bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Probing the Morphology, Composition and Temperature of Olefin Polymerization Catalyst Particles with Microscopy and Spectroscopy
Authors:   , Werny Maximilian James
Published: September 2023

The economic importance of polyolefins is undeniable with the annual production of polyethylene, polypropylene and related materials currently falling in the range of 100 Mt. Ever since supported transition metal-based catalysts were first used in the early 1950s to produce polyethylene under favorable process conditions, extensive research has been conducted to obtain a better structural and mechanistic understanding of these catalyst systems. Despite the undertaken efforts, several fundamental scientific questions, concerning the influence of the reaction conditions, heat and mass transfer, as well as the localized build-up of pressure on the activities and morphologies of supported olefin polymerization catalysts, remain. This PhD thesis describes how an analytical toolbox, consisting of various microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, was used to study the structure, composition and temperature of industrial-grade silica-supported ethylene polymerization catalysts, such as supported metallocene-based and Ziegler-Natta catalyst materials. Both families of heterogeneous catalysts were characterized in the early stages of active site genesis and polymer formation to elucidate structure-activity-morphology correlations at the single particle level. The acquired insights can ultimately contribute to the optimization of established catalyst systems, thereby improving both the catalyst productivity and the product quality. With the recycling of polymers gaining momentum, the potential of the previously mentioned toolbox for the characterization of heterogeneous catalysts in the field of chemical polyolefin recycling is also discussed.
Отечественный опыт развития технологий информационного моделирования
Authors: ФИЛАТОВ Владимир Владимирович , ПЕСТРИКОВА Анастасия Дмитриевна , АДАМЦЕВИЧ Любовь Андреевна
Published: September 2023

Цифровая трансформация строительной отрасли обеспечивается путем внедрения и развития технологий Индустрии 4.0, где одну из ключевых позиций занимают технологии информационного моделирования, позволяющие формировать информационные модели зданий и сооружений. Цифровая информационная модель объекта капитального строительства подразумевает совокупность взаимосвязанных инженерных данных об объекте капитального строительства и формируется на основе требований, изложенных в соответствующих нормативных документах, к формату, наименованию, геометрическим и атрибутивным данным каждого элемента информационной модели. Рассмотрены основные нормативные документы, регламентирующие требования к формированию информационной модели объекта капитального строительства. Проанализирован отечественный опыт развития технологий информационного моделирования в виде публикационной активности, посвященной исследованиям в области развития технологий информационного моделирования. Приведены особенности проверки атрибутивных данных элементов информационной модели объекта капитального строительства в ПК RENGA с использованием автоматизированной системы для сбора и анализа атрибутивных данных элементов информационной модели.
‘My name is Death/But be na' fley'd’: Bishop Percy and the Ghosting of Robert Burns in Ireland
Authors: Ferguson Frank , Glover Danni
Published: September 2023

Recent decades have seen much scholarly exploration of Robert Burns’s impact on Irish writers, particularly those connected with the province of Ulster. Less explored is the antagonistic and opportunistic response to Burns in Ireland by a number of poets, editors and patrons. This article will chart Thomas Percy (1729–1811) and his literary circle’s responses in the Dromore area of County Down to Burns’s roles as poet, song collector and literary celebrity. It will argue that Percy and his associates reacted to Burns’s work and literary afterlife with a two-pronged strategy. First, they sought to emulate Burns through publishing or providing financial assistance to a number of texts of poetry and song. Secondly, they sought to establish a network of patrons and authors who employed literature as a means to portray a stable and loyal Ireland after the Union of 1800/1. As well as a heavily revised edition of Percy’s Reliques of Ancient English Poetry (1795), the group created platforms for a variety of poets including Thomas Stott, Hugh Porter and Patrick Brontë. This strategy sought to invoke Burns directly as an influence, but also implicitly to exclude his legacy from shaping the writing of the circle. This article suggests that the strategy was not fully successful. Despite the generally good reception of Percy’s fourth edition of the Reliques, the other authors in the circle did not always receive praise for their work, and writers like Stott were criticised for their weak, sycophantic verse. It will claim that for some of this circle, such as Hugh Porter, Burns’s influence played a major role in shaping the promotion of their writing careers. However, for many, there was an attempt to manage the trajectory of the writer’s work and career that minimised the agency and reach of the author. Ultimately, notwithstanding the attempts to quell and minimise Robert Burns’s impact in County Down, his inspiration remained powerful and difficult to contain.
Thoughts of a Modern-day Burns Collector
Authors: Thompson Mark
Published: September 2023

To acquire, to preserve, and to inform. These seem to me to be the driving passions of the collector. My collecting of Burns editions, editions about Burns, Burns artefacts and Burns traditions emerged naturally from my love of my own locality and community. Burns's work has been, and to some degree still is, part of the east Ulster community in which I have lived all of my 50 years. There is a joy in finding, a satisfaction in acquisition, but we never truly own anything. My article will outline some of Ulster’s wider cultural context, but will focus upon a selection of items and stories I have found or which have been passed down to me. Burns is indeed Scotland’s National Bard, but the Ulster-Scots community are his kinfolk too.
‘He Was Derek Raymond’: Revisiting theFactorySeries, Black Novel, and the Beautiful Obscenity inI Was Dora Suarez
Authors: Knauf Carl
Published: September 2023

