bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soothe the savage beast: Patient perceptions of the benefits of music therapy in an inpatient rehabilitation facility
Authors: Edwards Evan R. , Jayabalan Prakash
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Despite the known benefits of music therapy (MT) and its potential applications in an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF), there remains a lack of access to MT in a significant number of hospitals in the United States. Exploration of stakeholder (e.g., physician, therapist, and patient) perceptions as a potential barrier to uptake has been limited.

Objective

To assess the favorability of patients admitted to an IRF toward MT through the domains of knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. We hypothesized that patient domain scores would reflect a favorable perception of MT across rehabilitation diagnoses.

Design

Descriptive and cross‐sectional survey.

Setting

Free‐standing, acute IRF.

Patients

A total of 119 English‐speaking, adult patients across three impairment categories (general rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, and brain injury) were recruited over a 3‐month period and during each patient's hospital stay.

Intervention

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

A modified version of the Global Complementary/Alternative and Music Therapy Assessment (GCAMTA) measured the domains of knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs.

Results

An overall response rate of 79.3% was achieved. Most patients (n = 95; 79.8%) scored in either the favorable or neutral ranges of the instrument. Age correlated negatively (r = −0.193, p < .05) with total score, whereas highest level of education correlated positively (rs = 0.222, p < .05). There were no significant differences in scores across impairment categories (V = 0.068, p = .232). Knowledge scores, controlling for education and age, predicted 30.4% of the variance in attitudes and beliefs scores (R2 = 0.304, p < .001).

Conclusions

It is unlikely that patient perceptions are a barrier to MT uptake. Younger, more educated patients have higher knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about MT. Increasing patient knowledge about MT may improve their attitudes and beliefs, thereby further optimizing this therapy for widespread use.
Early divergence of translation initiation and elongation factors
Authors: Fer Evrim , McGrath Kaitlyn M. , Guy Lionel , Hockenberry Adam J. , Kaçar Betül
Published: August 2022

Protein translation is a foundational attribute of all living cells. The translation function carried out by the ribosome critically depends on an assortment of protein interaction partners, collectively referred to as the translation machinery. Various studies suggest that the diversification of the translation machinery occurred prior to the last universal common ancestor, yet it is unclear whether the predecessors of the extant translation machinery factors were functionally distinct from their modern counterparts. Here we reconstructed the shared ancestral trajectory and subsequent evolution of essential translation factor GTPases, elongation factor EF‐Tu (aEF‐1A/eEF‐1A), and initiation factor IF2 (aIF5B/eIF5B). Based upon their similar functions and structural homologies, it has been proposed that EF‐Tu and IF2 emerged from an ancient common ancestor. We generated the phylogenetic tree of IF2 and EF‐Tu proteins and reconstructed ancestral sequences corresponding to the deepest nodes in their shared evolutionary history, including the last common IF2 and EF‐Tu ancestor. By identifying the residue and domain substitutions, as well as structural changes along the phylogenetic history, we developed an evolutionary scenario for the origins, divergence and functional refinement of EF‐Tu and IF2 proteins. Our analyses suggest that the common ancestor of IF2 and EF‐Tu was an IF2‐like GTPase protein. Given the central importance of the translation machinery to all cellular life, its earliest evolutionary constraints and trajectories are key to characterizing the universal constraints and capabilities of cellular evolution.
A pair of isoleucyl‐tRNA synthetases in Bacilli fulfills complementary roles to keep fast translation and provide antibiotic resistance
Authors: Zanki Vladimir , Bozic Bartol , Mocibob Marko , Ban Nenad , Gruic‐Sovulj Ita
Published: August 2022

Isoleucyl‐tRNA synthetase (IleRS) is an essential enzyme that covalently couples isoleucine to the corresponding tRNA. Bacterial IleRSs group in two clades, ileS1 and ileS2, the latter bringing resistance to the natural antibiotic mupirocin. Generally, bacteria rely on either ileS1 or ileS2 as a standalone housekeeping gene. However, we have found an exception by noticing that Bacillus species with genomic ileS2 consistently also keep ileS1, which appears mandatory in the family Bacillaceae. Taking Priestia (Bacillus) megaterium as a model organism, we showed that PmIleRS1 is constitutively expressed, while PmIleRS2 is stress‐induced. Both enzymes share the same level of the aminoacylation accuracy. Yet, PmIleRS1 exhibited a two‐fold faster aminoacylation turnover (kcat) than PmIleRS2 and permitted a notably faster cell‐free translation. At the same time, PmIleRS2 displayed a 104‐fold increase in its Ki for mupirocin, arguing that the aminoacylation turnover in IleRS2 could have been traded‐off for antibiotic resistance. As expected, a P. megaterium strain deleted for ileS2 was mupirocin‐sensitive. Interestingly, an attempt to construct a mupirocin‐resistant strain lacking ileS1, a solution not found among species of the family Bacillaceae in nature, led to a viable but compromised strain. Our data suggest that PmIleRS1 is kept to promote fast translation, whereas PmIleRS2 is maintained to provide antibiotic resistance when needed. This is consistent with an emerging picture in which fast‐growing organisms predominantly use IleRS1 for competitive survival.
Recent advances to overcome the burden of Japanese encephalitis: A zoonotic infection with problematic early detection
Authors: Pinapati Kishore Kumar , Tandon Reetika , Tripathi Pratima , Srivastava Nidhi
Published: August 2022

