bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Localization of a Medial Temporal Lobe—Precuneus Network for Time Orientation
Authors: Skye Jax , Bruss Joel , Herbet Guillaume , Tranel Daniel , Boes Aaron D.
Published: May 2023

Objective

Time orientation is a fundamental cognitive process in which one's personal sense of time is matched with a universal reference. Time orientation is commonly assessed through mental status examination, yet its neural correlates remain unclear. Large lesions have been associated with deficits in time orientation, but the regional anatomy implicated in time disorientation is not well established. The current study investigates the anatomy of time disorientation and its network correlates in patients with focal brain lesions.

Methods

Time orientation was assessed 3 months or more after lesion onset using the Benton Temporal Orientation Test (BTOT) in 550 patients with acquired, focal brain lesions, 39 of whom were impaired. Multivariate lesion‐symptom mapping and lesion network mapping were used to evaluate the anatomy and networks associated with time disorientation. Performance on a variety of neuropsychological tests was compared between the time oriented and time disoriented group.

Results

Lesion‐symptom mapping showed that lesions of the precuneus, medial temporal lobes (MTL), and occipito‐temporal cortex were associated with time disorientation (r = 0.264, p < 0.001). Lesion network mapping using normative connectome data demonstrated that these regional findings occurred along a network that includes white and gray matter connecting the precuneus and MTL. There was a strong behavioral and anatomical association of time disorientation with memory impairment, such that the 2 processes could not be fully disentangled.

Interpretation

We interpret these findings as novel evidence for a network involving the precuneus and the medial temporal lobe in supporting time orientation. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:421–433
Phase Transition‐Promoted Rapid Photomechanical Motions of Single Crystals of a Triene Coordination Polymer
Authors: Cao Chen , Xue Xin‐Ran , Li Qiu‐Yi , Zhang Min‐Jie , Abrahams Brendan F. , Lang Jian‐Ping
Published: May 2023

Molecular crystals with the ability to transform light energy into macroscopic mechanical motions are a promising class of materials with potential applications in actuating and photonic devices. In regard to such materials, coordination polymers that exhibit dynamic photomechanical motion, associated with a phase transition, are unknown. Herein, we report an intriguing photoactive, one‐dimensional ZnII coordination polymer, 1, derived from 1,3,5‐tri‐4‐pyridyl‐1,2‐ethenylbenzene and 3,5‐difluorobenzoate. Single crystals of 1 under UV light irradiation exhibit rapid shrinking and bending, violent bursting‐jumping, splitting, and cracking behavior. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis and 1H NMR spectroscopy reveal an unusual photoinduced phase transition involving a single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal [2+2] cycloaddition reaction that results in photomechanical responses. Interestingly, crystals of 1, which are triclinic with space group
, are transformed into a higher symmetry, monoclinic cell with space group C2/c. This process represents a rare example of symmetry enhancement upon photoirradiation. The photomechanical activity is likely due to the sudden release of stress associated with strained molecular geometries and significant solid‐state molecular movement arising from cleavage and formation of chemical bonds. A composite membrane fabricated from 1 and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) also displays interesting photomechanical behavior under UV light illumination, indicating the material's potential as a photoactuator.
Sustainable and greener coatings produced from accelerator‐ and sulfur‐free polyurethane dispersion/carboxylated nitrile butadiene latex blends
Authors: Gan Ivy , Chow W. S. , Khoo S. H. , Shafiq M. D.
Published: May 2023

This study is aimed at producing polyurethane dispersion (PUD)/carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber (XNBR) blends without using accelerators and sulfur. The PUD/XNBR (at blending ratios of 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40) was prepared using coagulation and latex dipping technology. The result demonstrated that increasing XNBR in the PUD/XNBR blends increased the zeta potential of the blends up to −71.8 mV. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) studies show hydrogen interaction bonding exists between XNBR and PUD, which significantly impacts the degree of phase mixing, degree of phase separation and relative change of hard segment separation of the PUD. The surface energy of the PUD blend is reduced from 34.68 ± 0.23 to 22.28 ± 0.63 mJ−2 with increasing XNBR loading. The presence of XNBR had increased the polar component of the surface energy, but a further increase of the XNBR amount to more than 20% had reduced the tensile strength. Overall, loading 20% of XNBR (PUD80) showed the best performance by having an improvement in tensile strength compared to pristine PUD.
On the computation of the robust viability kernel for switched systems
Authors: Zhao Na , Gao Yan , Lv Jianfeng , Tang Jun
Published: May 2023

This paper presents an algorithm of computing the robust viability kernel for discrete‐time switched systems with arbitrary switching rule and bounded disturbance based on the robust one‐step set and Pontryagin difference. The algorithm can be implemented by performing the relevant set computations using polyhedral algebra and computational geometry software when switched systems are linear. In addition, we propose a method of computing inner approximation of the robust viability kernel for switched systems based on the set theory. The convergence of the iterative algorithm is proved using a null controllable set. Finally, two examples are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The role of area‐level socioeconomic disadvantage in racial disparities in cancer incidence in metropolitan Detroit
Authors: Purrington Kristen S. , Hastert Theresa A. , Madhav K. C. , Nair Mrudula , Snider Natalie , Ruterbusch Julie J. , Schwartz Ann G. , Stoffel Elena M. , Peters Edward S. , Rozek Laura S.
Published: May 2023

Background

Neighborhood deprivation is associated with both race and cancer incidence, but there is a need to better understand the effect of structural inequities on racial cancer disparities. The goal of this analysis was to evaluate the relationship between a comprehensive measure of neighborhood‐level social disadvantage and cancer incidence within the racially diverse population of metropolitan Detroit.

