bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The correlation between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and bone mineral density in adolescents: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Wang Gao-Xiang , Li Jun-Tong , Liu De-Liang , Chu Shu-Fang , Li Hui-Lin , Zhao Heng-Xia , Fang Ze-Bin , Xie Wei 
Published: April 2023

AbstractRecent studies have shown a correlation between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and bone mineral density (BMD) in adults, but their relationship is unclear in adolescents. This study aimed to explore whether a correlation existed between them among adolescents aged 12–19. Data analyzed in our study was fetched from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database 2011–2018. The relationship between HDL-C level and total BMD value was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression models, fitted smoothing curves, and generalized additive models. 3770 participants participated in this analysis. After adjusting for all relevant covariates involved in this study, we found a negative correlation between HDL-C levels and total bone density in male adolescents.Furthermore, the stratified analysis showed that all covariables-adjusted models retained the negative correlation excepting female, black, or Mexican American subgroups. An inverted U-shaped curve represented the correlation of HDL-C and total BMD among adolescents aged 16 to 19, and the turning point was 1.06 mmol/L. After adjusting for all relevant covariates involved in this study, the study found a negative correlation between HDL-C levels and total BMD in male adolescents aged 12 to 19, particularly among those of races other than Black and Mexican. There was a saturation effect between HDL-C level and total BMD in 16–19-year-old adolescents. The turning point was 1.06 mmol/L. Therefore, HDL-C might be a biomarker to detect bone health and further perform a more detailed examination.
Explainable artificial intelligence-based prediction of poor neurological outcome from head computed tomography in the immediate post-resuscitation phase
Authors: Kawai Yasuyuki , Kogeichi Yohei , Yamamoto Koji , Miyazaki Keita , Asai Hideki , Fukushima Hidetada 
Published: April 2023

AbstractPredicting poor neurological outcomes after resuscitation is important for planning treatment strategies. We constructed an explainable artificial intelligence-based prognostic model using head computed tomography (CT) scans taken immediately within 3 h of resuscitation from cardiac arrest and compared its predictive accuracy with that of previous methods using gray-to-white matter ratio (GWR). We included 321 consecutive patients admitted to our institution after resuscitation for out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest with circulation resumption over 6 years. A machine learning model using head CT images with transfer learning was used to predict the neurological outcomes at 1 month. These predictions were compared with the predictions of GWR for multiple regions of interest in head CT using receiver operating characteristic (ROC)-area under curve (AUC) and precision recall (PR)-AUC. The regions of focus were visualized using a heatmap. Both methods had similar ROC-AUCs, but the machine learning model had a higher PR-AUC (0.73 vs. 0.58). The machine learning-focused area of interest for classification was the boundary between gray and white matter, which overlapped with the area of focus when diagnosing hypoxic– ischemic brain injury. The machine learning model for predicting poor outcomes had superior accuracy to conventional methods and could help optimize treatment.
Adaptive phase contrast microscopy to compensate for the meniscus effect
Authors: Nienhaus Florian , Piotrowski Tobias , Nießing Bastian , König Niels , Schmitt Robert H. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractPhase contrast is one of the most important microscopic methods for making visible transparent, unstained cells. Cell cultures are often cultivated in microtiter plates, consisting of several cylindrical wells. The surface tension of the culture medium forms a liquid lens within the well, causing phase contrast conditions to fail in the more curved edge areas, preventing cell observation. Adaptive phase contrast microscopy is a method to strongly increase the observable area by optically compensating for the meniscus effect. The microscope’s condenser annulus is replaced by a transmissive LCD to allow dynamic changes. A deformable, liquid-filled prism is placed in the illumination path. The prism’s surface angle is adaptively inclined to refract transmitted light so that the tangential angle of the liquid lens can be compensated. Besides the observation of the phase contrast image, a beam splitter allows to simultaneously view condenser annulus and phase ring displacement. Algorithms analyze the displacement to dynamically adjust the LCD and prism to guarantee phase contrast conditions. Experiments show a significant increase in observable area, especially for small well sizes. For 96-well-plates, more than twelve times the area can be examined under phase contrast conditions instead of standard phase contrast microscopy.
Association of legumes and nuts consumption with metabolic health status in Iranian overweight and obese adolescents
Authors: Heshmatipour Houri , Hajhashemy Zahra , Mirzaei Saeideh , Asadi Ali , Akhlaghi Masoumeh , Saneei Parvane 
Published: April 2023

