bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New Constraints on the Complex Subduction and Tearing Model of the Cocos Plate Using Anisotropic Pn Tomography
Authors: Lü Yan , Li Juan , Zhao Lian‐Feng , Zhang Jinhai , Chen Ling , Zhao Liang 
Published: September 2023

AbstractTo better understand the structure and process of the Cocos plate subduction, we obtained the first Pn velocity and anisotropy model of the uppermost mantle in southern Mexico using the Pn tomography method and new ISC‐EHB data. This study confirms that the subducted Cocos oceanic plate exhibits mid‐oceanic ridge‐perpendicular anisotropy, and there is an arc‐parallel anisotropic structure beneath the subduction arc. The variation of the Pn velocity and anisotropy structure at the east and west ends of the flat‐slab subduction zone in the Guerrero area provide new and clear seismological images for a plate‐tearing model which might be caused by the Orozco and O'Gorman fracture zones. The Pn low‐velocity and trench‐perpendicular anisotropic structure found north of the flat‐slab subduction zone support the slab retreat model of the Central Cocos plate. The Pn structure supports the existence of tearing corresponding to Teuhantepec Ridge in the Cocos plate beneath the Isthmus of Tuxtlas. Our study provides a reliable tomography basis and new constraints for a complicated subduction dynamics process in the southern Mexico subduction zone.
The Occurrence and Prevalence of Magnetic Reconnection in the Kelvin‐Helmholtz Instability Under Various Solar Wind Conditions
Authors: Wilder F. D. , King A. , Gove D. , Eriksson S. , Ahmadi N. , Workman T. L. , Ergun R. E. , Burch J. L. , Torbert R. B. , Giles B. L. , Strangeway R. J. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractAs the shocked solar wind flows past the flank magnetopause, surface waves can form and roll up into flow vortices. This is known as the Kelvin–Helmholtz Instability, which is thought to be an important mechanism whereby energy and momentum are transferred from the solar wind into the magnetosphere. One mechanism whereby this can occur is magnetic reconnection in the equatorial plane on compressed current sheets between vortices. In 2015, the NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission observed this form of in‐plane reconnection during a KHI event in the post‐noon sector of the dayside magnetopause. We use data from MMS to investigate 12 KHI events at different positions along the magnetospheric flanks. For each event, we identify periodic compressed current sheets and perform Walén tests for each to identify reconnection jets. We then investigate the fraction of current sheets that exhibit reconnection signatures, and refer to it as the “event ratio.” Results show that the event ratio decreases for events further down the magnetospheric flanks. Additionally, we investigate solar wind parameters during each event and find that the event ratio increases with an increasing northward component of the interplanetary magnetic field.
Morphologic, Atmospheric, and Oceanic Drivers Cause Multi‐Temporal Saltwater Intrusion on a Remote, Sand Island
Authors: Cantelon Julia A. , Robinson Clare E. , Kurylyk Barret L. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractSmall‐island populations disproportionately rely on fresh groundwater resources, which are increasingly threatened by salinization from changing ocean and climate conditions. This study investigates island groundwater dynamics and salinization over multiple timescales in response to marine, atmospheric, and morphologic drivers. New geophysical and hydrological data sets were collected on a remote sand island in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean between 2020 and 2022 and compared to historical baseline data from the 1970s. Data reveal saltwater intrusion due to multi‐decadal erosion, seasonal climate patterns, tidal forcing, and episodic flooding from Atlantic hurricanes. Long‐term dune erosion has caused the freshwater lens to thin and become asymmetrical; however, a lagged groundwater response causes the freshwater lens to be in disequilibrium with present island morphology. The maximum vertical lens thickness is seasonally constant, but the lateral transition zone along the coast thickens and moves seaward in spring when the water table is high from precipitation and frequent beach flooding. Groundwater level and electrical conductivity along low‐lying beaches significantly increase following Atlantic hurricanes due to seawater flooding, and reach a maximum of 1.93 m above sea level and 38 mS/cm, respectively. While groundwater levels recover quickly, conductivity (salinity) remains elevated due to the short intervals between winter flood events that outpace freshening from meteoric recharge. Results emphasize the importance of multi‐temporal groundwater dynamics and feedbacks between coastal flooding, erosion, and salinization. Field‐based studies considering multiple drivers and timescales of saltwater intrusion are critical for understanding and managing coastal freshwater resources in an age of rapid environmental change.
The role of Lactobacillus in inflammatory bowel disease: from actualities to prospects
Authors: Li Congxin , Peng Kaixin , Xiao Siqi , Long Yuanyuan , Yu Qin 
Published: September 2023

AbstractInflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), a chronic nonspecific intestinal inflammatory disease, is comprised of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn’s Disease (CD). IBD is closely related to a systemic inflammatory reaction and affects the progression of many intestinal and extraintestinal diseases. As one of the representative bacteria for probiotic-assisted therapy in IBD, multiple strains of Lactobacillus have been proven to alleviate intestinal damage and strengthen the intestinal immunological barrier, epithelial cell barrier, and mucus barrier. Lactobacillus also spares no effort in the alleviation of IBD-related diseases such as Colitis-associated Colorectal cancer (CAC), Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Depression, Anxiety, Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH), and so on via gut-brain axis and gut-liver axis. This article aims to discuss the role of Lactobacillus in IBD and IBD-related diseases, including its underlying mechanisms and related curative strategies from the present to the future.
Targeting Toll-like receptor-driven systemic inflammation by engineering an innate structural fold into drugs
Authors: Petruk Ganna , Puthia Manoj , Samsudin Firdaus , Petrlova Jitka , Olm Franziska , Mittendorfer Margareta , Hyllén Snejana , Edström Dag , Strömdahl Ann-Charlotte , Diehl Carl , Ekström Simon , Walse Björn , Kjellström Sven , Bond Peter J. , Lindstedt Sandra , Schmidtchen Artur 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThere is a clinical need for conceptually new treatments that target the excessive activation of inflammatory pathways during systemic infection. Thrombin-derived C-terminal peptides (TCPs) are endogenous anti-infective immunomodulators interfering with CD14-mediated TLR-dependent immune responses. Here we describe the development of a peptide-based compound for systemic use, sHVF18, expressing the evolutionarily conserved innate structural fold of natural TCPs. Using a combination of structure- and in silico-based design, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, biophysics, mass spectrometry, cellular, and in vivo studies, we here elucidate the structure, CD14 interactions, protease stability, transcriptome profiling, and therapeutic efficacy of sHVF18. The designed peptide displays a conformationally stabilized, protease resistant active innate fold and targets the LPS-binding groove of CD14. In vivo, it shows therapeutic efficacy in experimental models of endotoxin shock in mice and pigs and increases survival in mouse models of systemic polymicrobial infection. The results provide a drug class based on Nature´s own anti-infective principles.
mRNA-LNP vaccination-based immunotherapy augments CD8+ T cell responses against HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer
Authors: Qiu Ke , Duan Xing , Mao Minzi , Song Yao , Rao Yufang , Cheng Danni , Feng Lan , Shao Xiuli , Jiang Chuanhuan , Huang Hai , Wang Yan , Li Huifang , Chen Xuemei , Wu Sisi , Luo Dan , Chen Fei , Peng Xingchen , Zheng Yongbo , Wang Haiyang , Liu Jun , Zhao Yu , Song Xiangrong , Ren Jianjun 
Published: September 2023

AbstractAlthough mRNA vaccines are known as potent activators of antigen-specific immune responses against infectious diseases, limited understanding of how they drive the functional commitment of CD8+ T cells in tumor microenvironment (TME) and secondary lymphoid organs hinders their broader application in cancer immunotherapy. Here, we systematically evaluated the immunological effects of a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated mRNA vaccine that encodes human papillomavirus E7 protein (HPV mRNA-LNP), a tumor-specific antigen of HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). HPV mRNA-LNP vaccination activated overall and HPV-specific CD8+ T cells, as well as differentially drove the functional commitment of CD8+ T cells through distinct IFN-response and exhaustion trajectories in the spleen and TME, respectively. Combination therapies of HPV mRNA-LNP vaccination with immune checkpoint blockades boosted HPV-specific CD8+ T cells while maintaining their anti-tumor function, thus further promoting tumor regression. Our results showed that the HPV mRNA-LNP vaccination combined with immune checkpoint blockade is a promising approach for immunotherapy of HPV-positive OPSCC.
Insights into the protective immune response by immunization with full-length recombinant TprK protein: cellular and humoral responses
Authors: Liu Dan , Chen Rui , Wang Yong-Jing , Li Wei , Liu Li-Li , Lin Li-Rong , Yang Tian-Ci , Tong Man-Li 
Published: September 2023

