bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Über Typen und Originale tertiärer Arten von Pinus L. (Pinaceae) in mitteleuropäischen Sammlungen — Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Gattung in Europa
Authors: Mai Dieter Hans
Published: August 2024

Aus mitteleuropäischen Sammlungen wird eine Anzahl von Typen und Originalen tertiärer Pinus‐Arten zapfenmorphologisch untersucht und in infragenerische Einheiten der Gattung eingeordnet: Sect. Sula: P. petzoldii Kr., P. timleri Kink.; Sect. Halepensis: P. salinarum (Partsch) Zabl.; Sect. Pinaster: P. stroboides (Rossm.) Mai, P. engelhardtii Menz., P. platylepis Glocker, P. schnittspahnii Ludw., P. spinosa Herbst; Sect. Sylvesters, Ser. Sylvestres: P. brevis Ludw., P. nodosa Ludw., P. parabrevis Kilpper, P. schultzii Kilpper, P. urani (Ung.) Schimp., P. weylandii Kirchh.; Ser. Nigrae: P. dixoni (Bowerb.) Gardn., P. hampeana (Ung.) Heer, P. polonica Stur, P. thomasiana (Goepp.) Rchb.; Sect. Cembra: P. echinostrobus Sap.; Sect. Strahus: P. grossana Ludw., P. leitzii Kirchh., P. parastroboides Kilppkr, P. peuce Griseb. fossilis. Sie gehören zu den 21 Formenkreisen mit mindestens 40 abgrenzbaren Arten, die in einem Bestimmungsschlüssel ausgewiesen werden. Ganz allgemein zeigt sich, daß die meisten Arten im europäischen Tertiär in ihren Zapfen nicht mit heutigen Arten übereinstimmen, sondern eigene, gut definierte Arten repräsentieren, die auf eine artenreiche, endemische Entwicklung der Gattung in Europa schließen lassen. Oie Verwandtschaftsbeziehungen der tertiären Kiefern Europas weisen eindeutig auf europäisch‐kanarisch‐himalaische und auf ostasiatische Artengruppen hin. Nur sehwach ist der Hinweis auf atlantisch‐nordumerikanische Formonkreise (Taeda‐Gruppe), völlig falsch aller Vergleiche mit Arten des heutigen mittelamerikanisch‐pazifischen Mannigfaltigkeitszentrums.
A cladistic analysis of Indian species of Ixora L. (Rubiaceae)
Authors: Husain Tariq , Paul S. R.
Published: August 2024

The tropical genus Ixora L. is represented by approximately 38 species in the Indian subcontinent. A cladistic analysis is attempted using the algorithm of Farris (1970), as presented by Jensen (1981) for constructing the Wagner tree. Based on the results of the Wagner tree, an evolutionary sequence of the species of Ixora and their relationships is attempted.
Study on Chenopodium Striatum Agg.
Authors: Dvořák F.
Published: August 2024

Chenopodium striatum (Krašan) I. Murr, Dt. bot. Monatsschr. 14:32, 1896 is not identical with Chenopodium strictum Roth, Novae Pl. Sp. 180, 1821. Confidence belts for the length and for the width of the seeds of types do not overlap; between the samples of the seeds of both the species there is statistically a highly significant difference in the length and width.

Chenopodium strictum agg. includes tetraploid species (2n = 36) from which there have been distinguished so far: C. eustriatum Dvořák, C. glaucophyllum Aellen, C. striatum (Krašan) J. Murr, C. strictum Roth; hybrids: C. album × glaucophyllum (2n = 36), C. × praeacutum × striatum (2n = 36), C. striatum × strictum (2n = 36).
Effects of in utero benzo[a]pyrene exposure on the testis of rats during puberty and the protective effect of atorvastatin
Authors: Nurbakhsh Parmida , Rahmani Zahra , Zargari Mehryar , Mirzaei Mansoureh , Karimpour Malekshah Abbasali , Talebpour Amiri Fereshteh
Published: August 2024

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a contaminant that is generated in the environment through processes such as smoke, incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, vehicle exhaust emissions, entry into the body is through inhalation, and consumption of contaminated food. It is an omnipresent environmental pollutant with unavoidable exposure. BaP metabolites are observed in the male reproductive system, especially in the testes and epididymis of animals, and are responsible for reduced testicular and epididymal function. The protective effect of atorvastatin (ATV) on testicular damage was investigated previously. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of ATV on testicular toxicity induced by benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) during pregnancy in Wistar rats. This experimental laboratory study involved 40 adult rats, divided into seven groups and maintained under standard environmental conditions. The groups received different diets [control, corn oil, ATV (10 mg/kg), BaP (10 and 20 mg/kg), and ATV + BaP (10 and 20 mg/kg)] at gestation Days 7–16, orally. Male offspring were examined 10 weeks after birth. Testis and serum samples were collected, and testosterone level, malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) were measured. Histological and immunohistochemical assays were performed under a light microscope. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS, with analysis of variance and Tukey tests to assess significant differences between groups. ATV significantly reduced MDA, a marker of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in rat testes following BaP administration. Treatment with ATV at doses of 10 mg/kg increased GSH levels, correcting disruptions in the antioxidant system caused by BaP. Testosterone concentration in rats treated with ATV and BaP substantially prevented the decrease induced by BaP. Histomorphometry revealed that ATV significantly prevented the detrimental effects of BaP on the thickness of spermatogenic epithelium and the diameter of seminiferous tubules. Under ATV treatment, testicular tissue histopathology improved, and spermatogenesis returned to a almost back to normal state. Caspase‐3 expression decreased, and apoptosis activity in testicular tissue improved under ATV treatment, indicating a positive effect of ATV in reducing apoptotic damage caused by BaP. In conclusion, exposure to BaP can induce oxidative stress‐related damage to testicular tissue, as evidenced by an increase in MDA levels, which ATV treatment can mitigate. Additionally, ATV enhances intracellular antioxidant GSH and protects the testes against BaP‐induced damage while increasing testosterone levels, which are reduced due to exposure to BaP.
The inhibitory effect of chlorogenic acid on oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by PM2.5 in HaCaT keratinocytes
Authors: Herath Herath Mudiyanselage Udari Lakmini , Piao Mei Jing , Kang Kyoung Ah , Fernando Pincha Devage Sameera Madushan , Kang Hee Kyoung , Koh Young Sang , Hyun Jin Won
Published: August 2024

