bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biosensor‐Enabled Multiplexed On‐Site Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Antibiotics
Authors: Ates H. Ceren , Mohsenin Hasti , Wenzel Christin , Glatz Regina T. , Wagner Hanna J. , Bruch Richard , Hoefflin Nico , Spassov Sashko , Streicher Lea , Lozano‐Zahonero Sara , Flamm Bernd , Trittler Rainer , Hug Martin J. , Köhn Maja , Schmidt Johannes , Schumann Stefan , Urban Gerald A. , Weber Wilfried , Dincer Can
Published: September 2021

Personalized antibiotherapy ensures that the antibiotic concentration remains in the optimal therapeutic window to maximize efficacy, minimize side effects, and avoid the emergence of drug resistance due to insufficient dosing. However, such individualized schemes need frequent sampling to tailor the blood antibiotic concentrations. To optimally integrate therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) into the clinical workflow, antibiotic levels can either be measured in blood using point‐of‐care testing (POCT), or can rely on noninvasive sampling. Here, a versatile biosensor with an antibody‐free assay for on‐site TDM is presented. The platform is evaluated with an animal study, where antibiotic concentrations are quantified in different matrices including whole blood, plasma, urine, saliva, and exhaled breath condensate (EBC). The clearance and the temporal evaluation of antibiotic levels in EBC and plasma are demonstrated. Influence of matrix effects on measured drug concentrations is determined by comparing the plasma levels with those in noninvasive samples. The system's potential for blood‐based POCT is further illustrated by tracking ß‑lactam concentrations in untreated blood samples. Finally, multiplexing capabilities are explored successfully for multianalyte/sample analysis. By enabling a rapid, low‐cost, sample‐independent, and multiplexed on‐site TDM, this system can shift the paradigm of “one‑size‐fits‐all” strategy.
Organic Semiconductor Single Crystals for X‐ray Imaging
Authors: Chen Mingxi , Sun Lingjie , Ou Xiangyu , Yang Huanghao , Liu Xiaogang , Dong Huanli , Hu Wenping , Duan Xiangfeng
Published: September 2021

Low‐dose, high‐resolution X‐ray imaging is vital for medical diagnostics and material/device analyses. Current X‐ray imagers are dominated by expensive inorganic materials via high‐temperature solid processes (up to 1700 °C, e.g., CsI:Tl) with heavy metal elements. It is essential to search for new materials as X‐ray imagers with low growth temperature, low cost, high sensitivity, along with high chemical and environmental stability. Here, 9,10‐diphenylanthracene (9,10‐DPA) single crystals are used as a representative model, which are grown via low‐temperature solution processes, exhibiting intense X‐ray radioluminescence with ultrahigh photon‐conversion efficiency, ultrafast response and high sensitivity. The resolution of devices based on organic crystals exceeds 20.00 lp mm−1. Meanwhile the crystals exhibit high cycle performance under X‐ray irradiation and environmental stability. This study demonstrates that organic semiconductors have potential use in low‐cost, high‐sensitivity and low‐dose X‐ray imaging systems.
Multibioinspired JANUS Membranes with Spatial Surface Refreshment for Enhanced Fog Collection
Authors: Liu Cong , Lu Chenguang , Zhan Haiyang , Ge Wenna , Feng Shile , Liu Yahua
Published: September 2021

The increasing scarcity of freshwater motivates economical and practical approaches, especially bioinspired ones, to collect water from the atmospheric environment. The enhanced water collection can be achieved by the synergistic action of an effective surface refreshment of fog droplets and a rapid transport of harvested water. Here, a multibioinspired Janus membrane is presented with combined hybrid wettability of Namib desert beetles, curvature gradient of shorebird's beaks and capillary wicking of tree roots, which enables not only a frequent horizontal surface refreshment due to its hybrid wettability, but also an efficient vertical one underpinned by curvature gradient and capillary wicking. This unique spatial surface refreshment shows a 125% enhancement in fog collection compared to that on conventional Janus membranes. Meanwhile, the multibioinspired Janus membrane possesses a robust stability of the Janus state, which guarantees a high‐efficiency fog collection for a long time. It is envisioned that the design strategy for efficient and weatherable fog collection is promising for a wide range of applications.
Drift‐flux model for gas–liquid flow subjected to centrifugal fields
Authors: Penteado Marcos R. M. , Vieira Saon C. , de Castro Marcelo S. , Bannwart Antonio C.
Published: September 2021

Centrifugal pumps are used in several industrial processes. It is common the operation of this equipment with gas–liquid mixtures, which is the case of the electrical submersible pumping artificial lift method used in the oil industry. The increase of free gas fraction inside the pump may lead to unstable operation and problems such as surging and gas locking phenomena to occur. In this study a drift‐flux model is proposed for the gas–liquid flow subjected to centrifugal fields using the impeller as an example. The model is closed with experimental data of bubble diameter, displacements and velocities acquired via high‐speed camera at several different rotational speeds and gas mass flow rates using water as the continuous medium. From the modeling and the forces balance in the bubbles, quantitative criteria for the start point of surging and gas locking conditions were proposed.
Organophosphine‐Sandwiched Copper Iodide Cluster Enables Charge Trapping
Authors: Zhang Jing , Xie Mingchen , Xin Ying , Han Chunmiao , Xie Linghai , Yi Mingdong , Xu Hui
Published: September 2021

