bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chitosan coated metallic nanoparticles with stability, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties: Potential for wound healing application
Authors: Sharifiaghdam Maryam , Shaabani Elnaz , Asghari Fatemeh , Faridi‐Majidi Reza
Published: October 2021

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) are extensively adopted in the treatment of wounds owing to their proven antibacterial activity and enhanced wound healing effects. This study is aimed at providing a simple technique of synthesis and a comprehensive report from metal‐based NPs including copper, silver, gold, and selenium for wound healing. It also constitutes their application in terms of stability, antibacterial and antioxidant effects as well as cellular interactions. In this study, gold (AuNPs@CS) and selenium (SeNPs@CS) NPs are introduced as highly stable NPs that can provide antioxidant efficacy more than other NPs to reduce ROS levels in H2O2‐induced NIH‐3T3 fibroblast cells. These NPs exhibited antibacterial effects in Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria, indicating their potential as proper antibiotics. Furthermore, our results revealed that these NPs can exert their antioxidant and antibacterial efficacy with even higher uptake in NIH‐3T3 fibroblast cells for AuNPs@CS, or with the lowest uptake for SeNPs@CS. This provides an opportunity for the modification of NPs by altering their core and thus exert a different effect on the cells based on application. By enhancing the stability, antioxidant and antibacterial properties in AuNPs@Cs and SeNPs@Cs with the least toxicological risk, our concept opens new opportunities to design more efficient wound dressings.
Perspectives in liver redox imbalance: Toxicological and pharmacological aspects underlying iron overloading, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and thyroid hormone action
Authors: Videla Luis A. , Valenzuela Rodrigo
Published: October 2021

Oxidative stress is an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in favor of the oxidants, leading to a disruption of redox signaling and control, and/or molecular damage altering cellular functions. This redox imbalance may trigger different responses depending on the antioxidant potential of a given cell, the level of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) attained and the time of exposure, with protective effects being induced at low ROS/RNS levels in acute or short‐term conditions, and harmful effects after high ROS/RNS exposure in prolonged situations. Relevant conditions underlying liver redox imbalance include iron overload associated with ROS production via Fenton chemistry and the magnitude of the iron labile pool achieved, with low iron exposure inducing protective effects related to nuclear factor‐κB, signal transducer and activation of transcription 3, and nuclear factor erythroid‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation and upregulation of ferritin, hepcidin, acute‐phase response and antioxidant components, whereas high iron exposure causes drastic oxidation of biomolecules, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cell death due to necrosis, apoptosis and/or ferroptosis. Redox imbalance in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is related to polyunsaturated fatty acid depletion, lipogenic factor sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1c upregulation, fatty acid oxidation‐dependent peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐α downregulation, low antioxidant factor Nrf2 and insulin resistance, a phenomenon that is exacerbated in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis triggering an inflammatory response. Thyroid hormone (T3) administration determines liver preconditioning against ischemia–reperfusion injury due to the redox activation of several transcription factors, AMP‐activated protein kinase, unfolded protein response and autophagy. High grade liver redox imbalance occurring in severe iron overload is adequately handled by iron chelation, however, that underlying NAFLD/NASH is currently under study in several Phase II and Phase III trials.
Chiroptical properties of anionic and neutral nickel(II) bis(dithiolene) complexes based on methyl and dimethyl‐dddt ligands
Authors: Abhervé Alexandre , Mroweh Nabil , Cauchy Thomas , Pop Flavia , Vanthuyne Nicolas , Avarvari Narcis
Published: October 2021

Racemic and enantiopure nickel(II) bis(dithiolene) anionic and neutral complexes based on the methyl‐5,6‐dihydro‐1,4‐dithiin‐2,3‐dithiolate (me‐dddt) and dimethyl‐5,6‐dihydro‐1,4‐dithiin‐2,3‐dithiolate (dm‐dddt) ligands have been experimentally and theoretically investigated with a special focus on their chiroptical properties. According to the time‐dependent density‐functional theory (TD‐DFT) calculations, the strong near‐infrared absorption bands typical for such complexes are only weakly active in circular dichroism (CD), and moreover, they have opposite signs for the axial and equatorial conformations, due to the variation of the angle between the transition electric and magnetic dipole moments, thus leading to the mutual cancellation of their contributions and the absence of these bands in the experimental CD spectra. The influence of the number of stereogenic centers and of the oxidation state of the complexes on their chiroptical properties is highlighted. The solid‐state structure of the complex (TMA)[Ni(rac‐me‐dddt)2] (TMA = tetramethylammonium), determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, shows a rather unusual cis arrangement of the two dithiolene ligands, with the methyl substituents adopting an axial conformation, which is not the most stable one in the gas phase.
Basal forebrain magnocellular cholinergic systems are damaged in mice following neonatal hypoxia‐ischemia
Authors: Northington Frances J. , Kratimenos Panagiotis , Turnbill Victoria , Flock Debra L. , Asafu‐Adjaye Daniella , Chavez‐Valdez Raul , Martin Lee J.
Published: October 2021

