bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distinct Heterocyclic Moieties Govern the Selectivity of Thiophene‐Vinylene‐Based Ligands towards Aβ or Tau Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Björk Linnea , Shirani Hamid , Todarwal Yogesh , Linares Mathieu , Vidal Ruben , Ghetti Bernardino , Norman Patrick , Klingstedt Therése , Nilsson K. Peter R.
Published: September 2023

Distinct aggregated proteins are correlated with numerous neurodegenerative diseases and the development of ligands that selectively detect these pathological hallmarks is vital. Recently, the synthesis of thiophene‐based optical ligands, denoted bi‐thiophene‐vinyl‐benzothiazoles (bTVBTs), that could be utilized for selective assignment of tau pathology in brain tissue with Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, was reported. Herein, we investigate the ability of these ligands to selectively distinguish tau deposits from aggregated amyloid‐β (Aβ), the second AD associated pathological hallmark, when replacing the terminal thiophene moiety with other heterocyclic motifs. The selectivity for tau pathology was reduced when introducing specific heterocyclic motifs, verifying that specific molecular interactions between the ligands and the aggregates are necessary for selective detection of tau deposits. In addition, ligands having certain heterocyclic moieties attached to the central thiophene‐vinylene building block displayed selectivity to aggregated Aβ pathology. Our findings provide chemical insights for the development of ligands that can distinguish between aggregated proteinaceous species consisting of different proteins and might also aid in creating novel agents for clinical imaging of tau pathology in AD.
Diaminocyclopentadienone Ruthenium Complex Catalyzed Alkylation of Indoles and Ketones with Primary Alcohols
Authors: Skowaisa Steffen , Haak Edgar
Published: September 2023

A diaminocyclopentadienone ruthenium complex has proven to be a highly effective catalyst for the alkylation of indoles or ketones with poorly reactive alcohols. The catalyst is readily available, air and moisture stable and exhibits wide functional group tolerance. The environmentally benign procedure follows a borrowing hydrogen mechanism and requires no excess of either component. Various indoles and ketones are selectively monoalkylated in high yield.
Simultaneous electrochemical determination of cadmium(II), lead(II), and mercury(II) ions in water and food samples using N1‐hydroxy‐N1,N2‐diphenylbenzamidine and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes modified carbon paste electrode
Authors: Tesfaye Endale , Singh Chandravanshi Bhagwan , Negash Negussie , Tessema Merid
Published: September 2023

A novel modified carbon paste electrode has been developed using a laboratory synthesized metal chelating ligand (L), N1‐hydroxy‐N1,N2‐diphenylbenzamidine (HDPBA) and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) composite (L‐MWCNTs/CPE). The developed modified electrode was applied for selective and sensitive simultaneous electrochemical determination of cadmium(II), lead(II), and mercury(II) using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). The accumulation of metal ions on the electrode surface was performed in 0.1 M acetate buffer solution (ABS, pH 5.0) by applying a potential of–1.10 V versus Ag/AgCl for 210 s, followed by stripping in the positive potential scan of the SWASV after a rest time of 10 s. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the linear dynamic ranges were found to be 2×10−4–2, 1×10−4–2 and 2×10−3–2 μM of cadmium(II), lead(II), and mercury(II), respectively, with the detection limits (LODs) of 2.5×10−2, 7.8×10−3 and 4.6×10−1 nM for cadmium(II), lead(II), and mercury(II), respectively. The proposed electrode exhibited high sensitivity for the determination of these metal ions with excellent reproducibility and stability. The influence of several ions on the simultaneous determination of Cd(II), Pb(II), and Hg(II) was studied, and the prepared electrode was found to be highly selective for the detection of the three metal ions. The developed electrode was effectively applied to the determination of the three metal ions in water, vegetable and tobacco samples, and the obtained results were similar to those measured with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS).
Local prediction pools
Authors: Oelrich Oscar , Villani Mattias , Ankargren Sebastian
Published: September 2023

We propose local prediction pools as a method for combining the predictive distributions of a set of experts conditional on a set of variables believed to be related to the predictive accuracy of the experts. This is done in a two‐step process where we first estimate the conditional predictive accuracy of each expert given a vector of covariates—or pooling variables—and then combine the predictive distributions of the experts conditional on this local predictive accuracy. To estimate the local predictive accuracy of each expert, we introduce the simple, fast, and interpretable caliper method. Expert pooling weights from the local prediction pool approaches the equal weight solution whenever there is little data on local predictive performance, making the pools robust and adaptive. We also propose a local version of the widely used optimal prediction pools. Local prediction pools are shown to outperform the widely used optimal linear pools in a macroeconomic forecasting evaluation and in predicting daily bike usage for a bike rental company.
Influence of reservoir oil charging on diagenesis and reservoir quality: An example from Dunlin Reservoir Sandstones, East Shetland Basin, North Sea, UK
Authors: Okunuwadje Sunday E. , Ogbe Ovie B. , Odokuma‐Alonge Ovie
Published: September 2023

