bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Surface Functionalization of Organosilica Nanoparticles With Au Nanoparticles Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Induces Cell Death in 4T1 Mouse Mammary Tumor Cells for DNA and Mitochondrial-Synergized Damage in Radiotherapy
Authors: Mochizuki Chihiro , Kayabe Yukihito , Nakamura Junna , Igase Masaya , Mizuno Takuya , Nakamura Michihiro 
Published: May 2022

Radiotherapy is one of the most effective cancer treatments. Au nanoparticles (NPs) are one of the most used X-ray sensitizing materials however the effective small sub-nm size of Au NPs used for X-ray sensitizers is disadvantageous for cellular uptake. Here, we propose the surface functionalization of organosilica NPs (OS) with Au NPs (OS/Au), which combined the 100 nm size of OS and the sub-nm size of Au NPs, and synthesized effective Au materials as an X-ray sensitizer. The X-ray sensitizing potential for 4T1 mouse mammary tumor cells was revealed using a multifaceted evaluation combined with a fluorescence microscopic cell imaging assay. The number of polyethyleneimine (PEI)-modified OS (OS/PEI) and OS/Au (OS/Au/PEI) uptake per 4T1 mouse mammary tumor cell was the same; however, 4T1 cells treated with OS/Au/PEI exhibited significant inhibition of cell proliferation and increases in cell death by X-ray irradiation at 8Gy. The non-apoptotic death of OS/Au/PEI-treated 4T1 cells was increased by DNA and mitochondrial-synergized damage increase and showed potential applications in radiotherapy.
A Microfluidic Chip for Studies of the Dynamics of Antibiotic Resistance Selection in Bacterial Biofilms
Authors: Tang Po-Cheng , Eriksson Olle , Sjögren Josefin , Fatsis-Kavalopoulos Nikos , Kreuger Johan , Andersson Dan I. 
Published: May 2022

Biofilms are arguably the most important mode of growth of bacteria, but how antibiotic resistance emerges and is selected in biofilms remains poorly understood. Several models to study evolution of antibiotic resistance have been developed, however, their usability varies depending on the nature of the biological question. Here, we developed and validated a microfluidic chip (Brimor) for studying the dynamics of enrichment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in biofilms using real-time monitoring with confocal microscopy. In situ extracellular cellulose staining and physical disruption of the biomass confirmed Escherichia coli growth as biofilms in the chip. We showed that seven generations of growth occur in 16 h when biofilms were established in the growth chambers of Brimor, and that bacterial death and growth rates could be estimated under these conditions using a plasmid with a conditional replication origin. Additionally, competition experiments between antibiotic-susceptible and -resistant bacteria at sub-inhibitory concentrations demonstrated that the antibiotic ciprofloxacin selected for antibiotic resistance in bacterial biofilms at concentrations 17-fold below the minimal inhibitory concentration of susceptible planktonic bacteria. Overall, the microfluidic chip is easy to use and a relevant model for studying the dynamics of selection of antibiotic resistance in bacterial biofilms and we anticipate that the Brimor chip will facilitate basic research in this area.
Gas-Bearing Characteristics of the Longmaxi Formation Shale in the Changning Area, Southern Sichuan Basin, SW China
Authors: Lu Chang , Chen Lei , Jing Cui , Tan Xiucheng , Nie Zhou , Chen Xin , Heng De 
Published: May 2022

The Changning area, located in the south of the Sichuan Basin, has obtained commercial shale gas from the Silurian Longmaxi Formation, which is characterized by rich organic matter, large hydrocarbon generation, and high gas content. A series of studies have been carried out on the shale of the Wufeng Longmaxi Formation in the Changning area, including mineral petrological characteristics, shale reservoir characteristics, and accumulation characteristics. Although there are studies on the gas-bearing characteristics of the Wufeng Formation-Longmaxi Formation shale in the Changning area, the research is not systematic. In this work, based on isothermal adsorption experiments, field desorption experiments, and well log interpretation, the gas-bearing characteristics of the Longmaxi Formation shale in the Changning area were studied in detail. The results showed that the average of saturated-adsorbed methane gas volume of the Longmaxi Formation is 1 m3/t, which demonstrated that the Longmaxi shale reservoirs had strong adsorption capacity. The total gas content of section Long11-1, Long11-2, Long11-3, and Long11-4 is greater than 2 m3/t, which were the prolific shale gas layers. The Long12 sub-member has the lowest total gas content, ranging from 0.34 m3/t to 3.84 m3/t, with an average of 1.59 m3/t. The free gas content of the Longmaxi Formation in the Changning area was slightly smaller than the adsorbed gas content and it shows increasing trend from the bottom to top, while the adsorbed gas content shows an opposite trend. With the top of Long11-3 as the circumscription, the adsorbed gas accounts for the main part of shale gas in the lower part and the free gas shale in the upper part.
Modeling the Deformation Sources in Volcanic Environments Through Multi-Scale Analysis of DInSAR Measurements
Authors: Barone Andrea , Fedi Maurizio , Pepe Susi , Solaro Giuseppe , Tizzani Pietro , Castaldo Raffaele 
Published: May 2022

