bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of injection recess in methane turbulent combustion for space propulsion
Authors: Martinez-Sanchis Daniel , Sternin Andrej , Haidn Oskar , Jocher Agnes
Published: January 2024

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) are conducted to analyze the effect of recess in the mixing and combustion performance of gaseous methane—oxygen injection systems. The recess length is varied from 0 to 2 injector diameters to analyze the sensitivity of various physical processes to this geometrical feature. It is found that the injection recess enhances the development of Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities (KHI), due to the more consistent jet flow disposition at the injection plane, and the higher velocities. A Strouhal number StrR≈0.22, based on the injector diameter and on the average reacting jet velocity is found for all simulations. In addition, it is found that the enhancement of KHI acts as an injection of turbulent kinetic energy in the large scales, improving macroscale mixing and combustion performance. Finally, the normalized enhancements in combustion performance and averaged hydroxyl emissivity are found to be in good agreement with experimental results in a similar setup.
Ice-enhanced thermoelastic excitation of ultrasonic waves
Authors: Kawabata T. , Hayashi T. , Simonetti F.
Published: January 2024

The thermal expansion occurring when a laser beam is incident on the surface of a solid can be used to excite ultrasonic waves in the solid medium, without causing damage to the material. The resulting wavefield is characterized by a dominant shear wave and a weak compressional wave. This Letter demonstrates the possibility of generating a dominant compressional wavefield by coating the surface with a layer of clear ice. This is achieved by exploiting a minimum in the attenuation spectrum of light in ice, which occurs at around 500 nm and renders the coating transparent to green laser radiation. Ice coatings could, therefore, provide a path for the development of more sensitive laser-based nondestructive testing methods that have traditionally been affected by the poor excitability of compressional waves, especially along the direction orthogonal to the surface.
Visual guidance fine-tunes probing movements of an insect appendage
Authors: Kannegieser Sören , Kraft Nadine , Haan Alexa , Stöckl Anna
Published: January 2024

Visually guided reaching, a regular feature of human life, comprises an intricate neural control task. It includes identifying the target’s position in 3D space, passing the representation to the motor system that controls the respective appendages, and adjusting ongoing movements using visual and proprioceptive feedback. Given the complexity of the neural control task, invertebrates, with their numerically constrained central nervous systems, are often considered incapable of this level of visuomotor guidance. Here, we provide mechanistic insights into visual appendage guidance in insects by studying the probing movements of the hummingbird hawkmoth’s proboscis as they search for a flower’s nectary. We show that visually guided proboscis movements fine-tune the coarse control provided by body movements in flight. By impairing the animals’ view of their proboscis, we demonstrate that continuous visual feedback is required and actively sought out to guide this appendage. In doing so, we establish an insect model for the study of neural strategies underlying eye-appendage control in a simple nervous system.
Chimera metasurface for multiterrain invisibility
Authors: Xu Zhao-Hua , Xu Su , Qian Chao , Xu Wenya , Ren Hang , Su Wenming , Chen Qi-Dai , Chen Hongsheng , Sun Hong-Bo
Published: January 2024

Invisibility, a fascinating ability of hiding objects within environments, has attracted broad interest for a long time. However, current invisibility technologies are still restricted to stationary environments and narrow band. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a Chimera metasurface for multiterrain invisibility by synthesizing the natural camouflage traits of various poikilotherms. The metasurface achieves chameleon-like broadband in situ tunable microwave reflection mimicry of realistic water surface, shoal, beach/desert, grassland, and frozen ground from 8 to 12 GHz freely via the circuit-topology-transited mode evolution, while remaining optically transparent as an invisible glass frog. Additionally, the mechanic-driven Chimera metasurface without active electrothermal effect, owning a bearded dragon-like thermal acclimation, can decrease the maximum thermal imaging difference to 3.1 °C in tested realistic terrains, which cannot be recognized by human eyes. Our work transitions camouflage technologies from the constrained scenario to ever-changing terrains and constitutes a big advance toward the new-generation reconfigurable electromagnetics with circuit-topology dynamics.
FOXD3-mediated transactivation of ALKBH5 promotes neuropathic pain via m
6
A-dependent stabilization of 5-HT3A mRNA in sensory neurons
Authors: Huang Zitong , Zhang Yuan , Wang Shoupeng , Qi Renfei , Tao Yu , Sun Yufang , Jiang Dongsheng , Jiang Xinghong , Tao Jin
Published: January 2024

