bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing a Resilient Sexual and Gender Minority Identity Online: The Importance of Social Media for Youth before Coming out
Authors: Brinkman Lika , Francot Ryanne
Published: October 2022

Sexual and Gender Minority Youth (SGMY) often undergo a period of identity concealment before first coming out, in which access to social and emotional support is limited. Simultaneously, SGMY are at risk for rejection and victimization because of this identity, requiring resilience. This study, therefore, focused on how social media can offer SGMY opportunities for the development of a resilient SGM-identity during this period of identity concealment. In-depth interviews were held with 12 Dutch SGMY, who had not yet come out, or had done this recently. Interviews were individually open coded, and then analyzed collectively, to identify commonalities and differences. Five themes emerged, capturing the online experiences contributing to a resilient SGM-identity: (1) realization of SGM-identity, (2) gathering information, (3) finding SGM-representation, (4) finding SGM-connections, and (5) social media as an SGM-positive bubble. The results showed that social media can serve as a bridge during the period of identity concealment, in which SGMY can rely on a supportive community online and develop a positive SGM-identity before coming out offline. These online experiences, which often transcend the borders of countries and jurisdictions, can further help SGMY cope with the risk of adversity offline, and with that promote a resilient SGM-identity.
Type 1 Diabetes: Current Advances in High-Throughput Technologies and Computational Biology for Biomarker Studies
Authors: Leeman Tiffanie , P. Richardson Katherine , M.H. Tran Paul , Purohit Sharad
Published: October 2022

Biomarkers are essential for the identification of high-risk populations as well as the monitoring of preventive and therapeutic outcomes for type 1 diabetes (T1D). In this chapter, we will discuss the progress made in T1D biomarker discovery using high throughput genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic technologies collectively called as omic technologies. We also discuss the potential of artificial intelligence and omics data in the early prediction of T1D. Readers will gain an overview of the status of T1D biomarkers based on omic technologies. High throughput omic technologies combined with computational biology offer great opportunities for biomarker discovery. As we move forward, the utilization of a biomarker panel for the prediction and prevention of T1D is needed.
Methadone-Induced QT Interval Prolongation and Torsades de Pointes
Authors: Tabaghi Shiva , Akbarzadeh Mohammad Ali
Published: October 2022

: The most common cause of acquired long QT syndrome in patients without physiological and structural cardiovascular disease is the use of medications. Chronic high-dose methadone usage can cause prolongation of QT interval that may provoke the life-threatening arrhythmia Torsades de Pointes. In this study, we present a 41-year-old man with chronic high-dose methadone usage who developed Torsades de Pointes triggered by short-coupled premature ventricular contraction.
New Coccinellidae (Coleoptera, Coccinelloidea) from Napo Province in Ecuador
Authors: Szawaryn Karol , Czerwiński Tomasz
Published: October 2022

Examination of Coccinellidae material recently collected from Napo Province in Ecuador revealed 38 species of ladybird beetles, of which six are new: Chnoodes yanayacu sp. nov., Cyrea mcclarini sp. nov., Eupalea borowieci sp. nov., Exoplectra misahualli sp. nov., Hyperaspis rutai sp. nov., Toxotoma gonzalezi sp. nov. Seven species are recorded for the first time from Ecuador: Cyrea noticollis (Mulsant, 1850), Eupalea formosa Mulsant, 1850, Epilachna transverselineata (Mader, 1858), Psyllobora marshalli Crotch, 1874, Toxotoma fuscopilosa (Weise, 1902), Toxotoma taeniola (Gordon, 1975), Zenoria linteolata Mulsant, 1850. For three species: Epilachna obtusiforma Gordon, 1975, Hinda ecuadorica Gordon & Canepari, 2013 and Siola atra González, 2015, supplementary notes on the original descriptions are provided. New name combinations are proposed for six species, which are transferred to the genus Toxotoma Weise, 1900: Toxotoma aequatorialis (Gordon, 1975), Toxotoma chigata (Gordon, 1975), Toxotoma flavocirculus (González, 2015), Toxotoma fuscopilosa, Toxotoma hybridula (Gordon, 1975), Toxotoma taeniola. The occurrence of Scymnus interruptus (Goeze, 1777) in Ecuador is also confirmed.
Optimization and prediction of the hardness behaviour of LM4 + Si3N4 composites using RSM and ANN: A comparative study
Authors: Srinivas Doddapaneni , Sharma Sathyashankara , Gowrishankar G , Nayak Rajesh , Kumar Nitesh , Shettar Manjunath
Published: October 2022

In the present work, LM4 + Si3N4 (1, 2, and 3 wt.%) composites were fabricated using the two-stage stir casting method. Precipitation hardening treatment was carried out on the cast composites and hardness results were compared with as-cast specimens. Microstructural analysis was performed using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images to validate the existence and homogenous distribution of reinforcement in the matrix. LM4 + 3 wt.% Si3N4 composite with multistage solution heat treatment (MSHT) and aging at 100°C showed higher hardness viz., 124% improvement when compared to as-cast LM4 due to the uniform distribution of Si3N4 and precipitation of metastable phases during the heat treatment process. The microhardness values of the fabricated composites was investigated using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Both RSM and ANN models predicted hardness values close to experimental values with minimum error, and the prominence of aging temperature in the improvement of hardness was observed. The data obtained illustrate that the proposed regression model can accurately predict hardness values within the constraints of the factors under consideration. Based on the error values it can be concluded that the ANN model can deliver results with higher accuracy than the RSM model.
Bioconversão de coprodutos agroindustriais utilizando fungos Pleurotus ostreatus e Pleurotus sajor-caju para alimentação de ruminantes
Authors: Faria Phaena Moraes , Muzzi Rozanna Marques , De Goes Rafael Henrique de Tonissi e Buschinell , Gressler Maria Gizelma de Menezes
Published: October 2022