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a vector‐borne neurotropic disease caused by Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) associated with high mortality rate distributed from Eastern and Southern Asia to Northern Queensland (Australia). The challenges in early detection and lack of point‐of‐care biomarkers make it the most important Flavivirus causing encephalitis. There is no specific treatment for the disease, although vaccines are licenced. In this review, we focussed on point‐of‐care biomarkers as early detection tools and developing the effective therapeutic agents that could halt JE. We have also provided molecular details of JEV, disease progression, and its pathogenesis with recent findings which might bring insights to overcome the disease burden.
Lattice Strained B‐Doped Ni Nanoparticles for Efficient Electrochemical H2O2 Synthesis
Authors: Fu Hui , Zhang Nan , Lai Feili , Zhang Longsheng , Wu Zhenzhong , Li Hanjun , Zhu Haiyan , Liu Tianxi
Published: August 2022

Surface strains are necessary to optimize the oxygen adsorption energy during the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in the four‐electron process, but the surface strains regulation for ORR in the two‐electron process to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is rarely studied. Herein, it is reported that the tensile strained B‐doped Ni nanoparticles on carbon support (Ni‐B@BNC) could enhance the adsorption of O2, stabilize OO bond, and boost the electrocatalytic ORR to H2O2. Moreover, the Ni‐B@BNC catalysts exhibit volcano‐type activity for electrocatalytic ORR to H2O2 as a function of the strain intensity, which is controlled by B content. Among them, Ni4‐B1@BNC exhibits the highest H2O2 selectivity of over 86%, H2O2 yield of 128.5 mmol h–1 g–1, and Faraday efficiency of 94.9% at 0.6 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode as well as durable stability after successive cycling, being one of the state‐of‐the‐art electrocatalysts for two‐electron ORR. The density functional theory calculations reveal that tensile strain introduced by doping B into Ni nanoparticles could decrease the state density of Ni‐3d orbital and optimize the binding energy of OOH* during ORR. A new direction is provided here for the design of highly active and stable catalysts for potential H2O2 production and beyond.
Polyglycerol Functionalized 10B Enriched Boron Carbide Nanoparticle as an Effective Bimodal Anticancer Nanosensitizer for Boron Neutron Capture and Photothermal Therapies
Authors: Wang Yuquan , Reina Giacomo , Kang Heon Gyu , Chen Xiaoxiao , Zou Yajuan , Ishikawa Yoshie , Suzuki Minoru , Komatsu Naoki
Published: August 2022

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a non‐invasive cancer treatment with little adverse effect utilizing nuclear fission of 10B upon neutron irradiation. While neutron source has been developed from a nuclear reactor to a compact accelerator, only two kinds of drugs, boronophenylalanine and sodium borocaptate, have been clinically used for decades despite their low tumor specificity and/or retentivity. To overcome these challenges, various boron‐containing nanomaterials, or “nanosensitizers”, have been designed based on micelles, (bio)polymers and inorganic nanoparticles. Among them, inorganic nanoparticles such as boron carbide can include a much higher 10B content, but successful in vivo applications are very limited. Additionally, recent reports on the photothermal effect of boron carbide are motivating for the addition of another modality of photothermal therapy. In this study, 10B enriched boron carbide (10B4C) nanoparticle is functionalized with polyglycerol (PG), giving 10B4C‐PG with enough dispersibility in a physiological environment. Pharmacokinetic experiments show that 10B4C‐PG fulfills the following three requirements for BNCT; 1) low intrinsic toxicity, 2) 10B in tumor/tumor tissue (wt/wt) ≥ 20 ppm, and 3) 10B concentrations in tumor/blood ≥ 3. In vivo study reveals that neutron irradiation after intravenous administration of 10B4C‐PG suppresses cancer growth significantly and eradicates cancer with the help of near‐infrared light irradiation.
Mixed convective Williamson nanofluid flow over a rotating disk with zero mass flux
Authors: Prasad Kerehalli V. , Setty Srikantha B. , Mebarek‐Oudina Fateh , Vaidya Hanumesh , Choudhari Rajashekhar , Animasaun Isaac Lare
Published: August 2022

This analysis concentrates on mixed convective unsteady two‐dimensional, viscous hydro‐magnetic Williamson nanofluid flow with heat, and mass transport toward a stretchable rotating disk with suction/injection and joule heating. In addition, convective and zero mass flux conditions are implemented at the boundary to study the flow characteristics. The converted coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) are tackled utilizing a semi‐analytical technique known as Optimal Homotopy Analysis Method (OHAM). The obtained outcomes are illustrated graphically to anticipate the features of the governing terms affecting the flow model. The surface skin friction, heat, and mass transport rates are deduced and discussed in detail. The validation of the present article is verified and converges to earlier published statistics. Interestingly, analysis reveals that suction/injection parameter on axial and radial velocity profiles are quite the opposite and is identical in the case of thermal and concentration buoyancy parameter. Furthermore, the Weissenberg number dominates the flow movement; the unsteady parameter lessens the momentum and thermal boundary layer (BL) thickness.
Methodology for the Development and Validation of New Stent Designs: In Vitro and In Vivo Models
Authors: Kram Wolfgang , de la Cruz Julia E. , Humphreys Owen , Buchholz Noor , Soria Federico
Published: August 2022

