bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Successful local use of heparin calcium for congested fingertip replants
Authors: Kadota Hideki , Imaizumi Atsushi , Ishida Kunihiro , Sashida Yasunori
Published: January 2020

Background Conventional methods of external bleeding for congested fingertip replants exhibit notable problems, including uncontrollable bleeding and unpredictable survival of the replant. We have added a local injection of heparin calcium to the routine use of systemic heparinization for inducing external bleeding. We retrospectively examined patients who underwent external bleeding using our method.

Methods Local subcutaneous injections of heparin calcium were made in 15 congested replants in addition to systemic heparinization. Each injection ranged from 500 to 5,000 U. The average duration of the injections was 4.1 days. Surgical outcomes were analyzed and compared with a control group of patients who underwent external bleeding without heparin calcium.

Results The overall survival rate was 93.3%, which was higher than that of the control group (83.3%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.569). The survival rate for subzones I and II by the Ishikawa subzone classification was 100%, whereas it was 87.5% in subzones III and IV. No statistically significant difference was observed. The rate of partial necrosis was 0% in subzones I and II, whereas it was significantly higher (66.7%) in subzones III and IV (P=0.015). The mean total blood loss via external bleeding was 588 g in 10 fingers. No patients required blood transfusion.

Conclusions Congestion of a replanted fingertip can be successfully managed without blood transfusion by our method. Although complete relief from congestion in replants in subzones I and II is achievable, there is a higher risk of partial necrosis in subzones III and IV.
Effect of lidocaine on pain caused by nasal pack removal after closed reduction of nasal bone fractures
Authors: Sung Ji Yoon , Kang Kyung Dong , Kim Min Wook , Kim Joo Hyoung
Published: January 2020

Background Pain caused by nasal pack removal after closed reduction of nasal bone fractures is a common problem. This study investigated the effect of infiltrating lidocaine into nasal packs on the pain caused by pack removal after closed reduction of nasal bone fractures.

Methods Seventy-five patients who underwent closed reduction of nasal bone fractures between March 2016 and March 2018 were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, single-blind study. Merocel (hydroxylated polyvinyl acetate) packs were applied bilaterally and retained for 5 days. Twenty minutes before removal, both packs were rehydrated with 6 mL of 2% lidocaine in 26 patients and with 6 mL of saline in 24 patients; the packs were not rehydrated in 25 patients. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain on removal were recorded.

Results The mean VAS score was 5.3±2.0 in all patients, 3.8±1.5 in the lidocaine group, 5.8±1.4 in the saline group, and 6.3±2.1 in the non-rehydrated group. There was a significant difference in the pain score between the lidocaine and saline groups (P<0.001) but not between the saline and non-rehydrated groups (P=0.186).

Conclusions Infiltration of lidocaine into Merocel packs reduced the pain caused by pack removal after closed reduction of nasal bone fractures.
Dual vascular free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap for hemifacial reconstruction in a vessel-depleted neck
Authors: Lee Su-Hyun , You Hi-Jin , Lee Yun-Hwan , Kim Deok-Woo
Published: January 2020

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common skin malignancy. This report describes the case of an unusual extensive SCC involving the whole hemiface, which required reconstruction with a combination of a dual vascular free transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) flap and a skin graft. A 79-year-old woman visited our hospital with multiple large ulcerated erythematous patches on her right hemiface, including the parieto-temporal scalp, bulbar and palpebral conjunctiva, cheek, and lip. A preliminary multifocal biopsy was performed in order to determine the resection margin, and the lesion was resected en bloc. Orbital exenteration was also performed. A free TRAM flap was harvested with preserved bilateral pedicles and was anastomosed with a single superior thyroidal vessel. The entire TRAM flap survived. The final pathological examination of the resected specimen confirmed that there was no regional nodal metastasis, perineural invasion, or lymphovascular involvement. The patient was observed for 6 months, and there was no evidence of local recurrence. Usage of a TRAM flap is appropriate for hemifacial reconstruction because the skin of the abdomen matches the color and pliability of the face. Furthermore, we found that the independent attachment of two extra-flap anastomoses to a single recipient vessel can safely result in survival of the flap.
A rare case of abdominal adenoid basal cell carcinoma in a patient with a history of radiation therapy
Authors: Kim Ji Hun , Kim Sun Eung , Cheon Young Woo
Published: January 2020

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer and its incidence is steadily increasing. Prior radiation therapy is one of the most important risk factors for BCC. Although the mechanism remains undefined, long-term studies have shown that people exposed to radiation have an increased risk of BCC. Despite the fact that BCC occurs most frequently in sun-exposed areas of the body, patients with a history of radiation therapy have an increased risk of BCC in areas previously exposed to radiation. Here, we report a case of adenoid BCC on the abdomen in a 67-year-old woman after radiation therapy post-hysterectomy.
Surgical management of male genital lymphedema: A systematic review
Authors: Aulia Indri , Yessica Eva Chintia
Published: January 2020