Neonatal hypoxic‐ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) causes lifelong neurologic disability. Despite the use of therapeutic hypothermia, memory deficits and executive functions remain severely affected. Cholinergic neurotransmission from the basal forebrain to neocortex and hippocampus is central to higher cortical functions. We examined the basal forebrain by light microscopy and reported loss of choline acetyltransferase‐positive (ChAT)+ neurons, at postnatal day (P) 40, in the ipsilateral medial septal nucleus (MSN) after neonatal hypoxia‐ischemia (HI) in mice. There was no loss of ChAT+ neurons in the ipsilateral nucleus basalis of Meynert (nbM) and striatum. Ipsilateral striatal and nbM ChAT+ neurons were abnormal with altered immunoreactivity for ChAT, shrunken and crenated somas, and dysmorphic appearing dendrites. Using confocal images with 3D reconstruction, nbM ChAT+ dendrites in HI mice were shorter than sham (p = .0001). Loss of ChAT+ neurons in the MSN directly correlated with loss of ipsilateral hippocampal area. In the nbM and striatum, percentage of abnormal ChAT+ neurons correlated with loss of ipsilateral cerebral cortical and striatal area, respectively. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity increased in adjacent ipsilateral cerebral cortex and hippocampus and the increase was linearly related to loss of cortical and hippocampal area. Numbers and size of cathepsin D+ lysosomes increased in large neurons in the ipsilateral nbM. After neonatal HI, abnormalities were found throughout the major cholinergic systems in relationship to amount of forebrain area loss. There was also an upregulation of cathepsin D+ particles within the nbM. Cholinergic neuropathology may underlie the permanent dysfunction in learning, memory, and executive function after neonatal brain injury.
Effectiveness of mindfulness‐based interventions on psychotherapy processes: A systematic review
Authors: Garrote‐Caparrós Elena , Bellosta‐Batalla Miguel , Moya‐Albiol Luis , Cebolla Ausiàs
Published: October 2021

In the field of psychotherapy, scientific research has highlighted the importance of empathy and therapeutic alliance in regard to the effectiveness and better results of psychological treatments. In recent years, mindfulness‐based interventions (MBIs) have shown to be effective at increasing empathy and therapeutic alliance and how this could affect the patients' symptomatology. In this study, we conducted a systematic review of the effectiveness of MBIs applied to psychotherapists to improve their empathy, the therapeutic alliance and the patients' symptomatology. Sixteen studies evaluating the impact of an MBI on some of these variables were identified, of which six included measures evaluated by the patients whose psychotherapists received the MBI. The risk of bias of the included studies was analysed following the methodological standards. We found very different designs and methodologies in the studies included in this review, with few of them including a control group. The results show a limited increase in empathy, measured by the psychotherapist, after an MBI. However, the results in therapeutic alliance are not conclusive, as well as the improvements in the perception of patients about their symptomatology. It is concluded that MBIs can have a beneficial effect on the psychotherapeutic practice, through the development of psychotherapists' empathy. Future research would require new studies with a higher methodological quality, and in which the effects of MBIs on empathy, therapeutic alliance and patients' symptomatology and the relationships between them are analyzed.
The kinocardiograph for assessment of changes in haemodynamic load in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Herkert Cyrille , Migeotte Pierre‐François , Hossein Amin , Spee Rudolph Ferdinand , Kemps Hareld Marijn Clemens
Published: October 2021

Aims

The kinocardiograph (KCG) is an unobtrusive device, consisting of a chest sensor, which records local thoracic vibrations produced in result of cardiac contraction and ejection of blood into the great vessels [seismocardiography (SCG)], and a lower back sensor, which records micromovements of the body in reaction to blood flowing through the vasculature [ballistocardiography (BCG)]. SCG and BCG signals are translated to the integral of cardiac kinetic energy (iK) and cardiac maximum power (Pmax), which might be promising metrics for future telemonitoring purposes in heart failure (HF). As a first step of validation, this study aimed to determine whether iK and Pmax are responsive to exercise‐induced changes in the haemodynamic load of the heart in HF patients.

Methods and results

Fifteen patients with stable HF with reduced ejection fraction performed a submaximal exercise protocol. KCG and cardiac ultrasound measurements were obtained both at rest and at submaximal exercise. BCG iK over the cardiac cycle (CC) increased significantly (0.0026 ± 0.0017 to 0.0052 ± 0.0061 mJ.s.; P = 0.01) during exercise, in contrast to a non‐significant increase in SCG iK CC. BCG Pmax CC increased significantly (0.92 ± 0.89 to 2.03 ± 1.95 mJ/s; P = 0.02), in contrast to a non‐significant increase in SCG Pmax CC. When analysing the systolic phase of the CC, similar patterns were found. Cardiac output (CO) ratio (i.e. CO exercise/CO rest) showed a moderate, significant correlation with BCG Pmax CC ratio (r = +0.65; P = 0.008) and with SCG Pmax CC ratio (r = +0.54; P = 0.04).