Methods

We estimated breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer incidence rates using Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System and US decennial census data. Neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage was measured by the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) using Census Bureau's American Community Survey data at the Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMA) level. Associations between ADI at time of diagnosis and cancer incidence were estimated using Poisson mixed‐effects models adjusting for age and sex. Attenuation of race‐incidence associations by ADI was quantified using the “mediation” package in R.

Results

ADI was inversely associated with incidence of breast cancer for both non‐Hispanic White (NHW) and non‐Hispanic Black (NHB) women (NHW: per‐quartile RR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.88–0.96; NHB: per‐quartile RR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.91–0.98) and with prostate cancer incidence only for NHW men (per‐quartile RR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.90–0.97). ADI was positively associated with incidence of lung cancer for NHWs and NHBs (NHW: per‐quartile RR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.04–1.21; NHB: per‐quartile RR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.25–1.51) and incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) only among NHBs (per‐quartile RR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.02–1.21). ADI significantly attenuated the relationship between race and hormone receptor positive, HER2‐negative breast cancer (proportion attenuated = 8.5%, 95% CI 4.1–16.6%) and CRC cancer (proportion attenuated = 7.3%, 95% CI 3.7 to 12.8%), and there was a significant interaction between race and ADI for lung (interaction RR = 1.22, p < 0.0001) and prostate cancer (interaction RR = 1.09, p = 0.00092).

Conclusions

Area‐level socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with risk of common cancers in a racially diverse population and plays a role in racial differences in cancer incidence.
Chemical Tools for Studying Phosphohistidine: Generation of Selective τ‐Phosphohistidine and π‐Phosphohistidine Antibodies**
Authors: Makwana Mehul V. , dos Santos Souza Cleide , Pickup Barry T. , Thompson Mark J. , Lomada Santosh K. , Feng Yuxi , Wieland Thomas , Jackson Richard F. W. , Muimo Richmond
Published: May 2023

Nonhydrolysable stable analogues of τ‐phosphohistidine (τ‐pHis) and π‐pHis have been designed, aided by electrostatic surface potential calculations, and subsequently synthesized. The τ‐pHis and π‐pHis analogues (phosphopyrazole 8 and pyridyl amino amide 13, respectively) were used as haptens to generate pHis polyclonal antibodies. Both τ‐pHis and π‐pHis conjugates in the form of BSA‐glutaraldehyde‐τ‐pHis and BSA‐glutaraldehyde‐π‐pHis were synthesized and characterized by 31P NMR spectroscopy. Commercially available τ‐pHis (SC56‐2) and π‐pHis (SC1‐1; SC50‐3) monoclonal antibodies were used to show that the BSA−G‐τ‐pHis and BSA−G‐π‐pHis conjugates could be used to assess the selectivity of pHis antibodies in a competitive ELISA. Subsequently, the selectivity of the pHis antibodies generated by using phosphopyrazole 8 and pyridyl amino amide 13 as haptens was assessed by competitive ELISA against His, pSer, pThr, pTyr, τ‐pHis and π‐pHis. Antibodies generated by using phosphopyrazole 8 as a hapten were found to be selective for τ‐pHis, and antibodies generated by using pyridyl amino amide 13 were found to be selective for π‐pHis. Both τ‐ and π‐pHis antibodies were shown to be effective in immunological experiments, including ELISA, western blot, and immunofluorescence. The τ‐pHis antibody was also shown to be useful in the immunoprecipitation of proteins containing pHis.
Stable Binding of Full‐Length Chemerin Is Driven by Negative Charges in the CMKLR1 N Terminus
Authors: Kretschmer Kevin , Zellmann Tristan , Mörl Karin , Beck‐Sickinger Annette G.
Published: May 2023

The adipokine chemerin is the endogenous ligand of the chemokine‐like receptor 1 (CMKLR1), a member of the family of G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs). This protein ligand plays an important role in obesity and inflammatory processes. Stable receptor–ligand interactions are highly relevant for its different physiological effects such as the migration of immune cells towards sites of inflammation. Here, we demonstrate that negative charges in the CMKLR1 N terminus are involved in the formation of strong contacts with a specific positively charged patch at the surface of full‐length chemerin, which is absent in the short nonapeptide agonist chemerin‐9, thus explaining its reduced affinity. Using receptor chimera of G protein‐coupled receptor 1 (GPR1) and CMKLR1, we were able to identify the residues of this interaction and its relevance for stable full‐length chemerin binding. This could help to develop more potent ligands for the treatment of inflammation‐related diseases.
Micelle‐Mediated Sonogashira Coupling for DNA‐Encoded Library Synthesis
Authors: Graham Jessica S. , Stanway‐Gordon Harriet A. , Waring Michael J.
Published: May 2023

