bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A soft and stretchable electronics using laser-induced graphene on polyimide/PDMS composite substrate
Authors: Wang Hao , Zhao Zifen , Liu Panpan , Guo Xiaogang 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe one-step fabricated laser-induced graphene (LIG) has the advantages of low cost, patterning of various desired geometries, and high sensitivity. However, the robustness of substrates imposes certain constraints on their applications in stretchable devices. In this paper, the substrate composed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyimide (PI) particles is proposed to serve as the platform to manufacture LIG. Ascribing to the inherent soft and stretchable attributes of the PI/PDMS composite substrate, the LIG-based sensors can fit complex 3D configurations or bear a mechanical tension over 15%. Notably, the fluence of the laser is experimentally and theoretically determined as the only principle to characterize the formation of conductive LIG on PI/PDMS composite greatly facilitating the selection of the allowable laser scanning parameters to form the desired LIG-based devices. Three demonstrations are conducted to highlight the superiority and the potential of this soft and stretchable LIG-based system in wearable electronics and soft robots.
Immunomodulatory activity of a water-soluble polysaccharide extracted from mussel on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressive mice models
Authors: Xiang Xingwei , Wang Rui , Chen Lin , Chen Yufeng , Zheng Bin , Deng Shanggui , Liu Shulai , Sun Peilong , Shen Guoxin 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the protective effect of mussel polysaccharide (MP) on cyclophosphamide (Cy)-induced intestinal mucosal immunosuppression and microbial dysbiosis in mice. MP was shown to stimulate secretion of cytokines (SIgA, IL-2, IF-γ, IL-4, IL-10) and production of transcription factors (occludin, claudin-1, ZO-1, mucin-2, IL-2, IF-γ, IL-4, IL-10). Key proteins (p-IκB-α,p-p65) of the NF-κB pathway were upregulated after MP administration. SCFAs levels, which were decreased after the Cy treatment, were improved after treatment with MP. Furthermore, 16 S rRNA sequencing data of fecal samples revealed, through α-diversity and β-diversity analysis, that MP improved microbial community diversity and modulate the overall composition of gut microbiota. Taxonomic composition analysis showed that MP increased the abundance of probiotics species (Lactobacillus) and decreased the proportion of pathogenic species (Desulfovibrio). These findings suggested that MP has a potential immunomodulatory activity on the immunosuppressive mice.
Real-time segmentation method of billet infrared image based on multi-scale feature fusion
Authors: Zhang Lixin , Nan Qingrong , Bian Shengqin , Liu Tao , Xu Zhengguang 
Published: April 2022

AbstractObtaining the surface temperature of billets in heating furnaces has been a hot research in metallurgical industry applications. In order to accurately identify the billet location in infrared images and thus obtain the surface temperature of billets, this paper proposes a real-time segmentation network model based on multi-scale feature fusion to solve the problems of low resolution, low accuracy and slow detection speed of infrared images of traditional target image detection methods. In our method, a dataset with billet infrared images as the experimental object is firstly established, and the proposed network structure adopts multi-scale feature fusion to enhance the information interaction between feature maps at all levels and reduce the information loss during up-sampling by a dense up-sampling strategy. Meanwhile, a lightweight backbone network and deep separable convolution are used to reduce the number of network parameters and speed up the network inference, finally realizing real-time and accurate segmentation of the infrared images of blanks. The highest accuracy of the model in this paper reaches 94.89$$\%$$%. Meanwhile, an inference speed of 80fps is achieved on GTX2080Ti. Compared with the existing mainstream methods, the method in this paper can better meet the real-time and accuracy requirements of industrial production.