In this work, we propose a multi-scale approach for modeling the ground deformation field of volcanic sources. The methodology is based on the use of Multiridge and ScalFun methods to analyze the elastic deformation fields by providing source information, such as the depth, the horizontal position, and its morphological features. This strategy is alternative with respect to the classical inverse approaches since it allows overcoming some aspects of the ambiguities related to the interpretation of DInSAR measurements. Indeed, the multi-scale method does not need a priori constraints on the model parameters to achieve an unambiguous solution. First, we argue on the general physical conditions so that the deformation field, generally represented by biharmonic functions, also satisfies Laplace’s equation and the law of homogeneity. This occurs in the case of sources with hydrostatic pressure-change embedded in an elastic half-space. In these conditions, the properties of harmonic and homogeneous functions can be employed to model the ground deformation fields using multi-scale procedures. Then, we demonstrate the soundness of the proposed approach through the application of Multiridge and ScalFun methods to synthetic tests. We analyze the fields generated by spherical, pipes- and sills-like sources and consider different model settings, as the layered half-space, the noisy, and the multi-source scenarios. For all these simulations, we achieve unconstrained information related to the source geometry with satisfying accuracy. Finally, in order to show the flexibility of the multi-scale approach in different volcanic environments, we use Multiridge and ScalFun methods for analyzing DInSAR measurements relevant to Uturuncu, Okmok, and Fernandina volcanoes, retrieving information about their volcanic systems. In the first case, we point out a transient source at a depth of 4.5 km b.s.l., which is activated during 2006–2007 together with the stable and well-known Altiplano Puna Magma Body (APMB); in the second one, we retrieve a concentrated body at a depth of 3.1 km b.s.l. during 2003–2004; and in the last case, we interpret the 2013 unrest episode as caused by a pipe-like source located at a depth of 1.7 km b.s.l.
Nonthyroidal Illness Syndrome: To Treat or Not to Treat? Have We Answered the Question? A Review of Metanalyses
Authors: Sciacchitano Salvatore , Capalbo Carlo , Napoli Christian , Anibaldi Paolo , Salvati Valentina , De Vitis Claudia , Mancini Rita , Coluzzi Flaminia , Rocco Monica 
Published: May 2022

Background and ObjectiveNonthyroidal Illness Syndrome (NTIS) occurs in approximately 70% of patients admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICU)s and has been associated with increased risk of death. Whether patients with NTIS should receive treatment with thyroid hormones (TH)s is still debated. Since many interventional randomized clinical trials (IRCT)s were not conclusive, current guidelines do not recommend treatment for these patients. In this review, we analyze the reasons why TH treatment did not furnish convincing results regarding possible beneficial effects in reported IRCTs.MethodsWe performed a review of the metanalyses focused on NTIS in critically ill patients. After a careful selection, we extracted data from four metanalyses, performed in different clinical conditions and diseases. In particular, we analyzed the type of TH supplementation, the route of administration, the dosages and duration of treatment and the outcomes chosen to evaluate the results.ResultsWe observed a marked heterogeneity among the IRCTs, in terms of type of TH supplementation, route of administration, dosages and duration of treatment. We also found great variability in the primary outcomes, such as prevention of neurological alterations, reduction of oxygen requirements, restoration of endocrinological and clinical parameters and reduction of mortality.ConclusionsNTIS is a frequent finding in critical ill patients. Despite several available IRCTs, it is still unclear whether NTIS should be treated or not. New primary endpoints should be identified to adequately validate the efficacy of TH treatment and to obtain a clear answer to the question raised some years ago.
Rice Productivity, Zn Biofortification, and Nutrient-Use Efficiency as Influenced by Zn Fertilization Under Conventional Transplanted Rice and the System of Rice Intensification
Authors: Choudhary Anil K. , Sood Pankaj , Rahi Shakuntla , Yadav D. S. , Thakur O. C. , Siranta K. R. , Dass Anchal , Singh Y. V. , Kumar Adarsh , Vijayakumar S. , Bhupenchandra Ingudam , Dua V. K. , Shivadhar  , Bana R. S. , Pooniya Vijay , Sepat Seema , Kumar Sushil , Rajawat Mahendra Vikram Singh , Rajanna G. A. , Harish M. N. , Varatharajan T. , Kumar Anil , Tyagi Vishal 
Published: May 2022

