bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Onset of Smell and Taste Loss Are Common Findings Also in Patients With Symptomatic COVID‐19 After Complete Vaccination
Authors: Vaira Luigi A. , De Vito Andrea , Lechien Jerome R. , Chiesa‐Estomba Carlos M. , Mayo‐Yàñez Miguel , Calvo‐Henrìquez Christian , Saussez Sven , Madeddu Giordano , Babudieri Sergio , Boscolo‐Rizzo Paolo , Hopkins Claire , De Riu Giacomo
Published: November 2021

The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical profile of patients who developed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) after full vaccination. Demographic, epidemiological and clinical data were collected through medical records and online patient‐reported outcome questionnaire from patients who developed symptomatic SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, confirmed by nasopharyngeal swab, at least 2 weeks after completion of vaccination. A total of 153 subjects were included. The most frequent symptoms were: asthenia (82.4%), chemosensory dysfunction (63.4%), headache (59.5%), runny nose (58.2%), muscle pain (54.9%), loss of appetite (54.3%), and nasal obstruction (51.6%). Particularly, 62.3% and 53.6% of subjects reported olfactory and gustatory dysfunction, respectively. Symptom severity was mild or moderate in almost all cases. Chemosensory dysfunctions have been observed to be a frequent symptom even in subjects who contracted the infection after full vaccination. For this reason, the sudden loss of smell and taste could continue to represent a useful and specific diagnostic marker to raise the suspicion of COVID‐19 even in vaccinated subjects. In the future, it will be necessary to establish what the recovery rate is in these patients.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 132:419–421, 2022
Outcomes analysis of microsurgical physiologic lymphatic procedures for the upper extremity from the United States National Surgical Quality Improvement Program
Authors: Bamba Ravinder , Chu Amanda , Gallegos Jose , Herrera Fernando A. , Hassanein Aladdin H.
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Physiologic microsurgical procedures to treat lymphedema include vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) and lymphovenous bypass (LVB). The purpose of this study was to assess 30‐day outcomes of VLNT and LVB using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database.

Methods

NSQIP was queried (2012–2018) for lymphatic procedures for upper extremity lymphedema after mastectomy. Prophylactic lymphatic procedures and those for lower extremity lymphedema were excluded. Outcomes were assessed for three groups: LVB, VLNT, and patients who had procedures simultaneously (VLNA+LVB). Primary outcomes measured were operative time, 30‐day morbidities, and hospital length of stay.

Results

The study included 199 patients who had LVB (n = 43), VLNT (n = 145), or VLNT+LVB (n = 11). There was no difference in co‐morbidities between the groups (p = 0.26). 30‐day complication rates including unplanned reoperation (6.9% VLNT vs. 2.3% LVB) and readmission (0.69% VLNT vs. none in LVB) were not statistically significant (p = 0.54). Surgical site infection, wound complications, deep vein thromboembolism, and cardiac arrest was also similar among the three groups. Postoperative length of stay for VLNT (2.5 days± 2.3), LVB (1.9 days± 1.9), and VLNT+LVB (2.8 days± 0.3) did not differ significantly (p = 0.20). Operative time for LVB (305.4 min ± 186.7), VLNT (254 min ± 164.4), and VLNT+LVB (295.3 min ± 43.2) was not significantly different (p = 0.21).

Conclusions

Our analysis of the NSQIP data revealed that VLNT and LVB are procedures with no significant difference in perioperative morbidity. Our results support that choice of VLNT versus LVB can be justifiably made per the surgeon's preference and experience as the operations have similar complication rates.
Parameter‐uniform numerical method for singularly perturbed 2‐D parabolic convection–diffusion problem with interior layers
Authors: Majumdar Anirban , Natesan Srinivasan
Published: November 2021

In this article, we devise a uniformly convergent numerical scheme for solving singularly perturbed two‐dimensional parabolic convection–diffusion problem with non‐smooth convection coefficients and source term. The solution of this kind of problem typically exhibits interior layers due to the discontinuity of convection coefficients and source term. To capture the interior layers, the piecewise‐uniform mesh is used in the spatial directions and the uniform mesh is considered in temporal direction. To discretize the temporal and spatial derivatives, we apply an alternating direction method and upwind method, respectively. Theoretically, we prove that the proposed method is ε‐uniformly convergent. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the theoretical estimates.
Design and validation of a synchrotron proton beam line for FLASH radiotherapy preclinical research experiments
Authors: Titt Uwe , Yang Ming , Wang Xiaochun , Iga Kiminori , Fredette Nathaniel , Schueler Emil , Lin Steven H , Zhu X Ron , Sahoo Narayan , Koong Albert C , Zhang Xiaodong , Mohan Radhe
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The main purpose of this work was to generate and validate the dosimetric accuracy of proton beams of dimensions that are appropriate for in vivo small animal and in vitro ultrahigh dose rate (FLASH) radiotherapy experiments using a synchrotron‐based treatment delivery system. This study was performed to enable future investigations of the relevance of a spread‐out Bragg peak (SOBP) under FLASH conditions.