The sandstone facies from two reservoir blocks (extensional fault walls) of the Dunlin Field have been studied to evaluate the impact of the reservoir charge history on the diagenesis and reservoir quality of these sandstones. The study has identified seven main reservoir sandstone facies (D1–D7) from the reservoir crestal block (oil leg) to the flank block (water leg). These sandstone facies exhibited similar diagenetic patterns, controlled by their depositional parameters, hence having the same porosity and permeability values in both reservoir blocks (legs) until hydrocarbon charging in the Late Cretaceous‐Pliocene. The burial and thermal model indicates that these reservoirs were charged at a temperature of 60–75°C during the 80–50 Ma and 95–100°C during the 10 Ma to Present, and significantly controlled the mesodiagenetic output, notably illite, and quartz authigenesis. The reservoir oil leg recorded a higher amount of recovered bitumen (ca. 95%) than the water leg (ca. 5%), indicating that hydrocarbon charging of the sandstone reservoir was progressive rather than instantaneous, first filling the water leg (palaeo‐oil leg). Subsequent leak‐off depleted this reservoir block and remigrated to fill the reservoir leg (palaeo‐water). The fluctuating oil charging and leakage between these two reservoir fault blocks modulated diagenetic alteration of these reservoir sandstones; hence is the cause of the minor disparity in porosity values between these reservoir legs contrary to the wide variation between conventional reservoir oil‐ and water‐legs distinguished by hydrocarbon emplacement with no such complex history. This study, therefore, demonstrates the importance of evaluating the depositional and diagenetic controls on reservoir quality and charging of hydrocarbon‐bearing sandstones for optimum oil production and recovery in clastic depositional settings.
Functional, cognitive, and cerebrovascular aspects of depression before coronary artery bypass graft surgery: Testing the vascular depression hypothesis
Authors: Choi Joy J. , Kukla Bennett , Walsh Patrick , Oldham Mark A. , Lee H. Benjamin
Published: September 2023

Objective

Depression in patients undergoing coronary artery graft bypass (CABG) surgery is associated with morbidity and mortality, making its early identification and clinical management crucial. Vasculopathy and older age, hallmarks of patients requiring CABG, are also features of vascular depression. In this study, we assess for features of vascular depression in patients undergoing CABG surgery.

Methods

This is a cross‐sectional analysis of a single‐site prospective observational cohort study of patients undergoing CABG surgery. Subjects were assessed preoperatively using the Depression Interview and Structured Hamilton (DISH), depression scales, transcranial Doppler, neuropsychological testing, and clinical dementia rating (CDR).

Results

Of 161 subjects (mean age 66.2 ± 9.3, female 25%) who completed DISH, 18 had major or minor depression, 17 of whom had a past history of major or minor depression (mean age of onset 35.8 years‐old). Pre‐CABG depression was associated with greater functional impairment on CDR Sum of Boxes (OR = 3.7, 95% CI: 1.4, 9.7) and worse performance on letter fluency test (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.81, 0.99) and trail‐making tests (A: OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.12; B: OR 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.04). Pre‐CABG depression was not associated with middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis.

Conclusions

Pre‐CABG depression is associated with cognitive and functional impairment similar to vascular depression, but we did not find evidence of an association with older age of onset and MCA stenosis. Further studies on white matter disease in this population are needed to examine the vascular depression hypothesis for pre‐CABG depression.
Both stronger and weaker cerebro‐cerebellar functional connectivity patterns during processing of spoken sentences in autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Alho Jussi , Samuelsson John G. , Khan Sheraz , Mamashli Fahimeh , Bharadwaj Hari , Losh Ainsley , McGuiggan Nicole M. , Graham Steven , Nayal Zein , Perrachione Tyler K. , Joseph Robert M. , Stoodley Catherine J. , Hämäläinen Matti S. , Kenet Tal
Published: September 2023

Cerebellar differences have long been documented in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet the extent to which such differences might impact language processing in ASD remains unknown. To investigate this, we recorded brain activity with magnetoencephalography (MEG) while ASD and age‐matched typically developing (TD) children passively processed spoken meaningful English and meaningless Jabberwocky sentences. Using a novel source localization approach that allows higher resolution MEG source localization of cerebellar activity, we found that, unlike TD children, ASD children showed no difference between evoked responses to meaningful versus meaningless sentences in right cerebellar lobule VI. ASD children also had atypically weak functional connectivity in the meaningful versus meaningless speech condition between right cerebellar lobule VI and several left‐hemisphere sensorimotor and language regions in later time windows. In contrast, ASD children had atypically strong functional connectivity for in the meaningful versus meaningless speech condition between right cerebellar lobule VI and primary auditory cortical areas in an earlier time window. The atypical functional connectivity patterns in ASD correlated with ASD severity and the ability to inhibit involuntary attention. These findings align with a model where cerebro‐cerebellar speech processing mechanisms in ASD are impacted by aberrant stimulus‐driven attention, which could result from atypical temporal information and predictions of auditory sensory events by right cerebellar lobule VI.
Calix[8]arene‐Based Manganese Complexes for Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction
Authors: Berlanga‐Vázquez Armando , Castillo Ivan
Published: September 2023