O uso de coprodutos para a alimentação de ruminantes, aliado a biotecnologias, apresenta-se como solução paraentraves ambientais, sociais e econômicos. Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o enriquecimento nutri-cional de coprodutos agroindustriais (torta de nabo forrageiro, TN; farelo de soja, FS; e bagaço-de-cana-de açúcar, BC), bioconvertidos por fungos Pleurotus ostreatus e Pleurotus sajor-caju, na alimentação de ruminantes. Foram realizadas análises de matéria seca, proteína bruta, extrato etéreo, cinzas e digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS) antes e após a bioconversão dos alimentos pelos fungos P. ostreatus e P. sajor-caju. Foram utilizados os três substratos nas seguintes proporções: 100% e nas associações TN+FS (50:50), TN+BC (70:30), TN+FS (70:30) e TN+FS+BC (40:40:20). A bioconversãosão alterou os teores de proteína bruta, cinzas e DIVMS dos coprodutos utilizados, propor-cionando um enriquecimento nutricional desses substratos para serem utilizados na alimentação de ruminantes. Os teores de celulose e hemicelulose não foram reduzidos na maioria dos substratos avaliados, no entanto houve diminuição dos níveis de extrato etéreo e lignina. Os resultados obtidos nesse estudo demons-tram que tratamentos biotecnológicos de coprodutos agroindustriais por fungos se tornam uma solução ambientalmente correta devido ao reaproveitamento, transformando-os em produtos com maior valor agregado para a alimentação de ruminantes.
Aneurysmectomy and graft interposition for giant thrombosed proximal internal carotid artery aneurysm: Technical details
Authors: Baek Ki Dong , Kim Jae Hoon , Kang Hee In , Jwa Cheol Su , Bae In-Suk , Shin Sung Ho
Published: October 2022

A giant thrombosed extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysm (ECCA) is extremely rare and its treatment is challenging. Despite the advance of endovascular technique, open surgery is still considered a first-line treatment in giant thrombosed ECCA. We describe a case of giant thrombosed ECCA which was successfully treated by aneurysmectomy and graft interposition with the technical details.
Proto-magnetars within quasiparticle model
Authors: Wang Yi-Nong , Chu Peng-Cheng , Jiang Yao-Yao , Pang Xiao-Di , Wang Sheng-Bo , Li Pei-Xin ,   School of Science, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China
Published: October 2022

We investigate the thermodynamical properties of strange quark matter (SQM) at zero/finite temperature and under constant magnetic field within quasiparticle model. The quark matter symmetry energy, energy per baryon, free energy per baryon, anisotropic pressures are also studied and the result indicates that both the effects of temperature and magnetic field can significantly influence the thermodynamical properties of quark matter and proto-quark stars (PQSs). Our result also indicates that the maximum mass and the core temperature of PQSs not only depends on the heating process at the isentropic stages, but also but also the magnetic field strength and orientation distribution inside the magnetar within quasiparticle model.
Cardiovascular disease and subsequent risk of psychiatric disorders: a nationwide sibling-controlled study
Authors: Shen Qing , Song Huan , Aspelund Thor , Yu Jingru , Lu Donghao , Jakobsdóttir Jóhanna , Bergstedt Jacob , Yi Lu , Sullivan Patrick , Sjölander Arvid , Ye Weimin , Fall Katja , Fang Fang , Valdimarsdóttir Unnur
Published: October 2022

Background:

The association between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and selected psychiatric disorders has frequently been suggested while the potential role of familial factors and comorbidities in such association has rarely been investigated.

Methods:

We identified 869,056 patients newly diagnosed with CVD from 1987 to 2016 in Sweden with no history of psychiatric disorders, and 910,178 full siblings of these patients as well as 10 individually age- and sex-matched unrelated population controls (N = 8,690,560). Adjusting for multiple comorbid conditions, we used flexible parametric models and Cox models to estimate the association of CVD with risk of all subsequent psychiatric disorders, comparing rates of first incident psychiatric disorder among CVD patients with rates among unaffected full siblings and population controls.

Results:

The median age at diagnosis was 60 years for patients with CVD and 59.2% were male. During up to 30 years of follow-up, the crude incidence rates of psychiatric disorder were 7.1, 4.6, and 4.0 per 1000 person-years for patients with CVD, their siblings and population controls. In the sibling comparison, we observed an increased risk of psychiatric disorder during the first year after CVD diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR], 2.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.62–2.87) and thereafter (1.45; 95% CI, 1.42–1.48). Increased risks were observed for all types of psychiatric disorders and among all diagnoses of CVD. We observed similar associations in the population comparison. CVD patients who developed a comorbid psychiatric disorder during the first year after diagnosis were at elevated risk of subsequent CVD death compared to patients without such comorbidity (HR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.44–1.67).

Conclusions:

Patients diagnosed with CVD are at an elevated risk for subsequent psychiatric disorders independent of shared familial factors and comorbid conditions. Comorbid psychiatric disorders in patients with CVD are associated with higher risk of cardiovascular mortality suggesting that surveillance and treatment of psychiatric comorbidities should be considered as an integral part of clinical management of newly diagnosed CVD patients.