Methods

The spill characteristics of the small field fixed horizontal beam line were modified to deliver accelerated protons in times as short as 2 ms and to control the dose delivered. A Gaussian‐like transverse beam profile was transformed into a square uniform one at FLASH dose rates, while avoiding low‐dose regions, a crucial requirement to protect normal tissue during FLASH irradiation. Novel beam‐shaping devices were designed using Monte Carlo techniques to produce up to about 6 cm3 of uniform dose in SOBPs while maximizing the dose rate. These included a scattering foil, a conical flattening filter to maximize the flux of protons into the region of interest, energy filters, range compensators, and collimators. The shapes, sizes, and positions of the components were varied to provide the required field sizes and SOBPs.

Results

The designed and fabricated devices were used to produce 10‐, 15‐, and 20‐mm diameter, circular field sizes and 10‐, 15‐, and 20‐mm SOBP modulation widths at uniform physical dose rates of up to 375 Gy/s at the center of the SOBP and a minimum dose rate of about 255 Gy/s at the entrance, respectively, in cylindrical volumes. The flatness of lateral dose profiles at the center could be adjusted to within ±1.5% at the center of the SOBP. Assessment of systematic uncertainties, such as impact of misalignments and positioning uncertainties, was performed using simulations, and the results were used to provide appropriate adjustments to ensure high‐accuracy FLASH beam delivery for both in vitro and in vivo preclinical experiments.

Conclusions

It is feasible to use synchrotron‐generated proton beams of sufficient dimensions for FLASH radiobiology experiments. We expect to use the system we developed to acquire in vitro and in vivo small animal FLASH radiobiology data as a function of dose, dose rate, oxygen content, and linear energy transfer to help us understand the underlying mechanisms of the FLASH phenomenon.
B1inhomogeneity correction of RARE MRI at low SNR: Quantitative in vivo19F MRI of mouse neuroinflammation with a cryogenically‐cooled transceive surface radiofrequency probe
Authors: Delgado Paula Ramos , Kuehne Andre , Aravina Mariya , Millward Jason M. , Vázquez Alonso , Starke Ludger , Waiczies Helmar , Pohlmann Andreas , Niendorf Thoralf , Waiczies Sonia
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Low SNR in fluorine‐19 (19F) MRI benefits from cryogenically‐cooled transceive surface RF probes (CRPs), but strong B1inhomogeneities hinder quantification. Rapid acquisition with refocused echoes (RARE) is an SNR‐efficient method for MRI of neuroinflammation with perfluorinated compounds but lacks an analytical signal intensity equation to retrospectively correct B1inhomogeneity. Here, a workflow was proposed and validated to correct and quantify19F‐MR signals from the inflamed mouse brain using a19F‐CRP.

Methods

In vivo19F‐MR images were acquired in a neuroinflammation mouse model with a quadrature19F‐CRP using an imaging setup including 3D‐printed components to acquire co‐localized anatomical and19F images.Model‐based correctionswere validated on a uniform19F phantom and in the neuroinflammatory model. Corrected19F‐MR images were benchmarked against reference images and overlaid on in vivo1H‐MR images. Computed concentration uncertainty maps using Monte Carlo simulations served as a measure of performance of the B1corrections.

Results

Our study reports on the first quantitative in vivo19F‐MR images of an inflamed mouse brain using a19F‐CRP, including in vivo T1calculations for19F‐nanoparticles during pathology and B1corrections for19F‐signal quantification.Model‐based correctionsmarkedly improved19F‐signal quantification from errors > 50% to < 10% in a uniform phantom (p< 0.001). Concentration uncertainty maps ex vivo and in vivo yielded uncertainties that were generally < 25%. Monte Carlo simulations prescribed SNR ≥ 10.1 to reduce uncertainties < 10%, and SNR ≥ 4.25 to achieve uncertainties < 25%.

Conclusion

Ourmodel‐based correctionmethod facilitated19F signal quantification in the inflamed mouse brain when using the SNR‐boosting19F‐CRP technology, paving the way for future low‐SNR19F‐MRI applications in vivo.
Bone diagenesis in the marine environment‐I: Characterization and distribution of trace elements in terrestrial mammalian bones recovered from historic shipwrecks
Authors: Guareschi Edda E. , Nicholls Philip K. , Evans Noreen J. , Barham Milo , McDonald Bradley J. , Magni Paola A. , Tobe Shanan S.
Published: November 2021

