bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A case of infantile Barth syndrome with severe heart failure: Importance of splicing variants in the TAZ gene
Authors: Takeda Atsuhito , Ueki Masahiro , Abe Jiro , Maeta Kazuhiro , Horiguchi Tomoko , Yamazawa Hirokuni , Izumi Gaku , Chida‐Nagai Ayako , Sasaki Daisuke , Tsujioka Takao , Sato Itsumi , Shiraishi Masahiro , Matsuo Masafumi 
Published: April 2023

AbstractBarth syndrome (BTHS) is an X‐linked disorder characterized by cardiomyopathy, skeletal myopathy, and 3‐methylglutaconic aciduria. The causative pathogenic variants for BTHS are in TAZ, which encodes a putative acyltransferase named tafazzin and is involved in the remodeling of cardiolipin in the inner mitochondrial membranes. Pathogenic variants in TAZ result in mitochondrial structural and functional abnormalities. We report a case of infantile BTHS with severe heart failure, left ventricular noncompaction, and lactic acidosis, having a missense c.640C>T (p.His214Tyr) variant in TAZ, which is considered a pathogenic variant based on the previously reported amino acid substitution at the same site (c.641A>G, p.His214Arg). However, in this previously reported case, heart function was compensated and not entirely similar to the present case. Silico prediction analysis suggested that c.640C>T could alter the TAZ messenger RNA (mRNA) splicing process. TAZ mRNAs in isolated peripheral mononuclear cells from the patient and in vitro splicing analysis using minigenes of TAZ found an 8 bp deletion at the 3′ end of exon 8, which resulted in the formation of a termination codon in the coding region of exon 9 (H214Nfs*3). These findings suggest that splicing abnormalities should always be considered in BTHS.
Overexpression of DAPK1 and Beclin1 under oxygen and glucose deprivation conditions promotes excessive autophagy and apoptosis in A549 cells
Authors: Wu Linlin , Sun Wenxue , Liao Dehua , Guo Yujin , Si Qingying , Xie Dadi , Jiang Pei 
Published: April 2023

AbstractIn this study, we aimed to determine the specific roles of death‐associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) and Beclin1 in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) under oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). We found that OGD caused most cells to shrink, aggregate, and produce many vacuoles in the cytoplasm. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of autophagic vesicles in the OGD group but not in the Control group. Moreover, the cell counting kit‐8 assay showed that cell proliferation was reduced in the OGD group. Quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and cell function assays showed that DAPK1 overexpression under OGD promoted apoptosis and autophagy in A549 cells. The coimmunoprecipitation assay confirmed the interaction between DAPK1 and Beclin1 protein. Moreover, knockdown of Beclin1 inhibited autophagy, but its overexpression promoted apoptosis in A549 cells. In vivo tumorigenesis experiment revealed that overexpression of DAPK1 promoted A549 cell apoptosis. Collectively, overexpression of DAPK1 and Beclin1 under OGD promoted excessive autophagy and apoptosis in A549 cells. Our study may provide a novel therapeutic target and theoretical basis for NSCLC treatment.
Ultracompact optical fiber high‐temperature sensor based on the angled fiber end face
Authors: Wang Qianben , Wang Dongning , Lan Falong 
Published: April 2023

AbstractAn ultracompact optical fiber Fabry–Perot interferometric sensor is proposed and demonstrated for high‐temperature measurement. The device is simply a section of single‐mode fiber with angled end face of 45°, the reflected light from the angled fiber end face is directed sequentially to the fiber core–cladding and cladding–air interfaces, respectively, and reflected back, and finally returned to the fiber core after being reflected by the angled fiber end face again. As a result, a Fabry–Perot interferometer is constructed. Because of the thermal‐expansion and thermal‐optical effect of the fiber material, the optical path difference between the core–cladding and cladding–air surfaces is changed with temperature, hence the device is well suitable for temperature measurement. In particular, the fiber device has good high‐temperature sustainability up to 1100°C, which makes it attractive for high‐temperature measurement in a narrow or hard‐to‐reach spatial environment.
Lifestyle mediators of associations among siestas, obesity, and metabolic health
Authors: Vizmanos Barbara , Cascales Ana Isabel , Rodríguez‐Martín María , Salmerón Diego , Morales Eva , Aragón‐Alonso Aurora , Scheer Frank A. J. L. , Garaulet Marta 
Published: April 2023