DNA‐Encoded Libraries (DELs) are becoming widely established as a hit identification strategy for drug discovery campaigns. Their successful application relies on the availability and efficiency of the reactions that can be carried out on DNA. These reactions should proceed with high conversion to the desired product and have a broad substrate scope to synthesise chemically diverse and drug‐like DELs. The Sonogashira coupling provides a unique means of coupling an sp‐hybridized carbon centre to an aryl halide and methods to achieve this reaction on DNA are highly desirable. We report the application of our micellar technology for on‐DNA chemistry to the Sonogashira reaction. This method gives highly efficient conversions for the coupling of (hetero)aromatic and aliphatic alkynes to (hetero)aryl iodides and bromides allowing the preparation of highly diverse DELs.
Direct C7‐H Arylation of Pyrazolo[1,5‐a]azines with Aryl Chlorides
Authors: Nguyen Thanh V. Q.
Published: May 2023

C7‐Arylated pyrazolo[1,5‐a]azines are important structural motifs with profound applications in drug and material research. Here, we report a general and straighforward synthesis of these bi(hetero)aryls via palladium‐catalyzed direct C−H arylation, employing low‐cost and abundant (hetero)aryl chlorides as the aryl source. The catalytic system is robust and covers a wide substrate scope regarding heteroarenes as well as (hetero)aryl chlorides, with possible extension to the C−H arylation of [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines. This study also presents a rare example of using (hetero)aryl chlorides for the direct C−H arylation of six‐membered heteroarenes.
Chiral Josephson effect in double layers: The role of particle–hole duality
Authors: Ziegler Klaus
Published: May 2023

The Josephson effect of inter‐layer s‐wave pairing in a double layer of two chiral metals with Josephson junctions along the direction is considered. Starting from the Bogoliubov de Gennes equations of electron–electron and electron–hole double layers, we employ the duality transformation between the two systems to determine the relation of the zero‐energy quasiparticle modes at a Josephson junction in both systems. The appearance of an exceptional point at zero energy is observed, where the four‐dimensional eigenspace coalesces to a two‐dimensional eigenspace. In the second part of the article, the coupling of the quasiparticle currents and the supercurrent is studied. The coupling is based on the quasiparticle charge conservation in the form of a continuity equation. Although the quasiparticle modes differ between the electron–electron and the electron–hole double layers, their corresponding currents are the same.
Right‐sizing a registrar's office
Authors: D'Orio Wayne
Published: May 2023

AURORA, COLORADO — The question is a simple one, but the more you dig into it, the harder it seems to solve.
Evaluation of microalgae on preventing bone loss in C57BL/6J mice induced by hindlimb suspension
Authors: Zou Yingying , Zhang Jian , Yan Bowen , Zhang Nana , Zhao Jianxin , Zhang Hao , Chen Wei , Fan Daming
Published: May 2023

Bone loss caused by microgravity severely damages the health of astronauts; however, no effective countermeasures exist. Microalgae are microscopic algae rich in protein, polysaccharide, and other nutrients, which can provide astronauts with safe food and oxygen supply in the space ecosystem. Recent studies have demonstrated that microalgae can potentially reduce bone loss in primary osteoporosis. Here, a hindlimb suspension (HLS) mouse (C57BL/6J) model was used to investigate the potential effects of five different microalgae in preventing microgravity‐induced bone loss. The results showed that long‐term administration of 300 mg/kg body weight/day Spirulina platensis (SP) significantly reduced bone loss and increased trabecular number and bone strength. In addition, mice in the HLS group also exhibited disordered gut microbiota with increased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes, decreased fecal short‐chain fatty acids levels, and increased levels of colonic proinflammatory cytokines interleukin‐6 and tumor necrosis factor‐α. To a certain extent, SP reduced these changes and maintained homeostasis of the intestinal environment. These results suggest that SP has a potential enhancing effect on resistance to bone loss in HLS mice.
Phytochemicals and bioactive compounds effective against acute myeloid leukemia: A systematic review
Authors: Egbuna Chukwuebuka , Patrick‐Iwuanyanwu Kingsley C. , Onyeike Eugene N. , Khan Johra , Palai Santwana , Patel Sandip B. , Parmar Vijaykumar K. , Kushwaha Garima , Singh Omkar , Jeevanandam Jaison , Kumarasamy Suresh , Uche Chukwuemelie Zedech , Narayanan Mathiyazhagan , Rudrapal Mithun , Odoh Uchenna , Chikeokwu Ikenna , Găman Mihnea‐Alexandru , Saravanan Kaliyaperumal , Ifemeje Jonathan C. , Ezzat Shahira M. , Olisah Michael C. , Chikwendu Chukwudi Jude , Adedokun Kamoru A. , Imodoye Sikiru O. , Bello Ibrahim O. , Twinomuhwezi Hannington , Awuchi Chinaza Godswill
Published: May 2023

