bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A robust bacterial high-throughput screening system to evaluate single nucleotide polymorphisms of human homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase in the context of alkaptonuria
Authors: Lequeue Sien , Neuckermans Jessie , Nulmans Ine , Schwaneberg Ulrich , Vanhaecke Tamara , De Kock Joery 
Published: November 2022

AbstractAlkaptonuria (AKU) is a rare inborn error of metabolism caused by a defective homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase (HGD), an enzyme involved in the tyrosine degradation pathway. Loss of HGD function leads to the accumulation of homogentisic acid (HGA) in connective body tissues in a process called ochronosis, which results on the long term in an early-onset and severe osteoarthropathy. HGD’s quaternary structure is known to be easily disrupted by missense mutations, which makes them an interesting target for novel treatment strategies that aim to rescue enzyme activity. However, only prediction models are available providing information on a structural basis. Therefore, anE. colibased whole-cell screening was developed to evaluate HGD missense variants in 96-well microtiter plates. The screening principle is based on HGD’s ability to convert the oxidation sensitive HGA into maleylacetoacetate. More precisely, catalytic activity could be deduced from pyomelanin absorbance measurements, derived from the auto-oxidation of remaining HGA. Optimized screening conditions comprised severalE. coliexpression strains, varied expression temperatures and varied substrate concentrations. In addition, plate uniformity, signal variability and spatial uniformity were investigated and optimized. Finally, eight HGD missense variants were generated via site-directed mutagenesis and evaluated with the developed high-throughput screening (HTS) assay. For the HTS assay, quality parameters passed the minimum acceptance criterion for Z’ values > 0.4 and single window values > 2. We found that activity percentagesversuswildtype HGD were 70.37 ± 3.08% (for M368V), 68.78 ± 6.40% (for E42A), 58.15 ± 1.16% (for A122V), 69.07 ± 2.26% (for Y62C), 35.26 ± 1.90% (for G161R), 35.86 ± 1.14% (for P230S), 23.43 ± 4.63% (for G115R) and 19.57 ± 11.00% (for G361R). To conclude, a robust, simple, and cost-effective HTS system was developed to reliably evaluate and distinguish human HGD missense variants by their HGA consumption ability. This HGA quantification assay may lay the foundation for the development of novel treatment strategies for missense variants in AKU.
Knockdown of the long noncoding RNA PURPL induces apoptosis and sensitizes liver cancer cells to doxorubicin
Authors: Berhane Tsinat , Holm Anja , Karstensen Kasper Thystrup , Petri Andreas , Ilieva Mirolyuba Simeonova , Krarup Henrik , Vyberg Mogens , Løvendorf Marianne Bengtson , Kauppinen Sakari 
Published: November 2022

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer with increasing incidence in western countries. Most HCC patients have advanced cancer at the time of diagnosis due to the asymptomatic nature of early-stage HCC and do not qualify for potentially curative surgical treatment, thus, highlighting the need for new therapeutic strategies. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) comprise a large and heterogeneous group of non-protein coding transcripts that play important regulatory roles in numerous biological processes in cancer. In this study, we performed RNA sequencing of liver biopsies from ten HCC, ten hepatitis C virus-associated HCC, and four normal livers to identify dysregulated lncRNAs in HCC. We show that the lncRNA p53-upregulated-regulator-of-p53-levels (PURPL) is upregulated in HCC biopsies and that its expression is p53-dependent in liver cancer cell lines. In addition, antisense oligonucleotide-mediated knockdown of PURPL inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and sensitized HepG2 human HCC cells to treatment with the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin. In summary, our findings suggest that PURPL could serve as a new therapeutic target for reversing doxorubicin resistance in HCC.
Durability and strength degradation of xanthan gum based biopolymer treated soil subjected to severe weathering cycles
Authors: Lee Minhyeong , Kwon Yeong-Man , Park Dong-Yeup , Chang Ilhan , Cho Gye-Chun 
Published: November 2022