Genital lymphedema (GL) is an uncommon and disabling disease that manifests as enlargement of the genital region resulting from the disturbance of lymphatic drainage. Although conservative treatment such as decompression is typically the first-line approach, surgical intervention has been shown to be effective in certain cases. This study aimed to systematically review studies evaluating available surgical alternatives for the treatment of male GL. A systematic search strategy using keyword and subject headings was applied to PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library in May 2019. Studies investigating various surgical techniques to treat penile and scrotal lymphedema were included. The potential risk of bias of included trials was evaluated using the methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS). In total, 13 studies met the inclusion criteria, nine of which were determined to be high-quality. The average MINORS score was 12.45 for studies involving excision and 14 for studies involving lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA). The most common reason for a low score was a failure to describe the inclusion criteria. Recurrence of lymphedema during follow-up was reported in four studies involving excision and in no studies involving LVA. In general, the quality of the included literature was considered to be fair. Although surgical intervention might not always prevent the recurrence of lymphedema, all of the studies reported improved quality of life after the procedure. This study could be used as the basis for evidence-based guidelines to be applied in clinical practice for managing male GL.
Clinical application of cryolipolysis in Asian patients for subcutaneous fat reduction and body contouring
Authors: Oh Chang Hyun , Shim Jeong Su , Bae Kwang Il , Chang Jae Hoon
Published: January 2020

Background Cryolipolysis, a preferred method for minimally invasive body contouring, involves the noninvasive cooling of adipocytes to induce lipolysis without damaging other tissues. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cryolipolysis for the treatment of excessive fat tissue.

Methods Between May 2014 and December 2017, 231 patients with 448 areas of interest were enrolled and their records were retrospectively reviewed. We used five different vacuum applicators, and the best-fitting applicator was used for each area. One cycle of cryolipolysis was applied at a cooling intensity factor of 41.6. The efficacy was evaluated 12 weeks after treatment via review of clinical photographs, the pinch test, and ultrasonographic measurements of fat thickness. The occurrence of any complications was also assessed.

Results The volume was reduced in all of the areas to which cryolipolysis was applied. The rate of reduction of the fat layer as measured via the pinch test was 19.2%, and the rate of the decrease in fat layer thickness as measured via ultrasonography was 22.8%. Fat reduction of the upper arm differed significantly from that of the abdomen and flank, but no significant difference was found between sexes. The side effects were limited to erythema, edema, bruising, and numbness at the treatment site and resolved without treatment.

Conclusions Cryolipolysis, with new and better-fitting applicators, is safe, fast, and effective for the reduction of excessive fat tissue on the abdomen, back, flank, and extremities. It is a good option for treating excess adipose tissue in Asian patients.
Salvage of late flap compromise in deep inferior epigastric perforator flaps: To revise or not to revise
Authors: Hong Seung Heon , Lee Kyeong-Tae , Pyon Jai-Kyong
Published: January 2020

Although the success rate of deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps has increased, late flap failures still occur and have a low salvage rate. The present article describes a case of salvage of a case of late flap failure using the pedicle vein as a vein graft source. A 50-year-old woman underwent a bilateral DIEP free flap procedure. On postoperative day 6, she experienced flap compromise and underwent emergency flap revision. In the flap revision, flap venous drainage and the superficial inferior epigastric vein were completely obstructed. A Fogarty catheter was used to remove a thrombus from the completely obstructed pedicle vein, and this pedicle vein was used as a graft source and was ligated in retrograde fashion to the flap vein stump. After injection of urokinase into the arterial branch, venous flow to the flap was restored. At a 6-month follow-up visit in the outpatient clinic, only partial fat necrosis at the flap was noted. By dissecting various perforators in the initial operation, decisions regarding immediate revision can be made with more confidence. Additionally, the combined procedures performed in this case may be helpful even for practitioners treating cases of late flap compromise.
¿El mundo sería mejor sin dinero? Apuntes desde la historia, la antropología y la economía política en torno a los mercados y las monedas alternativas
Authors: Aguilar Eduardo Enrique
Published: January 2020

El presente artículo pretende responder al cuestionamiento de qué hacer para que las monedas alternativas no funcionen bajo el paradigma de las monedas de circulación nacional, de manera profunda lo que se está cuestionando, es cómo hacer para que la moneda sea disruptiva al sistema económico dominante, el de la producción capitalista; para poder responder se toman apuntes desde la antropología económica, la historia y la economía política sobre el mercado y las monedas para encontrar su fundamento y con ello visibilizar cuáles son las pautas para que estos espacios puedan ser disputados y llevarlos a una lógica de la reproducción de la vida. Se puede encontrar dentro del presente texto que los mercados históricamente han sido periféricos dentro de la actividad económica humana y que las lógicas reproductivas están basadas en relaciones recíprocas y redistributivas de carácter no mercantil, no obstante, sostenemos que la constitución de mercados y monedas es un primer paso dentro de la construcción de otras economías.

