bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adaptation of gut microbiome and host metabolic systems to lignocellulosic degradation in bamboo rats
Authors: Xiao Kangpeng , Liang Xianghui , Lu Haoran , Li Xiaobing , Zhang Zhipeng , Lu Xingbang , Wang Hai , Meng Yafei , Roy Ayan , Luo Wen , Shen Xuejuan , Irwin David M , Shen Yongyi 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Bamboo rats (Rhizomys pruinosus) are among the few mammals that lives on a bamboo-based diet which is mainly composed of lignocellulose. However, the mechanisms of adaptation of their gut microbiome and metabolic systems in the degradation of lignocellulose are largely unknown. Here, we conducted a multi-omics analysis on bamboo rats to investigate the interaction between their gut microbiomes and metabolic systems in the pre- and post-weaning periods, and observed significant relationships between dietary types, gut microbiome, serum metabolome and host gene expression. For comparison, published gut microbial data from the famous bamboo-eating giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) were also used for analysis. We found that the adaptation of the gut microbiome of the bamboo rat to a lignocellulose diet is related to a member switch in the order Bacteroidales from family Bacteroidaceae to family Muribaculaceae, while for the famous bamboo-eating giant panda, several aerobes and facultative anaerobes increase after weaning. The conversion of bacteria with an increased relative abundance in bamboo rats after weaning enriched diverse carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) associated with lignocellulose degradation and functionally enhanced the biosynthesis of amino acids and B vitamins. Meanwhile, the circulating concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) derived metabolites and the metabolic capacity of linoleic acid in the host were significantly elevated. Our findings suggest that fatty acid metabolism, including linoleic acid and SCFAs, are the main energy sources for bamboo rats in response to the low-nutrient bamboo diet.
A first-in-human Phase I dose-escalation trial of the novel therapeutic peptide, ALM201, demonstrates a favourable safety profile in unselected patients with ovarian cancer and other advanced solid tumours
Authors: El Helali Aya , Plummer Ruth , Jayson Gordon C. , Coyle Vicky M. , Drew Yvette , Mescallado Nerissa , Harris Noor , Clamp Andrew R. , McCann Janine , Swaisland Helen , Kennedy Richard D. , Cranston Aaron N. , Wilson Richard H. 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Background
We aimed to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of a novel anti-angiogenic peptide.

Methods
We used an open-label, multicentre, dose-escalation Phase I trial design in patients with solid tumours. ALM201 was administered subcutaneously once daily for 5 days every week in unselected patients with solid tumours.

Results
Twenty (8 male, 12 female) patients with various solid tumours were treated (18 evaluable for toxicity) over eight planned dose levels (10–300 mg). ALM201 was well-tolerated at all dose levels without CTCAE grade 4 toxicities. Adverse events were predominantly grades 1–2, most commonly, localised injection-site reactions (44.4%), vomiting (11%), fatigue (16.7%), arthralgia (5.6%) and headache (11%). Thrombosis occurred in two patients at the 100 mg and 10 mg dose levels. The MTD was not reached, and a recommended Phase II dose (RP2D) based on feasibility was declared. Plasma exposure increased with dose (less than dose-proportional at the two highest dose levels). No peptide accumulation was evident. The median treatment duration was 11.1 (range 3–18) weeks. Four of 18 evaluable patients (22%) had stable disease.