Through his Factory series and the ‘black novel’, Derek Raymond highlights that violence in crime fiction not only provides a shock factor, but parallels societal issues at the time of a work’s publication and serves as a vessel for philosophical thought. This paper explores Raymond’s background and writing style in an attempt to align his Factory series with the issues British society faced during the 1970s and 1980s, such as class wars, economic downturn, political power, and a rise in violence. Raymond’s work, specifically, included the design of the disturbing acts taken place in I Was Dora Suarez, the fourth instalment in the Factory series. A qualitative study was conducted to address the shock value of the criminal acts in I Was Dora Suarez, and whether or not the author went too far with his graphic descriptions and overpowered the message he was attempting to achieve through his black novels.
No Time to Die, the Bond Franchise and Global Hollywood: Film Release Patterns during Covid-19
Authors: Higson Andrew , Treadwell Miya
Published: September 2023

No Time to Die ( NTTD), the 25th entry in the Bond franchise, became central to the plight of theatrical film exhibition during the Covid-19 pandemic. Produced as one of MGM’s and the wider industry’s biggest commodities, a tent-pole film, it was due to be released in April 2020. One of the first big film casualties of the global lockdowns, NTTD endured several delays before finally reaching cinemas in September 2021. The Bond franchise and the disruption to NTTD’s release are symptomatic of developments in global Hollywood and the entertainment business. Covid-19 had a huge impact on film exhibition and provoked all sorts of radical experiments by the Hollywood studios with online releases for blockbuster films that would previously have been key players at the global box office. As EON and MGM held out for a theatrical release, the hype around the film in the UK and the USA suggested it might single-handedly save the film exhibition business and finally bring audiences back to cinemas. Indeed, its eventual success at the box office suggested to some that Covid, streaming platforms and the home entertainment business had not after all killed off cinemagoing. But the writing was on the wall, and the extended periods of lockdown in the UK, the USA and elsewhere allowed the digital disruptors to establish an even firmer foothold. Amazon’s purchase of MGM and the Bond IP are prime indicators of that shift.
‘New war, same old story’: Gender and War-related Trauma in ITV’s Home Fires
Authors: White Bonnie
Published: September 2023

Airing during the centenary of the First World War and the 75th anniversary of the Blitz, Home Fires (ITV, 2015–16) deals with both world wars by linking them through war-related trauma that not only coloured wartime experiences but also shaped generational experiences in the decades following both conflicts. Set in the Second World War and focusing on the women of the Great Paxford Women’s Institute in rural Cheshire, the series complicates simplified narratives of Britons’ experiences in the world wars that represent the first as futile and the second as triumphalist and definitive. Rather than confining trauma to surviving combat conditions, Home Fires explores second-generation trauma, patriotic marriages versus non-heteronormative identities as a threat to the nation, and spousal abuse and adultery as consequences of war trauma. Ultimately, Home Fires is an emotionally wrought fictionalised narrative of the Second World War that encourages audiences to think critically about the world wars, their commemoration and the gendered valuation of trauma.
‘Praise these daring men’: ACT Films Ltd, 1950–1963
Authors: Spence Martin
Published: September 2023

During the 1950s the film technicians’ trade union, the Association of Cinematograph Technicians (ACT), was a significant force in the film industry. At the same time the ‘second feature’ or ‘B-film’ sector was producing a constant stream of low-budget titles. This article examines an initiative which combined the two: ACT Films Ltd, a film production company active in the second-feature sector, which was created by the union to provide jobs for its unemployed members. It explores some of the internal tensions this generated within ACT, the company’s production record, including its occasional forays beyond B-films, and its relations with other industry players. It also sheds light on the role of the National Film Finance Corporation and the distributor British Lion during this period, and their relations with independent production companies.
Research expertise and the framework of harms: Social network analysis, phase two
Authors: Hilbrecht Margo , Baxter David G. , Graham Alexander V. , Sohail Maha , Baxter Carling M.
Published: September 2023

This report consists of the second phase of a social network analysis of researchers in the United Kingdom who have authored gambling harm studies. Phase 1 was focused on researchers with an institutional affiliation in the UK and their connections to other UK-based researchers. In Phase 2, the analysis is extended to include their coauthors affiliated with research institutions in other countries. The goal is to better understand the strength of existing links among researchers nationally and internationally with expertise in specific areas of gambling harm. The analysis is based on the Framework of Harms, outlined in Measuring gambling-related harms: A framework for action (Wardle et al, 2018). To advance the UK National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms effectively, a strong evidence base is required to support each of the three primary factors and eight related subfactors in the Framework.
A Case Study on the Variable Frequency Drive for Ship Engine Room Ventilation
Authors: İNAL Ömer Berkehan , KOÇAK Gazi
Published: September 2023