Funding:

This work was supported by the EU Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Action Grant (CoMorMent, grant no. 847776 to UV, PFS, and FF), Grant of Excellence, Icelandic Research Fund (grant no. 163362-051 to UV), ERC Consolidator Grant (StressGene, grant no. 726413 to UV), Swedish Research Council (grant no. D0886501 to PFS), and US NIMH R01 MH123724 (to PFS).
Augmin prevents merotelic attachments by promoting proper arrangement of bridging and kinetochore fibers
Authors: Štimac Valentina , Koprivec Isabella , Manenica Martina , Simunić Juraj , Tolić Iva M
Published: October 2022

The human mitotic spindle is made of microtubules nucleated at centrosomes, at kinetochores, and from pre-existing microtubules by the augmin complex. However, it is unknown how the augmin-mediated nucleation affects distinct microtubule classes and thereby mitotic fidelity. Here, we use superresolution microscopy to analyze the previously indistinguishable microtubule arrangements within the crowded metaphase plate area and demonstrate that augmin is vital for the formation of uniformly arranged parallel units consisting of sister kinetochore fibers connected by a bridging fiber. This ordered geometry helps both prevent and resolve merotelic attachments. Whereas augmin-nucleated bridging fibers prevent merotelic attachments by creating a nearly parallel and highly bundled microtubule arrangement unfavorable for creating additional attachments, augmin-nucleated k-fibers produce robust force required to resolve errors during anaphase. STED microscopy revealed that bridging fibers were impaired twice as much as k-fibers following augmin depletion. The complete absence of bridging fibers from a significant portion of kinetochore pairs, especially in the inner part of the spindle, resulted in the specific reduction of the interkinetochore distance. Taken together, we propose a model where augmin promotes mitotic fidelity by generating assemblies consisting of bridging and kinetochore fibers that align sister kinetochores to face opposite poles, thereby preventing erroneous attachments.
Spatiotemporal Bayesian estimation of the number of under-reported COVID-19 cases in Victoria Australia
Authors: Lope Dinah Jane , Demirhan Haydar
Published: October 2022

Having an estimate of the number of under-reported cases is crucial in determining the true burden of a disease. In the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a great need to quantify the true disease burden by capturing the true incidence rate to establish appropriate measures and strategies to combat the disease. This study investigates the under-reporting of COVID-19 cases in Victoria, Australia, during the third wave of the pandemic as a result of variation in geographic area and time. It is aimed to determine potential under-reported areas and generate the true picture of the disease in terms of the number of cases. A two-tiered Bayesian hierarchical model approach is employed to estimate the true incidence and detection rates through Bayesian model averaging. The proposed model goes beyond testing inequality across areas by looking into other covariates such as weather, vaccination rates, and access to vaccination and testing centres, including interactions and variations between space and time. This model aims for parsimony yet allows a broader range of scope to capture the underlying dynamic of the reported COVID-19 cases. Moreover, it is a data-driven, flexible, and generalisable model to a global context such as cross-country estimation and across time points under strict pandemic conditions.
Assessment of Strategies Used in US Hospitals to Address Social Needs During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Figueroa Jose F. , Duggan Ciara , Toledo-Cornell Cristina , Zheng Jie , Orav E. John , Tsai Thomas C.
Published: October 2022

This survey study uses 2020 American Hospital Association data to assess strategies of US hospitals serving vulnerable populations in addressing social needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discoidin domain receptor 1 regulates ErbB2/ErbB3 signaling in mammary epithelial cells
Authors: Toscani Andrés Martin , Aguilera Pablo , Coluccio Leskow Federico
Published: October 2022

The ErbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase plays a key role in mammary gland development. It forms large clusters which serve as signaling platforms for integration of extracellular information. The discoidin domain receptor (DDR) family are collagen receptor tyrosine kinases which, together with ErbB2, are involved in many physiological and pathological processes. Here, we investigated the interaction of ErbB2 and DDR1 receptors in breast cancer cells. In contrast to beta1‐integrin, DDR1 colocalizes with ErbB2 in membrane clusters regardless of their expression levels. We demonstrated that this spatial coexistence is a consequence of the physical interaction between these receptors. In addition, these receptors are coexpressed in the normal mammary gland but not in breast tumor samples. Together, these results present DDR1 as a novel modulator of the ErbB2/ErbB3 signaling pathway.
Primary Neoplasms of the Brain in Adults
Authors: Smith‐Cohn Matthew A. , Gilbert Mark R.
Published: October 2022

Overview

In 2021, it is expected that at least 700,000 people in the United States will be living with a primary brain tumor.