AbstractSyphilis has resurged in many countries, which has called attention to vaccine development. Based on the immunization-based rabbit model of infection with the Nichols strain, this study explored the protective immune response of a controversial syphilis vaccine candidate, TprK, and found that immunization with full-length rTprK was effective in attenuating lesion development and accelerating lesion resolution, which could reduce the probability of the pathogen spreading to distant tissue sites to prevent the progression of the disease to some extent. Furthermore, the results revealed that immunization with rTprK not only rapidly induced a strong Th1-like cellular response but also elicited a humoral immune response to produce opsonic antibodies to enhance macrophage-mediated opsonophagocytosis. Although complete protection against infection was not achieved, the study provided a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of the immunogenicity of TprK and highlighted the importance of TprK as a promising syphilis vaccine component.
simKAP: simulation framework for the kidney allocation process with decision making model
Authors: Zhang Yunwei , Hu Anne , Lin Yingxin , Cao Yue , Muller Samuel , Wong Germaine , Yang Jean Yee Hwa 
Published: September 2023

AbstractOrgan shortage is a major barrier in transplantation and rules guarding organ allocation decisions should be robust, transparent, ethical and fair. Whilst numerous allocation strategies have been proposed, it is often unrealistic to evaluate all of them in real-life settings. Hence, the capability of conducting simulations prior to deployment is important. Here, we developed a kidney allocation simulation framework (simKAP) that aims to evaluate the allocation process and the complex clinical decision-making process of organ acceptance in kidney transplantation. Our findings have shown that incorporation of both the clinical decision-making and a dynamic wait-listing process resulted in the best agreement between the actual and simulated data in almost all scenarios. Additionally, several hypothetical risk-based allocation strategies were generated, and we found that these strategies improved recipients’ long-term post-transplant patient survival and reduced wait time for transplantation. The importance of simKAP lies in its ability for policymakers in any transplant community to evaluate any proposed allocation algorithm using in-silico simulation.
Decreased diastolic hydraulic forces incrementally associate with survival beyond conventional measures of diastolic dysfunction
Authors: Soundappan Dhnanjay , Fung Angus S. Y. , Loewenstein Daniel E. , Playford David , Strange Geoffrey , Kozor Rebecca , Otton James , Ugander Martin 
Published: September 2023