Conclusions

iK and Pmax measured with the KCG, preferentially using BCG, are responsive to changes in the haemodynamic load of the heart in HF patients. The combination of the BCG and SCG sensor might be of added value to fully understand changes in haemodynamics and to discriminate between an HF patient and a healthy individual.
Temperature‐Induced Phase Transition in Cu4TiSe4
Authors: Koley Biplab , Lakshan Achintya , Jana Partha P.
Published: October 2021

The newly synthesized ultralow thermal conducting Cu4TiSe4 undergoes a temperature‐induced reversible structural phase transition at −92 °C. The room temperature structure exhibits cubic symmetry (space group P
3 m with lattice parameter a=5.6458(1) Å) and shows positional disorder in two Cu‐sites (4e and 1a Wyckoff sites). In this report, a structural study was carried out on the same sample by means of single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data (nitrogen‐cryostat) collected at 131 K. At this temperature, Cu4TiSe4 crystallizes in rhombohedral symmetry, space group R3 m, with a=7.9538(5) Å and c=19.4828(17) Å. The low temperature structure is fourfold twinned. In the low temperature phase, copper atoms at 9b and 3a Wyckoff sites (originally 4e and 1a Wyckoff sites in the room temperature structure) order partially in comparison to room temperature structure. This temperature induced phase transition induce slight increase of the thermal conductivity of the material.
Highly Dispersed CoFe Catalyst for Selective Hydrogenation of Biomass‐Derived Furfural to Furfuryl Alcohol
Authors: Sun Lixia , Zhao Ying , Gao Zhuoyou , Yue Xiaokang , Gao Shutao , Gao Wei , Cheng Xiang , Shang Ningzhao , Wang Chun
Published: October 2021

Biorefinery to fabricate biofuels, chemicals, and materials has attracted much attention. Herein, a highly dispersed non‐noble CoFe immobilized on nitrogen‐doped carbon catalyst is prepared via a template sacrificial method. Owing to the synergetic effect of Co and Fe, the high dispersity of CoFe nanoparticles and large specific surface area, the optimized Co9‐Fe1‐NC catalyst exhibits high activity for the selective hydrogenation of furfural (FAL) to furfuryl alcohol (FOL). Hundred percentage conversion of FAL and 99% selectivity of FOL are obtained at 120 °C with 1 MPa H2 for 4 h, which is superior to most of the reported nonprecious catalysts. Moreover, the Co9‐Fe1‐NC catalyst can also catalyze the hydrogenation of nitro and carbonyl compounds efficiently. The mechanism of hydrogenation of FAL is revealed by density functional theory calculations. This work provides a promising synthetic strategy for the rational structural design of efficient selective hydrogenation catalysts.
Fluvial palaeohydrology in the 21st century and beyond
Authors: Baker Victor R. , Benito Gerardo , Brown Antony G. , Carling Paul A. , Enzel Yehouda , Greenbaum Noam , Herget Jürgen , Kale Vishwas S. , Latrubesse Edgardo M. , Macklin Mark G. , Nanson Gerald C. , Oguchi Takashi , Thorndycraft Varyl R. , Ben Dor Yoav , Zituni Rami
Published: October 2021

Professor Kenneth J. Gregory was a major contributor to fluvial palaeohydrological research. Beginning in the early 1980s, under his influence, rapid international growth of the discipline was accompanied by major advances in research methods and techniques. Current research emphases include applications of quantitative modelling and meta‐analysis; the correlation of fluvial events to other records, notably palaeolacustine records; and methods for application to diverse issues of river engineering and management. The international expansion and detailed analyses of fluvial palaeohydrology are exemplified by recent studies done in Fennoscandia, the Mediterranean region, India, Israel, Australia, Pacific humid island arcs, and South America. Future developments will involve expanded work with other academic disciplines, such as archaeology, as well as applications to practical problems arising from future climatic change and related environmental hazards, particularly extremes. Remote sensing and high‐resolution topography data and tools (e.g. LiDAR) will facilitate new discoveries of ancient exceptional flooding phenomena (megaflooding and superfloods) on Earth and on the palaeofluvial forms of Earth‐like planets. New opportunities will also arise from the increased use of machine learning and artificial intelligence for analyses of ‘big data’.
Right medial temporal lobe structures particularly impact early stages of affective picture processing
Authors: Mielke Malena , Reisch Lea Marie , Mehlmann Alexandra , Schindler Sebastian , Bien Christian G. , Kissler Johanna
Published: October 2021

Human vision prioritizes emotional stimuli. This is reflected in stronger electrocortical activation in response to emotional than neutral stimuli, measurable on the surface of the head. Feedback projections from brain structures deep within the medial temporal lobes (mTLs), in particular the amygdala, are thought to give rise to this phenomenon, although causal evidence is rare. Given the many pathways involved in visual processing, the influence of mTL structures could be restricted to specific time windows. Therefore, we delineate the temporal dynamics of the impact of right mTL structures on affective picture processing, investigating event‐related potentials (ERPs) in 19 patients (10 female) with right mTL resections and 19 individually matched healthy participants, while they viewed negative and neutral scenes. Groups differed significantly at early‐ and mid‐latency processing stages. Patients with right mTL resection, unlike controls, showed no (P1: 90–140 ms) or marginal (N1: 170–220 ms) emotion modulation. At mid‐latency (early posterior negativity: 220–370 ms), emotion modulation over the ipsi‐resectional right hemisphere was smaller in patients than in controls, but groups did not differ over the left hemisphere. During late parietal positivities (400–650 ms and 650–900 ms), both groups had similar emotion modulation. Our results demonstrate that right mTL structures attenuate particularly early processing of affectively negative scenes. This is theoretically consistent with an initial amygdala‐dependent feedforward sweep in visual emotion processing whose absence is successively compensated. Findings specify the impact of right mTL structures on emotional picture processing and highlight the value of time‐resolved measures in affective neuroscience.
Impact of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2–Related Factor 2 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Cancer Metabolism and Immune Status
Authors: Iseda Norifumi , Itoh Shinji , Yoshizumi Tomoharu , Tomiyama Takahiro , Morinaga Akinari , Yugawa Kyohei , Shimokawa Masahiro , Shimagaki Tomonari , Wang Huanlin , Kurihara Takeshi , Kitamura Yoshiyuki , Nagao Yoshihiro , Toshima Takeo , Harada Noboru , Kohashi Kenichi , Baba Shingo , Ishigami Kousei , Oda Yoshinao , Mori Masaki
Published: October 2021