The urinary tract is a highly complex, dynamic and variable environment that renders the development of urinary stents extremely challenging. It is mandatory that previous to clinical trials, innovations in urinary medical devices are tested in a preclinical context. The steps of translational research in this regard includein silico,in vitro,ex vivoandin vivoassessments. In this chapter, a critical review of the in vitro stent assessment models is performed, outlining briefly their strengths and weaknesses. Subsequently, a discussion concerning the available animal models for urinary stent evaluation is made with the aim of providing a critical guide for experimental preclinical evaluation of urological devices.
Coatings for Urinary Stents: Current State and Future Directions
Authors: Domingues Beatriz , Silva Joana M. , Aroso Ivo M. , Lima Estêvão , Barros Alexandre A. , Reis Rui L.
Published: August 2022

Urinary stent coatings are a strategy to tackle certain complications associated with the use of biomaterials. The latest innovations in surface coatings focused on the prevention of those problems, thus reducing further costs with treatments. Urinary stents associated symptoms, infections and encrustation are considered the major challenges, and, in an attempt to prevent such morbidity, several strategies were developed. Hence, coatings have been designed to improve quality of life for patients, reducing the friction, inhibiting uropathogens survival or attachment on stents, and avoiding the deposition of urinary crystals that triggers encrustation. Currently for ureteral stents, hydrophilic and diamond-like carbon coatings are commercial options associated with an enhanced performance of devices, comparing with uncoated ones. These commercially available approaches are all anti-adhesive coatings, and, in the general overview, this type of strategy appears to be a superior alternative than bactericidal coatings. Designs that trigger uropathogen death are usually associated with higher toxicity, and, in some cases, it can even favor the development of microbial resistance, which can hamper the infection treatment. With the present knowledge about antimicrobial mechanisms and inspired by nature, more cutting-edge alternatives, able to confer antimicrobial properties to the inner and outer parts of stents, will surely appear.
Impairment of APPL1/Myoferlin facilitates adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells by blocking autophagy flux in osteoporosis
Authors: Zhang Yunhui , Liu Wenjie , Yuan Weiquan , Cai Zhaopeng , Ye Guiwen , Zheng Guan , Xu Chenhao , Wang Xinglang , zeng Chenying , Mi Rujia , Feng Pei , Chen Fenglei , Wu Yanfeng , Shen Huiyong , Wang Peng
Published: August 2022

An imbalance of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation is crucial in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, and elucidation of the underlying mechanism is urgently needed. APPL1, an adaptor protein of the adiponectin receptor, was recently shown to be closely related to bone mass. However, the role of APPL1 in the imbalance of hMSC differentiation in osteoporosis is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the mechanisms by which APPL1 alters hMSCs adipogenic differentiation in osteoporosis. Here, we found that APPL1 expression was downregulated in elderly patients with osteoporosis and in mouse osteoporosis model. APPL1 negatively regulated hMSC adipogenic differentiation in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, by enhancing ubiquitination-mediated Myoferlin degradation, downregulated APPL1 expression increased the risk of lysosome dysfunction during hMSCs adipogenic differentiation. Lysosomal dysfunction inhibited autophagy flux by suppressing autophagosome degradation and promoted hMSC differentiation towards the adipocyte lineage. Our findings suggest that APPL1/Myoferlin downregulation promoted hMSCs adipogenic differentiation by inhibiting autophagy flux, further impairing the balance of hMSCs adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation in osteoporosis; the APPL1/ Myoferlin axis may be a promising diagnostic and therapeutic target for osteoporosis.
Respiratory entrainment of units in the mouse parietal cortex depends on vigilance state
Authors: Jung Felix , Yanovsky Yevgenij , Brankačk Jurij , Tort Adriano B. L. , Draguhn Andreas
Published: August 2022

Synchronous oscillations are essential for coordinated activity in neuronal networks and, hence, for behavior and cognition. While most network oscillations are generated within the central nervous system, recent evidence shows that rhythmic body processes strongly influence activity patterns throughout the brain. A major factor is respiration (Resp), which entrains multiple brain regions at the mesoscopic (local field potential) and single-cell levels. However, it is largely unknown how such Resp-driven rhythms interact or compete with internal brain oscillations, especially those with similar frequency domains. In mice, Resp and theta (θ) oscillations have overlapping frequencies and co-occur in various brain regions. Here, we investigated the effects of Resp and θ on neuronal discharges in the mouse parietal cortex during four behavioral states which either show prominent θ (REM sleep and active waking (AW)) or lack significant θ (NREM sleep and waking immobility (WI)). We report a pronounced state-dependence of spike modulation by both rhythms. During REM sleep, θ effects on unit discharges dominate, while during AW, Resp has a larger influence, despite the concomitant presence of θ oscillations. In most states, unit modulation by θ or Resp increases with mean firing rate. The preferred timing of Resp-entrained discharges (inspiration versus expiration) varies between states, indicating state-specific and different underlying mechanisms. Our findings show that neurons in an associative cortex area are differentially and state-dependently modulated by two fundamentally different processes: brain-endogenous θ oscillations and rhythmic somatic feedback signals from Resp.
The effects of concurrent bilateral anodal tDCS of primary motor cortex and cerebellum on corticospinal excitability: a randomized, double-blind sham-controlled study
Authors: Behrangrad Shabnam , Zoghi Maryam , Kidgell Dawson , Mansouri Farshad , Jaberzadeh Shapour
Published: August 2022