The N6-methyladenosine (m
6
A) modification of RNA is an emerging epigenetic regulatory mechanism that has been shown to participate in various pathophysiological processes. However, its involvement in modulating neuropathic pain is still poorly understood. In this study, we elucidate a functional role of the m
6
A demethylase alkylation repair homolog 5 (ALKBH5) in modulating trigeminal-mediated neuropathic pain. Peripheral nerve injury selectively upregulated the expression level of ALKBH5 in the injured trigeminal ganglion (TG) of rats. Blocking this upregulation in injured TGs alleviated trigeminal neuropathic pain, while mimicking the upregulation of ALKBH5 in intact TG neurons sufficiently induced pain-related behaviors. Mechanistically, histone deacetylase 11 downregulation induced by nerve injury increases histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac), facilitating the binding of the transcription factor forkhead box protein D3 (FOXD3) to the
Alkbh5
promoter and promoting
Alkbh5
transcription. The increased ALKBH5 erases m
6
A sites in
Htr3a
messenger RNA (mRNA), resulting in an inability of YT521-B homology domain 2 (YTHDF2) to bind to
Htr3a
mRNA, thus causing an increase in 5-HT3A protein expression and 5-HT3 channel currents. Conversely, blocking the increased expression of ALKBH5 in the injured TG destabilizes nerve injury–induced 5-HT3A upregulation and reverses mechanical allodynia, and the effect can be blocked by 5-HT3A knockdown. Together, FOXD3-mediated transactivation of ALKBH5 promotes neuropathic pain through m
6
A-dependent stabilization of
Htr3a
mRNA in TG neurons. This mechanistic understanding may advance the discovery of new therapeutic targets for neuropathic pain management.
Loss of activation by GABA in vertebrate delta ionotropic glutamate receptors
Authors: Rosano Giulio , Barzasi Allan , Lynagh Timothy
Published: January 2024

Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) mediate excitatory signals between cells by binding neurotransmitters and conducting cations across the cell membrane. In the mammalian brain, most of these signals are mediated by two types of iGluRs: AMPA and NMDA (i.e. iGluRs sensitive to 2-amino-3-(5-methyl-3-oxo-1,2-oxazol-4-yl)propanoic acid and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid, respectively). Delta-type iGluRs of mammals also form neurotransmitter-binding channels in the cell membrane, but in contrast, their channel is not activated by neurotransmitter binding, raising biophysical questions about iGluR activation and biological questions about the role of delta iGluRs. We therefore investigated the divergence of delta iGluRs from their iGluR cousins using molecular phylogenetics, electrophysiology, and site-directed mutagenesis. We find that delta iGluRs are found in numerous bilaterian animals (e.g., worms, starfish, and vertebrates) and are closely related to AMPA receptors, both genetically and functionally. Surprisingly, we observe that many iGluRs of the delta family are activated by the classical inhibitory neurotransmitter, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Finally, we identify nine amino acid substitutions that likely gave rise to the inactivity of today’s mammalian delta iGluRs, and these mutations abolish activity when engineered into active invertebrate delta iGluRs, partly by inducing receptor desensitization. These results offer biophysical insight into iGluR activity and point to a role for GABA in excitatory signaling in invertebrates.
A novel cysteine-rich adaptor protein is required for mucin packaging and secretory granule stability in vivo
Authors: Zhang Liping , Muirhead Kayla J. , Syed Zulfeqhar A. , Dimitriadis Emilios K. , Ten Hagen Kelly G.
Published: January 2024

Mucins are large, highly glycosylated extracellular matrix proteins that line and protect epithelia of the respiratory, digestive, and urogenital tracts. Previous work has shown that mucins form large, interconnected polymeric networks that mediate their biological functions once secreted. However, how these large matrix molecules are compacted and packaged into much smaller secretory granules within cells prior to secretion is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that a small cysteine-rich adaptor protein is essential for proper packaging of a secretory mucin in vivo. This adaptor acts via cysteine bonding between itself and the cysteine-rich domain of the mucin. Loss of this adaptor protein disrupts mucin packaging in secretory granules, alters the mobile fraction within granules, and results in granules that are larger, more circular, and more fragile. Understanding the factors and mechanisms by which mucins and other highly glycosylated matrix proteins are properly packaged and secreted may provide insight into diseases characterized by aberrant mucin secretion.
The human somatosensory cortex contributes to the encoding of newly learned movements
Authors: Ebrahimi Shahryar , Ostry David J.
Published: January 2024

Recent studies have indicated somatosensory cortex involvement in motor learning and retention. However, the nature of its contribution is unknown. One possibility is that the somatosensory cortex is transiently engaged during movement. Alternatively, there may be durable learning-related changes which would indicate sensory participation in the encoding of learned movements. These possibilities are dissociated by disrupting the somatosensory cortex following learning, thus targeting learning-related changes which may have occurred. If changes to the somatosensory cortex contribute to retention, which, in effect, means aspects of newly learned movements are encoded there, disruption of this area once learning is complete should lead to an impairment. Participants were trained to make movements while receiving rotated visual feedback. The primary motor cortex (M1) and the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) were targeted for continuous theta-burst stimulation, while stimulation over the occipital cortex served as a control. Retention was assessed using active movement reproduction, or recognition testing, which involved passive movements produced by a robot. Disruption of the somatosensory cortex resulted in impaired motor memory in both tests. Suppression of the motor cortex had no impact on retention as indicated by comparable retention levels in control and motor cortex conditions. The effects were learning specific. When stimulation was applied to S1 following training with unrotated feedback, movement direction, the main dependent variable, was unaltered. Thus, the somatosensory cortex is part of a circuit that contributes to retention, consistent with the idea that aspects of newly learned movements, possibly learning-updated sensory states (new sensory targets) which serve to guide movement, may be encoded there.
Formulaic language in Old English prose
Authors: Cichosz Anna , Grabowski Łukasz , Pęzik Piotr
Published: January 2024