Herein, we report a feasible molecular design of the binuclear clusters featuring the n‐p‐n heterojunction of biligand‐sandwiched inorganic units, which can be used as the effective charge trapper in ambipolar transistor memories with the large memory windows and the energy‐saving operation. We found that the hole confinement on the p‐type inorganic units is enhanced by spatial electronic anisotropy provided by the peripheral n‐type organic phosphine ligands. The steric hindrance of the coordination sites, the insulating effect of the carbon‐phosphorous single bonds and the parallel dual‐ligand coordination mode jointly elongate the interunit distances to nanometer scale and restrain the intramolecular electronic communications, leading to the tunable and reliable charge trapping. Our results show that the spatial effect is crucial to further amplifying the electronic differences between organic and inorganic units for function enhancement.
Introduction of human anatomy before modern China: The preface of anatomical education in mainland China
Authors: Zhang Yi
Published: September 2021

Anatomy is an early researched discipline of natural science. Ancient civilizations (e.g., Greece, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China) made significant contributions to our current understanding of medicine, including human anatomy. However, in modern China (from 1912 to the present), some contemporary scholars prefer to overlook the fact that anatomy was studied before modern China. Therefore, the author chronologically lists typical hallmark events and publications related to human anatomy before modern China, summarizes the influences of anatomy on traditional Chinese medicine, and analyzes the reasons for the slow progression of anatomy before modern China. The purpose is to better understand the history and culture of anatomy before modern China, serving as the first step of anatomical education for medical students in mainland China.
Impact of green entrepreneurship orientation on environmental performance: The natural resource‐based view and environmental policy perspective
Authors: Makhloufi Lahcene , Laghouag Abderrazak Ahmed , Meirun Tang , Belaid Fateh
Published: September 2021

Environmental sustainability is the primary task of environmental entrepreneurship by critically handling increased institutional, customer, and environmental pressures. Green entrepreneurship orientation (GEO) seeks to harmonize their relationships with the external environment to foster the impact of green innovation performance (GIP) on environmental performance (EP). Drawing upon the natural resource‐based view and dynamic capability theory, the study examines the effect of GEO on GIP and EP. Additionally, the moderating effect of managerial environmental concerns (MEC) on this relationship is also inspected. The results revealed that green absorptive capacity (GAC), environmental cooperation (EC), and MEC significantly affect GEO. Furthermore, GEO positively influenced GIP and EP. Indeed, GEO partially mediates GAC, EC, and managerial concern's relationship on green innovation and EP. Additionally, MEC significantly moderates the relationship between GEO and EP. Firms GEO should adequately enhance green practices performance and EP to accommodate their external environment relationships. The study concluded that green innovation development shifts firms from environmental management to sustainable development. Theoretical and practical implications were also presented.
Ensure staff tread carefully when handling relationships with donors
Authors: O'Brien Timothy
Published: September 2021

Problems sometimes arise when colleges and universities, including athletics departments, make decisions on how to confront allegations of misconduct or inappropriate conduct by a person with power, influence, or perceived importance in the organization. The Jerry Sandusky case is a prime example where inaction within the athletics department and the university had significant consequences from both the criminal prosecution and civil lawsuit perspectives.
Process, process, process: the OCR watchwords
Authors: Masinter Michael R.
Published: September 2021

As the primary enforcement authority for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Office for Civil Rights routinely    reviews complaints by postsecondary students who have requested but have been denied accommodations, academic adjustments, and auxiliary aids. Many accommodation requests that make up the workload of disability services offices center around test accommodations, attendance and assignment accommodations, and housing accommodations, rather than auxiliary aids.
Gain insight into complying with ethics rules during remote work arrangements
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: September 2021

We often consider the legal implications of remote work in higher education. However, less has been written about the ethical dimensions of remote work for lawyers and legal compliance professionals serving higher education institutions.
Review recent rulings involving negligence and torts
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: September 2021

An overview of the key topics faced by campus administrators with citations to noteworthy cases, statutes, regulations, and additional sources.
Impact of allogeneic stem cell transplantation comorbidity indexes after haplotransplant using post‐transplant cyclophosphamide
Authors: Jullien Maxime , Orvain Corentin , Berceanu Ana , Couturier Marie‐Anne , Guillaume Thierry , Peterlin Pierre , Garnier Alice , Le Bourgeois Amandine , Klemencie Marion , Schmidt Aline , Hunault Mathilde , Daguindau Etienne , Roussel Xavier , Delepine Pascal , Guillerm Gaelle , Giltat Aurelien , François Sylvie , Thepot Sylvain , Le Gouill Steven , Béné Marie‐C , Chevallier Patrice
Published: September 2021

Background

Three different scoring systems have been developed to assess pre‐transplant comorbidity in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo‐HSCT): the Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation‐Specific Comorbidity Index, the Comorbidity/Age index, and the Augmented Comorbidity/Age index. All were devised to predict overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) survivals and non‐relapse mortality (NRM) in patients receiving HLA‐matched Allo‐HSCT, but their performance has scarcely been studied in the haploidentical Allo‐HSCT setting with post‐transplant cyclophosphamide, a procedure in constant expansion worldwide.

