bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research of the Flow Attenuation Mechanism of a Double-Suction Pump
Authors: Meng Dongrong , Jiang Ting , Liu Zhengguang , Zhao Meng , Jiang Wei , Hou Gaoyang
Published: March 2022

As an important machine for energy conversion and fluid transmission, centrifugal pump has the advantages of high efficiency, reliable performance, and easy adjustment. In order to improve the stability of the pump, this article adopts the method of experimental and numerical simulation in the pump and studies the variation of the vibration characteristics in the operation process. Based on the numerical simulation results, the intake condition and the cavitation inside the centrifugal pump are analyzed and summarized, which reveals the flow attenuation mechanism of a pumping station. The main results of the work reported in this article are as follows: 1) Various experimental schemes to monitor the vibration of centrifugal pumps in real time have been designed. The vibration characteristics of the pumps have been significantly improved by adding special trash barriers. 2) The gas entering the pump was not enough to affect the normal operation of the pump, but cavitation did occur in the actual operation process. 3) The critical net positive suction head under the three conditions is calculated to be 8.9, 10.9, and 12.9 m, respectively.
Afraid of the Dark? The Influence of Natural and Artificial Light at Night on the Behavioral Activity of a Nocturnal Gecko
Authors: Nordberg Eric J. , Schwarzkopf Lin
Published: March 2022

Both natural and artificial light at night can strongly influence animal behavior. Nocturnal animals often alter activity dependent on lunar light levels, to increase prey capture, minimize detection by predators, or both. Trade-offs among these ecological effects are likely to have a strong influence on behavior and fitness. Here, we examined the influence of light at night on nocturnal geckos that are both predators and prey, and use both natural and anthropogenic habitats. We tested the influence of illumination on the relative abundance and behavioral activity of native geckos in natural woodlands and under laboratory conditions. We hypothesized that Australian native house geckos (Gehyra dubia) would avoid activity on nights with high moon brightness, to minimize exposure to predators, consistent with the predation risk hypothesis. Counter to our prediction, we found a positive relationship between house gecko activity and moon brightness, i.e., house geckos were more active on bright nights. This behavior may allow house geckos to better see their prey while also increasing the visibility of approaching predators. In the laboratory, house geckos had shorter latency times to emerge from a shelter under low light conditions compared to darkness equivalent to a new moon, a trend consistent with higher activity under brighter conditions in the field. Light at night, from both natural and artificial sources, clearly influences the behavior and activity of geckos, but perhaps not in the ways we expect. Reducing the risk of attack from predators in darkness, and increasing prey capture success using vision, may increase the benefits of activity in lit conditions, compared to total darkness.
Design for an Individual: Connectionist Approaches to the Evolutionary Transitions in Individuality
Authors: Watson Richard A. , Levin Michael , Buckley Christopher L.
Published: March 2022

The truly surprising thing about evolution is not how it makes individuals better adapted to their environment, but how it makes individuals. All individuals are made of parts that used to be individuals themselves, e.g., multicellular organisms from unicellular organisms. In such evolutionary transitions in individuality, the organised structure of relationships between component parts causes them to work together, creating a new organismic entity and a new evolutionary unit on which selection can act. However, the principles of these transitions remain poorly understood. In particular, the process of transition must be explained by “bottom-up” selection, i.e., on the existing lower-level evolutionary units, without presupposing the higher-level evolutionary unit we are trying to explain. In this hypothesis and theory manuscript we address the conditions for evolutionary transitions in individuality by exploiting adaptive principles already known in learning systems.Connectionistlearning models, well-studied in neural networks, demonstrate how networks of organised functional relationships between components, sufficient to exhibit information integration and collective action, can be produced via fully-distributed and unsupervised learning principles, i.e., without centralised control or an external teacher. Evolutionary connectionism translates these distributed learning principles into the domain of natural selection, and suggests how relationships among evolutionary units could become adaptively organised by selection from below without presupposing genetic relatedness or selection on collectives. In this manuscript, we address how connectionist models with a particular interaction structure might explain transitions in individuality. We explore the relationship between the interaction structures necessary for (a) evolutionary individuality (where the evolution of the whole is a non-decomposable function of the evolution of the parts), (b) organismic individuality (where the development and behaviour of the whole is a non-decomposable function of the behaviour of component parts) and (c) non-linearly separable functions, familiar in connectionist models (where the output of the network is a non-decomposable function of the inputs). Specifically, we hypothesise that the conditions necessary to evolve a new level of individuality are described by the conditions necessary to learn non-decomposable functions of this type (or deep model induction) familiar in connectionist models of cognition and learning.
Volcanically-Induced Environmental and Floral Changes Across the Triassic-Jurassic (T-J) Transition
Authors: Zhang Peixin , Lu Jing , Yang Minfang , Bond David P. G. , Greene Sarah E. , Liu Le , Zhang Yuanfu , Wang Ye , Wang Ziwei , Li Shan , Shao Longyi , Hilton Jason
Published: March 2022

