bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A bioflocculant from Corynebacterium glutamicum and its application in acid mine wastewater treatment
Authors: Liu Yinlu , Zeng Yan , Yang Jiangang , Chen Peng , Sun Yuanxia , Wang Min , Ma Yanhe 
Published: March 2023

Although many microorganisms have been found to produce bioflocculants, and bioflocculants have been considered as attractive alternatives to chemical flocculants in wastewater treatment, there are few reports on bioflocculants from the safe strain C. glutamicum, and the application of bioflocculants in acid wastewater treatment is also rare attributed to the high content of metal ions and high acidity of the water. In this study, a novel bioflocculant produced by Corynebacterium glutamicum Cg1-P30 was investigated. An optimal production of this bioflocculant with a yield of 0.52 g/L was achieved by Box–Behnken design, using 12.20 g/L glucose, 4.00 g/L corn steep liquor and 3.60 g/L urea as carbon and nitrogen source. The structural characterization revealed that the bioflocculant was mainly composed of 37.50% neutral sugar, 10.03% uronic acid, 6.32% aminosugar and 16.51% protein. Carboxyl, amine and hydroxyl groups were the functional groups in flocculation. The biofocculant was thermally stable and dependent on metal ions and acidic pH, showing a good flocculating activity of 91.92% at the dosage of 25 mg/L by aid of 1.0 mM Fe3+ at pH 2.0. Due to these unique properties, the bioflocculant could efficiently remove metal ions such as Fe, Al, Zn, and Pb from the real acid mine wastewater sample without pH adjustment, and meanwhile made the acid mine wastewater solution become clear with an increased neutral pH. These findings suggested the great potential application of the non-toxic bioflocculant from C. glutamicum Cg1-P30 in acid mine wastewater treatment.
Poly ADP-Ribose Polymerase-1 inhibition by 3-aminobenzamide recuperates HEI-OC1 auditory hair cells from blast overpressure-induced cell death
Authors: Krishnan Muthaiah Vijaya Prakash , Kaliyappan Kathiravan , Mahajan Supriya D. 
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Poly ADP-Ribose Polymerase-1 (PARP1), a DNA repair enzyme is implicated as a key molecule in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders. Traumatic insults inducing oxidative stress results in its over-activation causing inflammation and cell death (Parthanatos). As PARP1 inhibition is known to reduce oxidative stress, we hypothesized that PARP1 inhibition by a known inhibitor 3-aminobenzamide (3AB) might recuperate the damage in an in vitro model of blast injury using HEI-OC1 cells (mouse auditory hair cells).Methods: Here, we evaluated the protective effect of 3AB on HEI-OC1 cells following single and repetitive blast overpressures (BOPs).Results: We found that inhibition of PARP1 b 3AB inhibits the PARP1 enzyme and its action of a post-translational modification i.e. formation of Poly ADP-Ribose Polymers which leads to massive ATP depletion. PARP inhibition (3AB treatment) reduced the oxidative stress (4HNE, a marker of lipid peroxidation, and 8OHdG, a marker of oxidative DNA damage) in cells exposed to single/repetitive BOPS through up-regulation of Nrf2, a transcriptional regulator of antioxidant defense and the GCLC, a rate limiting enzyme in the synthesis of glutathione.Discussion: Overall, we found that PARP inhibition by 3AB helps to maintain the viability of BOP-exposed auditory hair cells by recuperating the ATP pool from both mitochondrial and glycolytic sources.