Increasing ship energy efficiency is essential to reducing fuel consumption and ship-based harmful emissions. In a ship’s engine room, there are a lot of electric motors, and their energy consumption is remarkable. The effective operation of these electric motors becomes significant when taking into account ship energy efficiency with regard to the effects on the environment and climate change. The electrical, mechanical, and operational efficiencies of electric motors can be improved with a variable frequency drive. In order to improve the ship’s overall energy efficiency, the electric motors used for engine room ventilation are examined in this paper using variable frequency drives for two different ambient temperatures. Energy consumption of the engine room ventilation fans is calculated and the change in the efficiency depending on the air temperature is analyzed. By using data from actual crude oil tanker ships, the outcomes are compared with those of the traditional system. The results indicate an energy consumption reduction of more than 80% is achievable by using VFD electric motors for engine room fans. The result corresponds to 153.279 kWh of energy instead of 613.116 kWh annually.
Presence and Phylogenetic Confirmation of the Non-Indigenous Penaeus pulchricaudatus (Decapoda: Penaeidea) Stebbing, 1914 in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: DEVAL Mehmet Cengiz , YILMAZ Hasan Emre , ÇAĞATAY İfakat Tulay
Published: September 2023

One of the worst invasive species in terms of outspread and impact, kuruma shrimp Penaeus japonicus has spread subsequently in the Mediterranean basin after being misclassified for the first time as P. canaliculatus in Egypt. At the beginning of the 21st century, however, two morphologically or biometrically similar chromatic patterns of P. japonicus have been proven and clarified as two species. They do not differ morphologically, but genetically separate into form I (P. japonicus) and form II (P. pulchricaudatus). In the present study, we detect the presence and phylogenetic confirmation with mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences of the non-indigenous P.pulchricaudatus Stebbing, 1914 in the Mediterranean Sea, formerly accepted P. japonicus. This is the first finding in the Turkish Mediterranean waters and the first confirmation in the Mediterranean Sea.
ÇOCUK GELİŞİMİ ÖN LİSANS ÖĞRENCİLERİNİN EKRAN BAĞIMLILIĞI VE ÇEVRİMİÇİ MAHREMİYET FARKINDALIKLARININ İNCELENMESİ
Authors: AVCI Alperen , KAYIRAN Derya
Published: September 2023

Günümüz dünyasında bilgi ve iletişim teknolojilerinin yaygın olarak kullanımı, çevrimiçi mahremiyet kavramının gerekliliğini beraberinde getirmiştir. Çevrimiçi mahremiyet kavramı bilgi ve iletişim teknolojileri kullanan bireylerin kişisel hayatlarının gizliliğine dikkat çeken bir kavramdır. Bu çalışmanın amacı çocuk gelişimi ön lisans öğrencilerinin ekran bağımlılığı ve çevrimiçi mahremiyet farkındalıklarının incelenmesidir. Çocuk gelişimi ön lisans öğrencilerinin ekran bağımlılığı ile çevrimiçi mahremiyet farkındalıkları arasındaki ilişkinin incelendiği çalışmada nicel araştırma yöntemlerinden betimsel tarama modeli kullanılmıştır. Çalışmada elde edilen bulgulara göre; çocuk gelişimi ön lisans öğrencilerinin ekran bağımlısı olmadığı ve çevrimiçi mahremiyet farkındalıklarının yüksek olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Çalışmada ekran bağımlılığı ve çevrimiçi mahremiyet farkındalık düzeylerinin cinsiyet, sınıf ve sosyal medya kullanma amacı değişkenlerine göre katılımcılar arasında anlamlı bir farklılık bulunmadığı görülmüştür.
Gamma-ray, stable carbon and oxygen isotope chemostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy of the Lower Mahil Formation (KS-1 Khuff-Equivalent), Northern Oman
Authors: Moustafa Mohamed S. H. , Al Raqaishi Rasha , El-Ghali Mohamed A. K. , Gharbi Mohamed , Abbasi Iftikhar Ahmed , Al Humaidi Aaraf , Al Ghafri Nada , Alshukaili Marwa Musallam , Al-Awah Hezam
Published: September 2023