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the association between siestas/no siestas and obesity, considering siesta duration (long: >30 minutes, short: ≤30 minutes), and test whether siesta traits and/or lifestyle factors mediate the association of siestas with obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS).MethodsThis was a cross‐sectional study of 3275 adults from a Mediterranean population (the Obesity, Nutrigenetics, TIming, and MEditerranean [ONTIME] study) who had the opportunity of taking siestas because it is culturally embedded.ResultsThirty‐five percent of participants usually took siestas (16% long siestas). Compared with the no‐siesta group, long siestas were associated with higher values of BMI, waist circumference, fasting glucose, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure, as well as with a higher prevalence of MetS (41%; p = 0.015). In contrast, the probability of having elevated SBP was lower in the short‐siesta group (21%; p = 0.044) than in the no‐siesta group. Smoking a higher number of cigarettes per day mediated the association of long siestas with higher BMI (by 12%, percentage of association mediated by smoking; p < 0.05). Similarly, delays in nighttime sleep and eating schedules and higher energy intake at lunch (the meal preceding siestas) mediated the association between higher BMI and long siestas by 8%, 4%, and 5% (all p < 0.05). Napping in bed (vs. sofa/armchair) showed a trend to mediate the association between long siestas and higher SBP (by 6%; p = 0.055).ConclusionsSiesta duration is relevant in obesity/MetS. Timing of nighttime sleep and eating, energy intake at lunch, cigarette smoking, and siesta location mediated this association.
Effect of corn husk fiber length and diameter on load bearing, fatigue, and DMA properties of biosilica toughened epoxy composite
Authors: K. Pratheesh , S. V. Gurupranes , Kumar Aditya , P. Patil Pravin 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThis study examined how the diameter and length of corn husk fiber affects the mechanical, fatigue, and DMA properties of epoxy‐based composite material. As filler, biosilica, which is made from wheat husks, was used to make composites. By hand layup process, the composites were created and then characterized as per the ASTM standards. Results revealed that the N21 composite designation offered improved tensile and flexural strength, Izod impact and hardness up to 94 MPa, 137 MPa, 3.62 J, and 86 shore‐D. But compared to all composite designations, the composite designation N23 has the highest tensile and flexural strength, Izod impact, and hardness values, which are 134 MPa, 182 MPa, 4.84 J, and 88 Shore‐D, respectively. Similarly, the composite designation N21 gives improved fatigue life counts of 21,629 by adding 1vol. % of biosilica and fiber length of 70 mm and diameter of 200 μm. In the same way, the highest storage modulus and loss factor of 5.5 GPa and 0.3 were noted for composite N23. The fiber diameter of 200 μm and a length of 70 mm demonstrate effective load shearing phenomenon and bonding between the fiber and matrix. Overall, the lesser diameter fiber with a higher length outperformed and it is recommended for high‐performance composite making.
Design of novel Polylactide composite films with improved gas barrier and mechanical properties using epoxy chain extender‐grafted organic montmorillonite
Authors: Li Bo , Li Juan , Huang Shaowen , Qin Shuhao , Liu Nan 
Published: April 2023

AbstractPolylactic acid (PLA) packaging materials are useful, safe, and degradable in the natural environment, and hence, have attracted considerable interest. In particular, the barrier properties of PLA are the focus of current research. In this study, organic montmorillonite (OMMT) modified with an epoxy chain extender (CE) was prepared as a barrier functional additive for PLA and PLA alloy materials. The effects of the CE‐OMMT on the properties of PLA and PLA/PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates) composites were investigated. The CE‐OMMT was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetry (TG). The results showed that the CE‐OMMT was successfully synthesized, and that the addition of the CE did not change the crystal structure of OMMT. The morphology and microstructure of the PLA/CE‐OMMT and PLA/PHA/CE‐OMMT composites were characterized using XRD and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The dispersion of the CE‐OMMT in the PLA and PLA/PHA composite films was significantly enhanced. XRD analysis showed that OMMT intercalated well into the matrix. The rheological, barrier, and mechanical properties of the PLA nanocomposite films were systematically studied. The results showed that the CE‐OMMT enhanced the mechanical and barrier properties of the composite films. Compared with neat PLA, the elongation at break of the PLA/CE‐OMMT and PLA/PHA/CE‐OMMT composite films with the addition of 3% CE‐OMMT increased by 449% and 788.4%, the oxygen permeability decreased by 57.74% and 59%, and the water vapor permeability decreased by 44.79% and 53.25%, respectively. Therefore, the modified PLA composite film is a promising substitute for packaging applications.
An updated dataset and a structure‐based prediction model for protein–RNA binding affinity
Authors: Hong Xu , Tong Xiaoxue , Xie Juan , Liu Pinyu , Liu Xudong , Song Qi , Liu Sen , Liu Shiyong 
Published: April 2023