The End-Triassic Mass Extinction (ETME) saw the catastrophic loss of ca. 50% of marine genera temporally associated with emplacement of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP). However, the effects of the ETME on land is a controversial topic. Evaluation of the disparate cause(s) and effects of the extinction requires additional, detailed terrestrial records of these events. Here, we present a multidisciplinary record of volcanism and environmental change from an expanded Triassic-Jurassic (T-J) transition preserved in lacustrine sediments from the Jiyuan Basin, North China. High-resolution chemostratigraphy, palynological, kerogen, and sedimentological data reveal that terrestrial conditions responded to and were defined by large-scale volcanism. The record of sedimentary mercury reveals two discrete CAMP eruptive phases during the T-J transition. Each of these can be correlated with large, negative C isotope excursions (CIE-I of −4.7‰; CIE-II of −2.9‰), significantly reduced plant diversity (with ca. 45 and 44% generic losses, respectively), enhanced wildfire (marked by increased fusinite or charcoal content), and major climatic shifts toward drier and hotter conditions (indicated by the occurrence of calcareous nodules, increased Classopollis pollen content, and PCA analysis). Our results show that CAMP eruptions may have followed a bimodal eruptive model and demonstrate the powerful ability of large-scale volcanism to alter the global C cycle and profoundly affect the climate, in turn leading to enhanced wildfires and a collapse in land plant diversity during the T-J transition.
Estimating the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Related Lockdown on Utilization of Maternal and Perinatal Health Services in an Urban Neighborhood in Delhi, India
Authors: Sinha Bireshwar , Dudeja Nonita , Mazumder Sarmila , Kumar Tivendra , Adhikary Priyanka , Roy Nivedita , Rongsen Chandola Temsunaro , Mehta Rajesh , Raina Neena , Bhandari Nita
Published: March 2022

Objective

To estimate utilization of maternal, perinatal healthcare services after the lockdown was implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the period before.

Methods

This study conducted in Dakshinpuri, an urban neighborhood in Delhi, reports data over a 13-month period which includes the period “before lockdown” i.e., October 1, 2019 to March 21, 2020 and “after lockdown” i.e., March 22 to November 5, 2020. The period “after lockdown” included the lockdown phase (March 22 to May 31, 2020) and unlock phase (June 1 to November 5, 2020). Mothers delivered during this period in the study area were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted in a subsample to understand the experiences, challenges, and factors for underutilization of healthcare services.

Findings

The survey covered a total population of 21,025 in 4,762 households; 199 eligible mothers (mean age 27.4 years) were interviewed. In women who delivered after lockdown against before lockdown, adjusted odds of having >2 antenatal care visits in the third trimester was 80% lower (aOR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1–0.5); proportion of institutional deliveries was lower (93 vs. 97%); exclusive breastfeeding during first 6 months of birth (64.5 vs. 75.7%) and health worker home visitation within 6 weeks of birth (median, 1 vs. 3 visits) were substantially lower. Fear of contracting COVID-19, poor quality of services, lack of transportation and financial constraints were key issues faced by mothers in accessing health care. More than three-fourth (81%) of the mothers reported feeling down, depressed or hopeless after lockdown. The major factors for stress during lockdown was financial reasons (70%), followed by health-related concerns.

Conclusion

COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdown substantially affected maternal and perinatal healthcare utilization and service delivery.
AQP2 Promotes Astrocyte Activation by Modulating the TLR4/NFκB-p65 Pathway Following Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Deng Shuwen , Chen Xiqian , Lei Qiang , Lu Wei
Published: March 2022

Microglial and astrocyte activation and related cytokine secretion play key roles in secondary brain injury following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We assessed the role of aquaporin (AQP)2 in immune response after ICH. We prospectively collected data from 33 patients with ICH and analyzed the serum AQP2 levels in these patients and age-matched healthy controls. A correlation analysis was also performed between patient serum AQP2 levels and clinical factors. In the rat ICH model, double-fluorescence staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and AQP2 was performed to investigate the relationship between astrocytes and AQP2. Relative mRNA expression levels of GFAP and AQP2 were also measured. In the rat astrocyte cell line CTX-TNA2, toll-like receptor (TLR)4/nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB)-p65 pathway activation and GFAP levels were measured. The indirect influence of AQP2 on microglial polarization was assessed following exposure to the medium of astrocytes treated with AQP2-overexpression plasmid or silencing RNA. We found that the serum AQP2 expression was lower in patients with ICH. Sex and blood neutrophil count influenced serum AQP2 concentrations in patients with ICH on admission. Lower serum AQP2 levels were inversely correlated with 90-day Modified Rankin Scale scores after ICH, but were not correlated with National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) scores on admission. AQP2 overexpression and localization in GFAP-labeled astrocytes were observed in rats. AQP2 overexpression induced astrocyte activation with GFAP upregulation via TLR/NFκB-p65 signaling pathway activation in the rat astrocyte cell line CTX-TNA2. Astrocyte activation promoted interleukin-1β secretion. The medium of AQP2-overexpression astrocytes promoted the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype in the immortal rat (HAPI) microglial cell line. Therefore, serum AQP2 is negatively correlated with post-ICH prognosis and may be a marker of inflammation in early-stage ICH. AQP2 overexpression promotes astrocyte activation and pro-inflammatory secretion, affects astrocyte-microglia crosstalk, and indirectly induces microglial polarization, which may augment inflammation after ICH.
Physical Characteristics and Evolution of a Long-Lasting Mesoscale Cyclonic Eddy in the Straits of Florida
Authors: Zhang Yingjun , Hu Chuanmin , Kourafalou Vassiliki H. , Liu Yonggang , McGillicuddy Dennis J. , Barnes Brian B. , Hummon Julia M.
Published: March 2022