Exposure to fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) can cause oxidative damage and apoptosis in the human skin. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a bioactive polyphenolic compound with antioxidant, antifungal, and antiviral properties. The objective of this study was to identify the ameliorating impact of CGA that might protect human HaCaT cells against PM2.5. CGA significantly scavenged the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by PM2.5, attenuated oxidative cellular/organelle damage, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and suppressed cytochrome c release into the cytosol. The application of CGA led to a reduction in the expression levels of Bcl‐2‐associated X protein, caspase‐9, and caspase‐3, while simultaneously increasing the expression of B‐cell lymphoma 2. In addition, CGA was able to reverse the decrease in cell viability caused by PM2.5 via the inhibition of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK). This effect was further confirmed by the use of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor, which acted upstream of ERK. In conclusion, CGA protected keratinocytes from mitochondrial damage and apoptosis via ameliorating PM2.5‐induced oxidative stress and ERK activation.
Social platform use and psychological well‐being
Authors: Crolic Cammy , Zubcsek Peter Pal , Stephen Andrew T. , Brooks Gillian
Published: August 2024

Social platforms facilitate the daily interactions of billions of people globally. Prior research generally concludes that social platforms negatively affect people's welfare. This research reopens this debate by using a robust methodology to examine the time series effects of social platform use on users' subjective well‐being, psychological well‐being, physical health, and financial security. We report a 6‐month longitudinal study of 1029 adults. Participants' daily time using social platforms on their mobile device was unobtrusively tracked and their well‐being was measured every 2 weeks. The findings suggest a small, positive effect of time spent using social platforms on both subjective well‐being and psychological well‐being (but no significant effects on physical health or financial security). Further, it is time spent using social platforms that facilitate interactions with intimate/close ties, that is correlated with positive subjective and psychological well‐being.
Arrebatos and institutionalized barriers encountered by low‐income Latino/a/x engineering students at Hispanic‐Serving Institutions (HSIs) and emerging HSIs
Authors: Escobar Cristhian Fallas , Mejia Joel Alejandro , Perez Tess
Published: August 2024

Background

Latinos/as/xs continue to face many barriers as they pursue engineering degrees, including remedial placement, lack of access to well‐funded schools, and high poverty rates. We use the concept of arrebatos to describe the internal reckoning that Latino/a/x engineering students experience through their journeys, particularly focusing on the impact of socioeconomic inequalities.

Purpose

To bring counternarratives in engineering education research focusing on the experiences and lived realities of low‐income Latino/a/x engineering students. These counternarratives are an important step in interrogating systemic biases and exclusionary cultures, practices, and policies at HSIs and emerging HSIs and within engineering programs.

Methods

Pláticas were conducted with 22 Latino/a/x engineering undergraduates from four different universities in the US Southwest. These pláticas were coded and analyzed drawing from Anzaldúa's theoretical concept of el arrebato. Special attention was given to participants' arrebatos triggered by their college experiences as low‐income individuals.

Results

Analysis indicates that Latino/a/x engineering students' arrebatos arise from events that shake up the foundation of their own identity, including an institutional lack of sociopolitical consciousness. This lack of consciousness becomes evident not only in individuals' attitudes toward these students but also in institutional policies that put them at a further disadvantage.

Conclusions

Findings have implications for engineering programs, particularly at HSIs and emerging HSIs regarding the creation of policies and practices that aim to secure the retention of low‐income Latino/a/x engineering students and alleviate the systemic barrier they face by affirming the practice of servingness.
Outcomes of patients with initially unresectable pancreatic cancer who underwent conversion surgery after FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine plus nab‐paclitaxel chemotherapy: A multicenter retrospective cohort study (PC‐CURE‐1)
Authors: Okano Naohiro , Kawai Manabu , Ueno Makoto , Yu Xianjun , Inoue Yosuke , Takahashi Shinichiro , Wang Wenquan , Takahashi Hidenori , Okamura Yukiyasu , Morinaga Soichiro , Matsumoto Ippei , Shimizu Yasuhiro , Yoshida Kazuhiro , Yamamoto Tomohisa , Ohtsuka Masayuki , Inokawa Yoshikuni , Nara Satoshi , Tamura Jun , Shinoda Satoru , Yamamoto Kouji , Yamaue Hiroki , Furuse Junji ,   PC‐CURE‐1 study group
Published: August 2024

Background

The efficacy and safety of conversion surgery (CS) after FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine plus nab‐paclitaxel (GnP) chemotherapy in patients with initially unresectable pancreatic cancer (PC) remains unclear.