Transition metal catalysts with modified second‐coordination sphere employed in the electrocatalytic CO2 can result in increased activity or directed product selectivity. Calixarenes can form metal complexes and potentially catalyze reactions within its cavity, taking advantage of the surrounding phenols groups to tune the reactivity by second‐coordination sphere effects. Here, we present a Mn(I) bromotricarbonyl complex with phenanthroline‐functionalized calix[8]arene ligands capable of electrocatalytically reducing CO2 into different products with 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol as proton donor. The selectivity of the reaction seems to be affected by the calixarene cavity: two calixarene‐free analogous complexes reduce CO2 to CO almost exclusively, while the calixarene complexes produce primarily CO, H2. Interestingly, in some cases the less frequently observed CH4 was also detected, albeit with low Faradaic efficiency. Thus, the manganese center placed within the calixarene cavity promotes the formation of reduced CO2 products by more than two electrons and two protons, affording CH4 in some cases.
Extrauterine adenomyoma: A case report and systematic review of the literature
Authors: Giorgi Matteo , Labanca Luca , Centini Gabriele , Lazzeri Lucia , Martire Francesco Giuseppe , Sorrentino Ester , Mancini Virginia , Raimondo Diego , Raffone Antonio , Neola Daniele , Aru Anna Chiara , Habib Nassir , Casadio Paolo , Seracchioli Renato , Zupi Errico
Published: September 2023

Objective

To describe a case of extrauterine adenomyoma (EA) and review all the cases of EA in the literature.

Methods

Pubmed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar from 1807 to December 2022. All studies reporting the histologic diagnosis of an EA. We collected the following data: patient's age, size and location of adenomyoma, presence of endometriosis and adenomyosis, past gynecologic treatment, symptoms, diagnostic imaging, surgical intervention, alternative/adjuvant treatment, associated malignancy, and follow up.

Results

Sixty‐seven studies with 85 patients were included. Pain was the most frequent symptom (69.5%). Among diagnostic examinations, ultrasonography was used in 60 out of 81 reported cases, with several radiologic features described. EA was located inside the pelvis in 77.6% of patients. Adnexa were the most frequent site of the disease (24, 28.2%). History of endometriosis or adenomyosis was described in 35 patients (35, 41.2%). Uterine tissue morcellation was reported in 6 of the 85 patients (7.1%). Associated malignancy was detected in 9 out of 85 patients with available data (10.6%). There were two recurrences of disease.

Conclusion

Specific imaging features of EA are yet to be described in the literature. History of endometriosis and adenomyosis or uterine tissue morcellation may be suggestive of EA. Histologic examination can give a definitive diagnosis and exclude malignant transformation.
Association of overweight and obesity with cumulative live birth rates according to women's age: A cohort study of 26 567 treatment cycles
Authors: Cai He , Xue Xia , Liu Xiaohua , Bai Haiyan , Shi Juanzi
Published: September 2023

Objective

To evaluate the effect of age on the association between maternal body mass index (BMI) and cumulative live birth rates (CLBRs) following in vitro fertilization treatment.

Method

We retrospectively analyzed the data of 26 567 women undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection from 2016 to 2019. We conducted multivariate regression analysis of the association between CLBRs and maternal BMI and age category.

Results

A total of 16 626 (62.58%) patients achieved a live birth. Women with obesity had significantly decreased CLBRs compared with women who had normal weight (odds ratio [OR] 0.73 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.66–0.80]). The significant interaction between age and BMI suggested that the impact of BMI on CLBRs was moderated by women's age (P interaction <0.001). The association between obesity and CLBRs was inverse among women aged <30 years (OR, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.54–0.73]), 30 to 34 years (OR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.67–0.93]), and 35 to 37 years (OR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.52–0.98]); however, decreases in CLBRs with obesity were not observed in women aged 38 to 40 years (OR, 1.17 [95% CI, 0.70–1.94]) and ≥ 41 years (OR, 1.25 [95% CI, 0.53–2.96]).

Conclusion

Maternal obesity was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of having a live birth, but the risk differed according to women's age. A higher BMI might have a less‐pronounced detrimental effect with increasing age.
Semaglutide and pregnancy
Authors: Skov Kenneth , Mandic Ida Nikoline , Nyborg Kathinka Marie
Published: September 2023

Synopsis

Both use and cessation of semaglutide constitutes problems prior to and during pregnancy. More problems are expected with increasing use.
An in situ self‐assembled peptide derivative for inhibition of glutathione synthesis and selective enhancement of tumor radiotherapy
Authors: Gong Xinyan , Cui Benhang , Li Paiyun , Gao Jie , Gao Yang , Cai Xiaoyao , Wang Hang , Zhang Wenxue , Yang Cuihong
Published: September 2023

Background

Inhibition of glutathione (GSH) synthesis in cancer cells considerably improves the efficacy of reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐related tumor therapy. Self‐assembled peptide derivatives can facilitate the efficient delivery and accumulation of small molecular drugs in cancer cells.

Methods

Self‐assembling modules were covalently linked to the GSH‐biosynthesis inhibitor l‐buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) by solid‐phase synthesis to form the self‐assembling peptide derivative Nap‐DFDFpY‐GG‐BSO (Nano‐BSO@ in situ). Subsequently, its enzyme‐instructed self‐assembly in vitro and on cell surfaces were confirmed, and its intracellular GSH depletion and radiotherapy‐sensitizing effects were determined.