Thawing plateau time indicating the duration of phase transition from ice to water is the strongest predictor for long-term durable pulmonary vein isolation after cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation—Data from the index and repeat procedures
Authors: Shi Li-Bin , Wollner Kristian , Chu Song-Yun , Wang Yu-Chuan , Solheim Eivind , Schuster Peter , Chen Jian 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionThis study aimed to clarify the relationship between the durability of pulmonary vein (PV) isolation and the time of phase transition from ice to water indicated by thawing plateau time in a cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods and resultsIn this retrospective study, 241 PVs from 71 patients who underwent a repeat AF ablation 526 (IQR: 412, 675) days after a cryoballoon ablation were analyzed. Reconnection was observed in 101 (41.9%) PVs of 53 patients (74.6%). Thawing plateau time (TimeTP) was defined as the time from 0°C to 10°C inside the balloon in the thawing period. Durable PV isolation was associated with significantly longer TimeTP compared with PV reconnection (26.0 vs. 11.0 s, P &lt; 0.001). The proportion of durable PV isolations increased with TimeTP in a dose-proportional manner. The cut point for PV reconnection was TimeTP &lt;15 s with a positive predictive value of 82.1% (sensitivity = 63.4%, specificity = 90.0%) while for durable PV isolation the cut point was TimeTP &gt;25 s with a positive predictive value of 84.6% (sensitivity = 55.0%, specificity = 86.1%). In the analysis of multivariable logistic regression, location of PV reconnection (P &lt; 0.01), TimeTP (P &lt; 0.05) and thawing plateau integral (P &lt; 0.01) were shown as independent predictors for durable PV isolation.ConclusionTimeTP is an independent predictor for the durability of PV isolation, and it presents in a dose-proportional manner. TimeTP &lt;15 s predicts long-term reconnection while TimeTP &gt;25 s predicts durable PV isolation.
Age-related reference intervals for ambulatory electrocardiographic parameters in healthy individuals
Authors: Hashimoto Kenichi , Harada Naomi , Kimata Motohiro , Kawamura Yusuke , Fujita Naoya , Sekizawa Akinori , Ono Yosuke , Obuchi Yasuhiro , Takayama Tadateru , Kasamaki Yuji , Tanaka Yuji 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundThe advent of novel monitoring technologies has dramatically increased the use of ambulatory electrocardiography (AECG) devices. However, few studies have conducted detailed large-scale investigations on the incidence of arrhythmias over 24 h, especially ectopy, in healthy individuals over a wide age range.ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the incidence of arrhythmias detected using AECG and associated factors, in healthy individuals, over a wide age range.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we performed AECG on 365 healthy volunteers (median [interquartile range]: 48 [36, 67], 20–89 years, 165 men) under free-running conditions for 24 h. Ultrasonic echocardiography and heart rate variability analysis were performed to explore the factors associated with the incidence of arrhythmias.ResultsThe 97.5th percentile of single ventricular ectopy (VE) was 149/day, 254/day, and 1,682/day in the 20–39-, 40–59- and 60–89-year age groups, respectively; that of single supraventricular ectopy (SVE) was 131/day, 232/day, and 1,063/day, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that aging was the only independent significant factor influencing the frequency of VE (β = 0.207, P = 0.001). Age (β = 0.642, P &lt; 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (β = −0.112, P = 0.009), and the root mean square of successive differences in RR intervals (β = 0.097, P = 0.035) were factors significantly associated with SVE frequency.ConclusionsAge-specific reference intervals of VE and SVE in a large population of healthy participants over a wide age range were generated. VE and SVE increased with age; SVE was influenced by BMI and the aging-induced decrease in parasympathetic tone activity.
Deletion of the murine ortholog of human 9p21.3 locus promotes atherosclerosis by increasing macrophage proinflammatory activity
Authors: Kettunen Sanna , Ruotsalainen Anna-Kaisa , Örd Tiit , Suoranta Tuisku , Heikkilä Janne , Kaikkonen Minna U. , Laham-Karam Nihay , Ylä-Herttuala Seppo 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundSeveral genome-wide association studies have reported a risk locus for coronary artery disease (CAD) in the 9p21. 3 chromosomal region. This region encodes a lncRNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) and its genetic variance has a strong association with CAD, but its mechanisms in atherogenesis remain unclear.ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the role of the murine ortholog of human 9p21.3 locus in atherogenesis in hypercholesterolemic mice.MethodsMurine 9p21.3 ortholog knockout mice (Chr4Δ70kb/Δ70kb) were crossbred with Ldlr−/−ApoB100/100 mice, and atherosclerotic plaque size and morphology were analyzed on a standard or a high-fat diet (HFD). The hematopoietic cell-specific effect of Chr4Δ70kb/Δ70kb on atherosclerotic plaque development was studied via bone marrow (BM) transplantation, where Chr4Δ70kb/Δ70kb or wild-type BM was transplanted into Ldlr−/−ApoB100/100 mice. The role of Chr4Δ70kb/Δ70kb in macrophage M1/M2 polarization was studied. In addition, single-cell sequencing data from human and mouse atheroma were analyzed to show the expression profiles of ANRIL and its murine equivalent, Ak148321, in the plaques.ResultsBoth systemic and hematopoietic Chr4Δ70kb/Δ70kb increased atherosclerosis in Ldlr−/−ApoB100/100 mice after 12 weeks of HFD. The systemic Chr4Δ70kb/Δ70kb also elevated the number of circulating leukocytes. Chr4Δ70kb/Δ70kb BMDMs showed enhanced M1 polarization in vitro. Single-cell sequencing data from human and mouse atheroma revealed that ANRIL and Ak148321 were mainly expressed in the immune cells.ConclusionThese data demonstrate that both systemic and BM-specific deletion of the murine 9p21.3 risk locus ortholog promotes atherosclerosis and regulates macrophage pro-inflammatory activity, suggesting the inflammation-driven mechanisms of the risk locus on atherogenesis.