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the primary motor cortex (M1), and cerebellum (CB) can change the level of M1 corticospinal excitability (CSE). A randomized double-blinded crossover, the sham-controlled study design was used to investigate the effects of concurrent bilateral anodal tDCS of M1 and CB (concurrent bilateral a-tDCSM1+CB) on the CSE. Twenty-one healthy participants were recruited in this study. Each participant received anodal-tDCS (a-tDCS) of 2 mA, 20 min in four pseudo-randomized, counterbalanced sessions, separated by at least 7 days (7.11 days ± 0.65). These sessions were bilateral M1 stimulation (bilateral a-tDCSM1), bilateral cerebellar stimulation (bilateral a-tDCSCB), concurrent bilateral a-tDCSM1+CB, and sham stimulation (bilateral a-tDCSSham). Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was delivered over the left M1, and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) of a contralateral hand muscle were recorded before and immediately after the intervention to measure CSE changes. Short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), intracortical facilitation (ICF), and long interval intracortical inhibition (LICI) were assessed with paired-pulse TMS protocols. Anodal-tDCS significantly increased CSE after concurrent bilateral a-tDCSM1+CB and bilateral a-tDCSCB. Interestingly, CSE was decreased after bilateral a-tDCSM1. Respective alterations in SICI, LICI, and ICF were seen, including increased SICI and decreased ICF, which indicate the involvement of glutamatergic and GABAergic systems in these effects. These results confirm that the concurrent bilateral a-tDCSM1+CB have a facilitatory effect on CSE, whereas bilateral a-tDCSM1 exert some inhibitory effects. Moreover, the effects of the 2 mA, 20 min a-tDCS on the CB were consistent with its effects on the M1.
Chip platforms with synthetic lipid bilayers for electrophysiological analyses of pore proteins and extracellular vesicles
Authors: van den Driesche Sander , Vellekoop Michael J.
Published: August 2022

In this paper, we present microfluidic chip platforms to enable electrophysiological measurements of nanometer-sized extracellular vesicles. The basis of the chip platform is the realization of a synthetic free-standing lipid bilayer spanned within a microfabricated aperture. To allow ion channel current measurements, the background current noise level should be reduced to a minimum. This can be realized by coating microfabricated apertures from silicon, silicon oxide, or silicon nitride with PTFE or Parylene. Three promising chip platform designs are presented. Electrophysiological measurements conducted with these microfluidic systems show gating events of membrane proteins fused into synthetic lipid bilayers.
BluePrint breast cancer molecular subtyping recognizes single and dual subtype tumors with implications for therapeutic guidance
Authors: Kuilman Midas M. , Ellappalayam Architha , Barcaru Andrei , Haan Josien C. , Bhaskaran Rajith , Wehkamp Diederik , Menicucci Andrea R. , Audeh William M. , Mittempergher Lorenza , Glas Annuska M.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

BluePrint (BP) is an 80-gene molecular subtyping test that classifies early-stage breast cancer (EBC) into Basal, Luminal, and HER2 subtypes. In most cases, breast tumors have one dominant subtype, representative of a single activated pathway. However, some tumors show a statistically equal representation of more than one subtype, referred to as dual subtype. This study aims to identify and examine dual subtype tumors by BP to understand their biology and possible implications for treatment guidance.

Methods

The BP scores of over 15,000 tumor samples from EBC patients were analyzed, and the differences between the highest and the lowest scoring subtypes were calculated. Based upon the distribution of the differences between BP scores, a threshold was determined for each subtype to identify dual versus single subtypes.

Results

Approximately 97% of samples had one single activated BluePrint molecular subtype, whereas ~ 3% of samples were classified as BP dual subtype. The most frequently occurring dual subtypes were the Luminal-Basal-type and Luminal-HER2-type. Luminal-Basal-type displays a distinct biology from the Luminal single type and Basal single type. Burstein’s classification of the single and dual Basal samples showed that the Luminal-Basal-type is mostly classified as ‘luminal androgen receptor’ and ‘mesenchymal’ subtypes, supporting molecular evidence of AR activation in the Luminal-Basal-type tumors. Tumors classified as Luminal-HER2-type resemble features of both Luminal-single-type and HER2-single-type. However, patients with dual Luminal-HER2-type have a lower pathological complete response after receiving HER2-targeted therapies in addition to chemotherapy in comparison with patients with a HER2-single-type.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that BP identifies tumors with two active functional pathways (dual subtype) with specific transcriptional characteristics and highlights the added value of distinguishing BP dual from single subtypes as evidenced by distinct treatment response rates.
Citizen scientist monitoring accurately reveals nutrient pollution dynamics in Lake Tanganyika coastal waters
Authors: Moshi Happiness A. , Kimirei Ismael , Shilla Daniel , O’Reilly Catherine , Wehrli Bernhard , Ehrenfels Benedikt , Loiselle Steven
Published: August 2022

