bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High energy superstable hybrid capacitor with a self‐regulated Zn/electrolyte interface and 3D graphene‐like carbon cathode
Authors: Chodankar Nilesh R. , Patil Swati J. , Lee Sangjin , Lee Jaeho , Hwang Seung‐Kyu , Shinde Pragati A. , Bagal Indrajit V. , Karekar Smita V. , Seeta Rama Raju Ganji , Shanmugam Ranjith Kugalur , Dubal Deepak P. , Huh Yun‐Suk , Han Young‐Kyu
Published: July 2022

Rechargeable aqueous zinc ion hybrid capacitors (ZIHCs), as an up‐and‐comer aqueous electrochemical energy storage system, endure in their infancy because of the substandard reversibility of Zn anodes, structural deterioration of cathode materials, and narrow electrochemical stability window. Herein, a scalable approach is described that addresses Zn‐anode/electrolyte interface and cathode materials associated deficiencies and boosts the electrochemical properties of ZIHCs. The Zn‐anode/electrolyte interface is self‐regulated by alteration of the traditional Zn2+ electrolyte with Na‐based supporting salt without surrendering the cost, safety, and green features of the Zn‐based system which further validates the excellent reversibility over 1100 h with suppressed hydrogen evolution. The deficits of cathode materials were overcome by using a high‐mass loaded, oxygen‐rich, 3D, multiscaled graphene‐like carbon (3D MGC) cathode. Due to the multiscaled texture, high electronic conductivity, and oxygen‐rich functional groups of 3D MGC, reversible redox capacitance was obtained with a traditional adsorption/desorption mechanism. Prototype ZIHCs containing the modified electrolyte and an oxygen‐rich 3D MGC cathode resulted in battery‐like specific energy (203 Wh kg−1 at 1.6 A g−1) and supercapacitor‐type power capability (4.9 kW kg−1 at 8 A g−1) with outstanding cycling durability (96.75% retention over 30 000 cycles at 10 A g−1). These findings pave the way toward the utilization of highly efficient ZIHCs for practical applications.

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Impact of Total Hip Replacements on the Incidence of Hip Fractures in Norway During 1999–2019. A Norwegian Epidemiologic Osteoporosis Studies (NOREPOS) Study
Authors: Kjeldgaard Helena Kames , Meyer Haakon E. , O'Flaherty Martin , Apalset Ellen M. , Dahl Cecilie , Emaus Nina , Fenstad Anne Marie , Furnes Ove , Gjertsen Jan-Erik , Hoff Mari , Schei Berit , Søgaard Anne Johanne , Tell Grethe S. , Holvik Kristin
Published: July 2022

The knowledge about why hip fracture rates in Norway have declined is sparse. Concurrent with decreasing hip fracture rates, the rates of total hip replacements (THRs) have increased. We wanted to investigate if hip fracture rates continued to decline, and whether the increase in THRs had any influence on this decline, assuming that living with a hip prosthesis precludes fracture of the operated hip. Information on hip fractures in Norway 1999–2019 was available from the Norwegian Epidemiologic Osteoporosis Studies (NOREPOS) hip fracture database and population size were available in official population tables from Statistics Norway. Primary THRs (for any cause except hip fracture) 1989–2019 were obtained from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register. We calculated the annual age-standardized incidence rates of hip fracture by sex for the period 1999–2019. The hip fracture rates in a scenario with no hip prostheses were calculated by subtracting 0.5 persons from the population at risk for each prevalent hip prosthesis, considering that each person has two hips at risk of fracture. We estimated how much of the decline could be attributed to the increased prevalence of hip prostheses. From 1999 to 2019, age-standardized incidence rates of hip fracture decreased by 27% in women and 20% in men. The rates remained stable in those under 70 years and decreased in those 70 years and above. Excluding replaced hips from the population at risk led to higher incidence rates, and this impact was considerably larger at higher ages. The increased prevalence of hip prostheses over the period accounted for approximately 18% (20% in women and 11% in men) of the observed decline in hip fracture rates. In conclusion, the incidence of hip fractures continued to decline, and the increasing number of people living with hip prostheses contributed significantly to the observed declining time trends. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Protective effect of zinc supplementation on tricalcium phosphate particles‐induced inflammatory osteolysis in mice
Authors: Yang Pei , Zhang Tao , Zhu Ruirong , Shen Yuchen , Pan Yuefang , Zhang Yun
Published: July 2022

Zinc (Zn), an essential trace element, can stimulate bone formation and inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption, which controls the growth and maintenance of bone. However, the effect of Zn supplementation on tricalcium phosphate (TCP) wear particles‐induced osteolysis remains unknown. Here, we doped Zn into TCP particles (ZnTCP), and explore the protective effects of Zn on TCP particles‐induced osteolysis in vivo. TCP particles and ZnTCP particles were embedded under the periosteum around the middle suture of the mouse calvaria. After 2 weeks, blood, the periosteal tissue, and the calvaria were collected to determine serum levels of Zn and osteocalcin, pro‐inflammatory cytokines, bone biochemical markers, osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption area, and to explain its mechanism. Data revealed that Zn significantly prevented TCP particles‐induced osteoclastogenesis and bone loss, and increased bone turnover. The Zn supplement remarkably suppressed the release of pro‐inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β, and IL‐6. Immunoblotting demonstrated that Zn alleviated expression levels of ER stress‐related proteins such as glucose‐regulated protein 78 (GRP78), PKR‐like ER kinase (PERK), phospho‐PERK (p‐PERK), eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), phospho‐eIF2α (p‐eIF2α), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), inositol‐requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1‐α) and transcription factor X‐box binding protein spliced (XBP1s), leading to decreasing the ratios of p‐PERK/PERK and p‐eIF2α/eIF2α. Taken together, Zn supplementation strongly prevents TCP particles‐induced periprosthetic osteolysis via inhibition of the ER stress pathway, and it may be a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of aseptic prosthesis loosening.
From wasteland to oasis: Transformative effects of trees on farmland and livelihoods
Authors: Nienkerke Inga , Patt Anthony
Published: July 2022