Unlike the chemical composition and diagenetic modification of buried bones, subaqueous archaeological bone diagenesis has not been studied in detail. This observational work presents a macroscopic and microscopic characterization of 11 variably preserved archaeological terrestrial mammalian bones submerged in seawater and/or surrounded by marine sediment for 169–347 years. In situ trace element analysis was undertaken to identify geochemical fingerprints of diagenesis. The analyzed bones belong to a collection of underwater archaeological faunal materials excavated from four shipwreck sites. With one exception, all archaeological bones were fragmented, some were also heavily stained, and in two samples, the damage to the cortical layer was extensive. Bioerosion was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and bone trace element chemistry (by laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry—LA‐ICP‐MS) was compared with that of an unsubmerged modern sheep bone control. In the control, several trace elements were low in concentration (weighted mean concentration <1 ppm; Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Y, rare earth elements, Th, U). In the submerged archaeological bones, the weighted mean concentration of Li, Cr, Cu, and U was enriched relative to the modern sheep bone, whereas Rb and Ba were depleted. The best‐preserved bone, recovered from Batavia, showed less variation in trace element patterns compared with the more poorly preserved bones. The only archaeological bone with preserved macroscopic structure and cortex showed a gradual decrease in trace element concentration from the outer surface towards the medullary cavity, whereas in samples where more cortical damage was noted, the distribution of these elements is more irregular. With the exception of Cu and Cr, the elements focused on in this work (Li, U, Rb, and Ba) are nonessential to life, supported by their low concentration in the modern sheep bone (with the exception of Ba). The results suggest that early macroscopic and microscopic diagenetic alteration influences the concentration and distribution of chemical elements in submerged bones and that in situ trace element analysis provides clues for the reconstruction of taphonomic trajectories.
Incidence and risk factors for hypoglycemia during maintenance chemotherapy in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Rosenfeld Elizabeth , Getz Kelly D. , Miller Tamara P. , Seif Alix E. , Fisher Brian T. , Burrows Evanette , Ramos Mark Jason , De León Diva D. , Aplenc Richard , Morales Knashawn H. , Guevara James P.
Published: November 2021

Background

Fasting hypoglycemia is a recognized occurrence among pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) during maintenance therapy. Existing publications describing this finding are limited to small studies and case reports. Our objective was to determine the incidence of hypoglycemia during maintenance chemotherapy and to investigate the association of age, as well as other potential risk factors, with this outcome in pediatric patients with ALL.

Procedure

This retrospective cohort study included individuals 1 to 21 years of age with ALL treated with antimetabolite‐containing maintenance chemotherapy at a large children's hospital between January 2011 and December 2014. The primary endpoint was time to first documented episode of hypoglycemia during maintenance therapy, defined as single measurement of plasma glucose <60 mg/dL. Cox regression was used to evaluate the association with age and identify other potential risk factors.

Results

We identified 126 eligible patients, of whom 63% were documented as White, non‐Hispanic, 28% as non‐White, non‐Hispanic, and 9% as Hispanic. Twenty‐eight children (22%) had documented hypoglycemia during maintenance therapy. Younger age at the start of maintenance and hepatotoxicity documented during chemotherapy prior to maintenance initiation were associated with hypoglycemia (adjusted HR age = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78‐0.99; adjusted HR prior hepatotoxicity = 3.50; 95% CI, 1.47‐8.36).

Conclusions

Nearly one quarter of children in our cohort had hypoglycemia documented during maintenance chemotherapy. Younger age at maintenance initiation and hepatotoxicity during chemotherapy prior to maintenance initiation emerged as risk factors. These findings highlight the importance of counseling about the risk of, and monitoring for, hypoglycemia, particularly in young children.
Integrated morpho‐biochemical and transcriptome analyses reveal multidimensional response of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL.) to low temperature stress during seedling establishment
Authors: Kaur Dhaliwal Lakhvir , Gannaban Ritchel B. , Shrestha Avinash , Shim Junghyun , Kaur Mangat Puneet , Singleton Joshua J. , Angeles‐Shim Rosalyn B.
Published: November 2021

Cotton is a tropical/subtropical crop and is innately susceptible to cold. Using an approach that integrates morphological, biochemical, and transcriptome analyses, the study aimed to understand the molecular underpinnings of phenotypic adjustments in cotton seedlings under cold stress. Exposure of six cotton accessions to 15°C during the seedling stage significantly reduced chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, plant height, and biomass, but increased malondialdehyde and proline production. Comparative transcriptome profiling of the cold‐sensitive accession SA 3781 grown under low and normal temperatures showed the upregulation of genes related to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under cold stress. Despite a similar upregulation of genes encoding metabolites that can scavenge ROS and provide osmoprotection for the cell, the stressed plants still exhibited oxidative stress in terms of lipid peroxidation. This may be due in part to the upregulation of abscisic acid synthesis genes and downregulation of chlorophyll synthesis genes effecting lower stomatal conductance and chlorophyll contents, respectively. Additionally, stomatal closure which is required to avoid the cooling effect and dehydration under cold conditions may have contributed in reducing the net photosynthetic rates in plants exposed to low temperature. These findings provide an insight into the expression of key genes regulating the phenotypic changes observed in cotton in response to cold stress.
Bridging from Metallic Nanoclusters to Biomedical in Understanding Physicochemical Interactions at the Nano–Bio Interface
Authors: Borghei Yasaman‐Sadat , Hosseinkhani Saman , Ganjali Mohammad Reza
Published: November 2021