This research presents findings from a study focused on the Lower Triassic (Induan) Lower Mahil KS-1 Formation, situated on a homoclinal carbonate platform in Northern Oman. The sequence stratigraphy of this formation is characterized by a considerable thickness variation, slumps, and breccia deposits related to active normal faults coupled with intra-basin growth faults. The main objective was to establish a reliable stratigraphic framework for the Lower Mahil KS-1 Formation by integrating high-resolution carbon isotope data along with high-resolution spectral and total gamma-ray data. To achieve this, whole-rock samples were analyzed for δ13C and δ18O isotopes. Spectral and total gamma-ray records were obtained for the formation. Isotope sampling is conducted every 0.5 m in the Saiq Plateau and Wadi Sahtan sections. Furthermore, spectral gamma-ray measurements were taken at intervals of 10 cm from the logged sections. Within the third-order sequence, the spectral gamma-ray data revealed a distinct sea-level trend, leading to the division of KS1 into two different parts. Five fourth-order depositional sequences were identified by analyzing stable carbon isotopes, uranium, and total gamma-ray profiles. Four of these sequences displayed complete patterns, reflecting transgression and regression phases, while the fifth sequence was incomplete and solely comprised a transgressive phase. An essential outcome of the study is the correlation of the δ13C curve of the Lower Mahil KS-1 Formation with other similar formations around the Tethys region. This correlation indicates that the Lower Mahil KS-1 Formation captures the near-primary signal of carbon isotope variations in coeval seawater. As a result, it holds promise as a reference section for future investigations and studies in this field. Compared to the prior investigation, this study utilizes data with higher precision, capturing spectral gamma-ray measurements at 10 cm intervals and isotope measurements at 50 cm intervals. Furthermore, the study’s focus is confined explicitly to KS1.
Floral resources used by bees in urban areas: the case of Geneva, Switzerland
Authors: Heiniger Charlène , Rochefort Sophie , Prunier Patrice
Published: September 2023

It is now largely recognized that pollinators are threatened in agricultural habitats. Cities are thus seen as potential refuges for pollinators, if suitable green spaces are available, because they present favorable abiotic conditions for many pollinator species. However, data on resources used by bees in urban habitats are scarce. Moreover, promoting indigenous meadows in urban green spaces could help pollinator’s survival. In this study, Apis mellifera was taken as a model to investigate potential difference in plant diversity used in agricultural and urban habitat. Pollen loads were sampled in 15 hives in both habitat types, using pollen traps. Then, the attractiveness of a melliferous meadow on wild bees was tested. To that end, a new seed mix (BF) including 35 indigenous plants producing nectar and/or pollen harvested by bees was developed and its attractiveness was compared to a seed mix widely used in Geneva (PFG). For most of the season, quantity and diversity of the pollen sampled was not significantly different between agricultural and urban habitats. Nevertheless, honey bees used different species in both habitats, probably because different plant communities are present. Sixty-one wild bee species were observed foraging in the new BF seed mix compared to only 47 species in the PFG. Likewise, more plants species were used in the BF seed mix than in the PFG. These results show that urban zones can be interesting for pollinators because they display diverse and abundant plant communities. Additionally, it shows that urban parks are species rich habitats, and that pollinator communities respond immediately to additional resources when available.
Modeling host–microbiome interactions to improve mechanistic understanding of aphid vectored plant pathogens
Authors: Enders Laramy , Hefley Trevor
Published: September 2023

Insect transmission of plant pathogens involves multi-layered interactions between vectors, viruses, host plants and environmental factors. Adding to the complexity of vector–virus relationships are diverse microbial communities, which are hypothesized to influence pathogen transmission. Although vector–virus interaction research has flourished, the role played by microbes in vector competence and disease epidemiology remains unclear in many pathosystems. We therefore aimed to develop a novel ecological modeling approach to identify environmental drivers of complex vector–virus–microbiome interactions, particularly differences in the abundance of microbial symbionts within vector microbiomes and relationships between symbionts and the probability of virus acquisition. Our approach combines established molecular tools for profiling microbial communities with underutilized Bayesian hierarchical modeling and data integration techniques. We used a globally relevant aphid–virus pathosystem to develop custom vector–microbiome models that incorporate environmental covariates (e.g., temperature, landcover) and applied them to individual vector symbionts to identify the extent to which environmental factors drive changes in microbial communities that then influence virus acquisition by the host aphid. Specifically, we focus on the aphid obligate symbiont (Buchnera) and a wide-spread facultative symbiont (Serratia) as proof of concept to develop models for two major vector species that include a single environmental covariate (i.e., temperature). Overall, we demonstrate how community-level modeling and microbiome profiling can identify candidate microbes and environmental variables associated with vector competence. Our modeling framework can accommodate a range of microbial symbionts with different abundances, overcome spatial misalignment of data streams, and is robust to varying levels of disease incidence. Results show Buchnera relative abundance is strongly negatively associated with virus acquisition by the vector S.avenae, but not R. padi. Although Serratia was not associated with R. padi vector competence, relative abundance was influenced by differences in spring temperatures. This work lays the foundation for developing a broader modeling framework for predicting disease dynamics in agroecosystems and deploying microbiome-targeted pest management tactics.
Target-capture full-length double-stranded cDNA long-read sequencing through Nanopore revealed novel intron retention in patient with tuberous sclerosis complex
Authors: Ura Hiroki , Togi Sumihito , Niida Yo
Published: September 2023

