bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance and characterization of MnOx-NiO catalysts for removing formaldehyde at room temperature
Authors: Ding Hua , Meng Mianwu , Lin Zhihao , Duan Chaomin , Zhang Qi , He Minyan
Published: July 2021

The effects of the hydrothermal co-precipitation factors of hydrothermal temperature, hydrothermal time, calcination temperature and calcination time on the crystal structure, microstructure, lattice defect and formaldehyde removal properties at indoor temperature of MnOx-NiO composite oxide catalysts were investigated by using the X-ray diffactiono (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and the catalytic activity testing apparatus. The results showed that the formaldehyde removal rate of the catalysts would increase first and then decrease with increasing in the hydrothermal temperature, or hydrothermal time, calcination temperature, calcination time. The maximum formaldehyde removal rate at indoor temperature is 95.57% with the best technology of the catalysts is as the following: 0.0125 mol potassium permanganate, 0.005 mol nickel nitrate, 5 ml sodium oxalate solution, 0.5 ml ammonia solution, hydrothermal 5 h at 130 °C and then calcination 5 h at 200 °C, the loose spherical accumulation specimen was composed of amorphous and crystal, and existed abundant Mn4+ species and lattice oxygen on the catalyst surface.
State-of-the-art of magnetic memory testing technique
Authors: Liu Shujun , Yong Qiwei , He Dean , Zuo Yonggang , Zhang Zhen , Zeng Guodong
Published: July 2021

Magnetic memory testing is a new nondestructive testing technique. It has the incomparable advantages of traditional nondestructive testing technique, and can find the stress concentration of ferromagnetic materials. In this paper, the development of magnetic memory testing is analysed, and the problems encountered in the development of magnetic memory is studied. The research on magnetic memory mainly focuses on the following three aspects, study on the mechanism of mechanical magnetic coupling, analysis of external influence factors of signal and extraction of damage evaluation parameters. Finally, in the paper, the development direction of magnetic memory testing in the future is summarized. That is, to strengthen the research on the micro mechanism of magnetic memory and to establish the correct mechanical magnetic coupling model.
Current status and thinking of gene editing technology
Authors: Yu Junfeng , Zhao Yanqing , Feng Haizhou , Yu Jiazeng , Li Tie
Published: July 2021

Gene editing refers to operations such as deleting, replacing, and inserting target genes to obtain new functions or phenotypes, and even create new species. As an important research field with the rapid development of life sciences, the development and application of gene editing technology has made the genetic modification of organisms into an unprecedented depth and breadth. Through the analysis of patent documents related to gene editing, the article reveals the development status of gene editing technology in terms of global output trends, patent application status of major institutions, life cycle, technical composition, and geographical distribution. It also puts forward countermeasures and suggestions in basic research, intellectual property protection, international exchanges and cooperation, and policy supervision to provide references for researchers and decision makers in related fields.
Some techniques for evaluating fractional integrals
Authors: Yu Chiihuei
Published: July 2021

This article makes use of integration by parts and change of variable for fractional calculus to solve several fractional integrals, corresponding to the Jumarie type of modified Riemann-Liouville fractional derivatives. On the other hand, some examples are proposed to illustrate the applications of these two methods.
Study on changing the dielectric constant and radar reflection of foamed polyurethane by adding graphite
Authors: Wang Bin , Liu Yangyong , Dong Maogan , Zuo Guolong
Published: July 2021

Polyurethane is often used for filling and plugging in engineering. However, it is difficult to detect the restoration effect by GPR. For the convenience of detection, graphite was added into polyurethane to change its dielectric constant. Five ratios were designed to measure the dielectric constant under dry and wet conditions. The dielectric constant of polyurethane under dry and wet conditions and the relationship between graphite dosage and detection frequency were obtained. The reflection coefficient of polyurethane -air interface to electromagnetic wave is calculated. The reflection coefficient is increased due to the addition of graphite. According to the results of GPR forward modeling, the filling body can be imaged, and the filling effect can be distinguished obviously.
Experimental Research and Numerical Analysis of the Attenuation Law of Ultrasound Propagating in Shale
Authors: Li Xin , Zhang Jie , Zheng Yundong , Li Cuinan , Li Zhilin , Liu Xu , Zhao Zaipeng , Wang Yao , Li Rongxin , Qi Qi , Du Xiaoxiao
Published: July 2021