The present article aims to answer the question of what to do so that alternative currencies go outside the paradigm of national currency currencies, what is really being questioned is how to make the currency disruptive to the dominant economic system, the capitalist economy; to be able to respond, we bring notes from economic anthropology, history and political economy on the market and currencies to find their foundation and thereby make visible what are the guidelines for these spaces can be disputed and take them to a logic of reproduction of life. You can find within the present text that markets have historically been peripheral to economic human activity and that reproductive logics are based on reciprocal and redistributive relationships of a non-commercial nature, however, we maintain that the constitution of markets and currencies is a first step within the construction of other economies.
Aproximación sociológica al significado de los términos: economía popular, economía social y economía solidaria en México
Authors: Rojas Herrera Juan José
Published: January 2020

A pesar de la globalización de la economía y los incesantes intentos por subordinar todas las formas de producción a la lógica de la acumulación capitalista, la resistencia de los trabajadores persiste mediante la implementación de diversos modelos de gestión social del trabajo, entre los que destacan los puestos en marcha por los actores de la economía popular, la economía social y la economía solidaria. Precisar la identidad organizacional de estas tres formas de trabajo, para el caso específico de México, constituye el propósito principal del presente artículo, habiéndose identificado que, por su naturaleza, el sistema de trabajo que corresponde a cada una de ellas es de tipo autónomo, asociativo-autogestionario y asociativo-autogestionario-solidario, respectivamente.

Despite the globalization of the economy and the incessant attempts to subordinate all forms of production to the logic of capitalist accumulation, the resistance of workers persists through the implementation of various models of social work management, among which the posts launched by the actors of the popular economy, the social economy and the solidarity economy. Specify the organizational identity of these three forms of work, for the specific case of Mexico, is the main purpose of this article, having identified that, by its nature, the work system that corresponds to each of them is of autonomous type, associative-self-management and associative-self-management-solidarity, respectively.
¿Es el lucro un elemento decisivo en la delimitación de las organizaciones cooperativas y de la Economía Social Solidaria? Un análisis comparado de las legislaciones de comienzo del siglo XXI
Authors: Guerra Pablo
Published: January 2020

Durante un tiempo considerable buena parte de la doctrina cooperativa señalaba que las cooperativas eran entidades sin fines de lucro. Algunas leyes, sobre todo de mediados del S. XX, recogían esa fórmula a la hora de definir la naturaleza de estas particulares empresas. En la actualidad, sin embargo, doctrina y legislaciones parecen abandonar dicha formulación. En este artículo ahondaremos en las razones de esta evolución y analizaremos cómo los textos legales más representativos que sobre la economía social y solidaria se han ido gestando en diferentes países de América en lo que va del S. XXI, han tratado la naturaleza de las empresas del sector solidario en relación con el lucro.

For a long time some cooperative doctrine defined the cooperatives as a non-profit corporation. Some laws, especially of mid-20th century, defined the nature of these particular organizations using this idea. Today, however, doctrine and legislation seem to leave such formulation. In this article we analize into the reasons for this evolution and will look at how the most representative SSE laws in different countries of South America have recognize the nature of the SSE sector in relation to the profits.
‘Oh, there are so many things I want to write’
Authors: García Navarro Carmen
Published: January 2020

This paper explores the narrative process identified in the Whitehorn Letters, written by Doris Lessing from 1944 to 1949, as historical documents that form a single, coherent whole. Their significance is assessed by means of an epistemological reflection that sheds light on the path by which the young Lessing established her identity as an author (Bieder, 1993). In the letter-writing process, Lessing declares her aim to become a writer. The letters also characterise the writer as a historical subject, and describe the relationship between this historical subject and the individual who writes the correspondence. Since the letters formulate a coherent discourse about Lessing’s authorial identity, I investigate whether using a model for reading them may be beneficial. I believe that additional nuances could be detected in her narratives by revisiting Lessing and examining, in the centenary of her birth, some hitherto unknown parts of her writings, as these letters represent.
“Meet our group!”:
Authors: Luzón María José
Published: January 2020

Websites offer research groups a powerful tool for self-promotion and dissemination of their research to a diversified audience. The aim of this study is to explore how research groups affiliated to a research institution in a non-Anglophone country compose their websites to achieve visibility and impact and reach multiple audiences. Content analysis of the websites and semi-structured interviews were used to examine the language(s) in which the websites are written and their content. The study shows that through these websites research groups address simultaneously the international disciplinary community and various local audiences and that these audiences shape the choice of language and content. Findings from this study provide insights into new communication and representation practices engaged in by research groups to meet disciplinary goals, requirements for funding, and society’s demands.
Drácula en el laberinto: notas sobre la reinvención televisiva de un clásico
Authors: Roig Antoni
Published: January 2020

El reciente estreno de Drácula, coproducida por la BBC y Netflix, ha levantado fuerte expectación, además de no poca polémica por las libertades tomadas respecto al original literario y a las estructuras narrativas y temporales tradicionales. No es de extrañar, pues detrás de él se encuentran Mark Gatiss y Steven Moffat, quienes ya transgredieron con Sherlock.
En el prisma de una educación mediática actual
Authors: Martínez Martínez Silvia
Published: January 2020

Educación mediática, educomunicación, media literacy… Son varios los términos, incluso las tradiciones y los enfoques, que se encuentran detrás de este concepto. Una enseñanza que resulta fundamental para desarrollar conocimientos y habilidades necesarios para prevenir riesgos, pero también para aprovechar las posibilidades que brindan los medios. Un prisma desde el que se proyectan diferentes haces que iluminan nuevas prácticas y tendencias, en un contexto en el que las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación constituyen una parte esencial de nuestra vida cotidiana.
Modern Web Event 2019
Authors: Córcoles Briongos César Pablo
Published: January 2020

Como cada año desde hace ya cinco (se dice pronto), es un honor poder encargarme de organizar el Modern Web Event. Y además de un honor, un placer, porque me permite el lujo de seleccionar algunas de las charlas que, además de considerar de interés general para la comunidad del diseño y el desarrollo web, me gustaría ver a mí particularmente.