Methods

To address this issue, their impact on survivals and NRM was examined in a cohort of 223 patients treated with haploidentical Allo‐HSCT in four different centers.

Results

With a median follow‐up of 35.6 months, 3‐year OS, DFS, and NRM were 48.1% ± 4%, 46.3% ± 4%, and 30.0% ± 3%, respectively. No impact was found for any of the three comorbidity scores in univariate analysis. In multivariate analyses, the only three factors associated with lower OS were DRI (p < 0.001), an older age of recipients (≥55 years old, p = 0.02) and of donors (≥40 years old, p = 0.005). Older donor age was also associated with lower DFS and higher NRM.

Conclusion

The comorbidity scores do not predict survivals nor NRM in haploidentical Allo‐HSCT with PTCY, suggesting that pre‐transplant comorbidities should not be a contra‐indication to this procedure.
Outcomes of beginning trainee therapists in an outpatient community clinic
Authors: Vos Joel , Chryssafidou Evi , van Rijn Biljana , Stiles William B.
Published: September 2021

Aims

This study describes the outcomes of clients treated by therapists in their first placement who were undergoing training in a range of humanistic and other relational approaches: Transactional Analysis, Gestalt, Integrative, Humanistic, Person Centred and Counselling Psychology.

Method

All clients seen by 179 trainee therapists over a 2‐year period in a community clinic were asked to complete standard outcome measures including the General Anxiety Disorder‐7 (GAD‐7), the Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 (PHQ‐9), the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation‐10 (CORE‐10) and Impact of Event Scale‐Revised (IES‐R) before each session.

Findings

Clients (N = 558) showed large, statistically significant improvement on all of these outcome measures, indicating substantial improvement in symptoms of depression, anxiety, general symptom intensity and post‐traumatic stress, respectively (all p < .01). Across the outcome measures, the following percentages of clients with scores in the clinical range at baseline experienced reliable improvement/reliable and clinically significant improvement: 79.9%/38.9% PHQ‐9, 61.6%/54.8% GAD‐7, 59.1%/48.9% CORE‐10 and 41.6%/33.3% IES. There were no differences between therapeutic approaches.

Discussion

Trainee therapists in this community clinic tended to have large, statistically reliable and clinically significant effects on their clients. The sizes of effects were similar to those achieved by therapists in the British National Health Service (NHS), albeit involving therapies and client populations that were not fully comparable.
Tailored Modeling of Rivastigmine Derivatives as Dual Acetylcholinesterase and Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitors for Alzheimer's Disease Treatment
Authors: Adeowo Fatima Y. , Oyetunji Tosin P. , Ejalonibu Murtala A. , Ndagi Umar , Kumalo Hezekiel M. , Lawal Monsurat M.
Published: September 2021

Rational modification of known drug candidates to design more potent ones using computational methods has found application in drug design, development, and discovery. Herein, we integrate computational and theoretical methodologies to unveil rivastigmine derivatives as dual inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) for Alzheimer's disease (AD) management. The investigation entails pharmacokinetics screening, density functional theory (DFT) mechanistic study, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. We designed over 20 rivastigmine substituents, subject them to some analyses, and identified RL2 with an appreciable blood‐brain barrier score and no permeability glycoprotein binding. The compound shows higher acylation energy and a favored binding affinity to the cholinesterase enzymes. RL2 interacts with the AChE and BuChE active sites showing values of −41.1/−39.5 kcal mol−1 while rivastigmine binds with −32.7/−30.7 kcal mol−1 for these enzymes. The study revealed RL2 (4‐fluorophenyl rivastigmine) as a potential dual inhibitor for AChE and BuChE towards Alzheimer's disorder management.
Hernandulcin Production in Cell Suspensions of Phyla Scaberrima: Exploring Hernandulcin Accumulation through Physical and Chemical Stimuli
Authors: Villa‐Ruano Nemesio , Castro‐Juárez Carlos J. , Lozoya‐Gloria Edmundo , Ramírez‐García Sergio Alberto , Cruz‐Durán Ramiro , Varela‐Caselis Jenaro Leocadio
Published: September 2021

Hernandulcin (HE) is a non‐caloric sweetener synthesized by the Mexican medicinal plant Phyla scaberrima. Herein we present the results of HE production through cell suspensions of P. scaberrima as well as the influence of pH, temperature, biosynthetic precursors and potential elicitors to enhance HE accumulation. The incorporation of mevalonolactone (30–400 mg L−1) farnesol (30–400 mg L−1), AgNO3 (0.025–0.175 M), cellulase (5–60 mg L−1; 0.3 units/mg), chitin (20–140 mg L−1) and (+)‐epi‐α‐bisabolol (300‐210 mg L−1) to the cell suspensions, resulted in a differential accumulation of HE and biomass. Among elicitors assayed, chitin, cellulase and farnesol increased HE production from 93.2 to ∼160 mg L−1 but, (+)‐epi‐α‐bisabolol (obtained by a synthetic biology approach) increased HE accumulation up to 182.7 mg L−1. HE produced by the cell suspensions was evaluated against nine strains from six species of gastrointestinal bacteria revealing moderate antibacterial activity (MIC, 214–465 μg mL−1) against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Helicobacter pylori. Similarly, HE showed weak toxicity against Lactobacillus sp. and Bifidobacterium bifidum (>1 mg mL−1), suggesting a selective antimicrobial activity on some species of gut microbiota. According to our results, chitin and (+)‐epi‐α‐bisabolol were the most effective molecules to enhance HE accumulation in cell suspensions of P. scaberrima.
Enhanced CO2 Conversion into Ethanol by Permanently Polarized Hydroxyapatite through C−C Coupling
Authors: Sans Jordi , Sanz Vanesa , Turon Pau , Alemán Carlos
Published: September 2021