Identifying key genes in milk fat metabolism by weighted gene co-expression network analysis
Authors: Mu Tong , Hu Honghong , Ma Yanfen , Wen Huiyu , Yang Chaoyun , Feng Xiaofang , Wen Wan , Zhang Juan , Gu Yaling 
Published: April 2022

AbstractMilk fat is the most important and energy-rich substance in milk, and its content and composition are important reference elements in the evaluation of milk quality. However, the current identification of valuable candidate genes affecting milk fat is limited. IlluminaPE150 was used to sequence bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) with high and low milk fat rates (MFP), the weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA) was used to analyze mRNA expression profile data in this study. As a result, a total of 10,310 genes were used to construct WGCNA, and the genes were classified into 18 modules. Among them, violet (r = 0.74), yellow (r = 0.75) and darkolivegreen (r =  − 0.79) modules were significantly associated with MFP, and 39, 181, 75 hub genes were identified, respectively. Combining enrichment analysis and differential genes (DEs), we screened five key candidate DEs related to lipid metabolism, namely PI4K2A, SLC16A1, ATP8A2, VEGFD and ID1, respectively. Relative to the small intestine, liver, kidney, heart, ovary and uterus, the gene expression of PI4K2A is the highest in mammary gland, and is significantly enriched in GO terms and pathways related to milk fat metabolism, such as monocarboxylic acid transport, phospholipid transport, phosphatidylinositol signaling system, inositol phosphate metabolism and MAPK signaling pathway. This study uses WGCNA to form an overall view of MFP, providing a theoretical basis for identifying potential pathways and hub genes that may be involved in milk fat synthesis.
The nano- and meso-scale structure of amorphous calcium carbonate
Authors: Clark Simon M. , Colas Bruno , Jacob Dorrit E. , Neuefeind Joerg C. , Wang Hsiu-Wen , Page Katherine L. , Soper Alan K. , Schodder Philipp I. , Duchstein Patrick , Zubiri Benjamin Apeleo , Yokosawa Tadahiro , Pipich Vitaliy , Zahn Dirk , Spiecker Erdmann , Wolf Stephan E. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractUnderstanding the underlying processes of biomineralization is crucial to a range of disciplines allowing us to quantify the effects of climate change on marine organisms, decipher the details of paleoclimate records and advance the development of biomimetic materials. Many biological minerals form via intermediate amorphous phases, which are hard to characterize due to their transient nature and a lack of long-range order. Here, using Monte Carlo simulations constrained by X-ray and neutron scattering data together with model building, we demonstrate a method for determining the structure of these intermediates with a study of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) which is a precursor in the bio-formation of crystalline calcium carbonates. We find that ACC consists of highly ordered anhydrous nano-domains of approx. 2 nm that can be described as nanocrystalline. These nano-domains are held together by an interstitial net-like matrix of water molecules which generate, on the mesoscale, a heterogeneous and gel-like structure of ACC. We probed the structural stability and dynamics of our model on the nanosecond timescale by molecular dynamics simulations. These simulations revealed a gel-like and glassy nature of ACC due to the water molecules and carbonate ions in the interstitial matrix featuring pronounced orientational and translational flexibility. This allows for viscous mobility with diffusion constants four to five orders of magnitude lower than those observed in solutions. Small and ultra-small angle neutron scattering indicates a hierarchically-ordered organization of ACC across length scales that allow us, based on our nano-domain model, to build a comprehensive picture of ACC formation by cluster assembly from solution. This contribution provides a new atomic-scale understanding of ACC and provides a framework for the general exploration of biomineralization and biomimetic processes.
Bone marrow transplantation induces changes in the gut microbiota that chronically increase the cytokine response pattern of splenocytes
Authors: Katiraei Saeed , van Diepen Janna A. , Tavares Luciana P. , Hoving Lisa R. , Pronk Amanda , Verschueren Ineke , Rensen Patrick C. N. , Zwaginga Jaap Jan , Kostidis Sarantos , Giera Martin , Teixera Mauro , van Dijk Ko Willems , Netea Mihai G. , Berbée Jimmy F. P. , van Harmelen Vanessa 
Published: April 2022

AbstractBone marrow transplantation (BMT) involves conditioning regimens which acutely induce side effects, including systemic inflammation, intestinal damage and shifts in the gut microbial composition, some of which may persist chronically. As the gut microbiota affect systemic immune responses, we aimed to investigate whether, post-BMT, the peripheral immune system is modulated as a direct consequence of alterations in the gut microbiota. We show that 24 weeks post-BMT, splenocytes but not peritoneal macrophages display increased cytokine response patterns upon ex-vivo stimulation with various pathogens as compared to untreated controls. The pattern of BMT-induced cytokine responses was transferred to splenocytes, and not to peritoneal macrophages, of healthy controls via co-housing and transferred to germfree mice via transplantation of cecum content. Thus, BMT induces changes in gut microbiota that in their turn increase cytokine responsiveness of splenocytes. Thus, BMT establishes a dominant microbiota that attenuates normalization of the immune-response.