Several studies in Lake Tanganyika have effectively employed traditional methods to explore changes in water quality in open waters; however, coastal monitoring has been restricted and sporadic, relying on costly sample and analytical methods that require skilled technical staff. This study aims in validating citizen science water quality collected data (nitrate, phosphate and turbidity) with those collected and measured by professional scientists in the laboratory. A second objective of the study is to use citizen scientist data to identify the patterns of seasonal and spatial variations in nutrient conditions and forecast potential changes based on expected changes in population and climate (to 2050). The results showed that the concentrations of nitrate and phosphate measured by citizen scientists nearly matched those established by professional scientists, with overall accuracy of 91% and 74%, respectively. For total suspended solids measured by professional and turbidity measured by citizen scientists, results show that, using 14 NTU as a cut-off, citizen scientist measurements of Secchi tube depth to identify lake TSS below 7.0 mg/L showed an accuracy of 88%. In both laboratory and citizen scientist-based studies, all measured water quality variables were significantly higher during the wet season compared to the dry season. Climate factors were discovered to have a major impact on the likelihood of exceeding water quality restrictions in the next decades (2050), which could deteriorate lake conditions. Upscaling citizen science to more communities on the lake and other African Great Lakes would raise environmental awareness, inform management and mitigation activities, and aid long-term decision-making.
Sequencing and routing in a large warehouse with high degree of product rotation
Authors: Lanza Giacomo , Passacantando Mauro , Scutellà Maria Grazia
Published: August 2022

The paper deals with a sequencing and routing problem originated by a real-world application context. The problem consists in defining the best sequence of locations to visit within a warehouse for the storage and/or retrieval of a given set of items during a specified time horizon, where the storage/retrieval location of an item is given. Picking and put-away of items are simultaneously addressed, by also considering some specific requirements given by the layout design and operating policies which are typical in the kind of warehouses under study. Specifically, the considered sequencing policy prescribes that storage locations must be replenished or emptied one at a time by following a specified order of precedence. Moreover, two fleet of vehicles are used to perform retrieving and storing operations, whose routing is restricted to disjoint areas of the warehouse. We model the problem as a constrained multicommodity flow problem on a space-time network, and we propose two Mixed-Integer Linear Programming formulations, whose primary goal is to minimize the time traveled by the vehicles during the time horizon. Since large-size realistic instances are hardly solvable within the time limit commonly imposed in the considered application context, a matheuristic approach based on a time horizon decomposition is proposed. Finally, we provide an extensive experimental analysis aiming at identifying suitable parameter settings for the proposed approach, and testing the matheuristic on particularly hard realistic scenarios. The computational experiments show the efficacy and the efficiency of the proposed approach.
Vitalism, Holism, and Metaphorical Dynamics of Hans Spemann’s “Organizer” in the Interwar Period
Authors: Brandt Christina
Published: August 2022

This paper aims to provide a fresh historical perspective on the debates on vitalism and holism in Germany by analyzing the work of the zoologist Hans Spemann (1869–1941) in the interwar period. Following up previous historical studies, it takes the controversial question about Spemann’s affinity to vitalistic approaches as a starting point. The focus is on Spemann’s holistic research style, and on the shifting meanings of Spemann’s concept of anorganizer. It is argued that theorganizerconcept unfolded multiple layers of meanings (biological, philosophical, and popular) during the 1920s and early 1930s. A detailed analysis of the metaphorical dynamics in Spemann’s writings sheds light on the subtle vitalistic connotations of his experimental work. How Spemann’s work was received by contemporary scientists and philosophers is analyzed briefly, and Spemann’s holism is explored in the broader historical context of the various issues about reductionism and holism and related methodological questions that were so prominently discussed not only in Germany in the 1920s.
ALT (allogeneic limbal transplantation): a new surgical technique for limbal stem cell deficiency
Authors: Viestenz Anja , Kesper Christiane , Hammer Thomas , Heinzelmann Joana , Foja Sabine , Viestenz Arne
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) is a rare but extremely relevant disease of the eye. LSCD patients often require a variety of surgical procedures, including keratoplasty in some cases. However, the outcome of these surgeries, including opacification and revascularization, is often frustrating due to LSCD relapse.

Methods

We developed a new surgical technique for the treatment of LSCD in which partial allogenic limbal transplantation (ALT) is carried out as part of penetrating keratoplasty (PK). After the PK, 1–8 slices from the limbal tissue of the donor graft are prepared and placed under the double running sutures attaching the corneal graft. This procedure was performed on 14 patients with LSCD, caused by severe ocular burn in 5 cases and by infection in 9. Between one and eight limbal transplants were used depending on the extension of the LSCD.