This systematic review identified various bioactive compounds which have the potential to serve as novel drugs or leads against acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematopoietic malignancy that arises from the dysregulation of cell differentiation, proliferation, and cell death. The risk factors associated with the onset of AML include long‐term exposure to radiation and chemicals such as benzene, smoking, genetic disorders, blood disorders, advancement in age, and others. Although novel strategies to manage AML, including a refinement of the conventional chemotherapy regimens, hypomethylating agents, and molecular targeted drugs, have been developed in recent years, resistance and relapse remain the main clinical problems. In this study, three databases, PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, were systematically searched to identify various bioactive compounds with antileukemic properties. A total of 518 articles were identified, out of which 59 were viewed as eligible for the current report. From the data extracted, over 60 bioactive compounds were identified and divided into five major groups: flavonoids, alkaloids, organosulfur compounds, terpenes, and terpenoids, and other known and emerging bioactive compounds. The mechanism of actions of the analyzed individual bioactive molecules differs remarkably and includes disrupting chromatin structure, upregulating the synthesis of certain DNA repair proteins, inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and inhibiting/regulating Hsp90 activities, DNA methyltransferase 1, and histone deacetylase 1.
Vertical tectonics of a Neoarchean gneiss dome in the eastern North China Craton
Authors: Liu Boran , Liu Yongjiang , Li Sanzhong , Neubauer Franz , Liang Chenyue , Guan Qingbin
Published: May 2023

Archean gneiss domes are a very common structure in old cratons, these are different from the structural patterns in the post‐Archean linear orogenic belts related to subduction and collision. There are two tectonic models in Archean tectonics: horizontal tectonism and vertical tectonism. The formation mechanisms of Archean gneiss domes are still debated. Here we present data from the Anziling gneiss dome, a typical gneiss dome structure from the eastern North China Craton, which was formed dominantly by vertical tectonism during Neoarchean times (2554–2452 Ma). The Anziling gneiss dome is located in the east of Shuangshanzi, East Heibei Province and consists of the Anziling gneiss (a diopside‐monzonitic gneiss) in the center outwards surrounded by the Jiguanshan gneiss (hornblende‐plagioclase gneiss) and the Niuxinshan gneiss (trondhjemitic gneiss), together showing an irregular elliptical shape with a NE‐ward extending tail on the surface. But in the cross‐section, it represents a deflective dome, both north‐western and south‐eastern limbs dip approximately to the west. The dome suffered inhomogeneous ductile shear deformation, much stronger with more displacement in the north‐western half (especially close to the margin) than that in the eastern half. The core area shows only a relatively weak deformation. Therefore, we suggest that the Anziling gneiss dome was formed by the TTG (trondhjemite, tonalite, granodiorite) pluton rising obliquely up towards the east by diapirism in the first stage, followed by sub‐horizontal emplacement towards the north and then to the north‐east associated with clockwise rotation in the second stage. The Anziling gneiss dome and its neighbouring Shuangshanzi shear zone were formed simultaneously, indicating that the Anziling gneiss dome was driven by both gravitational forces and magma diapirism.
Black carbon emissions in the rural Indian households: Sources, exposure, and associated threats
Authors: Hussain Ali Jaan , Ambade Balram , Sankar Tapan Kumar , Mohammad Faruq , Soleiman Ahmed A. , Gautam Sneha
Published: May 2023

In this study, we present the indoor Black Carbon (BC) measurements with the help of Aethalometer (AE‐33) from various sites in Eastern India in a typical kitchen room situated in a rural area. Analysis was done on how various cooking activities performed in the home affected the indoor level of BC. The activities resulting in elevated indoor concentrations included three different periods of cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner with three different kinds of kitchen structures open, semi‐open and closed kitchen. Close kitchen resulted in the highest BC concentrations, while open kitchen resulted in the lowest level. The burning of low‐grade fuels resulted in the largest increases in indoor BC concentration. We calculated the average BC concentrations for three distinct kitchens, with open kitchens emitting 260.14 μgm−3, semi‐open kitchens emitting 441.14 μgm−3, and closed kitchens emitting 477.25 μgm−3. The biomass burning % was high during the entire research. Because BC mass concentration was found to be high in indoor sampling, as a result, the health risk assessment is also considered to be high in all types of kitchens. As people spend a significant amount of time at home, especially in a future where remote work is anticipated to be easier, finding the activities, sources, and health effects that increase indoor pollution is vital to lowering indoor exposure.
Relationship between fine/gross motor skills and language and math development in Colombian Caribbean children: A study in Barranquilla
Authors: Rodríguez‐Guerrero Yulmis Isabel , Gil‐Madrona Pedro , Pilar León María , Vásquez‐Cruz Adrián Eduardo
Published: May 2023

Literature suggests that motor skills are associated with other areas of development or domains, such as language and math, especially at early ages. These results are mainly based on studies developed in medium‐to‐high sociocultural contexts. Thus, this study was conducted in a medium‐to‐low‐income area. The aim was to know the 4–5 years old children's motor development (both fine and gross motor skills), and its relation to language and mathematical development. A total of 219 Colombian Caribbean children (105 boys and 114 girls) aged 4 and 5 years participated in this study. Results revealed higher motor skills among girls, although differences by gender were not notable. Positive and significant correlations were found between motor skills and language and mathematical skills, although most of the correlations were weak or moderate. Also, it was observed that fine motor skills were less related to language or mathematical development in comparison with gross motor skills, especially among boys. These results suggest that among Colombian Caribbean children gross motor skills could have a higher influence on the development and acquisition of some language and mathematical skills in comparison with fine motor skills.
Postoperative management of FIGO 2018 stage IIA1 cervical squamous cell carcinoma with only one intermediate‐risk factor: Is radiotherapy needed?
Authors: Liu Yunlu , He Junshen , Liu Ping , Chen Chunlin
Published: May 2023

Objective

To investigate whether postoperative radiotherapy is required for FIGO 2018 stage IIA1 cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients with only one intermediate‐risk factor.