Although there has been a plethora of research on formulaic language in contemporary English, conducted with various purposes in mind (descriptive, applied and otherwise), studies of formulaic phrasings in Old English texts are rare. In this paper, we employ selected corpus linguistic methods to identify and explore the use and discoursal functions of recurrent multi-word items that contribute the most to the formulaicity of homilies, chronicles and biblical translations, which are the Old English text types under scrutiny. The findings of this primarily descriptive and exploratory research provide new insights into the pragmatic functions of Old English recurrent phraseological units as well as into the structure and communicative functions of the analysed text varieties. Finally, the results of the study cast some new light on the role those formulaic phrasings play in Old English prose.
Bottom’s up for listening
Authors: Kissling Elizabeth M.
Published: January 2024

This report explains the teaching decisions made in Kissling (2018).
The original study measured the effect of explicit pronunciation instruction (PI) on the listening comprehension of beginning L2
Spanish learners (n = 116), as measured via accuracy on a dictation task (intelligibility) and ratings of
perceived difficulty (comprehension). Learners either received PI that focused on segmentals or PI that focused on
suprasegmentals, followed by practice either producing or perceiving those same sounds. The original article reported that all
groups, including a control group, improved over time, but the suprasegmental PI followed by perception-focused practice had the
largest effect on intelligibility, whereas the segmental PI followed by production-focused practice had the largest effect on
comprehensibility, suggesting that all instructional approaches have value. The current report explains in greater detail the
teaching decisions made in Kissling (2018), including the classes recruited, materials
development, and PI presentation.
Identification of small molecule inhibitors of G3BP-driven stress granule formation
Authors: Freibaum Brian D. , Messing James , Nakamura Haruko , Yurtsever Ugur , Wu Jinjun , Kim Hong Joo , Hixon Jeff , Lemieux Rene Marc , Duffner Jay , Huynh Walter , Wong Kathy , White Michael , Lee Christina , Meyers Rachel E. , Parker Roy , Taylor J. Paul
Published: January 2024

Stress granule formation is triggered by the release of mRNAs from polysomes and is promoted by the action of the RNA-binding proteins G3BP1/2. Stress granules have been implicated in several disease states, including cancer and neurodegeneration. Consequently, compounds that limit stress granule formation or promote their dissolution have potential as both experimental tools and novel therapeutics. Herein, we describe two small molecules, G3BP inhibitor a and b (G3Ia and G3Ib), designed to bind to a specific pocket in G3BP1/2 that is targeted by viral inhibitors of G3BP1/2 function. In addition to disrupting the co-condensation of RNA, G3BP1, and caprin 1 in vitro, these compounds inhibit stress granule formation in cells treated prior to or concurrent with stress and dissolve pre-existing stress granules. These effects are consistent across multiple cell types and a variety of initiating stressors. Thus, these compounds represent powerful tools to probe the biology of stress granules and hold promise for therapeutic interventions designed to modulate stress granule formation.
Structural stabilities and natural half-metallic properties of OsXCoSi (X=Ti, Zr, Hf) quaternary Heusler alloys series first-principles calculations
Authors: Huang Wen-Chao , Li Xue-Song , Wang Xiao-Fang , Li Yun-Xia
Published: January 2024

Based on first-principles calculation of density functional theory, this study investigates the structural stability, magnetic properties, and electronic properties of the three different phases (i.e. type 1, type 2, and type 3) of OsXCoSi (X=Ti, Zr, Hf) in a new quaternary Heusler alloy series. The corresponding equilibrium lattice constants of each type are optimized, and the change of formation enthalpy and elastic constant phonon spectrum show that the OsXCoSi (X=Ti, Zr, Hf) alloy is thermodynamically, dynamically and mechanically stable. Furthermore, the bonding features of each phase are discussed. It is found that all type 1 structures of OsXCoSi (X=Ti, Zr, Hf) exhibit natural half-metallicity (HM) in equilibrium lattice constant, and their equilibrium lattice constants in the ground state were determined to be 5.909 Å for OsTiCoSi, 6.155 Å for OsZrCoSi, and 6.100 Å for OsHfCoSi. Meanwhile, by testing the alloy under different pressures, the range of the integer magnetic moment non-equilibrium lattice constants for the three alloys OsTiCoSi, OsZrCoSi, and OsHfCoSi are 5.710 Å ∼ 6.329 Å, 5.696 Å ∼ 6.1557 Å and 5.716 Å ∼6.1009 Å, respectively, which is wide and is more close to the practical application for spin-polarized materials. In addition, its magnetic moment is consistent with the values given by the Slater–Pauling rule. Furthermore, the forming of the HM gap is examined by analysing the total and partial density of states, energy bands of alloy’s electronic property, with respect to the calculated results. What’s more, special attention is paid to the differences of the properties for series Heusler alloys. It is found that the electronics properties distinction is mainly based on valence electron changes. However, the lattice constants are susceptible to size of a nucleus.
Impacts of satellite clock errors on GPS/BDS/Galileo real-time PPP time transfer
Authors: Zheng Fu , Wang Meng , Zhang Dong , Lin Yuanhui , Deng Liangcheng , Shi Chuang
Published: January 2024