Establishment and a comparative transcriptomic analysis of a male-specific cell line from the African malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae
Authors: Krzywinska Elzbieta , Ferretti Luca , Krzywinski Jaroslaw 
Published: April 2022

AbstractCell lines allow studying various biological processes that may not be easily tractable in whole organisms. Here, we have established the first male-specific cell line from the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. The cells, named AgMM and derived from the sex-sorted neonate larvae, were able to undergo spontaneous contractions for a number of passages following establishment, indicating their myoblast origin. Comparison of their transcriptome to the transcriptome of an A. gambiae-derived Sua5.1 hemocyte cells revealed distinguishing molecular signatures of each cell line, including numerous muscle-related genes that were highly and uniquely expressed in the AgMM cells. Moreover, the AgMM cells express the primary sex determiner gene Yob and support male sex determination and dosage compensation pathways. Therefore, the AgMM cell line represents a valuable tool for molecular and biochemical in vitro studies of these male-specific processes. In a broader context, a rich transcriptomic data set generated in this study contributes to a better understanding of transcribed regions of the A. gambiae genome and sheds light on the biology of both cell types, facilitating their anticipated use for various cell-based assays.
A perspective of scale differences for studying the green total factor productivity of Chinese laying hens
Authors: Zhong Shen , Chen Xi , Li Junwei , Jiang Shubo 
Published: April 2022

AbstractIn people’s daily life, egg is one of the main animal protein foods, which will produce different emissions on its breeding procedure. Therefore, in order to promote the development of China’s layer industry, it is necessary to reduce pollutant emissions by improving efficiency. This paper uses Minimum distance to weak efficient frontier-Metafrontier Malmquist Luenberger (MinDW-MML) index model, by considering environmental factors and scale heterogeneity, to explore the evolution characteristics of laying hens breeding green total factor productivity (LHG) in China based on the data of 24 major laying provinces (municipalities) from 2004 to 2018. The results show that: (1) From 2004 to 2018, medium-scale LHG in China is the highest, the small-scale is the second, and the large-scale is the lowest. In the light of regional distribution, the western region is the highest, followed by the central region, and the eastern region is the lowest. (2) From 2004 to 2018, the overall China’s LHG showed a positive growth, and the decomposition indicators were characterized by decreased efficiency and technological progress. In general, the layer industry is vulnerable and easily affected by external factors. (3) Results from common frontiers and group frontiers exist some differences. The LHG under the common frontier is lower than the LHG under the group frontier. Finally, according to the above empirical results, this paper puts forward policy suggestions to improve LHG and environmental protection suggestions for laying hens.
