bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Cenomanian/Turonian boundary in light of new developments in terrestrial palynology
Authors: Galasso Francesca , Heimhofer Ulrich , Schneebeli-Hermann Elke 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThe Cenomanian/Turonian boundary interval is associated with an oceanic anoxic event (OAE 2, 94.0 Ma) during one of the warmest episodes in the Mesozoic. To date, plant responses to these climatic conditions are known only from the northern mid-latitudinal succession in Cassis, France. There, conifer-dominated and angiosperm-dominated vegetation types alternate. However, whether the exceptional environmental conditions had an impact on plant reproduction is unknown to date. We applied a new environmental proxy based on spore and pollen teratology on palynological samples from the Cassis succession, to explore if this phenomenon also occurs across the OAE 2. The observed frequencies of<1% malformed spores and pollen grains suggest that plant reproduction was not affected during the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary interval. While the effects of continental Large Igneous Province(s) on plant reproduction have shown to produce abnormal spore or pollen morphologies as evidence for severe environmental pollution, by contrast the effects of oceanic LIP(s) seems to be inconsequential.
Modified Whale Optimization Algorithm based ANN: a novel predictive model for RO desalination plant
Authors: Mahadeva Rajesh , Kumar Mahendra , Gupta Vinay , Manik Gaurav , Patole Shashikant P. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIn recent decades, nature-inspired optimization methods have played a critical role in helping industrial plant designers to find superior solutions for process parameters. According to the literature, such methods are simple, quick, and indispensable for saving time, money, and energy. In this regard, the Modified Whale Optimization Algorithm (MWOA) hybridized with Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) has been employed in the Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination plant performance to estimate the permeate flux (0.118‒2.656 L/h m2). The plant’s datasets have been collected from the literature and include four input parameters: feed flow rate (400‒600 L/h), evaporator inlet temperature (60‒80 °C), feed salt concentration (35‒140 g/L) and condenser inlet temperature (20‒30 °C). For this purpose, ten predictive models (MWOA-ANN Model-1 to Model-10) have been proposed, which are capable of predicting more accurate permeate flux (L/h m2) than the existing models (Response Surface Methodology (RSM), ANN and hybrid WOA-ANN models) with minimum errors. Simulation results suggest that the MWOA algorithm demonstrates a stronger optimization capability of finding the correct weights and biases so as to enable superior ANN based modeling without limitation of overfitting. Ten MWOA-ANN models (Model-1 to Model-10) have been proposed to investigate the plant’s performance. Model-6 with a single hidden layer (H = 1), eleven hidden layer nodes (n = 11) and the thirteen search agents (SA = 13) produced most outstanding regression results (R2 = 99.1%) with minimal errors (MSE = 0.005). The residual errors for Model-6 are also found to be within limits (span of − 0.1 to 0.2). Finally, the findings show that the screened MWOA-ANN models are promising for identifying the best process parameters in order to assist industrial plant designers.
Cold atmospheric microwave plasma (CAMP) stimulates dermal papilla cell proliferation by inducing β-catenin signaling
Authors: Mongkolpobsin Kuljira , Sillapachaiyaporn Chanin , Lertpatipanpong Pattawika , Boonruang Kanokkan , Hwang Cheol-Yong , Tencomnao Tewin , Baek Seung Joon 
Published: February 2023

