bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Musical creativity in the teaching practice in Montenegrin and Slovenian primary schools
Authors: Martinović Bogojević Jelena , Rotar Pance Branka
Published: February 2022

Musical creativity is represented through the activity of “creation” in the curricula for music education in both Montenegrin and Slovenian primary schools. Starting from the assumption that this activity is insufficiently realised, a survey of the teaching practice of the specialist music teachers in the two countries was conducted (N = 154). The obtained results show that creative musical activities are moderately represented in teaching practice and that Slovenian teachers achieve programme-defined goals related to the activities through which pupils create their own music to a greater extent. The results also indicate the particular circumstances that, in real school conditions, make it difficult to systematically realise this activity within regular music classes.
Whose Crisis? Syrian Refugees and the Turkish Stage
Authors: FİŞEK EMİNE
Published: February 2022

Since the eruption of the Syrian civil war in 2011, the arrival of refugees in Turkey has been unprecedented in the country's history. Theatre practitioners have been slow to address this migratory moment, but an exception has been Istanbul-based Dostlar Tiyatrosu's 2017 production Göçmenleeeer, a translation of Romanian–French playwright Matéi Visniec's Migraaaants. Developed in the context of Europe's own migratory ‘crisis’, Migraaaants is composed of a series of vignettes that critique European refugee policy and the deadly economies that it has prompted in the continent's borderlands. What happens when Migraaaants is produced in a national context where the binary of European ‘hosts’ and non-European ‘refugees’ gives way to another set of political identities? How do we assess the emergence of a shared paradigm of ‘crisis’? And finally, where does crisis stand in relation to our ability to imagine a transnational aesthetics of political resistance to anti-immigration policies?
Unlearning History: Mark Teh and the Spectres of Baling
Authors: ARFARA KATIA
Published: February 2022

Held in December 1955, the Baling talks represented a unique attempt to end the Malayan emergency through a negotiated peace between the British colonial government and the Malayan Communist Party, but it also marked the beginning of the Cold War in Asia. This paper focuses on Mark Teh's long-term investigations, as a researcher and theatre director for the Five Arts Centre in Kuala Lumpur, into this historically significant Cold War event and its representation. Teh's performance Baling is examined as an exemplary collaborative project that expands Western definitions of the documentary theatre, while highlighting the continuing efforts of South East Asian artists to contest cultural regionalism and colonial knowledge systems. Drawing on Brechtian aesthetics and postcolonial theory, Teh appropriates diverse forms of politically engaged art in order to question the role of history and the archive in the solidification of nationalist ideologies and identity binaries in the post-war era.
Prediction of embryo implantation rate using a sole parameter of timing of starting blastulation
Authors: Soukhov Elena , Karavani Gilad , Szaingurten-Solodkin Irit , Alfayumi-Zeadna Samira , Elharar Guy , Richter Dganit , Wainstock Tamar , Zeadna Atif , Levitas Eliahu , Har-Vardi Iris
Published: February 2022

A time-lapse monitoring system provides a complete picture of the dynamic embryonic development process and simultaneously supplies extensive morphokinetic data. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the use of the morphokinetic parameter of time of starting blastulation (tSB) can improve the implantation rate of day-5 transferred blastocyst selected based on morphological parameters. In this retrospective study we analyzed the morphokinetics of 196 day-5 transferred blastocysts, selected solely based on morphological parameters. The interval time from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to time of starting blastocyst formation (tSB) was calculated for each embryo. The overall implantation rate of transferred blastocyst, selected based only on morphological parameters, was 49.2%. Implantation rate, determined retrospectively, was significantly higher (58.8% versus 42.6%, P = 0.02) for embryos with a short interval time to tSB (78–95.9 h) compared with embryos with a longer timeframe (96–114 h). Time of expanded blastocyst (tEB) post-ICSI was also significantly associated with implantation; however, this parameter was not available for all the embryos at time of transfer. When we tested only high ranked KIDScore day-3 sub-group embryos, the implantation rate was significantly higher in short interval time embryos compared with longer interval time embryos (62.2% vs. 45.5%, respectively, P = 0.02).

These observations emphasize the importance of the timing of starting blastulation over blastocyst morphological parameters and may provide a preferable criterion for good morphology day-5 blastocyst selection.
Spontaneous thrombus formation in native aortic root in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome: clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes
Authors: Abraham Carol J. , Salkini Anas , Burkhart Harold , Nakamura Yuki , Mir Arshid
Published: February 2022

We report a neonate who presented with spontaneous thrombus formation in the native aortic root after Norwood palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Thrombus formation led to myocardial ischaemia due to decreased coronary blood flow with electrocardiographic signs of ischaemia and elevated cardiac enzymes. Aggressive thrombolysis and anticoagulation therapy were major contributors to successful outcome.
To Watch Before or Listen While Doing? A Randomized Pilot of Video-Modelling versus Telementored Tube Thoracostomy
Authors: Kirkpatrick Andrew W. , Tomlinson Corey , Donley Nigel , McKee Jessica L. , Ball Chad G. , Wachs Juan P.
Published: February 2022

Background:

New care paradigms are required to enable remote life-saving interventions (RLSIs) in extreme environments such as disaster settings. Informatics may assist through just-in-time expert remote-telementoring (RTM) or video-modelling (VM). Currently, RTM relies on real-time communication that may not be reliable in some locations, especially if communications fail. Neither technique has been extensively developed however, and both may be required to be performed by inexperienced providers to save lives. A pilot comparison was thus conducted.