Methods

This multicenter retrospective cohort study enrolled patients, between 2014 and 2018, with initially locally advanced or metastatic PC who were considered candidates for CS following FOLFIRINOX or GnP chemotherapy. They were classified into surgery (207 patients [194 resection and 13 exploratory laparotomy only]) and continued chemotherapy (10 patients, control) groups. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) from the day of diagnosis of potentially curative resection on imaging studies, with an expected hazard ratio (HR) of 0.7.

Results

OS in the surgery group was longer than that in the control group (HR, 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.24–0.93). The median OS was 34.4 (95% CI: 27.9–43.4) and 19.8 (95% CI: 14.9–31.1) months in the surgery and control groups, respectively. The Clavien‐Dindo grade ≥ IIIa postoperative complication and in‐hospital mortality rates were 19.6% and 0.5%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative chemotherapy duration was not associated with OS.

Conclusions

CS, following a favorable response to FOLFIRINOX or GnP chemotherapy, improved initially unresectable PC prognosis (specifically, OS), regardless of the chemotherapy duration.
Using quantile mapping and random forest for bias‐correction of high‐resolution reanalysis precipitation data and CMIP6 climate projections over Iran
Authors: Raeesi Maryam , Zolfaghari Ali Asghar , Kaboli Seyed Hasan , Rahimi Mohammad , de Vente Joris , Eekhout Joris P. C.
Published: August 2024

Climate change is expected to cause important changes in precipitation patterns in Iran until the end of 21st century. This study aims at evaluating projections of climate change over Iran by using five climate model outputs (including ACCESS‐ESM1‐5, BCC‐CSM2‐MR, CanESM5, CMCC‐ESM2 and MRI‐ESM2‐0) of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6), and performing bias‐correction using a novel combination of quantile mapping (QM) and random forest (RF) between the years 2015 and 2100 under three shared socioeconomics pathways (SSP2‐4.5, SSP3‐7.0 and SSP5‐8.5). First, bias‐correction was performed on ERA5‐Land reanalysis data as reference period (1990–2020) using the QM method, then the corrected ERA5‐Land reanalysis data was considered as measured data. Based on the corrected ERA5‐Land reanalysis data (1990–2020) and historical simulations (1990–2014), the future projections (2015–2100) were also bias‐corrected utilizing the QM method. Next, the accuracy of the QM method was validated by comparing the corrected ERA5‐Land reanalysis data with model outputs for overlapping years between 2015 and 2020. This comparison revealed persistent biases; hence, a combination of QM‐RF method was applied to rectify future climate projections until the end of the 21st century. Based on the QM result, CMCC‐ESM2 revealed the highest RMSE in both SSP2‐4.5 and SSP3‐7.0 amounting to 331.74 and 201.84 mm·year−1, respectively. Particularly, the exclusive use of the QM method displayed substantial errors in projecting annual precipitation based on SSP5‐8.5, notably in the case of ACCESS‐ESM1‐5 (RMSE = 431.39 mm·year−1), while the RMSE reduced after using QM‐RF method (197.75 mm·year−1). Obviously, a significant enhancement in results was observed upon implementing the QM‐RF combination method in CMCC‐ESM2 under both SSP2‐4.5 (RMSE = 139.30 mm·year−1) and SSP3‐7.0 (RMSE = 151.43 mm·year−1) showcasing approximately reduction in RMSE values by 192.43 and 50.41 mm·year−1, respectively. Although each bias‐corrected model output was evaluated individually, multi‐model ensemble (MME) was also created to project the annual future precipitation pattern in Iran. By considering that combination of QM‐RF method revealed the lower errors in correcting model outputs, we used the QM‐RF technique to create the MME. Based on SSP2‐4.5, the MME climate projections highlight imminent precipitation reductions (>10%) across large regions of Iran, conversely projecting increases ranging from 10% to over 20% in southern areas under SSP3‐7.0. Moreover, MME projected dramatic declines under SSP5‐8.5, especially impacting central, eastern, and northwest Iran. Notably, the most pronounced possibly decline patterns are projected for arid regions (central plateau) and eastern areas under SSP2‐4.5, SSP3‐7.0 and SSP5‐8.5.
Clinical presentation and factors associated with gluten exposure in children with celiac disease
Authors: Krueger Andrew , Fahey Lisa , Sun Qin , Regis Stephanie , Khavari Nasim , Jericho Hilary , Badalyan Vahe , Absah Imad , Verma Ritu , Leonard Maureen M. , Weisbrod Vanessa , Hajjat Temara , Lee Dale , Shull Mary , Silvester Jocelyn A. , Mallon Daniel ,   RAISE‐CD
Published: August 2024

Objectives

The prevalence of celiac disease (CeD) is increasing, yet it is still underdiagnosed, in part because of its heterogeneous presentation. Diagnostic criteria are evolving and management with strict adherence to a gluten‐free diet is challenging for many. We aimed to characterize the clinical presentation of CeD among a large multicenter cohort of pediatric patients and to identify factors associated with gluten‐free diet adherence.