To study ultrasound’s attenuation law propagating in shale, we first tested the attenuation rate of ultrasound in air and shale by assembling an experimental device by ourselves. The experimentally measured ultrasonic attenuation coefficient in the air is close to the value obtained from most kinds of literature, so our self-assembled practical device is very reliable. By fitting the experimental data, we found that the average attenuation coefficient of ultrasound in the air is 0.0258 dB/m. The average attenuation coefficient in shale is 0.0657 dB/m. As the ultrasonic power increases, the attenuation coefficient of ultrasound gradually increases. Through calculation and analysis using the ultrasonic intensity formula, we found that the effective propagation distance of ultrasound in shale is about 1.2 m.
Molecular dynamics simulation of the effects of temperature on the microscopic deformation of single crystal magnesium containing a void and a crack
Authors: Chen Zhijun , Yao Junping
Published: July 2021

Mechanical properties of a material are intensively influenced by the presence of flaws. While temperature is the significant factor of the deformation. An embedded atomic potential function is used to simulate the micro-defect deformation behavior under different temperatures loading in HCP Mg with various defects. Defects consisting of a fixed distribution of void and an edge crack. the results of the simulation were analyzed by the stress-strain curve and atomic trajectory diagram. The results show that the tensile deformation behavior of single crystal magnesium with defects changes obviously with temperature. Increases in temperature lead to decreased peak stress and ascending crack propagation speeds, and toughening the material to fracture ultimately. But the increase of crack-propagating speed is not obvious when the temperature is above 600K. The time that the crack extends to the void and in combination with it at low temperature is delayed as compared to that at high temperature.
Transfer-free, scalable photodetectors based on MOCVD-grown 2D-heterostructures
Authors: Hutten Ulrike , Daniel Leon , Grundmann Annika , Stracke Nicole , Abdelbaky Mohamed , Beckmann Yannick , Heuken Michael , Mertin Wolfgang , Kalisch Holger , Vescan Andrei , Bacher Gerd , Kümmell Tilmar
Published: July 2021

2D semiconductors based on transition metal dichalcogenides are highly promising for ultrathin photodetectors due to their thickness in the nanometer range and their exceptional light absorption properties. To enable efficient separation of optically generated electron–hole pairs heterostructures have to be implemented, which are usually prepared by poorly controlled mechanical steps such as exfoliation, transfer and stacking processes that prevent industrial upscaling. Here, semitransparent photodetectors in the mm2 range based on MoS2/WS2 heterostructures are presented that are realized without any transfer step by a scalable metal-organic chemical vapor deposition process on a sapphire substrate in a continuous growth run. The heterostructure device exhibits a responsivity, which is enhanced by about 5–6 orders of magnitude with respect to reference devices based on either MoS2 or WS2 monolayers only. The large gain enhancement is attributed to efficient charge carrier separation at the MoS2/WS2 heterointerface combined with hole trapping, leading to an improved electron transport in the heterostructure under illumination.
Graphene-hexagonal boron nitride van der Waals heterostructures: an examination of the effects of different van der Waals corrections
Authors: Sevilla John Radly M , Putungan Darwin B
Published: July 2021