Association between intraoperative end-tidal carbon dioxide and postoperative nausea and vomiting in gynecologic laparoscopic surgery
Authors: Dong Li , Takeda Chikashi , Yamazaki Hajime , Hamada Miho , Hirotsu Akiko , Yamamoto Yosuke , Mizota Toshiyuki 
Published: April 2022

AbstractGynecologic laparoscopic surgery has a high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Studies suggest that low intraoperative end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) is associated with an increased incidence of PONV, but the results have not been consistent among studies. This study investigated the association between intraoperative EtCO2 and PONV in patients undergoing gynecologic laparoscopic surgeries under general anesthesia. This retrospective cohort study involved patients who underwent gynecologic laparoscopic surgeries under general anesthesia at Kyoto University Hospital. We defined low EtCO2 as a mean EtCO2 of < 35 mmHg. Multivariable modified Poisson regression analysis examined the association between low EtCO2 and PONV during postoperative two days and the postoperative length of hospital stay (PLOS). Of the 739 patients, 120 (16%) had low EtCO2, and 430 (58%) developed PONV during postoperative two days. There was no substantial association between low EtCO2 and increased incidence of PONV (adjusted risk ratio: 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80–1.14; p = 0.658). Furthermore, there was no substantial association between low EtCO2 and prolonged PLOS (adjusted difference in PLOS: 0.13; 95% CI − 1.00 to 1.28; p = 0.816). Intraoperative low EtCO2, specifically a mean intraoperative EtCO2 below 35 mmHg, was not substantially associated with either increased incidence of PONV or prolonged PLOS.
Enhanced biomedical applicability of ZrO2–SiO2 ceramic composites in 3D printed bone scaffolds
Authors: Chang Chih-Hao , Lin Chih-Yang , Chang Chih-Hung , Liu Fwu-Hsing , Huang Yu-Tzu , Liao Yunn-Shiuan 
Published: April 2022

AbstractZirconia (ZrO2) has been widely used in clinical applications, such as bone and dental implantation, because of its favorable mechanical properties and resistance to fracture. However, the poor cell affinity of ZrO2 for bone regeneration and tissue binding, as well as its shrinkage due to crystal phase transformation during heat treatment, limits its clinical use and processing plasticity. This study aims to investigate an appropriate ZrO2–SiO2 composite recipe for ceramic 3D printing processes that can strike a balance between the mechanical properties and cell affinity needed in clinical applications. Specimens with different ZrO2–SiO2 composite recipes were fabricated by a selective laser gelling method and sintered at temperatures ranging from 900 to 1500 °C. The S5Z5 composite, which consists of 50 wt% ZrO2, 35 wt% SiO2 and 15 wt% SiO2 sol, showed an appropriate compressive strength and bending strength of 82.56 MPa and 55.98 MPa, respectively, at a sintering temperature of 1300 °C. The shrinkage rate of the S5Z5 composite was approximately 5% when the sintering temperature was increased from 900 to 1500 °C. All composites exhibited no cytotoxicity after 144 h of MG63 cell incubation, and the S5Z5 composite exhibited the most obvious cell affinity among the composite recipes. From these results, compared with other composites, the S5Z5 composite was shown to possess mechanical properties and a cell affinity more comparable to those of natural human bone.
Group-velocity-locked vector solitons and dissipative solitons in a single fiber laser with net-anomalous dispersion
Authors: Xu Shutao , Turnali Ahmet , Sander Michelle Y. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractLaser cavities which can generate different types of ultrashort pulses are attractive for practical applications and the study of pulse dynamics. Here, we report the first experimental observation of both conventional solitons (CS) and dissipative solitons (DS) generated from a single all-fiber laser with net-anomalous dispersion. A birefringence-related intracavity Lyot filter with an adjustable extinction ratio enables the switching between the two types of ultrashort pulses. Depending on the polarization controller settings and the pump power, either chirp-free CS with a pulse energy of 406 pJ and a spectral bandwidth of 5.1 nm or up-chirped DS with a pulse energy of 5.1 nJ and an optical bandwidth of 9.6 nm can be generated. Similar polarization features are observed when the laser switches between different soliton operations as both CS and DS are group-velocity-locked vector solitons. Our work paves a novel way to generate dissipative solitons with a relatively high pulse energy (one order of magnitude larger than for CS) and a large chirp directly from an all-fiber net-anomalous-dispersion cavity through birefringent filter management.