AbstractBiopolymer-based soil treatments have shown effectiveness in soil improvement, with successful field-scale implementation. In this study, we explored the effect of cyclic wetting–drying (W–D) and freezing–thawing (F–T) on the strength durability of biopolymer-treated soils. The results indicate that cyclic W–D and F–T gradually degrade soil strength owing to water adsorption and local biopolymer dilution. Poorly graded sand was highly vulnerable to these weathering effects; however, this problem was mitigated when the soil contained a fines content of 15–25%. These biopolymer-treated soils effectively resisted numerous cycles of both W–D and F–T, indicating that biopolymer-treated soils are suitable for earthen slope reinforcement.
Impacts of the US southeast wood pellet industry on local forest carbon stocks
Authors: Aguilar Francisco X. , Sudekum Houston , McGarvey Ronald , Knapp Benjamin , Domke Grant , Brandeis Consuelo 
Published: November 2022

AbstractWe assessed the net impacts of a wood-dependent pellet industry of global importance on contemporaneous local forest carbon component pools (live trees, standing-dead trees, soils) and total stocks. We conducted post-matched difference-in-differences analyses of forest inventory data between 2000 and 2019 to infer industrial concurrent and lagged effects in the US coastal southeast. Results point to contemporaneous carbon neutrality. We found net incremental effects on carbon pools within live trees, and no net effects on standing-dead tree nor soil pools. However, we found concurrent lower carbon levels in soils, mixed effects associated with increased procurement pressures and large mill pelletization capacity, and possible spillover effects on standing-dead tree carbon pools beyond commercial procurement distances. There is robust evidence that although some trade-offs between carbon pools exist, the wood pellet industry in this particular context and period has met the overall condition of forest carbon neutrality.
Random lasing and replica symmetry breaking in GeO2-PbO-MgO glass–ceramics doped with neodymium
Authors: Câmara Josivanir G. , da Silva Davinson M. , Kassab Luciana R. P. , Silva-Neto Manoel L. , Palacios Guillermo , de Araújo Cid B. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractWe investigated the random lasing process and Replica Symmetry Breaking (RSB) phenomenon in neodymium ions (Nd3+) doped lead-germanate glass–ceramics (GCs) containing MgO. Glass samples were fabricated by conventional melt-quenching technique and the GCs were obtained by carefully devitrifying the parent glasses at 830 °C for different time intervals. The partial crystallization of the parent glasses was verified by X-ray diffraction. Photoluminescence (PL) enhancement of $$\approx$$
≈
500% relative to the parent glasses was observed for samples with a higher crystallinity degree (annealed during 5 h). Powders with grains having average size of 2 µm were prepared by griding the GCs samples. The Random Laser (RL) was excited at 808 nm, in resonance with the Nd3+ transition 4I9/2 → {4F5/2, 2H9/2}, and emitted at 1068 nm (transition 4F3/2 → 4I11/2). The RL performance was clearly enhanced for the sample with the highest crystallinity degree whose energy fluence excitation threshold (EFEth) was 0.25 mJ/mm2. The enhanced performance is attributed to the residence-time growth of photons inside the sample and the higher quantum efficiency of Nd3+ incorporated within the microcrystals, where radiative losses are reduced. Moreover, the phenomenon of Replica Symmetry Breaking (RSB), characteristic of a photonic-phase-transition, was detected by measuring the intensity fluctuations of the RL emission. The Parisi overlap parameter was determined for all samples, for excitation below and above the EFEth. This is the first time, for the best of the authors knowledge, that RL emission and RSB are reported for a glass–ceramic system.
A new negative feedback mechanism for MAPK pathway inactivation through Srk1 MAPKAP kinase
Authors: Marquina Maribel , Lambea Eva , Carmona Mercé , Sánchez-Marinas Marta , López-Aviles Sandra , Ayte José , Hidalgo Elena , Aligue Rosa 
Published: November 2022