The structural and electronic properties of graphene on hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) as 2D van der Waals heterostructure were calculated using density functional theory method with van der Waals corrections. Four van der Waals corrections, along with conventional PBE-DFT, were utilized: the inter-atomic potentials-based DFT-D2, DFT-D3, Tkatchenko-Sheffler (TS), and the ab-initio, non-local correlation terms-based vdW-DF2-B86R. Results show that the structural properties of the 2D heterostructure, especially the inter-monolayer spacing, are consistent with previous theoretical works. In terms of energetics, the conventional PBE-DFT functional resulted to no binding between graphene and hBN, while utilizing the TS correction resulted to graphene-hBN adhesion energy value that is consistent with previous theoretical and experimental works. Electronic structure wise, the conventional PBE-DFT essentially predicted a zero-gap graphene on hBN, while all calculations involving van der Waals corrections resulted to band gaps that are consistent with previous studies. However, with the exception of TS, all van der Waals corrections predicted a Dirac cone that is shifted upward in energy from the Fermi level, making graphene artificially p-doped. As such, TS is recommended as one of the most appropriate van der Waals corrections for graphene-hBN 2D heterostructure. This work demonstrated the variations in graphene-hBN electronic properties as a result of the different implementations of the van der Waals corrections, but could be as useful as the more expensive theoretical methods such as GW.
A mini-review on proton conduction of BaZrO3-based perovskite electrolytes
Authors: Regalado Vera Clarita Y , Ding Hanping , Peterson David , Gibbons William T , Zhou Meng , Ding Dong
Published: July 2021

Proton conducting ceramics show promise in fuel cells, electrolyzers, permeation membranes, sensor applications, and membrane reactors. Among several types of materials that exhibit proton conduction, perovskite oxides show high proton conductivity at intermediate temperatures, presenting potential benefits for long-term use and lower costs for energy applications. Doped barium zirconate, BaZrO3, is a material that has shown high proton conductivity with encouraging chemical stability. Therefore, it is considered a promising material especially for proton-conducting solid oxide electrochemical cells. Although the proton conduction of doped BaZrO3 has been extensively characterized, the specific phenomena behind its proton conduction are not fully understood. Only recently have specialized techniques and computational tools begun to elucidate the phenomena that determine the conduction properties of the material. In this mini review, an evaluation of the factors affecting the proton conductivity of doped BaZrO3 perovskites and the phenomena governing variations in proton concentration and mobility are presented. Special attention is given to proton interactions with dopants and their resulting effect on hydration and transport properties. Technical strategies are provided to give some guidance on the development of protonic ceramics in energy conversion applications.
Tracheal motile cilia in mice require CAMSAP3 for the formation of central microtubule pair and coordinated beating
Authors: Saito Hiroko , Matsukawa-Usami Fumiko , Fujimori Toshihiko , Kimura Toshiya , Ide Takahiro , Yamamoto Takaki , Shibata Tatsuo , Onoue Kenta , Okayama Satoko , Yonemura Shigenobu , Misaki Kazuyo , Soba Yurina , Kakui Yasutaka , Sato Masamitsu , Toya Mika , Takeichi Masatoshi
Published: July 2021

CAMSAP3, a protein that controls microtubule dynamics by binding to its minus-end, is localized at proximal regions of the axoneme in tracheal motile cilia. Its dysfunction results in a collapse of the central microtube pair, basal plate disorganization, and uncoordinated beating of multicilia.
Mirage: estimation of ancestral gene-copy numbers by considering different evolutionary patterns among gene families
Authors: Fukunaga Tsukasa , Iwasaki Wataru
Published: July 2021

Motivation

Reconstruction of gene copy number evolution is an essential approach for understanding how complex biological systems have been organized. Although various models have been proposed for gene copy number evolution, existing evolutionary models have not appropriately addressed the fact that different gene families can have very different gene gain/loss rates.

Results

In this study, we developed Mirage (MIxtuRe model for Ancestral Genome Estimation), which allows different gene families to have flexible gene gain/loss rates. Mirage can use three models for formulating heterogeneous evolution among gene families: the discretized Γ model, probability distribution-free model and pattern mixture (PM) model. Simulation analysis showed that Mirage can accurately estimate heterogeneous gene gain/loss rates and reconstruct gene-content evolutionary history. Application to empirical datasets demonstrated that the PM model fits genome data from various taxonomic groups better than the other heterogeneous models. Using Mirage, we revealed that metabolic function-related gene families displayed frequent gene gains and losses in all taxa investigated.