In face of today's alarming trend of resource degradation and reversal of poverty reduction, path‐breaking strategies are needed. However, there is limited evidence to inform the design of policies. We scrutinized an agricultural development program that follows a holistic approach and includes the cultivation of fruit trees, to tackle this natural resource degradation and human vulnerability nexus. Can it transform so‐called wastelands and lift marginalized smallholders out of poverty? The geographic rollout of the program produced a natural experiment that allowed for an evaluation design with treatment and control groups and a survey of 2000 households randomly sampled from 188,231 participants in four Indian states, covering geographically diverse areas. This is the first time that the livelihood impacts of such farming systems have been analyzed on such a large scale and over a 23‐year period. Our results show that degraded farmland can be transformed into green assets if poverty alleviation and environmental regeneration are tackled in a holistic manner. We find a clear and significant trend in the improvement of socio‐economic factors, including higher income and positive life changes, as well as ecological benefits. By assessing the potential of trees to reverse environmental degradation and alleviate chronic poverty, this study provides much‐needed evidence for the science‐policy dialog of development programs. This video (3 minutes) gives an impression of the context of the study (VideoS1).
MED27, SLC6A7, and MPPE1 Variants in a Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder with Severe Dystonia
Authors: Reid Kimberley M. , Spaull Robert , Salian Smrithi , Barwick Katy , Meyer Esther , Zhen Juan , Hirata Hiromi , Sheipouri Diba , Benkerroum Hind , Gorman Kathleen M. , Papandreou Apostolos , Simpson Michael A. , Hirano Yoshinobu , Farabella Irene , Topf Maya , Grozeva Detelina , Carss Keren , Smith Martin , Pall Hardev , Lunt Peter , De Gressi Susanna , Kamsteeg Erik‐Jan , Haack Tobias B. , Carr Lucinda , Guerreiro Rita , Bras Jose , Maher Eamonn R. , Scott Richard H. , Vandenberg Robert J. , Raymond F. Lucy , Chong Wui K. , Sudhakar Sniya , Mankad Kshitij , Reith Maarten E. , Campeau Philippe M. , Harvey Robert J. , Kurian Manju A.
Published: July 2022

Background

Despite advances in next generation sequencing technologies, the identification of variants of uncertain significance (VUS) can often hinder definitive diagnosis in patients with complex neurodevelopmental disorders.

Objective

The objective of this study was to identify and characterize the underlying cause of disease in a family with two children with severe developmental delay associated with generalized dystonia and episodic status dystonicus, chorea, epilepsy, and cataracts.

Methods

Candidate genes identified by autozygosity mapping and whole‐exome sequencing were characterized using cellular and vertebrate model systems.

Results

Homozygous variants were found in three candidate genes: MED27, SLC6A7, and MPPE1. Although the patients had features of MED27‐related disorder, the SLC6A7 and MPPE1 variants were functionally investigated. SLC6A7 variant in vitro overexpression caused decreased proline transport as a result of reduced cell‐surface expression, and zebrafish knockdown of slc6a7 exhibited developmental delay and fragile motor neuron morphology that could not be rescued by L‐proline transporter–G396S RNA. Lastly, patient fibroblasts displayed reduced cell‐surface expression of glycophosphatidylinositol‐anchored proteins linked to MPPE1 dysfunction.

Conclusions

We report a family harboring a homozygous MED27 variant with additional loss‐of‐function SLC6A7 and MPPE1 gene variants, which potentially contribute to a blended phenotype caused by multilocus pathogenic variants. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Unveiling degradation mechanism of PAHs by a Sphingobium strain from a microbial consortium
Authors: Zhang Lige , Liu Huan , Dai Junbiao , Xu Ping , Tang Hongzhi
Published: July 2022