Methods

Patients with CeD aged 0–18 years were recruited from 11 United States health centers. Parents completed surveys about gluten‐free diet adherence and patient electronic health records were reviewed. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with gluten exposure.

Results

Charts were reviewed for 460 children with a median age of 6.4 years. Abdominal pain was reported in 57% of the cohort, but diverse symptoms were identified. Parent surveys were completed for 455 participants. Sixty‐five (14%) participants were at high risk for gluten exposure based on parental reports of weekly or daily gluten exposure or eating gluten by choice in the past year. Participants under the age of 5 years had a lower risk of gluten exposure, while participants without repeat serology testing 18 months after initial diagnosis were at higher risk of gluten exposure.

Conclusions

In a large, multicenter cohort of pediatric CeD patients, clinical presentation is highly variable, necessitating a high index of suspicion to make a diagnosis. Parent surveys indicate that 14% of patients are at high risk of gluten exposure, with patient age and lack of close follow‐up associated with gluten‐free diet adherence.
Posttransplantation course after allogeneic stem cell transplantation in a patient with advanced mycosis fungoides—Balancing relapse and rejection
Authors: Hansen‐Abeck Inga , Blomen Chiara L. , Abeck Finn , Torster Leopold , Schneider Stefan W. , Booken Nina
Published: August 2024

Treatment of advanced cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) can be challenging. To date, the only potentially curative treatment option for advanced CTCL is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We report on a patient with mycosis fungoides who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation due to rapid progression of the disease. Eight months after transplantation, relapse as well as chronic graft‐versus‐host disease occurred. Therefore, we initiated different treatment modalities, including bexarotene, extracorporeal photopheresis, topical treatment as well as the Janus‐kinase‐inhibitor Ruxolitinib. Even though the patient experienced high morbidity due to the allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, 3 years after he is still alive and reports good health‐related quality of life. With this case, we aim to demonstrate that the posttransplant course can be difficult, balancing between relapse and graft‐versus‐host disease. Nevertheless, patients can benefit in terms of survival and their health‐related quality of life. Therefore, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should be considered as a treatment option, especially for patients with advanced CTCL and poor prognosis.
Unveiling the influence of seawater intrusion and vegetation type on coastal arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in China
Authors: Ma Shilin , Li Tao , Zhang Bo , Zhai Lu , Liu Xin , Zhang Jinchi
Published: August 2024

Continuously rising sea levels pose severe threats to the diversity and stability of coastal ecosystems. However, the responses of endospheric and rhizospheric arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal communities to accelerated seawater intrusion and changing vegetation types unfortunately remains unknown. Such insights will assist in revealing the structure of AM fungi across different tidal zones, enabling the development of effective measures to conserve biodiversity. Here, we investigated changes in endospheric and rhizospheric AM fungal communities associated with four types of coastal vegetation in Dafeng City, Jiangsu Province, China, in response to sea level variations by analyzing their characteristics and connections to selected environmental factors. It was found that the AM fungal communities of coastal vegetation differed significantly in their compositions, diversity, and stability (the resilience or resistance of a community). Despite the responses of endospheric and rhizospheric AM fungi to soil environmental factors, the soil electrical conductivity, cation exchange content, and inorganic carbon were identified as core elements that influenced the characteristics of AM fungal communities between different coastal vegetation species. Lastly, the major endospheric and rhizospheric species of AM fungi were important predictors that explained much of the variation in the soil environment. Consequently, the dynamics of AM fungal communities were correlated with the plant–soil system under different conditions. Apart from the coastal vegetation species, the characteristics of AM fungal communities can also be driven by high salinity and the inorganic carbon content induced by the intrusion of seawater.
Simultaneous onboard analysis of seawater dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentration and stable isotope ratio (δ13C‐DIC)
Authors: Sun Zhentao , Li Xinyu , Ouyang Zhangxian , Featherstone Charles , Atekwana Eliot A. , Hussain Najid , Cai Wei‐Jun
Published: August 2024

Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and its stable carbon isotope (δ13C‐DIC) are valuable parameters for studying the aquatic carbon cycle and quantifying ocean anthropogenic carbon accumulation rates. However, the potential of this coupled pair is underexploited as only 15% or less of cruise samples have been analyzed for δ13C‐DIC because the traditional isotope analysis is labor‐intensive and restricted to onshore laboratories. Here, we improved the analytical precision and reported the protocol of an automated, efficient, and high‐precision method for ship‐based DIC and δ13C‐DIC analysis based on cavity ring‐down spectroscopy (CRDS). We also introduced a set of stable in‐house standards to ensure accurate and consistent DIC and δ13C‐DIC measurements, especially on prolonged cruises. With this method, we analyzed over 1600 discrete seawater samples over a 40‐d cruise along the North American eastern ocean margin in summer 2022, representing the first effort to collect a large dataset of δ13C‐DIC onboard of any oceanographic expedition. We evaluated the method's uncertainty, which was 1.2 μmol kg−1 for the DIC concentration and 0.03‰ for the δ13C‐DIC value (1σ). An interlaboratory comparison of onboard DIC concentration analysis revealed an average offset of 2.0 ± 3.8 μmol kg−1 between CRDS and the coulometry‐based results. The cross‐validation of δ13C‐DIC in the deep‐ocean data exhibited a mean difference of only −0.03‰ ± 0.07‰, emphasizing the consistency with historical data. Potential applications in aquatic biogeochemistry are discussed.
Designed Semiconductor Network Random Lasers
Authors: Saxena Dhruv , Fischer Anna , Dranczewski Jakub , Ng Wai Kit , Trivino Noelia Vico , Schmid Heinz , Raziman T. V. , Arnaudon Alexis , Barahona Mauricio , Hess Ortwin , Moselund Kirsten , Sapienza Riccardo
Published: August 2024