AbstractHair loss or alopecia is an unpleasant symptom that exacerbates an individual's self-esteem and requires appropriate treatment. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a central pathway that promotes dermal papilla induction and keratinocyte proliferation during hair follicle renewal. GSK-3β inactivated by its upstream Akt and ubiquitin-specific protease 47 (USP47) has been shown to inhibit β-catenin degradation. The cold atmospheric microwave plasma (CAMP) is microwave energy enriched with mixtures of radicals. CAMP has been reported to have antibacterial and antifungal activities with wound healing activity against skin infection; however, the effect of CAMP on hair loss treatment has not been reported. We aimed to investigate the effect of CAMP on promoting hair renewal in vitro and to elucidate the molecular mechanism, targeting β-catenin signaling and YAP/TAZ, the co-activators in the Hippo pathway, in human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs). We also evaluated plasma effects on the interaction between hDPCs and HaCaT keratinocytes. The hDPCs were treated with plasma-activating media (PAM) or gas-activating media (GAM). The biological outcomes were determined by MTT assay, qRT-PCR, western blot analysis, immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence. We found that β-catenin signaling and YAP/TAZ were significantly increased in PAM-treated hDPCs. PAM treatment also induced β-catenin translocation and inhibited β-catenin ubiquitination by activating Akt/GSK-3β signaling and upregulating USP47 expression. In addition, hDPCs were more aggregated with keratinocytes in PAM-treated cells compared with control. HaCaT cells cultured in a conditioned medium derived from PAM-treated hDPCs exhibited an enhancing effect on activating YAP/TAZ and β-catenin signaling. These findings suggested that CAMP may be a new therapeutic alternative for alopecic treatment.
An underexploited invisible gold resource in the Archean sulphides of the Witwatersrand tailings dumps
Authors: Chingwaru Steve Jason , Von der Heyden Bjorn , Tadie Margreth 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThe tailings dumps originating from gold mining in South Africa’s Witwatersrand still contain notable gold endowments. Most tailings reprocessing operations target a native gold fraction using re-milling and carbon-in-leach extraction; however, up to 50–70% of the remaining gold is still not recoverable and instead discarded to the re-dump stream along with abundant sulphides. The mineralogical deportment of this unrecoverable gold underwent a detailed investigation. Using in situ laser ablation ICP-MS mineral chemistry measurements, we show that this gold that is inaccessible to conventional recovery is hosted preferentially in pyrite and arsenian pyrite. Importantly, complementary optical and electron microscopy observations reveal that the rounded detrital forms of these minerals contain the highest gold concentrations (0.01–2730 ppm), showing some similarity to values reported for sulphides from primary orogenic gold deposits found in surrounding Archean-aged granite-greenstone belt remnants. We suggest that detrital auriferous sulphides have been overlooked by historical primary and secondary beneficiation, and thus represent a large (up to 420 tons Au) and under-exploited Au resource currently residing in easily-mined (surficial) Witwatersrand tailings dumps. We further suggest that targeted re-mining of sulphide mineral fraction has the potential to improve gold recovery, recuperate ‘sweetener’ by-product metals (e.g. Cu, Co, Ni) and directly eliminate heavy metal pollution and acid mine drainage issues associated with surficial tailings dumps.
Investigating valley-dependent current generation due to asymmetric energy dispersion for charge-transfer from a quantum dot to single-walled carbon nanotube
Authors: Charoenpakdee J. , Suntijitrungruang Ongart , Boonchui S. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractSingle-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), which consist of a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice of carbon atoms, possess unique mechanical, electrical, optical and thermal properties. SWCNT can be synthesized in diverse chiral indexes to determine certain attributes. This work theoretically investigates electron transport in different directions along SWCNT. The electron studied in this research transfers from the quantum dot that can possibly move to the right or left direction in SWCNT with different valley-dependent probability. These results show that valley polarized current is present. The valley current in the right and left directions has a composition of valley degrees of freedom where its components (K and K′) are not identical. Such a result can be traced theoretically by certain effects. That firstly is the curvature effect on SWCNT in which the hopping integral between $$\pi $$
π
electrons from the flat graphene is altered, and another is curvature-inducing $$\sigma -\pi $$

σ
-
π

mixture. Due to these effects, the band structure of SWCNT is asymmetric in certain chiral indexes leading to the asymmetry of valley electron transport. Our results exhibit that the zigzag chiral indexes is the only type making electron transport symmetrical that is different to the result from the other chiral index types which are the armchair and chiral. This work also illustrates the characteristic of the electron wave function propagating from the initial point to the tip of the tube over time, and the current density of the probability in specific times. Additionally, our research simulates the result from the dipole interaction between the electron in QD and the tube that impacts the lifetime of the electron being in QD. The simulation portrays that more dipole interaction encourages the electron transfer to the tube, thereby shortening the lifetime. We as well suggest the reversed electron transfer from the tube to QD that the time duration of such transfer is much less than the opposite transfer owing to the different orbital of the electron’s states. Valley polarized current in SWCNTs may also be used in the development of energy storage devices such as batteries and supercapacitors. The performance and effectiveness of nanoscale devices, including transistors, solar cells, artificial antennas, quantum computers, and nano electronic circuits, must be improved in order to achieve a variety of benefits.
Mycobacterium bovis BCG increase the selected determinants of monocyte/macrophage activity, which were diminished in response to gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Gonciarz Weronika , Chyb Maciej , Chmiela Magdalena 
Published: February 2023