The northwestern Himalayas (NWH) in India have low rice productivity (∼2 t ha−1) and quality due to poor crop and nutrient management in predominantly Zn-deficient soils. Hence, a field experimentation in the NWH compared the conventionally transplanted rice (CTR) and the system of rice intensification(SRI) under three nutrient management practices (NMPs),viz., 1) farmers’ fertilization practice, FYM @ 5 t ha−1+ N:P2O5:K2O @ 50:40:20 kg ha−1(FFP); 2) recommended dose of fertilization, FYM @ 10 t ha−1+ N:P2O5:K2O @ 90:40:40 kg ha−1(RDF); and 3) RDF + Zn fertilization using ZnSO4@ 25 kg ha−1(RDF + Zn). The results revealed that SRI practice harnessed a significantly higher rice yield under different NMPs (6.59–8.69 t ha−1) with ∼1.3–1.4- and ∼3.3–4.3-fold enhancements over the CTR and average rice productivity in NWH, respectively. SRI had the greatest improvement in panicle number hill−1by ∼2.4 folds over the CTR. RDF + Zn had a significantly higher grain (10.7; 7.9%) and straw yield (28.9; 19.7%) over FFP and RDF, respectively, with significant augmentation of Zn biofortification in grains (11.8%) and Zn uptake (23.9%) over the RDF. SRI also enhanced the Zn concentrations in rice grains and straws by ∼4.0 and 2.7% over CTR with respective increases of 36.9 and 25.9% in Zn uptake. The nutrient harvest index and partial factor productivity of applied nutrients (NPK) had a higher magnitude under SRI and RDF + Zn over their respective counterparts, i.e., CTR and RDF. In addition, SRI had higher AE-Zn, CRE-Zn, and PE-Zn to the tune of 119.6, 63.4, and 34%, respectively, over the CTR. Overall, SRI coupled with RDF + Zn in hybrid rice assumes greater significance in enhancing the rice productivity with better Zn-biofortified grains besides higher nutrient use efficiencies to combat widespread malnutrition and acute Zn deficiencies in humans and livestock in the northwestern Himalayas.
Establishment of a Novel Combined Nomogram for Predicting the Risk of Progression Related to Castration Resistance in Patients With Prostate Cancer
Authors: Li Shuqiang , Shi Lei , Li Fan , Yao Bing , Chang Liansheng , Lu Hongyan , Song Dongkui 
Published: May 2022

Background: The emergence of castration resistance is fatal for patients with prostate cancer (PCa); however, there is still a lack of effective means to detect the early progression. In this study, a novel combined nomogram was established to predict the risk of progression related to castration resistance.Methods: The castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by R packages “limma” and “WGCNA” in GSE35988-GPL6480 and GSE70768-GPL10558, respectively. Relationships between DEGs and progression-free interval (PFI) were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method in TCGA PCa patients. A multigene signature was built by lasso-penalized Cox regression analysis, and assessed by the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve and Kaplan–Meier curve. Finally, the univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to establish a combined nomogram. The prognostic value of the nomogram was validated by concordance index (C-index), calibration plots, ROC curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).Results: 15 CRPC-related DEGs were identified finally, of which 13 genes were significantly associated with PFI and used as the candidate genes for modeling. A two-gene (KIFC2 and BCAS1) signature was built to predict the risk of progression. The ROC curve indicated that 5-year area under curve (AUC) in the training, testing, and whole TCGA dataset was 0.722, 0.739, and 0.731, respectively. Patients with high-risk scores were significantly associated with poorer PFI (p &lt; 0.0001). A novel combined nomogram was successfully established for individualized prediction integrating with T stage, Gleason score, and risk score. While the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year AUC were 0.76, 0.761, and 0.762, respectively, the good prognostic value of the nomogram was also validated by the C-index (0.734), calibration plots, and DCA.Conclusion: The combined nomogram can be used to predict the individualized risk of progression related to castration resistance for PCa patients and has been preliminarily verified to have good predictive ability.
Genome-Wide Association Mapping Reveals Novel Putative Gene Candidates Governing Reproductive Stage Heat Stress Tolerance in Rice
Authors: Ravikiran K. T. , Gopala Krishnan S. , Abhijith K. P. , Bollinedi H. , Nagarajan M. , Vinod K. K. , Bhowmick P. K. , Pal Madan , Ellur R. K. , Singh A. K. 
Published: May 2022