Availability and implementation

The source code of Mirage is freely available at https://github.com/fukunagatsu/Mirage.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.
An astonishing wealth of new proteasome homologs
Authors: Fuchs Adrian C D , Alva Vikram , Lupas Andrei N
Published: July 2021

Motivation

The proteasome is the main proteolytic machine for targeted protein degradation in archaea and eukaryotes. While some bacteria also possess the proteasome, most of them contain a simpler and more specialized homolog, the heat shock locus V protease. In recent years, three further homologs of the proteasome core subunits have been characterized in prokaryotes: Anbu, BPH and connectase. With the inclusion of these members, the family of proteasome-like proteins now exhibits a range of architectural and functional forms, from the canonical proteasome, a barrel-shaped protease without pronounced intrinsic substrate specificity, to the monomeric connectase, a highly specific protein ligase.

Results

We employed systematic sequence searches to show that we have only seen the tip of the iceberg so far and that beyond the hitherto known proteasome homologs lies a wealth of distantly related, uncharacterized homologs. We describe a total of 22 novel proteasome homologs in bacteria and archaea. Using sequence and structure analysis, we analyze their evolutionary history and assess structural differences that may modulate their function. With this initial description, we aim to stimulate the experimental investigation of these novel proteasome-like family members.

Availability and implementation

The protein sequences in this study are searchable in the MPI Bioinformatics Toolkit (https://toolkit.tuebingen.mpg.de) with ProtBLAST/PSI-BLAST and with HHpred (database ‘proteasome_homologs’). The following data are available at https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/t48yhff7hs/3: (i) sequence alignments for each proteasome-like homolog, (ii) the coordinates for their structural models and (iii) a cluster-map file, which can be navigated interactively in CLANS and gives direct access to all the sequences in this study.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Improved identification and quantification of peptides in mass spectrometry data via chemical and random additive noise elimination (CRANE)
Authors: Seneviratne Akila J , Peters Sean , Clarke David , Dausmann Michael , Hecker Michael , Tully Brett , Hains Peter G , Zhong Qing
Published: July 2021

Motivation

The output of electrospray ionization–liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (ESI-LC-MS) is influenced by multiple sources of noise and major contributors can be broadly categorized as baseline, random and chemical noise. Noise has a negative impact on the identification and quantification of peptides, which influences the reliability and reproducibility of MS-based proteomics data. Most attempts at denoising have been made on either spectra or chromatograms independently, thus, important 2D information is lost because the mass-to-charge ratio and retention time dimensions are not considered jointly.

Results

This article presents a novel technique for denoising raw ESI-LC-MS data via 2D undecimated wavelet transform, which is applied to proteomics data acquired by data-independent acquisition MS (DIA-MS). We demonstrate that denoising DIA-MS data results in the improvement of peptide identification and quantification in complex biological samples.

Availability and implementation

The software is available on Github (https://github.com/CMRI-ProCan/CRANE). The datasets were obtained from ProteomeXchange (Identifiers—PXD002952 and PXD008651). Preliminary data and intermediate files are available via ProteomeXchange (Identifiers—PXD020529 and PXD025103).

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Estimation for the bivariate quantile varying coefficient model with application to diffusion tensor imaging data analysis
Authors: Pietrosanu Matthew , Shu Haoxu , Jiang Bei , Kong Linglong , Heo Giseon , He Qianchuan , Gilmore John , Zhu Hongtu
Published: July 2021