AbstractHigh antibiotic resistance of gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori (Hp) and the ability to escape the host immune response prompt searching for therapeutic immunomodulators. Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) vaccine with Mycobacterium bovis (Mb) is a candidate for modulation the activity of immunocompetent cells, and onco-BCG formulation was successfully used in immunotherapy of bladder cancer. We determined the influence of onco-BCG on the phagocytic capacity of human THP-1 monocyte/macrophage cells, using the model of Escherichia coli bioparticles and Hp fluorescently labeled. Deposition of cell integrins CD11b, CD11d, CD18, membrane/soluble lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptors, CD14 and sCD14, respectively, and the production of macrophage chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 were determined. Furthermore, a global DNA methylation, was also assessed. Human THP-1 monocytes/macrophages (TIB 202) primed or primed and restimulated with onco-BCG or Hp, were used for assessment of phagocytosis towards E. coli or Hp, surface (immunostaining) or soluble activity determinants, and global DNA methylation (ELISA). THP-1 monocytes/macrophages primed/restimulated with BCG showed increased phagocytosis capacity towards E. coli fluorescent particles, elevated expression of CD11b, CD11d, CD18, CD14, sCD14, increased MCP-1 secretion and DNA methylation. Preliminary results indicate that BCG mycobacteria may also induce the phagocytosis of H. pylori by THP-1 monocytes. Priming or priming and restimulation of monocytes/macrophages with BCG resulted in an increased activity of these cells, which was negatively modulated by Hp.
Experimental evidence of parasite-induced behavioural alterations modulated by food availability in wild capuchin monkeys
Authors: Agostini Ilaria , Vanderhoeven Ezequiel , Pfoh Romina , Tiddi Barbara , Beldomenico Pablo M. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIn disease dynamics, host behaviour can both determine the quantity of parasites a host is exposed to, and be a consequence of infection. Observational and experimental studies in non-human primates have consistently found that parasitic infections result in less movement and reduced foraging, which was interpreted as an adaptive response of the host to counter infection. Variation in host nutritional condition may add complexity to the infection-behaviour relationship, and its influence may shed light on its significance. To experimentally evaluate how host activity and social relationships are affected by the interaction of parasitism and nutrition, during two years we manipulated food availability by provisioning bananas, and helminth infections by applying antiparasitic drugs, in two groups of wild black capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus) in Iguazú National Park, Argentina. We collected faecal samples to determine the intensity of helminthic infections, as well as data on behaviour and social proximity. Individuals with unmanipulated helminth burdens foraged less than dewormed individuals only when food provisioning was low. Resting time was increased when capuchins were highly provisioned, but it did not vary according to the antiparasitic treatment. Proximity associations to other group members were not affected by the antiparasitic treatment. This is the first experimental evidence of a modulating effect of food availability on the influence of helminth infection on activity in wild primates. The findings are more consistent with an impact on host behaviour due to the debilitating effect caused by parasites than with an adaptive response to help fight infections.
Two regimes of inter-basin interactions between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans on interannual timescales
Authors: Park Jae-Heung , Yeh Sang-Wook , Kug Jong-Seong , Yang Young-Min , Jo Hyun-Su , Kim Hyo-Jeong , An Soon-Il 
Published: February 2023