Temperature rise predicted for the future will severely affect rice productivity because the crop is highly sensitive to heat stress at the reproductive stage. Breeding tolerant varieties is an economically viable option to combat heat stress, for which the knowledge of target genomic regions associated with the reproductive stage heat stress tolerance (RSHT) is essential. A set of 192 rice genotypes of diverse origins were evaluated under natural field conditions through staggered sowings for RSHT using two surrogate traits, spikelet fertility and grain yield, which showed significant reduction under heat stress. These genotypes were genotyped using a 50 k SNP array, and the association analysis identified 10 quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) for grain yield, of which one QTN (qHTGY8.1) was consistent across the different models used. Only two out of 10 MTAs coincided with the previously reported QTLs, making the remaing eight novel. A total of 22 QTNs were observed for spikelet fertility, among which qHTSF5.1 was consistently found across three models. Of the QTNs identified, seven coincided with previous reports, while the remaining QTNs were new. The genes near the QTNs were found associated with the protein–protein interaction, protein ubiquitination, stress signal transduction, and so forth, qualifying them to be putative for RSHT. An in silico expression analysis revealed the predominant expression of genes identified for spikelet fertility in reproductive organs. Further validation of the biological relevance of QTNs in conferring heat stress tolerance will enable their utilization in improving the reproductive stage heat stress tolerance in rice.
The Spectrum of ACAN Gene Mutations in a Selected Chinese Cohort of Short Stature: Genotype-Phenotype Correlation
Authors: Wu Su , Wang Chunli , Cao Qing , Zhu Ziyang , Liu Qianqi , Gu Xinyan , Zheng Bixia , Zhou Wei , Jia Zhanjun , Gu Wei , Li Xiaonan 
Published: May 2022

Objective: Mutations in the ACAN gene have been reported to cause short stature. However, the prevalence estimates of pathogenic ACAN variants in individuals with short stature vary, and the correlation between ACAN genotype and clinical phenotype remain to be evaluated. To determine the prevalence of ACAN variants among Chinese people with short stature and analyze the relationship between genotype and main clinical manifestations of short stature and advanced bone age among patients with ACAN variants.Methods: We performed next-generation sequencing-based genetic analyses on 442 individuals with short stature. ACAN variants were summarized, previously reported cases were retrospectively analyzed, and an association analysis between genotype and phenotype was conducted.Result: We identified 15 novel and two recurrent ACAN gene variants in 16 different pedigrees that included index patients with short stature. Among the patients with ACAN variants, 12 of 18 had advanced bone age and 7 of 18 received growth hormone therapy, 5 (71.4%) of whom exhibited variable levels of height standard deviation score improvement. Further analysis showed that patients with ACAN truncating variants had shorter height standard deviation scores (p = 0.0001) and larger bone age–chronological age values (p = 0.0464). Moreover, patients in this Asian population had a smaller mean bone age–chronological age value than those that have been determined in European and American populations (p = 0.0033).Conclusion: Our data suggest that ACAN mutation is a common cause of short stature in China, especially among patients with a family history of short stature but also among those who were born short for their gestational age without a family history. Patients with truncating variants were shorter in height and had more obvious advanced bone age, and the proportion of patients with advanced bone age was lower in this Asian population than in Europe and America.
Optimization of Lapping and Polishing of Steel Samples for Nanoindentation Based on SVM-GA
Authors: Cheng Zhichao , Wei Qianfeng , Wen Donghui 
Published: May 2022