AbstractLimited data are available on the association of legumes and nuts consumption with health status in pediatrics. So, we assessed the relation of legumes and nuts intake with metabolic health status in Iranian adolescents. A random sample of overweight/obese adolescents aged 12 to 18 years was included in this cross-sectional study. Dietary intakes were gathered using a validated 147-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). We measured metabolic indices including blood pressure, lipid profile, glycemic and anthropometrics indices. Two strategies were used for classification of adolescents to metabolically healthy obese (MHO) or unhealthy obese (MUO): International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and combination of IDF with Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Information on 203 overweight/obese adolescents (50.2% girls and 49.8% boys) with an average age of 13.98 (± 1.61) years and a mean weight of 73.48 (± 11.60) kg/m2 was evaluated. Based on the IDF and IDF/HOMA-IR definition, higher consumption of legumes and nuts consumption was related to a 66% and 61% decreased odds of MUO in crude model (OR = 0.34, 95%CI 0.17–0.69), (OR = 0.39, 95%CI 0.19–0.80); but in fully-adjusted model, these relations disappeared. After adjustment for potential cofounders, an inverse association was found between legumes and nuts consumption and odds of hyperglycemia (OR = 0.35, 95%CI 0.16–0.78). Moreover, although inverse significant associations were found between legumes and nuts consumption and odds of MUO in girls and overweight subjects in crude models, these associations disappeared after adjustment for all confounders. After taking potential confounders into account, no significant association was found between consumption of legumes and nuts and MUO in Iranian adolescents. The findings should be affirmed by further prospective studies.
Psychological inoculation protects against the social media infodemic
Authors: McPhedran Robert , Ratajczak Michael , Mawby Max , King Emily , Yang Yuchen , Gold Natalie 
Published: April 2023

AbstractMisinformation can have a profound detrimental impact on populations’ wellbeing. In this large UK-based online experiment (n = 2430), we assessed the performance of false tag and inoculation interventions in protecting against different forms of misinformation (‘variants’). While previous experiments have used perception- or intention-based outcome measures, we presented participants with real-life misinformation posts in a social media platform simulation and measured their engagement, a more ecologically valid approach. Our pre-registered mixed-effects models indicated that both interventions reduced engagement with misinformation, but inoculation was most effective. However, random differences analysis revealed that the protection conferred by inoculation differed across posts. Moderation analysis indicated that immunity provided by inoculation is robust to variation in individuals’ cognitive reflection. This study provides novel evidence on the general effectiveness of inoculation interventions over false tags, social media platforms’ current approach. Given inoculation’s effect heterogeneity, a concert of interventions will likely be required for future safeguarding efforts.
Biotechnological enhancement of lactic acid conversion from pretreated palm kernel cake hydrolysate by Actinobacillus succinogenes 130Z
Authors: Rahim Nuraishah Abd , Luthfi Abdullah Amru Indera , Bukhari Nurul Adela , Tan Jian Ping , Abdul Peer Mohamed , Manaf Shareena Fairuz Abdul 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe aim of this study was to establish an improved pretreatment and fermentation method i.e. immobilized cells for high recovery of fermentable sugars from palm kernel cake (PKC) and its effects on fermentability performance by Actinobacillus succinogenes 130Z in the conversion of the fermentable sugar to lactic acid. The effects of oxalic acid concentrations (1–6% w/v) and residence times (1–5 h) on the sugar recovery were initially investigated and it was found that the highest mannose concentration was 25.1 g/L at the optimum hydrolysis conditions of 4 h and 3% (w/v) oxalic acid. The subsequent enzymatic saccharification of the pretreated PKC afforded the highest enzymatic digestibility with the recovered sugars amounting to 25.18 g/L and 9.14 g/L of mannose and glucose, respectively. Subsequently, the fermentability performance of PKC hydrolysate was evaluated and compared in terms of cultivation phases (i.e. mono and dual-phases), carbonate loadings (i.e. magnesium and sodium carbonates), and types of sugars (i.e. glucose and mannose). The highest titer of 19.4 g/L lactic acid was obtained from the fermentation involving A. succinogenes 130Z in dual-phase cultivation supplemented with 30 g/L of magnesium carbonate. Lactic acid production was further enhanced by using immobilized cells with coconut shell-activated carbon (CSAC) of different sizes (A, B, C, and D) in the repeated batch cultivation of dual-phase fermentation producing 31.64 g/L of lactic acid. This work sheds light on the possibilities to enhance the utilization of PKC for lactic acid production via immobilized A. succinogenes 130Z.
Heat-inactivated Factor B inhibits alternative pathway fluid-phase activation and convertase formation on endothelial cell-secreted ultra-large von Willebrand factor strings
Authors: Turner Nancy A. , Moake Joel L. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractDefective regulation of the alternative complement pathway (AP) causes excessive activation and promotes the inflammation and renal injury observed in atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome (aHUS). The usefulness of heat-inactivated Factor B (HFB) in reducing AP activation was evaluated in: fluid-phase reactions, using purified complement proteins and Factor H (FH)-depleted serum; and in surface-activated reactions using human endothelial cells (ECs). C3a and Ba levels, measured by quantitative Western blots, determined the extent of fluid-phase activation. In reactions using C3, FB, and Factor D proteins, HFB addition (2.5-fold FB levels), reduced C3a levels by 60% and Ba levels by 45%. In reactions using FH-depleted serum (supplemented with FH at 12.5% normal levels), Ba levels were reduced by 40% with HFB added at 3.5-fold FB levels. The effectiveness of HFB in limiting AP convertase formation on activated surfaces was evaluated using stimulated ECs. Fluorescent microscopy was used to quantify endogenously released C3, FB, and C5 attached to EC-secreted ultra-large VWF strings. HFB addition reduced attachment of C3b by 2.7-fold, FB by 1.5-fold and C5 by fourfold. Our data indicate that HFB may be of therapeutic value in preventing AP-mediated generation of C3a and C5a, and the associated inflammation caused by an overactive AP.
Possible frequent multiple mitochondrial DNA copies in a single nucleoid in HeLa cells
Authors: Pavluch Vojtěch , Špaček Tomáš , Engstová Hana , Dlasková Andrea , Ježek Petr 
Published: April 2023