Conventional lasers typically support a well‐defined comb of modes. Coupling many resonators together to form larger complex cavities enables the design of the spatial and spectral distribution of modes, for sensitive and controllable on‐chip light sources. Network lasers, formed from a mesh of dye‐doped polymer interconnecting waveguides, have shown great potential for random lasing with a highly sensitive and customizable lasing spectrum albeit suffering from gain bleaching. Here on‐chip semiconductor network lasers are introduced, and fabricated by etching an InP epilayer bonded onto a wafer, as a reproducible, stable and designable random laser with a rich multimodal spectrum and low room temperature lasing threshold. Thresholds are observed as low as 60  for InP networks with an optimum link width of 450 nm and thickness of 120 nm. It is further shown, both experimentally and numerically, that the network density directly affects the mode spatial distribution, and lasing modes are spatially localized over only 10–20 connected links in large dense networks. The InP network lasers are also stable to pump illumination and sensitive to small variations in the pump pattern. These studies lay the ground for the future design of random lasers tailored to the application in robust semiconductor platforms with impact for sensing, signal processing, cryptography and machine learning.
Microscopic Aggregation and Film‐Forming Characteristics of Lubricant Additives on Oil–Water Interface: MD Simulation and Experiments on Water Separability
Authors: Shen Xinhuiyu , Lyu Ya , Gong Yingying
Published: August 2024

The anti‐emulsification property of lubricating oil is an important index to measure the quality of oil. In this paper, the behaviour of surfactants such as lubricating oil additives at the oil–water interface and the influence of the position of ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO) in the block polyether demulsifier on the demulsification effect were investigated by molecular simulation and experimental verification. The properties of seven lubricating oil additives with different functions and two pairs of isomers were investigated by molecular simulation, and their demulsification effects were verified by experiments. Some simulation results such as interface thickness and density distribution can accurately predict the experimental demulsification effect. Moreover, it was found that the position isomerism of surfactants affected the demulsification performance by changing the lipophilic balance and interface properties. The demulsification performance of sequenced copolymers is generally better than that of anti‐sequenced copolymers. The accurate prediction of molecular dynamics simulation makes the selection of lubricating oil demulsifier more extensive and has practical application value.
Nanophase Segregation Drives Heterogeneous Dynamics in Amphiphilic PLMA‐b‐POEGMA Block‐Copolymers with Densely Grafted Architecture
Authors: Pipertzis Achilleas , Skandalis Athanasios , Pispas Stergios , Floudas George
Published: August 2024

The self‐assembly and dynamics of amphiphilic diblock copolymers composed of densely grafted poly(oligo ethylene glycol methacrylate) (POEGMA) and poly(lauryl methacrylate) (PLMA) by means of calorimetry, small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), and dielectric spectroscopy are investigated. It is reported that the inherent immiscibility between the parent homopolymers, combined with the increased molar mass, results in strong segregation, maintained up to elevated temperatures (i.e., T = 423 K). SAXS reveals that well‐separated POEGMA and PLMA domains self‐assemble into spheres with bicontinuous cubic packing and in lamellar nanostructure in copolymers with respective compositions of 16 and 52 wt.% PLMA. This strong segregation enables the weak crystallization/melting of the short ethylene glycol chains. Additionally, molecular dynamics are investigated through isothermal dielectric and calorimetry measurements. The segmental dynamics (i.e., Tg‐related) of POEGMA and PLMA closely resemble that found in respective homopolymers, implying heterogeneous dynamics. In the glassy state, the local motions of the POEGMA side chains predominantly govern the observed secondary processes in the copolymers. The results on the heterogeneous dynamics in the current amphiphilic diblock copolymers with the densely grafted architecture are compared and contrasted with copolymers having a bottle–brush architecture lacking the amphiphilic nature.
STAMBPL1, transcriptionally regulated by SREBP1, promotes malignant behaviors of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Jin Junyi , Wang Yihui , Hu Yaoyuan
Published: August 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer‐related death worldwide. STAM binding protein‐like 1 (STAMBPL1), a key member of the COP9 signalosome subunit 5/serine protease 27/proteasome 26S subunit non‐ATPase 7 (JAMM) family, is closely associated with tumor development. In this work, data from GSE101728 and GSE84402 chips were analyzed, and STAMBPL1 was selected as the target factor. This study aimed to reveal the potential function of STAMBPL1 in HCC. Clinical results showed that STAMBPL1 was significantly increased in tumor tissues of HCC patients, and its expression was strongly associated with tumor size and TNM stage. Furthermore, STAMBPL1‐overexpressed Hep3B2.1‐7 cell line or STAMBPL1‐silenced SNU‐182 cell line were established using lentivirus carrying cDNA encoding STAMBPL1 mRNA or shRNA targeting STAMBPL1, respectively. STAMBPL1‐overexpressed cells exhibited a pronounced enhancement of proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Exogenous expression of STAMBPL1 increased the percentage of cells in the S phase and upregulated the expressions of CyclinD1 and Survivin. As expected, STAMBPL1 knockdown exhibited completely opposite effects, resulting in impaired tumorigenicity in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, STAMBPL1 activated Wnt/β‐catenin pathway and increased the expression of downstream cancer‐promoting genes. Interestingly, we found that STAMBPL1 was transcriptionally regulated by sterol regulatory element‐binding protein 1 (SREBP1), a modulator of lipid metabolism, as evidenced by luciferase reporter and chromatin‐immunoprecipitation (Ch‐IP) assays. Notably, STAMBPL1 overexpression increased lipid accumulation in HCC cells and xenograft tumors. Totally our findings suggest that STAMBPL1 plays a vital role in the tumorigenicity of HCC cells. Modulation of Wnt/β‐catenin and lipid metabolism may contribute to its pro‐cancer effects. STAMBPL1 may serve as a therapeutic target of HCC.
Pricing of medical services and channel selection strategies for pharmaceutical supply chain under the zero‐markup drug policy
Authors: Li Shiyang , Li Yantao , Kong Qianqian , Feng Xiaoyu , Long Yuanxue , Zhou Nan
Published: August 2024