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of persistent pollutants with adverse biological effects and pose a serious threat to ecological environments and human health. The previously isolated phenanthrene‐degrading bacterial consortium (PDMC) consists of the genera Sphingobium and Pseudomonas and can degrade a wide range of PAHs. To identify the degradation mechanism of PAHs in the consortium PDMC, metagenomic binning was conducted and a Sphingomonadales assembly genome with 100% completeness was obtained. Additionally, Sphingobium sp. SHPJ‐2, an efficient degrader of PAHs, was successfully isolated from the consortium PDMC. Strain SHPJ‐2 has powerful degrading abilities and various degradation pathways of high‐molecular‐weight PAHs, including fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, and chrysene. Two ring‐hydroxylating dioxygenases, five cytochrome P450s, and a pair of electron transfer chains associated with PAH degradation in strain SHPJ‐2, which share 83.0%–99.0% similarity with their corresponding homologous proteins, were identified by a combination of Sphingomonadales assembly genome annotation, reverse‐transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and heterologous expression. Furthermore, when coexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) with the appropriate electron transfer chain, PhnA1B1 could effectively degrade chrysene and benzo[a]anthracene, while PhnA2B2 degrade fluoranthene. Altogether, these results provide a comprehensive assessment of strain SHPJ‐2 and contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanism responsible for the PAH degradation.
Measuring glomerular blood transfer rate in kidney using diffusion‐weighted arterial spin labeling
Authors: Ahn Hyun‐Seo , Jung Yujin , Park Sung‐Hong
Published: July 2022

Purpose

To propose a two‐compartment renal perfusion model for calculating glomerular blood transfer rate () as a new measure of renal function.

Theory

The renal perfusion signal was divided into preglomerular and postglomerular flows according to flow velocity. By analyzing perfusion signals acquired with and without diffusion gradients, we estimated , the blood transfer rate from the afferent arterioles into the glomerulus.

Methods

A multislice multidelay diffusion‐weighted arterial spin labeling sequence was applied to subjects with no history of renal dysfunctions. In the multiple b‐value experiment, images were acquired with seven b‐values to validate the bi‐exponential decays of the renal perfusion signal and to determine the appropriate b‐value for suppressing preglomerular flow. In the caffeine challenge, six subjects were scanned twice on the caffeine day and the control day. The values of the two dates were compared.

Results

The perfusion signal showed a bi‐exponential decay with b‐values. There was no significant difference in renal blood flow and arterial transit time between caffeine and control days. In contrast, cortical was significantly higher on the caffeine day (caffeine day: min control day: min ). These results were consistent with those from the literature.

Conclusion

We showed that the perfusion signal consists of two compartments of preglomerular flow and postglomerular flow. The proposed diffusion‐weighted arterial spin labeling could measure the glomerular blood transfer rate (), which was sensitive enough to noninvasively monitor the caffeine‐induced vasodilation of afferent arterioles.
Accuracy, Precision, and Optimal Sampling Duration of Low-Frequency Electrofishing for Sampling Reservoir Flathead Catfish Populations
Authors: Montague Graham F. , Shoup Daniel E.
Published: July 2022

Flathead Catfish Pylodictis olivaris are popular among anglers; however, information about their sampling is limited. Low-frequency electrofishing (LFE) is the most used method for sampling Flathead Catfish, but LFE data quality (precision and accuracy) has not been previously studied. Therefore, we evaluated accuracy, precision, and optimal sampling duration for maximizing precision of LFE sampling for Flathead Catfish. To quantify accuracy, we created known populations by tagging Flathead Catfish in Lake Carl Blackwell, Lake McMurtry, and Boomer Lake, Oklahoma, with numbered modified Carlin dangler tags and calculated their capture probabilities from recapture data with a Cormack–Jolly–Seber model, with water temperature as an environmental covariate and fish size as an individual covariate. Capture probability was negatively correlated with increases in fish length for Lake Carl Blackwell and Lake McMurtry but was positively correlated with increases in fish length for Boomer Lake. Capture probability was highest at warmer temperatures at Lake Carl Blackwell and Lake McMurtry but was highest at lower water temperatures at Boomer Lake. Therefore, catch rate and size bias varied by system, but size bias was still relatively consistent at all temperatures within lakes (i.e., lake-specific differences in slopes were subtle even though significantly different), indicating that LFE could be used to detect relative changes in size structure if temperatures were standardized. Catch rates were highest and most consistent from June to September when water temperatures were ≥24°C. The number of 5-min LFE efforts needed to achieve a relative standard error ≤25% was lowest when water temperature was ≥20°C from months between May and September. Catch rates and size structure did not differ between LFE efforts (5, 10, or 15 min), suggesting that any LFE effort would produce similar relative abundance estimates.
Efficacy of nigella sativa oil on endothelial function and atherogenic indices in patients with coronary artery diseases: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐control clinical trial
Authors: Tavakoli‐Rouzbehani Omid Mohammad , Abbasnezhad Mohsen , Kheirouri Sorayya , Alizadeh Mohammad
Published: July 2022

A therapeutic compound with antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects might be a practical approach in endothelial dysfunction caused by oxidation and inflammation associated with atherosclerosis. Therefore, we aim to examine the efficacy of Nigella sativa (NS) oil supplementation on endothelial function and atherogenic indices in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Sixty individuals aged between 35 to 65 years old were recruited and divided into two groups, receiving either 2 g/daily of NS oil or sunflower oil as the placebo for 8 weeks. Serum levels of adhesion molecules, oxidative markers, and atherogenic parameters were evaluated at the starting point and the end of supplementation. Serum levels of vascular cell adhesion protein 1 (sVCAM‐1) [−264.44 95% C, (156.83, 372.04)], intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM‐1) [−132.38 95% C, (40.64, 224.1)], and malondialdehyde (MDA) [−0.21 95% C, (0.03, 0.40)] declined significantly following NS supplementation, while total antioxidant capacity increased [0.03 95% C, (0.03, 0.16)]. NS oil supplementation demonstrated a potential beneficial effect on endothelial function by reducing ICAM‐1, VCAM‐1 levels and affecting oxidative markers. However, further studies are necessary to elucidate NS oil as a therapeutic agent and complementary therapy in patients with stable CAD.
Tuning the Selective Ethanol Oxidation on Tensile‐Trained Pt(110) Surface by Ir Single Atoms
Authors: Zhang Genlei , Cao Dongjie , Guo Shiyu , Fang Yan , Wang Qi , Cheng Sheng , Zuo Wansheng , Yang Zhenzhen , Cui Peng
Published: July 2022