Results

Nano‐BSO@ in situ successfully self‐assembles into a hydrogel with a nanofibrous microstructure upon incubation with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) at a critical concentration of 9.84 μM. Furthermore, it selectively self‐assembles in situ on HeLa cells with high ALP expression. At a concentration of 50 μM, Nano‐BSO@ in situ decreases intracellular GSH levels by 80%, ∼2.3 times more than free BSO. Meanwhile, pretreatment of HeLa cells with 50 μM Nano‐BSO@ in situ for 24 h results in a radiotherapy sensitization enhancement ratio to γ‐rays of 2.09.

Conclusions

A novel in situ self‐assembling peptide derivative for GSH depletion and selective enhancement of tumor radiotherapy was constructed. The excellent GSH‐depletion ability and remarkable radiotherapy‐enhancement performance indicate that Nano‐BSO@ in situ is a promising selective sensitizer for ROS‐related treatment of tumor cells with high ALP expression.
A scoping review of clinical pharmacist and pharmacy technician contributions to cystic fibrosis care
Authors: Kim Alexander S. , Thompson Amy N. , Axon David R. , Sabourin Ashley , Davies Madeleine J. , Shannon Carol , Nasr Samya Z. , Phan Hanna
Published: September 2023

The purpose of this scoping literature review was to assess available published literature/abstracts, and to examine described contributions by pharmacists and/or pharmacy technicians as part of the care of people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). This scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA‐ScR). Published abstracts and articles from inception through December 2022 were included if they described care of pwCF (all ages), with at least one group of participants receiving care/services from pharmacy staff, and were available in English. Data extractions were outcomes, study, and participant characteristics. From 756 abstracts and papers, 91 were included. The majority were published abstracts (n = 67), from the United States (n = 64), retrospective cohort study design (n = 47), involved pharmacist intervention (n = 75), with no comparison group (n = 48), and in an outpatient/ambulatory setting (n = 59). Most often, literature were descriptions of specific pharmacist services, evaluations of adding a pharmacist, or descriptions of overall pharmacist practice/role. Specific pharmacist services were defined as patient or caregiver education, adherence support, medication reconciliation, management of pulmonary exacerbations, and medication management (including monitoring, and telehealth). Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have contributed to the care of pwCF in various ways; however, much of the available data are currently disseminated in the form of conference abstracts. Efforts to support author publication of data as full peer‐reviewed publications should be prioritized as this data can help support others’ efforts to develop or support similar clinical pharmacy services.
Facile fabrication of an extended‐release tablet of Ticagrelor using three dimensional printing technology
Authors: Rastpeiman Sama , Panahi Zahra , Akrami Mohammad , Haririan Ismaeil , Asadi Maryam
Published: September 2023

The objective of the study was to fabricate tailored extended‐release tablets of blood thinner Ticagrelor as once‐daily dosing using additive manufacturing for better compliance in heart failure therapy. The solid work design of the tablet was printed using hot melt extrusion (HME) based 3D printing by optimized mixture of Eudragit RS‐100, plasticizer and drug for producing extrudable and printable filaments. FTIR and TGA results showed no covalent interaction among ingredients and no decomposition during HME process, respectively. Friability, weight variation, assay and content uniformity tests met USP requirements, while the mean hardness of the tablets was calculated in a value between 40 and 50 kg. According to DSC and XRD results, the crystallinity state of the Ticagrelor was converted to an amorphous one in the tablet matrix. Smooth surfaces with multiple deposited layers were observed using SEM. In comparison, the maximum Ticagrelor release of 100% after 120 min from Brilinta® tablets was decreased to 97% in 400 min from the 3D tablet at infill of 90%. Korsmeyer‐Peppas kinetic model showed the drug release mechanism is affected by diffusion and swelling. In general, fabrication of the extended‐release 3D printed tablet of Ticagrelor using HME‐based‐additive manufacturing has the potential to provide specific doses with tailored kinetic release for personalized medicine, improving adherence at point‐of‐care.
Long‐term outcomes in a 25‐year‐old female affected with lipin‐1 deficiency
Authors: Stepien Karolina M. , Schmidt Wolfgang M. , Bittner Reginald E. , O'Toole Orna , McNamara Brian , Treacy Eileen P.
Published: September 2023

Lipin‐1 is a phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase (EC 3.1.3.4) that catalyzes the dephosphorylation of phosphatidic acid to diacylglycerol and inorganic phosphate. Deficiency of this enzyme causes potentially fatal severe, recurrent episodes of rhabdomyolysis triggered by infection. The defect has only recently been recognized so little is known about the long‐term outcome in adult patients with this disorder. We report the course and outcome of a 25‐year‐old female patient with lipin‐1 deficiency after a recent episode of rhabdomyolysis requiring intensive care admission with a peak creatine kinase of 500 000 IU/L. One‐year post discharge from intensive care, the patient has residual drop foot bilaterally consistent with bilateral common peroneal neuropathies in addition to a background residual distal myopathy.
Working memory performance in glioma patients is associated with functional connectivity between the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and default mode network
Authors: Smolders Lars , De Baene Wouter , van der Hofstad Remco , Florack Luc , Rutten Geert‐Jan
Published: September 2023