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is a naturally occurring mineral form of calcium apatite of biomedical importance due to its similarity with human hard tissues in morphology and composition. Upon polarization at high temperature, applying 3 kV/cm at 1000 °C, the resulting polarized HAp (p‐HAp) exhibits enhanced catalytic behavior due charge accumulation at the interface. More specifically, p‐HAp was found to catalyse the conversion of mixtures of CO2(g) and CH4(g) into low carbon organic molecules and into amino acids when N2(g) was added to the mixture. In this work, we report how p‐HAp facilitates the conversion of CO2(g) mainly in ethanol by means of forming C−C coupled bonds on its activated surface. After evaluation of a wide range of experimental conditions, we evidence the production of formic acid, methanol and formaldehyde (C1 products); ethanol and acetic acid (C2 products); and acetone (C3 product) from CO2(g) using moderate reaction conditions. Moreover, optimization of the reaction parameters led to a significant increase towards ethanol.
Peniazaphilones A—I, Produced by Co‐culturing of Mangrove Endophytic Fungi, Penicillium sclerotiorumTHSH‐4 and Penicillium sclerotiorumZJHJJ‐18
Authors: Yang Wencong , Yuan Jie , Tan Qi , Chen Yan , Zhu Yujia , Jiang Hongming , Zou Ge , Zang Zhenming , Wang Bo , She Zhigang
Published: September 2021

Main observation and conclusion

Co‐culturing the mangrove endophytic fungus Penicillium sclerotiorum THSH‐4 with Penicillium sclerotiorum ZJHJJ‐18 in PDB medium resulted in the production of nine new azaphilones derivatives, peniazaphilones A—I (1—9), and six known azaphilones derivatives (10—15). Their structures were elucidated by analysis of detailed spectroscopic data, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, ECD spectra, 13C NMR calculation and DP4+ analysis. It is noteworthy that compound 1 with an isoquinoline quinone moiety, was isolated from natural source for the first time. Besides, compound 2 is the third reported phenylhydrazone derivative from fungi. In the bioactivity assays, compounds 1, 12, 14 and 15 (IC50 = 4.71—17.64 μmol/L) exhibited potent inhibition of LPS‐induced NO release from RAW264.7 without obvious cytotoxicity within 50 μmol/L compared to the positive control indomethacin (IC50 = 35.27 μmol/L). Moreover, compounds 1 and 13 displayed moderate to strong cytotoxicity to A549 and MDA‐MB‐435, with IC50 values in the range of 6.84—14.63 μmol/L. Together compound 1 showed moderate broad‐spectrum antibacterial activity.
6‐year change in high sensitivity cardiac troponin T and the risk of atrial fibrillation in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities cohort
Authors: Li Linzi , Selvin Elizabeth , Hoogeveen Ron C. , Soliman Elsayed Z. , Chen Lin Y. , Norby Faye L. , Alonso Alvaro
Published: September 2021

Background

Circulating high sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs‐cTnT) is associated with incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF), but the association of changes in hs‐cTnT over time on incident AF has not been explored.

Hypothesis

Six‐year increase in circulating hs‐cTnT will be associated with increased risk of AF and will contribute to improved prediction of incident AF.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort analysis of 8431 participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. hs‐cTnT change was categorized at visit 2 and 4 as undetectable (<5 ng/L), detectable (≥5 ng/L, <14 ng/L), or elevated (≥14 ng/L). We used Cox regression to examine the association between the combination of hs‐cTnT categories at two visits and incident AF. We also assessed the impact of adding absolute hs‐cTnT change on risk discrimination for AF by C‐statistics and net reclassification improvement (NRI).

Results

Over a mean follow‐up of 16.5 years, 1629 incident AF cases were diagnosed. Among participants with undetectable hs‐cTnT at visit 2, the multivariable HR of AF was 1.28 (95% CI 1.12–1.48) among those with detectable or elevated hs‐cTnT at visit 4 compared to those in which hs‐cTnT remained undetectable. Among those with detectable hs‐cTnT at visit 2, compared to those who remained in the detectable hs‐cTnT group, reduction to undetectable at visit 4 was associated with lower risk of AF (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.59–0.94), while increment to elevated was associated with higher AF risk (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.01–1.68). Adding hs‐cTnT change to our main model with baseline hs‐cTnT did not result in significant improvement in the C‐statistic or substantial NRI.