AbstractPreviously, a number of ~ 1.4 of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecules in a single nucleoid was reported, which would reflect a minimum nucleoid division. We applied 3D-double-color direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM), i.e. nanoscopy with ~ 25–40 nm x,y-resolution, together with our novel method of Delaunay segmentation of 3D data to identify unbiased 3D-overlaps. Noncoding D-loops were recognized in HeLa cells by mtDNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (mtFISH) 7S-DNA 250-bp probe, containing biotin, visualized by anti-biotin/Cy3B-conjugated antibodies. Other mtFISH probes with biotin or Alexa Fluor 647 (A647) against ATP6-COX3 gene overlaps (1,100 bp) were also used. Nucleoids were imaged by anti-DNA/(A647-)-Cy3B-conjugated antibodies. Resulting histograms counting mtFISH-loci/nucleoid overlaps demonstrated that 45% to 70% of visualized nucleoids contained two or more D-loops or ATP6-COX3-loci, indicating two or more mtDNA molecules per nucleoid. With increasing number of mtDNA per nucleoid, diameters were larger and their distribution histograms peaked at ~ 300 nm. A wide nucleoid diameter distribution was obtained also using 2D-STED for their imaging by anti-DNA/A647. At unchanged mtDNA copy number in osteosarcoma 143B cells, TFAM expression increased nucleoid spatial density 1.67-fold, indicating expansion of existing mtDNA and its redistribution into more nucleoids upon the higher TFAM/mtDNA stoichiometry. Validation of nucleoid imaging was also done with two TFAM mutants unable to bend or dimerize, respectively, which reduced both copy number and nucleoid spatial density by 80%. We conclude that frequently more than one mtDNA molecule exists within a single nucleoid in HeLa cells and that mitochondrial nucleoids do exist in a non-uniform size range.
Influence of deformation banding instabilities on small scale yielding of a Mg–Nd alloy revealed by in-situ digital image correlation
Authors: Vasilev Evgenii , Wang Jie , Zhu Gaoming , Knezevic Marko 
Published: April 2023