Primary brain tumors are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms arising from nervous system tissue and the surrounding meninges. Unique to these cancers is a presentation of neurologic symptoms such as seizures, worsened headaches, weakness, personality changes, impaired cognition, and speech difficulty. It is estimated that 70% of brain tumors are benign (most commonly meningiomas), while 30% are malignant (most commonly gliomas). Malignant brain tumors are among the most challenging cancers to treat, due to limited effective therapies and difficulty of drug delivery across the blood–brain barrier. Despite the challenges, there has been a tremendous amount of knowledge gained about these neoplasms over the past decade. The 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of central nervous system tumors (CNS) introduced the integration of histologic evaluation and molecular alterations to make a more informed diagnosis of these alterations, which have prognostic implications. This article will review the most encountered primary brain neoplasms and their management approaches.
ASAM: Policymakers must reverse tide of punishing pregnant women, parents
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: October 2022

Responding to an increasingly punitive approach nationally toward pregnant and postpartum women who use substances, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) this month released a public policy statement calling for a reversal in the direction of comprehensive and evidence‐based care. Treatment leaders said they hope ASAM's detailed report and its 39 recommendations will help to steer the policy dialogue away from a criminalization mindset made even more concerning since the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling last June in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization abortion case.
Advice from NIAAA officials for older adults
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: October 2022

Last week, we asked the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) for more detailed information on alcohol limits for older adults. Here is the emailed response from NIAAA director George F. Koob, Ph.D., and Aaron White, Ph.D., leader of the biometric and epidemiology branch of NIAAA.
Artificial Muscles and Soft Robotic Devices for Treatment of End‐Stage Heart Failure
Authors: Weymann Alexander , Foroughi Javad , Vardanyan Robert , Punjabi Prakash P. , Schmack Bastian , Aloko Sinmisola , Spinks Geoffrey M. , Wang Chun H. , Arjomandi Rad Arian , Ruhparwar Arjang
Published: October 2022

Medical soft robotics constitutes a rapidly developing field in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, with a promising future for millions of patients suffering from heart failure worldwide. Herein, the present state and future direction of artificial muscle‐based soft robotic biomedical devices in supporting the inotropic function of the heart are reviewed, focusing on the emerging electrothermally artificial heart muscles (AHMs). Artificial muscle powered soft robotic devices can mimic the action of complex biological systems such as heart compression and twisting. These artificial muscles possess the ability to undergo complex deformations, aiding cardiac function while maintaining a limited weight and use of space. Two very promising candidates for artificial muscles are electrothermally actuated AHMs and biohybrid actuators using living cells or tissue embedded with artificial structures. Electrothermally actuated AHMs have demonstrated superior force generation while creating the prospect for fully soft robotic actuated ventricular assist devices. This review will critically analyze the limitations of currently available devices and discuss opportunities and directions for future research. Last, the properties of the cardiac muscle are reviewed and compared with those of different materials suitable for mechanical cardiac compression.
Ultra‐Fast Portable and Wearable Sensing Design for Continuous and Wide‐Spectrum Molecular Analysis and Diagnostics
Authors: Maity Arnab , Milyutin Yana , Maidantchik Vivian Darsa , Pollak Yael Hershkovitz , Broza Yoav , Omar Rawan , Zheng Youbin , Saliba Walaa , Huynh Tan‐Phat , Haick Hossam
Published: October 2022

The design and characterization of spatiotemporal nano‐/micro‐structural arrangement that enable real‐time and wide‐spectrum molecular analysis is reported and demonestrated in new horizons of biomedical applications, such as wearable‐spectrometry, ultra‐fast and onsite biopsy‐decision‐making for intraoperative surgical oncology, chiral‐drug identification, etc. The spatiotemporal sesning arrangement is achieved by scalable, binder‐free, functionalized hybrid spin‐sensitive (<↑| or <↓|) graphene‐ink printed sensing layers on free‐standing films made of porous, fibrous, and naturally helical cellulose networks in hierarchically stacked geometrical configuration (HSGC). The HSGC operates according to a time‐space‐resolved architecture that modulate the mass‐transfer rate for separation, eluation and detection of each individual compound within a mixture of the like, hereby providing a mass spectrogram. The HSGC could be used for a wide range of applictions, including fast and real‐time spectrogram generator of volatile organic compounds during liquid‐biopsy, without the need of any immunochemistry‐staining and complex power‐hungry cryogenic machines; and wearable spectrometry that provide spectral signature of molecular profiles emiited from skin in the course of various dietry conditions.
Development, implementation, and refinement of a comprehensive postcardiac arrest care training course in Japan
Authors: Endo Tomoyuki , Gaieski David F. , Nagao Ken , Nonogi Hiroshi , Kikuchi Migaku , Arimoto Hideki , Hase Mamoru , Kasaoka Shunji , Takeda Satoshi , Hanada Hiroyuki , Tahara Yoshio , Takahashi Hiroshi , Kuroda Yasuhiro , Masao Nagayama , Matsushima Hisao ,   Japanese Circulation Society Emergency and Critical Care Committee
Published: October 2022

Aim

In Japan, no training course is dedicated to postcardiac arrest care (PCAC), including venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA‐ECMO); thus, faculty members of the Japanese Circulation Society developed an original, comprehensive PCAC training course. This report reviews the development, implementation, and refinement of this PCAC training course.

Methods

We examined the preserved data from the Japanese Circulation Society PCAC training courses between 2014 and 2020. Data related to the learning content and number of the attendees and instructors were collected and summarized.

Results

Sixteen courses were held between August 2014 and February 2020, before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. A total of 677 health care providers participated: 351 doctors, 225 nurses, 62 perfusionists, five emergency medical professionals, and two pharmacists. Thirty‐two attendees’ data were missing. The core learning contents of all the courses included a standardized postcardiac arrest algorithm, targeted temperature management, VA‐ECMO cannulation skills, and postcannulation management. Concerning curriculum evolution, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation simulation, postarrest neurological examination and monitoring, and ultrasound‐guided Seldinger technique training were added in the 4th, 5th, and 13th courses, respectively.