Development of efficient and robust electrocatalysts for complete oxidation of ethanol is critical for the commercialization of direct ethanol fuel cells. However, the complete oxidation of ethanol suffers from poor efficiency due to the low C1 pathway selectivity. Herein, single‐atomic Ir (Ir1) onhcp‐PtPb/fcc‐Pt core–shell hexagonal nanoplates (PtPb@PtIr1HNPs) enclosed by Pt(110) surface with a 7.2% tensile strain is constructed to drive complete electro‐oxidation of ethanol. Benefiting from the construction of Ir1sites, the PtPb@PtIr1HNPs exhibit a Faraday efficiency of 57.93% for the C1 pathway, which is ≈8.3 times higher than that of the commercial Pt/C‐JM. Furthermore, the PtPb@PtIr1HNPs show a top‐ranked electro‐activity achieving 45.1‐fold and 56.3‐fold higher than the specific and mass activities of Pt/C‐JM, respectively. Meanwhile, the durability can be significantly enhanced by the construction of Ir1sites. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the strong synergy on the PtPb@PtIr1HNPs surface significantly promotes the breaking of CC bond of CH2CO* and facilitates CO oxidation and suppresses the deactivation of the catalyst. This work offers a unique single‐atom approach using low‐coordination active sites on shape‐controlled nanocrystals to tune the selectivity and activity toward complicated catalytic reactions.
Self‐Powered High‐Voltage Recharging System for Removing Noxious Tobacco Smoke by Biomimetic Hairy‐Contact Triboelectric Nanogenerator
Authors: Zhang Jianjun , Chen Pengfei , Zu Lulu , Yang Jin , Sun Yanshuo , Li Hao , Chen Baodong , Wang Zhong Lin
Published: July 2022

The most common size range of particulate matter (PM) in tobacco smoke is 1.0 to 5.0 microns; however, a high number of the most harmful PM is as small as 0.5 micron that is a serious threat to human health, and it is difficult to remove. There is an urgent need to develop a new purification technology for high‐efficiency removing tobacco smoke with easily construction and low cost. Here, a method of self‐powered high‐voltage recharging system is demonstrated by designing biomimetic hairy‐contact triboelectric nanogenerator (BHC‐TENG) for long‐lasting adsorption with a wide range from PM 0.5 to PM 10. The open‐circuit voltage of BHC‐TENGs reaches 8.42 KV, which can continuously charge injection to the melt‐blown fabric, whose surface potential is able to maintain nearly 260 V level and create a uniform electrostatic adsorption field on the surface. This high‐voltage recharging system reduces the concentration of PMs to World Health Organization (WHO) standards, maintaining the purification efficiency of PM 0.5– PM 10 persistently over 90%.
AmPyfier: Test amplification in Python
Authors: Schoofs Ebert , Abdi Mehrdad , Demeyer Serge
Published: July 2022

Test amplification aims to automatically improve a test suite. One technique generates new test methods through transformations of the original tests. These test amplification tools heavily rely on analysis techniques that benefit a lot from type declarations present in the source code of projects written in statically typed languages. In dynamically typed languages, such type declarations are not available, and therefore, research regarding test amplification for those languages is sparse. Recent work has brought test amplification to the dynamically typed language Pharo Smalltalk by introducing the concept of dynamic type profiling. The technique is dependent on Pharo‐specific frameworks and has not yet been generalized to other languages. Another significant downside in test amplification tools based on the mutation score of a test suite is their high time cost. In this paper, we present AmPyfier, a tool that brings test amplification and type profiling to the dynamically typed language Python. AmPyfier introduces multi‐metric selection in order to increase the time efficiency of test amplification. We evaluated AmPyfier on 11 open‐source projects and found that AmPyfier could strengthen 37 out of 54 test classes. Multi‐metric selection decreased the time cost ranging from 17% to 98% as opposed to selection based on the full mutation score.
Carbodiimide‐Induced Formation of Transient Polyether Cages**
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Mosharraf , Jayalath Isuru M. , Baral Renuka , Hartley C. Scott
Published: July 2022