Results

All 14 patients showed stable or increased visual acuity after the ALT surgery compared to their preoperative visual acuity. All of the grafts were integrated into the superficial corneal layers without progression of corneal vascularization beyond the limbal grafts. The median follow-up period was 12 months on average.

Conclusion

The ALT method seems to be a promising surgical procedure for the treatment of patients with LSCD. It can be properly carried out in the context of keratoplasty and does not require a separate donor tissue. The ALT grafts may offer the possibility of constructing a new limbal region, resulting in stable or even increased visual acuity and the absence of corneal vascularization.
Cross-Cultural Comparison of the Contexts Associated with Emotional Outbursts
Authors: Chung Justin Cheuk Yin , Lowenthal Rosane , Mevorach Carmel , Paula Cristiane Silvestre , Teixeira Maria Cristina Triguero Veloz , Woodcock Kate Anne
Published: August 2022

The causal relationship between emotional outbursts and emotion dysregulation is proposed to be heterogeneous, but cultural influences have not been considered despite established cultural differences in emotional processes (e.g., increased motivation to suppress emotions in interdependent cultures). Responses to the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Emotional Outburst Questionnaire were collected from 327 caregivers of young people (6–25 years) with autism spectrum disorder, Down’s syndrome, or intellectual disability. Responses were compared to a previous sample of 268 responses from the English version of the questionnaire. The latent factor structure of the contextual items was measurement invariant across both versions. The Brazilian responses were classified into three distinct clusters (Sensory Sensitivity; Perceived Safety; Perceived Unsafety) which considerably overlapped with the English clusters.
Solar Energetic-Particle Ground-Level Enhancements and the Solar Cycle
Authors: Owens Mathew J. , Barnard Luke A. , Pope Benjamin J. S. , Lockwood Mike , Usoskin Ilya , Asvestari Eleanna
Published: August 2022

Severe geomagnetic storms appear to be ordered by the solar cycle in a number of ways. They occur more frequently close to solar maximum and the declining phase, are more common in larger solar cycles, and show different patterns of occurrence in odd- and even-numbered solar cycles. Our knowledge of the most extreme space-weather events, however, comes from spikes in cosmogenic-isotope (14C, 10Be, and 36Cl) records that are attributed to significantly larger solar energetic-particle (SEP) events than have been observed during the space age. Despite both storms and SEPs being driven by solar-eruptive phenomena, the event-by-event correspondence between extreme storms and extreme SEPs is low. Thus, it should not be assumed a priori that the solar-cycle patterns found for storms also hold for SEPs and the cosmogenic-isotope events. In this study, we investigate the solar-cycle trends in the timing and magnitude of the 67 SEP ground-level enhancements (GLEs) recorded by neutron monitors since the mid-1950s. Using a number of models of GLE-occurrence probability, we show that GLEs are around a factor of four more likely around solar maximum than around solar minimum, and that they preferentially occur earlier in even-numbered solar cycles than in odd-numbered cycles. There are insufficient data to conclusively determine whether larger solar cycles produce more GLEs. Implications for putative space-weather events in the cosmogenic-isotope records are discussed. We find that GLEs tend to cluster within a few tens of days, likely due to particularly productive individual active regions, and with approximately 11-year separations, owing to the solar-cycle ordering. However, these timescales would not explain any cosmogenic-isotope spikes requiring multiple extreme SEP events over consecutive years.
On Processing Potato. 4. Survey of the Nutritional and Sensory Value of Products and Dishes
Authors: Haverkort A. J. , Linnemann A. R. , Struik P. C. , Wiskerke J. S. C.
Published: August 2022

Worldwide, hundreds of potato dishes exist, originally composed by cooks in traditional kitchens. Gradually cooks more and more applied processed products as ingredients to save time and to widen their range of dishes. The products are classified according to their features, ranging from thickeners in soups to ready-to-eat snacks. Besides cooks, also the food industry makes ample use of (modified) potato starches, flakes, flour and granulates. Before users prepare meals from purchased ingredients, they only have had visual perceptions of the products as displayed on shelves and in freezers of shops and presentations at the internet. The organoleptic properties, taste, smell and structure of tubers and products are perceived in the kitchen only. Sensory appreciation, likewise, is a function of the types of ingredients in dipping and batter during processing and their role to improve products and flavouring. The nutritional value of tubers, other staples and potato products and dishes is analysed and their enhancement and losses in the production of the raw material and processing are discussed. This paper reviews existing dishes worldwide and how the processing industry derived thereof products for kitchens and the food industry. The nutritive value of tubers and their products is explored. In general, the density of nutritive components of the products is correlated with their water content that decreases from blanched or baked, to fried French fries, chips and the flour. Starch, minerals, some vitamins and antioxidants become less diluted and appear in higher concentrations in products than in the raw material they are derived from. The energy content increases more than proportional in fried products because of adhering oil that per unit weight almost has more than double the energy content of starch. Additives such as sodium acid pyrophosphate (SAPP), batter and dextrin improve the flesh colour of French fries, their crispiness, and staying hot time, and give the golden hue. Flavouring creates a wide range of tastes of French fries and chips. Blanched and chilled products either mixed with vegetables or not are often supplied with sachets of seasoning to be spread on the product while preparing a dish in the kitchen as the seasoning effect would partly disappear when mixed with the chilled product. Different consumer desires from, among others, health and environment perspectives are articulated and it is assessed how easy or difficult it is for processors to manufacture suitable products. The paper concludes with future perspectives of consumers among other aspects regarding health and convenience and how the industry reacts with innovations.
Efficient Visual Recognition: A Survey on Recent Advances and Brain-inspired Methodologies
Authors: Wu Yang , Wang Ding-Heng , Lu Xiao-Tong , Yang Fan , Yao Man , Dong Wei-Sheng , Shi Jian-Bo , Li Guo-Qi
Published: August 2022