Conclusions
Doses up to 300 mg of ALM201 subcutaneously are feasible and well-tolerated. Further investigation of this agent in selected tumour types/settings would benefit from patient-selection biomarkers.
Targeting the apoptosis pathway to treat tumours of the paediatric nervous system
Authors: Fitzgerald Marie-Claire , O’Halloran Philip J. , Connolly Niamh M. C. , Murphy Brona M. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractNew, more effective therapeutics are required for the treatment of paediatric cancers. Current treatment protocols of cytotoxic treatments including chemotherapy trigger cancer-cell death by engaging the apoptosis pathway, and chemotherapy efficacy is frequently impeded by apoptosis dysregulation. Apoptosis dysregulation, through genetic or epigenetic mechanisms, is a feature of many cancer types, and contributes to reduced treatment response, disease progression and ultimately treatment resistance. Novel approaches are required to overcome dysregulated apoptosis signalling, increase the efficacy of cancer treatment and improve patient outcomes. Here, we provide an insight into current knowledge of how the apoptosis pathway is dysregulated in paediatric nervous system tumours, with a focus on TRAIL receptors, the BCL-2 proteins and the IAP family, and highlight preclinical evidence demonstrating that pharmacological manipulation of the apoptosis pathway can restore apoptosis signalling and sensitise cancer cells to treatment. Finally, we discuss the potential clinical implications of these findings.
CircEIF3H-IGF2BP2-HuR scaffold complex promotes TNBC progression via stabilizing HSPD1/RBM8A/G3BP1 mRNA
Authors: Song Xiaojin , Chen Bing , Liang Yiran , Li Yaming , Zhang Hanwen , Han Dianwen , Wang Yajie , Ye Fangzhou , Wang Lijuan , Zhao Wenjing , Yang Qifeng 
Published: May 2022

AbstractTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a molecular subtype with an unfavorable prognosis, and metastasis is the main reason for the failure of clinical treatment. However, the expression profile and regulatory function of circRNAs in TNBC progression are not fully understood. Herein, we performed high-throughput RNA-seq in paired breast cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues and discovered a novel circRNA, circEIF3H, which was upregulated in breast cancer tissues. Large cohort survival analysis confirmed the association between high circEIF3H expression and poor prognosis of TNBC, indicating the vital function of circEIF3H in TNBC progression. Then we conducted both in vitro and in vivo experiments which illustrated that circEIF3H was essential for TNBC proliferation and metastasis. Further experiments showed that circEIF3H did not function as a microRNA sponge as in the most well-established pathway, but as a scaffold for IGF2BP2 and HuR to regulate the mRNA stability of HSPD1, RBM8A, and G3BP1. Our findings provide insight into a novel circRNA, circEIF3H, with significant cancer-promoting function via serving as a scaffold for IGF2BP2/HuR. These results identified circEIF3H as a potential target for developing individualized therapy of TNBC in the approaching future.
Glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B (GNMPB) as a novel biomarker for cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy
Authors: Taghizadeh Leyla A. , King Carina J. , Nascene David R. , Gupta Ashish O. , Orchard Paul J. , Higgins LeeAnn , Markowski Todd W. , Nolan Erin E. , Furcich Justin W. , Lund Troy C. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractAdrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is an X-linked peroxisomal disease caused by a mutation in the ABCD1 gene, producing mutations in the very long chain fatty acid transporter, ALD protein. Cerebral ALD (cALD) is a severe phenotype of ALD with neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Elevated levels of Glycoprotein Nonmetastatic Melanoma Protein B (GNMPB) have been recently documented in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Our objective was to measure the levels cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) GNMPB in cALD patients to determine if GNMPB could be a potential biomarker in tracking cALD disease progression. CSF GNMPB levels were significantly higher in cALD patients versus controls (2407 ± 1672 pg/mL vs. 639.5 ± 404 pg/mL, p = 0.0009). We found a positive correlation between CSF GNMPB and MRI disease severity score levels (R2 = 0.3225, p < 0.0001) as well as the gadolinium intensity score (p = 0.0204). Boys with more severe neurologic deficits also had higher levels of CSF GNMPB (p < 0.0001). A positive correlation was shown between CSF GNMPB and another biomarker, chitotriosidase (R2 = 0.2512, p = 0.0244). These data show that GNMPB could be a potential biomarker of cALD disease state and further studies should evaluate it as a predictor of the disease progression.
The activity patterns of nonworking and working sled dogs
Authors: Li Ming Fei , Nagendran Lavania , Schroeder Lauren , Samson David R. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThere are limited studies investigating the combined effects of biological, environmental, and human factors on the activity of the domestic dog. Sled dogs offer a unique opportunity to examine these factors due to their close relationship with handlers and exposure to the outdoors. Here, we used accelerometers to measure the activity of 52 sled dogs over 30 days from two locations in Canada. The two locations differ in the working demands of dogs, therefore we used linear mixed effects models to assess how different factors impact daytime and nighttime activity of working versus nonworking dogs. During the daytime, we found that males were more active than females among nonworking dogs and younger dogs were more active than older dogs among working dogs. Alaskan huskies had higher activity levels than non-Alaskan husky breeds in working sled dogs during the day. Nonworking dogs were slightly more active during colder weather, but temperature had no effect on working dogs’ activity. The strongest predictor of daytime activity in working dogs was work schedule. These results indicate that the influence of biological factors on activity varied depending on dogs’ physical demands and human activity was the most powerful driver of activity in working dogs.
Factoring semi-primes with (quantum) SAT-solvers
Authors: Mosca Michele , Verschoor Sebastian R. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThe computational difficulty of factoring large integers forms the basis of security for RSA public-key cryptography. The best-known factoring algorithms for classical computers run in sub-exponential time. The integer factorization problem can be reduced to the Boolean Satisfiability problem (SAT). While this reduction has proved to be useful for studying SAT solvers, large integers have not been factored via such a reduction. Shor’s quantum factoring algorithm factors integers in expected polynomial time. Large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computers capable of implementing Shor’s algorithm are not yet available, preventing relevant benchmarking experiments. Recently, several authors have attempted quantum factorizations via reductions to SAT or similar NP-hard problems. While this approach may shed light on algorithmic approaches for quantum solutions to NP-hard problems, in this paper we study and question its practicality. We find no evidence that this is a viable path toward factoring large numbers, even for scalable fault-tolerant quantum computers, as well as for various quantum annealing or other special purpose quantum hardware.
Transverse Kerker effect in all-dielectric spheroidal particles
Authors: Bukharin Mikhail M. , Pecherkin Vladimir Ya. , Ospanova Anar K. , Il’in Vladimir B. , Vasilyak Leonid M. , Basharin Alexey A. , Luk‘yanchuk Boris 
Published: May 2022