In healthy subjects, activity in the default mode network (DMN) and the frontoparietal network (FPN) has consistently been associated with working memory (WM). In particular, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is important for WM. The functional–anatomical basis of WM impairment in glioma patients is, however, still poorly understood. We investigated whether WM performance of glioma patients is reflected in resting‐state functional connectivity (FC) between the DMN and FPN, additionally focusing on the DLPFC. Resting‐state functional MRI data were acquired from 45 glioma patients prior to surgery. WM performance was derived from a pre‐operative N‐back task. Scans were parcellated into ROIs using both the Gordon and Yeo atlas. FC was calculated as the average Pearson correlation between functional time series. The FC between right DLPFC and DMN was inversely related to WM performance for both the Gordon and Yeo atlas (p = .010). No association was found for FC between left DLPFC and DMN, nor between the whole FPN and DMN. The results are robust and not dependent on atlas choice or tumor location, as they hold for both the Gordon and Yeo atlases, and independently of location variables. Our findings show that WM performance of glioma patients can be quantified in terms of interactions between regions and large‐scale networks that can be measured with resting‐state fMRI. These group‐based results are a necessary step toward development of biomarkers for clinical management of glioma patients, and provide additional evidence that global disruption of the DMN relates to cognitive impairment in glioma patients.
The affinity of histamine to serum albumin: Capillary electrophoresis‐frontal analysis and in‐silico molecular docking approaches
Authors: Kalaycıoğlu Zeynep
Published: September 2023

Histamine is a biogenic amine found in various body tissues and responsible for many critical vital activities. It is also responsible for allergic reactions in the body. Ingestion of foods containing high amounts of histamine can cause fatal allergic reactions. Albumin in plasma controls drugs and free concentrations of bioactive constituents taken to the body with food. Hence, this study aimed to characterise the interactions of histamine with bovine serum albumin. Capillary electrophoresis in the frontal analysis mode was employed in this study as a practical approach for assessing histamine‐bovine serum albumin affinity. The plateau‐shaped free histamine peak was well separated from the bovine serum albumin (BSA)‐histamine complex peak. The free histamine concentration was obtained by following the height of the free histamine peak. Whereas the bound histamine concentrations were obtained by calculating the difference between the height of total and free histamine peaks. Histamine bound to BSA at one independent site with a Kb value of 2.50 × 103 L/mol. Moreover, an in‐silico molecular docking method was performed, and it was revealed that the binding site of histamine was located closer to Lysine‐131 in subdomain IIA of bovine serum albumin.
Electrophoretically deposited sulfonated poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene) on a screw for microextraction of cationic dyes from aqueous solutions
Authors: Osooli Payam , Yamini Yadollah , Tabibpour Mahmoud , Nasrollahi Seyedeh Sara , Nikfarjam Nasser
Published: September 2023

In the present work, a novel solid‐phase microextraction on a screw (MES) was employed to extract cationic dyes (malachite green, methylene blue, and rhodamine B) from food samples and fish breeding pool water. The sulfonated poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene) was electrophoretically deposited on the surface of the grooves of a screw. Then the screw was placed inside a silicon tube as a holder to create a channel to run a test solution through it. The extracted dyes on the coated screw were eluted by a suitable eluent. High‐performance liquid chromatography with an ultraviolet/visible detector was utilized for the separation and analysis of the analytes. The effective parameters of the analyte extraction efficiency were optimized. Under optimum conditions, the limits of detection were 0.15 μg/L, and calibration curves were linear in the range of 0.50–250.00 μg/L, with coefficients of determination > 0.989 for all studied dyes. The relative standard deviations of intra and inter‐day (n = 3) were in the range of 2.8%–7.0% and 7.0%–9.5%, respectively. The MES was applied as a simple and repeatable method with acceptable relative recoveries (82.0%–103.0%) for the determination of cationic dyes in grape nectar, ice pop, jelly powder, and fish breeding pool water.
Local‐scale abiotic factors influence the organization of rock pool arthropod communities in a biodiversity hotspot
Authors: Kulkarni Mihir R. , Paripatyadar Shruti V. , Naniwadekar Rohit , Joshi Jahnavi
Published: September 2023

Determining drivers of community assembly is central to ecology, and patchily distributed temporary habitats offer an ideal system to study the roles of ecological and evolutionary processes in structuring communities over different spatial scales. We studied functionally diverse arthropod communities in 32 freshwater rock pools on 3 plateaus in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, sampling them throughout their hydroperiod (2–7 months). Using the Hierarchical Modeling of Species Communities approach, we assessed (a) the influence of local (water chemistry, habitat complexity at the pool level) and regional (seasonality in temperature and precipitation at the plateau level) scale abiotic covariates in shaping species' occurrence, (b) the influence of species traits (dispersal/reproductive mode, body size, feeding guild) and phylogenetic relationships on species response to abiotic covariates, and (c) the strength of biotic filtering in the communities. Environmental filtering was the dominant driver of community structure, where the pool‐level covariates (mainly hydroperiod and water chemistry), explained greater variation (56.3%) in species occurrences rather than plateau‐level covariates, that is, climatic seasonality (33.7%). Spatial factors explained only 11% of the variation in species occurrences. The selected traits explained 22% variation in species' responses, with body size responding to the abiotic covariates at both spatial scales. Closely related taxa exhibited shared responses to the abiotic covariates. Only a few residual associations were observed, all among passive dispersers, indicating a low contribution of biotic filtering to community structure. Our results highlight the importance of habitat‐level factors and the key role of evolutionary processes in shaping diversity in this vulnerable landscape characterized by its seasonality.
Analog Programmable‐Photonic Computation
Authors: Macho‐Ortiz Andrés , Pérez‐López Daniel , Azaña José , Capmany José
Published: September 2023