We examined phosphorylated nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (P‐NRF2) expression in surgically resected primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and investigated the association of P‐NRF2 expression with clinicopathological features and patient outcome. We also evaluated the relationship among NRF2, cancer metabolism, and programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) expression. In this retrospective study, immunohistochemical staining of P‐NRF2 was performed on the samples of 335 patients who underwent hepatic resection for HCC. Tomography/computed tomography using fluorine‐18 fluorodeoxyglucose was performed, and HCC cell lines after NRF2 knockdown were analyzed by array. We also analyzed the expression of PD‐L1 after hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF1A) knockdown in NRF2‐overexpressing HCC cell lines. Samples from 121 patients (36.1%) were positive for P‐NRF2. Positive P‐NRF2 expression was significantly associated with high alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) expression, a high rate of poor differentiation, and microscopic intrahepatic metastasis. In addition, positive P‐NRF2 expression was an independent predictor for recurrence‐free survival and overall survival. NRF2 regulated glucose transporter 1, hexokinase 2, pyruvate kinase isoenzymes L/R, and phosphoglycerate kinase 1 expression and was related to the maximum standardized uptake value. PD‐L1 protein expression levels were increased through hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α after NRF2 overexpression in HCC cells. Conclusions: Our large cohort study revealed that P‐NRF2 expression in cancer cells was associated with clinical outcome in HCC. Additionally, we found that NRF2 was located upstream of cancer metabolism and tumor immunity.
Identification, subcellular localization, and functional comparison of novel Yap splicing isoforms in mouse embryonic stem cells
Authors: Xu Yixiao , Wang Xueyue , Yu Meng , Ruan Yan , Zhang Junlei , Tian Yanping , Xiong Jiaxiang , Liu Lianlian , Cheng Yuda , Yang Yi , Ren Bangqi , Chen Guangxing , Zhang Yue , Zhao Binyu , Wang Jiaqi , Wang Jiangjun , Jian Rui , Liu Yong , Wang Jiali
Published: October 2021

Hippo signaling pathway is involved in many biological processes including the fate decision of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Yes‐associated protein (Yap) function as a key effector of Hippo pathway, but its role in ESCs is still controversial. So far, only two isoforms of Yap have been identified and they have both overlapping and distinct functions. Here, we identify six novel isoforms of mouse Yap, bringing the total number of isoforms to eight. According to the differences in the first exon, they are divided into two subtypes (a and b). Isoform‐a and isoform‐b exhibit different subcellular localizations. Moreover, isoform‐a can fully reverse the impaired self‐renewal phenotype induced by Yap knockout (KO). Upon overexpression, isoform‐a moderately promotes mESCs self‐renewal and markedly delays differentiation. On the contrary, no significant pro‐self‐renewal phenotype is observed when isoform‐b overexpressed in wildtype (WT) mESCs or re‐expressed in Yap KO cell lines. These finding not only help to clarify the role of Yap in mESCs, but also lay the foundation for advancing functional researches of Yap in other processes.
Shareability of antibacterial and osteoblastic‐proliferation activities of zinc‐doped hydroxyapatite nanoparticles in vitro
Authors: Okada Masanori , Oshita Mari , Kataoka Minami , Azuma Yoshinao , Furuzono Tsutomu
Published: October 2021

Four types of zinc (Zn)‐doped hydroxyapatite (Zn‐HAp) nanoparticles were prepared using calcium nitrate tetrahydrate as an anti‐sintering agent during calcination at 600°C for 1 hr, to prevent calcination‐induced aggregation. The Zn content of the nanopowders was determined at 0, 4.3, 9.2, and 14.7% [Zn/(Ca + Zn) × 100] using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopic analysis. Based on X‐ray diffraction analysis, the products were shown to possess an apatite structure without other crystalline impurities. The cell parameters of Zn‐HAp nanoparticles decreased with increasing of Zn content in the HAp structures. This tendency implies that Zn ions substituted for Ca sites in the HAp crystal lattices. To investigate the biological effects of Zn‐HAp nanoparticles, cell proliferation activity of MC3T3‐E1 osteoblasts and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli were evaluated in vitro. According to the results obtained, Zn‐HAp nanoparticles containing of 14.7% Zn ions was noticeable shown shareability of the conflicting activities at 0.1 mg/mL.
LncRNA NEAT1 aggravates lipopolysaccharide‐induced acute lung injury by regulating the miR‐98‐5p/TLR4 axis
Authors: Chen Jianhui , Liu Qun , Ding Zongli , Wang Yi , Zhou Liyang , Zheng Yulong , Wang Baolan , Li Gang
Published: October 2021

