bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High efficient solar photocatalytic carbon nanoparticles
Authors: Flores-Oña Diego , Fullana Andres 
Published: November 2022

In the present study, the photocatalytic activity of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) in the degradation of methylene blue (MB) using sunlight was analyzed. The CNPs were synthesized by solvent-assisted hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques: TEM and SEM microscopy, UV-Vis, FTIR, Fluorescence, and XPS. By changing the conditions of the HTC process, the surface chemistry of CNPs was functionalized, thus a great quantity of oxygenated functional groups was generated, which eventually influenced the photocatalytic process. Next, tests were carried out with different types of nanoparticles, varying the concentration of the dye and the type of light used in the irradiation. As a result of this, more than 93% of MB degradation was achieved in 20 min of irradiation using sunlight. This result is promising since it has not been achieved by other nanomaterial. This research can be a potential starting point for the development of new solar photocatalysts.
A comparative study for landslide susceptibility assessment using machine learning algorithms based on grid unit and slope unit
Authors: Deng Niandong , Li Yuxin , Ma Jianquan , Shahabi Himan , Hashim Mazlan , de Oliveira Gabriel , Chaeikar Saman Shojae 
Published: November 2022

Landslide susceptibility assessment is an important support for disaster identification and risk management. This study aims to analyze the application ability of machine learning hybrid models in different evaluation units. Three typical machine learning models, including random forest forest by penalizing attributes (FPA) and rotation forest were merged by random subspace algorithm. Twelve evaluation factors, including elevation, slope angle, slope aspect, roughness, rainfall, lithology, distance to rivers, distance to roads, normalized difference vegetation index, topographic wetness index, plan curvature, and profile curvature, were extracted from 155 landslides in Yaozhou District, Tongchuan City, China. Six landslide susceptibility maps were generated based on the slope units divided by curvature and 30 m resolution grid units. Multiple performance metrics showed that the RS-RF model based on slope units has excellent spatial prediction ability. At the same time, the method of slope unit division based on curvature is proved to be more suitable for the typical Loess tableland regions, which provides basis for the selection of evaluation units in landslide susceptibility assessment.
Rounding up the annual ryegrass genome: High-quality reference genome of Lolium rigidum
Authors: Paril Jefferson , Pandey Gunjan , Barnett Emma M. , Rane Rahul V. , Court Leon , Walsh Thomas , Fournier-Level Alexandre 
Published: November 2022

The genome of the major agricultural weed species, annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) was assembled, annotated and analysed. Annual ryegrass is a major weed in grain cropping, and has the remarkable capacity to evolve resistance to herbicides with various modes of action. The chromosome-level assembly was achieved using short- and long-read sequencing in combination with Hi-C mapping. The assembly size is 2.44 Gb with N50 = 361.79 Mb across 1,764 scaffolds where the seven longest sequences correspond to the seven chromosomes. Genome completeness assessed through BUSCO returned a 99.8% score for complete (unique and duplicated) and fragmented genes using the Viridiplantae set. We found evidence for the expansion of herbicide resistance-related gene families including detoxification genes. The reference genome of L. rigidum is a critical asset for leveraging genetic information for the management of this highly problematic weed species.
Novel peripheral blood diagnostic biomarkers screened by machine learning algorithms in ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Wen Jian , Wan Lijia , Dong Xieping 
Published: November 2022

Background:Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology that is hard to diagnose early. Therefore, it is imperative to explore novel biomarkers that may contribute to the easy and early diagnosis of AS.Methods:Common differentially expressed genes between normal people and AS patients in GSE73754 and GSE25101 were screened by machine learning algorithms. A diagnostic model was established by the hub genes that were screened. Then, the model was validated in several data sets.Results:IL2RBandZDHHC18were screened using machine learning algorithms and established as a diagnostic model. Nomograms suggested that the higher the expression ofZDHHC18, the higher was the risk of AS, while the reverse was true forIL2RB in vivo. C-indexes of the model were no less than 0.84 in the validation sets. Calibration analyses suggested high prediction accuracy of the model in training and validation cohorts. The area under the curve (AUC) values of the model in GSE73754, GSE25101, GSE18781, and GSE11886 were 0.86, 0.84, 0.85, and 0.89, respectively. The decision curve analyses suggested a high net benefit offered by the model. Functional analyses of the differentially expressed genes indicated that they were mainly clustered in immune response–related processes. Immune microenvironment analyses revealed that the neutrophils were expanded and activated in AS while some T cells were decreased.Conclusion:IL2RBandZDHHC18are potential blood biomarkers of AS, which might be used for the early diagnosis of AS and serve as a supplement to the existing diagnostic methods. Our study deepens the insight into the pathogenesis of AS.
Bispecific antibody-targeted T-cell therapy for acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Kubicka Ewa , Lum Lawrence G. , Huang Manley , Thakur Archana 
Published: November 2022

