bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fat mass and obesity‐associated protein alleviates Aβ1–40 induced retinal pigment epithelial cells degeneration via PKA/CREB signaling pathway
Authors: Hu Yifan , Chen Jieqiong , Wang Yuwei , Sun Junran , Huang Peirong , Feng Jingyang , Liu Te , Sun Xiaodong
Published: November 2022

Amyloid‐β (Aβ) is thought to be a critical pathologic factor of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration in age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). Aβ induces inflammatory responses in RPE cells and recent studies demonstrate the N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) regulatory role in RPE cell inflammation. m6A is a reversible epigenetic posttranslational modification, but its relationship with Aβ‐induced RPE degeneration is yet to be thoroughly investigated. The present study explored the role and mechanism of m6A in Aβ‐induced RPE degeneration model. This model was induced via intravitreally injecting oligomeric Aβ and the morphology of its retina was analyzed. One of m6A demethylases, the fat mass and obesity‐associated (FTO) gene expression, was assessed. An m6A‐messenger RNA (mRNA) epitranscriptomic microarray was employed for further bioinformatic analyses. It was confirmed that Aβ induced FTO upregulation within the RPE. Hypopigmentation alterations and structural disorganization were observed in Aβ‐treated eyes, and inhibition of FTO exacerbated retinal degeneration and RPE impairment. Moreover, the m6A‐mRNA epitranscriptomic microarray suggested that protein kinase A (PKA) was a target of FTO, and the PKA/cyclic AMP‐responsive element binding (CREB) signaling pathway was involved in Aβ‐induced RPE degeneration. m6A‐RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation confirmed that FTO demethylated PKA within the RPE cells of Aβ‐treated eyes. Altered expression of PKA and its downstream targets (CREB and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor) was confirmed by quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses. Hence, this study's findings shed light on FTO‐mediated m6A modification in Aβ‐induced RPE degeneration and indicate potential therapeutic targets for AMD.
Nobiletin and xanthohumol counteract the TNFα‐mediated activation of endothelial cells through the inhibition of the NF‐κB signaling pathway
Authors: Corrado Chiara , Barreca Maria Magdalena , Raimondo Stefania , Diana Patrizia , Pepe Giacomo , Basilicata Maria Giovanna , Conigliaro Alice , Alessandro Riccardo
Published: November 2022

Angiogenesis, a process characterized by the formation of new blood vessels from pre‐existing ones, is a crucial step in tumor growth and dissemination. Given the ability of tumors to interfere with multiple or different molecular pathways to promote angiogenesis, there is an increasing need to therapeutically block tumor progression by targeting multiple antiangiogenic pathways. Natural polyphenols present health‐protective properties, which are likely attributed to their ability to activate multiple pathways involved in inflammation, carcinogenesis, and angiogenesis. Recently, increased attention has been addressed to the ability of flavonoids, the most abundant polyphenols in the diet, to prevent cancer by suppressing angiogenesis. Here we investigate the mechanisms by which xanthohumol (the major prenylated flavonoid of the hop plant Humulus lupulus L.) and nobiletin (flavonoid from red‐orange Citrus sinensis) can modulate the effects of Tumor Necrosis Factor‐α (TNF‐α) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The results reported in this paper show that xanthohumol and nobiletin pretreatment of HUVEC inhibits the effects induced by TNF‐α on cell migration, invasion capability, and colon cancer cell adhesion on the endothelial monolayer. Moreover, the pretreatment reduces metalloproteinases and adhesion molecules' expression. Finally, our results highlight that xanthohumol and nobiletin can counteract the effects of TNF‐α on angiogenesis and invasiveness, mainly through Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and NF‐κB pathways. Since angiogenesis plays an important pathological role in the progression of several diseases, our findings may provide clues for developing xanthohumol and nobiletin as therapeutic agents against angiogenesis‐associated diseases.
Agranulocytosis in systemic lupus erythematosus: A case report
Authors: Frikha Olfa , Ben Salah Raida , Mefteh Ansar , Frikha Faten , Snoussi Mouna , Marzouk Sameh , Bahloul Zouhir
Published: November 2022

Agranulocytosis is a rare acute condition characterized by severe a < gft (neutropenia in which the neutrophils count is less than 100/mm3. It can be classified into two categories, inherited, and acquired. Acquired agranulocytosis is not commonly caused by auto‐immune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We report a case of a patient suffering from agranulocytosis related to SLE at disease onset, associated with other rare disease involvements.
Gastric volvulus: An uncommon and life threatening cause of acute gastric dilatation in a young male: A case report
Authors: Bhatta Naveen Chandra , Kathayat Karisma , Dahal Sampada , Shrivastava Bijay , Shakya Niliza , Shrestha Asish , Nepal Bikash , Sthapit Rakesh
Published: November 2022

Gastric volvulus leading to acute gastric dilatation is a surgical emergency that should be considered as a differential in patients who present to the emergency department with severe epigastric pain and evidence of gastric outlet obstruction. This condition requires a high index of suspicion that enables early diagnosis and treatment.
Complicated jejunal diverticulitis: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Scheese Daniel , Alwatari Yahya , Khan Jamal , Slaughter Ashley
Published: November 2022