Conclusion

The Japanese Circulation Society PCAC training course has been developed and refined to provide an organized, comprehensive opportunity for health care providers to acquire specific knowledge and skills in PCAC and VA‐ECMO.
Archaeobotanical futures in the Indo‐Pacific
Authors: Denham Tim , Crowther Alison , Barron Aleese
Published: October 2022

This paper introduces several archaeobotanical papers published in the same issue of Archaeology in Oceania and presents strongly argued reasons why archaeobotany should become an important subdiscipline within archaeological research in the Indo‐Pacific.
Fullerene‐Derived Porous and Defective N‐Doped Carbon Nanosheets as Advanced Trifunctional Metal‐Free Electrocatalysts
Authors: He Zhimin , Zhou Ziwei , Wei Peng , Xu Ting , Han Jiantao , Huang Keke , Guo Kun , Huang Wenhuan , Akasaka Takeshi , Lu Xing
Published: October 2022

Dopants and defects are crucial for multifunctional carbon‐based metal‐free electrocatalysts, but the rational design and facile production remain as a big challenge. Herein, we report a novel strategy using salt‐assisted pyrolysis of derivatized fullerenes to fabricate defect‐rich and N‐doped carbon nanosheets. Molecular level modification of C60 via amination and hydroxylation gives rise to well‐defined fullerol molecules bearing N‐containing groups (FNG). Subsequent calcination of FNG and NaCl at 750 °C generates porous carbon nanosheets (FNCNs‐750) and turns the N‐containing groups into high‐level N dopants (12.43 at.%). Further pyrolysis of FNCNs‐750 at 900 °C (FNCNs‐900) leads to a reduced N content populated by graphitic‐N. Meanwhile, abundant intrinsic defects (e. g., topological defects and edges) are created due to the breakdown of fullerene cages and partial removal of edged N atoms. These structural features endow FNCNs‐900 with outstanding trifunctional catalytic performance, better than or close to the noble metal‐based benchmark catalysts.
An improved nonlinear extended state observer with adaptive variable gain
Authors: Yang Yang , Xie Yanqing , Dai Chunhui , Long Zhiqiang
Published: October 2022

This paper proposes an improved nonlinear extended observer with adaptive gain (ANESO), which can be applied to systems with large disturbance amplitude changes without parameter re‐tuning. An ANESO is added an adaptive factor to the gain of the original NESO. The expression of is obtained by assuming that nonlinear extended states observer (NESO) and linear extended states observer (LESO) has the same characteristic of steady‐state error when the amplitude of disturbance turns. On this basis, an adaptive adjustment algorithm based on tracking error is designed. In addition, the stability of the proposed ANESO is analyzed by using the Routh‐Hurwitz criterion. Finally, through simulation experiments, the observation performance of ANESO was compared with NESO and switching extended state observer (SESO). The experimental results demonstrate that the observation performance of ANESO is hardly affected by the disturbance amplitude, and moreover, its observation precision is higher than that of NESO and SESO.
NBDHEX re‐sensitizes adriamycin‐resistant breast cancer by inhibiting glutathione S‐transferase pi
Authors: Sha Huanhuan , Zou Renrui , Lu Ya , Gan Yujie , Ma Rong , Feng Jifeng , Chen Dan
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Adriamycin is a novel chemotherapeutic agent of great benefit for treating breast cancer. However, adriamycin ‐resistance remains a major obstacle. The vital Glutathione transferase P1 (GSTPi) inhibitor 6‐(7‐nitro‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazol‐4‐ylthio) hexanol (NBDHEX) has recently shown antitumor activity in various cancers. In this study, we analyzed the effect of NBDHEX and adriamycin combination against breast cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

CCK‐8 assay was performed to test cell viability. The location and expression level of GSTpi was determined by immunofluorescence and Western blot in cells and immunohistochemistry staining in tissues. The enzyme activity test was applied to detect the effect of NBDHEX on the activity of GSTpi. The apoptosis related proteins' expression was tested using Western blot. The phosphorylation sites of GSTpi were detected by mass spectrometry. Antitumor effects of single treatment or co‐administration of adriamycin and NBDHEX were evaluated in nude mice.

Results

NBDHEX treatment inhibited GSTpi enzyme activity and co‐administration of adriamycin and NBDHEX promoted apoptosis of adriamycin‐resistance breast cancer cell. Moreover, drug combination of NBDHEX and adriamycin significantly enhanced tumor growth inhibition compared with single agent.

Conclusion

NBDHEX serves as a good candidate for combination with adriamycin, offering new insights for breast cancer treatment.
Chemical and Bioactivity Diversity of 2‐(2‐Phenylethyl)chromones in Agarwood: A Review
Authors: Yu Meng , He Qing‐Qin , Chen Xi‐Qin , Feng Jian , Wie Jian‐He , Liu Yang‐Yang
Published: October 2022

2‐(2‐Phenylethyl)chromone derivatives are regarded as key components in agarwood. An oxygen‐containing heterocycle with a benzoannelated γ‐pyrone moiety form the bioactive core of 2‐(2‐phenylethyl)chromones. With different substituents and positions, 2‐(2‐phenylethyl)chromone derivatives exhibit diverse biological properties, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, anti‐inflammatory, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. In this review, we summarized the studies (from January 1976 to September 2021) on phytochemistry, bioactivity and quality control of 2‐(2‐phenylethyl)chromones. These studies aimed to clarify the chemical specificity, diversity and structure‐activity relationship of 2‐(2‐phenylethyl)chromones. In addition, we assumed that diverse factors such as tree species, induction methods and formation time contribute to the chemical diversity of 2‐(2‐phenylethyl)chromones. Furthermore, this review contends that different types of 2‐(2‐phenylethyl)chromones should be utilized in the quality control methods of agarwood.
COVID‐19 treatment: A potential cause of acute pancreatitis
Authors: Allam Magdy Mohamed , El‐Zawawy Hanaa Tarek , Ahmed Soha Magdy , Abdelhamid Mohamed Aly
Published: October 2022