The current review is a guideline for a physicist/chemist/biologist/physician in the introduction of metallic nanocluster (NC) applications and selection of a suitable one from a medical perspective. Metallic nanoclusters have gained attention during recent years owing to their advantages of superior optical characteristics, long lifetime, and biocompatibility for nanomedicine applications, including biolabeling, biosensing, catalysis, bioimaging, drug/gene delivery, and therapeutic agent in comparison to the semiconductor quantum dot analogs. Here their basic physicochemical properties are being introduced, and they are linked to biomedical opportunities. Introducing the needed concepts of noble metal‐based nanomaterials is being tried here, along with giving a correct comprehension of the reason for its use in a particular part of biomedical over the last 20 years. Moreover, in each part, a perspective is presented that can guide a researcher on how they can develop or modify new scaffolds for biomedical engineering.
Validation of the LEOSound® monitor for standardized detection of wheezing and cough in children
Authors: Urban Christof , Kiefer Alexander , Conradt Regina , Kabesch Michael , Lex Christiane , Zacharasiewicz Angela , Kerzel Sebastian
Published: November 2021

Background

A hallmark of many respiratory conditions is the presence of nocturnal symptoms. Nevertheless, especially in children there is currently still a huge diagnostic gap in detecting nighttime symptoms, which leads to an underestimation of the frequency in clinical practise.

Methods

We evaluated the clinical applicability and determined the formal test characteristics of the LEOSound ® system, a device for digital long‐time recording and automated detection of acoustic airway events. Airway sounds were recorded overnight in 115 children and adolescents (1–17 years) with and without respiratory conditions. The automated classification for “cough” and “wheezing” was subsequently validated against the manual acoustic reassessment by an expert physician.

Results

The general acceptance was good across all age groups and a technically successful recording was obtained in 98 children, corresponding to 92,976 sound epochs (à 30 s) or a total of 774 h of lung sounds. We found a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 99% for the automated detection of cough. For detection of wheezing, sensitivity and specificity were both 98%. The cough index and the wheeze index (events per hour) of individual patients showed a strong positive correlation (cough: rS = 0.85, wheeze: rS = 0.95) and a sufficient agreement of the two assessment methods in the Bland–Altman analysis.

Conclusion

Our data show that the LEOSound® is a suitable device for standardized detection of cough and wheezing and hence a promising diagnostic tool to detect nocturnal respiratory symptoms, especially in children. However, a validation process to reduce false positive classifications is essential in clinical routine use.
XPS study of silver and copper nanoparticles demonstrated selective anticancer, proapoptotic, and antibacterial properties
Authors: Vasil'kov Alexander , Batsalova Tsvetelina , Dzhambazov Balik , Naumkin Alexander
Published: November 2021

Silver and copper nanoparticles were produced by an ecologically safe metal vapor synthesis (MVS) method using acetone as an organic dispersion medium. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the specimens are spherical and polydisperse, and their average size is 2.5 nm for silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and 2.6 nm for copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs). X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses showed that the state of silver in the nanoparticles is close to that of silver in the Ag0 state, whereas copper black contains two oxidized states of the metal—Cu+ and Cu2+. Biological in vitro studies demonstrated that the nanoparticles have antibacterial activity against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacterial species. Cu NPs exhibited more prominent antibacterial effects and induced significant growth inhibition of Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli. Both types of nanoparticles showed anticancer properties in vitro. Cu NPs induced intense cytotoxicity in cancer and normal fibroblasts in vitro cultures, but their inhibitory effect against noncancerous cells was milder compared with cancer cell lines. Ag NPs demonstrated selective cytotoxicity against human lung and cervical adenocarcinoma cell lines. Further in vitro studies indicated that the mechanism of Ag NPs and Cu NPs anticancer effects involves induction of apoptosis. The present study describes a green synthesis approach for production of biologically active silver and copper nanoparticles and highlights their potential for medical application.
How to Do Things with Surfaces: The Politics and Poetics of Victorian Surfaces
Authors: Baumbach Sibylle , Ratheiser Ulla
Published: November 2021

The opening chapter introduces and contextualizes the politics and poetics of Victorian surfaces. First, we delineate the increasing interests in both natural and constructed surfaces by taking a closer look at discourses that reflect a growing fascination with surfaces, including (pseudo-)medical treatises on physiognomy. Secondly, we focus on the politics of surface readings by scrutinizing the politics of various visual representations of Queen Victoria and the (self-)fashioning of the body politic at the centre of a growing surface culture. Third, we develop a conceptual framework for the analysis of the poetics of Victorian surfaces by analyzing the attention paid to (or withheld from) surfaces in Victorian literature and culture. By examining the role of surface reading in Victorian texts, we offer an overview of different surface cultures and debates surrounding the challenges attached to surfaces, explore how to do things with surfaces, and thereby outline what can be described as a ‘poetics of surface.’
Semi-leptonic three-body proton decay modes from light-cone sum rules
Authors: Haisch Ulrich , Hala Amando
Published: November 2021

Using light-cone sum rule techniques, we estimate the form factors which parametrise the hadronic matrix elements that are relevant for semi-leptonic three-body proton decays. The obtained form factors allow us to determine the differential rate for the decay of a proton (p) into a positron (e+), a neutral pion (π0) and a graviton (G), which is the leading proton decay channel in the effective theory of gravitons and Standard Model particles (GRSMEFT). The sensitivity of existing and next-generation neutrino experiments in detecting the p → e+π0G signature is studied and the phenomenological implications of our computations for constraints on the effective mass scale that suppresses the relevant baryon-number violating GRSMEFT operator are discussed.
Leptogenesis, fermion masses and mixings in a SUSY SU(5) GUT with D4 flavor symmetry
Authors: Miskaoui M. , Loualidi M. A.
Published: November 2021