Jejunal diverticulitis is an uncommon pathology wherein a delay in diagnosis can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. We report a case of such diverticula requiring operative management, after patient failed non‐operative management, likely due to advanced jejunal inflammation from a delay in diagnosis and subsequent management.
Clinical whole‐exome sequencing analysis reveals a novel missense COL11A1 mutation resulting in an 18‐week Iranian male aborted fetus with Fibrochondrogenesis 1: A case report
Authors: Mirtavoos‐Mahyari Hanifeh , Ajami Sanaz , Mehrtash Amirhosein , Marashiyan Seyedeh Mahya , Bahreini Farbod , Sheikhy Kambiz , Ghanbari Sogol , Ardeshirdavani Amin
Published: November 2022

Fibrochondrogenesis 1, an autosomal recessive syndrome, is a rare disease that causes short‐limbed skeletal dysplasia. Mutations in the gene encoding the α1 chain of type XI collagen (COL11A1) are seen to be the main cause of this disease. We present an 18‐week Iranian male aborted fetus with Fibrochondrogenesis 1 from consanguineous parents. Whole‐exome sequencing revealed a novel missense variant from G to A in exon 45 of 68 in the COL11A1 gene (NM_080629.2: c.3440G > A, [p.G1147E, g.103404625]). The mutation was confirmed by Sanger sequencing and further, MutationTaster predicted this variant to be disease‐causing. Bioinformatic analysis suggests that this variant is highly conserved in both nucleotide and protein levels, suggesting that it has an important function in the proper role of COL11A1 protein. In silico analysis suggests that this mutation alters the COL11A1 protein structure through a Glycine to Glutamic acid substitution.
Acquired childhood aphasia as a consequence of COVID‐19 and its differential diagnosis from speech–language pathologist perspective: A case study
Authors: Fameen Ridha , K. Rinsha Pravin , S. Pooja , V. Rashmi , Bhattarai Biraj , B. P. Abhishek
Published: November 2022

It is essential to be more vigilant in understanding impact of COVID‐19 on children's speech and language skills. As studies in these lines are very sparse, it is imperative to profile these children and derive accurate diagnosis. Accurate diagnosis aids Speech‐Language Pathologists (SLPs) to render speech and Language therapy systematically.
Lithium Dependent Electrochemistry of p‐Type Nanocrystalline CuCrO2 Films
Authors: Chown Amanda L. , Yeasmin Humaira , Paudel Rajendra , Comes Ryan B. , Farnum Byron H.
Published: November 2022

CuCrO2 nanocrystals were synthesized and fabricated into mesoporous thin films to study their electrochemical properties, where a strong [Li+] dependence was observed. An anodic shift in the Cu2+/+ redox potential was observed with increased [Li+] in the electrolyte, in addition to the growth of a new redox feature at E1/2=−0.43 V vs Fc+/0. This new feature was attributed to Cu2+/+ redox chemistry accompanied by Li+ occupation in copper vacancy surface defects. The equilibrium constant and maximum charge for Li+ occupation were determined to be K=0.057 M−1 and 15.5 mC, respectively. The maximum charge was close to the expected value of 11 mC based on the measured concentration of copper vacancies. The pronounced Li+ dependent electrochemistry suggests that CuCrO2 behaves similarly to cathodes in Li‐ion batteries. Thus, chronopotentiometry experiments revealed a 7.8 mA h g−1 charge capacity at cycle 2 and increasing cycling efficiency from 83 to 91 % over 10 cycles. However, a pronounced decrease in charge capacity was observed with increased cycles, attributed to a loss in lithium‐coupled electrochemistry. These studies add to our understanding of surface defects in p‐type oxides and their effect on hole recombination in solar cell devices.
Highly soluble organic nitrate additives for practical lithium metal batteries
Authors: Wang Zhe , Hou Li‐Peng , Li Zheng , Liang Jia‐Lin , Zhou Ming‐Yue , Zhao Chen‐Zi , Zeng Xiaoyuan , Li Bo‐Quan , Chen Aibing , Zhang Xue‐Qiang , Dong Peng , Zhang Yingjie , Huang Jia‐Qi , Zhang Qiang
Published: November 2022

The stability of lithium metal anodes essentially dictates the lifespan of high‐energy‐density lithium metal batteries. Lithium nitrate (LiNO3) is widely recognized as an effective additive to stabilize lithium metal anodes by forming LiNxOy‐containing solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). However, its poor solubility in electrolytes, especially ester electrolytes, hinders its applications in lithium metal batteries. Herein, an organic nitrate, isosorbide nitrate (ISDN), is proposed to replace LiNO3. ISDN has a high solubility of 3.3 M in ester electrolytes due to the introduction of organic segments in the molecule. The decomposition of ISDN generates LiNxOy‐rich SEI, enabling uniform lithium deposition. The lifespan of lithium metal batteries with ISDN significantly increases from 80 to 155 cycles under demanding conditions. Furthermore, a lithium metal pouch cell of 439 Wh kg−1 delivers 50 cycles. This work opens a new avenue to develop additives by molecular modifications for practical lithium metal batteries.
Conjugation Extension and Halochromic Behaviors of S‐Fused Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Bearing Cyclopenta[b]thiopyran Moieties
Authors: Chen Weinan , Liu Si , Ren Yingjian , Xie Shoudong , Yan Chuan , Zhou Zhanglang , Zhou Gang
Published: November 2022