The use of “fuel” compounds to drive chemical systems out of equilibrium is currently of interest because of the potential for temporally controlled, responsive behavior. We have recently shown that transiently formed crown ethers exhibit counterintuitive templation effects when generated in the presence of alkali metal cations: “matched” cations, such as K+with an 18‐crown‐6 analogue, suppress the formation of the macrocycles (negative templation). In this work, we describe two macrocyclic diacids that, on treatment with carbodiimides, give transient macrobicyclic cages analogous to polyether cages. Negative templation effects are observed for the smaller cage when generated in the presence of K+and Na+, but there is a weak, but reproducible, positive templation effect in the presence of Li+. The larger cage behaves similarly in the presence of Li+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+, but differently with Na+, which appears to bind to both the cage and the initial macrocycle.
Differences and similarities between familial and sporadic frontotemporal dementia: An Italian single‐center cohort study
Authors: Benussi Alberto , Libri Ilenia , Premi Enrico , Alberici Antonella , Cantoni Valentina , Gadola Yasmine , Rivolta Jasmine , Pengo Marta , Gazzina Stefano , Calhoun Vince D. , Gasparotti Roberto , Zetterberg Henrik , Ashton Nicholas J. , Blennow Kaj , Padovani Alessandro , Borroni Barbara
Published: July 2022

Introduction

The possibility to generalize our understandings on treatments and assessments to both familial frontotemporal dementia (f‐FTD) and sporadic FTD (s‐FTD) is a fundamental perspective for the near future, considering the constant advancement in potential disease‐modifying therapies that target particular genetic forms of FTD. We aimed to investigate differences in clinical features, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and blood‐based biomarkers between f‐FTD and s‐FTD.

Methods

In this longitudinal cohort study, we evaluated a consecutive sample of symptomatic FTD patients, classified as f‐FTD and s‐FTD according to Goldman scores (GS). All patients underwent clinical, behavioral, and neuropsychiatric symptom assessment, CSF biomarkers and serum neurofilament light (NfL) analysis, and brain atrophy evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

Of 570 patients with FTD, 123 were classified as f‐FTD, and 447 as s‐FTD. In the f‐FTD group, 95 had a pathogenic FTD mutation while 28 were classified as GS = 1 or 2; of the s‐FTD group, 133 were classified as GS = 3 and 314 with GS = 4. f‐FTD and s‐FTD cases showed comparable demographic features, except for younger age at disease onset, age at diagnosis, and higher years of education in the f‐FTD group (all P < .05). f‐FTD showed worse behavioral disturbances as measured with Frontal Behavioral Inventory (FBI) negative behaviors (14.0 ± 7.6 vs. 11.6 ± 7.4, P = .002), and positive behaviors (20.0 ± 11.0 vs. 17.4 ± 11.8, P = .031). Serum NfL concentrations were higher in patients with f‐FTD (70.9 ± 37.9 pg/mL) compared to s‐FTD patients (37.3 ± 24.2 pg/mL, P < .001), and f‐FTD showed greater brain atrophy in the frontal and temporal regions and basal ganglia. Patients with f‐FTD had significantly shorter survival than those with s‐FTD (P = .004).

Discussion

f‐FTD and s‐FTD are very similar clinical entities, but with different biological mechanisms, and different rates of progression. The parallel characterization of both f‐FTD and s‐FTD will improve our understanding of the disease, and aid in designing future clinical trials for both genetic and sporadic forms of FTD.

Highlights

Do clinical features and biomarkers differ between patients with familial frontotemporal dementia (f‐FTD) and sporadic FTD (s‐FTD)?

In this cohort study of 570 patients with FTD, f‐FTD and s‐FTD share similar demographic features, but with younger age at disease onset and diagnosis in the f‐FTD group.

f‐FTD showed higher serum neurofilament light concentrations, greater brain damage, and shorter survival, compared to s‐FTD.

f‐FTD and s‐FTD are very similar clinical entities, but with different cognitive reserve mechanisms and different rates of progression.
High visit‐to‐visit blood pressure variability predicts global cognitive decline: The Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Daniel George D. , Chen Haiying , Bertoni Alain G. , Hughes Timothy M. , Hayden Kathleen M.
Published: July 2022

Background

Research of hypertension‐related risk factors for Alzheimer's disease has typically focused on blood pressure (BP) levels, despite evidence that high blood pressure variability (BPV) over time may predict poorer cardiovascular, neuropathological, and neurocognitive outcomes. We evaluated associations between BPV and cognitive function in the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Methods

Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses of BP data across six examinations were used to determine associations that BPV (average real variability [ARV], variability independent of the mean [VIM]) and group‐based latent BP trajectories have with cognitive function, decline, and impairment, measured by the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI), Digit Symbol Coding (DSC), and Digit Span tests.

Results

Participants (N = 1314; mean baseline age = 57) were 50% female, and 48% White. Higher systolic (β = −0.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.12, −0.0001) and diastolic (β = −0.08, 95% CI: −0.14, −0.02) ARV predicted increased global cognitive decline after covariate adjustment. Stronger relationships between BPV and global cognition were in older, White and Black participants, apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 non‐carriers, male participants, and non‐antihypertensive medication users.