Abstract

We propose a model of fermion masses and mixings based on SU(5) grand unified theory (GUT) and a D4 flavor symmetry. This is a highly predictive 4D SU(5) GUT with a flavor symmetry that does not contain a triplet irreducible representation. The Yukawa matrices of quarks and charged leptons are obtained after integrating out heavy messenger fields from renormalizable superpotentials while neutrino masses are originated from the type I seesaw mechanism. The group theoretical factors from 24- and 45-dimensional Higgs fields lead to ratios between the Yukawa couplings in agreement with data, while the dangerous proton decay operators are highly suppressed. By performing a numerical fit, we find that the model captures accurately the mixing angles, the Yukawa couplings and the CP phase of the quark sector at the GUT scale. The neutrino masses are generated at the leading order with the prediction of trimaximal mixing while an additional effective operator is required to account for the baryon asymmetry of the universe (BAU). The model is remarkably predictive because only the normal neutrino mass ordering and the lower octant of the atmospheric angle are allowed while the CP conserving values of the Dirac neutrino phase δCP are excluded. Moreover, the predicted values of the effective Majorana mass mββ can be tested at future neutrinoless double beta decay experiments. An analytical and a numerical study of the BAU via the leptogenesis mechanism is performed. We focused on the regions of parameter space where leptogenesis from the lightest right-handed neutrino is successfully realized. Strong correlations between the parameters of the neutrino sector and the observed BAU are obtained.
Holographic symmetry algebras for gauge theory and gravity
Authors: Guevara A. , Himwich E. , Pate M. , Strominger A.
Published: November 2021

Abstract

All 4D gauge and gravitational theories in asymptotically flat spacetimes contain an infinite number of non-trivial symmetries. They can be succinctly characterized by generalized 2D currents acting on the celestial sphere. A complete classification of these symmetries and their algebras is an open problem. Here we construct two towers of such 2D currents from positive-helicity photons, gluons, or gravitons with integer conformal weights. These generate the symmetries associated to an infinite tower of conformally soft theorems. The current algebra commutators are explicitly derived from the poles in the OPE coefficients, and found to comprise a rich closed subalgebra of the complete symmetry algebra.
Kontinuitätserhalt des Nervus cochlearis bei der retrosigmoidalen ablativen Osteotomie des inneren Gehörgangs bei fortgeschrittenen Vestibularisschwannomen
Authors: Schaumann Katharina , Albrecht A. , Turowski B. , Hoffmann C. , Cornelius J. F. , Schipper J.
Published: November 2021

Ausgewertet wurden 86 Patienten mit einem retrosigmoidal mikrochirurgisch resezierten Vestibularisschwannom im Tumorstadium Koos II–IV. Es zeigte sich, dass im Bereich des inneren Gehörgangs in über 2/3 der Fälle der Nervus cochlearis dem elektroneurographisch leicht zu identifizierenden Nervus facialis in immer wiederkehrenden ähnlichen Verlaufsmustern folgte. Ausgehend vom Fundus erleichterte dies die frühzeitige Identifizierung und damit den Kontinuitätserhalt des Nervus cochlearis im Verlauf des inneren Gehörgangs. Dies war vor allem dann von Bedeutung, wenn ein sicherer Funktionserhalt aufgrund der Tumorgröße oder -formation trotz intraoperativer Ableitung somatosensorischer Potenziale nicht sicher gewährleistet werden konnte, aber die Möglichkeit einer späteren Hörrehabilitation mit einem Cochleaimplantat bestehen bleiben sollte. Präoperative Magnetresonanztomographie(MRT)-Sequenzen ergaben zwar in einigen Fällen einen Hinweis auf die möglichen Nervenverläufe, die intraoperative Darstellung im inneren Gehörgang war der MRT aber überlegen.
A rapid magnetic bead-based immunoassay for sensitive determination of diclofenac
Authors: Ecke Alexander , Westphalen Tanja , Hornung Jane , Voetz Michael , Schneider Rudolf J.
Published: November 2021

Increasing contamination of environmental waters with pharmaceuticals represents an emerging threat for the drinking water quality and safety. In this regard, fast and reliable analytical methods are required to allow quick countermeasures in case of contamination. Here, we report the development of a magnetic bead-based immunoassay (MBBA) for the fast and cost-effective determination of the analgesic diclofenac (DCF) in water samples, based on diclofenac-coupled magnetic beads and a robust monoclonal anti-DCF antibody. A novel synthetic strategy for preparation of the beads resulted in an assay that enabled for the determination of diclofenac with a significantly lower limit of detection (400 ng/L) than the respective enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). With shorter incubation times and only one manual washing step required, the assay demands for remarkably shorter time to result (< 45 min) and less equipment than ELISA. Evaluation of assay precision and accuracy with a series of spiked water samples yielded results with low to moderate intra- and inter-assay variations and in good agreement with LC–MS/MS reference analysis. The assay principle can be transferred to other, e.g., microfluidic, formats, as well as applied to other analytes and may replace ELISA as the standard immunochemical method.