Methods

This was a multicenter retrospective study. The selected patients were classified into no postoperative adjuvant therapy and postoperative radiotherapy groups. The 5‐year overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) rates were compared.

Results

In total, 159 patients with no postoperative adjuvant therapy and 179 patients with postoperative radiotherapy were included, with the former group showing a lower OS but no difference in DFS. No postoperative adjuvant therapy was an independent risk factor for patient mortality. Patients were also stratified by tumor diameter: 56 patients had a tumor diameter ≤2 cm, comprising 32 patients with postoperative radiotherapy and 24 patients without (no between‐group difference was found); 272 patients had a tumor diameter >2 cm, comprising 122 patients with postoperative radiotherapy and 150 patients without, with the former group showing a higher OS, and no postoperative adjuvant therapy was an independent risk factor for patient mortality.

Conclusion

For FIGO 2018 stage IIA1 cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients with only one intermediate‐risk factor and a tumor diameter >2 cm, postoperative radiotherapy is likely beneficial to improve prognosis.
Is prophylactic intraoperative abdominal aortic balloon occlusion beneficial in pregnancies with placenta previa and placenta accreta spectrum during cesarean section? A 5‐year retrospective study
Authors: Wang Zi‐Xuan , Zhao Yi‐Fan , Li Lin
Published: May 2023

Objective

To assess whether prophylactic intraoperative abdominal aortic balloon occlusion (IAABO) is indeed beneficial in pregnancies with placenta previa (PP) and placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) during cesarean section.

Methods

A retrospective case–control study included 251 pregnancies with PP and/or PAS. All enrolled patients were divided into a PP/PAS group, a PP + PAS group, and an IAABO group. The demographic characteristics and maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared.

Results

There was no significant difference in blood loss and transfusion between the IAABO group and the PP + PAS group (P > 0.05). However, blood loss and red blood cell and fresh frozen plasma transfusion in the above two groups were significantly higher than in the PP/PAS group (P < 0.05). More pregnancies in the IAABO group had to undergo uterine artery embolization (29.2%) or hysterectomy (20.8%), and this percentage was significantly higher than that in the other two groups (P < 0.001). All neonatal characteristics did not show differences between the IAABO group and PP + PAS group (P > 0.05). IAABO led to femoral artery thrombosis in three cases and minor postoperative renal injury in one case.

Conclusion

IAABO only acted as a less important supporting technique during cesarean section. There was no evidence suggesting that IAABO could significantly control the massive hemorrhage in pregnancies with PP and PAS during cesarean delivery.
Comparison between the demographic shift clinical severity and outcome of the first two waves of COVID‐19 in pregnancy in a tertiary hospital in India
Authors: Lenin Audrin , Abraham Kavitha , David Liji Sarah , Tirkey Richa Sasmita , Mani Thenmozhi , Jasmine Sudha , Sathyendra Soumya
Published: May 2023

Objective

To study and compare the maternal and neonatal outcomes of COVID‐19 in pregnancy during the two waves of the pandemic in India.

Methods

This observational, retrospective cohort study on pregnant women with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was conducted in a 2700‐bed tertiary referral center in South India from March 1, 2020 to June 30 2021. The clinical presentation, severity, and maternal and neonatal outcomes of COVID‐19 were compared between the two waves.

Results

A total of 623 pregnant women tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in our institute; 379 (60.8%) were diagnosed during the first wave and 244 (39.2%) in the second wave. Most of the affected women (81.1%) were in their third trimester. Maternal mortality rate was 823 per 100 000 live births. Composite maternal outcome (increasing requirement for ventilation, pulmonary embolism, disease progression) were more pronounced during the second wave (2.1% vs 6.1%). Between the two waves, both maternal (1 vs 3; P = 0.162) and perinatal (3.2% vs 6.7%; P = 0.065) deaths were higher during the second wave. The cesarean section rate was high during the first wave (48% vs 32.4%; P < 0.001). Preterm births were comparable between the two waves (19.5% vs 22%; P < 0.500).

Conclusion

The women presented with more severe illness during the second wave of COVID‐19. There was higher perinatal mortality, but the maternal mortality was similar between the two waves.
ALDH2 promotes cancer stemness and metastasis in colorectal cancer through activating β‐catenin signaling
Authors: Wei Po‐Li , Prince G. M. Shazzad Hossain , Batzorig Uyanga , Huang Chien‐Yu , Chang Yu‐Jia
Published: May 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the primary cause of death from gastrointestinal cancers. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), a crucial mitochondrial enzyme for the oxidative pathway of alcohol metabolism, plays a dual role in cancer progression. In some cancers, it is tumor suppressive; in others, it drives cancer progression. However, whether targeting ALDH2 has any therapeutic implications or prognostic value in CRC is still unclear. Here, we investigated the role of ALDH2 in CRC progression by targeting its enzymatic activity rather than gene expression. We found that inhibiting ALDH2 by CVT‐10216 and daidzein significantly decrease migration and stemness properties of both DLD‐1 and HCT 116 cells, whereas activating ALDH2 by Alda‐1 enhances migration rate. Concomitantly, ALDH2 inhibition by both CVT‐10216 and daidzein downregulates the mRNA levels of fibronectin, snail, twist, MMP7, CD44, c‐Myc, SOX2, and OCT‐4, which are oncogenic in the advanced stage of CRC. Furthermore, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) on ALDH2 co‐expressed genes from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) revealed that MYC target gene sets are upregulated. We found that ALDH2 inhibition decreased the nuclear protein levels of pGSK3β serine 9 and c‐Myc. This suggests that ALDH2 probably targets β‐catenin signaling in CRC cells. Together, our results demonstrate the prognostic value of ALDH2 in CRC as it regulates both CRC stemness and migration. Our findings also propose that the plant‐derived isoflavone daidzein could be a potential chemotherapeutic drug targeting ALDH2 in CRC.
One “C” to Rule Them All: The Psychology of Creativity Needs to Refocus on Behaviors
Authors: Bonetto Eric , Arciszewski Thomas
Published: May 2023

