bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pre-clinical activity of the oral DNA-PK inhibitor, peposertib (M3814), combined with radiation in xenograft models of cervical cancer
Authors: Gordhandas Sushmita B. , Manning-Geist Beryl , Henson Christina , Iyer Gopa , Gardner Ginger J. , Sonoda Yukio , Moore Kathleen N. , Aghajanian Carol , Chui M. Herman , Grisham Rachel N. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractDNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) plays a crucial role in repair of DNA double-strand breaks by facilitating non-homologous end-joining. Inhibitors of DNA-PK have the potential to block DNA repair and enhance DNA-damaging agents. Peposertib (M3814) is a DNA-PK inhibitor that has shown preclinical activity in combination with DNA-damaging agents, including ionizing radiation (IR) and topoisomerase II inhibitors. Here we evaluated the activity of peposertib (M3814) in combination with radiation in a mouse xenograft model of HPV-associated cervical cancer. Athymic nude female mice with established tumors derived from HeLa cells injected into the flank were treated with vehicle alone (n = 3), IR alone (n = 4), and peposertib (M38814) in combination with IR (M3814 + IR; n = 4). While IR alone was associated with a trend towards decreased tumor volume compared with untreated, only the M3814 + IR treatment arm was associated with consistent and significant reduction in tumor burden, which correlated with higher levels of γ-H2AX in tumor cells, a marker of double-strand DNA breaks. Our data support further clinical evaluation of the combination of peposertib (M38814) and IR in cervical cancer.
Plasma membrane effects of sphingolipid-synthesis inhibition by myriocin in CHO cells: a biophysical and lipidomic study
Authors: Monasterio Bingen G. , Jiménez-Rojo Noemi , García-Arribas Aritz B. , Riezman Howard , Goñi Félix M. , Alonso Alicia 
Published: January 2022

AbstractSuppression of a specific gene effect can be achieved by genetic as well as chemical methods. Each approach may hide unexpected drawbacks, usually in the form of side effects. In the present study, the specific inhibitor myriocin was used to block serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT), the first enzyme in the sphingolipid synthetic pathway, in CHO cells. The subsequent biophysical changes in plasma membranes were measured and compared with results obtained with a genetically modified CHO cell line containing a defective SPT (the LY-B cell line). Similar effects were observed with both approaches: sphingomyelin values were markedly decreased in myriocin-treated CHO cells and, in consequence, their membrane molecular order (measured as laurdan general polarization) and mechanical resistance (AFM-measured breakthrough force values) became lower than in the native, non-treated cells. Cells treated with myriocin reacted homeostatically to maintain membrane order, synthesizing more fully saturated and less polyunsaturated GPL than the non-treated ones, although they achieved it only partially, their plasma membranes remaining slightly more fluid and more penetrable than those from the control cells. The good agreement between results obtained with very different tools, such as genetically modified and chemically treated cells, reinforces the use of both methods and demonstrates that both are adequate for their intended use, i.e. the complete and specific inhibition of sphingolipid synthesis in CHO cells, without apparent unexpected effects.
Effect of nano h-BN particles on growth regularity and tribological behavior of PEO composite ceramic coating of ZL109 alloy
Authors: Zhu Xinhe , Fu Jingguo , Ma Dengqing , Ma Chunsheng , Fu Yunyang , Zhang Zhuokai 
Published: January 2022

AbstractA composite ceramic coating containing h-BN particles was prepared on the ZL109 alloy via plasma electrolytic oxidation. The h-BN particles were modified by Polyethylene glycol to improve the dispersibility. The results revealed that the h-BN particles in the electrolyte were inertly incorporated into the coating. Meanwhile, the incorporation of h-BN particles can reduce the porosity and slightly increase the roughness of the composite ceramic coating. Furthermore, the growth rate of the coating and the conversion of γ-Al2O3 and α-Al2O3 were promoted by the incorporation of h-BN particles via the change of the current. In addition, due to the presence of h-BN particles, the composite ceramic coating had a lower friction coefficient and a lower wear rate under dry sliding condition.
Blood cancer prediction using leukemia microarray gene data and hybrid logistic vector trees model
Authors: Rupapara Vaibhav , Rustam Furqan , Aljedaani Wajdi , Shahzad Hina Fatima , Lee Ernesto , Ashraf Imran 
Published: January 2022