AbstractUnderstanding the process of protein–RNA interaction is essential for structural biology. The thermodynamic process is an important part to uncover the protein–RNA interaction mechanism. The regulatory networks between protein and RNA in organisms are dominated by the binding or dissociation in the cells. Therefore, determining the binding affinity for protein–RNA complexes can help us to understand the regulation mechanism of protein–RNA interaction. Since it is time‐consuming and labor‐intensive to determine the binding affinity for protein–RNA complexes by experimental methods, it is necessary and urgent to develop computational methods to predict that. To develop a binding affinity prediction model, first we update the dataset of protein–RNA binding affinity benchmark (PRBAB), which includes 145 complexes now. Second, we extract the structural features based on complex structure, and then we analyze and select the representative structural features to train the regression model. Third, we random select the subset from the PRBAB2.0 to fit the protein–RNA binding affinity determined by experiment. In the end, we tested our model on the nonredundant PDBbind dataset, and the results showed that Pearson correlation coefficient r = .57 and RMSE = 2.51 kcal/mol. The Pearson correlation coefficient achieves 0.7 while removing 5 complex structures with modified residues/nucleotides and metal ions. While testing on ProNAB, the results showed that 71.60% of the prediction achieves Pearson correlation coefficient r = .61 and RMSE = 1.56 kcal/mol with experiment values.
Deep Ising Born Machine
Authors: Cao Zhu 
Published: April 2023

AbstractA quantum neural network (QNN) is a method to find patterns in quantum data and has a wide range of applications including quantum chemistry, quantum computation, quantum metrology, and quantum simulation. Efficiency and universality are two desirable properties of a QNN but are unfortunately contradictory. In this work, a deep Ising Born machine (DIBoM) is examined, and shown that it has a good balance between efficiency and universality. More precisely, the DIBoM has a flexible number of parameters to be efficient, and achieves provable universality with sufficient parameters. The architecture of the DIBoM is based on generalized controlled‐Z gates, conditional gates, and some other ingredients. To compare the universality of the DIBoM with other QNNs, a fidelity‐based expressivity measure is proposed, which may be of independent interest. Extensive empirical evaluations corroborate that the DIBoM is both efficient and expressive.
Effect of large delay on pinning impulsive synchronization control: A strict comparison principle
Authors: Ji Xinrui , Jiang Bangxin , Alofi A.S. , Lou Jungang , Lu Jianquan 
Published: April 2023