Three S‐fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bearing cyclopenta[b]thiopyran moieties have been designed and successfully synthesized. With the conjugation extension, the absorption onset of the longest PAH reaches 1110 nm. All the three S‐fused PAHs exhibit significant halochromic properties in both solution and solid states. Upon protonation, the proton is incorporated on the cyclopentadiene ring while the positive charge is localized on the thiopyrylium ring. Moreover, no significant difference can be found for the two shorter PAHs upon the protonation by different organic acids, such as trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH), while the longest PAH can be only mono‐protonated by TFA but di‐protonated by stronger TfOH. Furthermore, after protonation, the non‐emissive S‐fused PAHs exhibit strong fluorescence and can be regenerated by simply neutralization with triethylamine. The enhanced emission of mono‐protonated products stem from S2→S0 transitions, which disobey the Kasha's rule.
Targeted inactivation of the Septin2 and Septin9 genes in myelinating Schwann cells of mice
Authors: Martens Ann‐Kristin , Erwig Michelle , Patzig Julia , Fledrich Robert , Füchtbauer Ernst‐Martin , Werner Hauke B.
Published: November 2022

The formation of axon‐enwrapping myelin sheaths by oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system involves the assembly of a scaffolding septin filament comprised of the subunits SEPTIN2, SEPTIN4, SEPTIN7 and SEPTIN8. Conversely, in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), myelin is synthesized by a different cell type termed Schwann cells, and it remained unknown if septins also assemble as a multimer in PNS myelin. According to prior proteome analysis, PNS myelin comprises the subunits SEPTIN2, SEPTIN7, SEPTIN8, SEPTIN9, and SEPTIN11, which localize to the paranodal and abaxonal myelin subcompartments. Here, we use the Cre/loxP‐system to delete the Septin9‐gene specifically in Schwann cells, causing a markedly reduced abundance of SEPTIN9 in sciatic nerves, implying that Schwann cells are the main cell type expressing SEPTIN9 in the nerve. However, Septin9‐deficiency in Schwann cells did not affect the abundance or localization of other septin subunits. In contrast, when deleting the Septin2‐gene in Schwann cells the abundance of all relevant septin subunits was markedly reduced, including SEPTIN9. Notably, we did not find evidence that deleting Septin2 or Septin9 in Schwann cells impairs myelin biogenesis, nerve conduction velocity or motor/sensory capabilities, at least at the assessed timepoints. Our data thus show that SEPTIN2 but not SEPTIN9 is required for the formation or stabilization of a septin multimer in PNS myelin in vivo; however, its functional relevance remains to be established.
Surface Modification of Bacteria to Optimize Immunomodulation for Advanced Immunotherapy
Authors: Xue Kaikai , Wang Lu , Liu Jinyao
Published: November 2022

Bacteria have been widely exploited as therapeutic agents for immunotherapy due to their native immunogenicity, living characteristic, and genetic manipulability. However, conventional bacteria‐based immunotherapy often suffers from dose‐dependent safety issues and poor treatment efficacy. Harnessing surface modification of bacteria to carry additional immune modulators has emerged as a promising strategy to reduce bacterial dose and synergistically enhance the activation of immune responses. In this paper, bacteria‐mediated immunomodulation and the underlying mechanisms are introduced, followed by a summarization on the concept of using surface‐modification approaches including physical encapsulation, chemical conjugation, and metabolic labelling to combine diverse immune functions. The applications of modified bacteria as therapeutics for immunotherapy toward cancer and inflammatory bowel disease have been expounded further. Both challenges and future perspectives regarding the utilization of surface‐modified bacteria for immunomodulation are also proposed. This work offers unique insights into developing safe yet potent bacteria‐based therapeutics for advanced immunotherapy.
Immune checkpoint inhibitor gastritis is often associated with concomitant enterocolitis, which impacts the clinical course
Authors: Haryal Aneesha , Townsend Matthew J. , Baskaran Vinitha , Srivoleti Padmavathi , Giobbie‐Hurder Anita , Sack Jordan S. , Isidro Raymond A. , LeBoeuf Nicole R. , Buchbinder Elizabeth I. , Hodi F. Stephen , Grover Shilpa
Published: November 2022

Background

Gastrointestinal immune‐related adverse events are frequently caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and often require interruption of cancer treatment. Compared with ICI colitis and enteritis, limited information exists about ICI gastritis. This study characterized clinical features and treatment outcomes of ICI gastritis.

Methods

Consecutive cancer patients who received ICIs and underwent endoscopy with gastric biopsies while on ICIs from 2011 to 2021 were retrospectively assessed. Specific histopathologic features identified ICI gastritis.

Results

Of 6450 ICI‐treated patients, 162 (2.5%) underwent endoscopy with gastric biopsies. ICI gastritis was identified in 54 (33%) biopsied patients; 38 (70%) had concurrent ICI enteritis/colitis and 16 (30%) had isolated ICI gastritis. Dyspepsia (38%) and bloating (25%) were the most frequent symptoms of isolated ICI gastritis. Compared with patients with concomitant enteritis/colitis, patients with isolated gastritis were less likely to have diarrhea (13% vs 68%; p < .001) or abdominal pain (19% vs 47%; p = .07). Patients with isolated ICI gastritis less frequently required glucocorticoids (69% vs 92%; p = .04) and had lower incidence of ICI hold/withdrawal (13% vs 42%; p = .06). There was no association between severity or extent of luminal inflammation and antitumor response (p = .85 and p = .44, respectively). Endoscopically, gastric mucosa appeared normal in 11 (20%) patients with biopsy‐proven ICI gastritis.