This paper studies the channel strategies of drug suppliers in the drug supply chain under the zero‐plus drug pricing policy. With the popularity of e‐commerce and online shopping, supply chain firms have begun considering expanding their business to online channels. In this paper, we construct a game model to explore the impact of the pharmaceutical supply chain's development of online channels on supply chain members. We conclude that under the zero profits policy, increasing the public hospital's public welfare level will increase the price of drugs, decrease the price of medical services, and reduce the overall cost of patients. In addition, the greater the sensitivity of medical services, the lower the likelihood that a drug supplier will open an online pharmacy, and the lower the level of public good, the greater the likelihood that a drug supplier will open an online pharmacy. In addition, under certain conditions, patients can receive a higher level of medical service and spend less on healthcare under a dual‐channel strategy. Finally, under a dual‐channel strategy, an appropriate profit‐sharing mechanism can eliminate instability in the pharmaceutical supply chain.
Social identity in trusting artificial intelligence agents: Evidence from lab and online experiments
Authors: Sun Yanqi , Xu Cheng , Xu Hao
Published: August 2024

This paper explores human trust in artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on the effects of social categorization (ingroup vs. outgroup) and AI human‐likeness through two pre‐registered studies involving 160 participants each. The first study, a lab experiment in China, and the second, an online experiment representative of the United States, both utilized a trust game to assess trust across four conditions: ingroup‐humanoid AI, ingroup‐non‐humanoid AI, outgroup‐humanoid AI, and outgroup‐non‐humanoid AI. Results indicated higher trust for ingroup and humanoid AIs, with statistical significance. Mixed‐design ANOVA was used to analyze the data, revealing significant main effects and interactions. The second study also identified an emotional connection as a mediator in trust, suggesting significant design implications for AI in trust‐critical sectors like healthcare and autonomous transportation.
Identification of Genetic Variants in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy in Southeast Asia
Authors: Ng Adeline Su Lyn , Tan Ai Huey , Tan Yi Jayne , Lim Jia Lun , Lian Michelle Mulan , Dy Closas Alfand Marl , Ahmad‐Annuar Azlina , Viswanathan Shanthi , Chia Yuen Kang , Foo Jia Nee , Lim Weng Khong , Tan Eng‐King , Lim Shen‐Yang
Published: August 2024

Background

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is largely a sporadic disease with few reported familial cases. Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) in sporadic PSP in Caucasian populations have identified MAPT as the most commonly associated genetic risk locus with the strongest effect size. At present there are limited data on genetic factors associated with PSP in Asian populations.

Objectives

Our goal was to investigate the genetic factors associated with PSP in Southeast Asian PSP patients.

Methods

Next‐generation sequencing (whole‐exome, whole‐genome and targeted sequencing) was performed in two Asian cohorts, comprising 177 PSP patients.

Results

We identified 17 pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in 16 PSP patients (9%), eight of which were novel. The most common relevant genetic variants identified were in MAPT, GBA1, OPTN, SYNJ1, and SQSTM1. Other variants detected were in TBK1, PRNP, and ABCA7—genes that have been implicated in other neurodegenerative diseases. Eighteen patients had a positive family history, of whom two carried pathogenic MAPT variants, and one carried a likely pathogenic GBA1 variant. None of the patients had expanded repeats in C9orf72. Furthermore, we found 16 different variants of uncertain significance in 21 PSP patients in PSEN2, ABCA7, SMPD1, MAPT, ATP13A2, OPTN, SQSTM1, CYLD, and BSN.

