bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Isotherm and kinetic studies of acid yellow 11 dye adsorption from wastewater using Pisum Sativum peels microporous activated carbon
Authors: El-Nemr Mohamed A. , Yılmaz Murat , Ragab Safaa , Hassaan Mohamed A. , El Nemr Ahmed 
Published: March 2023

AbstractIn this study, Pea Peels-Activated Carbon (PPAC), a novel biochar, was created from leftover pea peels (Pisum sativum) by wet impregnation with ZnCl2and subsequent heating to 600, 700, and 800 °C in a CO2atmosphere. Investigated how the newly acquired biochar affected the capacity to extract the AY11 dye from the aqueous solution. Through the use of FTIR, XRD, SEM, BJH, BET, DSC, EDX, and TGA studies, the prepared PPAC was identified. It was found that a pH of 2 is optimum for the AY11 dye elimination. The highest removal percentage of AY11 dye was 99.10% using a beginning AY11 dye concentration of 100 mg/L and a 1.0 g/L dose of PPAC. The highest adsorption capacity (Qm) of the PPAC was 515.46 mg/g. Freundlich (FIM), Halsey (HIM), Langmuir (LIM), Tempkin (TIM), and Gineralize (GIM) isotherm models were useful in examining the adsorption results. A variety of error functions, including the average percent errors (APE), root mean square errors (RMS), Marquardt's percent standard deviation (MPSD), hybrid error function (HYBRID), Chi-square error (X2) and a sum of absolute errors (EABS) equations, were also applied to test the isotherm models data. The PPAC experimental data were best suited by the HIM and FIM isotherm models. Elovich (EM), Pseudo-first-order (PFOM), Intraparticle diffusion (IPDM), Pseudo-second-order (PSOM), and Film diffusion (FDM) models were applied to study the kinetic adsorption results. The PSOM had a strong correlation coefficient (R2 > 0.99), and it was principally responsible for controlling the adsorption rate. Anions are typically absorbed during the adsorption mechanism of AY11 dye by PPAC owing to attractive electrostatic forces created with an increase in positively charged areas at acidic pH levels. The regenerated PPAC was used in six successive adsorption/desorption cycles. This study's outcomes show that PPAC successfully removes the AY11 dye from the aqueous solution; as a result, PPAC can be used repeatedly without experiencing considerable loss in effectiveness.
Pandemic related changes in social interaction are associated with changes in automatic approach-avoidance behaviour
Authors: Henwood Amanda , Rinck Mike , Krpan Dario 
Published: March 2023

AbstractPeople’s natural tendencies to either approach or avoid different stimuli in their environment are considered fundamental motivators of human behaviour. There is a wealth of research exploring how changes in approach and avoidance motivational orientations impact behaviour with consequences for wellbeing. However, research has seldom explored this relationship in reverse. The COVID-19 pandemic offered a unique opportunity to explore whether widespread changes in social behaviour are associated with changes in automatic approach-avoidance tendencies over time. We gathered online survey data on people’s adherence to 7 of the prescribed social restrictions set out by the UK government and people’s automatic approach-avoidance tendencies in response to different stimuli (sad/happy faces and social scenes) at three time points during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reduced-overall-interaction (digital and in person) was found to be significantly associated with faster avoidance relative to approach of sad faces. The results suggest that automatic approach-avoidance tendencies may function to protect people against the typically negative experience of reduced social interaction, with important implications for understanding public resilience during times of crisis, and beyond.
MDM2 inhibitors, nutlin-3a and navtemadelin, retain efficacy in human and mouse cancer cells cultured in hypoxia
Authors: Lerma Clavero Ada , Boqvist Paula Lafqvist , Ingelshed Katrine , Bosdotter Cecilia , Sedimbi Saikiran , Jiang Long , Wermeling Fredrik , Vojtesek Borivoj , Lane David P. , Kannan Pavitra 
Published: March 2023

