bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
TNF-α contributes to sarcopenia through caspase-8/caspase-3/GSDME-mediated pyroptosis
Authors: Wu Jingying , Lin Siming , Chen Weixiao , Lian Guili , Wu Weibin , Chen Ai , Sagor Mohammad Ismail Hajary , Luo Li , Wang Huajun , Xie Liangdi 
Published: February 2023

AbstractSarcopenia has become a leading cause of disability and mortality in the elderly. It has been reported that programmed cell death (PCD) is associated with the development of sarcopenia that is characterized by reduction of muscle fiber size and number. TNF-α is also validated to play a prominent role in sarcopenia through its complex signaling pathways including cell death signaling. However, it is still unclear whether TNF-α contributes to sarcopenia by mediating pyroptosis, one type of PCD. Here, we first established naturally aged mice with sarcopenia model and confirmed an inflammatory state represented by TNF-α in aged mice. Evidence of GSDME-mediated pyroptosis and activation of apoptotic caspase-8/-3 were also found in skeletal muscle cells of aged mice with sarcopenia. We demonstrated that TNF-α triggered GSDME-mediated pyroptosis in myotubes through activating caspase-8 and caspase-3 by using caspase-8 and caspase-3 inhibitors. Comparing the activation of caspase-8 and GSDME expression between TNF Complex IIa and TNF Complex IIb, TNF-α was found to be more inclined to assemble TNF Complex IIb in activating caspase-8 and triggering pyroptosis. Moreover, pyroptotic myotubes were validated to result in decreased expression of MHC1 and finally loss of myotubes by knockdown of GSDME. Our work reveals a novel mechanism that TNF-ɑ/caspase-8/caspase-3/GSDME signaling-mediated pyroptosis contributes to the development of sarcopenia. Caspase-3/GSDME signaling-mediated pyroptosis may be a promising therapeutic target for sarcopenia.
Infinite critical boson non-Fermi liquid
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Tian , Chen Gang 
Published: February 2023

AbstractWe study a distinct type of non-Fermi liquid where there exists an infinite number of critical bosonic modes instead of finite number of bosonic modes for the conventional ones. We consider itinerant magnets with both conduction electrons and fluctuating magnetic moments in three dimensions. With Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction, the moments fluctuate near a boson surface in the reciprocal space at low energies when the system approaches an ordering transition. The infinite number of critical modes on the boson surface strongly scatter the gapless electrons on the Fermi surface and convert the metallic sector into a non-Fermi liquid. We explain the physical properties of this non-Fermi liquid. On the ordered side, a conventional non-Fermi liquid emerges due to the scattering by the gapless Goldstone mode from the spontaneous breaking of the global rotational symmetry. We discuss the general structure of the phase diagram in the vicinity of the quantum phase transition and clarify various crossover behaviors.
Investigation into the communication between unheated and heat-stressed Caenorhabditis elegans via volatile stress signals
Authors: Chen Liangwen , Wang Yun , Zhou Xiuhong , Wang Ting , Zhan Huimin , Wu Fei , Li Haolan , Bian Po , Xie Zhongwen 
Published: February 2023

AbstractOur research group has recently found that radiation-induced airborne stress signals can be used for communication among Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). This paper addresses the question of whether heat stress can also induce the emission of airborne stress signals to alert neighboring C. elegans and elicit their subsequent stress response. Here, we report that heat-stressed C. elegans produces volatile stress signals that trigger an increase in radiation resistance in neighboring unheated C. elegans. When several loss-of-function mutations affecting thermosensory neuron (AFD), heat shock factor-1, HSP-4, and small heat-shock proteins were used to test heat-stressed C. elegans, we found that the production of volatile stress signals was blocked, demonstrating that the heat shock response and ER pathway are involved in controlling the production of volatile stress signals. Our data further indicated that mutations affecting the DNA damage response (DDR) also inhibited the increase in radiation resistance in neighboring unheated C. elegans that might have received volatile stress signals, indicating that the DDR might contribute to radioadaptive responses induction by volatile stress signals. In addition, the regulatory pattern of signal production and action was preliminarily clarified. Together, the results of this study demonstrated that heat-stressed nematodes communicate with unheated nematodes via volatile stress signals.
Risk of systemic lupus erythematosus flares according to autoantibody positivity at the time of diagnosis
Authors: Kwon Oh Chan , Park Min-Chan 
Published: February 2023