AbstractPropagating deformation bands are observed to accommodate the initial plasticity in an as-extruded Mg–1.5Nd alloy under tension using digital-image-correlation. The propagating bands cause an uncommon plateau in the stress–strain response of the alloy prior to restoring a common decreasing work hardening with further straining. Effects of the deformation banding and underlying plateau in the flow stress on small scale yielding are investigated during low cycle fatigue (LCF) and tension of notched specimens. Alternating formation/disappearance of deformation bands in the gauge section of as-extruded LCF specimens during testing is observed to reduce life compared to annealed specimens exhibiting no instabilities. In contrast, the bands deflect the plastic zone ahead of the notch from the principal plane orthogonal to the applied loading inducing positive effect on toughness of the alloy.
Spin-defect characteristics of single sulfur vacancies in monolayer MoS2
Authors: Hötger A. , Amit T. , Klein J. , Barthelmi K. , Pelini T. , Delhomme A. , Rey S. , Potemski M. , Faugeras C. , Cohen G. , Hernangómez-Pérez D. , Taniguchi T. , Watanabe K. , Kastl C. , Finley J. J. , Refaely-Abramson S. , Holleitner A. W. , Stier A. V. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractSingle spin-defects in 2D transition-metal dichalcogenides are natural spin-photon interfaces for quantum applications. Here we report high-field magneto-photoluminescence spectroscopy from three emission lines (Q1, Q2, and Q*) of He-ion induced sulfur vacancies in monolayer MoS2. Analysis of the asymmetric PL lineshapes in combination with the diamagnetic shift of Q1 and Q2 yields a consistent picture of localized emitters with a wave function extent of ~3.5 nm. The distinct valley-Zeeman splitting in out-of-plane B-fields and the brightening of dark states through in-plane B-fields necessitates spin-valley selectivity of the defect states and lifted spin-degeneracy at zero field. Comparing our results to ab initio calculations identifies the nature of Q1 and Q2 and suggests that Q* is the emission from a chemically functionalized defect. Analysis of the optical degree of circular polarization reveals that the Fermi level is a parameter that enables the tunability of the emitter. These results show that defects in 2D semiconductors may be utilized for quantum technologies.
Tailoring the dielectric screening in WS2–graphene heterostructures
Authors: Tebbe David , Schütte Marc , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Stampfer Christoph , Beschoten Bernd , Waldecker Lutz 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe environment contributes to the screening of Coulomb interactions in two-dimensional semiconductors. This can potentially be exploited to tailor material properties as well as for sensing applications. Here, we investigate the tuning of the band gap and the exciton binding energy in the two-dimensional semiconductor WS2 via the external dielectric screening. Embedding WS2 in van der Waals heterostructures with graphene and hBN spacers of thicknesses between one and 16 atomic layers, we experimentally determine both energies as a function of the WS2-to-graphene interlayer distance and the charge carrier density in graphene. We find that the modification to the band gap as well as the exciton binding energy are well described by a one-over-distance dependence, with a significant effect remaining at several nanometers distance, at which the two layers are electrically well isolated. This observation is explained by a screening arising from an image charge induced by the graphene layer. Furthermore, we find that the effectiveness of graphene in screening Coulomb interactions in nearby WS2 depends on its doping level and can therefore be controlled via the electric field effect. We determine that, at room temperature, it is modified by approximately 20% for charge carrier densities of 2 × 1012 cm−2.
High-resolution Nanopore methylome-maps reveal random hyper-methylation at CpG-poor regions as driver of chemoresistance in leukemias
Authors: Magi Alberto , Mattei Gianluca , Mingrino Alessandra , Caprioli Chiara , Ronchini Chiara , Frigè Gianmaria , Semeraro Roberto , Bolognini Davide , Rambaldi Alessandro , Candoni Anna , Colombo Emanuela , Mazzarella Luca , Pelicci Pier Giuseppe 
Published: April 2023