En el Modern Web, además, siempre hemos intentado, en la medida de lo posible, marcar algunos aspectos que quizá no se tratan tanto como consideramos conveniente. Este es el caso, por ejemplo, de la charla que abrió la sesión, sobre las mal llamadas soft skills, que de soft tienen bastante poco y son en realidad hard tanto por la dificultad de adquirirlas como la de encontrarlas en el mercado. Carles Caño nos habló de la importancia de la empatía en sus múltiples vertientes en una charla que es, desafortunadamente, más necesaria de lo que uno querría imaginar.
Medic-ar: diseño y desarrollo de una aplicación móvil con realidad aumentada para el control y optimización del tratamiento médico
Authors: Lavandeira Amenedo Yago
Published: January 2020

El objetivo del trabajo ha sido diseñar una aplicación móvil que integre una capa de realidad aumentada que permita el reconocimiento e identificación de medicamentos mediante OCR.
Congreso Mundial del Móvil – Parte II
Authors: Rodríguez René
Published: January 2020

II. Conferencias: La sociedad avanzando + ‘¡Es la experiencia del usuario, estúpido!’

Society on the Move se puede traducir al castellano como La sociedad avanzando. Este fue el título de la conferencia que tuvo lugar el pasado 12 de febrero en el Palacio de Congresos de la Feria de Barcelona durante la celebración del Mobile World Congress.

El panel estuvo presidido por Mike Short, vicepresidente de la compañía O2. En su introducción, Short señaló un dato que muestra el impacto que está teniendo el mercado de los móviles en el mundo: en estos momentos hay alrededor de tres billones de personas que poseen un dispositivo móvil; y en los próximos cuatro años, se espera vender cinco billones de estos aparatos.

Pero más allá del optimismo económico que dibujan estas cifras, la conferencia se enfocó en los beneficios que está produciendo la tecnología móvil en la sociedad. Tocó el turno de abrir estas presentaciones al presidente de Barthi Airtel, Sanjay Kapoor. Barthi Airtel es una de las mayores operadoras de telefonía móvil de la India, dirigida por el multimillonario Sunil Mittal. En ella participan Vodafone y Singtel, esta última es una empresa de telecomunicaciones con sede en Singapur.
Membrane interactions of the globular domain and the hypervariable region of KRAS4b define its unique diffusion behavior
Authors: Goswami Debanjan , Chen De , Yang Yue , Gudla Prabhakar R , Columbus John , Worthy Karen , Rigby Megan , Wheeler Madeline , Mukhopadhyay Suman , Powell Katie , Burgan William , Wall Vanessa , Esposito Dominic , Simanshu Dhirendra K , Lightstone Felice C , Nissley Dwight V , McCormick Frank , Turbyville Thomas
Published: January 2020

The RAS proteins are GTP-dependent switches that regulate signaling pathways and are frequently mutated in cancer. RAS proteins concentrate in the plasma membrane via lipid-tethers and hypervariable region side-chain interactions in distinct nano-domains. However, little is known about RAS membrane dynamics and the details of RAS activation of downstream signaling. Here, we characterize RAS in live human and mouse cells using single-molecule-tracking methods and estimate RAS mobility parameters. KRAS4b exhibits confined mobility with three diffusive states distinct from the other RAS isoforms (KRAS4a, NRAS, and HRAS); and although most of the amino acid differences between RAS isoforms lie within the hypervariable region, the additional confinement of KRAS4b is largely determined by the protein’s globular domain. To understand the altered mobility of an oncogenic KRAS4b, we used complementary experimental and molecular dynamics simulation approaches to reveal a detailed mechanism.
The kinesin-5 tail domain directly modulates the mechanochemical cycle of the motor domain for anti-parallel microtubule sliding
Authors: Bodrug Tatyana , Wilson-Kubalek Elizabeth M , Nithianantham Stanley , Thompson Alex F , Alfieri April , Gaska Ignas , Major Jennifer , Debs Garrett , Inagaki Sayaka , Gutierrez Pedro , Gheber Larisa , McKenney Richard J , Sindelar Charles Vaughn , Milligan Ronald , Stumpff Jason , Rosenfeld Steven S , Forth Scott T , Al-Bassam Jawdat
Published: January 2020

Kinesin-5 motors organize mitotic spindles by sliding apart microtubules. They are homotetramers with dimeric motor and tail domains at both ends of a bipolar minifilament. Here, we describe a regulatory mechanism involving direct binding between tail and motor domains and its fundamental role in microtubule sliding. Kinesin-5 tails decrease microtubule-stimulated ATP-hydrolysis by specifically engaging motor domains in the nucleotide-free or ADP states. Cryo-EM reveals that tail binding stabilizes an open motor domain ATP-active site. Full-length motors undergo slow motility and cluster together along microtubules, while tail-deleted motors exhibit rapid motility without clustering. The tail is critical for motors to zipper together two microtubules by generating substantial sliding forces. The tail is essential for mitotic spindle localization, which becomes severely reduced in tail-deleted motors. Our studies suggest a revised microtubule-sliding model, in which kinesin-5 tails stabilize motor domains in the microtubule-bound state by slowing ATP-binding, resulting in high-force production at both homotetramer ends.
Altered corticolimbic connectivity reveals sex-specific adolescent outcomes in a rat model of early life adversity
Authors: Honeycutt Jennifer A , Demaestri Camila , Peterzell Shayna , Silveri Marisa M , Cai Xuezhu , Kulkarni Praveen , Cunningham Miles G , Ferris Craig F , Brenhouse Heather C
Published: January 2020