By utilizing the real-time precise orbit and clock products provided by International GNSS Service (IGS), it is feasible to calculate real-time PPP (RTPPP) time and frequency transfer. The quality of these real-time precise products has a significant effect on the performance of clock comparisons and time transfer. This paper focuses on real-time clock comparisons with IGS real-time multi-GNSS precise products, which tries to explore the potential of GNSS RTPPP time transfer in time and frequency community. By using real-time precise satellite orbit and clock products from two IGS analysis centers, i.e. CNES and WHU, the clock comparisons and time transfer performance of four time links are comprehensively investigated. It is shown that the statistical uncertainty of real-time clock comparison based on multi-GNSS is within 0.15 ns, and GPS RTPPP provides time transfer results with better performance than BDS-3 and Galileo. In addition, the deviations occur in remote time links results of BDS-3 and Galileo-only between using CNES and WHU, the maximum difference can reach up to 1.10 ns. It is shown that real-time BDS-3 and Galileo satellite products of CNES and WHU are inconsistent, and will affect the time transfer performance. The paper also investigates the receiver clock offset solutions determined by using different available satellites. The results show that there are significant satellite-related biases between different satellites, especially for BDS-3 and Galileo. Thus, the reference time scales determined by using different satellites are inconsistent, and further, the time transfer for long baseline time links will be affected as there are few common view satellites for remote stations.
LA-YOLO: an effective detection model for multi-UAV under low altitude background
Authors: Ma Jun , Huang Shilin , Jin Dongyang , Wang Xuzhe , Li Longchao , Guo Yan
Published: January 2024

Detecting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in various environments and conditions is highly demanded in applications, and for solving the problem of detecting UAVs under low altitude background, we propose a high performance and effective LA-YOLO network by integrating the SimAM attention mechanism and introducing a fusion block with the normalized Wasserstein distance. By recording images of multi-UAV under low altitude background and annotating them, we construct a dataset called GUET-UAV-LA to evaluate the performance of the proposed network. Using the GUET-UAV-LA dataset and public datasets, the experiments validate the effectiveness of the proposed network and show that LA-YOLO can improve mAP by up to 5.9% compared to the existing networks.
A spatially adaptive regularization based three-dimensional reconstruction network for quantitative susceptibility mapping
Authors: Bao Lijun , Zhang Hongyuan , Liao Zeyu
Published: January 2024

Objective. Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) is a new imaging technique for non-invasive characterization of the composition and microstructure of in vivo tissues, and it can be reconstructed from local field measurements by solving an ill-posed inverse problem. Even for deep learning networks, it is not an easy task to establish an accurate quantitative mapping between two physical quantities of different units, i.e. field shift in Hz and susceptibility value in ppm for QSM. Approach. In this paper, we propose a spatially adaptive regularization based three-dimensional reconstruction network SAQSM. A spatially adaptive module is specially designed and a set of them at different resolutions are inserted into the network decoder, playing a role of cross-modality based regularization constraint. Therefore, the exact information of both field and magnitude data is exploited to adjust the scale and shift of feature maps, and thus any information loss or deviation occurred in previous layers could be effectively corrected. The network encoding has a dynamic perceptual initialization, which enables the network to overcome receptive field intervals and also strengthens its ability to detect features of various sizes. Main results. Experimental results on the brain data of healthy volunteers, clinical hemorrhage and simulated phantom with calcification demonstrate that SAQSM can achieve more accurate reconstruction with less susceptibility artifacts, while perform well on the stability and generalization even for severe lesion areas. Significance. This proposed framework may provide a valuable paradigm to quantitative mapping or multimodal reconstruction.
Integrating direct air capture with small modular nuclear reactors: understanding performance, cost, and potential
Authors: Bertoni Luca , Roussanaly Simon , Riboldi Luca , Anantharaman Rahul , Gazzani Matteo
Published: January 2024

Direct air capture (DAC) is a key component in the transition to net-zero society. However, its giga-tonne deployment faces daunting challenges in terms of availability of both financial resources and, most of all, large quantities of low-carbon energy. Within this context, small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) might potentially facilitate the deployment of DAC. In the present study, we present a detailed thermodynamic analysis of integrating an SMR with solid sorbent DAC. We propose different integration designs and find that coupling the SMR with DAC significantly increases the use of thermal energy produced in the nuclear reactor: from 32% in a stand-alone SMR to 76%–85% in the SMR-DAC system. Moreover, we find that a 50–MW SMR module equipped with DAC could remove around 0.3 MtCO2 every year, while still producing electricity at 24%–42% of the rated power output. Performing a techno-economic analysis of the system, we estimate a net removal cost of around 250 €/tCO2. When benchmarking it to other low-carbon energy supply solutions, we find that the SMR-DAC system is potentially more cost-effective than a DAC powered by high-temperature heat pumps or dedicated geothermal systems. Finally, we evaluate the potential of future deployment of SMR-DAC in China, Europe, India, South Africa and the USA, finding that it could enable up to around 96 MtCO2/year by 2035 if SMRs prove to be cost-competitive. The impact of regional differences on the removal cost is also assessed.
Multiscale permutation entropy gray image coding method and its application in bearing fault diagnosis
Authors: She Yingsen , Ai Mingxi , Li Peng , Wu Jiande , Ma Jun
Published: January 2024