The management of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) continues to be therapeutically challenging. Non-toxic immunotherapy approaches are needed to provide long-term anti-leukemic effects. The goal of this study was to determine whether activated T cells (ATCs) armed with bispecific antibodies (BiAbs) could target and lyse leukemic and leukemic stem cells (LSCs). Anti-CD3 × anti-CD123 BiAb (CD123Bi) and anti-CD3 × anti-CD33GO (gemtuzumab ozogamicin [GO]) BiAb (CD33GOBi) were used to arm ATCs to produce bispecific antibody armed activated T cells (designated CD123 BATs or CD33GO BATs) to target AML cell lines, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from AML patients, and in vivo treatment of AML in xenogeneic NSG mice engrafted with leukemic cells. BATs exhibited high levels of specific cytotoxicity directed at AML cell lines at low 1:1 or 1:2 effector-to-target (E:T) ratios and secrete Th1 cytokines upon target engagement. In vivo study in AML-engrafted NSG mice showed significantly prolonged survival in mice treated with CD33GO BATs (p &lt; 0.0001) or CD123 BATs (p &lt; 0.0089) compared to ATC-treated control mice. Patient samples containing leukemic blasts and LSCs when treated with CD33GO BATs or CD123 BATs for 18 h showed a significant reduction (50%–100%; p &lt; 0.005) in blasts and 75%–100% reduction in LSCs (p &lt; 0.005) in most cases compared to unarmed ATCs. This approach may provide a potent and non-toxic strategy to target AML blasts and LSCs and enhance chemo-responsiveness in older patients who are likely to develop recurrent diseases.
Biogeography of algae and invertebrates from wave-exposed rocky intertidal habitats along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia (Canada): Latitudinal and interannual patterns and possible underlying drivers
Authors: Scrosati Ricardo A. , Freeman Matthew J. , Ellrich Julius A. , Petzold Willy 
Published: November 2022

Biogeographic studies aim to understand species distributions and are becoming increasingly relevant to establish baselines to monitor ecological change. The NW Atlantic coast hosts a cold-temperate biota, although knowledge about its biogeography is patchy. This study documents for the first time biogeographic variation at mid-to-high intertidal elevations in wave-exposed rocky intertidal habitats along the open Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia (Canada), a hydrographically distinct subregion of this cold-temperate region. For this goal, we measured the summer abundance of algae and invertebrates at the same nine locations over four consecutive years (2014 to 2017) spanning 415 km of coastline, which allowed us to examine latitudinal and interannual patterns. In addition, we looked for mensurative evidence on possible drivers underlying these patterns, focusing on sea surface temperature, daily maximum and minimum temperature (which often happen at low tides at thus differ from sea surface temperature), pelagic food supply for intertidal filter-feeders (phytoplankton abundance and particulate organic carbon), drift sea ice during the cold season (which can cause intertidal disturbance), and species associations. Our field surveys revealed that northern locations can be severely disturbed by ice scour when drift ice is abundant and, while biological recolonization occurs over the years, it differs in pace among locations. Southern locations, instead, did not experience ice scour during our study and, thus, generally exhibited a higher species richness and abundance than northern locations. Multivariate analyses indicated that the aforementioned expressions of temperature and pelagic food supply explained together 32–55% of the variation in alongshore biogeographic pattern, depending on the year. Species association analyses suggest that algal foundation species (generally more abundant at southern locations) contribute to increase location-wise species richness. Mensurative evidence for bottom-up forcing in seaweed–herbivore and filter-feeder–predator systems differed greatly among years. Overall, in addition to its inherent value to advance NW Atlantic intertidal biogeography, our species distribution database should be valuable to assess ecological change decades into the future as climate change and other anthropogenic influences unfold.
Genetic estimation of correlations and causalities between multifaceted modifiable factors and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
Authors: Sun Yuanlin , Cao Xueyuan , Cao Donghui , Cui Yingnan , Su Kaisheng , Jia Zhifang , Wu Yanhua , Jiang Jing 
Published: November 2022

BackgroundGastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is a common gastrointestinal dysfunction that significantly affects the quality of daily life, and health interventions are challenging to prevent the risk of GORD. In this study, we used Mendelian randomization framework to genetically determine the causal associations between multifaceted modifiable factors and the risk of GORD.Materials and methodsSixty-six exposures with available instrumental variables (IVs) across 6 modifiable pathways were included in the univariable MR analysis (UVMR). Summary-level genome-wide association studies (GWAS) datasets for GORD were retrieved from the Neale Lab (GORDNeale, Ncases = 29975, Ncontrols = 390556) and FinnGen (GORDFinn, Ncases = 13141, Ncontrols = 89695). Using the METAL software, meta-analysis for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from GORDNeale and GORDFinn was conducted with an inverse variance weighted (IVW) fixed-effect model. Moreover, we leveraged partition around medoids (PAM) clustering algorithm to cluster genetic correlation subtypes, whose hub exposures were conditioned for multivariable MR (MVMR) analyses. P-values were adjusted with Bonferroni multiple comparisons.ResultsSignificant causal associations were identified between 26 exposures (15 risk exposures and 11 protective exposures) and the risk of GORD. Among them, 13 risk exposures [lifetime smoking, cigarette consumption, insomnia, short sleep, leisure sedentary behavior (TV watching), body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, whole body fat mass, visceral adipose tissue, waist circumference, hip circumference, major depressive disorder, and anxious feeling], and 10 protective exposures (leisure sedentary behavior (computer use), sitting height, hand grip strength (left and right), birth weight, life satisfaction, positive affect, income, educational attainment, and intelligence) showed novel significant causal associations with the risk of GORD. Moreover, 13 exposures still demonstrated independent associations with the risk of GORD following MVMR analyses conditioned for hub exposures (educational attainment, smoking initiation and BMI). In addition, 12 exposures showed suggestive causal associations with the risk of GORD.ConclusionThis study systematically elucidated the modifiable factors causally associated with the risk of GORD from multifaceted perspectives, which provided implications for prevention and treatment of GORD.
Whole exome sequencing identified a novel POT1 variant as a candidate pathogenic allele underlying a Li–Fraumeni-like family
Authors: Li Yuping , Xie Yupeng , Wang Di , Xu Hanyan , Ye Junru , Yin Jiani C. , Chen Junjie , Yan Junrong , Ye Bin , Chen Chengshui 
Published: November 2022

BackgroundLi-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) and Li-Fraumeni-like (LFL) syndrome are rare hereditary diseases characterized by predisposition to a diverse spectrum of cancer types, primarily sarcoma. The pathogenic variants underlying the majority of LFL cases remain to be explored.MethodsWe performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) on 13 core members of a large LFL family with highly aggregated incidences of cancers, including cases with sarcoma, non-small cell lung cancer and cardiac angiosarcoma, and conducted a comprehensive literature review of candidate gene associations in LFS/LFL syndromes or sarcoma to identify potential pathogenic germline variants.ResultsNo germline variants in the best-known LFL/LFS-associated gene TP53 were detected. Of all the genes associated with LFS/LFL or sarcoma that we have surveyed, we identified a novel p.P35L germline variant in POT1 (protection of telomeres 1). Germline and somatic alterations in POT1 have been implicated in a series of familial cancers, including angiosarcoma, glioma, melanoma and colorectal cancer. This particular variant is located in the telomere-binding OB1 domain, which is important in maintaining the proper telomere length, and showed high conservation across different POT1 orthologues. No record of the variant was found in any of the 1000 genomes, ExAC, gnomAD, dpSNP and COSMIC databases. Prediction algorithms and in silico structural analysis suggested completely disrupted protein structure and function of POT1 in the presence of this mutation.ConclusionsLeveraging WES, we identified a novel germline risk allele, p.P35L in POT1, that likely predisposes to LFL syndrome. Our results support the routine testing of POT1 and other LFL/LFS-associated genes in the risk populations to enable early cancer diagnosis, prevention and intervention.
Effect of baseline serum vitamin D level on symptom and medication scores of subcutaneous immunotherapy in children with mite allergy
Authors: Jia Xiaoxiao , Zheng Hang , Yan Xiumei , Dai Huan , Xiang Qiangwei 
Published: November 2022