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a relatively common autosomal dominant disorder characterized by multiple dysplastic organ lesions and neuropsychiatric symptoms caused by loss-of-function mutation of either TSC1 or TSC2. The genetic diagnosis of inherited diseases, including TSC, in the clinical field is widespread using next-generation sequencing. The mutations in protein-coding exon tend to be verified because mutations directly cause abnormal protein. However, it is relatively difficult to verify mutations in the intron region because it is required to investigate whether the intron mutations affect the abnormal splicing of transcripts. In this study, we developed a target-capture full-length double-stranded cDNA sequencing method using Nanopore long-read sequencer (Nanopore long-read target sequencing). This method revealed the occurrence of intron mutation in the TSC2 gene and found that the intron mutation produces novel intron retention splicing transcripts that generate truncated proteins. The protein-coding transcripts were decreased due to the expression of the novel intron retention transcripts, which caused TSC in patients with the intron mutation. Our results indicate that Nanopore long-read target sequencing is useful for the detection of mutations and confers information on the full-length alternative splicing of transcripts for genetic diagnosis.
Divergent molecular events underlying initial T-cell commitment in human prenatal and postnatal thymus
Authors: He Han , Yao Yingpeng , Tang Lindong , Li Yuhui , Li Zongcheng , Liu Bing , Lan Yu
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Intrathymic T-cell development is a coordinated process accompanied by dynamic changes in gene expression. Although the transcriptome characteristics of developing T cells in both human fetal and postnatal thymus at single-cell resolution have been revealed recently, the differences between human prenatal and postnatal thymocytes regarding the ontogeny and early events of T-cell development still remain obscure. Moreover, the transcriptional heterogeneity and posttranscriptional gene expression regulation such as alternative polyadenylation at different stages are also unknown.

Method

In this study, we performed integrative single-cell analyses of thymocytes at distinct developmental stages.

Results

The subsets of prenatal CD4–CD8– double-negative (DN) cells, the most immature thymocytes responsible for T-cell lineage commitment, were characterized. By comprehensively comparing prenatal and postnatal DN cells, we revealed significant differences in some key gene expressions. Specifically, prenatal DN subpopulations exhibited distinct biological processes and markedly activated several metabolic programs that may be coordinated to meet the required bioenergetic demands. Although showing similar gene expression patterns along the developmental path, prenatal and postnatal thymocytes were remarkably varied regarding the expression dynamics of some pivotal genes for cell cycle, metabolism, signaling pathway, thymus homing, and T-cell commitment. Finally, we quantified the transcriptome-wide changes in alternative polyadenylation across T-cell development and found diverse preferences of polyadenylation site usage in divergent populations along the T-cell commitment trajectory.

Discussion

In summary, our results revealed transcriptional heterogeneity and a dynamic landscape of alternative polyadenylation during T-cell development in both human prenatal and postnatal thymus, providing a comprehensive resource for understanding T lymphopoiesis in human thymus.
Significance of HLA in Graves’ disease and Graves’ orbitopathy in Asian and Caucasian populations – a systematic review
Authors: Stasiak Magdalena , Stasiak Bartłomiej , Zawadzka-Starczewska Katarzyna , Lewiński Andrzej
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Graves’ disease (GD) and Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) development were suspected to be HLA-related in both Asian and Caucasian populations. However, most studies were performed with application of serological methods or low resolution genetic typing, which led to inconsistent results even among the same population. The present review is intended to summarize the state-of-art knowledge on the HLA significance in GD and GO in Asians and Caucasians, as well as to find the most significant alleles for each of the populations.

Methods

PubMed was searched for relevant articles using the following search terms: HLA plus thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy or Graves’ disease or Graves’ orbitopathy or thyroid eye disease or thyroid-associated orbitopathy.

Results

In Asian population GD was found to be associated mostly with B*46:01, DPB1*05:01, DRB1*08:02/03, DRB1*16:02, DRB1*14:03, DRB1*04:05, DQB1*05:02 and DQB1*03:03, while DRB1*07:01, DRB1*01:01, DRB1*13:02, DRB1*12:02 are potentially protective. HLA-B*38:02, DRB1*16:02, DQA1*01:02, DQB1*05:02 can be considered associated with increased risk of GO in Asians, while HLA-B*54:01 may play protective role. In Caucasians, C*07:01, DQA1*05:01, DRB1*03, DQB1*02:01 are associated with GD risk while DRB1*07:01, DQA1*02:01 may be protective. Significance of HLA in the course of GD and novel aspects of HLA amino acid variants and potential HLA-based treatment modalities were also discussed.
New insights into intestinal macrophages in necrotizing enterocolitis: the multi-functional role and promising therapeutic application
Authors: Wei Jiaqi , Meng Zhaoli , Li Zhenyu , Dang Dan , Wu Hui
Published: September 2023

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an inflammatory intestinal disease that profoundly affects preterm infants. Currently, the pathogenesis of NEC remains controversial, resulting in limited treatment strategies. The preterm infants are thought to be susceptible to gut inflammatory disorders because of their immature immune system. In early life, intestinal macrophages (IMφs), crucial components of innate immunity, demonstrate functional plasticity and diversity in intestinal development, resistance to pathogens, maintenance of the intestinal barrier, and regulation of gut microbiota. When the stimulations of environmental, dietary, and bacterial factors interrupt the homeostatic processes of IMφs, they will lead to intestinal disease, such as NEC. This review focuses on the IMφs related pathogenesis in NEC, discusses the multi-functional roles and relevant molecular mechanisms of IMφs in preterm infants, and explores promising therapeutic application for NEC.
Inflammatory loops in the epithelial–immune microenvironment of the skin and skin appendages in chronic inflammatory diseases
Authors: Dainichi Teruki , Iwata Masashi
Published: September 2023