Although long noncoding RNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) was reported to be associated with acute lung injury (ALI), its specific mechanism has not been well studied. Mouse and cell ALI models were constructed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cell viability was evaluated by 3‐(4,5)‐dimethylthiahiazo (‐z‐y1)‐3,5‐di‐ phenytetrazoliumromide assay. Cell death was evaluated by lactate dehydrogenase release (LDH) detection kit and flow cytometry. The levels of cytokines in lung tissues lysates were detected by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of apoptosis‐related markers was detected by Western blot. The relationship between NEAT1, miR‐98‐5p, and toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) was determined by bioinformatics prediction, luciferase reporter assay, and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Rescue experiments were performed to determine the role of NEAT1/miR‐98‐5p/TLR4 in ALI. NEAT1 was significantly upregulated during ALI both in vitro and in vivo. NEAT1 knockdown efficiently attenuated LPS‐induced ALI and reduced LPS‐induced elevation of cytokines both in vitro and in vivo. NEAT1 negatively regulated miR‐98‐5p by directly sponging it, and TLR4 was a target of miR‐98‐5p. MiR‐98‐5p inhibition or TLR4 overexpression could obviously attenuate the protective effects of NEAT1 knockdown in LPS‐treated A549 cells. Our study demonstrated that NEAT1 knockdown alleviated LPS‐induced ALI by targeting the miR‐98‐5p/TLR4 axis.
Differential regulation of miR‐21‐5p delays wound healing of melanocyte‐deprived vitiligo skin by modulating the expression of tumor‐suppressors PDCD4 and Maspin
Authors: Brahmbhatt Hemang D. , Gupta Rohit , Gupta Aayush , Rastogi Soumya , Subramani Dharshini , Mobeen Ahmed , Batra Vineeta V. , Singh Archana
Published: October 2021

The loss of melanocytes in vitiligo is associated with architectural, transcriptional, and cellular perturbations of keratinocytes and manifests as a reduced proliferation potential in vitro and delayed re‐epithelialization in vivo. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying this delay, microRNA (miRNA) profiling was performed on split skin biopsies collected on Day 1 (basal level) and Day 14 (wound re‐epithelialization) from nonlesional (NL) and lesional (L) skin of five subjects with stable nonsegmental vitiligo and 129 miRNAs were found to be differentially regulated between the NL and L healed epidermis. miR‐21‐5p, expressed at comparable levels on NL and L Day 1 samples, demonstrated significant upregulation during re‐epithelialization. However, the extent of its upregulation was relatively lower in L (10 times compared to Day 1) as compared to NL skin (17 times compared to Day 1). The overexpression of miR‐21 in keratinocytes led to a significant increase in the expression of proliferation markers (Ki67 and MCM6 messenger RNA, Ki67 positivity), along with an increase in keratinocyte migration. Using a small interfering RNA mediated knockdown approach, we further demonstrated that miR‐21‐5p mediates its effects by suppressing the expression of programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) and mammary serine protease inhibitor (Maspin), both tumor‐suppressor genes. Investigation of clinical samples corroborated the lower miR‐21 levels and a higher expression of PDCD4 and Maspin in L Day 14 compared to the NL Day 14 epidermis. In conclusion, this study revealed that a relatively lower upregulation of miR‐21‐5p in L skin leads to significantly higher levels of PDCD4 and Maspin, delaying wound re‐epithelialization by reducing the proliferation and migration of keratinocytes.
RIPK3‐mediated cell death is involved in DUX4‐mediated toxicity in facioscapulohumeral dystrophy
Authors: Mariot Virginie , Joubert Romain , Le Gall Laura , Sidlauskaite Eva , Hourde Christophe , Duddy William , Voit Thomas , Bencze Maximilien , Dumonceaux Julie
Published: October 2021

Background

Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is caused by mutations leading to the aberrant expression of the DUX4 transcription factor in muscles. DUX4 was proposed to induce cell death, but the involvement of different death pathways is still discussed. A possible pro‐apoptotic role of DUX4 was proposed, but as FSHD muscles are characterized by necrosis and inflammatory infiltrates, non‐apoptotic pathways may be also involved.

Methods

We explored DUX4‐mediated cell death by focusing on the role of one regulated necrosis pathway called necroptosis, which is regulated by RIPK3. We investigated the effect of necroptosis on cell death in vitro and in vivo experiments using RIPK3 inhibitors and a RIPK3‐deficient transgenic mouse model.

Results

We showed in vitro that DUX4 expression causes a caspase‐independent and RIPK3‐mediated cell death in both myoblasts and myotubes. In vivo, RIPK3‐deficient animals present improved body and muscle weights, a reduction of the aberrant activation of the DUX4 network genes, and an improvement of muscle histology.

Conclusions

These results provide evidence for a role of RIPK3 in DUX4‐mediated cell death and open new avenues of research.
Familial liability to asthma and ADHD: A Swedish national register‐based study
Authors: Sun Shihua , Kuja‐Halkola Ralf , Chang Zheng , Cortese Samuele , Almqvist Catarina , Larsson Henrik
Published: October 2021

Background

Studies have reported significant associations between asthma and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but whether the association is due to shared etiology such as shared genetic risk factors remains unclear. We aimed to investigate patterns of familial co‐aggregation of asthma and ADHD and also to quantify the relative contribution of genetic and environmental influences.

Methods

Through Swedish register linkages, we obtained a cohort of 927,956 individuals born 1992–2001 and identified monozygotic twins (MZ), dizygotic twins (DZ), full‐ and half‐siblings, and full‐ and half‐cousins. Clinical diagnosis of asthma and ADHD were identified from the Swedish national registers. We used logistic regressions to investigate the within‐individual association and familial co‐aggregation between asthma and ADHD. We then used bivariate twin modeling to quantify the genetic and environmental correlations and their contributions to the familial liability.