Ocean eddies along the Loop Current (LC)/Florida Current (FC) front have been studied for decades, yet studies of the entire evolution of individual eddies are rare. Here, satellite altimetry and ocean color observations, Argo profiling float records and shipborne acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements, together with high-resolution simulations from the global Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) are used to investigate the physical and biochemical properties, 3-dimensional (3-D) structure, and evolution of a long-lasting cyclonic eddy (CE) in the Straits of Florida (SoF) along the LC/FC front during April–August 2017. An Angular Momentum Eddy Detection Algorithm (AMEDA) is used to detect and track the CE during its evolution process. The long-lasting CE is found to form along the eastern edge of the LC on April 9th, and remained quasi-stationary for about 3 months (April 23 to July 15) off the Dry Tortugas (DT) until becoming much smaller due to its interaction with the FC and topography. This frontal eddy is named a Tortugas Eddy (TE) and is characterized with higher Chlorophyll (Chl) and lower temperature than surrounding waters, with a mean diameter of ∼100 km and a penetrating depth of ∼800 m. The mechanisms that contributed to the growth and evolution of this long-lasting TE are also explored, which reveal the significant role of oceanic internal instability.
Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Responses of Argopecten irradians concentricus to Thermal Stresses
Authors: Song Junlin , Liu Bo , Wang Chunde
Published: March 2022

The bay scallop southern subspecies, Argopecten irradians concentricus, which is widely cultured in southern China waters, is a eurythermal animal that is more adaptive to high-temperature waters but less tolerant to low-temperature waters. Despite that temperature is one of the most dominant environmental factors affecting dramatically its growth, survival, and hence production, the mechanism underlying the responses to thermal stress has not been explored in this animal. In this study, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were carried out in the adductor muscles of the bay scallop southern subspecies exposed to low and high thermal stresses. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in the calcium ion, kinase activity, phosphatase activity, and lipid-related pathways in the group exposed to thermal stress, while most DEGs were enriched in the RNA processing pathways in the group exposed to low-temperature thermal stress. A large number of differentially expressed transcription factors involved in oxidation-reduction process, membrane-related pathways, transmembrane signaling receptor activity, and transduction-related pathways were induced by exposure to thermal stress. Results from metabolomic analyses showed that the retinol metabolism, inositol phosphate metabolism, and phosphatidylinositol pathways may be involved in the responses to high thermal stress, while more signaling pathways were enriched in the group exposed to low thermal stress. Integrated analyses of the transcriptomic and metabolomic data indicated that the degradation of valine, leucine, and isoleucine and the tricarboxylic acid cycle may be the major events induced by low and high thermal stress, and the retinol pathway may play critical roles in the responses of the scallops to high thermal stress. It seems that the bay scallop southern species have evolved distinct pathways in dealing with low and high thermal stress. Our results may provide useful information for marker-assisted selection of high-resistant strains in this scallop.
A National Scale “BioBlitz” Using Citizen Science and eDNA Metabarcoding for Monitoring Coastal Marine Fish
Authors: Agersnap Sune , Sigsgaard Eva Egelyng , Jensen Mads Reinholdt , Avila Marcelo De Paula , Carl Henrik , Møller Peter Rask , Krøs Simon Leed , Knudsen Steen Wilhelm , Wisz Mary S. , Thomsen Philip Francis
Published: March 2022

Marine biodiversity is threatened by human activities. To understand the changes happening in aquatic ecosystems and to inform management, detailed, synoptic monitoring of biodiversity across large spatial extents is needed. Such monitoring is challenging due to the time, cost, and specialized skills that this typically requires. In an unprecedented study, we combined citizen science with eDNA metabarcoding to map coastal fish biodiversity at a national scale. We engaged 360 citizen scientists to collect filtered seawater samples from 100 sites across Denmark over two seasons (1 p.m. on September 29th 2019 and May 10th 2020), and by sampling at nearly the exact same time across all 100 sites, we obtained an overview of fish biodiversity largely unaffected by temporal variation. This would have been logistically impossible for the involved scientists without the help of volunteers. We obtained a high return rate of 94% of the samples, and a total richness of 52 fish species, representing approximately 80% of coastal Danish fish species and approximately 25% of all Danish marine fish species. We retrieved distribution patterns matching known occurrence for both invasive, endangered, and cryptic species, and detected seasonal variation in accordance with known phenology. Dissimilarity of eDNA community compositions increased with distance between sites. Importantly, comparing our eDNA data with National Fish Atlas data (the latter compiled from a century of observations) we found positive correlation between species richness values and a congruent pattern of community compositions. These findings support the use of eDNA-based citizen science to detect patterns in biodiversity, and our approach is readily scalable to other countries, or even regional and global scales. We argue that future large-scale biomonitoring will benefit from using citizen science combined with emerging eDNA technology, and that such an approach will be important for data-driven biodiversity management and conservation.
Impact of Wave–Current Interactions on the Detachment of Low-Salinity Water From Changjiang River Plume and Its Subsequent Evolution
Authors: Jiang Zhipeng , Song Dehai , Wei Qinsheng , Ding Yang
Published: March 2022