Methods:

Procedure-naïve Search-and-Rescue Technicians (SAR-Techs) performed a tube-thoracostomy (TT) on a surgical simulator, randomly allocated to RTM or VM. The VM group watched a pre-prepared video illustrating TT immediately prior, while the RTM group were remotely guided by an expert in real-time. Standard outcomes included success, safety, and tube-security for the TT procedure.

Results:

There were no differences in experience between the groups. Of the 13 SAR-Techs randomized to VM, 12/13 (92%) placed the TT successfully, safely, and secured it properly, while 100% (11/11) of the TT placed by the RTM group were successful, safe, and secure. Statistically, there was no difference (P = 1.000) between RTM or VM in safety, success, or tube security. However, with VM, one subject cut himself, one did not puncture the pleura, and one had barely adequate placement. There were no such issues in the mentored group. Total time was significantly faster using RTM (P = .02). However, if time-to-watch was discounted, VM was quicker (P = .000).

Conclusions:

Random evaluation revealed both paradigms have attributes. If VM can be utilized during “travel-time,” it is quicker but without facilitating “trouble shooting.” On the other hand, RTM had no errors in TT placement and facilitated guidance and remediation by the mentor, presumably avoiding failure, increasing safety, and potentially providing psychological support. Ultimately, both techniques appear to have merit and may be complementary, justifying continued research into the human-factors of performing RLSIs in extreme environments that are likely needed in natural and man-made disasters.
The Squire Law Library: Celebrating Foster's Design. A Return to Forever
Authors: Wills David
Published: February 2022

In this article David Wills, the Librarian of the Squire Law Library, offers a brief description of the extraordinary range of architecture at the University of Cambridge with particular reference to the David Williams Building, designed by the world-renowned architects Foster + Partners. He suggests that, in the context of the Squire Law Library, which occupies the top three floors of the David Williams Building, the building has truly come of age; he looks at some of the features and challenges of its modern design; and notes that the building looks set to play a major part in the education and research activity of legal scholars and university students into the distant future. This article is a personal reflection based on the author's experience of using and working in the building for some 26 years since it was constructed and opened in the mid-1990s.
SCTS Library Services: a History
Authors: Findlay Jennifer
Published: February 2022

This article by Jennifer Findlay describes the history and the current library service and research support provided for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS). The library team manage resources across all the SCTS sites in Scotland. This account looks at the history of the SCTS, the current library service and the future.
The Society of Solicitors in the Supreme Courts of Scotland (aka The SSC Society)
Authors: Wilcox Christine
Published: February 2022

In this article Christine Wilcox describes the library of the Society of Solicitors in the Supreme Courts of Scotland, otherwise known as the SSC Society. She looks at the history of the library, its work and how the library has evolved. She also describes how things have changed in the last few decades and, most recently, what the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have been on the service.
Identifying Red Herrings in American Legal Research
Authors: Gow Erin
Published: February 2022

This article presents useful clues for British law librarians and legal researchers conducting research on American laws and legal systems. It focuses on general guidelines and key sticking points the author, Erin Gow, found when transitioning between legal research in the American and British jurisdictions. Key skills introduced include the ability to: differentiate between federal and state legal jurisdictions in the US; recognize key differences in American legal terminology and construct searches using American terms; analyze and select key American legal resources for different types of research questions; and identify American standards of legal citation. This article is based on the presentation that the author gave at the BIALL Online Annual Conference in June 2021.
Building an Academic Law Library from Scratch
Authors: Bennett Greg
Published: February 2022

Goldsmiths, University of London, started teaching LLBs in Law in 2019/2020. Greg Bennett was hired in 2018 to be the subject librarian for law, and to stock the library before teaching commenced. In this article, based on his presentation at the BIALL Online Annual Conference in June 2021, the author will discuss his decision-making and selection processes regarding his choices about what to include, and what not to include in the collection.
The Spatiotemporal Evolution of Rainfall Extremes in a Changing Climate: A CONUS‐Wide Assessment Based on Multifractal Scaling Arguments
Authors: Emmanouil Stergios , Langousis Andreas , Nikolopoulos Efthymios I. , Anagnostou Emmanouil N.
Published: February 2022