AbstractThe fission yeast mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK) Sty1 is essential for cell survival in response to different environmental insults. In unstimulated cells, Sty1 forms an inactive ternary cytoplasmatic complex with the MAPKK Wis1 and the MAPKAP kinase Srk1. Wis1 phosphorylates and activates Sty1, inducing the nuclear translocation of the complex. Once in the nucleus, Sty1 phosphorylates and activates Srk1, which in turns inhibits Cdc25 and cell cycle progression, before being degraded in a proteasome-dependent manner. In parallel, active nuclear Sty1 activates the transcription factor Atf1, which results in the expression of stress response genes including pyp2 (a MAPK phosphatase) and srk1. Despite its essentiality in response to stress, persistent activation of the MAPK pathway can be deleterious and induces cell death. Thus, timely pathway inactivation is essential to ensure an appropriate response and cell viability. Here, uncover a role for the MAPKAP kinase Srk1 as an essential component of a negative feedback loop regulating the Sty1 pathway through phosphorylation and inhibition of the Wis1 MAPKK. This feedback regulation by a downstream kinase in the pathway highlights an additional mechanism for fine-tuning of MAPK signaling. Thus, our results indicate that Srk1 not only facilitates the adaptation to stress conditions by preventing cell cycle progression, but also plays an instrumental role regulating the upstream kinases in the stress MAPK pathway.
Defect-free and crystallinity-preserving ductile deformation in semiconducting Ag2S
Authors: Misawa Masaaki , Hokyo Hinata , Fukushima Shogo , Shimamura Kohei , Koura Akihide , Shimojo Fuyuki , Kalia Rajiv K. , Nakano Aiichiro , Vashishta Priya 
Published: November 2022

AbstractTypical ductile materials are metals, which deform by the motion of defects like dislocations in association with non-directional metallic bonds. Unfortunately, this textbook mechanism does not operate in most inorganic semiconductors at ambient temperature, thus severely limiting the development of much-needed flexible electronic devices. We found a shear-deformation mechanism in a recently discovered ductile semiconductor, monoclinic-silver sulfide (Ag2S), which is defect-free, omni-directional, and preserving perfect crystallinity. Our first-principles molecular dynamics simulations elucidate the ductile deformation mechanism in monoclinic-Ag2S under six types of shear systems. Planer mass movement of sulfur atoms plays an important role for the remarkable structural recovery of sulfur-sublattice. This in turn arises from a distinctively high symmetry of the anion-sublattice in Ag2S, which is not seen in other brittle silver chalcogenides. Such mechanistic and lattice-symmetric understanding provides a guideline for designing even higher-performance ductile inorganic semiconductors.
Evaluation of three biometric devices: ocular parameters and calculated intraocular lens power
Authors: Lender Rivkah , Mirsky Devora , Greenberger Riki , Boim Zipora , Ben-Yaakov Lee , Kashtan Chaya , Naffar Ibrahim , Shine Shira , Chowers Itay , Ben-Eli Hadas 
Published: November 2022

AbstractCataract surgery is among the most common medical procedures, and accurate ocular biometry measurements are key for successful visual outcome. The current study evaluated data obtained by the Eyestar 900, Anterion, IOLMaster700 biometers and the Pentacam corneal topographer. Compared values were axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), steep- and flat-K, cylinder and axis. Clinical impact was assessed by calculating intraocular lens (IOL) power using the mean values of every parameter and the Barrett and Kane formulas, stratified by device and amount of cylinder. IOL was re-calculated for each device substituting Pentacam K-values. This study included 196 eyes (98 participants) of cataract surgery candidates. When comparing the IOLMaster to the Eyestar (157 eyes), no difference was found in mean AL or ACD measurements (P > 0.05). Steep-K measurements differed between these devices and the Pentacam (P = 0.01). AL and ACD measurements differed between the IOLMaster and Anterion (38 eyes; P < 0.05). Strong correlations (range 0.72–0.99) were found between all four devices. Bland–Altman analysis demonstrated excellent agreement between biometry devices other than ACD between the IOLMaster and Eyestar. Calculated IOL power was 0.50–1.00 diopter (D) lower with the IOLMaster. Cylinder power was 0.75D higher in all biometers when Pentacam K-values were substituted.
Risk factors of developmental dysplasia of the hip in a single clinical center
Authors: Xiao Huan , Tang Yi , Su Yuxi 
Published: November 2022

AbstractDevelopmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is the main cause of early-onset hip osteoarthritis in adulthood. Early screening of DDH is the key to avoiding these severe complications. This study aimed to assure the risk factors are suitable for screening patients with DDH in our region. We retrospectively analyzed 10,668 patients (21,336 hips) at our hospital. Overall, 204 patients with pathological DDH and 408 patients with normal hips were included in this study. All patients were diagnosed by performing ultrasound examinations according to the Graf technique. The risk factors were assessed based on patients’ clinical data. Pearson’s chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed for statistical analysis. A total of 204 patients were diagnosed with pathologic DDH and were treated with the Pavlik harness. Among these, 184 patients were female. There were 73 cases of first birth, 13 had oligohydramnios, 13 had foot deformity, 31 had breech delivery, 6 had congenital muscular torticollis. Female sex, vaginal delivery, breech presentation, oligohydramnios and foot deformity were identified as the risk factors for DDH. The risk factors of DDH in our clinical center were confirmed in our clinical center, this can supply the screening advice for the doctors.
Scenarios for Ecodesign in loudspeaker’s motor
Authors: de Almeida Allan Di Cunto D’Avila , Garde Ivan Aritz Aldaya , dos Santos Mirian Paula , Penchel Rafael Abrantes , Filho Lúcio Cardozo , de Oliveira José Augusto 
Published: November 2022

AbstractThe worldwide loudspeaker market follows the growing tendency of electronic entertainment technologies both in quantity and variety. Consequently, the environmental impacts caused during the life cycle of loudspeakers increase in the same proportion, going in the opposite direction to what is determined by world environmental laws and regulations and global market tendencies. Even so, the environmental performance of this type of product is not considered in the decision-making process for technological updates in loudspeaker design. In this sense, Ecodesign is the most adequate Life Cycle Engineering tool applied in the design of a product since the environmental performance is considered throughout the different design stages. However, the feasibility of Ecodesign in products requiring complex production chains relies on splitting the product into subsystems and components. Thus, the present work focuses on evaluating the environmental performance of a classic loudspeaker motor, which is composed of a magnet, coil, and coil former. Eight raw material substitution scenarios are proposed and analyzed, which allowed the proposal identification with the best environmental performance within the current technologies. This represents an initial step toward the complete Ecodesign of a loudspeaker and sets the procedure to be followed with the other constitutive parts.
Behavior of echocardiographic parameters of right ventricular function after tricuspid surgery
Authors: Rodríguez Torres Diego José , Quintero Lucía Torres , Segura-Rodriguez Diego , Jimenez Jose Manuel Garrido , Molina Maria Esteban , Martínez Francisco Gomera , Escobar Eduardo Moreno , Orta Rocío García 
Published: November 2022

AbstractEvaluation of right ventricular (RV) function after tricuspid valve surgery is complex. The objective was to identify the most appropriate RV function parameters for this purpose. This prospective study included 70 patients undergoing cardiac and tricuspid valve (TV) surgery. RV size and function parameters were determined at 3 months and 1-year post-surgery. Categorical variables were analyzed with the McNemar test and numerical variables with the Student’s t-test for related samples or, when non-normally distributed, the Wilcoxon test. Spearman's rho was used to determine correlations between variables at 3 months and 1 year. RV diameters were reduced at 3 months post-surgery and were then unchanged at 1 year. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and S′ wave values were worse at 3 months and then improved at 1 year (t-score-2.35, p 0.023; t-score-2.68; p 0.010). There was no significant reduction in free wall longitudinal strain (LS) or shortening fraction (SF) at 3 months (t-score 1.421 and − 1.251; p 0.218 and 0.172), and they were only slightly below pre-surgical values at 1 year. No relationship was found between RV function parameters and mortality or major complications. During the first few months after TV surgery, LS may be a more appropriate parameter to evaluate global ventricular function in comparison to TAPSE. At 1 year, good correlations are observed between TAPSE, S′ wave, and LS values.
Amazonian Anopheles with low numbers of oocysts transmit Plasmodium vivax sporozoites during a blood meal
Authors: Pereira-Silva Jordam William , Martins-Campos Keillen Monick , Ferreira-Neto José Vicente , Lacerda Marcus Vinicius Guimarães , Pessoa Felipe Arley Costa , Ríos-Velásquez Claudia María 
Published: November 2022