Exposure to early-life adversity (ELA) increases the risk for psychopathologies associated with amygdala-prefrontal cortex (PFC) circuits. While sex differences in vulnerability have been identified with a clear need for individualized intervention strategies, the neurobiological substrates of ELA-attributable differences remain unknown due to a paucity of translational investigations taking both development and sex into account. Male and female rats exposed to maternal separation ELA were analyzed with anterograde tracing from basolateral amygdala (BLA) to PFC to identify sex-specific innervation trajectories through juvenility (PD28) and adolescence (PD38;PD48). Resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) was assessed longitudinally (PD28;PD48) in a separate cohort. All measures were related to anxiety-like behavior. ELA-exposed rats showed precocial maturation of BLA-PFC innervation, with females affected earlier than males. ELA also disrupted maturation of female rsFC, with enduring relationships between rsFC and anxiety-like behavior. This study is the first providing both anatomical and functional evidence for sex- and experience-dependent corticolimbic development.
Mechanisms of substrate recognition by a typhoid toxin secretion-associated muramidase
Authors: Geiger Tobias , Lara-Tejero Maria , Xiong Yong , Galán Jorge E
Published: January 2020

Typhoid toxin is a virulence factor for the bacterial pathogen Salmonella Typhi, which causes typhoid fever in humans. After its synthesis by intracellular bacteria, typhoid toxin is secreted into the lumen of the Salmonella-containing vacuole by a secretion mechanism strictly dependent on TtsA, a specific muramidase that facilitates toxin transport through the peptidoglycan layer. Here we show that substrate recognition by TtsA depends on a discrete domain within its carboxy terminus, which targets the enzyme to the bacterial poles to recognize YcbB-edited peptidoglycan. Comparison of the atomic structures of TtsA bound to its substrate and that of a close homolog with different specificity identified specific determinants involved in substrate recognition. Combined with structure-guided mutagenesis and in vitro and in vivo crosslinking experiments, this study provides an unprecedented view of the mechanisms by which a muramidase recognizes its peptidoglycan substrate to facilitate protein secretion.
Toward a clinical real time tissue ablation technology: combining electroporation and electrolysis (E2)
Authors: Guenther Enric , Klein Nina , Mikus Paul , Botea Florin , Pautov Mihail , Lugnani Franco , Macchioro Matteo , Popescu Irinel , Stehling Michael K. , Rubinsky Boris
Published: January 2020

Background

Percutaneous image-guided tissue ablation (IGA) plays a growing role in the clinical management of solid malignancies. Electroporation is used for IGA in several modalities: irreversible electroporation (IRE), and reversible electroporation with chemotoxic drugs, called electrochemotherapy (ECT). It was shown that the combination of electrolysis and electroporation—E2—affords tissue ablation with greater efficiency, that is, lower voltages, lower energy and shorter procedure times than IRE and without the need for chemotoxic additives as in ECT.

Methods

A new E2 waveform was designed that delivers optimal doses of electroporation and electrolysis in a single waveform. A series of experiments were performed in the liver of pigs to evaluate E2 in the context of clinical applications. The goal was to find initial parameter boundaries in terms of electrical field, pulse duration and charge as well as tissue behavior to enable real time tissue ablation of clinically relevant volumes.

Results

Histological results show that a single several hundred millisecond long E2 waveform can ablate large volume of tissue at relatively low voltages while preserving the integrity of large blood vessels and lumen structures in the ablation zone without the use of chemotoxic drugs or paralyzing drugs during anesthesia. This could translate clinically into much shorter treatment times and ease of use compared to other techniques that are currently applied.
Organic acids and 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol: major compounds of Weissella confusa WM36 cell-free supernatant against growth, survival and virulence of Salmonella Typhi
Authors: Pelyuntha Wattana , Chaiyasut Chaiyavat , Kantachote Duangporn , Sirilun Sasithorn
Published: January 2020

Background

Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi), the causative agent of typhoid fever, causes serious systemic disease in humans. Antibiotic treatment is required for the S. Typhi infection, while the inappropriate use of antibiotics causes increased drug-resistant S. Typhi. Hence, alternative therapies through non-antibiotic approaches are urgently needed. The use of beneficial lactic acid bacterium and/or its metabolites to control typhoid fever represent a promising approach, as it may exert protective actions through various mechanisms.

Method

In this study, the cell-free culture supernatant (CFCS) of Weissella confusa WM36 was evaluated via the antibacterial activity, and its metabolites were identified. In addition, the effects of CFCS on Salmonella virulence behaviors were also investigated.

Result

Based on strong inhibition the growth of S. Typhi DMST 22842, organic acids (lactic acid and acetic acid) and 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol (2,4 DTBP), were the main antibacterial metabolites presented in CFCS of strain WM36. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at 40% WM36–CFCS dramatically reduced the S. Typhi population to more than 99.99% at 4 h and completely inhibited biofilm formation, while sub-MIC at 20% (v/v) and MIC could reduce 100% of motility. Additionally, sub-MIC at only 10% (v/v) WM36–CFCS did down-regulate the expression of virulence genes which are responsible for the type-III secretion system, effector proteins, and quorum sensing system in this pathogen.