Visual recognition is currently one of the most important and active research areas in computer vision, pattern recognition, and even the general field of artificial intelligence. It has great fundamental importance and strong industrial needs, particularly the modern deep neural networks (DNNs) and some brain-inspired methodologies, have largely boosted the recognition performance on many concrete tasks, with the help of large amounts of training data and new powerful computation resources. Although recognition accuracy is usually the first concern for new progresses, efficiency is actually rather important and sometimes critical for both academic research and industrial applications. Moreover, insightful views on the opportunities and challenges of efficiency are also highly required for the entire community. While general surveys on the efficiency issue have been done from various perspectives, as far as we are aware, scarcely any of them focused on visual recognition systematically, and thus it is unclear which progresses are applicable to it and what else should be concerned. In this survey, we present the review of recent advances with our suggestions on the new possible directions towards improving the efficiency of DNN-related and brain-inspired visual recognition approaches, including efficient network compression and dynamic brain-inspired networks. We investigate not only from the model but also from the data point of view (which is not the case in existing surveys) and focus on four typical data types (images, video, points, and events). This survey attempts to provide a systematic summary via a comprehensive survey that can serve as a valuable reference and inspire both researchers and practitioners working on visual recognition problems.
Whole-Brain Connectome of GABAergic Neurons in the Mouse Zona Incerta
Authors: Yang Yang , Jiang Tao , Jia Xueyan , Yuan Jing , Li Xiangning , Gong Hui
Published: August 2022

The zona incerta (ZI) is involved in various functions and may serve as an integrative node of the circuits for global behavioral modulation. However, the long-range connectivity of different sectors in the mouse ZI has not been comprehensively mapped. Here, we obtained whole-brain images of the input and output connections via fluorescence micro-optical sectioning tomography and viral tracing. The principal regions in the input-output circuits of ZI GABAergic neurons were topologically organized. The 3D distribution of cortical inputs showed rostro-caudal correspondence with different ZI sectors, while the projection fibers from ZI sectors were longitudinally organized in the superior colliculus. Clustering results show that the medial and lateral ZI are two different major functional compartments, and they can be further divided into more subdomains based on projection and input connectivity. This study provides a comprehensive anatomical foundation for understanding how the ZI is involved in integrating different information, conveying motivational states, and modulating global behaviors.
Unique Chemistry and Structure of Pyrolyzed Bovine Bone for Enhanced Aqueous Metals Adsorption
Authors: Muretta Julie E. , Prieto-Centurion Dario , LaDouceur Richard , Kirtley John D.
Published: August 2022

Bone waste is a problematic slaughterhouse waste typically disposed of in landfills. The pyrolyzed product of this waste shows strong potential in mine and industrial waste water remediation and work is needed to identify chemical and structural parameters which drive performance. Diffuse Reflectance Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) was used to probe carbonate (CO32−), phosphate (PO43−) and hydroxyl (OH−) environments of mineral phases and functional group chemistry in carbonaceous phase, revealing a potentially synergistic functionality between the two in bone char. CO32− and water substitutions in the mineral lattice were found to persist after pyrolysis to 750 °C, and more soluble non-apatite calcium phosphate phases were observed using second derivative analysis of the v3 PO43− band. Nitrogen-rich functional groups were found in the carbonaceous phase which are associated with complexation of aqueous metals, and ordered aromatic clusters identified by Raman spectroscopy indicate a porous carbon skeletal structure to promote metals adsorption and complexation. These results point to unique chemical and structural features of bone char which are not easily replicated by synthetic carbonated apatite or activated carbon and which contribute to the excellent aqueous metals removal power of bone char.

Graphical Abstract
Virtual landscape-scale restoration of altered channels helps us understand the extent of impacts to guide future ecosystem management
Authors: Paul Siddhartho Shekhar , Hasselquist Eliza Maher , Jarefjäll Amanda , Ågren Anneli M.
Published: August 2022