Conclusion

Results suggest that higher systolic and diastolic BPV is an independent risk factor for cognitive dysfunction and decline in this multi‐ethnic cohort. This relationship differs across demographic and clinical characteristics.
The emergent role of mitochondrial RNA modifications in metabolic alterations
Authors: Boughanem Hatim , Böttcher Yvonne , Tomé‐Carneiro João , López de las Hazas María‐Carmen , Dávalos Alberto , Cayir Akin , Macias‐González Manuel
Published: July 2022

Mitochondrial epitranscriptomics refers to the modifications occurring in all the different RNA types of mitochondria. Although the number of mitochondrial RNA modifications is less than those in cytoplasm, substantial evidence indicates that they play a critical role in accurate protein synthesis. Recent evidence supported those modifications in mitochondrial RNAs also have crucial implications in mitochondrial‐related diseases. In the light of current knowledge about the involvement, the association between mitochondrial RNA modifications and diseases arises from studies focusing on mutations in both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA genes encoding enzymes involved in such modifications. Here, we review the current evidence available for mitochondrial RNA modifications and their role in metabolic disorders, and we also explore the possibility of using them as promising targets for prevention and early detection. Finally, we discuss future directions of mitochondrial epitranscriptomics in these metabolic alterations, and how these RNA modifications may offer a new diagnostic and theragnostic avenue for preventive purposes.

This article is categorized under:

RNA Processing > RNA Editing and Modification
Mechanisms of immune effector cell‐associated neurotoxicity syndrome after CAR‐T treatment
Authors: Gu Tianning , Hu Kejia , Si Xiaohui , Hu Yongxian , Huang He
Published: July 2022

Chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell (CAR‐T) treatment has revolutionized the landscape of cancer therapy with significant efficacy on hematologic malignancy, especially in relapsed and refractory B cell malignancies. However, unexpected serious toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell‐associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) still hamper its broad application. Clinical trials using CAR‐T cells targeting specific antigens on tumor cell surface have provided valuable information about the characteristics of ICANS. With unclear mechanism of ICANS after CAR‐T treatment, unremitting efforts have been devoted to further exploration. Clinical findings from patients with ICANS strongly indicated existence of overactivated peripheral immune response followed by endothelial activation‐induced blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, which triggers subsequent central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and neurotoxicity. Several animal models have been built but failed to fully replicate the whole spectrum of ICANS in human. Hopefully, novel and powerful technologies like single‐cell analysis may help decipher the precise cellular response within CNS from a different perspective when ICANS happens. Moreover, multidisciplinary cooperation among the subjects of immunology, hematology, and neurology will facilitate better understanding about the complex immune interaction between the peripheral, protective barriers, and CNS in ICANS. This review elaborates recent findings about ICANS after CAR‐T treatment from bed to bench, and discusses the potential cellular and molecular mechanisms that may promote effective management in the future.

This article is categorized under:

Cancer > Biomedical Engineering

Immune System Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology

Neurological Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology
The coordination number rule and its implications – a review
Authors: Beck Horst P.
Published: July 2022

We give a review on the coordination number rule and its implications. We demonstrate how even rather complex (non‐molecular) structures can be rationalized and sometimes even predicted starting from primary coordination numbers of cations only, and we show how connectivity formulas of a Niggli‐type can be inferred from such a simple starting point. Furthermore, we derive a measure to describe the segregation of different ions within the general matrix and we point out that it can be due not only to chemical disparities of the components but also to simple numerical relations between stoichiometric coefficients and coordination numbers. It can be shown that Pauling's electrostatic valence rule must sometimes necessarily be violated depending on such numerical relations. We finally address the principle of electrostatic balance as a driving force for creating certain topologies which seem surprising at first glance, and we may thereby help to “reconcile” with the “violations” of Pauling's rule.
Back to Design Basics: Reflections, Challenges and Essentials of a Designer’s Survival Kit during a Pandemic
Authors: Chatterjee Ritushree , Juvale Darshana , He Long , Evans Lynn Lundy
Published: July 2022

Innovation is at its best when we are thrusted into an emergency situation that tests protocols and established norms. In this chapter, authors reflect on the journey of a team of instructional designers in an online learning design unit of a large mid-western university amidst COVID-19. With the influx of a multitude of courses to be transitioned to the online platform, authors describe challenges faced by their unit, coping mechanisms, and lessons learned during this phase. They describe inclusive design thinking and uninterrupted practice in return to robust instructional design models, such as Understanding by Design and Universal Design for Learning. The chapter concludes with examples of tried and tested internal tools and an adaptive workflow catering to a shortened development timeline. These practices and reflections serve as a guiding light as the global world navigates online learning to meet increasing demands of new-age digital accessibility and online course design considerations in higher education beyond COVID-19.
Exploring Namibia’s Educational Emergency Response Teaching: A Policy and Practice Perspective
Authors: Boer Perien Joniell , Asino Tutaleni I.
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged educators and education systems globally to rethink education. Using the Context, Input, Process, Product (CIPP) evaluation model we argue that the sudden shift to emergency remote teaching highlighted the importance of (1) understanding the goals and objectives for emergency remote teaching and how they were communicated to and internalized by stakeholders (context); (2) considering the existing internal resources necessary for supporting the transition to another form of learning delivery (input); (3) asking which aspects of the education system affected the feasibility and effectiveness of the transition (process), and (4) reflecting on the interactions and responses of stakeholders regarding their experiences with the sudden move to fully online learning (product). In this chapter, we use the CIPP to explore the educational response during emergency teaching in Namibia. We aim to unpack the decisions, and processes, employed during the COVID-19 lockdown in the country.
Implementation of a Digital Live-Action Gaming Experience for Interprofessional Learning and Training
Authors: Thomas Andre , Li Yun , Kaunas Christine L. , Newcomb Marty , Carrino Gerard E. , Greenwood Lori D. , St. Louis Patrick D. , Marklund LeRoy A. , Samuel Nephy G. , Chapa Hector O.
Published: July 2022