Graphical abstract
The architecture of Recent brachiopod shells: diversity of biocrystal and biopolymer assemblages in rhynchonellide, terebratulide, thecideide and craniide shells
Authors: Simonet Roda Maria , Griesshaber Erika , Angiolini Lucia , Rollion-Bard Claire , Harper Elizabeth M. , Bitner Maria Aleksandra , Milner Garcia Sara , Ye Facheng , Henkel Daniela , Häussermann Vreni , Eisenhauer Anton , Gnägi Helmut , Brand Uwe , Logan Alan , Schmahl Wolfgang W.
Published: November 2021

Biological hard tissues are a rich source of design concepts for the generation of advanced materials. They represent the most important library of information on the evolution of life and its environmental conditions. Organisms produce soft and hard tissues in a bottom-up process, a construction principle that is intrinsic to biologically secreted materials. This process emerged early on in the geological record, with the onset of biological mineralization. The phylum Brachiopoda is a marine animal group that has an excellent and continuous fossil record from the early Cambrian to the Recent. Throughout this time interval, the Brachiopoda secreted phosphate and carbonate shells and populated many and highly diverse marine habitats. This required great flexibility in the adaptation of soft and hard tissues to the different marine environments and living conditions. This review presents, juxtaposes and discusses the main modes of mineral and biopolymer organization in Recent, carbonate shell-producing, brachiopods. We describe shell tissue characteristics for taxa of the orders Rhynchonellida, Terebratulida, Thecideida and Craniida. We highlight modes of calcite and organic matrix assembly at the macro-, micro-, and nano-scales based on results obtained by Electron Backscatter Diffraction, Atomic Force Microscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy. We show variation in composite hard tissue organization for taxa with different lifestyles, visualize nanometer-scale calcite assemblies for rhynchonellide and terebratulide fibers, highlight thecideide shell microstructure, texture and chemistry characteristics, and discuss the feasibility to use thecideide shells as archives of proxies for paleoenvironment and paleoclimate reconstructions.
The short and long-term implications of warming and increased sea water pCO2 on the physiological response of a temperate neogastropod species
Authors: Mardones Maria Loreto , Thatje Sven , Fenberg Phillip B. , Hauton Chris
Published: November 2021

Global average temperatures and seawater pCO2 have rapidly increased due to the oceanic uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide producing severe consequences for a broad range of species. The impacts on marine ectotherms have been largely reported at short-term scales (i.e. from days to weeks); however, the prolonged effects on long-term processes such as reproduction have received little attention. The gastropod Ocenebra erinaceus is a key predator structuring communities on rocky shores of the French and UK coasts. Even though rocky shore species are regarded as being very tolerant to changes in temperature and pH, many of them are living near their upper tolerance limits, making them susceptible to rapid environmental changes. Here, we report that future mean seawater conditions (RCP8.5, + 3 °C and ~ 900 μatm CO2) do not significantly affect the physiology and molecular response of O. erinaceus adults after 132 days. During the first 50 days, there was a slight impact on oxygen consumption rates and body weight; however, after 95 days of exposure, gastropods fully acclimated to the experimental condition. Despite this, reproduction in females exposed to these future seawater conditions ceased after long-term exposure (~ 10 months). Therefore, in the short-term, O. erinaceus appear to be capable of full compensation; however, in the long-term, they fail to invest in reproduction. We conclude studies should be based on combined results from both short- and long-term effects, to present realistic projections of the ecological consequences of climate warming.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced release and binding of calreticulin from human ovarian cancer cells
Authors: Abdullah Trefa M. , Whatmore Jacqueline , Bremer Edwin , Slibinskas Rimantas , Michalak Marek , Eggleton Paul
Published: November 2021

Background

Calreticulin (CRT) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone, but can appear surface bound on cancers cells, including ovarian cancers (OC). We investigated at what stage of cell viability, CRT appeared associated with surface of human OC cells. CRT on pre-apoptotic tumour cells is thought to initiate their eradication via a process termed immunogenic cell death (ICD).

Methods

We treated OC cells with the chemotherapeutic—doxorubicin (DX) known to induce translocation of CRT to some tumour cell surfaces, with and without the ER stressor—thapsigargin (TG)—and/or an ER stress inhibitor—TUDCA. We monitored translocation/release of CRT in pre-apoptotic cells by flow cytometry, immunoblotting and ELISA. We investigated the difference in binding of FITC-CRT to pre-apoptotic, apoptotic and necrotic cells and the ability of extracellular CRT to generate immature dendritic cells from THP-1 monocytes.

Results

Dx-treatment increased endogenously released CRT and extracellular FITC_CRT binding to human pre-apoptotic OC cells. DX and TG also promoted cell death in OC cells which also increased CRT release. These cellular responses were significantly inhibited by TUDCA, suggesting that ER stress is partially responsible for the changes in CRT cellular distribution. Extracellular CRT induces maturation of THP-1 towards a imDC phenotype, an important component of ICD.