Given the rapidly changing climate, accurate spatiotemporal information on the evolution of extreme rainfall events is required for flood risk assessment and the design of resilient infrastructure. Consequently, various research efforts have focused on investigating the appropriateness of various parametric and non‐parametric approaches in modeling the observed changes in the frequency of extreme rainfall over time. Yet, the assumption of stationarity, or the change of model parameters when accounting for nonstationary rainfall, may magnify estimation uncertainty of rain rates associated with low exceedance probabilities. Moreover, the use of climate model results may yield inconclusive outcomes, given the existence of epistemic uncertainties in the frequency of extreme events developing on smaller spatial scales or over complex terrain. Herein, we employ a parametric approach based on multifractal scaling arguments, along with high‐resolution (4‐km) hourly precipitation estimates covering a 40‐year period over CONUS, to derive Intensity‐Duration‐Frequency curves and investigate the spatiotemporal evolution of extreme rainfall over a wide range of characteristic temporal scales and exceedance probability levels. Considering the robustness of the multifractal models even when fitted to short rainfall records, we uniquely apply the framework to sequential 10‐year segments of data, where the rainfall process can be reasonably assumed stationary. The obtained results reveal that existing infrastructure may be severely impacted by the intensification of precipitation extremes due to climate change, with the observed trends being significantly influenced by the topography and rainfall climatology of each region, while depending on the averaging durations and return periods of interest.
Inventorying Earth’s Land and Ocean Greenhouse Gases
Authors: Poulter Benjamin , Bastos Ana , Canadell Josep , Ciais Philippe , Gruber Nicolas , Hauck Judith , Jackson Robert , Ishii Masao , M�ller Jens , Patra Prabir , Tian Hanqin
Published: February 2022

A new special collection in AGU journals will present findings from the Second REgional Carbon Cycle Assessment and Processes (RECCAP2) study with a decade of data on greenhouse gas growth.
Tissue losses and metabolic adaptations both contribute to the reduction in resting metabolic rate following weight loss
Authors: Martin Alexandra , Fox Darius , Murphy Chaise A. , Hofmann Hande , Koehler Karsten
Published: February 2022

Objective

To characterize the contributions of the loss of energy-expending tissues and metabolic adaptations to the reduction in resting metabolic rate (RMR) following weight loss.

Methods

A secondary analysis was conducted on data from the Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy study. Changes in RMR, body composition, and metabolic hormones were examined over 12 months of calorie restriction in 109 individuals. The contribution of tissue losses to the decline in RMR was determined by weighing changes in the size of energy-expending tissues and organs (skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, bone, brain, inner organs, residual mass) assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry with their tissue-specific metabolic rates. Metabolic adaptations were quantified as the remaining reduction in RMR.

Results

RMR was reduced by 101 ± 12 kcal/d as participants lost 7.3 ± 0.2 kg (both p < 0.001). On average, 60% of the total reduction in RMR were explained by energy-expending tissues losses, while 40% were attributed to metabolic adaptations. The loss of skeletal muscle mass (1.0 ± 0.7 kg) was not significantly related to RMR changes (r = 0.14, p = 0.16), whereas adipose tissue losses (7.2 ± 3.0 kg) were positively associated with the reduction in RMR (r = 0.42, p < 0.001) and metabolic adaptations (r = 0.31, p < 0.001). Metabolic adaptations were correlated with declines in leptin (r = 0.27, p < 0.01), triiodothyronine (r = 0.19, p < 0.05), and insulin (r = 0.25, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

During weight loss, tissue loss and metabolic adaptations both contribute to the reduction in RMR, albeit variably. Contrary to popularly belief, it is not skeletal muscle, but rather adipose tissue losses that seem to drive RMR reductions following weight loss. Future research should target personalized strategies addressing the predominant cause of RMR reduction for weight maintenance.
Evolution and development: engine-driven endodontic rotary nickel-titanium instruments
Authors: Liang Yuhong , Yue Lin
Published: February 2022

Various engine-driven NiTi endodontic files have been indispensable and efficient tools in cleaning and shaping of root canals for practitioners. In this review, we introduce the relative terms and conceptions of NiTi file, including crystal phase composition, the design of the cutting part, types of separation. This review also analysis the main improvement and evolution of different generations of engine-driven nickel-titanium instruments in the past 20 years in the geometric design, manufacturing surface treatment such as electropolishing, thermal treatment, metallurgy. And the variety of motion modes of NiTi files to improve resistance to torsional failure were also discussed. Continuous advancements by the designers, provide better balance between shaping efficiency and resistance to of NiTi systems. In clinical practice an appropriate system should be selected based on the anatomy of the root canal, instrument characteristics, and operators’ experience.
HOXA-AS2 contributes to regulatory T cell proliferation and immune tolerance in glioma through the miR-302a/KDM2A/JAG1 axis
Authors: Zhong Chuanhong , Tao Bei , Li Xianglong , Xiang Wei , Peng Lilei , Peng Tangming , Chen Ligang , Xia Xiangguo , You Jian , Yang Xiaobo
Published: February 2022

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been manifested to manipulate diverse biological processes, including tumor-induced immune tolerance. Thus, we aimed in this study to identify the expression pattern of lncRNA homeobox A cluster antisense RNA 2 (HOXA-AS2) in glioma and decipher its role in immune tolerance and glioma progression. We found aberrant upregulation of lncRNA HOXA-AS2, lysine demethylase 2A (KDM2A), and jagged 1 (JAG1) and a downregulation of microRNA-302a (miR-302a) in glioma specimens. Next, RNA immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay demonstrated that lncRNA HOXA-AS2 upregulated KDM2A expression by preventing miR-302a from binding to its 3′untranslated region. The functional experiments suggested that lncRNA HOXA-AS2 could promote regulatory T (Treg) cell proliferation and immune tolerance, which might be achieved through inhibition of miR-302a and activation of KDM2A/JAG1 axis. These findings were validated in a tumor xenograft mouse model. To conclude, lncRNA HOXA-AS2 facilitates KDM2A/JAG1 expression to promote Treg cell proliferation and immune tolerance in glioma by binding to miR-302a. These findings may aid in the development of novel antitumor targets.
Design of self-healing and self-restoring materials utilizing reversible and movable crosslinks
Authors: Ikura Ryohei , Park Junsu , Osaki Motofumi , Yamaguchi Hiroyasu , Harada Akira , Takashima Yoshinori
Published: February 2022