Interprofessional education is required by all athletic training, medical, pharmacy, nursing, and public health students at Texas A&M University. One such opportunity for collaborative training has been Disaster Day, the nation’s largest student-led interprofessional emergency response simulation. This annual training of 500–800 students takes place on a single day, in two 4-h sessions, at a designated site on campus. Due to COVID-19, the simulation could not be offered in-person in 2020, so the organizers looked for alternative solutions. We opted to use digital games, which have been proposed and used for formal and informal education for several years. While there have been games specifically developed for interprofessional training, none of those games were readily available for use by other institutions, nor is their focus on disaster response. In this chapter, we provide a detailed analysis of how an interdisciplinary team of health professions educators and game designers met interprofessional learning requirements while maintaining student engagement. Lessons from an abbreviated schedule and limited budget will be discussed. The approach incorporated different technologies and tools that are readily available. We will discuss pitfalls, assumptions, and full implementation of our approach. This will allow others to replicate our method and create similar highly engaging learning experiences for remote and online learning.
Moving Volleyball Coaches Education Online: A Case Study
Authors: Buchner Josef , Plessl Martin
Published: July 2022

Traditionally, volleyball coaches’ education has been conducted physically in the gym and classroom, but due to Covid-19 and the actions needed to contain the pandemic, that was no longer possible in the spring of 2020. Instead of canceling the already planned course we decided to move the course online. The development process was guided by the question if we can teach volleyball-specific skills online. As a result, we designed a fully online blended learning course with a problem-centered approach and authentic video-based tasks. A total of 23 prospective coaches took part in the course. Skills acquisition was measured using a pretest-posttest design revealing a large effect of our design on skills acquisition. Additionally, we surveyed participants attitudes towards the learning design. The results show that prospective coaches were satisfied with the design and perceived the online learning course as useful for volleyball coaches’ education. Based on the results, we can recommend the combination of videos and interactive content to provide authentic problem-centered tasks to facilitate skills online in volleyball coaches’ education.
Reopening Campuses: Visualizing the Structure of a System Problem
Authors: Ali Hadi , McKenna Ann
Published: July 2022

The process of reopening of college campuses in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic sheds light on underlying features of the educational system. Understanding the various models of reopening gives us insight into how the education system is structured through the responses of the various college campuses—a unique opportunity to capturing issues of inertial momentum against change in the past, and projecting into the future. We propose visualizing the structure of a system problem as a way to allow the problem to become visible through mental models. We illustrate our approach through causal loops—the core tool for systems thinking. We discuss the construction of one visual model, based on publicly available resources, to be used as a starting point for a discussion. The model points to the importance of making informed, high-level early decisions, in the case of a crisis, as this shows to be a highly dependent variable in the model. This finding is shown to be supported by ongoing research on faculty adaptability in different contexts. Visualizing mental models in systems thinking does not seek to unnecessarily capture all the details of the complexity of the educational system; rather, it aims to externalize deep problems, which, in turn, demonstrate opportunities for transformation in the future.
Utilizing Rapid Needs Assessment to Strengthen PK-12 Teaching and Learning Affordances in Emergency Remote Teaching
Authors: Bagdy Lauren M. , Stefaniak Jill E.
Published: July 2022

The purpose of this chapter is to explore how PK-12 teachers can use rapid needs assessment strategies to support their students during emergency remote teaching. Using the contextual lens of the emergency remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, this chapter provides a review of challenges faced by teachers and students. In response to similar future emergency remote teaching situations, we recommend the use of rapid needs assessment to mitigate similar challenges. This chapter provides an overview of needs assessment and outlines applicable rapid needs assessment strategies that can be used by PK-12 teachers if they are faced with emergency remote teaching in the future.
The Effects of Covid-19 on Rural School Communities in Guyana: New Directions or Old Methods Retooled
Authors: Bissessar Charmaine
Published: July 2022

The true effect of the pandemic will not be felt for many years. However, the present effect of the pandemic has resulted in a digital canyon between the haves and have nots concerning accessibility to devices and Internet connectivity. Rural school communities are feeling the effects of the pandemic. This qualitative methodology, based on the descriptive phenomenology approach, examined the views of a purposive sampling of 12 secondary school teachers who are teaching in rural Guyana (hinterland) regions, in order to understand some of the issues they and their students are facing. The issues were learning loss, the COVID slide, and digital divide. In order to mitigate these effects the teachers have been using first- and second-generation media (community boards, radio, and supermarket distribution sites). Their resilience and grit are evidenced as they continue the education process. Rural communities have galvanized into action to provide spaces for sharing worksheets and to ensure that no child is left behind.
Mobile Learning for Emergency Situations: Four Design Cases from Latin America
Authors: Castellanos-Reyes Daniela , Romero-Hall Enilda , Vasconcelos Lucas , García Belen
Published: July 2022