Conclusion

Six‐year increase in circulating hs‐cTnT was associated with elevated risk of incident AF.
DARPP‐32 distinguishes a subset of adult‐born neurons in zebra finch HVC
Authors: Aronowitz Jake V. , Kirn John R. , Pytte Carolyn L. , Aaron Gloster B.
Published: September 2021

Adult male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) continually incorporate adult‐born neurons into HVC, a telencephalic brain region necessary for the production of learned song. These neurons express activity‐dependent immediate early genes (e.g., zenk and c‐fos) following song production, suggesting that these neurons are active during song production. Half of these adult‐born HVC neurons (HVC NNs) can be backfilled from the robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA) and are a part of the vocal motor pathway underlying learned song production, but the other half do not backfill from RA, and they remain to be characterized. Here, we used cell birth‐dating, retrograde tract tracing, and immunofluorescence to demonstrate that half of all HVC NNs express the phosphoprotein DARPP‐32, a protein associated with dopamine receptor expression. We also demonstrate that DARPP‐32+ HVC NNs are contacted by tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive fibers, suggesting that they receive catecholaminergic input, have transiently larger nuclei than DARPP‐32‐neg HVC NNs, and do not backfill from RA. Taken together, these findings help characterize a group of HVC NNs that have no apparent projections to RA and so far have eluded positive identification other than HVC NN status.
In Vitro Generation of Posterior Motor Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: Wind Matt , Tsakiridis Anestis
Published: September 2021

The ability to generate spinal cord motor neurons from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) is of great use for modelling motor neuron–based diseases and cell‐replacement therapies. A key step in the design of hPSC differentiation strategies aiming to produce motor neurons involves induction of the appropriate anteroposterior (A‐P) axial identity, an important factor influencing motor neuron subtype specification, functionality, and disease vulnerability. Most current protocols for induction of motor neurons from hPSCs produce predominantly cells of a mixed hindbrain/cervical axial identity marked by expression of Hox paralogous group (PG) members 1‐5, but are inefficient in generating high numbers of more posterior thoracic/lumbosacral Hox PG(8‐13)+ spinal cord motor neurons. Here, we describe a protocol for efficient generation of thoracic spinal cord cells and motor neurons from hPSCs. This step‐wise protocol relies on the initial generation of a neuromesodermal‐potent axial progenitor population, which is differentiated first to produce posterior ventral spinal cord progenitors and subsequently to produce posterior motor neurons exhibiting a predominantly thoracic axial identity. © 2021 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Differentiation of neuromesodermal progenitors

Basic Protocol 2: Posterior ventral spinal cord progenitor differentiation

Basic Protocol 3: Posterior motor neuron differentiation
Did COVID‐19 make any positive contributions to higher education?
Authors: Dennis Marguerite J.
Published: September 2021

There has been no shortage of dire predictions and lamentations over the negative impact the pandemic has had on higher education. There is no denying that student enrollment, graduation, and mobility were disrupted last year.
Pupil responses to dynamic negative facial expressions of emotion in infants and parents
Authors: Aktar Evin , Nimphy Cosima A. , Kret Mariska E. , Pérez‐Edgar Koraly , Bögels Susan M. , Raijmakers Maartje E. J.
Published: September 2021

Observing others’ emotions triggers physiological arousal in infants as well as in adults, reflected in dilated pupil sizes. This study is the first to examine parents’ and infants’ pupil responses to dynamic negative emotional facial expressions. Moreover, the links between pupil responses and negative emotional dispositions were explored among infants and parents. Infants’ and one of their parent's pupil responses to negative versus neutral faces were measured via eye tracking in 222 infants (5‐ to 7‐month‐olds, n = 77, 11‐ to 13‐month‐olds, n = 78, and 17‐ to 19‐month‐olds, n = 67) and 229 parents. One parent contributed to the pupil data, whereas both parents were invited to fill in questionnaires on their own and their infant's negative emotional dispositions. Infants did not differentially respond to negative expressions, while parents showed stronger pupil responses to negative versus neutral expressions. There was a positive association between infants' and their parent's mean pupil responses and significant links between mothers’ and fathers’ stress levels and their infants’ pupil responses. We conclude that a direct association between pupil responses in parents and offspring is observable already in infancy in typical development. Stress in parents is related to their infants’ pupillary arousal to negative emotions.
Parent–child physiological synchrony: Concurrent and lagged effects during dyadic laboratory interaction
Authors: Armstrong‐Carter Emma , Miller Jonas G. , Obradović Jelena
Published: September 2021

This study investigated whether parents and kindergarten children show concurrent and time‐lagged physiological synchrony during dyadic interaction. Further, we tested whether parent–child behavioral co‐regulation was associated with concurrent and time‐lagged synchrony, and whether synchrony varied by the type of interaction task. Participants were 94 children (Mage = 5.6 years, 56% female) and their parents. We simultaneously measured parent and child respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) during four dyadic interaction tasks: free play, clean up, problem‐solving, and puzzle teaching. We found that synchrony varied by task. Concurrent synchrony occurred only during the puzzle teaching task, such that parent and child RSA were significantly and positively associated with each other simultaneously. Time‐lagged synchrony occurred only during the problem‐solving task, such that parent RSA was positively associated with child RSA 30 seconds later, and child RSA was negatively associated with parent RSA 30 seconds later. Although behavioral co‐regulation and physiological synchrony have been conceptualized as markers of responsive parent–child interactions, our study finds no evidence that physiological synchrony is associated with between‐dyad differences in behavioral co‐regulation.
Neuronal development in the cochlea of a nonhuman primate model, the common marmoset
Authors: Hosoya Makoto , Fujioka Masato , Murayama Ayako Y , Ozawa Hiroyuki , Okano Hideyuki , Ogawa Kaoru
Published: September 2021