Conclusion

Collectively, these cellular responses suggest that ER stress is partially responsible for the changes in CRT cellular distribution. ER-stress regulates in part the release and binding of CRT to human OC cells where it may play a role in ICD.
Digitalised exercise material in forensic odontology
Authors: Knivsberg Ina C. , Kopperud Simen E. , Bjørk Mai-Britt , Torgersen Gerald , Skramstad Katarzyna , Kvaal Sigrid I.
Published: November 2021

Introduction

This paper presents digital educational material in forensic odontology, including dental identification after multiple fatalities and dental age estimation from different age groups.

Material and method

Electronic patient records consisting of intraoral scans of the dentition, digital radiographs, photographs and written dental records were collected. Exercises in age estimations contained digital radiographs and photographs of ground tooth sections, with digital measuring tools and tables according to age groups. The teaching material was organised as a module in an electronic Learning Management System with external links to all relevant teaching material.

Results

For the identification exercises, intraoral scans and the latest digital radiographs simulated the postmortem examination of the deceased. For comparison, all other radiographs, photographs and dental records were available as antemortem material. The exercise was to match postmortem findings with the antemortem records using the Interpol standard and reconciliation. Age assessment of children used designated tables to grade tooth development on digital radiographs. For adults, non-destructive methods, digital radiographs, photographs and measuring tools were used.

Discussion

The teaching concept was hybrid, but it can easily be adapted as a fully digital exercise. The instructions and written material can be translated into different languages. The level of difficulty in the exercises can be adjusted according to the participant’s level of knowledge.

Conclusion

The educational material embraces the new possibilities for digitalisation and intraoral scanning. This might be a valuable tool for motivating and engaging the students in their participation and understanding of the subject.
ROS-induced oxidative stress in plant cryopreservation: occurrence and alleviation
Authors: Ren Li , Wang Min-Rui , Wang Qiao-Chun
Published: November 2021

Main conclusion

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative stress results in low success or even total failure of cryopreservation. Better understanding of how the plant establishes resistance/tolerance to ROS-induced oxidative stress facilitates developments of robust cryopreservation procedures.

Cryopreservation provides a safe and efficient strategy for long-term preservation of plant genetic resources. ROS-induced oxidative stress caused damage to cells and reduced the ability of the plant to survive following cryopreservation, eventually resulting in low success or even total failure. This paper provides updated and comprehensive information obtained in the past decade, including the following: (1) ROS generations and adaptive responses of antioxidant systems during cryopreservation; (2) expressions of oxidative stress-associated genes and proteins during cryopreservation; (3) ROS-triggered programmed cell death (PCD) during cryopreservation; and (4) exogenous applications of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in improving success of cryopreservation. Prospects for further studies are proposed. The goal of the present study was to facilitate better understanding of the mechanisms by which the plant establishes resistance/tolerance to oxidative stress during cryopreservation and promote further studies toward the developments of robust cryopreservation procedures and wider application of plant cryobiotechnology.
Structural brain abnormalities in children and young adults with severe chronic kidney disease
Authors: Lijdsman Sophie , Königs Marsh , van Sandwijk Marit S. , Bouts Antonia H. , van Hoeck Koen , de Jong Huib , Engelen Marc , Oosterlaan Jaap , Bemelman Frederike J. , Oostrom Kim J. , Groothoff Jaap W.
Published: November 2021

Background

The pathophysiology of neurological dysfunction in severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children and young adults is largely unknown. We aimed to investigate brain volumes and white matter integrity in this population and explore brain structure under different treatment modalities.

Methods

This cross-sectional study includes 24 patients with severe CKD (eGFR < 30) aged 8–30 years (median = 18.5, range = 9.1–30.5) on different therapy modalities (pre-dialysis, n = 7; dialysis, n = 7; transplanted, n = 10) and 21 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and parental educational level. Neuroimaging targeted brain volume using volumetric analysis on T1 scans and white matter integrity with tract-based spatial statistics and voxel-wise regression on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data.

Results

CKD patients had lower white matter integrity in a widespread cluster of primarily distal white matter tracts compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, CKD patients had smaller volume of the nucleus accumbens relative to healthy controls, while no evidence was found for abnormal volumes of gray and white matter or other subcortical structures. Longer time since successful transplantation was related to lower white matter integrity. Exploratory analyses comparing treatment subgroups suggest lower white matter integrity and smaller volume of the nucleus accumbens in dialysis and transplanted patients relative to healthy controls.

Conclusions

Young CKD patients seem at risk for widespread disruption of white matter integrity and to some extent smaller subcortical volume (i.e., nucleus accumbens). Especially patients on dialysis therapy and patients who received a kidney transplant may be at risk for disruption of white matter integrity and smaller volume of the nucleus accumbens.