Identification of immune-related hub genes and analysis of infiltrated immune cells of idiopathic pulmonary artery hypertension
Authors: Chen Yubin , Ouyang Tianyu , Yin Yue , Fang Cheng , Tang Can-e , Jiang Longtan , Luo Fanyan 
Published: March 2023

ObjectivesIdiopathic pulmonary artery hypertension (IPAH) is a rare but life-threaten disease. However, the mechanism underlying IPAH is unclear. In this study, underlying mechanism, infiltration of immune cells, and immune-related hub genes of IPAH were analyzed via bioinformatics.MethodsGSE15197, GSE48149, GSE113439, and GSE117261 were merged as lung dataset. Weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was used to construct the co-expression gene networks of IPAH. Gene Ontology and pathway enrichment analysis were performed using DAVID, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and gene set variation analysis (GSVA). Infiltration of immune cells in lung samples was analyzed using CIBERSORT. GSE22356 and GSE33463 were merged as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) dataset. Immune-related differentially expressed genes (IRDEGs) of lung and PBMCs dataset were analyzed. Based on the intersection between two sets of IRDEGs, hub genes were screened using machine learning algorithms and validated by RT-qPCR. Finally, competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks of hub genes were constructed.ResultsThe gray module was the most relevant module and genes in the module enriched in terms like inflammatory and immune responses. The results of GSEA and GSVA indicated that increasement in cytosolic calcium ion, and metabolism dysregulation play important roles in IPAH. The proportions of T cells CD4 memory resting and macrophage M1 were significantly greater in IPAH group, while the proportions of monocytes and neutrophils were significantly lower in IPAH group. IRDEGs of two datasets were analyzed and the intersection between two set of IRDEGs were identified as candidate hub genes. Predictive models for IPAH were constructed using data from PBMCs dataset with candidate hub genes as potential features via LASSO regression and XGBoost algorithm, respectively. CXCL10 and VIPR1 were identified as hub genes and ceRNA networks of CXCL10 was constructed.ConclusionInflammatory response, increasement in cytosolic calcium ion, and metabolism dysregulation play important roles in IPAH. T cells CD4 memory resting and macrophage M1 were significantly infiltrated in lung samples from patients with IPAH. IRDEGs of lung dataset and PBMCs dataset were analyzed, and CXCL10 and VIPR1 were identified as hub genes.
Analysis of the spillover characteristics of cooling effect in an urban park: A case study in Zhengzhou city
Authors: Gao Yu , Pan Huifeng , Tian Li 
Published: March 2023

Urban parks include water bodies, non-hardened ground, and a variety of vegetation, whose shading and evaporation effects form a “park cold island.” A park effectively cools the surrounding environment through heat exchange. This phenomenon is called spillover of park cooling effect (PCS) and plays an important role in regulating the microclimate of cities. Although PCS was extensively documented in previous studies, the effects of park landscape features on PCS still need to be further explored, especially in China with rapid urban expansion. The severe scarcity of urban land resources heightens the necessity to clarify the relationship between park patch size and cooling efficiency. Therefore, in this study, we chose Zhengzhou city (the capital of Henan province, in the central region of China) as an example, which has experienced rapid urban land expansion and urban population and high spatiotemporal aggregation of heatwaves–drought–rainstorms. We used Landsat 8 imagery and high score data in the summer of 2019 to retrieve the characteristics of land surface temperature (LST), and then we extracted 36 city parks and identified the spillover distance of the park cooling effect (PCSD), spillover strength of the park cooling effect (PCSS), spillover rate of the park cooling effect (PCSR), and 11 park landscape indexes. We calculated the area threshold when a park achieves the highest cooling efficiency, and the PCS characteristics of each park also were quantified. The results showed that the average LST of urban parks was 2.3°C lower than that of the entire study area; PCSS was 4.61°C at a maximum; PCSD was between 31 and 370 m, and the average value was 179 m; the average PCSR was 0.957°C/100 m. For the relationship of PCS with the 11 park landscape indexes, we found park area (AREA), park green space area (AREAg), and park perimeter (PERIM) contributed the most to PCS. Shape of impervious surface (LSIi) and percentage of water body (Pw) also significantly contributed to PCS. The ratio of perimeter to area (PARA), edge density (ED), edge density of the green space (EDg), and patch density (PD) were significantly and negatively correlated with PCS. For the relationship between park area and PCS, the result was that the park with an area of 6–8 ha and an internal green area of not less than 5–6 ha has the highest PCS effect. This study can expand our scientific understanding on the influences of park landscape characteristics on PCS and provide a scientific basis for formulating reasonable and effective urban parks and spatial layout planning to cope with the urban heat island effect.