Conclusion

ICI gastritis may present alone or more commonly with concurrent enteritis/colitis, which may differentiate its clinical course. Gastric biopsies are required to diagnose a substantial minority of endoscopically normal, clinically significant cases. Most patients with isolated gastritis can continue ICI therapy uninterrupted, but a notable proportion require glucocorticoids.

Plain language summary

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are effective anticancer treatments, but can cause inflammatory toxicities, including of the stomach (gastritis), intestine, and colon. Limited information is available on gastritis triggered by these agents.

Adult patients with cancer who were treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and had an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsies of the stomach were examined. More than two‐thirds (70%) of people with checkpoint inhibitor gastritis also had inflammatory changes of the small intestine and/or colon.

Compared with patients with isolated checkpoint gastritis, the subgroup with concomitant enteritis/colitis more frequently had abdominal pain, diarrhea, needed steroids, and/or needed to pause or stop antitumor therapy.
An intelligent medical image classification system using few‐shot learning
Authors: Abbas Qaisar
Published: November 2022

Due to the wide range of diseases and imaging modalities, a retrieving system is a challenging task to access the corresponding clinical cases from a large medical repository on time. Several intelligent systems are developed to recognize medical images based on various machine learning algorithms such as deep learning and transfer learning methods that have outperformed compared to traditional methods. However, they are time‐consuming and required more labeled data for training the network models. To overcome these issues, an intelligence medical imaging recognition (IMR‐FSL) system is developed based on three phases of the few‐short learning (FSL) concept, which required few labeled examples to train the model and they are capable to generalize on huge and unseen medical datasets. To test and train the performance of the proposed IMR‐FSL system, many imaging modalities and multiclass datasets such as TCIA and Kvasir are utilized. Statistical analysis is also performed to measure the performance of the IMR‐FSL system. On average, the IMR‐FSL system achieved SE of 95%, SP of 96.5%, ACC of 97.5%, and AUC of 0.96 on both datasets. The performance of the IMR‐FSL system demonstrates the effectiveness of other state‐of‐the‐art systems.
First‐principles study of the magnetic exchange forces between the RuO2(110) surface and Fe tip
Authors: Liang Qiuhua , Brocks Geert , Bieberle‐Hütter Anja
Published: November 2022

Magnetic exchange force microscopy (MExFM) is an important experimental technique for mapping the magnetic structure of surfaces with atomic resolution relying on the spin‐dependent short‐range exchange interaction between a magnetic tip and a magnetic surface. RuO2 is a significant compound with applications in heterogeneous catalysis and electrocatalysis. It has been characterized recently as an antiferromagnetic (AFM) material, and its magnetism has been predicted somewhat surprisingly to play an important role in its catalytic properties. In the current study, we explore theoretically whether MExFM can visualize the magnetic surface structure of RuO2. We use density functional theory (DFT) calculations to extract the exchange interactions between a ferromagnetic Fe tip interacting with an AFM RuO2(110) surface, as a function of tip‐surface distance and the position of the tip over the surface. Mimicking the MExFM experiment, these data are then used to calculate the normalized frequency shift of an oscillating cantilever tip versus the minimum tip‐surface distance, and construct corrugation height line profiles. It is found that the exchange interaction between tip and surface is strongest for a parallel configuration of the spins of the tip and of the surface; it is weakest for an anti‐parallel orientation. In a corrugation profile, this gives rise to a sizable height difference of 25 pm between the spin‐up and spin‐down Ru atoms in the RuO2(110) surface at a normalized frequency shift
=−10.12 fNm1/2. The O atoms in the surface are not or hardly visible in the corrugation profile.
Galvanostatic Fast Charging of Alkali‐Ion Battery Materials at the Single‐Particle Level: A Map‐Driven Diagnosis
Authors: Gavilán‐Arriazu E. Maximiliano , Barraco Daniel E. , Ein‐Eli Yair , Leiva Ezequiel P. M.
Published: November 2022

In this work, we develop a new tool to provide a diagnostic map for alkali‐ion intercalation materials under galvanostatic conditions. These representations, stated in the form of capacity level diagrams, are built from hundreds of numerical simulations representing different experimental conditions, summarized in two dimensionless parameters: a kinetic parameter denominated Ξ and a finite diffusion parameter l. To lay the theoretical and methodological foundations, a general model is used here. This model can be adapted to the thermodynamic and kinetic framework of specific systems. We provide two representative examples.
Effects of Heavy Iodine Atoms and π‐Expanded Conjugation on Charge Transfer Dynamics in Carboxylic Acid BODIPY Derivatives as Triplet Photosensitizers
Authors: Akhuseyin Yildiz Elif , Yabaş Ebru , Sözmen Fazlı , Bozkurt Yasemin , Karatay Ahmet , Boyacioglu Bahadir , Ünver Hüseyin , Elmali Ayhan
Published: November 2022