Results

Individuals with asthma had significantly higher risk of ADHD (odds ratio [OR], 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47–1.54). Relatives of individuals with asthma had an increased risk of ADHD compared to relatives of individuals without asthma; in familial co‐aggregation analysis, the association was strongest in MZ twins (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 0.99–2.84) and attenuated with degree of genetic relatedness. In the twin modeling, the phenotypic and genetic correlations between asthma and ADHD estimated from the ACE model were 0.09 (95% CI, 0.05–0.14) and 0.12 (95% CI, 0.02–0.21), respectively. The bivariate heritability was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.30–1.46). Estimates for contributions from shared and non‐shared environment factors were not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Asthma and ADHD co‐aggregate in families primarily due to shared genetic risk factors. Within‐individual and family history of either disorder should prompt clinical assessment of the other condition. Future studies should further investigate genetic variants underlying the co‐occurrence of ADHD and asthma.
A systematic review of the United Kingdom's contact child sexual exploitation perpetrator literature: Pointing a way forward for future research and practice
Authors: Mooney Vicky
Published: October 2021

Until recently, empirical evidence exploring Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) has been scarce, particularly in relation to contact exploitation, where the convicted perpetrator seeks direct physical (offline) contact as opposed to solely targeting the victim online. This article presents a systematic review of the UK'scontactCSE perpetrator literature, searching from 2009 to the present day to ensure that studies encompass the categorisations detailed within the CSE statutory definitions. Twenty‐three research articles were appraised using a Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). A narrative synthesis approach was used to synthesise the findings from qualitative and mixed methods studies identifying four significant analytical themes including (a)barriers to examining a complex phenomenon, (b)recognising the contact CSE perpetrator, (c)understanding the contact CSE perpetrator and (d) responding to the contact CSE perpetrator. This review synthesises evidence in a singular study, ideal for policy‐makers and stakeholders to provide a more comprehensive safeguarding response, guide future research directions, and provide suggestions for law enforcement disruption strategies within the United Kingdom. Recommendations for policy, practice, procedure and training include improving the recording of data, re‐categorising CSE as CSA, targeting harmful sexual behaviour and group offending, and designing evidenced based perpetrator treatment programmes. Future research centring on the perpetrator's adverse experiences and the strategies used to instigate sexual contact could advance understanding of how these crimes could be prevented.
Sex and context differences in the effects of trauma on comorbid alcohol use and post‐traumatic stress phenotypes in actively drinking rats
Authors: Kirson Dean , Steinman Michael Q. , Wolfe Sarah A. , Spierling Bagsic Samantha R. , Bajo Michal , Sureshchandra Suhas , Oleata Christopher S. , Messaoudi Ilhem , Zorrilla Eric P. , Roberto Marisa
Published: October 2021

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and affective disorders are frequently comorbid and share underlying mechanisms that could be targets for comprehensive treatment. Post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has high comorbidity with AUD, but comprehensive models of this overlap are nascent. We recently characterized a model of comorbid AUD and PTSD‐like symptoms, wherein stressed rats receive an inhibitory avoidance (IA)‐related footshock on two occasions followed by two‐bottle choice (2BC) voluntary alcohol drinking. Stressed rats received the second footshock in a familiar (FAM, same IA box as the first footshock) or novel context (NOV, single‐chambered apparatus); the FAM paradigm more effectively increased alcohol drinking in males and the NOV paradigm in females. During abstinence, stressed males displayed avoidance‐like PTSD symptoms, and females showed hyperarousal‐like PTSD symptoms. Rats in the model had altered spontaneous action potential‐independent GABAergic transmission in the central amygdala (CeA), a brain region key in alcohol dependence and stress‐related signaling. However, PTSD sufferers may have alcohol experience prior to their trauma. Here, we therefore modified our AUD/PTSD comorbidity model to provide 3 weeks of intermittent extended alcohol access before footshock and then studied the effects of NOV and FAM stress on drinking and PTSD phenotypes. NOV stress suppressed the escalation of alcohol intake and preference seen in male controls, but no stress effects were seen on drinking in females. Additionally, NOV males had decreased action potential‐independent presynaptic GABA release and delayed postsynaptic GABAA receptor kinetics in the CeA compared to control and FAM males. Despite these changes to alcohol intake and CeA GABA signaling, stressed rats showed broadly similar anxiogenic‐like behaviors to our previous comorbid model, suggesting decoupling of the PTSD symptoms from the AUD vulnerability for some of these animals. The collective results show the importance of alcohol history and trauma context in vulnerability to comorbid AUD/PTSD‐like symptoms.
Role of abscisic acid in modulating drought acclimation, agronomic characteristics and β‐N‐oxalyl‐L‐α,β‐diaminopropionic acid (β‐ODAP) accumulation in grass pea (Lathyrus sativusL.)
Authors: Kong Hai‐Yan , Zhu Hao , Zhou Rui , Akram Nudrat A , Wang Yi‐Bo , Jiao Cheng‐Jing , Xiong You‐Cai
Published: October 2021

BACKGROUND

β‐N‐oxalyl‐l‐α,β‐diaminopropionic acid (β‐ODAP) is a physiological indicator in response to drying soil. However, how abscisic acid (ABA) modulates β‐ODAP accumulation and its related agronomic characteristics in drought stressed grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) continue to be unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of ABA addition on drought tolerance, agronomic characteristics and β‐ODAP content in grass pea under drought stress.