The evolution of low-salinity water (LSW) detached from river plumes is critical to coastal systems and inner-shelf biogeochemical processes. In this study, the impact of wave–current interactions on the LSW detachment from the Changjiang River plume and its subsequent evolution is explored. Waves can advance the detachment of LSW through enhancing the vertical mixing, the northward intrusion of the inshore branch of the Taiwan Warm Current, and the upwelling. The wave-enhanced vertical mixing increases the core salinity of the initially isolated LSW and the growth rate of the core salinity during its subsequent evolution. Waves can lengthen the journey of the isolated LSW and accelerate its movement. Five wave–current interaction processes are compared and it is found that the wave-induced form drag contributes the most to the LSW detachment and its subsequent evolution. It enhances the vertical mixing and alters the wave-driven flow through the vertical transfer of wave-generated pressure to the momentum equation and the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) equations. The wave dissipation working in the TKE equations weakens the northeastward flow off the Changjiang River estuary, which restrains the diluted water expansion. The current advection and refraction of wave energy contribute most to the enhancement of the double-core upwelling system.
Antibiotic Therapy and Vaginal Microbiota Transplantation Reduce Endometriosis Disease Progression in Female Mice via NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Authors: Lu Feilei , Wei Jing , Zhong Yanying , Feng Ying , Ma Bo , Xiong Yifei , Wei Kehong , Tan Buzhen , Chen Tingtao
Published: March 2022

Endometriosis (EMS) is a disease characterized by estrogen-dependent, chronic inflammatory, and annoying symptoms, which inflicts about 10% reproductive-age women. The diagnosis of endometriosis mainly depends on pathological examination after surgical resection while the pathogenesis of EMS is not clear enough. Surgical resection and drug therapy (including painkillers and hormone therapy, especially gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs, GnRH-a) are widely used, but they are expensive and have many side effects. There are few studies on vaginal microorganisms in women with endometriosis. We collected vaginal secretions from women with EMS confirmed by pathology and demonstrated that they were different from that of healthy women by 16s rRNA high-throughput sequencing. Additionally, we established the EMS model in female mice by intraperitoneally injecting fragments from donor mice (3-week growth). Then, the mice were treated with mixed antibiotics (vagina) and NF-κB signaling pathway inhibitors (intraperitoneal injection), respectively. The result suggested that the ectopic lesions were inhibited. In addition, inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in peritoneal fluid, cell proliferation marker ki-67, and macrophage marker Iba-1 in ectopic lesions decreased significantly from that of mock mice. We also observed similar results as above by vaginal microbiota transplantation (VMT) and subcutaneous injection of leuprorelin acetate (LA, one of GnRH-a) for mice with EMS. These results showed that vaginal use of antibiotics or VMT is helpful to treat endometriosis in mice. However, due to the great difference between human and mouse vaginal microbiota, its mechanism and clinical transformation application still need to be further studied in the future.
Prediction of Refractive Error Based on Ultrawide Field Images With Deep Learning Models in Myopia Patients
Authors: Yang Danjuan , Li Meiyan , Li Weizhen , Wang Yunzhe , Niu Lingling , Shen Yang , Zhang Xiaoyu , Fu Bo , Zhou Xingtao
Published: March 2022

Ultrawide field fundus images could be applied in deep learning models to predict the refractive error of myopic patients. The predicted error was related to the older age and greater spherical power.

Purpose

To explore the possibility of predicting the refractive error of myopic patients by applying deep learning models trained with ultrawide field (UWF) images.

Methods

UWF fundus images were collected from left eyes of 987 myopia patients of Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University between November 2015 and January 2019. The fundus images were all captured with Optomap Daytona, a 200° UWF imaging device. Three deep learning models (ResNet-50, Inception-v3, Inception-ResNet-v2) were trained with the UWF images for predicting refractive error. 133 UWF fundus images were also collected after January 2021 as an the external validation data set. The predicted refractive error was compared with the “true value” measured by subjective refraction. Mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and coefficient (R2) value were calculated in the test set. The Spearman rank correlation test was applied for univariate analysis and multivariate linear regression analysis on variables affecting MAE. The weighted heat map was generated by averaging the predicted weight of each pixel.

Results

ResNet-50, Inception-v3 and Inception-ResNet-v2 models were trained with the UWF images for refractive error prediction with R2 of 0.9562, 0.9555, 0.9563 and MAE of 1.72(95%CI: 1.62–1.82), 1.75(95%CI: 1.65–1.86) and 1.76(95%CI: 1.66–1.86), respectively. 29.95%, 31.47% and 29.44% of the test set were within the predictive error of 0.75D in the three models. 64.97%, 64.97%, and 64.47% was within 2.00D predictive error. The predicted MAE was related to older age (P < 0.01) and greater spherical power(P < 0.01). The optic papilla and macular region had significant predictive power in the weighted heat map.