A multi-millennial record of rock glacier ice chemistry (Lazaun, Italy)
Authors: Nickus Ulrike , Thies Hansjörg , Krainer Karl , Lang Kathrin , Mair Volkmar , Tonidandel David 
Published: March 2023

Active rock glaciers—known as mixtures of unconsolidated debris with interstitial ice, ice lenses or a core of massive ice—are widespread indicators of mountain permafrost. The age of a frozen rock glacier core in the Central European Alps (Lazaun, Italy) was dated to about 10,000 years. Here we report on the chemical composition of the frozen Lazaun core. The ice containing part of the core extended from about 2.8 m down to 24 m depth and consisted of two lobes—both a mix of ice and debris, separated by more than 3 m thick almost ice-free layer. The two lobes of the core showed layers of high solute content and peak values of electrical conductivity exceeding 1,000 μS/cm, but they differed in acidity and metal concentration. High acidity (minimum pH of 4.15) and high levels of elements like nickel, cobalt, zinc, manganese, iron and aluminum characterized the upper lobe, while neutral to alkaline pH and low metal values prevailed in the bottom lobe. We attributed solutes accumulated in the ice matrix to the weathering of bedrock minerals, with peak values favored by the oxidation of pyrite, or by an enhanced reactive surface area in fine-grained sediment layers. The chemical composition of the ice core also revealed signals of prehistoric atmospheric deposition from different sources including wood combustion, metal ore mining, and large volcanic eruptions (Thera, Aniakchak II). To our knowledge, this is the first study that presents the chemical stratigraphy of an entire rock glacier ice core.
Is there any association between early trimester Triglyceride–glucose index and incidence of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes?
Authors: Pan Yali , Zou Su , Xu Yingjia , Di Ruomin , Gu Huafen , Wang Zhangsheng , Wei Xiang , Yang Chenxi , Zhang Gaofeng 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundInsulin resistance (IR) is a normal feature of pregnancy and plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP). The triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index) has been shown as a simple and reliable alternative IR marker. This work aimed to investigate the association between the TyG index and the incidence of HDP and adverse pregnancy outcomes.MethodsFrom January 2016 to December 2018, 289 women with HDP and 861 women without HDP were recruited at Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital, Fudan University to determine the relationship between the TyG index and the incidence of HDP and adverse pregnancy outcomes.ResultsIn the case-control study, the incidence of HDP was found to be significantly associated with the TyG index. Moreover, logistic regression indicated that the TyG index is an independent risk factor for HDP development and incidence of low birth weight (LBW) and fetal distress. In the cohort study, the results showed that the TyG index increased, there was a stepwise increase in HDP incidence, SBP, and DBP levels one week before delivery as well as in LBW and fetal distress incidence. The early trimester TyG index was positively associated with pre-pregnancy BMI, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) one week before delivery. Spline regression showed that there was a significant linear association between HDP incidence and early trimester TyG index when it was &gt;8.5.ConclusionsThis work suggested that the early trimester TyG index was closely associated with the development of HDP and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Growth hormone supplementation ameliorates blastocyst euploidy rates and improves pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy cycles
Authors: Guo Qingqing , Liu Peihao , Zhou Wei , Xia Mingdi , Li Jing , Lu Juanjuan , Ma Jin-Long , Chen Zi-Jiang , Yan Junhao 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundGrowth hormone (GH) supplementation has been shown to improve oocyte quality and live birth, but few studies have examined whether GH can reduce embryonic aneuploidy. Chromosomal abnormalities in preimplantation embryos have been regarded as the principal cause of implantation failure and miscarriage, and an increased percentage of aneuploid embryos has been observed in patient cohorts with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), recurrent implantation failure (RIF), and advanced maternal age.MethodsThis prospective cohort study was conducted on women whose previous PGT-A cycle ended up with no transferrable blastocysts, or the aneuploidy rate was