Bearing fault diagnosis is of great significance to the normal operation of machinery, and its performance and life span directly affect the operational efficiency and safety of the whole equipment. For existing image coding methods which detecting the bearing fault with a large number of training samples and complex neural networks to achieve the desired detection performance, the Multiscale Permutation Entropy Gray Image Coding (MPEGIC) method is proposed. In order to fully extract the feature information of the time series signal, this paper uses the Multiscale Permutation Entropy (MPE) method to construct a new image coding method by calculating the alignment information of the time series to reflect the complexity and randomness of the time series at different scales, and dividing the obtained feature matrix and mapping it to the gray-scale image domain. And it is experimentally verified by Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) bearing dataset and self-made rotor experimental platform bearing dataset. The results show that the method in this paper effectively reduces the number of training samples and the number of model parameters, and maintains a better detection performance even in a strong noise background.
Investigating temperature reliability of RF performance metrics and linearity for double gate doping less TFET
Authors: Dewan Basudha , Chaudhary Shalini , Singh Devenderpal , yadav Menka
Published: January 2024

The Doping Less Tunnel Field Effect Transistor (DL-TFET) is gaining recognition as a promising TFET structure due to its resistance to random dopant fluctuations (RDFs) and the elimination of high thermal budgets and costly annealing techniques. However, temperature sensitivity remains a critical factor in assessing the device’s reliability, as the bandgap of the semiconductor material (E
g
) varies with temperature fluctuations. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of temperature changes (ranging from 240 to 360 Kelvin) on the linearity and RF/analog characteristics of a Heterojunction (HJ), Double Gate (DG), Doping Less (DL) TFET.The analysis encompasses various RF/analog and DC parameters, including I
D − V
G characteristics, I
D − V
D characteristics, gm (transconductance), gd (output conductance), f

T
(cut-off frequency), GBP (Gain Bandwidth Product), TGF (transconductance generation factor), and TFP (transconductance frequency product). These parameters are evaluated using the ATLAS simulation tool, taking into account the influence of temperature fluctuations. Furthermore, the study considers temperature variations when assessing linearity characteristics such as the second-order Voltage Intercept Point (VIP2), third-order Voltage Intercept Point (VIP3), intermodulation distortion (IMD3), and third-order input-interception point (IIP3).
The complexity of climate change mitigation: an experiment with large groups
Authors: Alfonso Antonio , Brañas-Garza Pablo , Cabrales Antonio , Sánchez Angel
Published: January 2024

We have studied the problem of climate change mitigation in large groups by means of a series of experiments with 1785 people. Our participants included both young university students and people of relevance in different organizations, in particular, those attending the presentation of the annual report on innovation by Fundación COTEC (Spain). In the experiment, the participants, distributed in groups of more than 100 people, faced a dilemma: to avoid a global catastrophe that destroys any possibility of making profits, a certain collective sacrifice has to be made by contributing to reach a global threshold. When the threshold was low, the students reached the amount of overall contribution necessary to avoid it. But in the case of a high threshold, none of the populations reached the threshold. In fact, they were far from it. In this sense, the collective behavior of the students and of people of relevance was fundamentally the same. The majority of participants in the high-risk case fell into four categories: those who did not contribute (around 10%), those who contribute half of their means (15%) but less than the fair share required to reach the threshold, those who contributed the fair share (10%), and those who contributed everything they had, so that their personal benefit was zero. In the case of students this last percentage was 10%, but in the other sample it reached almost 30%. We also found that individuals could be classified as being optimistic or pessimistic, and in general they behaved accordingly with regard to their contributions. Our results highlight the complexity of mitigating climate change in large groups and specially the difficulty in communicating the issue to foster action in a general population.
The problem of taste to the experimental test
Authors: Contesi Filippo , Terrone Enrico , Campdelacreu Marta , García-Moya Ramón , Martí Genoveva
Published: January 2024

A series of recent experimental studies have cast doubt on the existence of a traditional tension that aestheticians have noted in our aesthetic judgements and practices, namely the problem of taste. The existence of the problem has been acknowledged since Hume and Kant, though not enough has been done to analyse it in depth. In this paper, we remedy this by proposing six possible conceptualizations of it. Drawing on our analysis of the problem of taste, we argue that the experimental results in question are not a real challenge to its existence. By contrast, they provide empirical evidence in its support.
Poly-p-dioxanone Thread Leads to Fat Metabolism Around the Thread in Pig Subcutaneous Back Fat
Authors: Su Diya , Niu Huanyun , Wang Shiwei , Wang Jieqing
Published: January 2024

Background

When poly-p-dioxanone (PDO) thread is implanted subcutaneously, in addition to collagen hyperplasia, it can also cause denaturation of surrounding adipocytes and reduce the thickness of the fat layer. Hitherto, no studies have thoroughly investigated the effects of PDO thread on adipose tissue.