Precise cochlear neuronal development is vital to hearing ability. Understanding the developmental process of the spiral ganglion is useful for studying hearing loss aimed at aging or regenerative therapy. Although interspecies differences have been reported between rodents and humans, to date, most of our knowledge about the development of cochlear neuronal development has been obtained from rodent models because of the difficulty in using human fetal samples in this field. In this study, we investigated cochlear neuronal development in a small New World monkey species, the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). We examined more than 25 genes involved in the neuronal development of the cochlea and described the critical developmental steps of these neurons. We also revealed similarities and differences between previously reported rodent models and this primate animal model. Our results clarified that this animal model of cochlear neuronal development is more similar to humans than rodents and is suitable as an alternative for the analysis of human cochlear development. The time course established in this report will be a useful tool for studying primate‐specific neuronal biology of the inner ear, which could eventually lead to new treatment strategies for human hearing loss.
A surrogate cell‐based SARS‐CoV‐2 spike blocking assay
Authors: Schuh Wolfgang , Baus Lena , Steinmetz Tobit , Schulz Sebastian R. , Weckwerth Leonie , Roth Edith , Hauke Manuela , Krause Sara , Morhart Patrick , Rauh Manfred , Hoffmann Markus , Vesper Niklas , Reth Michael , Schneider Holm , Jäck Hans‐Martin , Mielenz Dirk
Published: September 2021

To monitor infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) and successful vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), the kinetics of neutralizing or blocking anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody titers need to be assessed. Here, we report the development of a quick and inexpensive surrogate SARS‐CoV‐2 blocking assay (SUBA) using immobilized recombinant human angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) and human cells expressing the native form of surface SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein. Spike protein‐expressing cells bound to hACE2 in the absence or presence of blocking antibodies were quantified by measuring the optical density of cell‐associated crystal violet in a spectrophotometer. The advantages are that SUBA is a fast and inexpensive assay, which does not require biosafety level 2‐ or 3‐approved laboratories. Most importantly, SUBA detects blocking antibodies against the native trimeric cell‐bound SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein and can be rapidly adjusted to quickly pre‐screen already approved therapeutic antibodies or sera from vaccinated individuals for their ACE2 blocking activities against any emerging SARS‐CoV‐2 variants.
Synthesis of New Ruthenium‐CAP Complexes and Use as Catalysts for Benzonitrile Hydration to Benzamide
Authors: Guerriero Antonella , Peruzzini Maurizio , Gonsalvi Luca
Published: September 2021

The new bimetallic [Ru2(μ‐Cl)3(CAP)6]Cl (1) and monometallic cis,cis,trans‐[RuCl2(dmso‐S)2(CAP)2] (2) complexes, bearing the water soluble cage‐like phosphine CAP (1,4,7‐triaza‐9‐phosphatricyclo[5.3.2.1]tridecane), were synthesized and characterized in solution by NMR spectroscopy and ESI‐MS spectrometry. The complexes, endowed with high solubility and stability in water, were applied as catalysts for the proof‐of‐concept hydration of benzonitrile to benzamide in neat water at 100 °C, achieving high conversions with only 1 mol % of catalyst, both in single runs and in catalyst recycling experiments.
A Review on the Fundamentals of Palm Oil Fractionation: Processing Conditions and Seeding Agents
Authors: Tong Shi‐Cheng , Tang Teck‐Kim , Lee Yee‐Ying
Published: September 2021

Fractionation is a well‐established process adopted in the fats and oils industries. It involves the separation of low and high melting triacylglycerol under controlled cooling conditions into olein and stearin fractions with distinct chemical and physical properties. Amongst the other vegetable oils, palm oil is one of the most fractionated oils in the past few decades mainly attributed to its semisolid properties. The various fraction of palm oil allows it to be used in different types of food products such as margarine, frying oil, and cocoa butter substitute. In fractionation, proper control of the fractionation conditions is important to produce the fractions with desirable stearin and olein quality. The purpose of this paper is to critically review the fractionation conditions (crystallization temperature, agitation, cooling rate and crystallization time) that affect the yield and quality of the oil produced. Additionally, it also provides the latest updates on the influence of seeding agents (diacylglycerol, monoacylglycerol, hard fat, phytosterol, phospholipid, lecithin, essential oil, sugar, polyglycerol ester, and talc) used in fractionation. This article is useful to provide a fundamental understanding of fractionation to scientists from the industries or academia working in the fats and oils industries.