above 50% and no live birth was acquired. The participants were divided into GH co-treatment and comparison groups according to whether GH was administered in the subsequent PGT-A cycle. In addition, within the GH co-treatment group, the previous failed cycle constituted the self-control group.Results208 women were recruited in the study (GH co-treatment group: 96 women, comparison group: 112 women). Compared to the self-control and comparison groups, the rate of euploid blastocysts was significantly higher in the GH co-treatment group (GH vs self-control: 32.00% vs 9.14%, odds ratio [OR]: 4.765, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.420–9.385, P &lt; 0.01; GH vs comparison: 32.00% vs. 21.05%, OR: 1.930, 95% CI: 1.106–3.366, P = 0.021), and their frozen embryo transfers resulted in more pregnancies and live births. In the subgroup analysis, for the &lt;35 and 35-40 years groups, the euploidy rate in the GH co-treatment group was significantly higher than those in the self-control and comparison groups, but in the &gt;40 years group, there was no difference in euploidy rate.ConclusionOur study presents preliminary evidence that GH supplementation may ameliorate blastocyst aneuploidy and improve pregnancy outcomes in women who have previously experienced pregnancy failures along with high aneuploidy rates, particularly in those younger than 40 years. Therefore, the use of GH in such women should be considered. However, considering the limited sample size and mixed indications for PGT-A, further scientific research on the underlying mechanism as well as clinical trials with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the effects and optimal protocols.
Assessment of the association between genetic factors regulating thyroid function and microvascular complications in diabetes: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study in the European population
Authors: Li Hongdian , Li Mingxuan , Dong Shaoning , Zhang Sai , Dong Ao , Zhang Mianzhi 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundObservational studies have identified a possible link between thyroid function and diabetic microangiopathy, specifically in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, it is unclear whether this association reflects a causal relationship.ObjectiveTo assess the potential direct effect of thyroid characteristics on DKD and DR based on Mendelian randomization (MR).MethodsWe conducted an MR study using genetic variants as an instrument associated with thyroid function to examine the causal effects on DKD and DR. The study included the analysis of 4 exposure factors associated with thyroid hormone regulation and 5 outcomes. Genomewide significant variants were used as instruments for standardized freethyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels within the reference range, standardized free triiodothyronine (FT3):FT4 ratio, and standardized thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAB) levels. The primary outcomes were DKD and DR events, and secondary outcomes were estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) in diabetes, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Satisfying the 3 MR core assumptions, the inverse-variance weighted technique was used as the primary analysis, and sensitivity analysis was performed using MR-Egger, weighted median, and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier techniques.ResultsAll outcome and exposure instruments were selected from publicly available GWAS data conducted in European populations. In inverse-variance weighted random-effects MR, gene-based TSH with in the reference range was associated with DKD (OR 1.44; 95%CI 1.04, 2.41; P = 0.033) and eGFR (β: -0.031; 95%CI: -0.063, -0.001; P = 0.047). Gene-based increased FT3:FT4 ratio, decreased FT4 with in the reference range were associated with increased ACR with inverse-variance weighted random-effects β of 0.178 (95%CI: 0.004, 0.353; P = 0.046) and -0.078 (95%CI: -0.142, -0.014; P = 0.017), respectively, and robust to tests of horizontal pleiotropy. However, all thyroid hormone instruments were not associated with DR and PDR at the genetic level.ConclusionIn diabetic patients, an elevated TSH within the reference range was linked to a greater risk of DKD and decreased eGFR. Similarly, decreased FT4 and an increased FT3:FT4 ratio within the reference range were associated with increased ACR in diabetic patients. However, gene-based thyroid hormones were not associated with DR, indicating a possible pathway involving the thyroid-islet-renal axis. However, larger population studies are needed to further validate this conclusion.