AbstractUnderstanding the inter-basin interactions between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans is of great concern due to their substantial global climatic implications. By analyzing observational reanalysis datasets (1948–2020), we found that there are two regimes in Atlantic–Pacific inter-basin interactions: (1) the Pacific-driven regime, and (2) the Atlantic-driven regime. In the Pacific-driven regime before the mid-1980s, the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in winter effectively drives the primary mode of sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) in the tropical Atlantic (i.e., North Tropical Atlantic (NTA) mode) in the following spring. The NTA mode has a meridional contrast of SSTA along the Atlantic Intertropical Convergence Zone, similar to the Atlantic Meridional Mode. Whereas, in the Atlantic-driven regime after the mid-1980s, the ENSO effect on the NTA becomes remarkably weaker, so that the NTA mode is featured with a SSTA monopole. Notably, the NTA mode without the meridional contrast of SSTA is capable of modulating an ENSO event with a lag. Our analyses of the latest climate models participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) phases 6 support the hypothesis that the two regimes engendered by the Atlantic–Pacific inter-basin interactions are likely due to natural variability.
BRAF v600E–mutant cancers treated with vemurafenib alone or in combination with everolimus, sorafenib, or crizotinib or with paclitaxel and carboplatin (VEM-PLUS) study
Authors: Nelson Blessie Elizabeth , Roszik Jason , Janku Filip , Hong David S. , Kato Shumei , Naing Aung , Piha-Paul Sarina , Fu Siqing , Tsimberidou Apostolia , Cabanillas Maria , Busaidy Naifa Lamki , Javle Milind , Byers Lauren Averett , Heymach John V. , Meric-Bernstam Funda , Subbiah Vivek 
Published: February 2023

AbstractCombined BRAF + MEK inhibition is FDA approved for BRAF V600E-mutant solid tumors except for colorectal cancer. However, beyond MAPK mediated resistance several other mechanisms of resistance such as activation of CRAF, ARAF, MET, P13K/AKT/mTOR pathway exist among other complex pathways. In the VEM-PLUS study, we performed a pooled analysis of four phase one studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of vemurafenib monotherapy and vemurafenib combined with targeted therapies (sorafenib, crizotinib, or everolimus) or carboplatin plus paclitaxel in advanced solid tumors harboring BRAF V600 mutations. When vemurafenib monotherapy was compared with the combination regimens, no significant differences in OS or PFS durations were noted, except for inferior OS in the vemurafenib and paclitaxel and carboplatin trial (P = 0.011; HR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.22–4.7) and in crossover patients (P = 0.0025; HR, 2.089; 95% CI, 1.2–3.4). Patients naïve to prior BRAF inhibitors had statistically significantly improved OS at 12.6 months compared to 10.4 months in the BRAF therapy refractory group (P = 0.024; HR, 1.69; 95% CI 1.07–2.68). The median PFS was statistically significant between both groups, with 7 months in the BRAF therapy naïve group compared to 4.7 months in the BRAF therapy refractory group (P = 0.016; HR, 1.80; 95% CI 1.11–2.91). The confirmed ORR in the vemurafenib monotherapy trial (28%) was higher than that in the combination trials. Our findings suggest that, compared with vemurafenib monotherapy, combinations of vemurafenib with cytotoxic chemotherapy or with RAF- or mTOR-targeting agents do not significantly extend the OS or PFS of patients who have solid tumors with BRAF V600E mutations. Gaining a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of BRAF inhibitor resistance, balancing toxicity and efficacy with novel trial designs are warranted.
Soluble Klotho protects against glomerular injury through regulation of ER stress response
Authors: Charrin Emmanuelle , Dabaghie Dina , Sen Ilke , Unnersjö-Jess David , Möller-Hackbarth Katja , Burmakin Mikhail , Mencke Rik , Zambrano Sonia , Patrakka Jaakko , Olauson Hannes 
Published: February 2023