Self-healing materials have attracted attention due to their ability to regain their structure and function after damage. In recent years, significant progress has been made in achieving various functions through supramolecular chemistry. This review describes an overview of the strategies used to prepare self-healing and self-restoring materials utilizing reversible and movable crosslinks. Reversible crosslinks, consisting of noncovalent bonds, can reversibly undergo repeated cleavage and reformation. Therefore, self-healing can be achieved by effectively regenerating reversible crosslinks between polymeric chains. Reversible crosslinks exploit many kinds of dynamic covalent bonds and noncovalent bonds, such as hydrogen bonds, metal coordination bonds, ionic interactions, π–π stacking, van der Waals forces, and hydrophobic interactions. Movable crosslinks exhibit self-restoring properties. Self-restoring materials can regain their original shape and mechanical properties after a cycle of loading and unloading external stress. Movable crosslinks consist of polymer chains that penetrate macrocyclic units and have self-restoring properties due to their sliding motion along the polymeric chains. In addition, multiple reversible cross-links produce synergistic effects to simultaneously achieve high toughness and effective self-healing. We believe that self-healing and self-restoring materials will play a substantial role in realizing a sustainable society.
Highly porous and injectable hydrogels derived from cartilage acellularized matrix exhibit reduction and NIR light dual-responsive drug release properties for application in antitumor therapy
Authors: Gulfam Muhammad , Jo Sung-Han , Jo Sung-Woo , Vu Trung Thang , Park Sang-Hyug , Lim Kwon Taek
Published: February 2022

In this work, we developed novel stimuli-responsive injectable hydrogels composed of a highly biocompatible cartilage acellularized matrix (CAM) and a water-soluble cross-linker containing a diselenide bridge by using ultrafast norbornene (Nb)-tetrazine (Tz) click chemistry. The cross-linking reaction between the Nb groups of the CAM and Tz groups of the cross-linker evolved nitrogen gas and resulted in injectable hydrogels with highly porous structures. The synthesized hydrogels demonstrated high drug loading efficiencies (up to 93%), good swelling ratios, and useful mechanical properties. The doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded hydrogels released minimal amounts of DOX in the simulated physiological medium; however, sustained release of DOX was detected under reducing conditions, revealing more than 90% DOX release after 96 h. Interestingly, the indocyanine green (ICG)-incorporated hydrogels produced reactive oxygen species upon exposure to NIR light and exhibited burst release (>50% DOX release) of DOX during the first 4 h, followed by a sustained release phase. In vitro cytocompatibility tests showed that the synthesized CAM-Nb and hydrogels are essentially nontoxic to HFF-1 fibroblast cells and human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29), indicating their excellent bioorthogonality and biocompatibility. Furthermore, DOX-loaded and DOX + ICG-loaded hydrogels inhibited the metabolic activities of HT-29 cells after GSH or NIR exposure and induced antitumor effects similar to those of free DOX. Therefore, these biocompatible and reduction-responsive injectable hydrogels, which exhibited on-demand drug release after NIR exposure, could be promising candidates for minimally invasive local delivery of cancer therapeutics.
Light-induced dimension crossover dictated by excitonic correlations
Authors: Cheng Yun , Zong Alfred , Li Jun , Xia Wei , Duan Shaofeng , Zhao Wenxuan , Li Yidian , Qi Fengfeng , Wu Jun , Zhao Lingrong , Zhu Pengfei , Zou Xiao , Jiang Tao , Guo Yanfeng , Yang Lexian , Qian Dong , Zhang Wentao , Kogar Anshul , Zuerch Michael W. , Xiang Dao , Zhang Jie
Published: February 2022

In low-dimensional systems with strong electronic correlations, the application of an ultrashort laser pulse often yields novel phases that are otherwise inaccessible. The central challenge in understanding such phenomena is to determine how dimensionality and many-body correlations together govern the pathway of a non-adiabatic transition. To this end, we examine a layered compound, 1T-TiSe2, whose three-dimensional charge-density-wave (3D CDW) state also features exciton condensation due to strong electron-hole interactions. We find that photoexcitation suppresses the equilibrium 3D CDW while creating a nonequilibrium 2D CDW. Remarkably, the dimension reduction does not occur unless bound electron-hole pairs are broken. This relation suggests that excitonic correlations maintain the out-of-plane CDW coherence, settling a long-standing debate over their role in the CDW transition. Our findings demonstrate how optical manipulation of electronic interaction enables one to control the dimensionality of a broken-symmetry order, paving the way for realizing other emergent states in strongly correlated systems.
Biocatalysed synthesis planning using data-driven learning
Authors: Probst Daniel , Manica Matteo , Nana Teukam Yves Gaetan , Castrogiovanni Alessandro , Paratore Federico , Laino Teodoro
Published: February 2022