Conclusions

The genetic findings in our PSP cohorts appear to be somewhat distinct from those in Western populations, and also suggest an overlap of the genetic architecture between PSP and other neurodegenerative diseases. Further functional studies and validation in independent Asian cohorts will be useful for improving our understanding of PSP genetics and guiding genetic screening strategies in these populations. © 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Much anticipated FDA decision about psychedelics for PTSD ends with denial
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: August 2024

In a closely watched decision involving the use of psychedelic treatment and therapy to treat post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Aug. 9 declined to approve the use of midomafetamine (MDMA)‐assisted therapy for the disorder. The federal agency issued a Complete Response Letter (CRL) for MDMA‐assisted therapy to its drug maker, Lykos Therapeutics.
Report cites flaws in mental health care for detained Maryland youths
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: August 2024

As the number of youths in Maryland's juvenile detention facilities continues to rise, the state faces an ongoing struggle to provide timely and effective mental health services to the young people who need them, a new report suggests. Problems in recruiting and retaining qualified and culturally responsive mental health professionals have exacerbated the situation, according to the agency that regularly reports on conditions at facilities operated by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS).
MH groups, retailer partners to support youth with MH issues
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: August 2024

Observing a mission to support organizations that provide young people who have mental health needs with tools and resources to impact their well‐being, Macy's, Inc. continues to move forward with its partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and The Jed Foundation. Commencing in 2022, this collaboration has raised $3.3 million to date to support young people with mental health resources.
Logarithmic convexity of non‐symmetric time‐fractional diffusion equations
Authors: Chorfi Salah‐Eddine , Maniar Lahcen , Yamamoto Masahiro
Published: August 2024

We consider a class of diffusion equations with the Caputo time‐fractional derivative
subject to the homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions. Here, we consider a fractional order
and a second‐order operator
which is elliptic and non‐symmetric. In this paper, we show that the logarithmic convexity extends to this non‐symmetric case provided that the drift coefficient is given by a gradient vector field. Next, we perform some numerical experiments to validate the theoretical results in both symmetric and non‐symmetric cases. Finally, some conclusions and open problems will be mentioned.
Tailoring Polyaniline for Improved Acetaldehyde Detection
Authors: Mavani Bhoomi Het , Penlidis Alexander
Published: August 2024

This study investigates polyaniline (PANI) for its sensing characteristics for detecting acetaldehyde. Pristine PANI is further modified in two ways to improve its sensing capabilities: 1) addition of a side chain (i.e., two methyl groups) to form poly (2,5‐dimethylaniline), 2) addition of small amounts of metal oxide dopant (In2O3 in this case) to PANI. All the materials are evaluated for their sensing characteristics with respect to both sensitivity and selectivity. The sensitivity of PANI toward acetaldehyde is found to improve with both types of modification (i.e., poly (2,5‐dimethylaniline) and PANI doped with different wt.% of In2O3). However, upon evaluating selectivity toward acetaldehyde using binary and ternary gas mixtures, pristine PANI exhibited higher selectivity compared to its modified counterparts.
Study on mechanical properties and curing properties of shear‐thickening gel toughened epoxy resin
Authors: Ma Jingtao , Wen Haolijie , Wang Kaixuan , Xiong Ziming , Yan Fengguo , Zhang Zhongwei , Yu Kejing
Published: August 2024

The shear‐thickening gel (STG) is introduced as a toughening agent into the epoxy resin (EP) to improve the toughness and impact resistance of the EP without significantly increasing its viscosity. By utilizing the unique BO dynamic bonds present in STG, the EP/STG composite exhibits remarkable toughness at low strain rates due to the gradual disentanglement of molecular chains. Conversely, at high strain rates, the disentanglement of molecular chains is hindered, resulting in a pronounced impact hardening effect and overall superior impact resistance. Our findings reveal that when STG is added at a concentration of 15%, the EP/STG composite material attains its peak mechanical performance. Specifically, it demonstrates a tensile strength of 31.8 MPa and a modulus of elasticity of 550.6 MPa. Furthermore, compared to pure EP, the EP/STG composite experiences an increase in elongation at break and impact strength by 40% and 8.1%, respectively. Additionally, the introduction of hydroxyl and B atoms in STG promotes the ring‐opening reaction of epoxy groups during the curing process of the EP, thus accelerating the curing reaction rate. These insights provide a solid theoretical foundation for optimizing the performance of EPs in engineering applications.

Highlights

The STG was actively utilized to enhance the toughness of EP.

The modified EP system exhibits significant improvements in toughness and impact resistance without a notable increase in viscosity.

The promotional effect of STG on the curing of EP systems was revealed through curing kinetics analysis and rheological analysis.
Differential effects of physiological agonists on the proteome of platelet‐derived extracellular vesicles
Authors: Gutmann Clemens , Mayr Manuel
Published: August 2024

Arterial thrombosis contributes to some of the most frequent causes of mortality globally, such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Platelets are essential mediators of physiological haemostasis and pathological thrombosis. Platelet activation is controlled by a multitude of signalling pathways. Upon activation, platelets shed platelet‐derived extracellular vesicles (pEVs). In this Special Issue: Extracellular Vesicles, Moon et al. investigate the impact of various platelet agonists (thrombin, ADP, collagen) on the proteome of pEVs. The study demonstrates that pEVs exhibit an agonist‐dependent altered proteome compared to their parent cells, with significant variations in proteins related to coagulation, complement, and platelet activation. The study observes the rapid generation of pEVs following agonist stimulation with specific proteome alterations that underscore an active packaging process. This commentary highlights the implications of their findings and discusses the role of pEV cargo in cardiovascular disease with potential novel therapeutic and diagnostic opportunities.
On the PhyloQuant protein expression profiles approach to the taxonomic problem
Authors: Sánchez Reyes Ayixon , Ayala‐Ruan Cesar
Published: August 2024