RESULTS

Exogenous ABA significantly promoted ABA levels by 19.3% and 18.3% under moderate and severe drought stress, respectively, compared to CK (without ABA, used as control check treatment). ABA addition activated earlier trigger of non‐hydraulic root‐sourced signal at 69.1% field capacity (FC) (65.5% FC in CK) and accordingly prolonged its operation period to 45.6% FC (49.0% FC in CK). This phenomenon was mechanically associated with the physiological mediation of ABA, where its addition significantly promoted the activities of leaf superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase enzymes and the biosynthesis of leaf proline, simultaneously lowering the accumulation of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide under moderate and severe stresses. Interestingly, ABA application significantly increased seed β‐ODAP content by 21.7% and 21.3% under moderate and severe drought stress, but did not change leaf β‐ODAP content. Furthermore, ABA application produced similar shoot biomass and grain yield as control groups.

CONCLUSION

Exogenous ABA improved the drought adaptability of grass pea and promoted the synthesis of β‐ODAP in seeds but not in leaves. Our findings provide novel insights into the agronomic role of ABA in relation to β‐ODAP enrichment in grass pea subjected to drought stress. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Dramatic effect of black soldier fly larvae on fungal community in a compost
Authors: Kuznetsova Tatiana A , Vecherskii Maksim V , Khayrullin David R , Stepankov Aleksandr A , Maximova Irina A , Kachalkin Aleksey V , Ushakova Nina A
Published: October 2021

BACKGROUND

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) offer very good prospects for the production of cheap and high‐quality dietary protein. This insect is able to consume low‐quality substrates, including food waste. The properties and safety of the compost obtained are largely determined by its microbiome. However, while the bacterial component of the BSFL‐compost microbiome has been much studied, little is known about its fungal component. In plant‐based rearing substrates both the biomass and the metabolic activity of fungi often exceed the biomass and the activity of prokaryotes. So, the purpose of this study was to investigate the fungal community of the compost produced by BSF larvae reared on a food waste substrate.

RESULTS

Community structure was determined by metabarcoding of the ITS (internal transcribed spacer) region. Species composition and abundance were determined using the plating technique and subsequent identification of the isolated pure cultures. It was found that the primary mycobiome of the food waste substrate that was used consisted of 19 families, represented mainly by phytopathogenic and endophytic genera. Larva incubation led to the complete elimination of all mycelial fungi from the resulting compost. The final mycobiome consisted of only two yeast species,Pichia kudriavzeviiandDiutina rugosa,with a total abundance of 1.2 × 107 CFU g−1.

CONCLUSIONS

The rearing of BSFL led to the complete elimination of mycelial fungi from its feed substrate. The final compost lacked harmful fungi, including molds. This information may be crucial for BSF compost utilization. The phenomenon was also an interesting aspect of zoomicrobial interactions in nature and agriculture. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
The applicability of high‐speed counter‐current chromatography for preparative separation of biosynthesis products: Glycosylation products as example
Authors: Zou Denglang , Cui Yunbin , Li Si , Sang Duocheng , Liu Weimeng , Zhao Tianshu , Gu Xueli , Chen Tao , Li Yulin
Published: October 2021

Biosynthesis is a promising way to manufacture desired products, however, the purification of its final products is a tough work due to the huge amount of reaction matrix. Liquid stationary phase of high‐speed counter‐current chromatography could easily avoid the commonly disadvantages that occurred in traditional column chromatography in the field of biosynthesized products purification. This characteristic makes high‐speed counter‐current chromatography particularly applicable for final products separation in biosynthesis. In this study, the glycosylation products of Silybin B by one‐pot glycosylation were successfully purified by high‐speed counter‐current chromatography to show the applicability of high‐speed counter‐current chromatography for preparative separation of biosynthesis products. An optimized n‐hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (2:5:2:3, v/v/v/v) system was applied in this study. As a result, four Silybin B glycosylation products, including 7 mg of Silybin B‐5‐O‐β‐D‐glucoside (SG‐1), 12 mg of Silybin B‐3‐O‐β‐D‐glucoside (SG‐2), 10 mg of Silybin B‐7‐O‐β‐D‐glucoside (SG‐3), and 24 mg of Silybin B‐20‐O‐β‐D‐glucoside (SG‐4), were simultaneously separated from 200 mg of glycosylation crude products, with the purity of 89.3, 95.2, 96.4, and 97.5%, respectively. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis.
Impacts of catchment restoration on water availability and drought resilience in Ethiopia: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Meaza Hailemariam , Abera Wuletawu , Nyssen Jan
Published: October 2021