Conclusions

It was feasible to predict refractive error in myopic patients with deep learning models trained by UWF images with the accuracy to be improved.
NMR Assignment of Methyl Groups in Immobilized Proteins Using Multiple-Bond 13C Homonuclear Transfers, Proton Detection, and Very Fast MAS
Authors: Paluch Piotr , Augustyniak Rafal , Org Mai-Liis , Vanatalu Kalju , Kaldma Ats , Samoson Ago , Stanek Jan
Published: March 2022

In nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of proteins, methyl protons play a particular role as extremely sensitive reporters on dynamics, allosteric effects, and protein–protein interactions, accessible even in high-molecular-weight systems approaching 1 MDa. The notorious issue of their chemical shift assignment is addressed here by a joint use of solid-state 1H-detected methods at very fast (nearly 100 kHz) magic-angle spinning, partial deuteration, and high-magnetic fields. The suitability of a series of RF schemes is evaluated for the efficient coherence transfer across entire 13C side chains of methyl-containing residues, which is key for establishing connection between methyl and backbone 1H resonances. The performance of ten methods for recoupling of either isotropic 13C–13C scalar or anisotropic dipolar interactions (five variants of TOBSY, FLOPSY, DIPSI, WALTZ, RFDR, and DREAM) is evaluated experimentally at two state-of-the-art magic-angle spinning (55 and 94.5 kHz) and static magnetic field conditions (18.8 and 23.5 T). Model isotopically labeled compounds (alanine and Met-Leu-Phe tripeptide) and ILV-methyl and amide-selectively protonated, and otherwise deuterated chicken α-spectrin SH3 protein are used as convenient reference systems. Spin dynamics simulations in SIMPSON are performed to determine optimal parameters of these RF schemes, up to recently experimentally attained spinning frequencies (200 kHz) and B0 field strengths (28.2 T). The concept of linearization of 13C side chain by appropriate isotope labeling is revisited and showed to significantly increase sensitivity of methyl-to-backbone correlations. A resolution enhancement provided by 4D spectroscopy with non-uniform (sparse) sampling is demonstrated to remove ambiguities in simultaneous resonance assignment of methyl proton and carbon chemical shifts.
Electrophysiological Properties of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons Correlate With Expression of Tyrosine Hydroxylase
Authors: Rakovic Aleksandar , Voß Dorothea , Vulinovic Franca , Meier Britta , Hellberg Ann-Katrin , Nau Carla , Klein Christine , Leipold Enrico
Published: March 2022

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based generation of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive (TH+) dopaminergic neurons (DNs) is a powerful method for creating patient-specific in vitro models to elucidate mechanisms underlying Parkinson’s disease (PD) at the cellular and molecular level and to perform drug screening. However, currently available differentiation paradigms result in highly heterogeneous cell populations, often yielding a disappointing fraction (<50%) of the PD-relevant TH+ DNs. To facilitate the targeted analysis of this cell population and to characterize their electrophysiological properties, we employed CRISPR/Cas9 technology and generated an mCherry-based human TH reporter iPSC line. Subsequently, reporter iPSCs were subjected to dopaminergic differentiation using either a “floor plate protocol” generating DNs directly from iPSCs or an alternative method involving iPSC-derived neuronal precursors (NPC-derived DNs). To identify the strategy with the highest conversion efficiency to mature neurons, both cultures were examined for a period of 8 weeks after triggering neuronal differentiation by means of immunochemistry and single-cell electrophysiology. We confirmed that mCherry expression correlated with the expression of endogenous TH and that genetic editing did neither affect the differentiation process nor the endogenous TH expression in iPSC- and NPC-derived DNs. Although both cultures yielded identical proportions of TH+ cells (≈30%), whole-cell patch-clamp experiments revealed that iPSC-derived DNs gave rise to larger currents mediated by voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels, showed a higher degree of synaptic activity, and fired trains of mature spontaneous action potentials more frequently compared to NPC-derived DNs already after 2 weeks in differentiation. Moreover, spontaneous action potential firing was more frequently detected in TH+ neurons compared to the TH– cells, providing direct evidence that these two neuronal subpopulations exhibit different intrinsic electrophysiological properties. In summary, the data reveal substantial differences in the electrophysiological properties of iPSC-derived TH+ and TH– neuronal cell populations and that the “floor plate protocol” is particularly efficient in generating electrophysiologically mature TH+ DNs, which are the most vulnerable neuronal subtype in PD.
The Application of Brain-Computer Interface in Upper Limb Dysfunction After Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Peng Yang , Wang Jing , Liu Zicai , Zhong Lida , Wen Xin , Wang Pu , Gong Xiaoqian , Liu Huiyu
Published: March 2022

Objective

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness and safety of the Brain-computer interface (BCI) in treatment of upper limb dysfunction after stroke.

Methods

English and Chinese electronic databases were searched up to July 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were eligible. The methodological quality was assessed using Cochrane’s risk-of-bias tool. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4.

Results

A total of 488 patients from 16 RCTs were included. The results showed that (1) the meta-analysis of BCI-combined treatment on the improvement of the upper limb function showed statistical significance [standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.53, 95% CI: 0.26–0.80, P < 0.05]; (2) BCI treatment can improve the abilities of daily living of patients after stroke, and the analysis results are statistically significant (SMD: 1.67, 95% CI: 0.61–2.74, P < 0.05); and (3) the BCI-combined therapy was not statistically significant for the analysis of the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) (SMD: −0.10, 95% CI: −0.50 to 0.30, P = 0.61).