Borondipyrromethene (BODIPY) chromophores are composed of a functional‐COOH group at meso position with or without a biphenyl ring, and their compounds with heavy iodine atoms at −2, −6 positions of the BODIPY indacene core were synthesized. The photophysical properties of the compounds were studied with steady‐state absorption and fluorescence measurements. It was observed that the absorption band is significantly red‐shifted, and fluorescence signals are quenched in the presence of iodine atoms. In addition to that, it was indicated that the biphenyl ring does not affect the spectral shifting in the absorption as well as fluorescence spectra. In an attempt to investigate the effect of π‐expanded biphenyl moieties and heavy iodine atoms on charge transfer dynamics, femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy measurements were carried out in the environment of the tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution. Based on the performed ultrafast pump‐probe spectroscopy, BODIPY compounds with iodine atoms lead to intersystem crossing (ISC) and ISC rates were determined as 150 ps and 180 ps for iodine BODIPY compounds with and without π‐expanded biphenyl moieties, respectively. According to the theoretical results, the charge transfer in the investigated compounds mostly appears to be intrinsic local excitations, corresponding to high photoluminescence efficiency. These experimental findings are useful for the design and study of the fundamental photochemistry of organic triplet photosensitizers.
Evolution of Physical Properties of RE3Ni5Al19Family (RE = Y, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Er)
Authors: Ryżyńska Zuzanna , Marshall Madalynn , Xie Weiwei , Klimczuk Tomasz , Winiarski Michał J.
Published: November 2022

Single crystals of RE3Ni5Al19series (RE = Y, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Er) are grown using the Al self‐flux method. The crystal structure is examined by both single crystal and powder X‐ray diffraction. Physical properties are studied for the first time for RE3Ni5Al19(RE = Y, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Er) by means of magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity, and heat capacity measurements. Complex magnetic behaviors, with up to three transitions present for RE = Sm, Gd, Tb, and Dy, are revealed. Y3Ni5Al19is found to be a nonmagnetic nonsuperconducting metal (aboveT= 1.8 K) with weak electron–phonon coupling strength.
Harnessing a Continuous‐Flow Persulfuric Acid Generator for Direct Oxidative Aldehyde Esterifications
Authors: Nagy Bence S. , Fu Gang , Hone Christopher A. , Kappe C. Oliver , Ötvös Sándor B.
Published: November 2022

Persulfuric acid is a well‐known oxidant in various industrial‐scale purification procedures. However, due to its tendency toward explosive decomposition, its usefulness in organic synthesis remained largely underexplored. Herein, a continuous in situ persulfuric acid generator was developed and applied for oxidative esterification of aldehydes under flow conditions. Sulfuric acid served as a readily available and benign precursor to form persulfuric acid in situ. By taking advantage of the continuous‐flow generator concept, safety hazards were significantly reduced, whilst a robust and effective approach was ensured for direct transformations of aldehydes to valuable esters. The process proved useful for the transformation of diverse aliphatic as well as aromatic aldehydes, while its preparative capability was verified by the multigram‐scale synthesis of a pharmaceutically relevant key intermediate. The present flow protocol demonstrates the safe, sustainable, and scalable application of persulfuric acid in a manner that would not be amenable to conventional batch processing.
Subjective cognitive decline in Brazil: Prevalence and association with dementia modifiable risk factors in a population‐based study
Authors: Borelli Wyllians Vendramini , Zimmer Eduardo R. , Bieger Andrei , Coelho Bruna , Pascoal Tharick A. , Chaves Márcia Lorena Fagundes , Amariglio Rebecca , Castilhos Raphael Machado
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may be an early symptom of Alzheimer's disease. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of SCD in Brazil and its association with dementia modifiable risk factors.

Methods

We used data of 8138 participants from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI‐Brazil), a population‐based study that included clinical and demographic variables of individuals across the country. We calculated the prevalence of SCD and its association with dementia modifiable risk factors.

Results

We found that the prevalence of SCD in Brazil was 29.21% (28.22%–30.21%), varying according to region, sex, and age. SCD was strongly associated with hearing loss, low education, psychological distress, Brown/Pardo and Black races.

Discussion

The prevalence of SCD in Brazil is higher than in high‐income countries. Brown/Black races and dementia modifiable risk factors were associated with SCD. Public strategies that target SCD may help mitigate the incidence of dementia.
Multicomponent integrated care for patients with chronic heart failure: systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Yang Ya‐Feng , Hoo Jia‐Xin , Tan Jia‐Yin , Lim Lee‐Ling
Published: November 2022

To investigate the effectiveness of multicomponent integrated care on clinical outcomes among patients with chronic heart failure. We conducted a meta‐analysis of randomized clinical trials, published in English language from inception to 20 April 2022, with at least 3‐month implementation of multicomponent integrated care (defined as two or more quality improvement strategies from different domains, viz. the healthcare system, healthcare providers, and patients). The study outcomes were mortality (all‐cause or cardiovascular) and healthcare utilization (hospital readmission or emergency department visits). We pooled the risk ratio (RR) using Mantel–Haenszel test. A total of 105 trials (n = 37 607 patients with chronic heart failure; mean age 67.9 ± 7.3 years; median duration of intervention 12 months [interquartile range 6–12 months]) were analysed. Compared with usual care, multicomponent integrated care was associated with reduced risk for all‐cause mortality [RR 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.86–0.95], cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.60–0.88), all‐cause hospital readmission (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.91–1.00), heart failure‐related hospital readmission (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.79–0.89), and all‐cause emergency department visits (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.84–0.98). Heart failure‐related mortality (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.74–1.18) and cardiovascular‐related hospital readmission (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.79–1.03) were not significant. The top three quality improvement strategies for all‐cause mortality were promotion of self‐management (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.79–0.93), facilitated patient–provider communication (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.81–0.93), and e‐health (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.81–0.96). Multicomponent integrated care reduced risks for mortality (all‐cause and cardiovascular related), hospital readmission (all‐cause and heart failure related), and all‐cause emergency department visits among patients with chronic heart failure.
Synthesis, Structures, and Thermal Stability of Dialkyl and Bis(amido) Zirconium(IV) Acen Complexes
Authors: Al Hareri Majeda , Emslie David J. H.
Published: November 2022