Objectives

In this study, the effect of PDO thread on adipose tissue was investigated in an animal model.

Methods

In the current study, PDO thread was implanted into subcutaneous adipose tissue of the back in a miniature pig. Implantation site tissue and control site tissue were taken 12 weeks after implantation for hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and transcriptome sequencing. Gene ontology functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis were performed to investigate the differential gene expression between PDO thread implantation and control site tissue.

Results

An obvious decrease in the number, fusion, and denaturation of adipocytes can be seen by H&E staining. Sequencing analysis results showed that many of the genes identified, which were downregulated after PDO thread implantation, were involved in functions and pathways related to lipid metabolism, such as fatty acid metabolism, fatty acid degradation, and lipid cell lipolysis regulation. Some genes related to fatty acid metabolism were significantly downregulated in the PDO tissue at 12 weeks compared to the control tissue.

Conclusions

Our results showed PDO thread implantation can cause a decrease in the number of adipocytes, as well as a significant alteration of the expression levels of some genes involved in lipid metabolism-related pathways. PDO thread might play an important role in promoting lipolysis.

Level of Evidence: 5
Significant survival disparity in Black patients with cutaneous lymphoma: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Trum Nicholas A , Chen Lu , Zain Jasmine , Rosen Steven T , Querfeld Christiane
Published: January 2024

The prognosis for Black patients with classical cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) [mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS)] is known to be worse than that of other ethnicities, but there is a paucity of data on which demographic factors or disease characteristics may contribute to this disparity. In our retrospective cohort study of 229 patients, Black patients experienced poorer overall survival adjusted for confounding variables including demographics and key disease characteristics (P = 0.01), and suffered a significantly higher rate of large-cell transformation when compared with White patients (P = 0.012). Our study suggests that Black patients with MF/SS experience poorer overall survival that cannot be explained by sex, age or CTCL disease characteristics.
Ocrelizumab associates with reduced cerebrospinal fluid B and CD20dim CD4+ T cells in primary progressive multiple sclerosis
Authors: van Puijfelik Fabiënne , Blok Katelijn M , Klein Kranenbarg Romy A M , Rip Jasper , de Beukelaar Janet , Wierenga-Wolf Annet F , Wokke Beatrijs , van Luijn Marvin M , Smolders Joost
Published: January 2024

The anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody ocrelizumab reduces disability progression in primary progressive multiple sclerosis. CD20 is a prototypical B-cell marker; however, subpopulations of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid also express low levels of CD20 (CD20dim). Therefore, direct targeting and depletion of these CD20dim T-cell subpopulations may contribute to the therapeutic effect of ocrelizumab. The aim of this observational cohort study was to compare CD20+ B-cell and CD20dim T-cell distributions between peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid of ocrelizumab-treated or ocrelizumab-untreated people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Ocrelizumab treatment was associated with depletion of circulating B cells and CD20dim CD4+ and CD20dim CD8+ T cells (P < 0.0001, P = 0.0016 and P = 0.0008, respectively) but, in cerebrospinal fluid, only with lower proportions of B cells and CD20dim memory CD4+ T cells (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0043, respectively). The proportional prevalence of cerebrospinal fluid CD20dim memory CD8+ T cells was not significantly reduced (P = 0.1333). Only in cerebrospinal fluid, the proportions of CD20dim cells within CD4+ and not CD8+ T cells positive for CCR5, CCR6 and CXCR3 were reduced in ocrelizumab-treated participants. The proportion of CD20dim CD4+ T cells and abundance of CD4+ relative to CD8+ T cells in cerebrospinal fluid correlated positively with age (R = 0.6799, P = 0.0150) and Age-Related Multiple Sclerosis Severity score (R = 0.8087, P = 0.0014), respectively. We conclude that, in contrast to cerebrospinal fluid CD20dim CD8+ T cells, B cells and CD20dim CD4+ T cells are reduced in cerebrospinal fluid of people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis with an ocrelizumab-associated depletion of circulating B cells and CD20dim T cells. Therefore, these cells are likely to contribute to the therapeutic effects of ocrelizumab in people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis.
Synthesis of dioxapropellanes using Mn(III)-based oxidative tandem cyclization of tetracarbonyl compounds with diarylethenes
Authors: Shibuya Keisuke , Chikamatsu Ayaka , Hisano Kazuki , Nishino Hiroshi
Published: January 2024