AbstractAnopheles darlingi is the main malarial vector in the Brazilian Amazon region. An. nuneztovari s.l., An. triannulatus s.l., An. evansae, and An. benarrochi s.l. do not have a defined role as malarial vectors, although they have been found to be naturally infected with Plasmodium vivax, and some develop oocysts. In this study, we evaluated the importance of low numbers of oocysts in sporozoite salivary gland invasion and transmission. Field-collected mosquitoes were experimentally infected with P. vivax. The infection rates and oocyst and sporozoite infection intensities were evaluated and compared with those of An. aquasalis. We found the highest number of oocysts in An. darlingi (mean = 39.47) and the lowest in An. nuneztovari s.l. (mean = 2). The highest number of sporozoites was observed in An. darlingi (mean = 610) and lowest in An. benarrochi s.l. (mean = 30). Plasmodium vivax DNA was detected in the saliva of all mosquito species after a blood meal. Regardless of the number of oocysts, all species transmitted sporozoites during blood meals. Considering the abundance of these mosquitoes and transmission of sporozoites, it is logical to assume that An. nuneztovari s.l. and An. triannulatus s.l. are involved in the transmission of P. vivax.
Investigating the electronic structure of high explosives with X-ray Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Paredes-Mellone Oscar A. , Nielsen Michael H. , Vinson John , Moua Konmeng , Skoien K. Dean , Sokaras Dimosthenis , Willey Trevor M. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractWe investigate the sensitivity and potential of a synergistic experiment-theory X-ray Raman spectroscopy (XRS) methodology on revealing and following the static and dynamic electronic structure of high explosive molecular materials. We show that advancedab-initiotheoretical calculations accounting for the core-hole effect based on the Bethe-Salpeter Equation (BSE) approximation are critical for accurately predicting the shape and the energy position of the spectral features of C and N core-level spectra. Moreover, the incident X-ray dose typical XRS experiments require can induce, in certain unstable structures, a prominent radiation damage at room temperature. Upon developing a compatible cryostat module for enabling cryogenic temperatures ($$\approx$$≈10 K) we suppress the radiation damage and enable the acquisition of reliable experimental spectra in excellent agreement with the theory. Overall, we demonstrate the high sensitivity of the recently available state-of-the-art X-ray Raman spectroscopy capabilities in characterizing the electronic structure of high explosives. At the same time, the high accuracy of the theoretical approach may enable reliable identification of intermediate structures upon rapid chemical decomposition during detonation. Considering the increasing availability of X-ray free-electron lasers, such a combined experiment-theory approach paves the way for time-resolved dynamic studies of high explosives under detonation conditions.
Serological and molecular prevalence study of bluetongue virus in small domestic ruminants in Morocco
Authors: Daif Soukaina , El Berbri Ikhlass , Lhor Youssef , Fassi Fihri Ouafaa 
Published: November 2022

AbstractBluetongue is an arthropod-borne viral disease transmitted by Culicoides biting midges, affecting domestic and wild ruminants. The current study aims to assess the seroprevalence of the bluetongue virus (BTV) and confirm its active circulation among sheep and goats populations in Morocco, as well as study the risk factors associated with BTV infection. To this end, a total of 1651 samples were randomly collected from 1376 sheep and 275 goats in eight (out of 12) regions of the country between March 2018 and July 2021.These samples were primarily tested using competitive ELISA (c-ELISA). Subsequently, 65% of c-ELISA positives (n = 452) were analyzed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The results revealed an overall BTV seroprevalence in small ruminants in Morocco of 41.7%, including 42.6% in sheep and 37.5% in goats. The RT-qPCR results showed that the overall BTV viropositivity rate was 46.7%, including 48.1% in sheep and 41.8% in goats. These viro-serological rates varied significantly by age, sex, and breed of the tested animals, husbandry method, season, and geographic origin. This indicates that these parameters constitute risk factors for BTV transmission routes in Morocco. The findings also indicate that goats play a role as reservoirs in maintaining the BTV in Morocco. It appears from this study that bluetongue is endemic in Morocco. The environmental and climate conditions as well as the husbandry methods adopted in the country are particularly favorable for the virus transmission throughout the country.