AbstractKerker effect is one of the unique phenomena in modern electrodynamics. Due to overlapping of electric and magnetic dipole moments, all-dielectric particles can be invisible in forward or backward directions. In our paper we propose new conditions between resonantly excited electric dipole and magnetic quadrupole in ceramic high index spheroidal particles for demonstrating transverse Kerker effect. Moreover, we perform proof-of-concept microwave experiment and demonstrate dumbbell radiation pattern with suppressed scattering in both forward and backward directions and enhanced scattering in lateral directions. Our concept is promising for future planar lasers, nonreflected metasurface and laterally excited waveguides and nanoantennas.
Establishment of prognostic risk model and drug sensitivity based on prognostic related genes of esophageal cancer
Authors: Dai Jingjing , Reyimu Abdusemer , Sun Ao , Duoji Zaxi , Zhou Wubi , Liang Song , Hu Suxia , Dai Weijie , Xu Xiaoguang 
Published: May 2022

AbstractAt present, the treatment of esophageal cancer (EC) is mainly surgical and drug treatment. However, due to drug resistance, these therapies can not effectively improve the prognosis of patients with the EC. Therefore, a multigene prognostic risk scoring system was constructed by bioinformatics analysis method to provide a theoretical basis for the prognosis and treatment decision of EC. The gene expression profiles and clinical data of esophageal cancer patients were gathered from the Cancer Genome Atlas TCGA database, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened by R software. Genes with prognostic value were screened by Kaplan Meier analysis, followed by functional enrichment analysis. A cox regression model was used to construct the prognostic risk score model of DEGs. ROC curve and survival curve were utilized to evaluate the performance of the model. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate whether the model has an independent prognostic value. Network tool mirdip was used to find miRNAs that may regulate risk genes, and Cytoscape software was used to construct gene miRNA regulatory network. GSCA platform is used to analyze the relationship between gene expression and drug sensitivity. 41 DEGs related to prognosis were pre-liminarily screened by survival analysis. A prognostic risk scoring model composed of 8 DEGs (APOA2, COX6A2, CLCNKB, BHLHA15, HIST1H1E, FABP3, UBE2C and ERO1B) was built by Cox regression analysis. In this model, the prognosis of the high-risk score group was poor (P < 0.001). The ROC curve showed that (AUC = 0.862) the model had a good performance in predicting prognosis. In Cox regression analysis, the comprehensive risk score can be employed as an independent prognostic factor of the EC. HIST1H1E, UBE2C and ERO1B interacted with differentially expressed miRNAs. High expression of HIST1H1E was resistant to trametinib, selumetinib, RDEA119, docetaxel and 17-AAG, High expression of UBE2C was resistant to masitinib, and Low expression of ERO1B made the EC more sensitive to FK866. We constructed an EC risk score model composed of 8 DEGs and gene resistance analysis, which can provide reference for prognosis prediction, diagnosis and treatment of the EC patients.
Small, charged proteins in salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) secretions modulate Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) immune responses and coagulation
Authors: Øvergård Aina-Cathrine , Midtbø Helena M. D. , Hamre Lars A. , Dondrup Michael , Bjerga Gro E. K. , Larsen Øivind , Chettri Jiwan Kumar , Buchmann Kurt , Nilsen Frank , Grotmol Sindre 
Published: May 2022