Reaction of one equivalent of H2(acen), H2(cis‐Cyacen) or H2(trans‐Cyacen) with [Zr(CH2SiMe3)4] at room temperature afforded [Zr(acen)(CH2SiMe3)2] (1), [Zr(cis‐Cyacen)(CH2SiMe3)2] (2) or [Zr(trans‐Cyacen)(CH2SiMe3)2] (3), respectively (acen=C2H4(NCMeCHC(O)Me)2; Cyacen=1,2‐C6H10(NCMeCHC(O)Me)2). These alkyl compounds are trigonal prismatic in the solid state, and whereas 1 and 3 decomposed without sublimation above 120 °C (5–10 mTorr), 2 sublimed in >95 % yield at 85 °C (5–10 mTorr). However, heating solid 2 at 88 °C under static argon for 24 hours resulted in extensive decomposition to afford H2(cis‐Cyacen) and SiMe4 as the soluble products. Compound 2 reacted cleanly with two equivalents of tBuOH to afford [Zr(cis‐Cyacen)(OtBu)2] (4), but excess tBuOH caused both SiMe4 and H2(cis‐Cyacen) elimination. The 1 : 1 reaction of H2(acen) with [Zr(NMeEt)4] did not proceed cleanly, and 8‐coordinate [Zr(acen)2] (5) was identified as a by‐product; this complex was isolated from the 2 : 1 reaction. A zirconium amido complex, [Zr(acen)(NMeEt)2] (6) was accessed via the reaction of 1 with two equiv. or excess HNMeEt, but decomposed readily in solution at room temperature. More sterically hindered [Zr(acen){N(SiMe3)2}2] (7) was synthesized via the reaction of [Zr(acen)Cl2] with two equivalents of Li{N(SiMe3)2}, but was also thermally unstable as a solid and in solution at room temperature. Compounds 1–3, 5 and 7 were crystallographically characterized.
Microencapsulation of Chia Seed Oil by Spray‐Drying: Influence of the Antioxidant Addition
Authors: Ixtaina Vanesa Y. , Hoffman Elizabeth , Copado Claudia N. , Diehl Bernd W. K. , Tomás Mabel C.
Published: November 2022

Chia seed oil has a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, giving it nutritionally beneficial qualities, although determining its high susceptibility to oxidative deterioration. Microencapsulation and natural antioxidants are alternatives to protect this oil during its processing and storage. This work aims to study the physicochemical characteristics and the oxidative stability of chia seed oil microencapsulated with different antioxidants (rosemary extract, blend of rosemary and chamomile extracts, ascorbyl palmitate) by spray‐drying using sodium caseinate and lactose as wall material. The microencapsulation efficiency and the moisture content are >97% and <3% d.b., respectively. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the microcapsules are spherical, with diameters ranging between 11.3 and 14.8 µm. At t = 0, the microencapsulated oil recorded a ti = 12.7 h, seven times greater than that of the bulk‐oil. The addition of the antioxidants increases the ti of the microencapsulated oil. The addition of ascorbyl palmitate maintains the peroxide value under the acceptable limit after 60 d of storage (25 °C, darkness, HR 33%). Thus, microencapsulation by spray drying of chia oil with ascorbyl palmitate addition will be the most appropriate studied system to obtain microparticles with high efficiency and oxidative stability during the processing and storage.

Practical Application: This study contributes to investigating the microencapsulation of omega‐3 fatty acids n‐3 fatty acids (FAs) from a novel oilseed (chia oil), applying different antioxidants, including those from vegetable sources such as rosemary and chamomile extracts, to confer additional protection to microencapsulated oil. Thus, the application of these techniques will enable the delivery of this vegetable oil for the development of functional foods.
Iodine(III)‐Mediated Free‐Aniline Iodination through Acetyl Hypoiodite Formation: Study of the Reaction Pathway
Authors: Mali Narendra , Ibarra‐Gutiérrez Jaime G. , Lugo Fuentes Leonardo I. , Ortíz‐Alvarado Rafael , Chacón‐García Luis , Navarro‐Santos Pedro , Jiménez‐Halla J. Oscar C. , Solorio‐Alvarado César R.
Published: November 2022

The first iodine(III)‐mediatedpara‐selective iodination protocol for free anilines as well as the mechanistic elucidation of the reaction pathway is described. The developed method proceeded under clean, non‐toxic, efficient, and in general mild reaction conditions. To the best of our knowledge this report describes for the first time a procedure focused specifically on the introduction of an iodine atom in free anilines using PIDA [(diacetoxyiodo)benzene] and ammonium iodide which formed in situ acetyl hypoiodite (AcO‐I) as the halogenating species. Our DFT calculations suggest a reaction mechanism that highlights the catalytic role of the ammonium cation in the AcO‐Iformation and halogenation. Considering there are few procedures for the iodine atom introduction in anilines using non‐acidic conditions, herein we described an initial report on a mild and operationally simple alternative using iodine(III) reagents.
Dynamic Covalent Chemistry for Synthesis and Co‐conformational Control of Mechanically Interlocked Molecules
Authors: Yu Jingjing , Gaedke Marius , Schaufelberger Fredrik
Published: November 2022