Conclusion

The meta-analysis indicates that the BCI therapy or BCI combined with other therapies such as conventional rehabilitation training and motor imagery training can improve upper limb dysfunction after stroke and enhance the quality of daily life.
Effects of Different Degrees of Extraluminal Compression on Hemodynamics in a Prominent Transverse-Sigmoid Sinus Junction
Authors: Qiu Xiaoyu , Zhao Pengfei , Mu Zhenxia , Dai Chihang , Li Xiaoshuai , Xu Ning , Ding Heyu , Gong Shusheng , Yang Zhenghan , Gao Bin , Wang Zhenchang
Published: March 2022

Objectives

To simulate hemodynamic changes after extraluminal compression in pulsatile tinnitus (PT) patients with a prominent transverse-sigmoid sinus junction (PTSJ).

Methods

One patient-specific case was reconstructed based on computed tomography venography (CTV) images of a PT patient. The compression degree served as a new index in this study. Cases with 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90% of the compression degree of the control subject were constructed. Steady-state computational fluid dynamics (CFD) were assessed. The wall pressure distribution, wall maximum pressure (Pmax) and flow pattern (velocity streamlines and velocity vector) of the PTSJ were calculated to evaluate hemodynamic differences among all cases.

Results

With increasing compression, the wall pressure at the compression point and downstream of the PTSJ decreased but increased upstream. When the compression degree exceeded 70%, the upstream pressure increased significantly. Above 50% compression, the blood flow pattern downstream of the sigmoid sinus tended to spiral, especially after 80% compression. Beyond 60% compression, the blood flow pattern under the compression axis became more medial.

Conclusion

Mechanical compression of PTSJ changes wall pressure and blood flow patterns. The degree of compression should be carefully observed to avoid possible complications or reoccurrence.
Lineage Relationships Between Subpallial Progenitors and Glial Cells in the Piriform Cortex
Authors: Sánchez-González Rebeca , López-Mascaraque Laura
Published: March 2022

The piriform cortex is a paleocortical area, located in the ventrolateral surface of the rodent forebrain, receiving direct input from the olfactory bulb. The three layers of the PC are defined by the diversity of glial and neuronal cells, marker expression, connections, and functions. However, the glial layering, ontogeny, and sibling cell relationship along the PC is an unresolved question in the field. Here, using multi-color genetic lineage tracing approaches with different StarTrack strategies, we performed a rigorous analysis of the derived cell progenies from progenitors located at the subpallium ventricular surface. First, we specifically targeted E12-progenitors with UbC-StarTrack to analyze their adult derived-cell progeny and their location within the piriform cortex layers. The vast majority of the cell progeny derived from targeted progenitors were identified as neurons, but also astrocytes and NG2 cells. Further, to specifically target single Gsx-2 subpallial progenitors and their derived cell-progeny in the piriform cortex, we used the UbC-(Gsx-2-hyPB)-StarTrack to perform an accurate analysis of their clonal relationships. Our results quantitatively delineate the adult clonal cell pattern from single subpallial E12-progenitors, focusing on glial cells. In summary, there is a temporal pattern in the assembly of the glial cell diversity in the piriform cortex, which also reveals spatio-temporal progenitor heterogeneity.
Neuroadaptive Training via fNIRS in Flight Simulators
Authors: Mark Jesse A. , Kraft Amanda E. , Ziegler Matthias D. , Ayaz Hasan
Published: March 2022

Training to master a new skill often takes a lot of time, effort, and financial resources, particularly when the desired skill is complex, time sensitive, or high pressure where lives may be at risk. Professions such as aircraft pilots, surgeons, and other mission-critical operators that fall under this umbrella require extensive domain-specific dedicated training to enable learners to meet real-world demands. In this study, we describe a novel neuroadaptive training protocol to enhance learning speed and efficiency using a neuroimaging-based cognitive workload measurement system in a flight simulator. We used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), which is a wearable, mobile, non-invasive neuroimaging modality that can capture localized hemodynamic response and has been used extensively to monitor the anterior prefrontal cortex to estimate cognitive workload. The training protocol included four sessions over 2 weeks and utilized realistic piloting tasks with up to nine levels of difficulty. Learners started at the lowest level and their progress adapted based on either behavioral performance and fNIRS measures combined (neuroadaptive) or performance measures alone (control). Participants in the neuroadaptive group were found to have significantly more efficient training, reaching higher levels of difficulty or significantly improved performance depending on the task, and showing consistent patterns of hemodynamic-derived workload in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The results of this study suggest that a neuroadaptive personalized training protocol using non-invasive neuroimaging is able to enhance learning of new tasks. Finally, we outline here potential avenues for further optimization of this fNIRS based neuroadaptive training approach. As fNIRS mobile neuroimaging is becoming more practical and accessible, the approaches developed here can be applied in the real world in scale.
Nanoparticles Isolated From Porcine Bone Soup Ameliorated Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis and Regulated Gut Microbiota in Mice
Authors: Wang Huiqin , Huang Jin , Ding Yanan , Zhou Jianwu , Gao Guanzhen , Han Huan , Zhou Jingru , Ke Lijing , Rao Pingfan , Chen Tianbao , Zhang Longxin
Published: March 2022