Digital electronics is a technological cornerstone in this modern society that has covered the increasing demand for computing power during the last decades thanks to a periodic doubling of transistor density in integrated circuits. Currently, such scaling law is reaching its fundamental limit, leading to the emergence of a large gamut of applications that cannot be supported by digital electronics, specifically, those that involve real‐time multi‐data processing, e.g., medical diagnostic imaging, robotic control, and autonomous driving, among others. In this scenario, an analog computing approach implemented in a real‐time reconfigurable nonelectronic hardware such as programmable integrated photonics (PIP) can be more efficient than digital electronics to perform these emerging applications. However, actual analog computing models such as quantum and neuromorphic computation were not conceived to extract the unique benefits of PIP (and integrated photonics in general). Here, the foundations of a new computation theory are presented, termed Analog Programmable‐Photonic Computation (APC), explicitly designed to unleash the full potential of PIP technology. Interestingly, APC enables overcoming basic theoretical and technological limitations of existing computational models and can be implemented in other technologies (e.g., in electronics, acoustics or using metamaterials), consequently exhibiting the potential to spark a ground‐breaking impact on the information society.
Poly(Oxanorbornene)‐Protein Conjugates Prepared by Grafting‐to ROMP as Alternatives for PEG
Authors: Davis Elizabathe , Caparco Adam A. , Steinmetz Nicole F. , Pokorski Jonathan K.
Published: September 2023

PEGylation is the gold standard in protein‐polymer conjugation, improving circulation half‐life of biologics while mitigating the immune response to a foreign substance. However, preexisting anti‐PEG antibodies in healthy humans are becoming increasingly prevalent and elicitation of anti‐PEG antibodies when patients are administered with PEGylated therapeutics challenges their safety profile. In the current study, two distinct amine‐reactive poly(oxanorbornene) (PONB) imide‐based water‐soluble block co‐polymers are synthesized using ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). The synthesized block‐copolymers include PEG‐based PONB‐PEG and sulfobetaine‐based PONB‐Zwit. The polymers are then covalently conjugated to amine residues of lysozyme (Lyz) and urate oxidase (UO) using a grafting‐to bioconjugation technique. Both Lyz‐PONB and UO‐PONB conjugates retained significant bioactivities after bioconjugation. Immune recognition studies of UO‐PONB conjugates indicated a comparable lowering of protein immunogenicity when compared to PEGylated UO. PEG‐specific immune recognition is negligible for UO‐PONB‐Zwit conjugates, as expected. These polymers provide a new alternative for PEG‐based systems that retain high levels of activity for the biologic while showing improved immune recognition profiles.
Amino acid ratio combinations as biomarkers for discriminating patients with pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency from other inborn errors of metabolism
Authors: Verma Anisha , Lehman April N. , Gokcan Hatice , Cropcho Lorna , Black Danielle , Dobrowolski Steven F. , Vockley Jerry , Bedoyan Jirair K.
Published: September 2023

Background

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency (PDCD) is a mitochondrial neurometabolic disorder of energy deficit, with incidence of about 1 in 42,000 live births annually in the USA. The median and mean ages of diagnosis of PDCD are about 12 and 31 months, respectively. PDCD is a major cause of primary lactic acidosis with concomitant elevation in blood alanine (Ala) and proline (Pro) concentrations depending on phenotypic severity. Alanine/Leucine (Ala/Leu) ≥4.0 and Proline/Leucine (Pro/Leu) ≥3.0 combination cutoff from dried blood spot specimens was used as a biomarker for early identification of neonates/infants with PDCD. Further investigations were needed to evaluate the sensitivity (SN), specificity (SP), and clinical utility of such amino acid (AA) ratio combination cutoffs in discriminating PDCD from other inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) for early identification of such patients.

Methods

We reviewed medical records of patients seen at UPMC in the past 11 years with molecularly or enzymatically confirmed diagnosis. We collected plasma AA analysis data from samples prior to initiation of therapeutic interventions such as total parenteral nutrition and/or ketogenic diet. Conditions evaluated included organic acidemias, primary mitochondrial disorders (MtDs), fatty acid oxidation disorders (FAOD), other IEMs on current newborn screening panels, congenital cardiac great vessel anomalies, renal tubular acidosis, and non‐IEMs. The utility of specific AA ratio combinations as biomarkers were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves, correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and cutoff SN, SP, and positive predictive value determined from 201 subjects with broad age range.