Mechanically interlocked molecules have found extensive applications in areas all across the physical sciences, from materials to catalysis and sensing. However, introducing mechanical bonds and entanglements at the molecular level is still a significant challenge due to the inherent restriction in entropy needed to preorganize strands before interlocking. Over the last decade, dynamic covalent chemistry has emerged as one of the most efficient methods of forming rotaxanes, catenanes and molecular knots. By using reversible bonds such as imines, disulfides and boronate esters, one can use the inherent error‐correction in these linkages to form interlocked architectures with high fidelity and often in excellent yields. This review reports on recent advances in the use of dynamic covalent chemistry to make mechanically interlocked molecules, systematically surveying clipping, capping and templating approaches with dynamic bonds. Furthermore, it is also discussed how dynamic bonds can be used to control motion, co‐conformational expression and catalytic activity in mechanically interlocked molecular machinery.
The authoritarian dynamic and Brexit: Understanding the relationship between authoritarianism and wanting to leave the EU
Authors: Stevens Daniel , Banducci Susan
Published: November 2022

Individual‐level authoritarianism is prominent in explanations of preferences for Brexit. We contend that extant accounts have provided an incomplete theoretical and empirical understanding of this relationship. Drawing on the idea of the ‘authoritarian dynamic’, we show that perceptions of the economic/cultural threat of immigration have stronger effects on the pro‐Brexit views of individuals with weak authoritarian predispositions (libertarians). At the same time, perceptions of normative threat, which pertain to concerns like loss of faith in or lack of consensus among established authorities, have a greater impact on the pro‐Brexit views of individuals with high authoritarian predispositions (authoritarians). These conditional relationships, which have previously gone unacknowledged, are crucial to understanding which individuals are likely to respond to ‘increased threat’ with pro‐Brexit attitudes. We demonstrate these relationships with pro‐Brexit views using British Election Study longitudinal panel data. The results clarify the conditional impact of threats and authoritarian predispositions on attitudes.
Determination of Diaryliodonium Species by Reverse Iodometric Titration with Ascorbic Acid
Authors: Buriánek Jan D. , Kvicala Jaroslav , Sekerova Lada , Müller Bernd H. , Francke Robert , Bystron Tomas
Published: November 2022

Diaryliodonium salts are used in organic chemistry, materials science and pharmaceutical chemistry. For the quantitative analysis of diaryliodonium salts, only instrumentally demanding techniques requiring highly skilled operators are available. Surprisingly, no titration method taking advantage of the oxidising ability of diaryliodonium is available in the literature. In the present work, a titration method for the determination of diaryliodonium salts is presented. It is based on the reaction of diaryliodonium species with ascorbic acid, whose excess is subsequently determined by means of iodometric potentiometric titration. Application of the protocol to various diaryliodonium salts revealed the scope and limitations of the method.
An innovative technology of fracturing hard strata from the ground for precontrol of rock burst in a coal mine
Authors: Tai Yang , Yu Bin , Kuang Tiejun , Shi Bowen , Meng Xiangbin , Fu Maoquan
Published: November 2022

Rock bursts are one of the most common dynamic disasters in coal mines and seriously affect safety production. At present, there are three common types of rock bursts: fault‐structure, fold‐structure, and thick/hard‐roof rock bursts. First, the paper proposed an innovative technology for mine ground fracturing to control those rock bursts. Then, for the new method, its fracturing devices, process, and monitoring technique for cracks were introduced. Next, we analyzed the detailed control procedures for those types of rock bursts and control principles of absorbing energy, blocking stress transmission, and reducing overall rock strength. To illustrate the control effect of ground fracturing for the rock bursts, we proposed a Voronoi block division method (VBDM) and multistrength criteria (MSC) consisting of Mohr–Coulomb Joint, Hoek–Brown Joint, and strain–stress equivalent method. Then, two numerical models using the VBDM and MSC were established. One is fault‐structure rock burst with ground fracturing and another is that without. From the numerical simulation, it was concluded that: (1) The ground fracturing will increase τ/σn, a ratio of shear stress to the normal stress of the fault, from 0.25 to 0.50, especially within 100 m of a working face to a fault. This situation indicates that ground fracturing will induce fault slip in advance, thus releasing energy in advance. (2) Fractured zones with low stress were formed by ground fracturing, which can reduce both upward extrusion pressure and normal stress, thereby triggering the fault slippage in advance. The energy released from the fault can be absorbed by the fractured zone, thereby controlling the advanced stress of the working face, and lowering the danger of rock burst.
Adaptive Bayesian variable clustering via structural learning of breast cancer data
Authors: Ghosh Riddhi Pratim , Maity Arnab K. , Pourahmadi Mohsen , Mallick Bani K.
Published: November 2022