AbstractActivation of p53 by small molecule MDM2 inhibitors can induce cell cycle arrest or death in p53 wildtype cancer cells. However, cancer cells exposed to hypoxia can develop resistance to other small molecules, such as chemotherapies, that activate p53. Here, we evaluated whether hypoxia could render cancer cells insensitive to two MDM2 inhibitors with different potencies, nutlin-3a and navtemadlin. Inhibitor efficacy and potency were evaluated under short-term hypoxic conditions in human and mouse cancer cells expressing different p53 genotypes (wild-type, mutant, or null). Treatment of wild-type p53 cancer cells with MDM2 inhibitors reduced cell growth by > 75% in hypoxia through activation of the p53–p21 signaling pathway; no inhibitor-induced growth reduction was observed in hypoxic mutant or null p53 cells except at very high concentrations. The concentration of inhibitors needed to induce the maximal p53 response was not significantly different in hypoxia compared to normoxia. However, inhibitor efficacy varied by species and by cell line, with stronger effects at lower concentrations observed in human cell lines than in mouse cell lines grown as 2D and 3D cultures. Together, these results indicate that MDM2 inhibitors retain efficacy in hypoxia, suggesting they could be useful for targeting acutely hypoxic cancer cells.
Thermography and rasterstereography as a combined infrared method to assess the posture of healthy individuals
Authors: Roggio Federico , Petrigna Luca , Trovato Bruno , Zanghì Marta , Sortino Martina , Vitale Ermanno , Rapisarda Lucia , Testa Gianluca , Pavone Vito , Pavone Piero , Vecchio Michele , Musumeci Giuseppe 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe demand for noninvasive methods to assess postural defections is increasing because back alterations are more common among the healthy population. We propose a combined infrared method of rasterstereography and thermography to assess the back without harmful effects. This study aims to provide reference data on rasterstereography and thermography to evaluate the back of a healthy population and to further study the correlation between these two methods. This cross-sectional research involved 175 healthy individuals (85 males and 90 females) aged 22 to 35 years. There is a large Cohen’s d effect size in the cervical depth (males = 43.77 ± 10.96 mm vs. females = 34.29 ± 7.04 mm, d = 1.03), and in the lumbar lordosis angle (males = 37.69 ± 8.89° vs. females = 46.49 ± 8.25°, d = − 1.03). The back temperature was different for gender in the cervical area (males = 33.83 ± 0.63 °C vs. females = 34.26 ± 0.84 °C, d = − 0.58) and dorsal area (males = 33.13 ± 0.71 °C vs. females = 33.59 ± 0.97 °C, d = − 0.55). Furthermore, in the female group there was a moderate correlation of lumbar temperature with lumbar lordosis angle (r = − 0.50) and dorsal temperature with shoulders torsion (r = 0.43). Males showed a moderate correlation for vertebral surface rotation RMS with cervical (r = − 0.46), dorsal (r = − 0.60), and lumbar (r = − 0.50) areas and cervical temperature with shoulders obliquity (r = 0.58). These results highlight a possible correlation between rasterstereography and thermography, which may elucidate the underlying mechanics of spinal alterations and thermal muscle response. Our findings may represent reference data for other studies using noninvasive methods to assess postural alterations.
Impacts of Mg doping on the structural properties and degradation mechanisms of a Li and Mn rich layered oxide cathode for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Kaewmala Songyoot , Kamma Natthapong , Buakeaw Sunisa , Limphirat Wanwisa , Nash Jeffrey , Srilomsak Sutham , Limthongkul Pimpa , Meethong Nonglak 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe Li- and Mn-rich layered oxide cathode material class is a promising cathode material type for high energy density lithium-ion batteries. However, this cathode material type suffers from layer to spinel structural transition during electrochemical cycling, resulting in energy density losses during repeated cycling. Thus, improving structural stability is an essential key for developing this cathode material family. Elemental doping is a useful strategy to improve the structural properties of cathode materials. This work examines the influences of Mg doping on the structural characteristics and degradation mechanisms of a Li1.2Mn0.4Co0.4O2 cathode material. The results reveal that the prepared cathode materials are a composite, exhibiting phase separation of the Li2MnO3 and LiCoO2 components. Li2MnO3 and LiCoO2 domain sizes decreased as Mg content increased, altering the electrochemical mechanisms of the cathode materials. Moreover, Mg doping can retard phase transition, resulting in reduced structural degradation. Li1.2Mn0.36Mg0.04Co0.4O2 with optimal Mg doping demonstrated improved electrochemical performance. The current work provides deeper understanding about the roles of Mg doping on the structural characteristics and degradation mechanisms of Li-and Mn-rich layered oxide cathode materials, which is an insightful guideline for the future development of high energy density cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.
Coenzyme Q10 supplementation improves the motor function of middle-aged mice by restoring the neuronal activity of the motor cortex
Authors: Inoue Ritsuko , Miura Masami , Yanai Shuichi , Nishimune Hiroshi 
Published: March 2023