Remdesivir can precipitate fatal acute necrotizing pancreatitis especially in patients who previously suffer from hypertriglyceridemia.
Detection of Cutibacterium acnes from multiple miliary osteoma cutis
Authors: Kondo Makoto , Yamanaka Keiichi
Published: October 2022

The patient had a history of acne vulgaris at a young age. The excisional biopsy from the nodule of the face showed the findings of multiple miliary osteoma cutis (MMOC). As Cutibacterium acnes were identified in calcified nodules, Cutibacterium acnes may be one of the triggering factors for MMOC. MMOC patients need proper skin care because the subcutaneous calcification is slowly formed even after middle age.
Two‐dimensional V2CTx In‐situ Derived Porous V2O3@C Flakes Towards Zinc‐Ion Capacitors as a Competitive Cathode Material
Authors: Chen Huaqing , Wang Yuyan , Liu Chanjuan , Hou Linrui , Sun Jinfeng , Yuan Changzhou
Published: October 2022

Zinc‐ion capacitors (ZICs) are promising electrochemical devices for energy storage due to their advantages including environmental friendliness, safety, and simple assembly. However, its application is still subject to modest rate and stable performance of the involved cathodes. In this work, we in‐situ fabricate a two‐dimensional flake‐shape framework containing amorphous carbon‐coated V2O3 nanowires (V2O3@C) by using few‐layered V2CTx (f‐V2CTx) as the raw material, and further utilize it as an appealing cathode material for ZICs. Thanks to the nanowires‐assembled porous architecture, conductive carbon coating, and rich defects through in‐situ lattice tunnel distortion of corundum‐type V2O3, the V2O3@C cathode delivers an excellent rate capability of ∼175 mAh g−1 at 8.0 A g−1, and the stable long‐term cycling behavior (∼168.0 mAh g−1 remained after 6500 cycle at 5.0 A g−1s). Furthermore, the V2O3@C based ZICs exhibit a specific energy density of ∼36.3 Wh kg−1 and a long‐term cycle life with a capacity retention value of 74.3% after 10,000 cycles at 1.0 A g−1. This highlights that our V2O3@C is a competitive cathode candidate for advanced ZICs.
Functional Human Serum Albumin as a Dual Phototherapeutic Nanoplatform for Triple‐negative Breast Cancer Therapy and Metastasis Inhibition
Authors: Li Sen , Tian Mengting , Cai Yanfei , Jin Jian , Yang Zhaoqi
Published: October 2022

The major obstacles to triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) therapy are metastasis and mortality rates, leading to the failure treatment of traditional chemotherapy. Therefore, low toxicity drugs and more effective therapeutic approaches are greatly desired. Considering the drawbacks of indocyanine green (ICG) and purpurin such as poor bioavailability and rapid blood clearance, an endogenous carrier material human serum albumin (HSA) was employed to construct the nanoplatform through hydrophobic interaction with the inspiration of successful delivery of paclitaxel. Herein, we developed and fabricated a new self‐assembled albumin‐based drug delivery system (ICG‐purpurin@HSA, HIP) with encapsulation of ICG and purpurin. Of note, compared to free ICG and purpurin, enhanced treatment efficiency was achieved by the HIP with the help of reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐heat‐induced damage and nutrient supply cutoff. Consequently, an efficient drug delivery platform based on photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) was proposed, revealing a promising strategy for TNBC treatment.
A comprehensive review of castor oil‐derived renewable and sustainable industrial products
Authors: Singh Shikha , Sharma Sumit , Sarma Saurabh Jyoti , Brar Satinder Kaur
Published: October 2022

Castor oil is one important raw material that could serve as a renewable feedstock for industries in the age of exhausting fossil fuels. The chemical composition of oil and the structure of hydroxyl fatty acid are responsible for its unique physicochemical properties. The oil has diverse applications from pharmaceuticals to polyamides, from the manufacturing of ski boots to durable frames, and from lubricants to laxatives. The present review gives an insight into the physicochemical properties of castor oil and its application. The oil is used for the production of a great variety of its derivatives. Out of many derivatives of castor oil, four are produced and utilized at a larger scale. The names of the four derivates are ricinoleic acid, sebacic acid, undecylenic acid, and γ‐decalactone. The review will aim toward an insight into the evolved techniques for the manufacturing of these derivatives of castor oil, the biotechnological route of production, and metabolic engineering approaches. Though the industrial significance of castor oil and its derivatives had been known for ages, methods for their production are continuously changing.
An artificial‐intelligence‐based age‐specific template construction framework for brain structural analysis using magnetic resonance images
Authors: Gu Dongdong , Shi Feng , Hua Rui , Wei Ying , Li Yufei , Zhu Jiayu , Zhang Weijun , Zhang Han , Yang Qing , Huang Peiyu , Jiang Yi , Bo Bin , Li Yao , Zhang Yaoyu , Zhang Minming , Wu Jinsong , Shi Hongcheng , Liu Siwei , He Qiang , Zhang Qiang , Zhang Xu , Wei Hongjiang , Liu Guocai , Xue Zhong , Shen Dinggang ,   the Consortium of Chinese Brain Molecular and Functional Mapping (CBMFM)
Published: October 2022