AbstractBlood cancer has been a growing concern during the last decade and requires early diagnosis to start proper treatment. The diagnosis process is costly and time-consuming involving medical experts and several tests. Thus, an automatic diagnosis system for its accurate prediction is of significant importance. Diagnosis of blood cancer using leukemia microarray gene data and machine learning approach has become an important medical research today. Despite research efforts, desired accuracy and efficiency necessitate further enhancements. This study proposes an approach for blood cancer disease prediction using the supervised machine learning approach. For the current study, the leukemia microarray gene dataset containing 22,283 genes, is used. ADASYN resampling and Chi-squared (Chi2) features selection techniques are used to resolve imbalanced and high-dimensional dataset problems. ADASYN generates artificial data to make the dataset balanced for each target class, and Chi2 selects the best features out of 22,283 to train learning models. For classification, a hybrid logistics vector trees classifier (LVTrees) is proposed which utilizes logistic regression, support vector classifier, and extra tree classifier. Besides extensive experiments on the datasets, performance comparison with the state-of-the-art methods has been made for determining the significance of the proposed approach. LVTrees outperform all other models with ADASYN and Chi2 techniques with a significant 100% accuracy. Further, a statistical significance T-test is also performed to show the efficacy of the proposed approach. Results using k-fold cross-validation prove the supremacy of the proposed model.
Mothers adapt their voice during children’s adolescent development
Authors: Leipold Simon , Abrams Daniel A. , Menon Vinod 
Published: January 2022

AbstractMothers alter their speech in a stereotypical manner when addressing infants using high pitch, a wide pitch range, and distinct timbral features. Mothers reduce their vocal pitch after early childhood; however, it is not known whether mother’s voice changes through adolescence as children become increasingly independent from their parents. Here we investigate the vocal acoustics of 50 mothers of older children (ages 7–16) to determine: (1) whether pitch changes associated with child-directed speech decrease with age; (2) whether other acoustical features associated with child-directed speech change with age; and, (3) the relative contribution of acoustical features in predicting child’s age. Results reveal that mothers of older children used lower pitched voices than mothers of younger children, and mother’s voice pitch height predicted their child’s age. Crucially, these effects were present after controlling for mother’s age, accounting for aging-related pitch reductions. Brightness, a timbral feature correlated with pitch height, also showed an inverse relation with child’s age but did not improve prediction of child’s age beyond that accounted for by pitch height. Other acoustic features did not predict child age. Findings suggest that mother’s voice adapts to match their child’s developmental progression into adolescence and this adaptation is independent of mother’s age.
Analysis of soil bacterial communities and physicochemical properties associated with Fusarium wilt disease of banana in Malaysia
Authors: Jamil Fatin Nadiah , Hashim Amalia Mohd , Yusof Mohd Termizi , Saidi Noor Baity 
Published: January 2022

AbstractFusarium wilt (FW) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (TR4) is a soil-borne disease that infects bananas, causing severe economic losses worldwide. To reveal the relationship between bacterial populations and FW, the bacterial communities of healthy and TR4-infected rhizosphere and bulk soils were compared using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Soil physicochemical properties associated with FW were also analyzed. We found the community structure of bacteria in the healthy and TR4 infected rhizosphere was significantly different compared to bulk soil within the same farm. The rhizosphere soils of infected plants exhibited higher richness and diversity than healthy plant with significant abundance of Proteobacteria. In the healthy rhizosphere soil, beneficial bacteria such as Burkholderia and Streptomyces spp. were more abundant. Compared to the infected rhizosphere soil, healthy rhizosphere soil was associated with RNA metabolism and transporters pathways and a high level of magnesium and cation exchange capacity. Overall, we reported changes in the key taxa of rhizospheric bacterial communities and soil physicochemical properties of healthy and FW-infected plants, suggesting their potential role as indicators for plant health.
Unveiling the mystery of scale dependence of surface roughness of natural rock joints
Authors: Li Yingchun , Yang Hongwei , Sun Shengyue 
Published: January 2022