The epithelial–immune microenvironment (EIME) of epithelial tissues has five common elements: (1) microbial flora, (2) barrier, (3) epithelial cells, (4) immune cells, and (5) peripheral nerve endings. EIME provides both constant defense and situation-specific protective responses through three-layered mechanisms comprising barriers, innate immunity, and acquired immunity. The skin is one of the largest organs in the host defense system. The interactions between the five EIME elements of the skin protect against external dangers from the environment. This dysregulation can result in the generation of inflammatory loops in chronic inflammatory skin diseases. Here, we propose an understanding of EIME in chronic skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, alopecia areata, and acne vulgaris. We discuss the current treatment strategies targeting their inflammatory loops and propose possible therapeutic targets in the future.
Phytoplankton control by stocking of filter-feeding fish in a subtropical plateau reservoir, southwest China
Authors: Zhang Chaoshuo , Mei Feng , Luo Bin , Zhang Dongxu , Cheng Xinyu , Xiong Yongying , Bao Jianghui , Duan Rui , Jiang Hao , Jeppesen Erik , Duan Ming
Published: September 2023

Stocking of filter-feeding fish (mainly Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Aristichthys nobilis) is a common method used in lakes and reservoirs in (sub)tropical China to control phytoplankton, but the results are ambiguous and lack long-term data to support. We analysed a decade (2010-2020) of monitoring data from a subtropical plateau reservoir, southwest China, to which filter-feeding fish were stocked annually. We found that the total phytoplankton biomass, cyanobacteria biomass and average individual mass of phytoplankton decreased significantly during the study period despite absence of nutrient concentration reduction. However, the grazing pressure of zooplankton on phytoplankton also decreased markedly as judged from changes in the ratio of zooplankton biomass to phytoplankton biomass and Daphnia proportion of total zooplankton biomass. This is likely a response to increasing predation on zooplankton by the stocked fish. Our results also indicated that water temperature, total phosphorus and water level promoted phytoplankton growth. Our results revealed that filter-feeding fish contributed to the decline in the biomass of phytoplankton but that it also had a strong negative effect on the grazing pressure of zooplankton on phytoplankton, even in this deep reservoir where zooplankton may have a better chance of survival through vertical migration. The particular strong effect on zooplankton is most likely due to imbalance of stocking and harvesting of fish. In the management of eutrophic reservoirs, the reduction of external nutrient loading should have highest priority. In highland (low temperature) deep-water eutrophic reservoirs, stocking of filter-feeding fish may help to control filamentous phytoplankton provided that the fish stocking is properly managed. The optimal stocking intensity of filter-feeding fish that can help control phytoplankton in such reservoirs without excessive impact on large-bodied zooplankton is a topic for further elucidation, however.
Field-friendly anti-PGL-I serosurvey in children to monitor Mycobacterium leprae transmission in Bihar, India
Authors: Pierneef Louise , Malaviya Paritosh , van Hooij Anouk , Sundar Shyam , Singh Abhishek Kumar , Kumar Rajiv , de Jong Danielle , Meuldijk Maaike , Kumar Awnish , Zhou Zijie , Cloots Kristien , Corstjens Paul , Hasker Epco , Geluk Annemieke
Published: September 2023

Background

It has been amply described that levels of IgM antibodies against Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I) correlate strongly with the bacterial load in an infected individual. These findings have generated the concept of using seropositivity for antibodies against M. leprae PGL-I as an indicator of the proportion of the population that has been infected. Although anti-PGL-I IgM levels provide information on whether an individual has ever been infected, their presence cannot discriminate between recent and past infections. Since infection in (young) children by definition indicates recent transmission, we piloted the feasibility of assessment of anti-PGL-I IgM seroprevalence among children in a leprosy endemic area in India as a proxy for recent M. leprae transmission.

Material and methods

A serosurvey for anti-PGL-I IgM antibodies among children in highly leprosy endemic villages in Bihar, India, was performed, applying the quantitative anti-PGL-I UCP-LFA cassette combined with low-invasive, small-volume fingerstick blood (FSB).

Results

Local staff obtained FSB of 1,857 children (age 3–11 years) living in 12 leprosy endemic villages in Bihar; of these, 215 children (11.58%) were seropositive for anti-PGL-I IgM.