It is an essential task to construct brain templates and analyze their anatomical structures in neurological and cognitive science. Generally, templates constructed from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a group of subjects can provide a standard reference space for analyzing the structural and functional characteristics of the group. With recent development of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, it is desirable to explore AI registration methods for quantifying age‐specific brain variations and tendencies across different ages. In this article, we present an AI‐based age‐specific template construction (called ASTC) framework for longitudinal structural brain analysis using T1‐weighted MRIs of 646 subjects from 18 to 82 years old collected from four medical centers. Altogether, 13 longitudinal templates were constructed at a 5‐year age interval using ASTC, and tissue segmentation and substructure parcellation were performed for analysis across different age groups. The results indicated consistent changes in brain structures along with aging and demonstrated the capability of ASTC for longitudinal neuroimaging study.
Influence of the COVID‐19 pandemic on self‐reported urinary incontinence during pregnancy and postpartum: A prospective study
Authors: Ferrari Amerigo , Corazza Ilaria , Mannella Paolo , Simoncini Tommaso , Bonciani Manila
Published: October 2022

Objective

To explore how the COVID‐19 pandemic influenced self‐reported occurrence and severity of pregnancy‐related urinary incontinence (UI) in the maternity pathways of Tuscany, Italy.

Methods

In this prospective pre‐post cohort study, we selected a pre‐pandemic (n = 1018) and a post‐pandemic (n = 3911) cohorts of women that completed, from the first trimester until 3 months postpartum, three surveys including validated patient‐reported outcome measures for UI. Data were obtained from systematic surveys on the maternity pathways of Tuscany from March 2019 to June 2021. We performed panel regression models to explore how UI risk differed between COVID‐19 groups.

Results

UI occurred less frequently and less severely in post‐pandemic patients—especially stress/mixed UI in women never performing pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT)—whereas no difference emerged in women performing during‐pregnancy PFMT. During COVID‐19, obese women had higher risk of UI, whereas women undergoing operative delivery had lower risk. The post‐pandemic group reported more severe UI symptoms at the third trimester, but less severe UI postpartum in women suffering from UI during pregnancy.

Conclusions

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, women reported fewer UI symptoms because they might have lacked chances to identify UI symptoms as a result of pandemic‐related sedentarism and inactivity. The risk in women performing during‐pregnancy PFMT was not increased, but just six of 26 health districts organized remote PFMT sessions, thus revealing limited resilience to the pandemic in Tuscany.
Changes of vaginal microecology of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Xiao Sha , Zhang Qianqian , Zhang Ming , Hu Rong , Liu Rong
Published: October 2022

Synopsis

Abnormal vaginal microecology increases the frequency of adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes.
An automatic channel selection method based on the standard deviation of wavelet coefficients for motor imagery based brain–computer interfacing
Authors: Mahamune Rupesh , Laskar Shahedul H.
Published: October 2022

The redundant data in multichannel electroencephalogram (EEG) signals significantly reduces the performance of brain–computer interface (BCI) systems. By removing redundant channels, a channel selection strategy increases the classification accuracy of BCI systems. In this work, a novel channel selection method (stdWC) based on the standard deviation of wavelet coefficients across channels is proposed to identify Motor Imagery (MI) based EEG signals. The wavelet coefficients are calculated by employing a Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) filter bank to decompose each trial from the EEG channel. The wavelet coefficient's standard deviation values are obtained across the channels, and these values are then sorted to determine the EEG channels with the highest standard deviation values. The channels with the largest wavelet coefficient divergence are chosen. MI trials are then spatially filtered with the Common Spatial Pattern (CSP), and CWT filter bank‐based 2D images are generated from the spatially filtered trials. These images are then classified using a unique nine‐layered convolutional neural network (CNN) model that combines two feature maps acquired with differing filter sizes. The proposed framework (stdWC‐CSP‐CNN) is evaluated using kappa score and classification accuracy on two publically accessible datasets (BCI Competition III dataset IVa and BCI Competition IV dataset 2a). The suggested framework achieved a mean test classification accuracy of 88.8% for dataset IVa from BCI Competition III and 75.03% for dataset 2a from BCI Competition IV, according to the results. The proposed channel selection method outperforms the other channel selection methods examined, according to the results. By rejecting redundant channels, the whole framework can improve the performance of MI‐based BCIs.
28‐day repeated dose toxicity and toxicokinetics study on new melatonergic antidepressant GW117 in beagle dogs
Authors: Gao Mei , Chen Kai , Gu Wei , Liu Xiaoyu , Liu Tianbin , Ying Yong , Cao Chong , Zhang Yanhua , Zhang Daizhou , Yang Guiwen
Published: October 2022