AbstractDecreased hydraulic forces during diastole contribute to reduced left ventricular (LV) filling and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. However, their association with diastolic function and patient outcomes are unknown. The aim of this retrospective, cross-sectional study was to determine the mechanistic association between diastolic hydraulic forces, estimated by echocardiography as the atrioventricular area difference (AVAD), and both diastolic function and survival. Patients (n = 5176, median [interquartile range] 5.5 [5.0–6.1] years follow-up, 1213 events) were selected from the National Echo Database Australia (NEDA) based on the presence of relevant transthoracic echocardiographic measures, LV ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50%, heart rate 50–100 beats/minute, the absence of moderate or severe valvular disease, and no prior prosthetic valve surgery. NEDA contains echocardiographic and linked national death index mortality outcome data from 1985 to 2019. AVAD was calculated as the cross-sectional area difference between the LV and left atrium. LV diastolic dysfunction was graded according to 2016 guidelines. AVAD was weakly associated with E/e’, left atrial volume index, and LVEF (multivariable global R2 = 0.15, p < 0.001), and not associated with e’ and peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity. Decreased AVAD was independently associated with poorer survival, and demonstrated improved model discrimination after adjustment for diastolic function grading (C-statistic [95% confidence interval] 0.644 [0.629–0.660] vs 0.606 [0.592–0.621], p < 0.001) and E/e’ (0.649 [0.635–0.664] vs 0.634 [0.618–0.649], p < 0.001), respectively. Therefore, decreased hydraulic forces, estimated by AVAD, are weakly associated with diastolic dysfunction and demonstrate an incremental prognostic association with survival beyond conventional measures used to grade diastolic dysfunction.
River zebrafish combine behavioral plasticity and generalized morphology with specialized sensory and metabolic physiology to survive in a challenging environment
Authors: Suriyampola Piyumika S. , Zúñiga-Vega José Jaime , Jayasundara Nishad , Flores Jennifer , Lopez Melissa , Bhat Anuradha , Martins Emília P. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractPhenotypes that allow animals to detect, weather, and predict changes efficiently are essential for survival in fluctuating environments. Some phenotypes may remain specialized to suit an environment perfectly, while others become more plastic or generalized, shifting flexibly to match current context or adopting a form that can utilize a wide range of contexts. Here, we tested the differences in behavior, morphology, sensory and metabolic physiology between wild zebrafish (Danio rerio) in highly variable fast-flowing rivers and still-water sites. We found that river zebrafish moved at higher velocities than did still-water fish, had lower oxygen demands, and responded less vigorously to small changes in flow rate, as we might expect for fish that are well-suited to high-flow environments. River zebrafish also had less streamlined bodies and were more behaviorally plastic than were still-water zebrafish, both features that may make them better-suited to a transitional lifestyle. Our results suggest that zebrafish use distinct sensory mechanisms and metabolic physiology to reduce energetic costs of living in fast-flowing water while relying on morphology and behavior to create flexible solutions to a challenging habitat. Insights on animals’ reliance on traits with different outcomes provide a framework to better understand their survival in future environmental fluctuations.
Characteristics of antioxidant capacity and metabolomics analysis of flavonoids in the bran layer of green glutinous rice (Oryza sativa L. var. Glutinosa Matsum)
Authors: Liang Chenggang , Guan Zhixiu , Wei Kesu , Yu Wujuan , Wang Li , Chen Xuling , Wang Yan 
Published: September 2023

AbstractGreen glutinous rice is a unique genetic germplasm that has yet to be adequately studied. This study investigated antioxidant capacity and flavonoid metabolites in the bran layer of green glutinous rice (LvH) compared to purple (HeiH), red (HongH) and white (GJG) varieties. The results showed that LvH bran had significantly higher content of total flavonoids and anthocyanin than that of HongH (1.91-fold and 4.34-fold) and GJG (2.45-fold and 13.30-fold). LvH bran also showed significantly higher levels of vitamin B1 and vitamin E than that of HeiH (1.94-fold and 1.15-fold) and HongH (1.22-fold and 1.13-fold), indicating that green glutinous rice bran was rich in bioactive components. LvH bran showed significantly lower IC50 values for scavenging DPPH and ATBS radicals than GJG and even significantly lower IC50 value for scavenging DPPH radicals than HongH, highlighting its potential as an effective source of antioxidants. LvH bran had significantly different downstream metabolite synthesis in the flavonoid pathway compared to HeiH, HongH, and GJG, with 40, 26, and 22 different metabolites, 23, 20, and 33 up-regulated differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs), and 73, 50, and 13 down-regulated DEMs, respectively. Of the 139 flavonoid metabolites identified in colored rice bran, 26 metabolites showed significant positive correlation with both ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging capacity. Typically, quercetin derivatives showed potential for evaluating the antioxidant capacity of colored rice bran. These findings offer valuable insights into the antioxidant properties of green glutinous rice bran and provide references for better understanding of flavonoid metabolites in different colored rice bran.
Assessing cognitive workloads of assembly workers during multi-task switching
Authors: Ren Bin , Zhou Qinyu , Chen Jiayu 
Published: September 2023