AbstractAberrant DNA methylation at CpG dinucleotides is a cancer hallmark that is associated with the emergence of resistance to anti cancer treatment, though molecular mechanisms and biological significance remain elusive. Genome scale methylation maps by currently used methods are based on chemical modification of DNA and are best suited for analyses of methylation at CpG rich regions (CpG islands). We report the first high coverage whole-genome map in cancer using the long read nanopore technology, which allows simultaneous DNA-sequence and -methylation analyses on native DNA. We analyzed clonal epigenomic/genomic evolution in Acute Myeloid Leukemias (AMLs) at diagnosis and relapse, after chemotherapy. Long read sequencing coupled to a novel computational method allowed definition of differential methylation at unprecedented resolution, and showed that the relapse methylome is characterized by hypermethylation at both CpG islands and sparse CpGs regions. Most differentially methylated genes, however, were not differentially expressed nor enriched for chemoresistance genes. A small fraction of under-expressed and hyper-methylated genes at sparse CpGs, in the gene body, was significantly enriched in transcription factors (TFs). Remarkably, these few TFs supported large gene-regulatory networks including 50% of all differentially expressed genes in the relapsed AMLs and highly-enriched in chemoresistance genes. Notably, hypermethylated regions at sparse CpGs were poorly conserved in the relapsed AMLs, under-represented at their genomic positions and showed higher methylation entropy, as compared to CpG islands. Analyses of available datasets confirmed TF binding to their target genes and conservation of the same gene-regulatory networks in large patient cohorts. Relapsed AMLs carried few patient specific structural variants and DNA mutations, apparently not involved in drug resistance. Thus, drug resistance in AMLs can be mainly ascribed to the selection of random epigenetic alterations at sparse CpGs of a few transcription factors, which then induce reprogramming of the relapsing phenotype, independently of clonal genomic evolution.
The role of RNF149 in the pre-emptive quality control substrate ubiquitination
Authors: Legesse Aster , Kaushansky Nathali , Braunstein Ilana , Saad Haddas , Lederkremer Gerardo , Navon Ami , Stanhill Ariel 
Published: April 2023

AbstractProtein quality control is a process in which a protein’s folding status is constantly monitored. Mislocalized proteins (MLP), are processed by the various quality control pathways, as they are often misfolded due to inappropriate cellular surroundings. Polypeptides that fail to translocate into the ER due to an inefficient signal peptide, mutations or ER stress are recognized by the pre-emptive ER associated quality control (pEQC) pathway and degraded by the 26 S proteasome. In this report we reveal the role of RNF149, a membrane bound E3 ligase in the ubiquitination of known pEQC substrates. We demonstrate its selective binding only to non-translocated proteins and its association with known pEQC components. Impairment in RNF149 function increases translocation flux into the ER and manifests in a myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) phenotype, a pathological condition associated with pEQC impairment. Finally, the dynamic localization of RNF149 may provide a molecular switch to regulate pEQC during ER stress.
Proton boron capture therapy (PBCT) induces cell death and mitophagy in a heterotopic glioblastoma model
Authors: Cammarata Francesco Paolo , Torrisi Filippo , Vicario Nunzio , Bravatà Valentina , Stefano Alessandro , Salvatorelli Lucia , D’Aprile Simona , Giustetto Pierangela , Forte Giusi Irma , Minafra Luigi , Calvaruso Marco , Richiusa Selene , Cirrone Giuseppe Antonio Pablo , Petringa Giada , Broggi Giuseppe , Cosentino Sebastiano , Scopelliti Fabrizio , Magro Gaetano , Porro Danilo , Libra Massimo , Ippolito Massimo , Russo Giorgio , Parenti Rosalba , Cuttone Giacomo 
Published: April 2023

AbstractDespite aggressive therapeutic regimens, glioblastoma (GBM) represents a deadly brain tumor with significant aggressiveness, radioresistance and chemoresistance, leading to dismal prognosis. Hypoxic microenvironment, which characterizes GBM, is associated with reduced therapeutic effectiveness. Moreover, current irradiation approaches are limited by uncertain tumor delineation and severe side effects that comprehensively lead to unsuccessful treatment and to a worsening of the quality of life of GBM patients. Proton beam offers the opportunity of reduced side effects and a depth-dose profile, which, unfortunately, are coupled with low relative biological effectiveness (RBE). The use of radiosensitizing agents, such as boron-containing molecules, enhances proton RBE and increases the effectiveness on proton beam-hit targets. We report a first preclinical evaluation of proton boron capture therapy (PBCT) in a preclinical model of GBM analyzed via μ-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (μPET-CT) assisted live imaging, finding a significant increased therapeutic effectiveness of PBCT versus proton coupled with an increased cell death and mitophagy. Our work supports PBCT and radiosensitizing agents as a scalable strategy to treat GBM exploiting ballistic advances of proton beam and increasing therapeutic effectiveness and quality of life in GBM patients.