AbstractScale dependence of surface roughness of natural rock joints has long been an outstanding issue in rock mechanics. Controversial results were reported by various studies; however, the nature of scale dependency and the underlying mechanism for the conflicting observations remain unclear. Rock joints at different scales characterise two-order asperities, namely, waviness and unevenness; thus understanding how the individual roughness of waviness and unevenness vary as the joint size increases from the laboratory-scale to the large-scale is crucial for revealing the scale effect mystery. Here we digitise three natural granite joint surfaces with the same dimension of 1000 mm × 1000 mm through a high-resolution, three-dimensional scanner. Waviness and unevenness of each rock joint surface are quantitatively separated by selecting an appropriate sampling interval. The respective fractal dimensions of waviness and unevenness of joint surfaces sized from 100 mm × 100 mm to 1000 mm × 1000 mm are estimated through an improved roughness-length method. We find that the fractal dimensions of two-order roughness are scale-dependent but without generalised trends. The stationarity threshold beyond which the scale-dependency of roughness vanishes is absent for all the three joint samples, suggesting that the roughness of natural rock joints be assessed at the specific scale of the rock mass in-situ. We reveal that previous controversial results regarding scale effect are likely due to the composition of the roughness scaling of waviness and unevenness. Thus, accurate stability analysis of rock-engineering projects should consider separate contributions of multi-order asperities across scales to the strength and deformation of jointed rock masses.
A decade of travel-associated malaria at King Fahad Hospital of the University in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alanazi Ashwaq , Almusailhi Bayan Ahmad Hasan , Bamousa Gheed K. , Alhawashim Nabaa H. , Alotaibi Nourah M. , AlShamekh Sumiyah , Hunasemarada Basavaraja Channabasappa , Al Jindan Reem Y. , El-Badry Ayman A. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractTravel-associated malaria is a health hazard, even in non-malaria endemic regions. This is a hospital-based retrospective study of 12,931 febrile patients who presented at King Fahad Hospital of the University (KFHU) from January 2009 to December 2019. Patients either returning from malaria endemic countries and/or for whom malaria was suspected, had blood films microscopically screened for malaria parasites. Malaria prevalence was very low in febrile patients attending KFHU. Out of the 12,931 febrile patients, 0.63% (n = 81) were malaria positive, all travel-related, except for one case of transfusion malaria. Indian nationals were the most infected (29.6%, n = 24), followed by Sudanese nationals (24.7%, n = 20). P. falciparum (47%, n = 38) and P. vivax (42%, n = 24) were the predominant species. The majority of P. falciparum (64.5%, n = 20) cases were from African nationals and the majority of P. vivax (72.7%, n = 24) cases were from Asia. The highest percentage of malaria patients were adult (90%, n = 73), males (85.2%, n = 69), ages ranged from 6 to 65, with a mean of 34.6 years. Most of the malaria cases presented at the emergency room (ER), only 3 required critical care. Only sex, hospitalized in-patient (IP) and attendance at ER were statistically associated with malaria. In the presence of a potential vector, travel-associated malaria in non-malaria endemic areas should be monitored to guide control strategies.Author summary: Malaria is a neglected potentially fatal tropical mosquito-born disease. Travel-associated malaria is a health hazard, even in non-malaria endemic regions. In spite of previous efforts to estimate malaria prevalence, morbidity and mortality in Saudi Arabia in the last decade, there have been no studies that determine the prevalence of malaria in Al-Khobar, Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Malaria prevalence was very low in febrile patients (81/12,931) attending King Fahad Hospital of the University over a decade. Cases were all travel-related, except for one case of transfusion malaria. Indian nationals were the most infected (29.6%), followed by Sudanese nationals (24.7%). P. falciparum (47%) and P. vivax (42%) were the predominant species. The majority of P. falciparum (64.5%) cases were from Africa and the majority of P. vivax (72.7%) cases were from Asia. No patient factors predicted malaria in febrile travelers. In non-malaria endemic areas, in the presence of a potential vector, patients with acute fever coming from endemic areas or having received blood transfusion, should be screened for travel-associated malaria to guide control strategies.
A potential target gene CD63 for different degrees of intervertebral disc degeneration
Authors: Gao Sheng , Jia Shu , Fan Xutao , Gao Chengcan , Li Qingwei , Wu Yuxue , Meng Chunyang 
Published: January 2022