SummaryOver the past decades, various successful results have shown the discoveries and progress of impulsive synchronization. Yet, little attention has been devoted to the effects of the impulsive elasticity coefficient on network synchronization for both impulsive control problems and impulsive disturbance problems. In this work, we study impulsive pinning synchronization for coupled neural networks from a large delay perspective. Some flexible synchronization criteria are derived based on the average impulsive interval method. It has shown that synchronization of coupled neural networks with arbitrarily finite delay can be achieved via controlling a small fraction of nodes. Specifically, by applying a strict comparison principle for impulsive delayed neural networks, the effects of the impulsive elasticity coefficient on synchronization are revealed to be dissimilar from the case of delay‐free neural networks. One can verify that increasing the elasticity coefficient may bring a desynchronizing impact on the original synchronized networks. More ulteriorly, the generated criteria will still hold if the delay is sufficiently large, which implies that the delay is independent of the size of the impulsive interval. Our work is an essential step toward investigating the role of the elasticity coefficient on synchronization. Furthermore, the synchronization region of different impulsive weights, impulsive intervals, and impulsive control proportions are described thoroughly.
Challenges and solutions for automated avian recognition in aerial imagery
Authors: Miao Zhongqi , Yu Stella X. , Landolt Kyle L. , Koneff Mark D. , White Timothy P. , Fara Luke J. , Hlavacek Enrika J. , Pickens Bradley A. , Harrison Travis J. , Getz Wayne M. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractRemote aerial sensing provides a non‐invasive, large geographical‐scale technology for avian monitoring, but the manual processing of images limits its development and applications. Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods can be used to mitigate this manual image processing requirement. The implementation of AI methods, however, has several challenges: (1) imbalanced (i.e., long‐tailed) data distribution, (2) annotation uncertainty in categorization, and (3) dataset discrepancies across different study sites. Here we use aerial imagery data of waterbirds around Cape Cod and Lake Michigan in the United States to examine how these challenges limit avian recognition performance. We review existing solutions and demonstrate as use cases how methods like Label Distribution Aware Marginal Loss with Deferred Re‐Weighting, hierarchical classification, and FixMatch address the three challenges. We also present a new approach to tackle the annotation uncertainty challenge using a Soft‐fine Pseudo‐Label methodology. Finally, we aim with this paper to increase awareness in the ecological remote sensing community of these challenges and bridge the gap between ecological applications and state‐of‐the‐art computer science, thereby opening new doors to future research.
Key Role of Choline Head Groups in Large Unilamellar Phospholipid Vesicles for the Interaction with and Rupture by Silica Nanoparticles
Authors: Leibe Regina , Fritsch‐Decker Susanne , Gussmann Florian , Wagbo Ane Marit , Wadhwani Parvesh , Diabaté Silvia , Wenzel Wolfgang , Ulrich Anne S. , Weiss Carsten 
Published: April 2023