Daily foods contain a great number of self-assembled nanoparticles (NPs) which were incidentally produced during food processing. These food incidental NPs can directly access the human gastrointestinal tract in high frequency and large quantities. Limited reports were focused on whether and how these food incidental NPs affected the gastrointestinal tissues and gut microbiota. In the present study, bone soup and its NPs both significantly ameliorated colitis symptoms in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mice and inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. They also restored intestinal microbiota dysbiosis by improving the diversity and richness of intestinal microbiota and regulating community composition, such as a remarkable increase in Muribaculaceae, Alistipes, and Alloprevotella, and a decrease in Helicobacter. Moreover, the correlation analysis showed that pro-inflammatory cytokines were negatively correlated with Muribaculaceae, Alloprevotella, and Alistipes, but positively correlated with Helicobacter. These findings suggest that the food incidental NPs can influence human health through regulating the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tissues and the gut microbiota.
Short-Term Ketogenic Diet Induces a Molecular Response That Is Distinct From Dietary Protein Restriction
Authors: Kalafut Krystle C. , Mitchell Sarah J. , MacArthur Michael R. , Mitchell James R.
Published: March 2022

There is increasing interest in utilizing short-term dietary interventions in the contexts of cancer, surgical stress and metabolic disease. These short-term diets may be more feasible than extended interventions and may be designed to complement existing therapies. In particular, the high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet (KD), traditionally used to treat epilepsy, has gained popularity as a potential strategy for weight loss and improved metabolic health. In mice, long-term KD improves insulin sensitivity and may extend lifespan and healthspan. Dietary protein restriction (PR) causes increased energy expenditure, weight loss and improved glucose homeostasis. Since KD is inherently a low-protein diet (10% of calories from protein vs. >18% in control diet), here we evaluated the potential for mechanistic overlap between PR and KD via activation of a PR response. Mice were fed control, protein-free (PF), or one of four ketogenic diets with varying protein content for 8 days. PF and KD both decreased body weight, fat mass, and liver weights, and reduced fasting glucose and insulin levels, compared to mice fed the control diet. However, PF-fed animals had significantly improved insulin tolerance compared to KD. Furthermore, contrary to the PF-fed mice, mice fed ketogenic diets containing more than 5% of energy from protein did not increase hepatic Fgf21 or brown adipose Ucp1 expression. Interestingly, mice fed KD lacking protein demonstrated greater elevations in hepatic Fgf21 than mice fed a low-fat PF diet. To further elucidate potential mechanistic differences between PF and KD and the interplay between dietary protein and carbohydrate restriction, we conducted RNA-seq analysis on livers from mice fed each of the six diets and identified distinct gene sets which respond to dietary protein content, dietary fat content, and ketogenesis. We conclude that KD with 10% of energy from protein does not induce a protein restriction response, and that the overlapping metabolic benefits of KD and PF diets may occur via distinct underlying mechanisms.
Validation of the Chinese Empowerment of Parents in the Intensive Care (EMPATHIC-30) Questionnaire Among Parents in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zhuang Yan , Zhang Rong , Gao Xi-rong , Zhu Li-hui , Latour Jos M.
Published: March 2022

Background

There are no specific validated questionnaires assessing satisfaction of family-centered care experienced by parents of infants hospitalized in Chinese Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU).

Aim

To adapt and test the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the EMPATHIC-30 questionnaire in NICU settings.

Methods

A prospective, cross-sectional design was adopted. The EMPATHIC-30 questionnaires were completed by parents of infants admitted to one of the four NICUs at Hunan Children's Hospital, China, between November 2018 and 2019. Inclusion criteria were parents whose infants were admitted to the NICU for at least 5 days. Exclusion criteria were parents whose children were discharged within 5 days after admission or whose infants died in the NICU. Reliability was tested with Cronbach's alpha. The congruent validity was tested using Spearman's Rank correlation analysis, and the non-differential validity was tested using Cohen's d.

Results

Parents of 619 infants discharged from the NICUs completed and returned the questionnaire. Most infants were male (n = 337, 54.4%) and infants' length of stay was a median of 21 days (IQR = 14–37). Mostly, mothers completed the questionnaire (n = 523, 84.5%). The Cronbach's alpha values of the five individual domains were between 0.67 and 0.95, and the alpha of the total questionnaire was.90, providing an adequate internal consistency. Congruent validity was measured by correlating the five domains with four standard satisfaction scales, documenting a weak correlation (rs −0.025–0.327). Non-differential validity showed some significant effect size between four binary variables (mechanical ventilation, unplanned admission, admission after surgery, length of stay) four of the five domains.

Conclusion

The Chinese version of EMPATHIC-30 questionnaire showed acceptable psychometric properties. This instrument might be considered a suitable instrument to measure parent satisfaction among Chinese parents whose infants are admitted to an NICU. Measuring parent satisfaction with this instrument might contribute to improving family-centered care initiatives in NICUs with Chinese parents.
Clinical Characteristics of Gastric Duplication in Children
Authors: Liu Fei , Xu Xiaogang , Lan Menglong , Tao Boyuan , Liang Zijian , Zeng Jixiao
Published: March 2022

Background

To investigate the clinical characteristics of gastric duplication (GD) in children.