The Mn(III)-based oxidation of tetracarbonyl compounds with 1,1-diarylethenes formed dioxapropellanes. The use of methylenebis(3-hydroxycyclohex-2-en-1-one)s as a tetracarbonyl compound led to the production of 3,4,5,6,7,9-hexahydro-8H-4a,9a-(epoxyethano)xanthene-1,8(2H)-diones in good yields. Although the reaction competed with self-cyclization to form 3,5,6,7-tetrahydro-4H-spiro[benzofuran-2,1′-cyclohexane]-2′,4,6′-triones, it could be controlled by adding the co-solvent formic acid at room temperature. The reactions of alkyl- and aryl-substituted methylenebis(3-hydroxycyclohex-2-en-1-one)s resulted in the corresponding dioxapropellanes as a diastereomixture. The formation of diastereomers is explained by the steric hindrance of the intermediate carbocations during tandem cyclization. The reactions using 2-(2-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-6-oxocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)butane-1,4-diones and 2,2′-methylenebis(3-hydroxycyclopent-2-en-1-one)s also produced the corresponding dioxapropellanes. The structure determination of the products and the reaction pathway for the formation of dioxapropellanes are discussed.
Task learning is subserved by a domain-general brain network
Authors: Yeon Jiwon , Larson Alina Sue , Rahnev Dobromir , D’Esposito Mark
Published: January 2024

One of the most important human faculties is the ability to acquire not just new memories but the capacity to perform entirely new tasks. However, little is known about the brain mechanisms underlying the learning of novel tasks. Specifically, it is unclear to what extent learning of different tasks depends on domain-general and/or domain-specific brain mechanisms. Here human subjects (n = 45) learned to perform 6 new tasks while undergoing functional MRI. The different tasks required the engagement of perceptual, motor, and various cognitive processes related to attention, expectation, speed-accuracy tradeoff, and metacognition. We found that a bilateral frontoparietal network was more active during the initial compared with the later stages of task learning, and that this effect was stronger for task variants requiring more new learning. Critically, the same frontoparietal network was engaged by all 6 tasks, demonstrating its domain generality. Finally, although task learning decreased the overall activity in the frontoparietal network, it increased the connectivity strength between the different nodes of that network. These results demonstrate the existence of a domain-general brain network whose activity and connectivity reflect learning for a variety of new tasks, and thus may underlie the human capacity for acquiring new abilities.
Synthesis and optical properties of chiral dinaphthofuran possessing two methyl groups in the bay region
Authors: Sakai Misato , Wakabayashi Sae , Hasegawa Koki , Imayoshi Ayumi , Imai Yoshitane , Sasamori Takahiro , Tsubaki Kazunori
Published: January 2024

8,8′-dimethyl-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol (7) was synthesized by oxidative dimerization of 8-methyl-2-naphthol (6). Camphorsulfonyl chloride was used as a chiral-resolving agent, followed by the synthesis of chiral dimethyl dinaphthofuran 3 by a dehydration reaction between two hydroxy groups without loss of optical purity. The racemization barrier and optical properties of the chiral compound 3 were scrutinized.
Mechanistic characterization of waterborne selenite uptake in the water flea, Daphnia magna, indicates water chemistry affects toxicity in coal mine-impacted waters
Authors: Klaczek Chantelle E , Goss Greg G , Glover Chris N
Published: January 2024

Concentrations of selenium that exceed regulatory guidelines have been associated with coal mining activities and have been linked to detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems and the organisms therein. Although the major route of selenium uptake in macroinvertebrates is via the diet, the uptake of waterborne selenite (HSeO3−), the prominent form at circumneutral pH, can be an important contributor to selenium body burden and thus selenium toxicity. In the current study, radiolabelled selenite (Se75) was used to characterize the mechanism of selenite uptake in the water flea, Daphnia magna. The concentration dependence (1–32 μM) of selenite uptake was determined in 1-hour uptake assays in artificial waters that independently varied in bicarbonate, chloride, sulphate, phosphate and selenate concentrations. At concentrations representative of those found in highly contaminated waters, selenite uptake was phosphate-dependent and inhibited by foscarnet, a phosphate transport inhibitor. At higher concentrations, selenite uptake was dependent on waterborne bicarbonate concentration and inhibited by the bicarbonate transporter inhibitor DIDS (4,4′-diisothiocyano-2,2′-stilbenedisulfonic acid). These findings suggest that concentrations of phosphate in coal mining-affected waters could alter selenite uptake in aquatic organisms and could ultimately affect the toxic impacts of selenium in such waters.
Deciphering the relationship between temperature and immunity
Authors: Maloney Elizabeth , Duffy Darragh
Published: January 2024

Fever is a hallmark symptom of disease across the animal kingdom. Yet, despite the evidence linking temperature fluctuation and immune response, much remains to be discovered about the molecular mechanisms governing these interactions. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, for instance, it is clinically accepted that joint temperature can predict disease progression. But it was only recently demonstrated that the mitochondria of stimulated T cells can rise to an extreme 50°C, potentially indicating a cellular source of these localized ‘fevers’. A challenge to dissecting these mechanisms is a bidirectional interplay between temperature and immunity. Heat shock response is found in virtually all organisms, activating protective pathways when cells are exposed to elevated temperatures. However, the temperature threshold that activates these pathways can vary within the same organism, with human immune cells, in particular, demonstrating differential sensitivity to heat. Such inter-cellular variation may be clinically relevant given the small but significant temperature differences seen between tissues, ages, and sexes. Greater understanding of how such small temperature perturbations mediate immune responses may provide new explanations for persistent questions in disease such as sex disparity in disease prevalence. Notably, the prevalence and severity of many maladies are rising with climate change, suggesting temperature fluctuations can interact with disease on multiple levels. As global temperatures are rising, and our body temperatures are falling, questions regarding temperature–immune interactions are increasingly critical. Here, we review this aspect of environmental interplay to better understand temperature’s role in immune variation and subsequent risk of disease.
A case report of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia with LDLR gene mutation complicated by premature coronary artery disease detected in primary care
Authors: Abdul-Halim Mohamad Abu Zar , Abdul-Hamid Hasidah , Baharudin Noorhida , Mohamed-Yassin Mohamed-Syarif , Kasim Sazzli Shahlan , Nawawi Hapizah , Qureshi Nadeem , Ramli Anis Safura
Published: January 2024

Background

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant genetic condition predominantly caused by the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene mutation.