AbstractαKlotho (Klotho) has well established renoprotective effects; however, the molecular pathways mediating its glomerular protection remain incompletely understood. Recent studies have reported that Klotho is expressed in podocytes and protects glomeruli through auto- and paracrine effects. Here, we examined renal expression of Klotho in detail and explored its protective effects in podocyte-specific Klotho knockout mice, and by overexpressing human Klotho in podocytes and hepatocytes. We demonstrate that Klotho is not significantly expressed in podocytes, and transgenic mice with either a targeted deletion or overexpression of Klotho in podocytes lack a glomerular phenotype and have no altered susceptibility to glomerular injury. In contrast, mice with hepatocyte-specific overexpression of Klotho have high circulating levels of soluble Klotho, and when challenged with nephrotoxic serum have less albuminuria and less severe kidney injury compared to wildtype mice. RNA-seq analysis suggests an adaptive response to increased endoplasmic reticulum stress as a putative mechanism of action. To evaluate the clinical relevance of our findings, the results were validated in patients with diabetic nephropathy, and in precision cut kidney slices from human nephrectomies. Together, our data reveal that the glomeruloprotective effects of Klotho is mediated via endocrine actions, which increases its therapeutic potential for patients with glomerular diseases.
Imaging real-space flat band localization in kagome magnet FeSn
Authors: Multer Daniel , Yin Jia-Xin , Hossain Md. Shafayat , Yang Xian , Sales Brian C. , Miao Hu , Meier William R. , Jiang Yu-Xiao , Xie Yaofeng , Dai Pengcheng , Liu Jianpeng , Deng Hanbin , Lei Hechang , Lian Biao , Zahid Hasan M. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractKagome lattices host flat bands due to their frustrated lattice geometry, which leads to destructive quantum interference of electron wave functions. Here, we report imaging of the kagome flat band localization in real-space using scanning tunneling microscopy. We identify both the Fe3Sn kagome lattice layer and the Sn2 honeycomb layer with atomic resolution in kagome antiferromagnet FeSn. On the Fe3Sn lattice, at the flat band energy determined by the angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy, tunneling spectroscopy detects an unusual state localized uniquely at the Fe kagome lattice network. We further show that the vectorial in-plane magnetic field manipulates the spatial anisotropy of the localization state within each kagome unit cell. Our results are consistent with the real-space flat band localization in the magnetic kagome lattice. We further discuss the magnetic tuning of flat band localization under the spin–orbit coupled magnetic kagome lattice model.
Higher mitochondrial DNA copy number is associated with metformin-induced weight loss
Authors: Wang Jing , Liang Hua , Huang Rong , Weng Xiong , Zheng Li , Wang You , Zheng Xueying , Gu Zhenglong , Chen Fei , Shao Jian , Geng Zhaoxu , Pearson Ewan R. , Weng Jianping , Yang Wenying , Xu Tao , Zhou Kaixin 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Considerable variability exists in response to metformin with few effective biomarkers to guide the treatment. Here we evaluated whether whole blood derived mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) is a biomarker of metformin response as measured by glucose reduction or weight loss.

Methods
Using data from the trial of Metformin (n = 304) and AcaRbose (n = 300) in Chinese as the initial Hypoglycaemic treatment (MARCH), we examined the association between mtDNA-CN and two metformin response outcomes of HbA1c reduction and weight loss. The acarbose arm was used as a comparator group. Whole blood mtDNA-CN was estimated by deep whole genome sequencing with adjustments for confounders. Multiple linear regression and repeated measurement analyses were used to evaluate the association between mtDNA-CN and drug response outcomes.

Results
Here we show that glucose reduction is not significantly associated with mtDNA-CN and in either treatment arm. In the metformin arm, each increase of 1 SD in mtDNA-CN is significantly (P = 0.006) associated with a 0.43 kg more weight loss. Repeated measurement analysis shows that after 16 weeks of metformin monotherapy, patients in the top tertile of mtDNA-CN consistently lost 1.21 kg more weight than those in the bottom tertile (P < 0.001). In comparison, mtDNA-CN is not significantly associated with acarbose-induced weight loss.

Conclusions
Patients with higher mtDNA-CN are likely to lose more weight upon metformin treatment, suggesting mtDNA-CN as a potential novel biomarker for more effective weight management in type 2 diabetes.
Review on human‐like robot manipulation using dexterous hands
Authors: Kadalagere Sampath Suhas , Wang Ning , Wu Hao , Yang Chenguang 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIn recent years, human hand‐based robotic hands or dexterous hands have gained attention due to their enormous capabilities of handling soft materials compared to traditional grippers. Back in the earlier days, the development of a hand model close to that of a human was an impossible task but with the advancements made in technology, dexterous hands with three, four or five‐fingered robotic hands have been developed to mimic human hand nature. However, human‐like manipulation of dexterous hands to this date remains a challenge. Thus, this review focuses on (a) the history and motivation behind the development of dexterous hands, (b) a brief overview of the available multi‐fingered hands, and (c) learning‐based methods such as traditional and data‐driven learning methods for manipulating dexterous hands. Additionally, it discusses the challenges faced in terms of the manipulation of multi‐fingered or dexterous hands.