Practical Applications: This paper provides an in‐depth understanding of fractionation particularly on the parameters of fractionation in influencing the quality and yield of the stearin and olein produced. It also for the first time presents the effect of addition of various seeding agents on palm oil fractionation which can help the industry to select the appropriate seeding agents to improve the currently employed fractionation process. Thus, it can act as a guideline for the industry to understand and select the appropriate fractionation conditions when developing a new product using this approach. The fractionation conditions discussed here can also be used as a reference when fractionating other types of fats and oils as most of them share a common background.
The Morality‐Agency‐Communion (MAC) model of respect and liking
Authors: Prestwich Andrew , Lalljee Mansur , Laham Simon M.
Published: September 2021

Traits can primarily facilitate one's own goals (agentic) or those of others (communal) with the former linked with respect and the latter with liking. However, communal traits vary in morality, which has been associated with respect. Four studies tested the impact of traits varying in morality, agency (competence or assertiveness) and communion (warmth) on ratings of respect and liking. Studies 1 and 2 used vignettes targeting integrity (communion‐moral), competency (agency‐competence) and friendliness (communion‐warmth), while Studies 3 and 4 considered a broader range of pre‐rated traits (Studies 3 and 4). Communal traits with a limited moral component were associated more with liking than with respect. Communal traits with a stronger moral component were associated at least as, and sometimes more, strongly with respect than liking. Moral traits were the most respected trait type and were similarly liked as warmth traits. Morality influences whether communal traits primarily influence liking and/or respect.
Telomere length in patients with obesity submitted to bariatric surgery: A systematic review
Authors: Peña Eleonora , León‐Mengíbar Josep , Powell Timothy R. , Caixàs Assumpta , Cardoner Narcís , Rosa Araceli
Published: September 2021

Background

Patients with obesity show evidence of increased levels of inflammation, oxidative stress and premature ageing. Telomere length (TL) is a key marker of cellular ageing, and patients with obesity often present shorter TL. Bariatric surgery (BS) is currently the most effective treatment for severe obesity. The aim of this systematic review was to explore whether the beneficial health effects observed after surgery in obese patients correspond to a restoration in TL or slower rates of shortening. As a secondary aim, we evaluated, at baseline and post‐surgery, the relationship between TL and different factors that could play a role in TL changes along time.

Methods

Searches for relevant articles were performed in MEDLINE, Web of Knowledge and SCOPUS. Prospective longitudinal studies that evaluated leukocyte TL in adult patients who had undergone BS were included. Data were extracted and evaluated by two independent researchers. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO with the number CRD42020197711.

Results

Seven studies based on independent samples that fulfilled our inclusion criteria were included. Obese patients showed shorter telomeres compared to healthy individuals. Long‐term studies (>2 years) seem to suggest an improvement in TL after surgery presumably due to the improvement of the inflammatory and oxidative levels of the patients induced by weight loss.

Conclusion

Studies seem to point towards a beneficial long‐term effect of BS on TL recovery. However, the scarce number of studies and the heterogeneity in the variables analysed in the different cohorts make it difficult to draw a firm conclusion. More studies are needed to evaluate long‐term changes to TL following BS.
The strategic conversation, 25 years later: A retrospective review of Kees van der Heijden's Scenarios: The Art of Strategic Conversation
Authors: Rowland Nicholas J. , Spaniol Matthew J.
Published: September 2021

Kees van der Heijden is an icon in the futures and foresight academic and practitioner community. Educated at the Technische Universiteit Delft, his work at Royal Dutch Shell, the Global Business Network, the Strathclyde Business School at University of Strathclyde, the Saïd Business School and the Templeton College at University of Oxford, and the Netherlands Business School at Nijenrode University has shaped the scholarly field of futures studies as well as the practical world of scenario facilitation. This article is a 25‐year reflective and retrospective book review of Kees van der Heijden's seminal text Scenarios: The Art of Strategic Conversation. The authors conducted interviews with colleagues, coworkers, collaborators, students, and friends of Kees van der Heijden to add depth and dimension to this retrospective work. To bring van der Heijden's work into scholarly conversation with the extant literature, we also situated this return to Scenarios in the context of related works and other reviews of both editions of the book.
The transcription factor zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 alleviates NASH by transcriptional activation of phosphatase and tensin homolog
Authors: Zhao Yichao , Gao Lingchen , Jiang Chenglin , Chen Jianqing , Qin Zihan , Zhong Fangyuan , Yan Yang , Tong Renyang , Zhou Meng , Yuan Ancai , Pu Jun
Published: September 2021

Background and Aims

NASH, which is a common clinical condition predisposing to advanced liver diseases, has become a worldwide epidemic. A large and growing unmet therapeutic need for this condition reflects incomplete understanding of its pathogenesis. In the current study, we identified a transcription factor, zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (ZHX2), in hepatocytes as a protective factor against steatohepatitis.

Approach and Results

We found that hepatic ZHX2 was significantly suppressed in NASH models and steatotic hepatic cells. Hepatocyte‐specific ablation of ZHX2 exacerbated NASH‐related phenotypes in mice, including lipid accumulation, enhanced inflammation, and hepatic fibrosis. Conversely, hepatocyte‐specific overexpression of ZHX2 significantly alleviated the progression of NASH in an experimental setting. Integrated analysis of transcriptomic profiling and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing data demonstrated that the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was a target gene of ZHX2 in hepatocyte. ZHX2 bound to the promoter of PTEN gene and subsequently promoted the transcription of PTEN, which mediated the beneficial role of ZHX2 against NASH.