AbstractTo estimate the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flares based on the autoantibody positivity at the time of SLE diagnosis. This retrospective cohort study included 228 patients with newly diagnosed SLE. Clinical characteristics including autoantibody positivity at the time of diagnosis of SLE were reviewed. Flares were defined as a new British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) A score or BILAG B score for at least one organ system. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to estimate the risk of flares according to autoantibody positivity. Anti-dsDNA, anti-Sm, anti-U1RNP, anti-Ro, and anti-La antibodies (Abs) were positive in 50.0%, 30.7%, 42.5%, 54.8%, and 22.4% of the patients, respectively. The incidence rate of flares was 28.2/100 person-years. Multivariable Cox regression analysis, adjusted for potential confounders, revealed that anti-dsDNA Ab positivity (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.46, p = 0.037) and anti-Sm Ab positivity (adjusted HR: 1.81, p = 0.004) at the time of diagnosis of SLE were associated with higher risk of flares. To better delineate the flare risk, patients were categorized as double-negative, single-positive, double-positive for anti-dsDNA and anti-Sm Abs. Compared with double-negativity, double-positivity (adjusted HR: 3.34, p < 0.001) was associated with higher risk of flares, while anti-dsDNA Ab single-positivity (adjusted HR: 1.11, p = 0.620) or anti-Sm Ab single-positivity (adjusted HR: 1.32, p = 0.270) was not associated with higher risk of flares. Patients who are double-positive for anti-dsDNA and anti-Sm Abs at the time of the diagnosis of SLE are at higher risk of flares and may benefit from stringent monitoring and early preventive treatment.
An experimental and numerical study of twin dowel type shear connector
Authors: Vanova Patricia , Dubecky Daniel , Weissova Michala , Bartus Jakub , Kvocak Vincent 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThe hunger for a better, more effective, more economic, easier for construction, and overall more sustainable bridge design is enormous nowadays. One of the solutions for the problems described is a steel-concrete composite structure with embedded continuous shear connectors. Such structure uses advantages of both materials (concrete in compression and steel in tension) while lowering the overall height of the structure and time of the construction. This paper presents a new design of the connector of twin dowel type, with clothoid dowel, where two dowel connectors are welded longitudinally by flanges to create one twin connector. Its geometrical attributes are closely described and the design origin is explained. The study of the proposed shear connector consists of experimental and numerical part. In experimental study, the experiments performed—four push-out tests—and their setup, instrumentation and material characteristics are described and their results in a form of load-slip curves are presented and analyzed. In numerical study the finite element model developed in ABAQUS software is presented with a detailed description of the modeling process. In results and discussions the results of the numerical study are compared with results from the experimental study and the resistance of the proposed shear connector is briefly compared to shear connectors from chosen studies.
Fluorescence lifetime imaging through scattering media
Authors: Nilsson Sebastian , Kristensson Elias , Aldén Marcus , Bood Joakim , Ehn Andreas 
Published: February 2023

AbstractFluorescence lifetime determination has proven to be useful, e.g. identification of molecules, quantitative estimation of species concentration and determination of temperatures. Lifetime determination of exponentially decaying signals is challenging if signals of different decay rates are being mixed, resulting in erroneous results. Such issues occur when the contrast of the measurement object is low, which can be limiting in applied measurements due to spurious light scattering. A solution is presented here where structured illumination is used to enhance image contrast in fluorescence lifetime wide-field imaging. Lifetime imaging determination was carried out using Dual Imaging Modeling Evaluation (DIME), and spatial lock-in analysis was used for removing spurious scattered signal to enable fluorescence lifetime imaging through scattering media.
Akkermansia muciniphila exerts immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects on gliadin-stimulated THP-1 derived macrophages
Authors: Molaaghaee-Rouzbahani Sara , Asri Nastaran , Sapone Anna , Baghaei Kaveh , Yadegar Abbas , Amani Davar , Rostami-Nejad Mohammad 
Published: February 2023