AbstractPhysiological aging causes motor function decline and anatomical and biochemical changes in the motor cortex. We confirmed that middle-aged mice at 15–18 months old show motor function decline, which can be restored to the young adult level by supplementing with mitochondrial electron transporter coenzyme Q10(CoQ10) as a water-soluble nanoformula by drinking water for 1 week. CoQ10supplementation concurrently improved brain mitochondrial respiration but not muscle strength. Notably, we identified an age-related decline in field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) amplitude in the pathway from layers II/III to V of the primary motor area of middle-aged mice, which was restored to the young adult level by supplementing with CoQ10for 1 week but not by administering CoQ10acutely to brain slices. Interestingly, CoQ10with high-frequency stimulation induced NMDA receptor-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) in layer V of the primary motor cortex of middle-aged mice. Importantly, the fEPSP amplitude showed a larger input‒output relationship after CoQ10-dependent LTP expression. These data suggest that CoQ10restores the motor function of middle-aged mice by improving brain mitochondrial function and the basal fEPSP level of the motor cortex, potentially by enhancing synaptic plasticity efficacy. Thus, CoQ10supplementation may ameliorate the age-related decline in motor function in humans.
Effects of short-term PM2.5 exposure on blood lipids among 197,957 people in eastern China
Authors: Liu Qiao , Wang Zhan , Lu Junjie , Li Zhongqi , Martinez Leonardo , Tao Bilin , Wang Chunlai , Zhu Limei , Lu Wei , Zhu Baoli , Pei Xiaohua , Mao Xuhua 
Published: March 2023

AbstractGlobally, air pollution is amongst the most significant causes of premature death. Nevertheless, studies on the relationship between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and blood lipids have typically not been population-based. In a large, community-based sample of residents in Yixing city, we assessed the relationship between short-term outdoor PM2.5 exposure and blood lipid concentrations. Participants who attended the physical examination were enrolled from Yixing People’s hospital from 2015 to 2020. We collected general characteristics of participants, including gender and age, as well as test results of indicators of blood lipids. Data on daily meteorological factors were collected from the National Meteorological Data Sharing Center (http://data.cma.cn/) and air pollutant concentrations were collected from the China Air Quality Online Monitoring and Analysis Platform (https://www.aqistudy.cn/) during this period. We applied generalized additive models to estimate short-term effects of ambient PM2.5 exposure on each measured blood lipid-related indicators and converted these indicators into dichotomous variables (non- hyperlipidemia and hyperlipidemia) to calculate risks of hyperlipidemia associated with PM2.5 exposure. A total of 197,957 participants were included in the analysis with mean age 47.90 years (± SD, 14.28). The increase in PM2.5 was significantly associated with hyperlipidemia (odds ratio (OR) 1.003, 95% CI 1.001–1.004), and it was still significant in subgroups of males and age < 60 years. For every 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5, triglyceride levels decreased by 0.5447% (95% CI − 0.7873, − 0.3015), the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration increased by 0.0127 mmol/L (95% CI 0.0099, 0.0156), the total cholesterol concentration increased by 0.0095 mmol/L (95% CI 0.0053, 0.0136), and no significant association was observed between PM2.5 and the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. After excluding people with abnormal blood lipid concentrations, the associations remained significant except for the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. PM2.5 was positively correlated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol, and negatively correlated with triglyceride, indicating PM2.5 can potentially affect health through blood lipid levels.
Prediction of essential oil content in spearmint (Mentha spicata) via near-infrared hyperspectral imaging and chemometrics
Authors: Van Haute Sam , Nikkhah Amin , Malavi Derick , Kiani Sajad 
Published: March 2023