Despite interest in the joint modeling of multiple functional responses such as diffusion properties in neuroimaging, robust statistical methods appropriate for this task are lacking. To address this need, we propose a varying coefficient quantile regression model able to handle bivariate functional responses. Our work supports innovative insights into biomedical data by modeling the joint distribution of functional variables over their domains and across clinical covariates. We propose an estimation procedure based on the alternating direction method of multipliers and propagation separation algorithms to estimate varying coefficients using a B-spline basis and an $L_2$ smoothness penalty that encourages interpretability. A simulation study and an application to a real-world neurodevelopmental data set demonstrates the performance of our model and the insights provided by modeling functional fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity jointly and their association with gestational age and sex.
Recombinant erythropoietin does not augment hypothermic white matter protection after global cerebral ischaemia in near-term fetal sheep
Authors: Wassink Guido , Davidson Joanne O , Crisostomo Alyssa , Zhou Kelly Q , Galinsky Robert , Dhillon Simerdeep K , Lear Christopher A , Bennet Laura , Gunn Alistair J
Published: July 2021

Therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy provides partial white matter protection. Recombinant erythropoietin reduces demyelination after hypoxia-ischaemia, but it is unclear whether adjunct erythropoietin treatment can further improve outcomes after therapeutic hypothermia. Term-equivalent fetal sheep received sham-ischaemia (n = 9) or cerebral ischaemia for 30 min (ischaemia-vehicle, n = 8), followed by intravenous infusion of recombinant erythropoietin (ischaemia-Epo, n = 8; 5000 IU/kg bolus dose, then 833.3 IU/kg/h), cerebral hypothermia (ischaemia-hypothermia, n = 8), or recombinant erythropoietin plus hypothermia (ischaemia-Epo-hypothermia, n = 8), from 3 to 72 h post-ischaemia. Foetal brains were harvested at 7 days after cerebral ischaemia. Ischaemia was associated with marked loss of total Olig2-positive oligodendrocytes with reduced density of myelin and linearity of the white matter tracts (P < 0.01), and microglial induction and increased caspase-3-positive apoptosis. Cerebral hypothermia improved the total number of oligodendrocytes and restored myelin basic protein (P < 0.01), whereas recombinant erythropoietin partially improved myelin basic protein density and tract linearity. Both interventions suppressed microgliosis and caspase-3 (P < 0.05). Co-treatment improved 2′,3′-cyclic-nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase-myelin density compared to hypothermia, but had no other additive effect. These findings suggest that although hypothermia and recombinant erythropoietin independently protect white matter after severe hypoxia-ischaemia, they have partially overlapping anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects, with little additive benefit of combination therapy.
Vaccine Effectiveness Against Acute Respiratory Illness Hospitalizations for Influenza-Associated Pneumonia During the 2015–2016 to 2017–2018 Seasons: US Hospitalized Adult Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network (HAIVEN)
Authors: Ghamande Shekhar , Shaver Courtney , Murthy Kempapura , Raiyani Chandni , White Heath D , Lat Tasnim , Arroliga Alejandro C , Wyatt Dayna , Talbot H Keipp , Martin Emily T , Monto Arnold S , Zimmerman Richard K , Middleton Donald B , Silveira Fernanda P , Ferdinands Jill M , Patel Manish M , Gaglani Manjusha
Published: July 2021

Background

Evidence for vaccine effectiveness (VE) against influenza-associated pneumonia has varied by season, location, and strain. We estimate VE against hospitalization for radiographically identified influenza-associated pneumonia during 2015–2016 to 2017–2018 seasons in the US Hospitalized Adult Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network (HAIVEN).

Methods

Among adults aged ≥18 years admitted to 10 US hospitals for acute respiratory illness (ARI), clinician-investigators used keywords from reports of chest imaging performed during 3 days around hospital admission to assign a diagnosis of “definite/probable pneumonia.” We used a test-negative design to estimate VE against hospitalization for radiographically identified laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated pneumonia, comparing reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction–confirmed influenza cases with test-negative subjects. Influenza vaccination status was documented in immunization records or self-reported, including date and location. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to adjust for age, site, season, calendar-time, and other factors.

Results

Of 4843 adults hospitalized with ARI included in the primary analysis, 266 (5.5%) had “definite/probable pneumonia” and confirmed influenza. Adjusted VE against hospitalization for any radiographically confirmed influenza-associated pneumonia was 38% (95% confidence interval [CI], 17–53%); by type/subtype, it was 74% (95% CI, 52–87%) influenza A (H1N1)pdm09, 25% (95% CI, −15% to 50%) A (H3N2), and 23% (95% CI, −32% to 54%) influenza B. Adjusted VE against intensive care for any influenza was 57% (95% CI, 19–77%).