AbstractUnderstanding molecular mechanisms of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) and providing a novel target for the treatment of IDD have important implications. We sought to explore a new promising gene target for the treatment of IDD. This study integrated 19,678 genes of 38 IDD patients from two gene datasets. Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) of annulus fibrosus were analyzed in groups with mild disc degeneration (MDD) and severe disc degeneration (SDD). We screened the hub gene through biological information technology (bioinformatic) methods. Then, we further validated the hub gene using annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus tissues from 12 patients with qRT-PCR. In addition, we explored its underlying molecular mechanism with GO, KEGG and GSEA. Through multiple screening bioinformatics methods, the hub gene CD63 was identified. The qRT-PCR explored that CD63 decreased significantly in SDD group compared to that in MDD group (P < 0.001). The GO, KEGG and GSEA of CD63 explored significant enrichment of the molecular features (P < 0.001), including the cellular component (Extracellular matrix, P < 0.001), the molecular function (collagen binding, P < 0.001), the biological processes (protein targeting, collagen fibril organization and platelet degranulation, P < 0.001) and the signaling pathways. Our research explored and validated a new regulatory gene, CD63 for different degrees of IDD. A new novel form of therapeutic target for IDD may be developed.
Wear-adaptive optimization of in-process conditioning parameters during face plunge grinding of PcBN
Authors: Denkena Berend , Krödel-Worbes Alexander , Müller-Cramm Dominik 
Published: January 2022

AbstractPolycrystalline cubic boron nitride is a very hard material. Machining of this material is performed by grinding with diamond tools. Due to its high hardness, grinding tools are subjected to severe microscopic and macroscopic tool wear. This wear leads to short tool life and results in high effort in conditioning the abrasive layer. Contrary to the usual conditioning of diamond grinding wheels with diamond dressing tools, this study investigates a conditioning process based entirely on the use of white corundum cup rolls. These conditioning tools allow the in-process face plunge conditioning of vitrified bond diamond grinding tools. The circumferential speed of the conditioning tool and the average grain diameter of the corundum are identified as the main factors influencing the topography of the generated grinding layer. To describe the performance of the conditioning process, a specific conditioning removal rate $$Q_{sd}^{\prime }$$

Q

sd

′

is derived. This parameter represents a cumulated variable that allows a comparison of different conditioning strategies. It is shown that an increase in $$Q_{sd}^{\prime }$$

Q

sd

′

significantly counteracts microscopic wear on the abrasive layer. Therefore, optimized process parameters enable the process of in-process conditioning to significantly reduce wear on the grinding tool without increasing the process time or the non-productive time.
Contrasting maternal and paternal genetic histories among five ethnic groups from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Authors: Tariq Muhammad , Ahmad Habib , Hemphill Brian E. , Farooq Umar , Schurr Theodore G. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractNorthwest Pakistan has served as a point of entry to South Asia for different populations since ancient times. However, relatively little is known about the population genetic history of the people residing within this region. To better understand human dispersal in the region within the broader history of the subcontinent, we analyzed mtDNA diversity in 659 and Y-chromosome diversity in 678 individuals, respectively, from five ethnic groups (Gujars, Jadoons, Syeds, Tanolis and Yousafzais), from Swabi and Buner Districts, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. The mtDNAs of all individuals were subject to control region sequencing and SNP genotyping, while Y-chromosomes were analyzed using 54 SNPs and 19 STR loci. The majority of the mtDNAs belonged to West Eurasian haplogroups, with the rest belonging to either South or East Asian lineages. Four of the five Pakistani populations (Gujars, Jadoons, Syeds, Yousafzais) possessed strong maternal genetic affinities with other Pakistani and Central Asian populations, whereas one (Tanolis) did not. Four haplogroups (R1a, R1b, O3, L) among the 11 Y-chromosome lineages observed among these five ethnic groups contributed substantially to their paternal genetic makeup. Gujars, Syeds and Yousafzais showed strong paternal genetic affinities with other Pakistani and Central Asian populations, whereas Jadoons and Tanolis had close affinities with Turkmen populations from Central Asia and ethnic groups from northeast India. We evaluate these genetic data in the context of historical and archeological evidence to test different hypotheses concerning their origins and biological relationships.
Machine learning in vascular surgery: a systematic review and critical appraisal
Authors: Li Ben , Feridooni Tiam , Cuen-Ojeda Cesar , Kishibe Teruko , de Mestral Charles , Mamdani Muhammad , Al-Omran Mohammed 
Published: January 2022