AbstractLittle is known about glandular proteins secreted from the skin- and blood-feeding ectoparasite salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis). The labial gland has ducts extending into the oral cavity of the lice, and the present study aimed to identify novel genes expressed by this gland type and to investigate their role in modulation of host parameters at the lice feeding site. Five genes associated with labial gland function were identified and named Lepeophteirus salmonis labial gland protein (LsLGP) 1–4 and 1 like (LsLGP1L). All LsLGPs were predicted to be small charged secreted proteins not encoding any known protein domains. Functional studies revealed that LsLGP1 and/or LsLGP1L regulated the expression of other labial gland genes. Immune dampening functions were indicated for LsLGP2 and 3. Whereas LsLGP2 was expressed throughout the parasitic life cycle and found to dampen inflammatory cytokines, LsLGP3 displayed an increased expression in mobile stages and appeared to dampen adaptive immune responses. Expression of LsLGP4 coincided with moulting to the mobile pre-adult I stage where hematophagous feeding is initiated, and synthetic LsLGP4 decreased the clotting time of Atlantic salmon plasma. Results from the present study confirm that the salmon louse secretes immune modulating and anti-coagulative proteins with a potential application in new immune based anti-salmon louse treatments.
Thermo-electrochemical redox flow cycle for continuous conversion of low-grade waste heat to power
Authors: Bleeker Jorrit , Reichert Stijn , Veerman Joost , Vermaas David A. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractHere we assess the route to convert low grade waste heat (< 100 °C) into electricity by leveraging the temperature dependency of redox potentials, similar to the Seebeck effect in semiconductor physics. We use fluid-based redox-active species, which can be easily heated and cooled using heat exchangers. By using a first principles approach, we designed a redox flow battery system with Fe(CN)63−/Fe(CN)64− and I−/I3− chemistry. We evaluate the continuous operation with one flow cell at high temperature and one at low temperature. We show that the most sensitive parameter, the temperature coefficient of the redox reaction, can be controlled via the redox chemistry, the reaction quotient and solvent additives, and we present the highest temperature coefficient for this RFB chemistry. A power density of 0.6 W/m2 and stable operation for 2 h are achieved experimentally. We predict high (close to Carnot) heat-to-power efficiencies if challenges in the heat recuperation and Ohmic resistance are overcome, and the temperature coefficient is further increased.
A new modelling approach for predicting process evolution of cork-rubber composites slabs vulcanization
Authors: Lopes Helena , Silva Susana P. , Carvalho João Paulo , Machado José 
Published: May 2022

AbstractIn order to predict the evolution of the vulcanization process of cork-rubber slabs, a numerical approach was developed combining heat transfer by conduction and kinetics models. A one-dimensional model was applied to predict the evolution of temperature and degree of cure at different stages of the vulcanization of a cork-rubber composite. Also, due to the degradation verified by the compound, an existent reversion model was added to the problem. Based on rheometer data, cure and reversion parameters were determined. Experimental data were used to determine the thermal properties of the compound, assuming a constant value or according to its degree of cure and temperature. The results obtained by simulation showed a good correspondence with experimental results, even when assuming constant thermal properties. The application of the proposed methodology provides information about the optimum process parameters for each thickness slab, without compromising the homogeneity and characteristics of the final product, which can be a valuable tool during the development and product stages of cork-rubber composites.
Glycine betaine modulates chromium (VI)-induced morpho-physiological and biochemical responses to mitigate chromium toxicity in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars
Authors: Singh Deepti , Singh Chandan Kumar , Singh Dharmendra , Sarkar Susheel Kumar , Prasad Saroj Kumar , Sharma Nathi Lal , Singh Ishwar 
Published: May 2022