Graphical abstract
Radiation Medical Countermeasures and Use of EPR Biodosimetry to Facilitate Effectiveness of Applied Clinical Procedures
Authors: Singh Vijay K. , Swartz Harold M. , Seed Thomas M.
Published: November 2021

The utility for electron paramagentic resonance (EPR or ESR)-based radiation biodosimetry has received increasing recognition concerning its potential to assist in guiding the clinical management of medical countermeasures in individuals unwantedly exposed to injurious levels of ionizing radiation. Similar to any of the standard physical dosimetric methods currently employed for screening clinically significant radiation exposures, the EPR-based in vivo dosimetry approach would serve to complement and extend clinical assessments (e.g., blood analyses, cytogenetics, etc.), specifically to more accurately assign the extent of ionizing radiation exposure that individuals might have received. In the case of EPR biodosimetry of biological samples such as nails, teeth, and bones, the method has the capability of providing information on the physical dose at several specific bodily sites and perhaps additonal information on the homogeneity of the exposure as well as its overall magnitude. This information on radiation dose and distribution would be of significant value in providing medical management to given individuals at health risk due to radiation exposure. As these measurements provide information solely on physical measures of the radiation dose and not on the potential biological impact of a particular dose, they are complementary, albeit supplemental, to the array of currently available biologically based biodosimetry and clinical findings. In aggregate, these physical and biological measures of radiation exposure levels (dose) would most certainly provide additional, useful information for the effective medical management of radiation exposed individuals.
SPIDE: sybil-proof, incentivized data exchange
Authors: Skowroński Rafał , Brzeziński Jerzy
Published: November 2021

Decentralized, open-access blockchain systems opened up new, exciting possibilities—all without reliance on trusted third parties. Regardless of the employed consensus protocol, the overall security, decentralization and effectiveness of such systems, largely depend upon properly structured incentives. Indeed, as has been previously spotted by Babaiaff et al. Bitcoin-like systems, oftentimes lack some of these. Specifically, current blockchain-systems fail to incentivize one of their crucial aspects–the underlying data exchange. As we rationalize, proper incentivization of that layer could lead to lower transactions’ confirmation-times, improved finalization guarantees and at the same time to discouragement of malicious behaviours such as block-withholding attacks. Indeed, incentivization of the data-exchange layer allows the system to remain operational when all agents, including routing nodes, are assumed to be rational. In this work, while focusing on the problem of sybil-proof data exchange, we revisit previous approaches, showcasing their shortcomings and lay forward the first information exchange framework; with integrated routing and reward-function mechanics, provably secure in thwarting Sybil-nodes in 1-connected or eclipsed networks. The framework neither requires nor assumes any kind of constraints in regard to the network’s topology (i.e. the network is modelled as a random-connected graph) and rewards information propagators through a system-intrinsic virtual asset maintained by the decentralized state-machine. The proposal, while being storage and transmission efficient is suitable for rewarding not only consensus-related datagrams (both data-blocks and transactions) but consensus-extrinsic information as well, thus facilitating an universal sybil-proof data-exchange apparatus, provably valid under the assumption of existence of a data store whose property of non-malleability emerges as time approaches infinity. Our research was conducted under two scenarios—with round leader known and unknown in advance of each transactional round.
Characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Great Lakes Basin using dreissenid mussels
Authors: Kimbrough Kimani , Jacob Annie , Regan Seann , Davenport Erik , Edwards Michael , Leight A. K. , Freitag Amy , Rider Mary , Johnson W. Edward
Published: November 2021

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Mussel Watch Program (MWP), conducts basin-wide monitoring and place-based assessments using dreissenid mussels as bioindicators of chemical contamination in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) body burden results for the period 2009–2018 were combined into one dataset from multiple MWP studies allowing for a robust characterization of PAH contamination. Patterns in PAH data were identified using descriptive statistics and machine learning techniques. Relationships between total PAH concentration in dreissenid mussel tissue, impervious surface percentages, and PAH relative concentration were identified and used to build a predictive model for the Great Lakes Basin. Significant positive correlation was identified by the Spearman’s rank correlation test between total PAH concentration and percent impervious surface. The findings support the paradigm that PAHs are primarily derived from land-based sources. Offshore and riverine locations had the lowest and highest median total PAH concentrations, respectively. PAH assemblages and ratios indicated that pyrogenic sources were more predominant than petrogenic sources and that PAHs at offshore sites exhibited relatively more weathering compared to inshore sites.
A Confirmation Bias View on Social Media Induced Polarisation During Covid-19
Authors: Modgil Sachin , Singh Rohit Kumar , Gupta Shivam , Dennehy Denis
Published: November 2021

Social media has played a pivotal role in polarising views on politics, climate change, and more recently, the Covid-19 pandemic. Social media induced polarisation (SMIP) poses serious challenges to society as it could enable ‘digital wildfires’ that can wreak havoc worldwide. While the effects of SMIP have been extensively studied, there is limited understanding of the interplay between two key components of this phenomenon: confirmation bias (reinforcing one’s attitudes and beliefs) and echo chambers (i.e., hear their own voice). This paper addresses this knowledge deficit by exploring how manifestations of confirmation bias contributed to the development of ‘echo chambers’ at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis of data collected from 35 participants involved in supply chain information processing forms the basis of a conceptual model of SMIP and four key cross-cutting propositions emerging from the data that have implications for research and practice.