The 7C's of creativity (Lubart, 2017) summarize scientific contributions in seven categories as a function of their main object of interest in relation to creativity: Creators, Creating, Collaboration, Context, Creations, Consumption, and Curricula. In its attempt to grasp these different dimensions of the phenomenon of creativity, the psychology of creativity seems to have lost sight of its main object of interest: creative human behavior. This contribution constitutes a short plea to restore “Creating” (i.e., the creative behavior), to its central place in the psychology of creativity. Indeed, the study of the C's of creativity only makes sense in the articulation with the “why” and the “how” of creative behavior. This means focusing on behavioral measures, or at least explicitly considering a direct link between the variables under study and actual creative behaviors. Not all C's are equal, and “Creating” should be the main phenomenon of interest for the discipline. This proposition echoes the various calls to refocus on the study of behavior and behavioral measures in psychology. Research in the field of the psychology of creativity, and especially in the Journal of Creative Behavior, cannot ignore the need to focus on creative behavior.
YAP/TEAD1 and β‐catenin/LEF1 synergistically induce estrogen receptor α to promote osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells
Authors: Wang Peiqi , Huang Lingyi , Yang Fan , Chen Wanxi , Bai Ding , Guo Yongwen
Published: May 2023

Bone remodeling is vital to the maintenance of bone homeostasis and may lead to destructive skeletal diseases once the balance is disrupted. Crosstalk between Wnt and estrogen receptor (ER) signaling has been proposed in bone remodeling, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study was designed to explore the effect of Wnt‐ER signaling during the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). Rat BMSCs were isolated and identified using flow cytometry and stimulated with Wnt3a. Wnt3a treatment promoted osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of the BMSCs. Meanwhile, Wnt3a enhanced the expression of ERα as well as the canonical Wnt signaling mediator β‐catenin and the alternative Wnt signaling effector Yes‐associated protein 1 (YAP1). Interestingly, DNA pulldown assay revealed direct binding of transcriptional enhanced associate domain 1 (TEAD1) and lymphoid enhancer binding factor 1 (LEF1), transcriptional partners of YAP1 and β‐catenin, respectively, to the promoter region of ERα. In addition, inhibition of TEAD1 and LEF1 suppressed Wnt3‐promoted BMSC osteogenic differentiation and blocked Wnt3a‐induced ERα expression. Furthermore, an in vivo model of femoral bone defect also supported that Wnt3a facilitated bone healing in an ERα‐dependent way. Together, we suggest that Wnt3a promotes the osteogenic activity of BMSCs through YAP1 and β‐catenin‐dependent activation of ERα, via direct binding of TEAD1 and LEF1 to the ERα promoter.
Nonlinear stability of strong traveling waves for a chemotaxis model with logarithmic sensitivity and periodic perturbations
Authors: Chen Yi‐ren , Zou Feifei
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we are concerned with the nonlinear stability of traveling wave solutions for a conservation laws arising from the well‐known chemotaxis model with logarithmic sensitivity. By constructing appropriate “ansatz,” we shall prove the nonlinear stability of traveling waves even though the perturbations oscillate at the far fields. More precisely, it is shown that as time tends to infinite, the solutions converge to arbitrarily large amplitude viscous shock wave solutions with a shift, which are partially determined by the periodic oscillations.
Effect of retardation and capillarity on organic contaminant diffusion through an unsaturated composite liner: An analytical approach
Authors: Liu Jun , Chen Zhang‐Long , Yu Chuang , Wang Shun , Wu Wei
Published: May 2023

In unsaturated composite liners, the heterogeneous distribution of water content and capillarity are common phenomena with remarkable influence on the transport parameters. This study presents an analytical solution to assess the effect of unsaturation‐dependent retardation and capillarity on the organic contaminant diffusion through an unsaturated composite liner. The solution is obtained by the generalized integral transform technique and is verified against other analytical and numerical solutions. Particular attention is paid to the potential errors in predicting organic contaminant transport caused by unsaturation‐independent retardation factor assumption. The results show that neglecting saturation‐dependent retardation may cause considerable errors. The considerations of capillary fringe and degradation also have significant effects on the errors. In addition, a simplified solution based on a new averaged retardation factor is proposed and its performance is evaluated.
Non‐histone protein methylation in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes
Authors: de Almeida Rafael Fogaça , Lucena Aline Castro Rodrigues , Batista Michel , Marchini Fabricio Klerynton , de Godoy Lyris Martins Franco
Published: May 2023