AbstractChromium (Cr) accumulation in crops reduces yield. Here, we grew two chickpea cultivars, Pusa 2085 (Cr-tolerant) and Pusa Green 112 (Cr-sensitive), in hydroponic and pot conditions under different Cr treatments: 0 and 120 µM Cr and 120 µM Cr + 100 mM glycine betaine (GB). For plants grown in the hydroponic media, we evaluated root morphological attributes and plasma membrane integrity via Evans blue uptake. We also estimated H+-ATPase activity in the roots and leaves of both cultivars. Plants in pots under conditions similar to those of the hydroponic setup were used to measure growth traits, oxidative stress, chlorophyll contents, enzymatic activities, proline levels, and nutrient elements at the seedling stage. Traits such as Cr uptake in different plant parts after 42 days and grain yield after 140 days of growth were also evaluated. In both cultivars, plant growth traits, chlorophyll contents, enzymatic activities, nutrient contents, and grain yield were significantly reduced under Cr stress, whereas oxidative stress and proline levels were increased compared to the control levels. Further, Cr uptake was remarkably decreased in the roots and leaves of Cr-tolerant than in Cr-sensitive cultivars. Application of GB led to improved root growth and morpho-physiological attributes and reduced oxidative stress along with reduced loss in plasma membrane integrity and subsequently increase in H+-ATPase activity. An increment in these parameters shows that the exogenous application of GB improves the Cr stress tolerance in chickpea plants.
Effects of drying methods and solvent extraction on quantification of major bioactive compounds in pomegranate peel waste using HPLC
Authors: Kumar Nishant , Pratibha  , Neeraj  , Sami Rokayya , Khojah Ebtihal , Aljahani Amani H. , Al-Mushhin Amina A. M. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractBioactive compound characterization is an essential step for utilizing pomegranate peel waste as food and nutraceuticals ingredients. In the present investigation, the effects of different drying methods (freeze, tray-oven, and sun) and extraction solvents such as methanol, ethanol, water, acetone, and hexane were investigated on the extraction and recovery of major bioactive compounds (ellagic acid, gallic acid, quercetin, and punicalagin) of pomegranate peel for two pomegranate varieties (i.e., Bhagwa and Ganesh) using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results indicated that the freeze dried pomegranate peel powder of both pomegranate varities potential to extraction higher amount of bioactive compounds with methanol as extraction solvent as compared to other drying methods and solvents. Freeze-dried peel powder of Bhagwa pomegranate showed a higher amount of gallic acid (32.2 mg/g), ellagic acid (13.6 mg/g), punicalagin (15.2 mg/g), and quercetin (2.5 mg/g) with methanol solvent as compared to the other extract of Bhagwa and Ganesh varieties. The basis on the results of the current study, it can be concluded that the freeze-drying method of drying pomegranate peel powder and methanol as an extraction solvent are effective to recover higher amounts of bioactive compounds that can be utilized in food and pharmaceutical sectors at commercial scale.
Representing logic gates over Euclidean space via heaviside step function
Authors: Iacovelli Giovanni , Iacovelli Claudio 
Published: May 2022

AbstractTheoretical concepts asserted by Alan Turing are the basis of the computation and hence of machine intelligence. Turing Machine, the fundamental computational model, has been proven to be reducible to a logic circuit and, at the same time, portable into a computer program that can be expressed through a combination of fundamental programming language control structures. This work proposes a mathematical framework that analytically models logic gates employing Heaviside Step Function. The existence of a correspondence between a generic finite-time algorithm and the proposed mathematical formulation is proven. The proposed interpretation is given through a well-defined logical circuit analytical expression. Relevant geometrical applications, related to polygon processing, having wide implications in engineering branches are presented together with a new Penalty Method for constrained optimization problems handling. A detailed simulation campaign is conducted to assess the effectiveness of the applications derived from the proposed mathematical framework.