Results

Alanine/Lysine (Ala/Lys) and Ala/Leu as well as (Ala + Pro)/(Leu + Lys) and Ala/Leu ratio combinations effectively discriminated subjects with PDCD from those with other MtDs and IEMs on current newborn screening panels. Specific AA ratio combinations were significantly more sensitive in identifying PDCD than Ala alone or combinations of Ala and/or Pro in the evaluated cohort of subjects. Ala/Lys ≥3.0 and Ala/Leu ≥5.0 as well as (Ala + Pro)/(Leu + Lys) ≥2.5 and Ala/Leu ≥5.0 combination cutoffs identified patients with PDCD with 100% SN and ~85% SP.

Conclusions

With the best predictor of survival and positive cognitive outcome in PDCD being age of diagnosis, PDCD patients would benefit from use of such highly SN and SP AA ratio combination cutoffs as biomarkers for early identification of at‐risk newborns, infants, and children, for early intervention(s) with known and/or novel therapeutics for this disorder.
On an elliptic Kirchhoff–Boussinesq type problems with exponential growth
Authors: Carlos Romulo D. , Figueiredo Giovany M.
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we prove an existence result of nontrivial solutions for the problem

where
is a smooth bounded domain,
and
is a superlinear continuous function with exponential subcritical or critical growth. We apply the Nehari manifold method in order to prove the main result.
The eigenvalue ratio of the vibrating strings with mixed boundary condition
Authors: Gu Mengze , Sun Hongli
Published: September 2023

We provide the lower bound for the ratio of the first two eigenvalues for vibrating strings with the mixed boundary condition, where the density is single‐barrier defined in
and the transition point is 0. Moreover, the minimal ratio of the first two eigenvalues is attained by the constant.
In vivo lymph node CEST‐Dixon MRI in breast cancer patients with metastatic lymph node involvement
Authors: Donahue Manus J. , Donahue Paula M. C. , Jones R. Sky , Garza Maria , Lee Chelsea , Patel Niral J. , Cooper Andrea , De Vis Jill B. , Meszoely Ingrid , Crescenzi Rachelle
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Axillary lymph nodes (LNs) often present a reservoir for metastatic breast cancer, yet metastatic LN involvement cannot be discerned definitively using diagnostic imaging. This study investigated whether in vivo CEST may discriminate LNs with versus without metastatic involvement.

Methods

3T MRI was performed in patients with breast cancer before clinically‐indicated mastectomy or lumpectomy with LN removal, after which LN metastasic involvement was determined using histological evaluation. Non‐contrast anatomical imaging, as well as B0 and B1 field maps, were acquired in sequence with three‐point CEST‐Dixon (3D turbo‐gradient‐echo; factor = 25; TR/TE1/ΔTE = 851/1.35/1.1 ms; spatial‐resolution = 2.5 × 2.5 × 6 mm; slices = 10; four sinc‐gauss pulses with duty‐cycle = 0.5, total saturation duration = 701.7 ms; B1 = 1.5 μT; saturation offsets = −5.5 to +5.5 ppm; stepsize = 0.2 ppm; scan duration = 6 min 30 s). The mean z‐spectrum from LNs with (n = 20) versus without (n = 22) metastatic involvement were analyzed and a Wilcoxon rank‐sum test (significance: p < 0.05) was applied to evaluate differences in B0, B1, and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) in differing spectral regions of known proton exchange (nuclear Overhauser effect [NOE], amide, amine, and hydroxyl) between cohorts.

Results

No difference in axillary B1 (p = 0.634) or B0 (p = 0.689) was observed between cohorts. Elevated MTR was observed for the NOE (−1.7 ppm; MTR = 0.285 ± 0.075 vs. 0.248 ± 0.039; p = 0.048), amine (+2.5 ppm; MTR = 0.284 ± 0.067 vs. 0.234 ± 0.31; p = 0.005), and hydroxyl (+1 ppm; MTR = 0.394 ± 0.075 vs. 0.329 ± 0.055; p = 0.002) protons in LNs from participants with versus without metastatic involvement.

Conclusions

Findings are consistent with a unique metastatic LN microenvironment detectable by CEST‐Dixon and suggest that CEST MRI may have potential for mapping LN metastasis non‐invasively in vivo.
Factors influencing the decision to introduce alternative nutrition in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Yamamoto Toshiyuki , Mori‐Yoshimura Madoka , Oya Yasushi , Komaki Hirofumi , Takahashi Yuji
Published: September 2023

Introduction/Aims

Nutritional management of adults with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an important clinical issue. However, it is not clear which dysphagia‐related factors should prompt introduction of alternative nutrition (AN). We aimed to determine which patients with DMD were introduced to AN.

Methods

This retrospective study included 56 patients with DMD (median age, 23.5 years). They were divided into patients able to continue oral feeding (OF) and those introduced to AN. Body weight, frequency of ventilator use, daily meals, history of steroid treatment, results of videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing (VF), and awareness of dysphagia were evaluated.