Post‐translational methylation of proteins, which occurs in arginines and lysines, modulates several biological processes at different levels of cell signaling. Recently, methylation has been demonstrated in the regulation beyond histones, for example, in the dynamics of protein‐protein and protein‐nucleic acid interactions. However, the presence and role of non‐histone methylation in Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, has not yet been elucidated. Here, we applied mass spectrometry‐based‐proteomics (LC‐MS/MS) to profile the methylproteome of T. cruzi epimastigotes, describing a total of 1252 methyl sites in 824 proteins. Functional enrichment and protein‐protein interaction analysis show that protein methylation impacts important biological processes of the parasite, such as translation, RNA and DNA binding, amino acid, and carbohydrate metabolism. In addition, 171 of the methylated proteins were previously reported to bear phosphorylation sites in T. cruzi, including flagellar proteins and RNA binding proteins, indicating that there may be an interplay between these different modifications in non‐histone proteins. Our results show that a broad spectrum of functions is affected by methylation in T. cruzi, indicating its potential to impact important processes in the biology of the parasite and other trypanosomes.
Proteome profiling of vascular sap regarding Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus urophylla, and Eucalyptus camaldulensis
Authors: da Silva Felipe Alexsander Rodrigues , Balbuena Tiago Santana
Published: May 2023

The plant vascular system is a key element for long‐distance communication. Understanding its composition may provide valuable information on how plants grow and develop themselves. In this study, a quantitative proteome dataset of the vascular sap proteome of three commercially important Eucalyptus species was shown. Protein extraction was carried out using a pressure bomb, whereas only in silico predicted extracellular proteins were considered as part of the sap proteome. A total of 132 different proteins were identified in all three Eucalyptus species and the most abundant proteome subset within all three species was comprised of proteins involved in the carbohydrate metabolic process, proteolysis, components of membrane, and defense response. The sap proteome of the species E. grandis and E. urophylla revealed the highest similarities. Functional classification indicated that the sap proteome of E. grandis and E. urophylla are mostly comprised of proteins involved in defense response and proteolysis; whereas no prominent functional class was observed for the E. camaldulensis species. Quantitative comparison highlighted characteristic sap proteins in each of the Eucalyptus species. The results that could be found in this study can be used as a reference for the proteome sap analysis of Eucalyptus plants grown under different conditions.
Economic and financial model to the mass‐rearing of Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) (Heteroptera: Miridae), a biological control agent against the tomato moth Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in protected culture
Authors: Dutra Tiago Mota , da Graça Batista Maria , Teixeira João CA , Todorova Silvia , Oliveira Luísa , Tavares João , Borges Isabel , Soares António Onofre
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is a major pest of tomato produced in glasshouses and open field, causing severe damages to crops, reducing the quality of tomato fruits. The current maintenance of the pest populations below the economic threshold is not achieved by natural and classical control, thus requiring the continuous application of biological control agents (BCAs), under an augmentative or inoculative approach. The present study aims to develop an economic and financial model to evaluate the commercial viability of a continuous mass production of Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur), a BCA commonly used against the tomato moth, Tuta absoluta, in protected culture. The estimations for our model were based on two approaches: the farm‐level impact analysis and the benefit–cost analysis.

RESULTS

The results of the farm‐level analysis show that the adoption of a more sustainable biological control approach is profitable for farmers and the benefit–cost analysis provides evidence that the investment on a new factory dedicated to the mass rearing of M. pygmaeus to control tomato moth populations generates a positive net present value (NPV) of 7.2 million euros, corresponding to an internal rate of return (IRR) of 28.4% per year.

CONCLUSION

Our results are in line with (i) the more recent European Commission proposals for a new Regulation on sustainable use of plant protection products, which includes the reduction of 50% the use and risk of chemical pesticides by 2030 and (ii) most of the existing literature which conclude that new projects on BCA production are worth investments. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Human gingival tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells inhibit proliferation and invasion of rheumatoid fibroblast‐like synoviocytes via the CD39/CD73 signaling pathway
Authors: Chen Weiqian , Yu Ye , Zheng Song Guo , Lin Jin
Published: May 2023

Background

Gingiva‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) suppress immune and inflammatory responses in experimental arthritis models. Here, we determined whether GMSCs suppress the proliferation and invasion of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (RA FLSs).

Methods

Surface markers of GMSCs were analyzed by flow cytometry. mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinases and pro‐inflammatory cytokine in RA FLSs was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RA FLS proliferation was analyzed by a 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine assay. To explore the molecular mechanisms, we assessed the effect of GMSCs on RA FLS proliferation by adding indoleamine‐2,3‐dioxygenase (IDO), CD39, or CD73 inhibitors. The invasion was analyzed by a transwell assay. The anti‐inflammatory effects of GMSCs were assessed in a type II collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model.

Results

Compared with human dermal fibroblast, GMSCs displayed a higher expression of CD39. Interleukin (IL)‐8, IL‐6, MMP‐1, MMP‐3, MMP‐13, and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 mRNA were all decreased in RA FLSs after incubation with GMSCs. GMSCs significantly reduced RA FLS proliferation in a dose‐dependent manner in vitro, which was partly dependent on CD39/CD73 signaling. GMSCs significantly impeded the invasive capacity of RA FLSs in a dose‐dependent manner in vitro. GMSCs infusion delayed arthritis onset and reduced arthritis scores in the CIA model.