Conclusions

Influenza vaccination was modestly effective among adults in preventing hospitalizations and the need for intensive care associated with influenza pneumonia. VE was significantly higher against A (H1N1)pdm09 and was low against A (H3N2) and B.
Resistin deletion protects against heart failure injury by targeting DNA damage response
Authors: Zhao Baoyin , Bouchareb Rihab , Lebeche Djamel
Published: July 2021

Aims

Increased resistin (Retn) levels are associated with development of cardiovascular diseases. However, the role of Retn in heart failure (HF) is still unclear. Here we probed the functional and molecular mechanism underlying the beneficial effect of Retn deletion in HF.

Methods and results

Wild-type (WT) and adipose tissue-specific Retn-knockout (RKO) mice were subjected to transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-induced HF. Cardiac function and haemodynamic changes were measured by echocardiography and left ventricular catheterization. Adipose tissue Retn deletion attenuated while Retn cardiac-selective overexpression, via a recombinant adeno-associated virus-9 vector, exacerbated TAC-induced hypertrophy, cardiac dysfunction, and myocardial fibrosis in WT and RKO mice. Mechanistically, we showed that Gadd45α was significantly increased in RKO HF mice while cardiac overexpression of Retn led to its downregulation. miR148b-3p directly targets Gadd45α and inhibits its expression. Retn overexpression upregulated miR148b-3p expression and triggered DNA damage response (DDR) in RKO-HF mice. Inhibition of miR148b-3p in vivo normalized Gadd45α expression, decreased DDR, and reversed cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis. In vitro Retn overexpression in adult mouse cardiomyocytes activated miR148b-3p and reduced Gadd45α expression. Gadd45α overexpression in H9C2-cardiomyoblasts protected against hydrogen peroxide- and Retn-induced DDR.

Conclusion

These findings reveal that diminution in circulating Retn reduced myocardial fibrosis and apoptosis, and improved heart function in a mouse model of HF, at least in part, through attenuation of miR148b-3p and DDR. The results of this study indicate that controlling Retn levels may provide a potential therapeutic approach for treating pressure overload-induced HF.
Long-term outcomes after aortic valve replacement using a 19-mm bioprosthesis
Authors: Okamura Homare , Kusadokoro Sho , Mieno Makiko , Kimura Naoyuki , Yamaguchi Atsushi
Published: July 2021

OBJECTIVES

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement is known to be associated with improved haemodynamics in patients with aortic stenosis and a small aortic annulus. However, limited benchmark data are available regarding the long-term outcomes in patients treated with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). We investigated the long-term outcomes of SAVR using a 19-mm bioprosthesis.

METHODS

This study included consecutive patients who underwent SAVR using a 19-mm bioprosthesis at our hospital between 2008 and 2012.

RESULTS

In a total of 132 patients, moderate and severe prosthesis–patient mismatch occurred in 36 (27.3%) and 7 patients (5.3%), respectively. The median follow-up period was 7.7 years. The overall 5- and 10-year survival rates were 79.4% and 52.9%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year freedom from major adverse valve-related events rates were 89.6% and 74.2%, respectively. Neither moderate nor severe prosthesis–patient mismatch was associated with late mortality, major adverse valve-related events or heart failure. Follow-up echocardiographic data were obtained at a median interval of 4.8 years in 80% of patients who survived ≥6 months postoperatively. Follow-up echocardiographic data showed a significantly increased left ventricular ejection fraction, decreased mean transvalvular/transprosthetic pressure gradients and a decreased mean left ventricular mass. At follow-up, we observed moderate or severe haemodynamic structural valve deterioration in 17 patients; however, structural valve deterioration did not affect late survival or freedom from major adverse valve-related events rates, or heart failure.