AbstractSpearmint (Mentha spicataL.) is grown for its essential oil (EO), which find use in food, beverage, fragrance and other industries. The current study explores the ability of near infrared hyperspectral imaging (HSI) (935 to 1720 nm) to predict, in a rapid, nondestructive manner, the essential oil content of dried spearmint (0.2 to 2.6% EO). Spectral values of spearmint samples varied considerably with spatial coordinates, and so the use of averaging the spectral values of a surface scan was warranted. Data preprocessing was done with Multiplicative Scatter Correction (MSC) or Standard Normal Variate (SNV). Selection of spectral input variables was done with Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), Principal Component Analysis (PCA) or Partial Least Squares (PLS). Regression was executed with linear regression (LASSO, PLS regression, PCA regression), Support Vector Machine (SVM) regression, and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP). The best prediction of EO concentration was achieved with the combination of MSC or SNV preprocessing, PLS dimension reduction, and MLP regression (1 hidden layer with 6 nodes), achieving a good prediction with a ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) of 2.84 ± 0.07, an R2of prediction of 0.863 ± 0.008, and a RMSE of prediction of 0.219 ± 0.005% EO. These results show that NIR-HSI is a viable method for rapid, nondestructive analysis of EO concentration. Future work should explore the use of NIR in the visible spectrum, the use of HSI for determining EO in other plant materials and the potential of HSI to determine individual compounds in these solid plant/food matrices.
Taming hyperparameter tuning in continuous normalizing flows using the JKO scheme
Authors: Vidal Alexander , Wu Fung Samy , Tenorio Luis , Osher Stanley , Nurbekyan Levon 
Published: March 2023

AbstractA normalizing flow (NF) is a mapping that transforms a chosen probability distribution to a normal distribution. Such flows are a common technique used for data generation and density estimation in machine learning and data science. The density estimate obtained with a NF requires a change of variables formula that involves the computation of the Jacobian determinant of the NF transformation. In order to tractably compute this determinant, continuous normalizing flows (CNF) estimate the mapping and its Jacobian determinant using a neural ODE. Optimal transport (OT) theory has been successfully used to assist in finding CNFs by formulating them as OT problems with a soft penalty for enforcing the standard normal distribution as a target measure. A drawback of OT-based CNFs is the addition of a hyperparameter,$$\alpha $$α, that controls the strength of the soft penalty and requires significant tuning. We present JKO-Flow, an algorithm to solve OT-based CNF without the need of tuning$$\alpha $$α. This is achieved by integrating the OT CNF framework into a Wasserstein gradient flow framework, also known as the JKO scheme. Instead of tuning$$\alpha $$α, we repeatedly solve the optimization problem for a fixed$$\alpha $$αeffectively performing a JKO update with a time-step$$\alpha $$α. Hence we obtain a ”divide and conquer” algorithm by repeatedly solving simpler problems instead of solving a potentially harder problem with large$$\alpha $$α.
Thin film notch filters as platforms for biological image processing
Authors: Sulejman Shaban B. , Priscilla Niken , Wesemann Lukas , Lee Wendy S. L. , Lou Jieqiong , Hinde Elizabeth , Davis Timothy J. , Roberts Ann 
Published: March 2023

AbstractMany image processing operations involve the modification of the spatial frequency content of images. Here we demonstrate object-plane spatial frequency filtering utilizing the angular sensitivity of a commercial spectral bandstop filter. This approach to all-optical image processing is shown to generate real-time pseudo-3D images of transparent biological and other samples, such as human cervical cancer cells. This work demonstrates the potential of non-local, non-interferometric approaches to image processing for uses in label-free biological cell imaging and dynamical monitoring.
Extremely small wasps independently lost the nuclei in the brain neurons of at least two lineages
Authors: Polilov Alexey A. , Hakimi Kamila D. , Makarova Anastasia A. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAnucleate animal cells are a peculiar evolutionary phenomenon and a useful model for studying cellular mechanisms. Anucleate neurons were recently found in one genus of miniature parasitic wasps of the family Trichogrammatidae, but it remained unclear how widespread this phenomenon is among other insects or even among different tissues of the same insect species. We studied the anatomy of miniature representatives of another parasitic wasp family (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) using array tomography and found two more species with nearly anucleate brains at the adult stage. Thus, the lysis of the cell bodies and nuclei of neurons appears to be a more widespread means of saving space during extreme miniaturization, which independently evolved at least twice during miniaturization in different groups of insects. These results are important for understanding the evolution of the brain during miniaturization and open new areas of studying the functioning of anucleate neurons.
Remdesivir and corticosteroids in the treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients
Authors: Coelho Luís , Falcão Fatima , Póvoa Pedro , Viegas Erica , Martins Antonio Pais , Carmo Eduarda , Fonseca Candida , Campos Luis , Mansinho Kamal , Carmo Inês , Soares Joana , Solano Mariana , Mendes Dina , Miranda Ana Cláudia , Carvalho Antonio , Mirco Ana , Farinha Helena , Aldir Isabel , Correia José 
Published: March 2023

AbstractCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic infection caused by the newly discovered severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Remdesivir (RDV) and corticosteroids are used mainly in COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory failure. The main objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of remdesivir with and without corticosteroids in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. We conducted a prospective observational study, including adult patients consecutively hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 and acute respiratory failure. Patients were divided according to treatment strategy: RDV alone versus RDV with corticosteroids. The primary outcome was the time to recovery in both treatment groups. We included 374 COVID-19 adult patients, 184 were treated with RDV, and 190 were treated with RDV and corticosteroid. Patients in the RDV group had a shorter time to recovery in comparison with patients in the RDV plus corticosteroids group at 28 days after admission [11 vs. 16 days (95% confidence Interval 9.7–12.8; 14.9–17.1; p = .016)]. Patients treated with RDV alone had a shorter length of hospital stay. The use of corticosteroids as adjunctive therapy of RDV was not associated with improvement in mortality of COVID-19 patients.
TRAF6 as a potential target in advanced breast cancer: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and bioinformatics validation
Authors: Zeng Feier , Carrasco Giovana , Li Boya , Sophocleous Antonia , Idris Aymen I. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractTRAF6 has emerged as a key regulator of breast cancer (BCa). However, the TRAF family constitutes of seven members that exhibit distinct and overlapping functions. To explore which TRAF represents a potential druggable target for BCa treatment, we searched Medline, Web of Science and Scopus for relevant studies from inception to June 27, 2021. We identified 14 in vitro, 11 in vivo and 4 human articles. A meta-analysis of pharmacological studies showed that in vitro inhibition of TRAF2/4 (mean difference (MD): − 57.49, 95% CI: − 66.95, − 48.02, P < 0.00001) or TRAF6 (standard(Std.)MD: − 4.01, 95% CI: − 5.75, − 2.27, P < 0.00001) is associated with reduction in BCa cell migration. Consistently, inhibition of TRAF2/4 (MD: − 51.08, 95% CI: − 64.23, − 37.94, P < 0.00001) and TRAF6 (Std.MD: − 2.80, 95% CI: − 4.26, − 1.34, P = 0.0002) is associated with reduced BCa cell invasion, whereas TRAF2/4 inhibition (MD: − 40.54, 95% CI: − 52.83, − 28.26, P < 0.00001) is associated with reduced BCa cell adhesion. Interestingly, only inhibition of TRAF6 (MD: − 21.46, 95% CI: − 30.40, − 12.51, P < 0.00001) is associated with reduced cell growth. In animal models of BCa, administration of pharmacological inhibitors of TRAF2/4 (Std.MD: − 3.36, 95% CI: − 4.53, − 2.18, P < 0.00001) or TRAF6 (Std.MD: − 4.15, 95% CI: − 6.06, − 2.24, P < 0.0001) in mice is associated with reduction in tumour burden. In contrast, TRAF6 inhibitors (MD: − 2.42, 95% CI: − 3.70, − 1.14, P = 0.0002) reduced BCa metastasis. In BCa patients, high expression of TRAF6 (Hazard Ratio: 1.01, CI: 1.01, 1.01, P < 0.00001) is associated with poor survival rate. Bioinformatics validation of clinical and pathway and process enrichment analysis in BCa patients confirmed that gain/amplification of TRAF6 is associated with secondary BCa in bone (P = 0.0079), and poor survival rate (P < 0.05). Overall, TRAF6 inhibitors show promise in the treatment of metastatic BCa. However, low study number and scarcity of evidence from animal and human studies may limit the translation of present findings into clinical practice.