The clustering of proteins is of interest in cancer cell biology. This article proposes a hierarchical Bayesian model for protein (variable) clustering hinging on correlation structure. Starting from a multivariate normal likelihood, we enforce the clustering through prior modeling using angle‐based unconstrained reparameterization of correlations and assume a truncated Poisson distribution (to penalize a large number of clusters) as prior on the number of clusters. The posterior distributions of the parameters are not in explicit form and we use a reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo based technique is used to simulate the parameters from the posteriors. The end products of the proposed method are estimated cluster configuration of the proteins (variables) along with the number of clusters. The Bayesian method is flexible enough to cluster the proteins as well as estimate the number of clusters. The performance of the proposed method has been substantiated with extensive simulation studies and one protein expression data with a hereditary disposition in breast cancer where the proteins are coming from different pathways.
Exposure in utero to adverse events and health late‐in‐life: Evidence from China
Authors: Wang Jiyuan , Alessie Rob , Angelini Viola
Published: November 2022

This paper estimates the effect of in utero exposure to adverse events on late life diabetes, cardiovascular disease risks and cognition deficiency. We merge data on the regional violence during the Cultural Revolution and the excessive death rates during the Chinese Great Famine with data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study survey. Results show that female babies who were exposed in utero to the famine have higher diabetes risks, while male babies who were exposed to the Cultural Revolution are shown to have lower cognitive abilities.
Uterine contraction may not be an independent risk factor for spontaneous preterm birth before 35 weeks in women with cervical shortening
Authors: Horie Kenji , Takahashi Kayo , Mieno Makiko , Nagayama Shiho , Aoki Hiroaki , Nagamatsu Takeshi , Kanatani Ayumi , Hyodo Hironobu , Terada Kayoko , Hayashi Masako , Nakai Akihito , Yoneda Noriko , Saito Shigeru , Matsuda Yoshio , Matsubara Shigeki , Ohkuchi Akihide ,   Japanese Organization of Prevention of Preterm Delivery*
Published: November 2022

Objective

To compare the risk of spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) before 35 weeks in symptomatic and asymptomatic women with cervical shortening at 16–34 weeks under mid‐trimester universal screening of cervical length (CL).

Method

Multicenter retrospective cohort study involving six secondary/tertiary perinatal centers was planned in 2016. Primary outcomes were SPTB before 35 weeks. In all, 407 women were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression analysis for predicting SPTB before 35 weeks while adjusting for presence/absence of uterine contraction, gestational weeks, vaginal bleeding, and CL classification (1–9, 10–14, 15–19, and 20–24 mm) at admission, the execution of cervical cerclage, and the presence/absence of past history of preterm delivery.

Results

SPTB before 35 weeks of pregnancy occurred in 14.5%. Presence of uterine contraction was not an independent risk factor for SPTB before 35 weeks (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67–2.20). CL of 1–9 mm, CL of 10–14 mm, and vaginal bleeding at admission were independent risk factors for SPTB before 35 weeks (aOR 5.35, 95% CI 2.11–13.6; aOR 2.79, 95% CI 1.12–6.98; and aOR 2.37, 95% CI 1.12–5.10, respectively).

Conclusion

In women with a cervical shortening at 16–34 weeks, presence of uterine contractions at admission may not be an independent risk factor for the occurrence of SPTB before 35 weeks.
Efficacy and safety of epidural clonidine by continuous infusion or patient‐controlled analgesia in labor: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Xia Feng , Wang Li‐Zhong , Chang Xiang‐Yang , Zhang Yin‐Fa
Published: November 2022

Background

Epidural clonidine improves analgesia but may induce adverse effects in labor.

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of epidural clonidine as local anesthetics (LA) adjuvant by continuous infusion or patient‐controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) in labor.

Search Strategy

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CENTRAL were searched from inception to May 10, 2022 without language restriction; references of the retrieved studies were hand searched.

Selection Criteria

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing epidural LA with and without clonidine using continuous infusion or PCEA in labor were included.

Data Collection and Analysis

A random effects model was used to pool the data on analgesia and adverse effects.

Main Results

Eight RCTs were included. Clonidine did not reduce the incidence of parturients requiring additional epidural boluses but reduced LA consumption and pain scores without increasing adverse effects, except for a higher incidence of instrumental delivery when clonidine was combined with LA and opioid (risk ratio 2.38, 95% confidence interval 1.26–4.50). Clonidine offered similar analgesia to opioids but had reduced opioid‐related adverse effects. Trial sequential analysis showed that the evidence was insufficient.

Conclusions

Epidural clonidine by continuous infusion or PCEA does not increase significant adverse effects and offers similar analgesia to opioids in labor. PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022306565.
Deep self‐supervised transformation learning for leukocyte classification
Authors: Chen Xinwei , Zheng Guolin , Zhou Liwei , Li Zuoyong , Fan Haoyi
Published: November 2022

The scarcity of training annotation is one of the major challenges for the application of deep learning technology in medical image analysis. Recently, self‐supervised learning provides a powerful solution to alleviate this challenge by extracting useful features from a large number of unlabeled training data. In this article, we propose a simple and effective self‐supervised learning method for leukocyte classification by identifying the different transformations of leukocyte images, without requiring a large batch of negative sampling or specialized architectures. Specifically, a convolutional neural network backbone takes different transformations of leukocyte image as input for feature extraction. Then, a pretext task of self‐supervised transformation recognition on the extracted feature is conducted by a classifier, which helps the backbone learn useful representations that generalize well across different leukocyte types and datasets. In the experiment, we systematically study the effect of different transformation compositions on useful leukocyte feature extraction. Compared with five typical baselines of self‐supervised image classification, experimental results demonstrate that our method performs better in different evaluation protocols including linear evaluation, domain transfer, and finetuning, which proves the effectiveness of the proposed method.