CONCLUSIONS

SAVR using the 19-mm bioprosthesis was associated with satisfactory long-term clinical and haemodynamic outcomes.
Correlates of the perceived quality of patient–provider communication among German adults
Authors: Czerwinski Fabian , Link Elena , Rosset Magdalena , Baumann Eva , Suhr Ralf
Published: July 2021

Background

Since a higher perceived quality of patient–provider communication is known to be associated with improved health outcomes, it is essential to analyze determinants influencing patients’ perceived quality of patient–provider communication. Due to the limited knowledge about patient-related influencing factors of quality perception available so far, the objective of this study is to explore and assess determinants of the perceived quality of patient–provider communication with regards to sociodemographic, health-related, healthcare-specific and information-related factors.

Methods

Linear regression of cross-sectional data from the first wave of Health Information National Trends Survey Germany (n = 2902) was conducted. Independent variables were sociodemographic, health-, healthcare- and information-related factors; the dependent variable was the perceived quality of patient–provider communication.

Results

Results show that age, migration background, the perceived quality of healthcare, health-related self-efficacy and trust in health information from health professionals are significantly associated with the perceived quality of patient–provider communication.

Conclusions

Sociodemographic, healthcare- and health information-related factors influence the perceived quality of patient–provider communication. In particular, patients having a migration background and patients reporting low self-efficacy showed significant lower levels of their perceived patient–provider communication quality. With the aim to improve quality issues, patients of both target groups should be empowered and supported.
Probiotics-targeting new milestones from gut health to mental health
Authors: Dey Gargi , Mookherjee Sohom
Published: July 2021

Conventional probiotic food research was primarily focused on their benefits for gut health. Recently with the confirmation that the gut microbiota has a bidirectional connection with the brain, it is being proposed that modification of the microbiota can possibly extirpate neurological diseases. Development of probiotic foods and formulations for neural health benefits has garnered interest, with a renewed focus. In this context, this review discusses the evidences collected on the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of probiotics, especially during the time span of 2015-till now. Although, more clinical trials are necessary to elucidate the exact mechanism of probiotic mode of action but several of the established probiotic strains have been investigated and it appears that few of them have demonstrated their potential as ‘psychobiotics’. The formulation of new psychobiotic-based therapeutics is in the spotlight. It is expected that in near future, biological effect of probiotics on neurological conditions will open up an entirely new avenue for personalized medication and healthcare in mental health, and they can be tailored according to the gut-microbiota of specific individuals.
Quantum dot biosensor combined with antibody and aptamer for tracing food-borne pathogens
Authors: Sun Feifei , Zhang Jing , Yang Qingli , Wu Wei
Published: July 2021

Due to the increasing number of food-borne diseases, more attention is being paid to food safety. Food-borne pathogens are the main cause of food-borne diseases, which seriously endanger human health, so it is necessary to detect and control them. Traditional detection methods cannot meet the requirements of rapid detection of food due to many shortcomings, such as being time-consuming, laborious or requiring expensive instrumentation. Quantum dots have become a promising nanotechnology in pathogens tracking and detection because of their excellent optical properties. New biosensor detection methods based on quantum dots are have been gradually developed due to their high sensitivity and high specificity. In this review, we summarize the different characteristics of quantum dots synthesized by carbon, heavy metals and composite materials firstly. Then, attention is paid to the principles, advantages and limitations of the quantum dots biosensor with antibodies and aptamers as recognition elements for recognition and capture of food-borne pathogens. Finally, the great potential of quantum dots in pathogen detection is summarized.
When I’m 64: Age-Related Variability in Over 40,000 Online Cognitive Test Takers
Authors: LaPlume Annalise A , Anderson Nicole D , McKetton Larissa , Levine Brian , Troyer Angela K
Published: July 2021

Objectives

Age-related differences in cognition are typically assessed by comparing groups of older to younger participants, but little is known about the continuous trajectory of cognitive changes across age, or when a shift to older adulthood occurs. We examined the pattern of mean age differences and variability on episodic memory and executive function measures over the adult life span, in a more fine-grained way than past group or life-span comparisons.