Human modification of hydrological connectivity of landscapes has had significant consequences on ecosystem functioning. Artificial drainage practices have fundamentally altered northern landscapes, yet these man made channels are rarely considered in ecosystem management. To better understand the effects of drainage ditches, we conducted a landscape-scale analysis across eleven selected study regions in Sweden. We implemented a unique approach by backfilling ditches in the current digital elevation model to recreate the prehistoric landscape, thus quantifying and characterizing the channel networks of prehistoric (natural) and current (drained) landscapes. Our analysis detected that 58% of the prehistoric natural channels had been converted to ditches. Even more striking was that the average channel density increased from 1.33 km km−2 in the prehistoric landscape to 4.66 km km−2 in the current landscape, indicating the extent of ditching activities in the northern regions. These results highlight that man-made ditches should be accurately mapped across northern landscapes to enable more informed decisions in ecosystem management.
A simplified low volume colorimetric assay for rapid comparison of cyanogenic glycoside production between barley genotypes
Authors: Xue Shiming , Zantinge Jennifer L. , Holtz Michael D. , Juskiw Patricia
Published: August 2022

Ethyl carbamate (EC), a genotoxic and carcinogenic compound, is an undesirable trace component in spirits and whisky. The precursor of EC produced from barley (Hordeum vulgareL.) malt is primarily a cyanogenic glycosidic nitrile (GN) known as epiheterodendrin (EPH). EPH production is genetically controlled in barley, low or non-GN varieties exist and EPH production can be controlled by using low or non-GN barley varieties for malt production. Here, we report on a rapid and inexpensive colorimetric assay modified from Cook and Oliver (in: European Brewery Convention (eds) Proceedings of the 23rd Congress, Lisbon. European Brewery Convention, Zoeterwoude, Netherlands, 1991). The new low-volume, high-throughput, semi-quantitative test method can be used for the selection of low or non-GN breeding lines through samples of acrospires. This method is based on the detection of cyanide by the reaction with chloramine-T followed by the addition of the reagent (pyridine-barbituric acid) to form a soluble violet-blue product measured at 590 nm. Absorbance measurements and the visual color are used to estimate the presence of EPH production in acrospires. In this report, the level of EPH production was compared among some commercial European non-GN lines, Canadian malt varieties and advanced barley breeding lines.
Cluster of differentiation antigens: essential roles in the identification of teleost fish T lymphocytes
Authors: Tian Hong-fei , Xing Jing , Tang Xiao-qian , Chi Heng , Sheng Xiu-zhen , Zhan Wen-bin
Published: August 2022

Cluster of differentiation (CD) antigens are cell surface molecules expressed on leukocytes and other cells associated with the immune system. Antibodies that react with CD antigens are known to be one of the most essential tools for identifying leukocyte subpopulations. T lymphocytes, as an important population of leukocytes, play essential roles in the adaptive immune system. Many of the CD antigens expressed on T lymphocytes are used as surface markers for T lymphocyte classification, including CD3, CD4 and CD8 molecules. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the identification of CD molecules on T lymphocytes in teleosts, with emphasis on the functions of CD markers in the classification of T lymphocyte subsets. We notice that genes encoding CD3, co-receptors CD4 and CD8 have been cloned in several fish species and antibodies have been developed to study protein expression in morphological and functional contexts. T lymphocytes can be divided into CD4+and CD8+cells discriminated by the expression of CD4 and CD8 molecules in teleost, which are functionally similar to mammalian helper T cells (Th) and cytotoxic T cells (Tc), respectively. Further studies are still needed on the particular characteristics of teleost T cell repertoires and adaptive responses, and results will facilitate the health management and development of vaccines for fish.
The structural effect between the output module and chromophore-binding domain is a two-way street via the hairpin extension
Authors: Kurttila Moona , Etzl Stefan , Rumfeldt Jessica , Takala Heikki , Galler Nadine , Winkler Andreas , Ihalainen Janne A.
Published: August 2022

Signal transduction typically starts with either ligand binding or cofactor activation, eventually affecting biological activities in the cell. In red light-sensing phytochromes, isomerization of the bilin chromophore results in regulation of the activity of diverse output modules. During this process, several structural elements and chemical events influence signal propagation. In our study, we have studied the full-length bacteriophytochrome fromDeinococcus radioduransas well as a previously generated optogenetic tool where the native histidine kinase output module has been replaced with an adenylate cyclase. We show that the composition of the output module influences the stability of the hairpin extension. The hairpin, often referred as the PHY tongue, is one of the central structural elements for signal transduction. It extends from a distinct domain establishing close contacts with the chromophore binding site. If the coupling between these interactions is disrupted, the dynamic range of the enzymatic regulation is reduced. Our study highlights the complex conformational properties of the hairpin extension as a bidirectional link between the chromophore-binding site and the output module, as well as functional properties of diverse output modules.
God, the Good, and the Spiritual Turn in Epistemology
Authors: Di Ceglie Roberto
Published: August 2022

In this book, Roberto Di Ceglie offers an historical, theological, and epistemological investigation exploring how commitments to God and/or the good generate the optimum condition to achieve knowledge. Di Ceglie criticizes the common belief that to attain knowledge, one must always be ready to replace one's convictions with beliefs that appear to be proven. He defends a more comprehensive view, historically exemplified by outstanding Christian thinkers, whereby believers are expected to commit themselves to God and to related beliefs no matter how convincing the evidence contradicting such beliefs appears to be. He also argues that both believers and unbelievers can commit themselves to God and the good, respectively, thereby creating a spiritual turn in epistemology that enables them to generate the best possible condition for conducting rational enquiries and discussion.