Results

Of 56 patients, 19 were in the AN group. After AN introduction, 93% of the patients continued oral intake. The proportion of patients who consumed chopped and liquid diets was higher, and body weight was lower, in the AN than in the OF group. There were no significant differences in age, upper limb function of feeding, frequency of ventilator use, or history of steroid therapy between the two groups. The frequencies of aspiration and residue in the pyriform sinus in VF were higher in the AN group than in the OF group. Decision‐tree analysis showed that food form and subjective difficulty swallowing solid foods were the most important factors affecting the decision‐making for AN.

Discussion

Patients with DMD who had difficulty eating solid foods were started on AN because they were unable to maintain their weight. These findings provide information for future longitudinal studies to assess the value of AN.
Analytical solution for Fredlund–Hasan unsaturated consolidation using mode superposition method
Authors: Yuan Quan , He Qian , Lang Lin , Yang Xiaobing
Published: September 2023

This note presents an exact analytical solution of Fredlund–Hasan consolidation for unsaturated soils under an arbitrary loading using the mode superposition method. Air pressure and water pressure are expressed in a series of products of Eigen functions with respect to depth and normal coordinates with respect to time, respectively. A pressure function substitutes for the related homogeneous problem. Eigen functions can be first obtained based on two pairs of drainage condition. Then, the nonhomogeneous governing equations of unsaturated soils under constant loading, exponential loading, and sine loading are considered. After matrix algebraic manipulation, the normal coordinates can be obtained based on the initial conditions that compose the final solutions of the Fredlund–Hasan unsaturated consolidation. This solution can avoid inconvenient Laplace transform and inverse Laplace transform. Through comparisons with a classic example, the validation of the proposed analytical solution is verified against other analytical solutions and the finite difference method solutions.
Determinants of health‐related quality of life in children and adolescents living with type 1 diabetes mellitus during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Smudja Mirjana , Milenkovic Tatjana , Minakovic Ivana , Zdravkovic Vera , Mitic Sandra , Milutinovic Dragana
Published: September 2023

Aim

To identify the determinants of self‐reported health‐related quality of life in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus during the coronavirus pandemic.

Design

A cross‐sectional study.

Methods

The study sample included 182 children and adolescents who had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus at least 3 months prior. Data collection instruments included sociodemographic and glycaemic control protocol adherence questionnaires, documentation sheet for recording clinical data, and Serbian versions of the EuroQol‐5D‐Y and KidScreen27 questionnaires, which were used to assess health‐related quality of life.

Results

Glycaemic control adherence, presence of comorbidities, level of metabolic control, and type of insulin therapy were identified as key determinants of self‐reported health‐related quality of life.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contributions.
Study on the effect of carbon fiber ply angle on thermal response of CFRP laminate based on the thermal resistance network model
Authors: Bao Yongjie , Ma Yuxin , Yang Yuxing , Wang Jinlong , Cheng Dong
Published: September 2023

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) exhibits different heat transfer phenomena along the fiber direction and the transverse direction during the heat transfer process due to its anisotropic thermo‐physical properties, which makes it difficult to quantitatively analyze the overall thermal performance of CFRP with different ply angles. A thermal resistance network model of composite material considering fiber ply angle and heat transfer direction was developed based on the series–parallel resistance computing method, and it was applied to describe the test results measured by the thermal response tests of unidirectional carbon fiber laminates. Thermal resistance Rx along the heat transfer direction and Ry transverse to the heat transfer direction calculated by the proposed model, which are related with the thermal response of the specimen, can be utilized to reflect the temperature values and temperature distribution maps. It was found that as the fiber ply angle θ increases from 0° to 45°, thermal resistance in the x‐axis direction increases from about 0.13 K/W to 2.56 K/W, while thermal resistance in the y‐axis direction decreases about 48.7%. As a result, major axis of quasi‐ellipse temperature profile changes by about +45° relative to the x‐axis.

Highlights

A CFRP thermal resistance network model considering ply angle was proposed.

The series–parallel thermal resistance method is used to calculate Rx and Ry.

The ply angle from 0° to 45°, Rx increases several times and Ry decreases by half.

Major axis of elliptic temperature curve changes by +45° relative to the x‐axis.
The mediating role of cognitive flexibility and critical thinking in the relationship between academic motivation and fear of negative evaluation
Authors: Toprak Emre , Metin Ahmet , Ünalan Demet
Published: September 2023

Studies showed that fear of negative evaluation of students may affect their academic motivation. However, which variables mediate between academic motivation and fear of negative evaluation is unclear. This study aims to explore the mediating role of cognitive flexibility and critical thinking in the relationship between academic motivation and fear of negative evaluation in adolescents. A correlational design was used to examine this relationship. A total of 2085 adolescents ages 13–14 (65% female) participated in this study. The data were collected via self‐report screening tools, including a personal information form, Academic Motivation Scale, Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, Cognitive Flexibility Scale, and Critical Thinking Scale. The findings revealed a moderate negative correlation between academic motivation and fear of negative evaluation (r = −.49), and cognitive flexibility and critical thinking also partially mediate. This model explains approximately 41% of the total variance. Despite some limitations, our study provides partial evidence of the mediating effect of cognitive flexibility and critical thinking between academic motivation and fear of negative evaluation. More research is needed to develop the model.