AbstractMacrophages (MQs) pro-inflammatory phenotype is triggered by gliadin peptides. Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) showed to enhance the anti-inflammatory phenotype of MQs. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of A. muciniphila, on gliadin stimulated THP-1 derived macrophages. THP-1 cell line monocytes were differentiated into MQs by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). MQs were treated with A. muciniphila before and after stimulation with gliadin (pre- and post-treat). CD11b, as a marker of macrophage differentiation, and CD206 and CD80, as M1 and M2 markers, were evaluated by flow cytometry technique. The mRNA expression of TGF-β, IL-6, and IL-10 and protein levels of IL-10 and TNF-α were measured by RT-PCR and ELISA techniques, respectively. Results show an increased percentage of M1 phenotype and release of proinflammatory cytokines (like TNF-α and IL-6) by macrophages upon incubation with gliadin. Pre- and post-treatment of gliadin-stimulated macrophages with A. muciniphila induced M2 phenotype associated with decreased proinflammatory (IL-6, TNF-α) and increased anti-inflammatory (IL-10, TGF-β) cytokines expression relative to the group that was treated with gliadin alone. This study suggests the potential beneficial effect of A. muciniphila on gliadin-stimulated MQs and the importance of future studies focusing on their exact mechanism of action on these cells.
Differential associations of the two higher-order factors of mindfulness with trait empathy and the mediating role of emotional awareness
Authors: Borghi Olaf , Mayrhofer Lukas , Voracek Martin , Tran Ulrich S. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractEmpathy enables us to understand the emotions of others and is an important determinant of prosocial behavior. Investigating the relationship between mindfulness and empathy could therefore provide important insights into factors that promote interpersonal understanding and pathways that contribute to prosocial behavior. As prior studies have yielded only inconsistent results, this study extended previous findings and investigated for the first time the associations of two important factors of mindfulness (Self-regulated Attention [SRA] and Orientation to Experience [OTE]) with two commonly proposed components of empathy (cognitive empathy and affective empathy). Using a community sample of N = 552 German-speaking adults, the two mindfulness factors were differentially associated with cognitive and affective empathy. SRA correlated positively with cognitive empathy (r = 0.44; OTE: r = 0.09), but OTE correlated negatively with affective empathy (r = − 0.27; SRA: r = 0.11). This negative association was strongest for one specific aspect of affective empathy, emotional contagion. Revisiting previously reported mediating effects of emotion regulation, we found that emotional awareness mediated the associations with both components of empathy, but only for SRA. Together, these findings imply that mindfulness benefits the cognitive understanding of others’ emotions via two distinct pathways: by promoting emotional awareness (SRA) and by limiting the undue impact of others’ emotions on oneself (OTE).
Implementation of helicase-dependent amplification with SYBR Green I for prompt naked-eye detection of bacterial contaminants in platelet products
Authors: Yamket Warangkana , Sathianpitayakul Panuwat , Santanirand Pitak , Ratthawongjirakul Panan 
Published: February 2023

AbstractPlatelet transfusions may lead to more significant risks of infection and septic transfusion reactions that can be fatal to the recipient. Platelet products should be screened to limit or detect bacterial contamination before application to patients to minimise any adverse reactions. This study aimed to develop a helicase-dependent amplification (HDA) technique targeting a universal highly conserved bacterial gene, 16S rRNA, in combination with naked-eye detection using SYBR Green I (HDA/SYBR Green I) to detect bacterial contamination in platelet products. Thirty positive samples were obtained from spiked platelet products by five transfusion-relevant bacterial strains and were screened for bacterial contamination by HDA/SYBR Green I. HDA/SYBR Green I showed an enhanced yield of bacterial contaminant detection when performed with medium to late shelf life, Day 2 of storage or later platelet products (98.67% sensitivity and 100% specificity compared to the BACT/ALERT culture system). The limit of detection of HDA/SYBR Green I was 1 ng, and there was no cross-reaction with other organisms that could likely contaminate platelet products. The developed HDA/SYBR Green I assay is rapid and simplistic and only requires an easy-to-find heat box, available in general blood bank laboratories, for the amplification step. This technique is suitable for further development as an alternative method to detect bacterial contamination in platelet products in the near future.
The development of a machine learning algorithm for early detection of viral hepatitis B infection in Nigerian patients
Authors: Ajuwon Busayo I. , Richardson Alice , Roper Katrina , Sheel Meru , Audu Rosemary , Salako Babatunde L. , Bojuwoye Matthew O. , Katibi Ibraheem A. , Lidbury Brett A. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractAccess to Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) testing for people in low-resource settings has long been challenging due to the gold standard, enzyme immunoassay, being prohibitively expensive, and requiring specialised skills and facilities that are not readily available, particularly in remote and isolated laboratories. Routine pathology data in tandem with cutting-edge machine learning shows promising diagnostic potential. In this study, recursive partitioning (“trees”) and Support Vector Machines (SVMs) were applied to interrogate patient dataset (n = 916) that comprised results for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) and routine clinical chemistry and haematology blood tests. These algorithms were used to develop a predictive diagnostic model of HBV infection. Our SVM-based diagnostic model of infection (accuracy = 85.4%, sensitivity = 91%, specificity = 72.6%, precision = 88.2%, F1-score = 0.89, Area Under the Receiver Operating Curve, AUC = 0.90) proved to be highly accurate for discriminating HBsAg positive from negative patients, and thus rivals with immunoassay. Therefore, we propose a predictive model based on routine blood tests as a novel diagnostic for early detection of HBV infection. Early prediction of HBV infection via routine pathology markers and pattern recognition algorithms will offer decision-support to clinicians and enhance early diagnosis, which is critical for optimal clinical management and improved patient outcomes.
Nanowarming and ice-free cryopreservation of large sized, intact porcine articular cartilage
Authors: Chen Peng , Wang Shangping , Chen Zhenzhen , Ren Pengling , Hepfer R. Glenn , Greene Elizabeth D. , Campbell Lia H. , Helke Kristi L. , Nie Xingju , Jensen Jens H. , Hill Cherice , Wu Yongren , Brockbank Kelvin G. M. , Yao Hai 
Published: February 2023