AbstractMachine learning (ML) is a rapidly advancing field with increasing utility in health care. We conducted a systematic review and critical appraisal of ML applications in vascular surgery. MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched from inception to March 1, 2021. Study screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers, with a third author resolving discrepancies. All original studies reporting ML applications in vascular surgery were included. Publication trends, disease conditions, methodologies, and outcomes were summarized. Critical appraisal was conducted using the PROBAST risk-of-bias and TRIPOD reporting adherence tools. We included 212 studies from a pool of 2235 unique articles. ML techniques were used for diagnosis, prognosis, and image segmentation in carotid stenosis, aortic aneurysm/dissection, peripheral artery disease, diabetic foot ulcer, venous disease, and renal artery stenosis. The number of publications on ML in vascular surgery increased from 1 (1991–1996) to 118 (2016–2021). Most studies were retrospective and single center, with no randomized controlled trials. The median area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was 0.88 (range 0.61–1.00), with 79.5% [62/78] studies reporting AUROC ≥ 0.80. Out of 22 studies comparing ML techniques to existing prediction tools, clinicians, or traditional regression models, 20 performed better and 2 performed similarly. Overall, 94.8% (201/212) studies had high risk-of-bias and adherence to reporting standards was poor with a rate of 41.4%. Despite improvements over time, study quality and reporting remain inadequate. Future studies should consider standardized tools such as PROBAST and TRIPOD to improve study quality and clinical applicability.
Genome-wide identification of bacterial colonization and fitness determinants on the floating macrophyte, duckweed
Authors: Ishizawa Hidehiro , Kuroda Masashi , Inoue Daisuke , Ike Michihiko 
Published: January 2022

AbstractBacterial communities associated with aquatic macrophytes largely influence host primary production and nutrient cycling in freshwater environments; however, little is known about how specific bacteria migrate to and proliferate at this unique habitat. Here, we separately identified bacterial genes involved in the initial colonization and overall fitness on plant surface, using the genome-wide transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) of Aquitalea magnusonii H3, a plant growth-promoting bacterium of the floating macrophyte, duckweed. Functional annotation of identified genes indicated that initial colonization efficiency might be simply explained by motility and cell surface structure, while overall fitness was associated with diverse metabolic and regulatory functions. Genes involved in lipopolysaccharides and type-IV pili biosynthesis showed different contributions to colonization and fitness, reflecting their metabolic cost and profound roles in host association. These results provide a comprehensive genetic perspective on aquatic-plant-bacterial interactions, and highlight the potential trade-off between bacterial colonization and proliferation abilities on plant surface.
Structural study of 1- and 2-naphthol: new insights into the non-covalent H–H interaction in cis-1-naphthol
Authors: Hazrah Arsh S. , Nanayakkara Sadisha , Seifert Nathan A. , Kraka Elfi , Jäger Wolfgang 
Published: January 2022

The close-contact H–H atom interaction in cis-1-naphthol was characterized with microwave spectroscopy and several theoretical approaches using the other naphthol isomers as internal references.