Inferring evolutionary relationships among organisms has been a fundamental problem in evolutionary biology. The current phylogenetic molecular methods serve as the baseline model to test new evolutionary hypotheses with taxonomic purposes. Leishmaniinae trypanosomatids subfamily includes protozoan parasites of clinical importance to humans. They have an intricate taxonomic history defined by morphological elements, host range, and molecular phylogenies. Unraveling the increasing diversity of this group has shown limitations in reconstructing the true evolutionary relationships among Trypanosomatidae species. Toward the goal of inferring evolutionary relationships that help to resolve phylogenetic and taxonomic controversies among parasites of the subfamily Leishmaniinae, Mule et al. propose the method PhyloQuant as a valuable approach, based on differential protein expression obtained from high throughput mass spectrometry data. Employing a pioneering methodological approach, Mule et al. assess the taxonomic problem for species hypothesis within Leishmaniinae, from quantitative phenetic protein expression profiles, in contrast to the standard multilocus phylogenetic approaches.
Structural adaptability and surface activity of peptides derived from tardigrade proteins
Authors: Giubertoni Giulia , Chagri Sarah , Argudo Pablo G. , Prädel Leon , Maltseva Daria , Greco Alessandro , Caporaletti Federico , Pavan Alberto , Ilie Ioana M. , Ren Yong , Ng David Y.W. , Bonn Mischa , Weil Tanja , Woutersen Sander
Published: August 2024

Tardigrades are unique micro‐organisms with a high tolerance to desiccation. The protection of their cells against desiccation involves tardigrade‐specific proteins, which include the so‐called cytoplasmic abundant heat soluble (CAHS) proteins. As a first step towards the design of peptides capable of mimicking the cytoprotective properties of CAHS proteins, we have synthesized several model peptides with sequences selected from conserved CAHS motifs and investigated to what extent they exhibit the desiccation‐induced structural changes of the full‐length proteins. Using circular dichroism spectroscopy, two‐dimensional infrared spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations, we have found that the CAHS model peptides are mostly disordered, but adopt a more ‐helical structure upon addition of 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol, which mimics desiccation. This structural behavior is similar to that of full‐length CAHS proteins, which also adopt more ordered conformations upon desiccation. We also have investigated the surface activity of the peptides at the air/water interface, which also mimics partial desiccation. Interestingly, sum‐frequency generation spectroscopy shows that all model peptides are surface active and adopt a helical structure at the air/water interface. Our results suggest that amino acids with high helix‐forming propensities might contribute to the propensity of these peptides to adopt a helical structure when fully or partially dehydrated. Thus, the selected sequences retain part of the CAHS structural behavior upon desiccation, and might be used as a basis for the design of new synthetic peptide‐based cryoprotective materials.
Dissecting the functional behavior of the differentially phosphorylated prolyl isomerase, Pin1
Authors: Kay Danielle F. , Ozleyen Adem , Heras Cristina Matas De Las , Doveston Richard G. , Leney Aneika C.
Published: August 2024

Protein post‐translational modifications (PTMs) play an intricate role in a diverse range of cellular processes creating a complex PTM code that governs cell homeostasis. Understanding the molecular build‐up and the critical factors regulating this PTM code is essential for targeted therapeutic design whereby PTM mis‐regulation is prevalent. Here, we focus on Pin1, a peptidyl‐prolyl cis‐trans isomerase whose regulatory function is altered by a diverse range of PTMs. Through employing advanced mass spectrometry techniques in combination with fluorescence polarization and enzyme activity assays, we elucidate the impact of combinatorial phosphorylation on Pin1 function. Moreover, two phosphorylation sites were identified whereby Ser71 phosphorylation preceded Ser16 phosphorylation, leading to the deactivation of Pin1's prolyl isomerase activity before affecting substrate binding. Together, these findings shed light on the regulatory mechanisms underlying Pin1 function and emphasize the importance of understanding PTM landscapes in health and disease.
A nondestructive membrane engineering method using an amphiphilic polymer
Authors: Kim Nam Hyuk , Shim Goeun , Park Ga Hyeon , Yu Yeon Gyu
Published: August 2024

The cellular signaling process or ion transport is mediated by membrane proteins (MPs) located on the cell surface, and functional studies of MPs have mainly been conducted using cells endogenously or transiently expressing target proteins. Reconstitution of purified MPs in the surface of live cells would have advantages of short manipulation time and ability to target cells in which gene transfection is difficult. However, direct reconstitution of MPs in live cells has not been established. The traditional detergent‐mediated reconstitution method of MPs into a lipid bilayer cannot be applied to live cells because this disrupts and reforms the lipid bilayer structure, which is detrimental to cell viability. In this study, we demonstrated that GPCRs (prostaglandin E2 receptor 4 [EP4] and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor [GLP1R]) or serotonin receptor 3A (5HT3A), a ligand‐gated ion channel, stabilized with amphiphilic poly‐γ‐glutamate (APG), can be reconstituted into mammalian cell plasma membranes without affecting cell viability. Furthermore, 5HT3A reconstituted in mammalian cells showed ligand‐dependent Ca2+ ion transport activity. APG‐mediated reconstitution of GPCR in synthetic liposomes showed that electrostatic interaction between APG and membrane surface charge contributed to the reconstitution process. This APG‐mediated membrane engineering method could be applied to the functional modification of cell membranes with MPs in live cells.