Enzyme catalysts are an integral part of green chemistry strategies towards a more sustainable and resource-efficient chemical synthesis. However, the use of biocatalysed reactions in retrosynthetic planning clashes with the difficulties in predicting the enzymatic activity on unreported substrates and enzyme-specific stereo- and regioselectivity. As of now, only rule-based systems support retrosynthetic planning using biocatalysis, while initial data-driven approaches are limited to forward predictions. Here, we extend the data-driven forward reaction as well as retrosynthetic pathway prediction models based on the Molecular Transformer architecture to biocatalysis. The enzymatic knowledge is learned from an extensive data set of publicly available biochemical reactions with the aid of a new class token scheme based on the enzyme commission classification number, which captures catalysis patterns among different enzymes belonging to the same hierarchy. The forward reaction prediction model (top-1 accuracy of 49.6%), the retrosynthetic pathway (top-1 single-step round-trip accuracy of 39.6%) and the curated data set are made publicly available to facilitate the adoption of enzymatic catalysis in the design of greener chemistry processes.
High-pH structure of EmrE reveals the mechanism of proton-coupled substrate transport
Authors: Shcherbakov Alexander A. , Spreacker Peyton J. , Dregni Aurelio J. , Henzler-Wildman Katherine A. , Hong Mei
Published: February 2022

The homo-dimeric bacterial membrane protein EmrE effluxes polyaromatic cationic substrates in a proton-coupled manner to cause multidrug resistance. We recently determined the structure of substrate-bound EmrE in phospholipid bilayers by measuring hundreds of protein-ligand HN–F distances for a fluorinated substrate, 4-fluoro-tetraphenylphosphonium (F4-TPP+), using solid-state NMR. This structure was solved at low pH where one of the two proton-binding Glu14 residues is protonated. Here, to understand how substrate transport depends on pH, we determine the structure of the EmrE-TPP complex at high pH, where both Glu14 residues are deprotonated. The high-pH complex exhibits an elongated and hydrated binding pocket in which the substrate is similarly exposed to the two sides of the membrane. In contrast, the low-pH complex asymmetrically exposes the substrate to one side of the membrane. These pH-dependent EmrE conformations provide detailed insights into the alternating-access model, and suggest that the high-pH conformation may facilitate proton binding in the presence of the substrate, thus accelerating the conformational change of EmrE to export the substrate.
Evidence for the oxidation of Earth’s crust from the evolution of manganese minerals
Authors: Hummer Daniel R. , Golden Joshua J. , Hystad Grethe , Downs Robert T. , Eleish Ahmed , Liu Chao , Ralph Jolyon , Morrison Shaunna M. , Meyer Michael B. , Hazen Robert M.
Published: February 2022

Analysis of manganese mineral occurrences and valence states demonstrate oxidation of Earth’s crust through time. Changes in crustal redox state are critical to Earth’s evolution, but few methods exist for evaluating spatially averaged crustal redox state through time. Manganese (Mn) is a redox-sensitive metal whose variable oxidation states and abundance in crustal minerals make it a useful tracer of crustal oxidation. We find that the average oxidation state of crustal Mn occurrences has risen in the last 1 billion years in response to atmospheric oxygenation following a 66 ± 1 million-year time lag. We interpret this lag as the average time necessary to equilibrate the shallow crust to atmospheric oxygen fugacity. This study employs large mineralogical databases to evaluate geochemical conditions through Earth’s history, and we propose that this and other mineral data sets form an important class of proxies that constrain the evolving redox state of various Earth reservoirs.
Performances of rapid and connected salivary RT-LAMP diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2 infection in ambulatory screening
Authors: Schneider Francisco Santos , Molina Laurence , Picot Marie-Christine , L’Helgoualch Nicolas , Espeut Julien , Champigneux Pierre , Alali Mellis , Baptiste Julie , Cardeur Lise , Carniel Christophe , Davy Martin , Dedisse Daniel , Dubuc Benjamin , Fenech Hugo , Foulongne Vincent , Gaillard Carole Fruchart , Galtier Florence , Makinson Alain , Marin Grégory , Santos Raissa Medina , Morquin David , Ouedraogo Alimata , Lejeune Alexandra Prieux , Quenot Marine , Keiflin Pierre , Robles Francisco Checa , Rego Carolina Rodrigues , Salvetat Nicolas , Trento Charline , Vetter Diana , Molina Franck , Reynes Jacques
Published: February 2022

In the context of social events reopening and economic relaunch, sanitary surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infection is still required. Here, we evaluated the diagnostic performances of a rapid, extraction-free and connected reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay on saliva. Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs and saliva from 443 outpatients were collected simultaneously and tested by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) as reference standard test. Seventy-one individuals (16.0%) were positive by NP and/or salivary RT-qPCR. Sensitivity and specificity of salivary RT-LAMP were 85.9% (95%CI 77.8–94.0%) and 99.5% (98.7–100%), respectively. Performances were similar for symptomatic and asymptomatic participants. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants were analyzed and no dominant mutation in RT-LAMP primer region was observed during the period of the study. We demonstrated that this RT-LAMP test on self-collected saliva is reliable for SARS-CoV-2 detection. This simple connected test with optional automatic results transfer to health authorities is unique and opens the way to secure professional and social events in actual context of economics restart.
Transcriptional changes in dendritic cells underlying allergen specific induced tolerance in a mouse model
Authors: Nuñez Rafael , Rodriguez Maria Jose , Palomares Francisca , Gomez Francisca , Jabato Fernando M. , Cordoba-Caballero Jose , Seoane Pedro , Losada Jorge , Rojo Javier , Torres Maria Jose , Perkins James Richard , Mayorga Cristobalina
Published: February 2022