Conclusion

GMSCs are effective to inhibit the aggressive behavior of RA FLSs and treat experimental arthritis, implying their therapeutic potential in RA patients.
C/H/O stable isotope of rape honey and its components combined with machine learning algorithms to identify geographical origin
Authors: Shuai Mengying , Li Hongxia , She Seng , Wu Meijia , Chen Lanzhen
Published: May 2023

Rationale

The distribution of rape honey is among the largest and most diverse of all honeys available to humankind with respect to the geographical origin. Accurate isotopic reference values for rape honey are therefore important for precise verification of honey origin and its traceability. New combined rape honey δ13C, δ2H, and δ18O values in combination with values on its compounds (protein and saccharides) were used to complement existing databases to better identify the geographical origin of Chinese rape honey.

Methods

Traceability methods based on elemental analyzer isotope ratio mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography isotope ratio mass spectrometry were established for geographical origin of rape honey.

Results

Rape honey harvested in the high‐altitude region (QH; Qinghai) had significantly higher values (1.4 to 5.3‰ for δ13C, 7.9 to 12.9‰ for δ2Hprotein) for the δ13C of whole honey (−23.8‰), its protein (−24.4‰), fructose (−23.5‰), glucose (−23.6‰), and disaccharide (−24.7‰), and also δ2H of the protein (103.5‰) than those in low‐altitude regions (HB; Hubei, SC; Sicuan, and JS; Jingsu). The δ18Orape honey was a useful index to differentiate whether rape honey from coastal (JS) or non‐coastal (HB, SC, and QH) regions. The δ13C, δ2H, and δ18O values in rape honey are affected by geographical factors, such as temperature and altitude. The δ13Cprotein and δ13Crape honey values were better to identify the geographical origin of rape honey than δ13Csaccharides. The δ18O and δ2H values of rape honey protein were more suitable for traceability than those of rape honey. The combination of the δ13C, δ2H, and δ18O values of rape honey and its extracted protein and saccharides improved the precision of three models (linear discriminant analysis, SVM, and random forest) used to discriminate rape honey from different regions in China. The SVM model obtained the best accuracy (93.2%).

Conclusions

Stable isotopes could be significant predictors in determining the geographical origin of rape honey.
Consensus of nonlinear multi‐agent systems via distributed hybrid controls
Authors: Wei Linna , Liao Yihao , Luo Shixian , Chen Wu‐Hua , Huang Ganji
Published: May 2023

The consensus problem of nonlinear multi‐agent systems with nonuniform time‐varying connection topologies via two novel distributed hybrid control protocols is discussed. By using the degrees of freedom brought by coupling weights, impulsive control with impulse time windows integrates intermittent control and impulsive control into a unified control framework and is more suitable for the situations where only the time intervals in which impulses occur are known but the exact instants of impulses cannot be identified. Compared with intermittent control, the intermittent impulsive control (IIC) reduces the amount of data transmission and improves the security of the system. The introduction of the rest windows makes the IIC break the limit of the upper bound of impulsive intervals of general impulsive control, and the system is easier to maintain according to plan. Control‐time‐dependent Lyapunov function based methods are developed to overcome the difficulty of stability analysis of the error systems caused by continuous switching of multiple dynamic subsystems. Two consensus criteria are presented and the corresponding controller design schemes are proposed. The results can uniformly deal with the positive and negative effects of impulses, and do not require at least one subsystem of the error system to be stable. Three examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the derived theoretical results.
Relations Between Reading Motivation and Reading Efficiency—Evidence From a Longitudinal Eye‐Tracking Study
Authors: Rettig Anja , Schiefele Ulrich
Published: May 2023

Studies on the relation between children's reading motivation and early developmental stages of reading competence are rare and have neglected on‐line measures of reading skill (e.g., eye movements indicating word decoding). For this reason, we investigated the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic reading motivation on the efficiency of reading processes based on eye‐movement data. Moreover, we examined reading efficiency as a mediator of the relation between motivation and comprehension. German elementary school students in Grades 1–3 (N = 131) were tested on three measurement occasions. Specifically, we assessed reading motivation, reading amount, and sentence comprehension at Time 1, reading efficiency at Time 2 (2 months after Time 1), and all of the variables again at Time 3 (10 months after Time 2). Reading efficiency was assessed while children read age‐appropriate sentences and comprised measures of first‐fixation duration, gaze duration, total reading time, forward‐saccade length, and refixation probability. Linear and cross‐lagged panel models showed significant favorable relations between intrinsic reading motivation (operationalized as involvement and enjoyment of reading), but not extrinsic reading motivation (operationalized as striving to outperform one's peers), and most measures of reading efficiency, while controlling for gender, grade level, and reading amount. The reverse effects of reading‐efficiency indicators on intrinsic reading motivation were all significant. Moreover, the test of the mediation model revealed a significant indirect effect of Time 1 intrinsic reading motivation on Time 3 sentence comprehension mediated by Time 2 reading efficiency. We concluded that intrinsic reading motivation, in contrast to extrinsic reading motivation, facilitates reading comprehension through its effect on reading efficiency, independent of variations in reading amount.