Conclusion

W. confusa WM36 and its metabolites are shown to be a promising candidates, and an effective approach against typhoid Salmonella burden.
All‐trans retinoic acid and human salivary histatin‐1 promote the spreading and osteogenic activities of pre‐osteoblasts in vitro
Authors: Sun Wei , Shi Andi , Ma Dandan , Bolscher Jan G. M. , Nazmi Kamran , Veerman Enno C. I. , Bikker Floris J. , Lin Haiyan , Wu Gang
Published: January 2020

Cell‐based bone tissue engineering techniques utilize both osteogenic cells and biomedical materials, and have emerged as a promising approach for large‐volume bone repair. The success of such techniques is highly dependent on cell adhesion, spreading, and osteogenic activities. In this study, we investigated the effect of co‐administration of all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and human salivary peptide histatin‐1 (Hst1) on the spreading and osteogenic activities of pre‐osteoblasts on bio‐inert glass surfaces. Pre‐osteoblasts (MC3T3‐E1 cell line) were seeded onto bio‐inert glass slides in the presence and absence of ATRA and Hst1. Cell spreading was scored by measuring surface areas of cellular filopodia and lamellipodia using a point‐counting method. The distribution of fluorogenic Hst1 within osteogenic cells was also analyzed. Furthermore, specific inhibitors of retinoic acid receptors α, β, and γ, such as ER‐50891, LE‐135, and MM‐11253, were added to identify the involvement of these receptors. Cell metabolic activity, DNA content, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were assessed to monitor their effects on osteogenic activities. Short‐term (2 h) co‐administration of 10 μm ATRA and Hst1 to pre‐osteoblasts resulted in significantly higher spreading of pre‐osteoblasts compared to ATRA or Hst1 alone. ER‐50891 and LE‐135 both nullified these effects of ATRA. Co‐administration of ATRA and Hst1 was associated with significantly higher metabolic activity, DNA content, and ALP activity than either ATRA or Hst1 alone. In conclusion, co‐administration of Hst1 with ATRA additively stimulated the spreading and osteogenicity of pre‐osteoblasts on bio‐inert glass surfaces in vitro.
Id1 expression in kidney endothelial cells protects against diabetes‐induced microvascular injury
Authors: Sharma Shree , Plotkin Matthew
Published: January 2020

The inhibitor of differentiation (Id) transcription regulators, which are induced in response to oxidative stress, promote cell proliferation and inhibit senescence. Inhibitor of differentiation 1 (Id1) expression is limited to endothelial cells (EC) in the normal mouse kidney and is required for a normal response to injury. Endothelial dysfunction leads to the development of diabetic nephropathy, and so, we hypothesized that endothelial Id1 may help protect against hyperglycemia‐induced microvascular injury and nephropathy. Here, we tested this hypothesis by using streptozotocin to induce diabetes in Id1 knockout (KO) mice and WT B6;129 littermates and examining the mice at 3 months. Expression of Id1 was observed to be increased 15‐fold in WT kidney EC, and Id1 KO mice exhibited increased mesangial and myofibroblast proliferation, matrix deposition, and albuminuria compared with WT mice. Electron microscopy demonstrated peritubular capillary EC injury and lumen narrowing, and fluorescence microangiography showed a 45% reduction in capillary perfusion area with no reduction in CD31‐stained areas in Id1 KO mice. Microarray analysis of EC isolated from WT and KO control and diabetic mice demonstrated activation of senescence pathways in KO cells. Kidneys from KO diabetic mice showed increased histological expression of senescence markers. In addition, premature senescence in cultured KO EC was also seen in response to oxidative stress. In conclusion, endothelial Id1 upregulation with hyperglycemia protects against microvascular injury and senescence and subsequent nephropathy.
Individual differences in anger and displaced aggression: The role of metacognitive beliefs and anger rumination
Authors: Salguero José M. , García‐Sancho Esperanza , Ramos‐Cejudo Juan , Kannis‐Dymand Lee
Published: January 2020

Metacognitive model is a theoretical approach aimed to explain emotion dysregulation and others emotion‐related issues, such anger, and aggressive behavior. From this model, people having higher maladaptive metacognitive beliefs (e.g., “I can't control my thoughts”) are more likely to activate and maintain anger rumination and, in turn, to experience higher levels of anger and to act aggressively. Preliminary evidence shows the role of metacognitive beliefs on anger rumination and anger levels, whereas no studies have examined its association with aggressive behavior. This study first examined the associations between metacognitive beliefs, anger rumination, anger levels, and the propensity to engage in displaced aggression, and second, the mediation role of anger rumination in the relations among metacognitive beliefs and anger and displaced aggression. Participants were 947 students and non‐students from general population recruited in two different countries (Australia and Spain). Correlational analyses revealed a similar pattern of results in the Australian and Spanish sample, with participants having dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs also showing higher anger rumination, higher levels of anger and a higher tendency to act aggressively. Structural equation analyses revealed the associations of metacognitive beliefs with anger levels and displaced aggression was fully mediated by anger rumination in both samples. These results suggest that metacognitive beliefs should be considered in comprehensive models and in the therapy of anger problems and aggression.
CSF SerpinA1 in Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration
Authors: Abu‐Rumeileh Samir , Halbgebauer Steffen , Steinacker Petra , Anderl‐Straub Sarah , Polischi Barbara , Ludolph Albert C. , Capellari Sabina , Parchi Piero , Otto Markus
Published: January 2020

Objective

SerpinA1 (alpha‐1 antitrypsin) is an acute inflammatory protein, which seems to play a role in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. In Alzheimer’s disease and synucleinopathies, SerpinA1 is overexpressed in the brain and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showing abnormal patterns of its charge isoforms. To date, no comprehensive studies explored SerpinA1 CSF isoforms in Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD).