Methods

The clinical data of 17 children with GD who were treated in our hospital from July 2015 to June 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 8 males and 9 females, aged from 2 months to 11 years. All children underwent laparoscopic GD resections and postoperative pathological diagnosis was GD. In addition, we searched and analyzed the literature on GD in children from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2021 from the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases.

Results

Gastric duplication was more common in females, with the most common cystic type occurring in the greater curvature of the stomach. Vomiting is the most common clinical manifestation. Ultrasound is an effective method for the early screening of GD. In this study, one patient who had multiple GDs underwent laparoscopic cystectomy and mucosectomy, one patient was converted to open surgery, and all other children underwent laparoscopic cystectomies. The time to oral intake was 2.3 ± 1.0 days (range: 1–4 days), and the postoperative hospital stay was 5.7 ± 1.7 days (range: 2–9 days). All children were followed up for 6–77 months and had an uneventful recovery with the resolution of the preoperative symptoms.

Conclusion

Gastric duplication in children lacks specific clinical manifestations, and the preoperative diagnosis rate is not high, so surgical exploration combined with pathological examination is often needed to make a clear diagnosis. Laparoscopic cystectomy can achieve good therapeutic results.
The Identification of Novel CYP2D6 Variants in US Hmong: Results From Genome Sequencing and Clinical Genotyping
Authors: Wen Ya Feng , Gaedigk Andrea , Boone Erin C. , Wang Wendy Y. , Straka Robert J.
Published: March 2022

Objective: Hmong individuals represent a unique East Asian subpopulation in whom limited information concerning pharmacogenetic variation exists. The objectives of this study were to comprehensively characterize the highly polymorphic CYP2D6 gene in Hmong, estimate allele and phenotype frequencies and to compare results between two testing platforms.

Methods: DNA from 48 self-identified Hmong participants were sequenced using a targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel. Star allele calls were made using Astrolabe, manual inspection of NGS variant calls and confirmatory Sanger sequencing. Structural variation was determined by long-range (XL)-PCR and digital droplet PCR (ddPCR). The consensus diplotypes were subsequently translated into phenotype utilizing the activity score system. Clinical grade pharmacogenetic testing was obtained for 12 of the 48 samples enabling an assessment of concordance between the consensus calls and those determined by clinical testing platforms.

Results: A total of 13 CYP2D6 alleles were identified. The most common alleles were CYP2D6*10 and its structural arrangements (37.5%, 36/96) and the *5 gene deletion (13.5%, 13/96). Three novel suballeles (*10.007, *36.004, and *75.002) were also identified. Phenotype frequencies were as follows: ultrarapid metabolizers (4.2%, 2/48), normal metabolizers (41.7%, 20/48) and intermediate metabolizers (52.1%, 25/48); none of the 48 participants were predicted to be poor metabolizers. Concordance of diplotype and phenotype calls between the consensus and clinical testing were 66.7 and 50%, respectively.

Conclusion: Our study to explore CYP2D6 genotypes in the Hmong population suggests that this subpopulation is unique regarding CYP2D6 allelic variants; also, a higher portion of Hmong participants (50%) are predicted to have an intermediate metabolizer phenotype for CYP2D6 compared to other East Asians which range between 27 and 44%. Results from different testing methods varied considerably. These preliminary findings underscore the importance of thoroughly interrogating unique subpopulations to accurately predict a patient’s CYP2D6 metabolizer status.
Iron Oxide and Silicon Nanoparticles Modulate Mineral Nutrient Homeostasis and Metabolism in Cadmium-Stressed Phaseolus vulgaris
Authors: Koleva Lyubka , Umar Aisha , Yasin Nasim Ahmad , Shah Anis Ali , Siddiqui Manzer H. , Alamri Saud , Riaz Luqman , Raza Ali , Javed Talha , Shabbir Zunera
Published: March 2022

The application of nanoparticles (NPs) has been proved as an efficient and promising technique for mitigating a wide range of stressors in plants. The present study elucidates the synergistic effect of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) and silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) in the attenuation of Cd toxicity inPhaseolus vulgaris. Seeds ofP. vulgariswere treated with IONPs (10 mg/L) and SiNPs (20 mg/L). Seedlings of uniform size were transplanted to pots for 40 days. The results demonstrated that nanoparticles (NPs) enhanced growth, net photosynthetic rate, and gas exchange attributes inP. vulgarisplants grown in Cd-contaminated soil. Synergistic application of IONPs and SiNPs raised not only K+content, but also biosynthesis of polyamines (PAs), which alleviated Cd stress inP. vulgarisseedlings. Additionally, NPs decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content and electrolyte leakage (EL) inP. vulgarisplants exposed to Cd stress. These findings suggest that stress alleviation was mainly attributed to the enhanced accumulation of K+content, improved antioxidant defense system, and higher spermidine (Spd) and putrescine (Put) levels. It is suggested that various forms of NPs can be applied synergistically to minimize heavy metal stress, thus increasing crop production under stressed conditions.