Impact of disabled circadian clock on yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti fitness and behaviors
Authors: Shetty Vinaya , Meyers Jacob I. , Zhang Ying , Merlin Christine , Slotman Michel A. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractLike other insects, Aedes aegypti displays strong daily patterns in host seeking and mating. Much of these behaviors are believed to be under the control of a circadian clock, an endogenous timekeeping mechanism relying on transcriptional/translational negative feedback loops that drive rhythmic physiology and behavior. To examine the connection between the circadian clock and various Ae. aegypti behaviors, we knocked out the core clock gene cycle using CRISPR/Cas9. We found that the rhythmic pattern and intensity of mRNA expression of seven circadian genes, including AeCyc−/−, were altered across the day/night cycle as well as in constant darkness conditions. We further show that the mutant CYC protein is incapable of forming a dimer with CLK to stimulate per expression and that the endogenous clock is disabled in AeCyc−/− mosquitoes. AeCyc−/− do not display the bimodal locomotor activity pattern of wild type, have a significantly reduced response to host odor, reduced egg hatching rates, delayed embryonic development and reduced adult survival and mating success. Surprisingly however, the propensity to blood feed in AeCyc−/− females is significantly higher than in wildtype females. Together with other recent work on the circadian clock control of key aspects of mosquito biology, our data on how cycle KO affects mosquito behavior and fitness provides a basis for further work into the pathways that connect the mosquito endogenous clock to its vector competence.
Beam width and arm position but not cognitive task affect walking balance in older adults
Authors: da Silva Costa Andréia Abud , Hortobágyi Tibor , Otter Rob den , Sawers Andrew , Moraes Renato 
Published: April 2022

AbstractDetection of changes in dynamic balance could help identify older adults at fall risk. Walking on a narrow beam with its width, cognitive load, and arm position manipulated could be an alternative to current tests. Therefore, we examined additive and interactive effects of beam width, cognitive task (CT), and arm position on dynamic balance during beam walking in older adults. Twenty older adults (69 ± 4y) walked on 6, 8, and 10-cm wide beams (2-cm high, 4-m-long), with and without CT, with three arm positions (free, crossed, akimbo). We determined cognitive errors, distance walked, step speed, root mean square (RMS) of center of mass (COM) displacement and trunk acceleration in the frontal plane. Beam width decrease progressively reduced distance walked and increased trunk acceleration RMS. Step speed decreased on the narrowest beam and with CT. Arm crossing decreased distance walked and step speed. COM displacement RMS and cognitive errors were not affected by any manipulation. In conclusion, distance walked indicated that beam width and arm position, but less so CT, affected dynamic balance, implying that beam walking has the potential to become a test of fall risk. Stability measurements suggested effective trunk adjustments to control COM position and keep dynamic balance during the task.
Endothelial inflammation and neutrophil transmigration are modulated by extracellular matrix composition in an inflammation-on-a-chip model
Authors: Riddle Rebecca B. , Jennbacken Karin , Hansson Kenny M. , Harper Matthew T. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractInflammatory diseases are often characterised by excessive neutrophil infiltration from the blood stream to the site of inflammation, which damages healthy tissue and prevents resolution of inflammation. Development of anti-inflammatory drugs is hindered by lack of in vitro and in vivo models which accurately represent the disease microenvironment. In this study, we used the OrganoPlate to develop a humanized 3D in vitro inflammation-on-a-chip model to recapitulate neutrophil transmigration across the endothelium and subsequent migration through the extracellular matrix (ECM). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells formed confluent vessels against collagen I and geltrex mix, a mix of basement membrane extract and collagen I. TNF-α-stimulation of vessels upregulated inflammatory cytokine expression and promoted neutrophil transmigration. Intriguingly, major differences were found depending on the composition of the ECM. Neutrophils transmigrated in higher number and further in geltrex mix than collagen I, and did not require an N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) gradient for transmigration. Inhibition of neutrophil proteases inhibited neutrophil transmigration on geltrex mix, but not collagen I. These findings highlight the important role of the ECM in determining cell phenotype and response to inhibitors. Future work could adapt the ECM composition for individual diseases, producing accurate models for drug development.