To investigate food allergy-tolerance mechanisms induced through allergen-specific immunotherapy we used RNA-Sequencing to measure gene expression in lymph-node-derived dendritic cells from Pru p 3-anaphylactic mice after immunotherapy with glycodendropeptides at 2 nM and 5 nM, leading to permanent tolerance and short-term desensitization, respectively. Gene expression was also measured in mice receiving no immunotherapy (anaphylaxis); and in which anaphylaxis could never occur (antigen-only). Compared to anaphylaxis, the antigen-only group showed the greatest number of expression-changes (411), followed by tolerant (186) and desensitized (119). Only 29 genes changed in all groups, including Il12b, Cebpb and Ifngr1. The desensitized group showed enrichment for genes related to chronic inflammatory response, secretory granule, and regulation of interleukin-12 production; the tolerant group showed genes related to cytokine receptor activity and glucocorticoid receptor binding, suggesting distinct pathways for similar outcomes. We identified genes and processes potentially involved in the restoration of long-term tolerance via allergen-specific immunotherapy, representing potential prognostic biomarkers.
Effects of perturbations on the stability of equilibrium points in the CR3BP with luminous and heterogeneous spheroid primaries
Authors: Singh Jagadish , Ahmad Shitu Muktar
Published: February 2022

This paper studies the position and stability of equilibrium points in the circular restricted three-body problem under the influence of small perturbations in the Coriolis and centrifugal forces when the primaries are radiating and heterogeneous oblate spheroids. It is seen that there exist five libration points as in the classical restricted three-body problem, three collinear $$L_{i} ,(i = 1,2,3)$$

L
i

,

(
i
=
1
,
2
,
3
)

and two triangular $$L_{i} ,(i = 4,5)$$

L
i

,

(
i
=
4
,
5
)

. It is also seen that the triangular points are no longer to form equilateral triangles with the primaries rather they form simple triangles with line joining the primaries. It is further observed that despite all perturbations the collinear points remain unstable while the triangular points are stable for $$ 0 < \mu < \mu _{c} $$

0
<
μ
<

μ
c

and unstable for $$ \mu _{c} \le \mu \le \frac{1}{2} $$

μ
c

≤
μ
≤

1
2

, where $$ \mu _{c} $$

μ
c

is the critical mass ratio depending upon aforementioned parameters. It is marked that small perturbation in the Coriolis force, radiation and heterogeneous oblateness of the both primaries have destabilizing tendencies. Their numerical examination is also performed.
Optical imaging spectroscopy for rapid, primary screening of SARS-CoV-2: a proof of concept
Authors: Gomez-Gonzalez Emilio , Barriga-Rivera Alejandro , Fernandez-Muñoz Beatriz , Navas-Garcia Jose Manuel , Fernandez-Lizaranzu Isabel , Munoz-Gonzalez Francisco Javier , Parrilla-Giraldez Ruben , Requena-Lancharro Desiree , Gil-Gamboa Pedro , Rosell-Valle Cristina , Gomez-Gonzalez Carmen , Mayorga-Buiza Maria Jose , Martin-Lopez Maria , Muñoz Olga , Gomez-Martin Juan Carlos , Relimpio-Lopez Maria Isabel , Aceituno-Castro Jesus , Perales-Esteve Manuel A. , Puppo-Moreno Antonio , Garcia-Cozar Francisco Jose , Olvera-Collantes Lucia , Gomez-Diaz Raquel , de los Santos-Trigo Silvia , Huguet-Carrasco Monserrat , Rey Manuel , Gomez Emilia , Sanchez-Pernaute Rosario , Padillo-Ruiz Javier , Marquez-Rivas Javier
Published: February 2022

Effective testing is essential to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission. Here we report a-proof-of-concept study on hyperspectral image analysis in the visible and near-infrared range for primary screening at the point-of-care of SARS-CoV-2. We apply spectral feature descriptors, partial least square-discriminant analysis, and artificial intelligence to extract information from optical diffuse reflectance measurements from 5 µL fluid samples at pixel, droplet, and patient levels. We discern preparations of engineered lentiviral particles pseudotyped with the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 from those with the G protein of the vesicular stomatitis virus in saline solution and artificial saliva. We report a quantitative analysis of 72 samples of nasopharyngeal exudate in a range of SARS-CoV-2 viral loads, and a descriptive study of another 32 fresh human saliva samples. Sensitivity for classification of exudates was 100% with peak specificity of 87.5% for discernment from PCR-negative but symptomatic cases. Proposed technology is reagent-free, fast, and scalable, and could substantially reduce the number of molecular tests currently required for COVID-19 mass screening strategies even in resource-limited settings.
Molecular detection and genetic characterization of human metapneumovirus strains circulating in Islamabad, Pakistan
Authors: Arshad Yasir , Rana Muhammad Suleman , Ikram Aamer , Salman Muhammad , Aamir Uzma Bashir , Zaidi Syed Sohail Zahoor , Alam Muhammad Masroor , Sharif Salmaan , Shaukat Shahzad , Khurshid Adnan , Hakim Rabia , Mujtaba Ghulam , Umair Massab , Sattar Sadia , Bostan Nazish
Published: February 2022