Methods

Using a capillary isoelectric focusing immunoassay, we analyzed CSF SerpinA1 isoforms in control cases (n = 31) and patients with a definite or probable diagnosis of CJD (n=77) or FTLD (n = 30), belonging to several disease subtypes.

Results

The overall SerpinA1 signal was significantly higher than in controls in CJD subtypes linked to abnormal prion protein (PrPSc) type 1, such as sporadic CJD (sCJD) MM(V)1, and in FTLD‐TDP. Moreover, CJD linked to PrPSc type 1 and FTLD‐TAU groups showed a significant relative increase of acidic and basic isoforms in comparison with controls, thereby forming two distinct SerpinA1 isoform profiles.

Interpretation

CJD linked to PrPSc type 1 and FTLD show a differential upregulation and post‐translational modifications of CSF SerpinA1. Further studies are needed to clarify whether these findings may reflect a common, albeit disease‐specific, pathogenetic mechanism related to neurodegeneration.
Adaptive relative velocity estimation algorithm for autonomous mobile robots using the measurements on acceleration and relative distance
Authors: Safaei Ali
Published: January 2020

In this article, an adaptive algorithm is proposed for online velocity estimation of the autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) without positioning data received from a Global Positioning System (GPS) module or other means for odometry. Unlike the popular Kalman and particle filters that use the measurements on vectors of global (or local) position and acceleration of a mobile robot, the proposed adaptive relative velocity estimation (ARVE) algorithm requires the scalar value of measured distance to a beacon agent and also the measurement on acceleration vector, in order to generate an online estimation of the global velocity vector of a mobile robot. Combining the ARVE algorithm with the recently proposed adaptive relative position estimation (ARPE) algorithm provides a solution for online estimation of the translational states of a mobile robot without accessing the GPS data, which makes the package applicable in both indoor and outdoor environments. The stability of the ARVE algorithm is analyzed with LaSalle‐Yoshizawa theorem. In addition, two simulation studies are provided to show the application of the proposed estimation package (ARVE+ARPE) for aerial AMRs in two cases corresponding to the stationary and moving beacon agents. In the simulation results, it is shown that the estimation package can be used in conjunction with the recently proposed adaptive model‐free control (AMFC) algorithm to achieve desired tracking objective in autonomous movement of a quadrotor, without requiring the information on the internal dynamics of the robot.
Chiral Stereoisomer Engineering of Electron Transporting Materials for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Jung Su‐Kyo , Heo Jin Hyuck , Oh Byeong M. , Lee Jong Bum , Park Sung‐Ha , Yoon Woojin , Song Yunmi , Yun Hoseop , Kim Jong H. , Im Sang Hyuk , Kwon O‐Pil
Published: January 2020

A series of chiral stereoisomers of electron transporting materials with two chiral substituents is rationally designed and synthesized, and the influence of stereoisomerism on their physical and electronic properties is investigated to demonstrate highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Compared to mesomeric naphthalene diimide (NDI) derivatives, which have heterochiral side groups with centrosymmetric molecular packing of symmetric‐shaped conformers in the crystalline state, enantiomeric NDI derivatives have homochiral side groups that exhibit non‐centrosymmetric molecular packing of asymmetric‐shaped conformers in the crystalline state and exhibit better solution processability based on one order of magnitude higher solubility. A similar trend is observed in different rylene diimide stereoisomers based on larger semiconducting core perylene diimide. The PSCs based on NDI enantiomers with good film‐forming ability and a very high lowest phase transition temperature (Tlowest) of 321 °C exhibit a high and uniform average power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.067 ± 0.654%. These PSCs also have a high temporal device stability, with less than 10% degradation of the PCE at 100 °C for 1000 h without encapsulation. Therefore, chiral stereoisomer engineering of charge transporting materials is a potential approach to achieve high solution processability, excellent performance, and significant temporal stability in organic electronic devices.
High‐Performance Manganese Hexacyanoferrate with Cubic Structure as Superior Cathode Material for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Tang Yun , Li Wei , Feng Pingyuan , Zhou Min , Wang Kangli , Wang Yuesheng , Zaghib Karim , Jiang Kai
Published: January 2020

