph. The expression of prognostic CRGs was verified by Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) in HCC cell lines. In addition, the relationships between prognostic CRGs expression and the immune infiltration, tumor microenvironment, antitumor drugs response and m6A modifications were further explored using a series of algorithms in HCC. Finally, ceRNA regulatory network based on prognostic CRGs was constructed.Results: The DEGs between high and low CRG expression groups in HCC were mainly enriched in focal adhesion and extracellular matrix organization. Besides, we constructed a prognostic model that consists of CDKN2A, DLAT, DLST, GLS, and PDHA1 CRGs for predicting the survival likelihood of HCC patients. And the elevated expression of these five prognostic CRGs was substantially in HCC cell lines and associated with poor prognosis. Moreover, immune score and m6A gene expression were higher in the high CRG expression group of HCC patients. Furthermore, prognostic CRGs have higher mutation rates in HCC, and are significantly correlated with immune cell infiltration, tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability, and anti-tumor drug sensitivity. Then, eight lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory axes that affected the progression of HCC were predicted.Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the CRGs signature could effectively evaluate prognosis, tumor immune microenvironment, immunotherapy response and predict lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory axes in HCC. These findings extend our knowledge of cuproptosis in HCC and may inform novel therapeutic strategies for HCC.
Associations of circulation levels of cytokines with birthweight, preterm birth, spontaneous miscarriages, and stillbirth: A Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Wang Honghong , Jiang Jinghang , Jin Tingwei , Wang Yifu , Li Mingli , Huang Shengzhu , Xie Juanjuan , Chen Zhongyuan , Guo Yi , Zheng Jie , Jiang Yonghua , Mo Zengnan 
Published: February 2023

Background: The association between immune imbalances and adverse pregnancy outcomes has been extensive investigated by observational studies, but remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to establish the causality of the circulation levels of cytokines on adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as offspring’s birthweight (BW), preterm birth (PTB), spontaneous miscarriage (SM), and stillbirth (SB).Methods: Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was employed to investigate potential causal relations between 41 cytokines and pregnancy outcomes on the basis of previously published GWAS datasets. Multivariable MR (MVMR) analysis was implemented to investigate the effect of the composition of cytokine networks on the pregnancy outcomes. Potential risk factors were further estimated to explore the potential mediators.Results: Genetic correlation analysis based on large GWAS data sources revealed that genetically predicted MIP1b (β = −0.027, S.E. = 0.010, p = 0.009) and MCSF (β = −0.024, S.E. = 0.011, p = 0.029) were associated with reduced offspring’s BW, MCP1 (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.83–0.97, p = 0.007) was associated with reduced SM risk, SCF (β = −0.014, S.E. = 0.005, p = 0.012) associated with decreased number of SB in MVMR. The univariable MR showed that GROa (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.87–0.97, p = 0.004) was associated with decreased PTB risk. Except for the MCSF-BW association, all above associations surpassed the Bonferroni corrected threshold. The MVMR results revealed that MIF, SDF1a, MIP1b, MCSF and IP10 composed cytokine networks, associated with offspring’s BW. Risk factors analysis indicated that the above causal associations might be mediated by smoking behaviors.Conclusion: These findings suggest the causal associations of several cytokines with adverse pregnancy outcomes, which were potentially mediated by smoking and obesity. Some of the results did not been corrected through multiple tests and larger samples verification is required in further studies.