The coupled land degradation‐drought impacts have been central challenges to ecosystem functioning and livelihood of farmers in Ethiopia. As a response, catchment restoration initiatives have been implemented since the 1970s. The objective of this article is to analyze the effects of such catchment restoration initiatives on water resources and drought resilience, using metadata from 106 peer‐reviewed journal articles comprising 361 paired‐catchment case‐studies. The study shows exclosures, fanya juu (ditches with embankments along the contour), and soil or stone bunds are the major soil and water conservation (SWC) practices implemented to restore degraded catchments in regions prone to land degradation (with a high value for Fournier's degradation coefficient). Runoff depth was less in the treated catchments (97 ± 29 mm yr‐1) than in the control catchments (168 ± 77) mm yr‐1 (n = 217, p < 0.0001). A paired t‐test also shows lower runoff coefficients in the treated (13 ± 10%) catchments than in the control catchments (25 ± 15%) (n = 57, p < 0.0001). The conjunctive use of SWC measures enhanced water infiltration into the vadose and aquifer zones. These measures are effective in reducing unproductive water losses. Moreover, the water level in shallow wells raised from a depth of 18 ± 11 to 2 ± 1 m after catchment management. In the dry season, well‐functioning catchments promoted upstream‐downstream hydrological linkages. The resulting base flow reduced hydrological, agricultural, and socioeconomic drought effects in the treated catchments. To conclude, catchment restoration practices in degraded landscapes have twin goals: enhancing freshwater availability and building drought resilience. We suggest scientists, donors, and managers to work on spreading restoration efforts to other degraded landscapes to improve water yield in the face of climate variability.
Rhizosphere bacterial community structure of three minor grain crops: A case‐study from paired field sites in northern China
Authors: Tian Lixin , Wang Yunhao , Yang Junxue , Zhang Liyuan , Feng Baili
Published: October 2021

Rhizosphere bacteria are critical to plant health and ecological functioning. However, our understanding of rhizosphere bacterial community turnover and co‐occurrences with minor grain crops remains limited, especially at regional scales. Herein, we compared the turnover and networks of foxtail millet, proso millet, and sorghum rhizosphere bacterial communities across nine paired fields in northern China. Remarkable differences in community composition, diversity between three minor grain crops, and the influence of region on these indicators was greater than that of crop type. Community richness of foxtial millet, proso millet, and sorgum showed a unimodal curve with latitude increased. Compared to spatial factors, environmental variables had greater effects on the rhizosphere bacterial community turnover in three minor grain crops. Edaphic variables were more important than climatic variables for rhizosphere bacterial community composition in foxtail millet fields. In addition, soil organic matter (OM) and total nitrogen (TN) were the key factors influencing the turnover of rhizosphere communities in foxtail millet and sorghum. In contrast, pH and TN were important factors influencing the turnover of rhizosphere communities in proso millet. Rhizosphere bacterial networks were more closely interconnected in proso millet fields than in the other two crops, showing the lower average path length and diameter, greater average clustering, and graph density. In addition, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria played major roles in the rhizosphere bacterial network structures and were predicted to maintain generalist metabolic diversity. These findings provide new insights for expanding our knowledge of the biogeography and coexistence theory of minor grain crop ecosystems at a large scale.
A new extension of quantum Simpson's and quantum Newton's type inequalities for quantum differentiable convex functions
Authors: Ali Muhammad Aamir , Budak Hüseyin , Zhang Zhiyue
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we prove two identities involving quantum derivatives, quantum integrals, and certain parameters. Using the newly proved identities, we prove new inequalities of Simpson's and Newton's type for quantum differentiable convex functions under certain assumptions. Moreover, we discuss the special cases of our main results and obtain some new and existing Simpson's type inequalities, Newton's type inequalities, midpoint type inequalities, and trapezoidal type inequalities.
Perfusion MRI using endogenous deoxyhemoglobin as a contrast agent: Preliminary data
Authors: Poublanc Julien , Sobczyk Olivia , Shafi Reema , Sayin Ece Su , Schulman Jacob , Duffin James , Uludag Kamil , Wood John C. , Vu Chau , Dharmakumar Rohan , Fisher Joseph A. , Mikulis David J.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

To demonstrate the feasibility of mapping cerebral perfusion metrics with BOLD MRI during modulation of pulmonary venous oxygen saturation.

Methods

A gas blender with a sequential gas delivery breathing circuit was used to implement rapid isocapnic changes in the partial pressure of oxygen of the arterial blood. Partial pressure of oxygen was initially lowered to a baseline of 40 mmHg. It was then rapidly raised to 95 mmHg for 20 s before rapidly returning to baseline. The induced cerebral changes in deoxyhemoglobin concentration were tracked over time using BOLD MRI in 6 healthy subjects and 1 patient with cerebral steno‐occlusive disease. BOLD signal change, contrast‐to‐noise ratio, and time delay metrics were calculated. Perfusion metrics such as mean transit time, relative cerebral blood volume, and relative cerebral blood flow were calculated using a parametrized method with a mono‐exponential residue function. An arterial input function from within the middle cerebral artery was used to scale relative cerebral blood volume and calculate absolute cerebral blood volume and cerebral blood flow.

Results

In normal subjects, average gray and white matter were: BOLD change = 6.3 ± 1.2% and 2.5 ± 0.6%, contrast‐to‐noise ratio = 4.3 ± 1.3 and 2.6 ± 0.7, time delay = 2.3 ± 0.6 s and 3.6 ± 0.7 s, mean transit time = 3.9 ± 0.6 s and 5.5 ± 0.6 s, relative cerebral blood volume = 3.7 ± 0.9 and 1.6 ± 0.4, relative cerebral blood flow = 70.1 ± 8.3 and 20.6 ± 4.0, cerebral blood flow volume = 4.1 ± 0.9 mL/100 g and 1.8 ± 0.5 mL/100 g, and cerebral blood flow = 97.2 ± 18.7 mL/100 g/min and 28.7 ± 5.9 mL/100 g/min.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that induced abrupt changes in deoxyhemoglobin can function as a noninvasive vascular contrast agent that may be used for cerebral perfusion imaging.