Lower respiratory illness is one of the leading causes of death among children in low- and high-income countries. Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a key contributor to respiratory illnesses commonly reported among children and causes serious clinical complications ranging from mild respiratory infections to severe lower respiratory tract anomalies mainly in the form of bronchiolitis and pneumonia. However, due to the lack of a national surveillance system, the clinical significance of hMPV remains obscure in the Pakistani population. This study was conducted to screen throat swabs samples collected from 127 children reported with respiratory symptoms at a tertiary care hospital in Islamabad. Out of 127, 21 (16.5%) samples were positive for hMPV with its genotype distribution as A2a (10%), A2b (20%), B1 (10%), and B2 (60%). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the hMPV viruses were closely related to those reported from neighboring countries including India and China. This work will contribute to a better understanding of this virus, its diagnosis, and the handling of patients in clinical setups. Further studies at a large-scale are warranted for a better understanding of the disease burden and epidemiology of hMPV in Pakistan.
Decreased physical activity with subjective pleasure is associated with avoidance behaviors
Authors: Kagawa Fumi , Yokoyama Satoshi , Takamura Masahiro , Takagaki Koki , Mitsuyama Yuki , Shimizu Ayaka , Jinnin Ran , Ihara Hirotaka , Kurata Akiko , Okada Go , Okamoto Yasumasa
Published: February 2022

The main hypothesis for the relation between physical activity and mental health is that autonomous motivation, such as subjective pleasure for the activity, plays an important role. However, no report has described empirical research designed to examine the role of subjective pleasure in the relation between objectively measured physical activity and psychological indexes. We used accelerometers to collect data indicating participants' physical activity intensity during a week. Participants recorded their subjective pleasure of activity per hour. In 69% of them, the individual correlation coefficients between physical activity and pleasure in an hour (an index of Physical Activity-Pleasure; PA-PL) were positive (r = 0.22, 95%Cl = [0.11–0.38]), indicating that pleasant sensations increased concomitantly with increasing physical activity. Conversely, 31% participants exhibited negative values of PA-PL, which means that the increase in physical activity had the opposite effect, decreasing pleasure. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that avoidance/rumination behaviors decreased significantly with increased PA-PL (β = −6.82, 95%CI: [−13.27 to −0.38], p < .05). These results indicate that subjective pleasure attached to the PA is more important than the PA amount for reducing depressive behavior.
A multi-objective optimization using response surface model coupled with particle swarm algorithm on FSW process parameters
Authors: Kahhal Parviz , Ghasemi Mohsen , Kashfi Mohammad , Ghorbani-Menghari Hossein , Kim Ji Hoon
Published: February 2022

In this study, multi-objective optimization of mechanical properties in friction-stir-welding of AH12 1050 aluminum alloy is performed using a combination of the response surface method and multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm. The process parameters are considered as tool pin diameter, shoulder diameter, rotational speed, feed speed, and tool tilt angle. The heat-affected zone’s yield strength, fracture strain, impact toughness, and hardness on the advancing and retreating sides are selected as the objective functions. Threaded and simple conical pins are utilized to evaluate the effect of the pin geometry on the specimen mechanical properties. Optimization model outputs are in agree with the obtained experimental results. The effects of process parameters on the mechanical properties of the friction-stir-welded sheets are studied. Results reveal that the lower rotational speed and higher feed speed improve the material strength and hardness. Moreover, the microstructural analysis demonstrates that the proposed methodology can achieve a fine-grained structure with the minimum defects. Improvement in the material flow is observed for the threaded cylindrical pin compared with the conical pin due to the geometric shape of the tool pin leading to more functional mechanical properties. It is found that the combination of the response surface methodology and the multi-objective particle swarm algorithm led to the modeling and optimization of the process with outstanding accuracy and low experimental cost.
Changes of the vaginal microbiota in HPV infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Lin Wenyu , Zhang Qiaoyu , Chen Yaojia , Dong Binhua , Xue Huifeng , Lei Huifang , Lu Yanfang , Wei Xufang , Sun Pengming
Published: February 2022

This study aimed to explore the changes of the vaginal microbiota and enzymes in the women with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection and cervical lesions. A total of 448 participants were carried out HPV genotyping, cytology tests, and microecology tests, and 28 participants were treated as sub-samples, in which vaginal samples were characterized by sequencing the bacterial 16S V4 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene region. The study found the prevalence of HR-HPV was higher in patients with BV (P = 0.036). The HR-HPV infection rate was 72.73% in G. vaginalis women, which was significantly higher than that of women with lactobacillus as the dominant microbiota (44.72%) (P = 0.04). The positive rate of sialidase (SNA) was higher in women with HR-HPV infection (P = 0.004) and women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) (P = 0.041). In HPV (+) women, the α-diversity was significantly higher than that in HPV (−) women. The 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing results showed that Lactobacillus was the dominant bacteria in the normal vaginal microbiota. However, the proportion of Gardnerella and Prevotella were markedly increased in HPV (+) patients. Gardnerella and Prevotella are the most high-risk combination for the development of HPV (+) women. The SNA secreted by Gardnerella and Prevotella may play a significant role in HPV infection progress to cervical lesions.
Discovery of actinomycin L, a new member of the actinomycin family of antibiotics
Authors: Machushynets Nataliia V. , Elsayed Somayah S. , Du Chao , Siegler Maxime A. , de la Cruz Mercedes , Genilloud Olga , Hankemeier Thomas , van Wezel Gilles P.
Published: February 2022