AbstractComplex assembly tasks with multiple manual operations and steps often require rapid judgment and action under time pressure and cause most human-related errors. The task switching and action transitions are major sources of these errors. This study intends to implement an electroencephalography (EEG) approach to quantitatively evaluate the mental workload during task switching and transition. The time–frequency and spectrum analysis were utilized to compute and reflect the task demand between the intervals of individual tasks. This study developed an experiment to validate the proposed assessment approach and benchmark the results with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration task load index (NASA-TLX) subjective evaluation scale analysis. The results show that the average value of the power spectral densities (PSDs) of the gamma band signal of the AF4 channel and the beta band signal of Channel F3 show distinctive signal patterns among task stages and intervals. During the interval between the idling stage and the part selection stage, the peak of the PSD envelope increased from 18 to 27 Hz, suggesting advanced cognition increases the mental workload of the interval between different tasks. Therefore, the task switching period cannot be regarded as rest and need to be optimized with better task organization.
Cancer-associated fibroblast-related prognostic signature predicts prognosis and immunotherapy response in pancreatic adenocarcinoma based on single-cell and bulk RNA-sequencing
Authors: Chen Yajun , Deng Qican , Chen Hui , Yang Jianguo , Chen Zhenzhou , Li Juncai , Fu Zhongxue 
Published: September 2023

AbstractCancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) influence many aspects of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) carcinogenesis, including tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. A six-gene prognostic signature was constructed for PAAD based on the 189 CAF marker genes identified in single-cell RNA-sequencing data. Multivariate analyses showed that the risk score was independently prognostic for survival in the TCGA (P < 0.001) and ICGC (P = 0.004) cohorts. Tumor infiltration of CD8 T (P = 0.005) cells and naïve B cells (P = 0.001) was greater in the low-risk than in the high-risk group, with infiltration of these cells negatively correlated with risk score. Moreover, the TMB score was lower in the low-risk than in the high-risk group (P = 0.0051). Importantly, patients in low-risk group had better immunotherapy responses than in the high-risk group in an independent immunotherapy cohort (IMvigor210) (P = 0.039). The CAV1 and SOD3 were highly expressed in CAFs of PAAD tissues, which revealed by immunohistochemical staining. In summary, this comprehensive analysis resulted in the development of a novel prognostic signature, which was associated with immune cell infiltration, drug sensitivity, and TMB, and could predict the prognosis and immunotherapy response of patients with PAAD.
Comparable assessment of adolescent repeated physical or psychological stress effects on adult cardiac performance in female rats
Authors: Mousavi Monireh-Sadat , Meknatkhah Sogol , Imani Alireza , Geramifar Parham , Riazi Gholamhossein 
Published: September 2023

AbstractExtensive evidence highlights a robust connection between various forms of chronic stress and cardiovascular disease (CVD). In today's fast-paced world, with chronic stressors abound, CVD has emerged as a leading global cause of mortality. The intricate interplay of physical and psychological stressors triggers distinct neural networks within the brain, culminating in diverse health challenges. This study aims to discern the unique impacts of chronic physical and psychological stress on the cardiovascular system, unveiling their varying potencies in precipitating CVD. Twenty-one adolescent female rats were methodically assigned to three groups: (1) control (n = 7), (2) physical stress (n = 7), and (3) psychological stress (n = 7). Employing a two-compartment enclosure, stressors were administered to the experimental rats over five consecutive days, each session lasting 10 min. After a 1.5-month recovery period post-stress exposure, a trio of complementary techniques characterized by high specificity or high sensitivity were employed to meticulously evaluate CVD. Echocardiography and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were harnessed to scrutinize left ventricular architecture and myocardial viability, respectively. Subsequently, the rats were ethically sacrificed to facilitate heart removal, followed by immunohistochemistry staining targeting glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Rats subjected to psychological stress showed a wider range of significant cardiac issues compared to control rats. This included left ventricular hypertrophy [IVSd: 0.1968 ± 0.0163 vs. 0.1520 ± 0.0076, P < 0.05; LVPWd: 0.2877 ± 0.0333 vs. 0.1689 ± 0.0057, P < 0.01; LVPWs: 0.3180 ± 0.0382 vs. 0.2226 ± 0.0121, P < 0.05; LV-mass: 1.283 ± 0.0836 vs. 1.000 ± 0.0241, P < 0.01], myocardial ischemia [21.30% vs. 32.97%, P < 0.001], and neuroinflammation. This outcome underscores the imperative of prioritizing psychological well-being during adolescence, presenting a compelling avenue to curtail the prevalence of CVD in adulthood. Furthermore, extending such considerations to individuals grappling with CVD might prospectively enhance their overall quality of life.