Sodium manganese hexacyanoferrate (NaxMnFe(CN)6) is one of the most promising cathode materials for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) due to the high voltage and low cost. However, its cycling performance is limited by the multiple phase transitions during Na+ insertion/extraction. In this work, a facile strategy is developed to synthesize cubic and monoclinic structured NaxMnFe(CN)6, and their structure evolutions are investigated through in situ X‐ray diffraction (XRD), ex situ Raman, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterizations. It is revealed that the monoclinic phase undergoes undesirable multiple two‐phase reactions (monoclinic ↔ cubic ↔ tetragonal) due to the large lattice distortions caused by the Jahn–Teller effects of Mn3+, resulting in poor cycling performances with 38% capacity retention. The cubic NaxMnFe(CN)6 with high structural symmetry maintains the structural stability during the repeated Na+ insertion/extraction process, demonstrating impressive electrochemical performances with specific capacity of ≈120 mAh g−1 at 3.5 V (vs Na/Na+), capacity retention of ≈70% over 500 cycles at 200 mA g−1. In addition, the TiO2//C‐MnHCF full battery is fabricated with an energy density of 111 Wh kg−1, suggesting the great potential of cubic NaxMnFe(CN)6 for practical energy storage applications.
Efficient and Spectrally Stable Blue Perovskite Light‐Emitting Diodes Based on Potassium Passivated Nanocrystals
Authors: Yang Fei , Chen Hongting , Zhang Rui , Liu Xiaoke , Zhang Weizhuo , Zhang JiBin , Gao Feng , Wang Lei
Published: January 2020

Metal halide perovskites have aroused tremendous interest in the past several years for their promising applications in display and lighting. However, the development of blue perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) still lags far behind that of their green and red cousins due to the difficulty in obtaining high‐quality blue perovskite emissive layers. In this study, a simple approach is conceived to improve the emission and electrical properties of blue perovskites. By introducing an alkali metal ion to occupy some sites of peripheral suspended organic ligands, the nonradiative recombination is suppressed, and, consequently, blue CsPb(Br/Cl)3 nanocrystals with a high photoluminescence quantum efficiency of 38.4% are obtained. The introduced K+ acts as a new type of metal ligand, which not only suppresses nonradiative pathways but also improves the charge carrier transport of the perovskite nanocrystals. With further engineering of the device structure to balance the charge injection rate, a spectrally stable and efficient blue PeLED with a maximum external quantum efficiency of 1.96% at the emission peak of 477 nm is fabricated.
Solute Incorporation at Oxide–Oxide Interfaces Explains How Ternary Mixed‐Metal Oxide Nanocrystals Support Element‐Specific Anisotropic Growth
Authors: Gliech Manuel , Görlin Mikaela , Gocyla Martin , Klingenhof Malte , Bergmann Arno , Selve Sören , Spöri Camillo , Heggen Marc , Dunin‐Borkowski Rafal E. , Suntivich Jin , Strasser Peter
Published: January 2020

Fundamental understanding of anisotropic growth in oxide nanocrystals is crucial to establish new synthesis strategies and to tailor the nanoscale electronic, magnetic, optical, and electrocatalytic properties of these particles. While several growth investigations of metal alloy nanoparticles have been reported, mechanistic studies on the growth of ternary oxide materials are still missing. This work constitutes the first study on the evolution of anisotropic growth of manganese–cobalt oxide nanoparticles by monitoring the elemental distribution and morphology during the particle evolution via scanning transmission electron microscopy–X‐ray spectroscopy. A new growth mechanism based on a “solution‐solid‐solid” pathway for mixed manganese cobalt oxides is revealed. In this mechanism, the MnO seed formation occurs in the first step, followed by the surface Co enrichment, which catalyzes the growth along the <100> directions in all the subsequent growth stages, creating rod, cross‐, and T‐shaped mixed metal oxides, which preferentially expose {100} facets. It is shown that the interrelation of both Mn and Co ions initializes the anisotropic growth and presents the range of validity of the proposed mechanism as well as the shape‐determining effect based on the metal‐to‐metal ratio.
Ultrasensitive, Low‐Voltage Operational, and Asymmetric Ionic Sensing Hydrogel for Multipurpose Applications
Authors: Ding Hanyuan , Xin Zeqin , Yang Yueyang , Luo Yufeng , Xia Kailun , Wang Bolun , Sun Yufei , Wang Jiaping , Zhang Yingying , Wu Hui , Fan Shoushan , Zhang Lei , Liu Kai
Published: January 2020

Current artificial tactile sensors mostly exploit a variety of electron‐related physical mechanisms to obtain high sensitivity and low detection force. However, these mechanisms are still distinct from the ion‐related biological processes of human's tactile sensation, and are therefore away from the goal of bionic applications. In the past few years, only several types of ionic tactile sensors have been proposed, and they are still subject to low sensitivity. Here, a novel type of ultrasensitive hydrogel tactile sensor is reported based on asymmetric ionic charge injection as the working mechanism, named as asymmetric ionic sensing hydrogel (AISH). With a small external working voltage of only tens of millivolts, these AISH devices show an extremely low detection force of 0.075 Pa, ultrahigh sensitivity of 57–171 kPa−1, and excellent cycling reliability upon pressing. Applications of these ultrasensitive tactile sensors in fingerprint identification of voice, monitoring of pulse waves, and detection of underwater wave signals are experimentally demonstrated. Combining the merits of simple fabrication process, ionic‐type detection mechanism, and ion injection procedure, such AISH sensors not only reveal a new strategy toward highly sensitive tactile sensors, but also show realistic potential applications in future wearable electronic and bioelectronic devices.