Streptomycetes are major producers of bioactive natural products, including the majority of the naturally produced antibiotics. While much of the low-hanging fruit has been discovered, it is predicted that less than 5% of the chemical space of natural products has been mined. Here, we describe the discovery of the novel actinomycins L1 and L2 produced by Streptomyces sp. MBT27, via application of metabolic analysis and molecular networking. Actinomycins L1 and L2 are diastereomers, and the structure of actinomycin L2 was resolved using NMR and single crystal X-ray crystallography. Actinomycin L is formed via spirolinkage of anthranilamide to the 4-oxoproline moiety of actinomycin X2, prior to the condensation of the actinomycin halves. Such a structural feature has not previously been identified in naturally occurring actinomycins. Adding anthranilamide to cultures of the actinomycin X2 producer Streptomyces antibioticus, which has the same biosynthetic gene cluster as Streptomyces sp. MBT27, resulted in the production of actinomycin L. This supports a biosynthetic pathway whereby actinomycin L is produced from two distinct metabolic routes, namely those for actinomycin X2 and for anthranilamide. Actinomycins L1 and L2 showed significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Our work shows how new molecules can still be identified even in the oldest of natural product families.
WDR72 regulates vesicle trafficking in ameloblasts
Authors: Katsura Kaitlin , Nakano Yukiko , Zhang Yan , Shemirani Rozana , Li Wu , Den Besten Pamela
Published: February 2022

As the hardest tissue in the human body, tooth enamel formation is a highly regulated process involving several stages of differentiation and key regulatory genes. One such gene, tryptophan‐aspartate repeat domain 72 (WDR72), has been found to cause a tooth enamel defect when deleted or mutated, resulting in a condition called amelogenesis imperfecta. Unlike the canonical genes regulating tooth development, WDR72 remains intracellularly and is not secreted to the enamel matrix space to regulate mineralization, and is found in other major organs of the body, namely the kidney, brain, liver, and heart. To date, a link between intracellular vesicle transport and enamel mineralization has been suggested, however identification of the mechanistic regulators has yet to be elucidated, in part due to the limitations associated with studying highly differentiated ameloblast cells. Here we show compelling evidence that WDR72 regulates endocytosis of proteins, both in vivo and in a novel in vitro ameloblast cell line. We elucidate WDR72’s function to be independent of intracellular vesicle acidification while still leading to defective enamel matrix pH extracellularly. We identify a vesicle function associated with microtubule assembly and propose that WDR72 directs microtubule assembly necessary for membrane mobilization and subsequent vesicle transport. Understanding WDR72 function provides a mechanistic basis for determining physiologic and pathologic tissue mineralization.
Prognostic value of postural hypotension in hospitalized patients with heart failure
Authors: Sunayama Tsutomu , Maeda Daichi , Matsue Yuya , Kagiyama Nobuyuki , Jujo Kentaro , Saito Kazuya , Kamiya Kentaro , Saito Hiroshi , Ogasawara Yuki , Maekawa Emi , Konishi Masaaki , Kitai Takeshi , Iwata Kentaro , Wada Hiroshi , Hiki Masaru , Dotare Taishi , Kasai Takatoshi , Nagamatsu Hirofumi , Ozawa Tetsuya , Izawa Katsuya , Yamamoto Shuhei , Aizawa Naoki , Yonezawa Ryusuke , Oka Kazuhiro , Momomura Shin-ichi , Minamino Tohru
Published: February 2022

Although postural hypotension (PH) is reportedly associated with mortality in the general population, the prognostic value for heart failure is unclear. This was a post-hoc analysis of FRAGILE-HF, a prospective multicenter observational study focusing on frailty in elderly patients with heart failure. Overall, 730 patients aged ≥ 65 years who were hospitalized with heart failure were enrolled. PH was defined by evaluating seated PH, and was defined as a fall of ≥ 20 mmHg in systolic and/or ≥ 10 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure within 3 min after transition from a supine to sitting position. The study endpoints were all-cause death and heart failure readmission at 1 year. Predictive variables for the presence of PH were also evaluated. PH was observed in 160 patients (21.9%). Patients with PH were more likely than those without PH to be male with a New York Heart Association classification of III/IV. Logistic regression analysis showed that male sex, severe heart failure symptoms, and lack of administration of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were independently associated with PH. PH was not associated with 1-year mortality, but was associated with a lower incidence of readmission after discharge after adjustment for other covariates. In conclusion, PH was associated with reduced risk of heart failure readmission but not with 1-year mortality in older patients with heart failure.