AbstractFor highly abundant silica nanomaterials, detrimental effects on proteins and phospholipids are postulated as critical molecular initiating events that involve hydrogen‐bonding, hydrophobic, and/or hydrophilic interactions. Here, large unilamellar vesicles with various well‐defined phospholipid compositions are used as biomimetic models to recapitulate membranolysis, a process known to be induced by silica nanoparticles in human cells. Differential analysis of the dominant phospholipids determined in membranes of alveolar lung epithelial cells demonstrates that the quaternary ammonium head groups of phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin play a critical and dose‐dependent role in vesicle binding and rupture by amorphous colloidal silica nanoparticles. Surface modification by either protein adsorption or by covalent coupling of carboxyl groups suppresses the disintegration of these lipid vesicles, as well as membranolysis in human A549 lung epithelial cells by the silica nanoparticles. Furthermore, molecular modeling suggests a preferential affinity of silanol groups for choline head groups, which is also modulated by the pH value. Biomimetic lipid vesicles can thus be used to better understand specific phospholipid–nanoparticle interactions at the molecular level to support the rational design of safe advanced materials.
Automated High‐Throughput Fatigue Testing of Freestanding Thin Films
Authors: Barrios Alejandro , Kunka Cody , Nogan John , Hattar Khalid , Boyce Brad L. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractMechanical testing at small length scales has traditionally been resource‐intensive due to difficulties with meticulous sample preparation, exacting load alignments, and precision measurements. Microscale fatigue testing can be particularly challenging due to the time‐intensive, tedious repetition of single fatigue experiments. To mitigate these challenges, this work presents a new methodology for the high‐throughput fatigue testing of thin films at the microscale. This methodology features a microelectromechanical systems‐based Si carrier that can support the simultaneous and independent fatigue testing of an array of samples. To demonstrate this new technique, the microscale fatigue behavior of nanocrystalline Al is efficiently characterized via this Si carrier and automated fatigue testing with in situ scanning electron microscopy. This methodology reduces the total testing time by an order of magnitude, and the high‐throughput fatigue results highlight the stochastic nature of the microscale fatigue response. This manuscript also discusses how this initial capability can be adapted to accommodate more samples, different materials, new geometries, and other loading modes.
‘And what did you do about my emotions during Covid‐19?’ Making sense of negative emotions at work through institutional logics and Critical Systems Heuristics
Authors: Tavella Elena 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe literature on Covid‐19 has demonstrated that frontline workers use different coping strategies and engage in sense‐making to address negative emotions. However, we know little about the underlying process of sense‐making. Thus, this paper uses institutional logics to investigate how sense‐making of negative emotions is enabled and constrained. This analysis draws on a diary written by a nurse at an Italian hospital, which represents an account of the emotions experienced by medical staff. The analysis identifies a set of enablers and disablers of sense‐making, as well as, the patterns that alleviate and intensify frontline workers' emotions. Based on these findings and evidence of the Covid‐task force at Papa Giovanni XXIII hospital in Bergamo, Italy, this paper illustrates Critical Systems Heuristics as a means to address the disablers of sense‐making through participatory conversations that consider different institutional logics.
Effects of differential risk attitudes in collaborative systems design
Authors: Avşar Alkım Z. , Grogan Paul T. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractCollaboration enables multiple actors with different objectives to work together and achieve a goal beyond individual capabilities. However, strategic uncertainty from partners' actions introduces a potential for losses under failed collaboration relative to pursuing an independent system. The fundamental tradeoff between high‐value but uncertain outcomes from collaborative systems and lower‐value but more certain outcomes for independent systems induces a bistability strategic dynamic. Actors exhibit different risk attitudes that impact decisions under uncertainty which complicate shared understanding of collaborative dynamics. This paper investigates how risk attitudes affect design and strategy decisions in collaborative systems through the lens of game theory. First, an analytical model studies the effect of differential risk attitudes in a two‐actor problem with stag‐hunting strategic dynamics formulated as single‐ and bi‐level games. Next, a simulation model pairs actors with different risk attitudes in a 29‐game tournament based on a prior behavioral experiment. Results show that outcomes collaborative design problems change based on the risk attitudes of both actors. Results also emphasize that considering conservative lower‐level design options facilitates collaboration by providing risk‐averse actors with a safer solution. By accepting that decision‐making actors are not all risk‐neutral, future work seeks to develop new design methods to strengthen the adoption of efficient collaborative solutions.
Silencing of IGHG1 reverses the resistance of pancreatic cancer to multidrug chemotherapy by modulating autophagy
Authors: Tian Yuan , Han Wenwen , Fu Long , Lv Kaiji , Zhou Xinhua 
Published: April 2023

AbstractBackgroundPancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive tumors with a high‐mortality rate. First‐line drugs include 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU), gemcitabine (GEM), and oxaliplatin (OXA). Resistance to 5‐FU, GEM, and OXA is a major challenge. Immunoglobulin heavy chain F1 (IGHG1) participates in the regulation of cancer progression. It is still unclear how IGHG1 affects 5‐FU, GEM, and OXA in pancreatic cancer.MethodsThe expression status of IGHG1 in pancreatic cancer was analyzed through bioinformatics tools. IGHG1 expression in pancreatic cancer tissues and cells was determined via RT–qPCR. Cell counting kit 8 assays, and flow cytometry analysis were utilized to detect the impact of IGHG1,5‐FU, GEM, and OXA on cell proliferation and apoptosis. Western blotting was utilized to detect changes in the levels of the autophagy‐associated proteins LC3, Beclin‐1, p62, and ATG5. Immunofluorescence assays were employed to determine LC3 expression in cells. Xenograft experiments were conducted on nude mice to study tumor growth.ResultsIGHG1 was overexpressed in pancreatic cancer cells and tissues. IGHG1 expression was downregulated by 5‐FU, GEM, or OXA treatment in cells. Treatment with 5‐FU, GEM, or OXA repressed viability and promoted apoptosis and autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells. IGHG1 silencing exhibited the same results. Furthermore, IGHG1 depletion notably strengthened the effects of 5‐FU, GEM, and OXA on pancreatic cancer cell viability, apoptosis, and autophagy. The combination of IGHG1 depletion with 5‐FU, GEM, or OXA significantly reduced tumor growth in vivo.ConclusionSilencing of IGHG1 could enhance 5‐FU, GEM, or OXA function in pancreatic cancer and reverse resistance by regulating apoptosis and autophagy.