AbstractSuccessful organ or tissue long-term preservation would revolutionize biomedicine. Cartilage cryopreservation enables prolonged shelf life of articular cartilage, posing the prospect to broaden the implementation of promising osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation for cartilage repair. However, cryopreserved large sized cartilage cannot be successfully warmed with the conventional convection warming approach due to its limited warming rate, blocking its clinical potential. Here, we develope a nanowarming and ice-free cryopreservation method for large sized, intact articular cartilage preservation. Our method achieves a heating rate of 76.8 °C min-1, over one order of magnitude higher than convection warming (4.8 °C min-1). Using systematic cell and tissue level tests, we demonstrate the superior performance of our method in preserving large cartilage. A depth-dependent preservation manner is also observed and recapitulated through magnetic resonance imaging and computational modeling. Finally, we show that the delivery of nanoparticles to the OCA bone side could be a feasible direction for further optimization of our method. This study pioneers the application of nanowarming and ice-free cryopreservation for large articular cartilage and provides valuable insights for future technique development, paving the way for clinical applications of cryopreserved cartilage.
The strongest winds in tornadoes are very near the ground
Authors: Kosiba Karen , Wurman Joshua 
Published: February 2023

AbstractTornadoes contain some of the strongest winds on earth, causing death and damage when impacting man-made and natural objects, such as buildings and trees. Quantifying tornado winds near the surface is critical to characterizing tornado hazards. Direct measurements of tornado winds are rare and are usually obtained at least >100 m above the ground, well above building height, by proximate mobile radars. The representativeness of these mobile radar-obtained measurements to wind speeds closer to the surface is unknown. Here we analyze rare, low-level mobile radar observations of 73 different tornadoes to demonstrate that the strongest winds in tornadoes generally occur very near the ground. Therefore, even proximate radar measurements at >100 m above the ground usually substantially underestimate actual tornado wind intensity.
Science governs the future of the mesopelagic zone
Authors: Schadeberg Amanda , Kraan Marloes , Groeneveld Rolf , Trilling Damian , Bush Simon 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThe potential of the mesopelagic zone (200–1000 m depth) to provide natural resources and ecosystem services is of increasing interest to a broad range of societal stakeholders. As this interest grows, divergent ideas about its current and future role in supporting human life are being expressed in scientific and public discourse. We use automated content analysis to identify 13 key topics about the mesopelagic zone from 2226 scientific abstracts and 4066 tweets. Two dominant ideas emerge: (1) the exploitation of fish resources and (2) the role of the mesopelagic zone as a carbon sink. We find that, in the absence of significant mesopelagic zone policy, science plays a de facto governing role by shaping how the ecosystem is known to the public and policymakers alike. These results indicate the need and potential for new knowledge and governance arrangements that can broaden the range of meanings and knowledge needed to anticipate future uses of deeply uncertain ecosystems and resources.
The Wnt/β-catenin pathway regulates inflammation and apoptosis in ventilator-induced lung injury
Authors: Chen Zongyu , He Shuang , Lian Siyu , Shen Yi , Jiang Wenqing , Zhou Lihua , Zhou Leilei , Zhang Xianming 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) may be caused by incorrect mechanical ventilation (MV), and its progression is mainly related to inflammatory reaction, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway can modulate inflammation and apoptosis; however, its role in VILI is unknown. This research aims to explore the role of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in VILI. VILI models were established using rats and type II alveolar epithelial (ATII) cells. Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β), β-catenin, and cyclin D1 were determined using western blotting and immunofluorescence. Apoptosis of lung tissues was evaluated using TUNEL, flow cytometry, Bax, and Bcl2 protein. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Lung pathological injury was evaluated through hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Lung permeability was evaluated by the ratio of dry to wet weight of lung tissue and the total protein level of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The results showed that GSK-3β expression was enhanced and β-catenin expression was diminished in lung tissue under MV. SB216763 increased β-catenin and cyclin D1 expression by inhibiting GSK-3β expression and inhibited the inflammatory response and apoptosis of lung, alleviated pulmonary edema and lung tissue permeability, and significantly mitigated lung injury. However, inhibition of β-catenin expression by MSAB attenuated the anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects of SB216763 in VILI. Overall, the present study demonstrates that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation in MV may play an anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic role, thereby alleviating lung injury and delaying VILI progression, which may be a key point of intervention in VILI.