This practitioner-focused chapter addresses mobile learning in the Latin American context during the COVID-19 emergency. To guarantee continuity of education during the COVID-19 pandemic, instructors adopted remote education. Even though much of the remote education relied heavily on computers, millions of learners in Latin America do not have a household computer. Nonetheless, mobile connectivity is very high in Latin America, and therefore, mobile learning has greatly supported institutions during remote education. Mobile learning significantly supports learning at a distance in countries that face infrastructure challenges. Even more in the Latin American context, where mobile devices may be low-cost alternatives to computers. We present four design cases about mobile learning for continuity of education during emergencies. Each design case addresses a different country, audience, and content. The design cases focus on generic technology applications regularly used by practitioners and students. The four design cases are: (1) foreign language learning and social studies to 1st – fourth graders using online blogs in Brazil; (2) teaching STEM to 8th–12th graders through social media (i.e., YouTube/WhatsApp) in Panama; (3) education to 6th–12th graders through social media (i.e., YouTube/WhatsApp/Facebook) in Mexico, and (4) humanities higher education using instant messaging and cloud-based platforms (i.e., WhatsApp, Google Drive platform) in Colombia. Recommendations for practitioners and policymakers are provided.
Targeting lactate dehydrogenase B-dependent mitochondrial metabolism affects tumor initiating cells and inhibits tumorigenesis of non-small cell lung cancer by inducing mtDNA damage
Authors: Deng Haibin , Gao Yanyun , Trappetti Verdiana , Hertig Damian , Karatkevich Darya , Losmanova Tereza , Urzi Christian , Ge Huixiang , Geest Gerrit Adriaan , Bruggmann Remy , Djonov Valentin , Nuoffer Jean-Marc , Vermathen Peter , Zamboni Nicola , Riether Carsten , Ochsenbein Adrian , Peng Ren-Wang , Kocher Gregor Jan , Schmid Ralph Alexander , Dorn Patrick , Marti Thomas Michael
Published: July 2022

Once considered a waste product of anaerobic cellular metabolism, lactate has been identified as a critical regulator of tumorigenesis, maintenance, and progression. The putative primary function of lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB) is to catalyze the conversion of lactate to pyruvate; however, its role in regulating metabolism during tumorigenesis is largely unknown. To determine whether LDHB plays a pivotal role in tumorigenesis, we performed 2D and 3D in vitro experiments, utilized a conventional xenograft tumor model, and developed a novel genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), in which we combined an LDHB deletion allele with an inducible model of lung adenocarcinoma driven by the concomitant loss of p53 (also known as Trp53) and expression of oncogenic KRAS (G12D) (KP). Here, we show that epithelial-like, tumor-initiating NSCLC cells feature oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) phenotype that is regulated by LDHB-mediated lactate metabolism. We show that silencing of LDHB induces persistent mitochondrial DNA damage, decreases mitochondrial respiratory complex activity and OXPHOS, resulting in reduced levels of mitochondria-dependent metabolites, e.g., TCA intermediates, amino acids, and nucleotides. Inhibition of LDHB dramatically reduced the survival of tumor-initiating cells and sphere formation in vitro, which can be partially restored by nucleotide supplementation. In addition, LDHB silencing reduced tumor initiation and growth of xenograft tumors. Furthermore, we report for the first time that homozygous deletion of LDHB significantly reduced lung tumorigenesis upon the concomitant loss of Tp53 and expression of oncogenic KRAS without considerably affecting the animal’s health status, thereby identifying LDHB as a potential target for NSCLC therapy. In conclusion, our study shows for the first time that LDHB is essential for the maintenance of mitochondrial metabolism, especially nucleotide metabolism, demonstrating that LDHB is crucial for the survival and proliferation of NSCLC tumor-initiating cells and tumorigenesis.
The use of a modified posterior approach (SPAIRE) may be associated with an increase in return to pre-injury level of mobility compared to a standard lateral approach in hemiarthroplasty for displaced intracapsular hip fractures: a single-centre study of the first 285 cases over a period of 3.5 years
Authors: Charity John , Ball Susan , Timperley Andrew J.
Published: July 2022

Background and purpose

A tendon-sparing modification of the posterior approach to the hip joint was introduced in the specialist hip unit at our institution in 2016. The SPAIRE technique—acronym for “Saving Piriformis And Internus, Repair of Externus” preserves the insertions of gemellus inferior, obturator internus, gemellus superior and piriformis intact. We compare the results of the first 285 hip hemiarthroplasty patients, unselected but preferentially treated by our hip unit surgeons using the SPAIRE technique, with 567 patients treated by all orthopaedic surgeons (including the hip unit) in the department over the same 3.5 year period using the standard lateral approach. We report length of stay, return to pre-injury level of mobility, place of residence and mortality at 120 days.

Patients and methods

The review included all hemiarthroplasty patients. Pre-fracture mobility and place of residence, surgical approach, grade of senior surgeon in theatre, stem modularity, acute and overall length of stay, mobility, place of residence, re-operations and mortality at 120 days were recorded. Data were obtained from the National Hip Fracture Database that included a telephone follow-up at 120 days and from electronic patient records.

Results

The odds of returning to pre-injury level of mobility were higher in the SPAIRE technique group than in the standard lateral group; adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval (CI)) 1.7 (1.1 to 2.7, p = 0.01).

Interpretation

When used in hip hemiarthroplasty, the SPAIRE technique appears safe and may confer benefit in maintaining the pre-injury level of mobility over the standard lateral approach.