Conclusion

The anti-PGL-I seroprevalence level of 11.58% among children corresponds with the seroprevalence levels described in studies in other leprosy endemic areas over the past decades where no prophylactic interventions have taken place. The anti-PGL-I UCP-LFA was found to be a low-complexity tool that could be practically combined with serosurveys and was well-accepted by both healthcare staff and the population. On route to leprosy elimination, quantitative anti-PGL-I serology in young children holds promise as a strategy to monitor recent M. leprae transmission in an area.
Exploring the potential of ume-derived proanthocyanidins: novel applications for blueberry preservation
Authors: Liang Lishan , Qiu Honghao , Liu Yuntong , Liu Yingjie , Weng Luo , Zhong Wenting , Meng Fanxin
Published: September 2023

Proanthocyanidins (PCs) extracted from ume have many well-known functional properties. The aim of this study was to explore a novel natural food preservative using ume plum pulp proanthocyanidins (UPPP). The crude product of PCs from ume plum was obtained by using ethanol as extraction solvent and ultrasonic-assisted extraction, and then the pure product of UPPP was obtained by purification with AB-8 resin. The bacteriostatic ability of UPPP and the freshness preservation effect on blueberry were analyzed. The results showed that UPPP had a high inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus (MIC of 1.563 mg/mL) and Escherichia coli (MIC of 3.125 mg/mL). Findings revealed that, in comparison to 0.02% potassium sorbate, blueberries treated with a high concentration of UPPP in a dipping treatment displayed superior quality maintenance after 7 days of storage at 4°C. Importantly, analysis of the various metrics showed that treatment with UPPP was significantly better compared to blueberries treated with 0.02% potassium sorbate. For example, the decay rate, weight loss, and total number of colonies of blueberries treated with 0.02% potassium sorbate were 55.56, 3.48%, and 4.24 ± 0.07 log CFU/mL, whereas the values of the above indexes for blueberries treated with 25 mg/mL of UPPP were 22.22, 3.09%, and 3.10 ± 0.17 log CFU/mL, respectively. Conversely, blueberries that were not dipped in any preservative displayed signs of deterioration as early as the 3rd day of the storage period, highlighting the potential of UPPP as a valuable method for preserving fruits and vegetables. Therefore, UPPP holds great promise as an innovative natural food preservative, effectively enhancing food safety, quality, and extending shelf-life.
Research status and hotspots in the surgical treatment of tremor in Parkinson’s disease from 2002 to 2022: a bibliometric and visualization analysis
Authors: Zeng Jingchun , Chu Hui , Lu Yiqian , Xiao Xi , Lu Liming , Li Jingjing , Lai Guoan , Li Lisha , Lu Lihong , Xu Nenggui , Wang Shuxin
Published: September 2023

Objective

This study aims to investigate the research status and hotspots of surgical treatment for tremor in Parkinson’s disease (PD) from 2002 to 2022, utilizing bibliometric and visual analysis. Additionally, it aims to offer insights into future research trends in this field.

Methods

This study collected publications on the surgical treatment of tremor in PD from 2002 to 2022 using the Web of Science (WOS) database. CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago Graphica were employed to quantify the number of publications and analyze the bibliographic information networks, including the contributions of countries/cities, authors, keywords, and co-cited references.

Results

A total of 2,815 publications were included in the study, revealing that 541 scientific institutions experienced an increase in publications from 2002 to 2022. Michael Okun emerged as the most productive author, and the United States emerged as the leading hub for research. The study identified 772 keywords. Noteworthy citation bursts and long-term activity were observed in pallidotomy, bilateral stimulation, and focused ultrasound thalamotomy. The top 10 highly co-cited references comprised eight deep brain stimulation (DBS) studies (including two follow-up studies and six randomized controlled trials), one randomized controlled trial on focused ultrasound, and one consensus on tremor.

Conclusion

This study uses an in-depth and systematic bibliometric and visualization analysis to visualize the evolution of research and identify emerging hotspots. The identified hotspots are as follows: Firstly, DBS has received significant attention and widespread recognition as a surgical treatment for tremor in PD. Secondly, there are various key aspects to consider in DBS, such as operative indications, operative targets, and surgical protocols. Lastly, magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) has emerged as a promising treatment option in the surgical management of tremor in Parkinson’s disease. This research also provides insights into the phenomenon of these hotspots, offering valuable prompts and reminders for further research.
Neuroimaging evidence supporting a dual-network architecture for the control of visuospatial attention in the human brain: a mini review
Authors: Tosoni Annalisa , Capotosto Paolo , Baldassarre Antonello , Spadone Sara , Sestieri Carlo
Published: September 2023

Neuroimaging studies conducted in the last three decades have distinguished two frontoparietal networks responsible for the control of visuospatial attention. The present review summarizes recent findings on the neurophysiological mechanisms implemented in both networks and describes the evolution from a model centered on the distinction between top-down and bottom-up attention to a model that emphasizes the dynamic interplay between the two networks based on attentional demands. The role of the dorsal attention network (DAN) in attentional orienting, by boosting behavioral performance, has been investigated with multiple experimental approaches. This research effort allowed us to trace a distinction between DAN regions involved in shifting vs. maintenance of attention, gather evidence for the modulatory influence exerted by the DAN over sensory cortices, and identify the electrophysiological correlates of the orienting function. Simultaneously, other studies have contributed to reframing our understanding of the functions of the ventral attention network (VAN) and its relevance for behavior. The VAN is not simply involved in bottom-up attentional capture but interacts with the DAN during reorienting to behaviorally relevant targets, exhibiting a general resetting function. Further studies have confirmed the selective rightward asymmetry of the VAN, proposed a functional dissociation along the anteroposterior axis, and suggested hypotheses about its emergence during the evolution of the primate brain. Finally, novel models of network interactions explain the expression of complex attentional functions and the emergence and restorations of symptoms characterizing unilateral spatial neglect. These latter studies emphasize the importance of considering patterns of network interactions for understanding the consequences of brain lesions.
Fecal microbial transplantation limits neural injury severity and functional deficits in a pediatric piglet traumatic brain injury model
Authors: Fagan Madison M. , Welch Christina B. , Scheulin Kelly M. , Sneed Sydney E. , Jeon Julie H. , Golan Morgane E. , Cheek Savannah R. , Barany Deborah A. , Oeltzschner Georg , Callaway Todd R. , Zhao Qun , Park Hea Jin , Lourenco Jeferson M. , Duberstein Kylee J. , West Franklin D.
Published: September 2023

Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability in children. Due to bidirectional communication between the brain and gut microbial population, introduction of key gut bacteria may mitigate critical TBI-induced secondary injury cascades, thus lessening neural damage and improving functional outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of a daily fecal microbial transplant (FMT) to alleviate neural injury severity, prevent gut dysbiosis, and improve functional recovery post TBI in a translational pediatric piglet model. Male piglets at 4-weeks of age were randomly assigned to Sham + saline, TBI + saline, or TBI + FMT treatment groups. A moderate/severe TBI was induced by controlled cortical impact and Sham pigs underwent craniectomy surgery only. FMT or saline were administered by oral gavage daily for 7 days. MRI was performed 1 day (1D) and 7 days (7D) post TBI. Fecal and cecal samples were collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Ipsilateral brain and ileum tissue samples were collected for histological assessment. Gait and behavior testing were conducted at multiple timepoints. MRI showed that FMT treated animals demonstrated decreased lesion volume and hemorrhage volume at 7D post TBI as compared to 1D post TBI. Histological analysis revealed improved neuron and oligodendrocyte survival and restored ileum tissue morphology at 7D post TBI in FMT treated animals. Microbiome analysis indicated decreased dysbiosis in FMT treated animals with an increase in multiple probiotic Lactobacilli species, associated with anti-inflammatory therapeutic effects, in the cecum of the FMT treated animals, while non-treated TBI animals showed an increase in pathogenic bacteria, associated with inflammation and disease such in feces. FMT mediated enhanced cellular and tissue recovery resulted in improved motor function including stride and step length and voluntary motor activity in FMT treated animals. Here we report for the first time in a highly translatable pediatric piglet TBI model, the potential of FMT treatment to significantly limit cellular and tissue damage leading to improved functional outcomes following a TBI.
Syntaxin-1 is necessary for UNC5A-C/Netrin-1-dependent macropinocytosis and chemorepulsion
Authors: Martínez-Mármol Ramón , Muhaisen Ashraf , Cotrufo Tiziana , Roselló-Busquets Cristina , Ros Oriol , Hernaiz-Llorens Marc , Pérez-Branguli Francesc , Andrés Rosa Maria , Parcerisas Antoni , Pascual Marta , Ulloa Fausto , Soriano Eduardo
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Brain connectivity requires correct axonal guidance to drive axons to their appropriate targets. This process is orchestrated by guidance cues that exert attraction or repulsion to developing axons. However, the intricacies of the cellular machinery responsible for the correct response of growth cones are just being unveiled. Netrin-1 is a bifunctional molecule involved in axon pathfinding and cell migration that induces repulsion during postnatal cerebellar development. This process is mediated by UNC5 homolog receptors located on external granule layer (EGL) tracts.

Methods

Biochemical, imaging and cell biology techniques, as well as syntaxin-1A/B (Stx1A/B) knock-out mice were used in primary cultures and brain explants.

Results and discussion

Here, we demonstrate that this response is characterized by enhanced membrane internalization through macropinocytosis, but not clathrin-mediated endocytosis. We show that UNC5A, UNC5B, and UNC5C receptors form a protein complex with the t-SNARE syntaxin-1. By combining botulinum neurotoxins, an shRNA knock-down strategy and Stx1 knock-out mice, we demonstrate that this SNARE protein is required for Netrin1-induced macropinocytosis and chemorepulsion, suggesting that Stx1 is crucial in regulating Netrin-1-mediated axonal guidance.
Insights on therapeutic potential of clemastine in neurological disorders
Authors: Jiang Sufang , Wang Xueji , Cao Tianyu , Kang Rongtian , Huang Lining
Published: September 2023

Clemastine, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved compound, is recognized as a first-generation, widely available antihistamine that reduces histamine-induced symptoms. Evidence has confirmed that clemastine can transport across the blood–brain barrier and act on specific neurons and neuroglia to exert its protective effect. In this review, we summarize the beneficial effects of clemastine in various central nervous system (CNS) disorders, including neurodegenerative disease, neurodevelopmental deficits, brain injury, and psychiatric disorders. Additionally, we highlight key cellular links between clemastine and different CNS cells, in particular in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), oligodendrocytes (OLs), microglia, and neurons.