IntroductionAllergen immunotherapy (AIT) is considered to be the only treatment that may change the natural process of allergic diseases. Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) is a type of allergen immunotherapy that is commonly used in clinical practice. However, SCIT has inconsistent effects on individuals, and it is yet unclear what factors affect therapeutic efficacy. In recent years, vitamin D levels have been speculated as a potential factor influencing SCIT efficacy.ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of serum vitamin D level on the SCIT efficacy in children with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma caused by dust mite allergy.MethodsAccording to the panel consensus, children with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis who received SCIT were divided into the vitamin D deficiency group (&lt;12 ng/ml), vitamin D insufficiency group (12–20 ng/ml), and vitamin D sufficiency group (&gt;20 ng/ml). Serum 1–25(OH) D3, blood eosinophil, total IgE, dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), and dermatophagoides farina (Df) specific IgE (sIgE) were detected, and questionnaires of symptom and medication scores were collected before and after one year of treatment.ResultsAfter one year of SCIT treatment, the symptom and medication score significantly decreased (P &lt; 0.05), but there was no difference between the efficacy in different groups (P &gt; 0.05). Our study found a statistical difference in Dp sIgE level between the vitamin D deficiency and the sufficiency groups (P = 0.024), and vitamin D levels become lower with children's growth (Y = −0.8981*X + 34.26, P = 0.0025).ConclusionsNo difference was found between the efficacy of one-year SCIT and serum vitamin D levels based on symptom and medication scores. Nevertheless, higher vitamin D levels may be associated with a decreased indicator of Dp allergy.
The anticonvulsant phytocannabinoids CBGVA and CBDVA inhibit recombinant T-type channels
Authors: Udoh Michael , Bladen Chris , Heblinski Marika , Luo Jia Lin , Janve Vaishali S. , Anderson Lyndsey L. , McGregor Iain S. , Arnold Jonathon C. 
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Cannabidiol (CBD) has been clinically approved for intractable epilepsies, offering hope that novel anticonvulsants in the phytocannabinoid class might be developed. Looking beyond CBD, we have recently reported that a series of biosynthetic precursor molecules found in cannabis display anticonvulsant properties. However, information on the pharmacological activities of these compounds on CNS drug targets is limited. The current study aimed to fill this knowledge gap by investigating whether anticonvulsant phytocannabinoids affect T-type calcium channels, which are known to modulate neuronal excitability, and may be relevant to the anti-seizure effects of this class of compounds.Materials and methods: A fluorescence-based assay was used to screen the ability of the phytocannabinoids to inhibit human T-type calcium channels overexpressed in HEK-293 cells. A subset of compounds was further examined using patch-clamp electrophysiology. Alphascreen technology was used to characterise selected compounds against G-protein coupled-receptor 55 (GPR55) overexpressed in HEK-293 cells, as GPR55 is another target of the phytocannabinoids.Results: A single 10 µM concentration screen in the fluorescence-based assay showed that phytocannabinoids inhibited T-type channels with substantial effects on Cav3.1 and Cav3.2 channels compared to the Cav3.3 channel. The anticonvulsant phytocannabinoids cannabigerovarinic acid (CBGVA) and cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA) had the greatest magnitudes of effect (≥80% inhibition against Cav3.1 and Cav3.2), so were fully characterized in concentration-response studies. CBGVA and CBDVA had IC50 values of 6 μM and 2 µM on Cav3.1 channels; 2 μM and 11 µM on Cav3.2 channels, respectively. Biophysical studies at Cav3.1 showed that CBGVA caused a hyperpolarisation shift of steady-state inhibition. Both CBGVA and CBDVA had a use-dependent effect and preferentially inhibited Cav3.1 current in a slow inactivated state. CBGVA and CBDVA were also shown to antagonise GPR55.Conclusion and implications: These findings show that CBGVA and CBDVA inhibit T-type calcium channels and GPR55. These compounds should be further investigated to develop novel therapeutics for treating diseases associated with dysfunctional T-type channel activity.
4D label-free quantitative proteomics analysis to screen potential drug targets of Jiangu Granules treatment for postmenopausal osteoporotic rats
Authors: Lin Haiming , Zhang Wei , Xu Yashi , You Zexing , Zheng Minlin , Liu Zhentao , Li Chaoxiong 
Published: November 2022

Background: Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is a disease with a high prevalence in postmenopausal women and is characterized by an imbalance in bone metabolism, reduced bone mass, and increased risk of fracture due to estrogen deficiency. Jiangu granules (JG) is a compound prescription used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat PMOP. However, its definitive mechanism in PMOP is unclear. This study used a 4D label-free quantitative proteomics method to explore the potential therapeutic mechanism of JG in an ovariectomy (OVX) rats’ model.Materials and methods: A rat model of PMOP was established by removing the ovaries bilaterally. Nine 3-month-old specific-pathogen-free female SD rats. The nine rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 3 in each group): the sham-operated group (J), the ovariectomy group (NC), and the JG treatment (ZY) group. Proteins extracted from the bone tissue of the lumbar spine (L3, L4) of three groups of rats were analyzed by 4D label-free quantitative proteomics, and proteins differentially expressed after JG treatment and proteins differentially expressed after de-ovulation were intersected to identify proteins associated with the mechanism of PMOP by JG treatment.Result: There were 104 up-regulated and 153 down-regulated differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the J group vs. NC group, 107 up-regulated and 113 down-regulated DEPs in the J group vs. ZY group, and 15 up-regulated and 32 down-regulated DEPs in the NC group vs. ZY group. Six potential target proteins for JG regulation of osteoblast differentiation in OVX rats were identified by taking intersections of differential proteins in the J group vs. NC group and NC group vs. ZY group.Conclusion: JG may exert therapeutic effects by modulating the expression levels of target proteins associated with osteoblast differentiation to enhance osteoblast differentiation in OVX rats. These results further uncovered the target proteins and specific mechanisms of JG in treating PMOP, providing an experimental basis for the clinical application of JG in treating PMOP.