The nanoindentation test is extensively used to obtain the mechanics performance of different kinds of materials. In this study, the general process in the lapping and polishing of Q235 steel samples for nanoindentation has been analyzed by considering the pressure (P), rotation speed of the lapping and polishing plate (rp), flow rate of abrasive slurry (Qa), and the processing time (t). It is found from the lapping experiments with a full factorial design that the optimized processing parameters are rp of 200 r/min, P of 30 N, and t of 4 min considered in this study by considering the material removal rate and subsurface damage. The central composite design method has been used to design the polishing experiments, and the support vector machine (SVM) method has been used to deal with these experimental results, and it is found that the developed SVM model can accurately predict the surface roughness under different processing parameters. Then, based on the SVM model, the genetic algorithm (GA) method is used to obtain the optimized processing parameters in the polishing process, and it is found from the SVM-GA study that the optimized processing parameters in the lapping process are rp of 108 r/min, P of 33 N, Qa of 20 ml/min, and t of 3 min. Finally, a set of nanoindentation tests have been conducted to evaluate the lapping and polishing performance, and it is found that the surface integrity has been significantly improved after the optimization of the lapping and polishing parameters by using the SVM-GA method considered in this study.
Radial Seismic Metamaterials Based on Layering Theory: Broadband Shielding of Ultra-Low Frequency Seismic Surface Waves
Authors: Liu Haixia , Li Lixia , Jia Qi , Jiang Sanhe , Li Pengguo , Zhang Xicheng 
Published: May 2022

In this paper, a novel radial seismic metamaterial (LRSM) based on layering theory is proposed. Compared with traditional seismic metamaterials, the structure of LRSM is a periodic array of multi-layer rings distributed along the radial direction. By using the finite element method, the dispersion relationship and displacement vector field of LRSM with different layers are studied, and the influence of structural geometric parameters and circumferential continuity on the band gap characteristics of LRSM is discussed. The frequency domain analysis of finite periodic structure and the three-dimensional transient wave propagation analysis are carried out. The results show that the LRSM has ultra-low frequency broadband characteristics, which is produced by the coupling between the local resonance of the LRSM and the surface wave mode. Comparing three LRSMs with different layers, the initial frequency and bandwidth do not change monotonically with the increase of the number of layers. There is an optimal bandgap characteristic in two layers, and the relative bandwidth can reach 83.9%. The increase of the number causes the change of the structural stiffness, which is caused by the change of the local resonance strength. The position and width of the band gap in the LRSM are very sensitive to the height of the structure. The increase of the height of the LRSM can move the first band gap to the low frequency, and the total bandwidth increases, which is mainly caused by the increase of the equivalent mass of the system with the increase of the height of the structure. Further, it is verified that LRSM can effectively attenuate seismic surface waves of 0.1–20 Hz, and its maximum amplitude attenuation can exceed 85%. The novel periodic structure proposed in this paper can provide new options for the fields of earthquake and low-frequency vibration reduction.
The Prevalence and Clinical Relevance of the DFS Immunofluorescence Staining Pattern in a Large ANA-Positive Cohort
Authors: Deng Chuiwen , Wang Anqi , Hu Chaojun , Zhang Wen , Zeng Xiaofeng , Fei Yunyun 
Published: May 2022

BackgroundAlthough the dense fine speckled (DFS) immunofluorescence staining pattern has been studied by various researchers in recent years, its clinical associations remain unspecified. Thus, we performed a retrospective study in a non-selective population to explore the prevalence of this enigmatic antinuclear antibody (ANA) pattern and to determine its possible clinical associations with any identifiable pathology.MethodsWe retrieved the results of ANA testing ordered by various departments in 2019 to study the prevalence of DFS pattern. Demographic characteristics and clinical features of these participants were also collected from the electronic medical record system. Correlation analysis was made to study its clinical associations and a p-value &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThe prevalence of ANA positivity was 37.4% among 72,204 serum samples of which the median age was 44 (interquartile range: 31, 56) years old and 68.0% were women. The prevalence of the DFS staining pattern was 1.1% in the total population and accounted for 3.1% in the ANA-positive population. There were 97.6% of these cases displaying the DFS pattern with a low titer of ANA (≤1:320; starting serum dilution: 1:100). We found that this pattern correlated with several pathological conditions, such as skin disorders (25.1%), alopecia (4.6%), and obstetric complications (6.6%).ConclusionThe presence of the DFS immunofluorescence staining pattern may accompany several pathological conditions and may be a signal of localized inflammation within certain organs or tissues, especially the skin.