Case summary

This is the case of a 54-year-old Malay woman with genetically confirmed FH complicated by premature coronary artery disease (PCAD). She was clinically diagnosed in primary care at 52 years old, fulfilling the Simon Broome Criteria (possible FH), Dutch Lipid Clinic Criteria (score of 8: probable FH), and Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Case Ascertainment Tool (relative risk score of 9.51). Subsequently, she was confirmed to have a heterozygous LDLR c.190+4A>T intron 2 pathogenic variant at the age of 53 years. She was known to have hypercholesterolaemia and was treated with statin since the age of 25. However, the lipid-lowering agent was not intensified to achieve the recommended treatment target. The delayed FH diagnosis has caused this patient to have PCAD and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at the age of 29 years and a second PCI at the age of 49 years. She also has a very strong family history of hypercholesterolaemia and PCAD, where seven out of eight of her siblings were affected. Despite this, FH was not diagnosed early, and cascade screening of family members was not conducted, resulting in a missed opportunity to prevent PCAD.

Discussion

Familial hypercholesterolaemia can be clinically diagnosed in primary care to identify those who may require genetic testing. Multidisciplinary care focuses on improving identification, cascade screening, and management of FH, which is vital to improving prognosis and ultimately preventing PCAD.
A case report of coronary artery aneurysms with restenosis and stent fractures developed 14 years after sirolimus eluting stents implantation successfully treated with drug-coated balloons
Authors: Fujita Takanari , Tazaki Junichi , Toyofuku Mamoru
Published: January 2024

Background

Coronary aneurysms following drug-eluting stent implantation are rare but associated with adverse events.

Case summary

An 80-year-old male admitted to our hospital with resting chest discomfort. He had undergone percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) with first-generation sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation to the right coronary artery (RCA) and left anterior descending artery (LAD) 14 years ago. Coronary angiography revealed coronary aneurysms and stent fractures in the RCA and LAD where SES was implanted. The aneurysm sizes of the RCA and LAD were 7 × 8 and 7 × 10 mm, respectively. Moreover, in-stent restenosis (ISR) with ischaemia were found in the LAD. The patient was at high risk for cardiac surgery and the coronary aneurysms were not suitable for percutaneous interventions. Therefore, we treated only ISR lesions using drug-coated balloons (DCBs) without intervention for coronary aneurysms. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) revealed that the first guide wire went outside the malapposed stents. After rewiring using a double-lumen microcatheter with another guide wire, IVUS confirmed the second guide wire passed entirely inside the stents. Then, the ISR lesions were dilated with high-pressure balloons and DCBs. The post-procedural course was uneventful and his symptoms were relieved.

Discussion

This case demonstrated coronary aneurysms with ISR and stent fractures 14 years after SES implantation. Depending on patient background and lesion morphology, DCB can be one of the treatment options. Intravascular imaging is useful to guide PCI in patients with coronary aneurysms.
Ubiquitin-specific protease 38 promotes inflammatory atrial fibrillation induced by pressure overload
Authors: Xiao Zheng , Pan Yucheng , Kong Bin , Meng Hong , Shuai Wei , Huang He
Published: January 2024

Aims

Atrial structural and electrical remodelling is a major reason for the initiation and perpetuation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Ubiquitin-specific protease 38 (USP38) is a deubiquitinating enzyme, but its function in the heart remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of USP38 in pressure overload-induced AF.

Methods and results

Cardiac-specific knockout USP38 and cardiac-specific transgenic USP38 mice and their corresponding control mice were used in this study. After 4 weeks with or without aortic banding (AB) surgery, atrial echocardiography, atrial histology, electrophysiological study, and molecular analysis were assessed. Ubiquitin-specific protease 38 knockout mice showed a remarkable improvement in vulnerability to AF, atrial weight and diameter, atrial fibrosis, and calcium-handling protein expression after AB surgery. Conversely, USP38 overexpression further increased susceptibility to AF by exacerbating atrial structural and electrical remodelling. Mechanistically, USP38 interacted with and deubiquitinated nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and USP38 overexpression increased the level of p-NF-κB in vivo and in vitro, accompanied by the upregulation of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and inflammatory cytokines, suggesting that USP38 contributes to adverse effects by driving NF-κB/NLRP3-mediated inflammatory responses.

Conclusion

Overall, our study indicates that USP38 promotes pressure overload-induced AF through targeting NF-κB/NLRP3-mediated inflammatory responses.