GW117 is new melatonergic antidepressant being developed to show better antidepressant action than agomelatine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the toxicity and to determine potential target organs after oral (gavage) administration of the test article GW117 for 28 days and to assess the reversibility after a 4‐week recovery phase in beagle dogs. Toxicokinetics was also evaluated. Four groups were designed in this study, including the vehicle control group and the GW117 50, 150 and 500 mg/kg/day groups, with 5 dogs/sex/group. Body weight, hematology, clinical chemistry, gross necropsy, organ weight, histopathology, and other indicators were examined. Results showed that animals dosed at ≥150 mg/kg/day showed gastrointestinal reactions (watery feces and dark green/red brown feces), with a dose–response relationship in the incidence and severity grade. Female dogs at 500 mg/kg/day had an increase in organ weight and ratios of the liver at the end of the dosing phase. Histopathology examination showed that some animals at 500 mg/kg/day, especially female animals, had minimal centrilobular hepatocyte hypertrophy in the liver, which reversed after 28‐day recovery. With the exception of the above, no GW117‐related abnormality was noted. Meanwhile, there were no sexual differences in drug exposure and accumulation after the first and last dosing. The no observed adverse effect dose level (NOAEL) was 150 mg/kg/day, under which mean Cmax and AUC0 → t were 583.5 and 2767.0 ng/ml*h for females and 663.2 and 4046.3 ng/ml*h for males on Day 28.
Preparation, physicochemical characterization, and in vitro and in vivo osteogenic evaluation of a bioresorbable, moldable, hydroxyapatite/poly(caprolactone‐co‐lactide) bone substitute
Authors: Wu Yuhan , Zeng Wenyi , Xu Jiayun , Sun Yang , Huang Yucheng , Xiang Dong , Zhang Chenguang , Fu Zheng , Deng Feilong , Yu Dongsheng
Published: October 2022

Use of bioresorbable artificial bone substitutes is anticipated for bone augmentation in dental implant surgery because they are relatively economical and uniform in quality compared to heterogeneous bone. In this study, a new shapable, rubbery, bioresorbable bone substitute was developed. The material was prepared by ultrasonically dispersing hydroxyapatite (HA) particles throughout a poly (caprolactone‐co‐lactide) (PCLLA) rubbery matrix. Physiochemical properties of the bone substitute including its composition, deformability, anti‐collapse ability, degradation behavior, and in vitro and in vivo osteogenic ability were evaluated. Results revealed that HA/PCLLA, which consists of homogeneously dispersed HA particles and a rubbery matrix composed of PCLLA, possesses a deformable capacity. The result of the mass retention rate of the material indicated an excellent durability in an aqueous environment. Further, the effects of HA/PCLLA on cell functions and bone‐regenerated performance were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that HA/PCLLA had enhanced proliferative capacity, and ability to undergo osteogenic differentiation and mineralization in vitro. It was also found that HA/PCLLA had an appropriate degradation rate to induce consecutive new bone formation without collapse at the early stage in vivo, as well as the ability to maintain the contour of the bone‐grafting area, which is comparable to the deproteinized bovine bone mineral. These results indicated that HA/PCLLA is a promising bioresorbable bone substitute with properties that meet clinical requirements, including deformability, resistance to collapse in an aqueous environment, appropriate early‐stage degradation rate, biocompatibility, osteogenic bioactivity and the capacity to regenerate bone tissue with favorable contour.
Multiple sensitive eco‐friendly analytical approaches for the determination of two fourth‐generation fluoroquinolones: Application to stability study and content uniformity testing
Authors: El Gammal Reem N. , El‐Wasseef Dalia R. , El‐Ashry Saadia M. , Hammouda Mohammed E. A.
Published: October 2022

Multiple sensitive eco‐friendly analytical techniques were applied for the assessment of two important fourth‐generation fluoroquinolones namely, gemifloxacin (GFX), and gatifloxacin (GTF). GFX, which is utilized as an essential adjunct therapy for the management of pneumonia in SARS‐CoV‐2 was determined by green indicating micellar liquid chromatographic in authentic powder and dosage forms. The separation was performed by using a reversed‐phase C18 column; the micellar mobile phase comprised of 12.5% n‐propanol, 0.15 M sodium lauryl sulfate, and 0.3% triethylamine in 0.02 M O‐phosphoric acid adjusted to pH 3.0 and pumped at 1 ml/min flow rate and detected at 266 nm by UV detection. The method was linear over the range of 4.0–90 μg.ml−1 with a recovery percentage of 99.81 ± 0.69. The acidic degradation behavior of GFX along with the kinetic investigation was evaluated as recommended by ICH‐stress conditions. The separation of the degradation product was performed in good elution time (less than 8 min), and the suggested technique has a good reproducibility (R.S.D. less than 1.0%) and provides an excellent resolution (Rs = 4.5) between GFX and its degradation product. Concerning the second drug, GTF, simple, extremely sensitive, and accurate spectrofluorimetric and spectrophotometric techniques were adopted for the determination of the drug in its pharmaceutical preparations. The suggested approaches utilize the concept of complex formation with eosin Y in an aqueous buffered solution. Regarding the spectrophotometric method (method I), the binary complex has a maximum absorption at 544 nm, while for spectrofluorimetric determination (method II) the formed complex was recorded at λem 491 nm after excitation at 286 nm. For both approaches, variables affecting the formation of the binary complexes were extensively investigated and optimized. The suggested techniques were shown to be rectilinear across the concentration range of 0.5–8 and 0.05–1 μg.ml−1, respectively, with recovery percentages of 100.34 ± 0.85 and 99.90 ± 0.81 for method (I) and method (II), respectively. In compliance with ICH guidelines, the analytical performance of the suggested techniques was thoroughly validated. Moreover, uniformity testing was also applied successfully for the evaluation of GFX by the proposed micellar liquid chromatographic method. To ensure the proposed methodology's greenness, The AGREE calculator software was adopted and the results obtained revealed an excellent greenness of the proposed approaches.