Conclusions

The current findings demonstrate a protective role of ZHX2 against NASH progression by transcriptionally activating PTEN. These findings shed light on the therapeutic potential of targeting ZHX2 for treating NASH and related metabolic disorders.
Difference in the plasma level of miR‐628‐3p in atopic dermatitis patients with/without atopic keratoconjunctivitis
Authors: Ueta Mayumi , Nishigaki Hiromi , Komai Seitaro , Sotozono Chie , Kinoshita Shigeru
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Some but not all patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) present with allergic conjunctival disease (ACD) including severe types such as atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) with/without giant papillae. We hypothesized that different factors are involved in the severity of ACD and AD. Recently we reported that hsa‐miR‐628‐3p could affect the balance of innate immunity by suppressing pathogen‐associated molecular patterns such as toll‐like receptor 3 (TLR3), RIG‐I, and MDA‐5. We also reported that TLR3 positively regulates ocular surface‐ and skin inflammation such as contact dermatitis and AD. Here we compared the plasma level of miR‐628‐3p in AD patients with severe AKC with giant papillae and/or shield ulcers, with the level in healthy controls and AD patient without AKC or with very mild AKC.

Methods

We used the plasma from 32 AD patients with severe AKC, from 40 healthy controls, and from 23 AD patient without AKC or with very mild AKC without giant papillae nor shield ulcers. Quantitative microRNA PCR assays were used to measure their plasma level of miR‐628‐3p.

Results

We found that plasma miR‐628‐3p was upregulated in AD with severe AKC, but not in severe AD without severe AKC, nor in our healthy controls.

Conclusion

Our new findings suggest that the plasma miR‐628‐3p level may represent a marker to predict the presence of severe AKC in AD patients.
Are face masks a partisan issue during the COVID‐19 pandemic? Differentiating political ideology and political party affiliation
Authors: Howard Matt C.
Published: September 2021

Popular press articles have asserted that those with certain political orientations are less likely to wear face masks during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We propose that this relation is due to differential information shared by political parties rather than values associated with face mask wearing. We further propose that, when assessed together, political party affiliation (e.g., Republican, Democrat) but not political ideology (e.g., conservative, liberal) predicts face mask wearing, and this effect is mediated by perceptions of efficacy doubts but not perceptions that face masks infringe upon the wearer's independence. We performed a three‐wave, time‐separated survey study with 226 participants. Each proposal was supported. When assessed together, political party affiliation but not political ideology significantly predicted face mask wearing, and a significant indirect effect was observed via perceptions of efficacy doubts but not independence. Our results support that face mask wearing is a unique preventative action, which should be understood using political theory.
Decreasing nervous habits during public speaking: A component analysis of awareness training
Authors: Ortiz Stephanie M. , Deshais Meghan A. , Miltenberger Raymond G. , Reeve Kenneth F.
Published: September 2021

Awareness training can produce decreases in nervous habits during public speaking. A systematic replication of Montes et al. (2020) was conducted to evaluate the independent and additive effects of awareness training components (i.e., response description, response detection) on speech disfluencies during public speaking. We extended prior research by evaluating response description alone, delivering the intervention virtually, using novel videos and speech topics during training, and measuring collateral effects on untargeted responses and speech rate. Response description was sufficient at reducing speech disfluencies for 4 of 9 participants. Response detection (video training) was necessary for 2 participants, and the subsequent addition of response detection (in‐vivo training) was necessary for 3 participants. Reductions were maintained during follow‐up and generalization probes for most participants. Collateral effects of awareness training components were idiosyncratic. A post‐hoc analysis revealed that response description, when effective as a stand‐alone intervention, may be more efficient than the full awareness training package.
Circular RNA MTO1 intercorrelates with microRNA‐630, both associate with Enneking stage and/or pathological fracture as well as prognosis in osteosarcoma patients
Authors: Shi Zhihua , Wen Ye , Zhang Senbing , Cheng Xin
Published: September 2021

Objective

Circular RNA‐mitochondrial tRNA translation optimization 1 (circ‐MTO1) not only involves in bioprocess of various cancers, but also regulates osteosarcoma progression by regulating microRNA‐630 (miR‐630). However, the clinical role of circ‐MTO1 and miR‐630 in osteosarcoma is still obscure. This study aimed to assess the correlation of circ‐MTO1 and miR‐630 with disease features and prognosis and to explore their association with each other in osteosarcoma patients.

Methods

Forty‐four osteosarcoma patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy to surgical resection were analyzed in this retrospective study. Then, circ‐MTO1 and miR‐630 expressions were evaluated in tumor and adjacent non‐tumor specimens by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Circ‐MTO1 was lower in tumor than in non‐tumor tissues (p<0.001); meanwhile, its elevated tumor expression was correlated with less advanced Enneking stage (p=0.049), good neoadjuvant chemotherapy response (p=0.029), and longer disease‐free survival (DFS) (p=0.047). However, no association was found between circ‐MTO1 and overall survival (OS) (p=0.122). Additionally, miR‐630 in tumor was higher than in non‐tumor tissues (p<0.001), while its raised tumor expression was associated with pathological fracture occurrence (p=0.003), advanced Enneking stage (p=0.036), poor neoadjuvant chemotherapy response (p=0.035), and shorter DFS (p=0.011). However, no association was found between miR‐630 and OS (p=0.066). In addition, tumor circ‐MTO1 was negatively associated with miR‐630 (r=−0.323, p=0.032).

Conclusion

Circ‐MTO1 and miR‐630 expressions are inter‐correlated and dysregulated in osteosarcoma patients. Besides, they associate with Enneking stage and/or pathological fracture, as well as neoadjuvant treatment response and accumulating DFS in these patients.