Method

We used a sample of over 40,000 people aged 18–90 who completed psychometrically validated online tests measuring episodic memory and executive functions (the Cogniciti Brain Health Assessment).

Results

Cognitive performance declined gradually over adulthood, and rapidly later in life on spatial working memory, processing speed, facilitation (but not interference), associative recognition, and set shifting. Both polynomial and segmented regression fit the data well, indicating a nonlinear pattern. Segmented regression revealed a shift from gradual to rapid decline that occurred in the early 60s. Variability between people (interindividual variability or diversity) and variability within a person across tasks (intraindividual variability or dispersion) also increased gradually until the 60s, and rapidly after. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a single general factor (of variance shared between tasks) offered a good fit for performance across tasks.

Discussion

Life-span cognitive performance shows a nonlinear pattern, with gradual decline over early and mid-adulthood, followed by a transition in the 60s to notably accelerated, but more variable, decline. Some people show less decline than others, and some cognitive abilities show less within-person decline than others.
Bayesian seismic tomography using normalizing flows
Authors: Zhao Xuebin , Curtis Andrew , Zhang Xin
Published: July 2021

We test a fully non-linear method to solve Bayesian seismic tomographic problems using data consisting of observed traveltimes of first-arriving waves. Rather than using Monte Carlo methods to sample the posterior probability distribution that embodies the solution of the tomographic inverse problem, we use variational inference. Variational methods solve the Bayesian inference problem under an optimization framework by seeking the best approximation to the posterior distribution from a family of distributions, while still providing fully probabilistic results. We introduce a new variational method for geophysics—normalizing flows. The method models the posterior distribution by using a series of invertible and differentiable transforms—the flows. By optimizing the parameters of these transforms the flows are designed to convert a simple and analytically known probability distribution into a good approximation of the posterior distribution. Numerical examples show that normalizing flows can provide an accurate tomographic result including full uncertainty information while significantly decreasing the computational cost compared to Monte Carlo and other variational methods. In addition, this method provides analytic solutions for the posterior distribution rather than an ensemble of posterior samples. This opens the possibility that subsequent calculations that use the posterior distribution might be performed analytically.
2. Formation of Marriage and Civil Partnership
Authors: Lowe N V , Douglas G
Published: July 2021

This chapter examines how the law on entry into marriage has developed and what are the current requirements for a valid marriage. It then considers the equivalent rules enacted for couples (at present only same sex couples) entering into a ‘civil partnership’.
5. The Family Home
Authors: Lowe N V , Douglas G
Published: July 2021

This chapter addresses two distinct but interrelated problems regarding the family home: ownership and occupation. The first is concerned with the question, in whom are the legal and beneficial interests in the property vested? The second is concerned with the question, what rights of occupation does each party have in the home irrespective of ownership? After discussing the current law governing ownership, the chapter considers the proposals for reform, and compares the English approach with that taken in other jurisdictions. It then turns to occupation rights and the impact of insolvency on the family home.
6. Domestic Violence and Abuse
Authors: Lowe N V , Douglas G
Published: July 2021

This chapter deals with the legal responses to various forms of personal behaviour within the domestic sphere which may amount to physical or emotional abuse. It begins with discussions of the definition of domestic violence and abuse; the scale of domestic abuse; government strategy; and gender-based abuse as a breach of human rights. It then turns to the protection afforded by the criminal law; civil law remedies; and remedies through housing law. It concludes by considering whether the legal response to domestic violence should primarily be the use of the criminal law or through the civil law.
24. Cohabitation
Authors: Lowe N V , Douglas G
Published: July 2021

This chapter focuses on the particular phenomenon of cohabitation and considers the legal response to it. It begins by looking at the demographic and sociological picture concerning its growth and extent. It then considers how it has been defined and recognised in the law, in particular noting how far cohabitation is required to mimic marriage in order to be given such recognition. Cohabitation becomes most problematic for the law when the couple separate. The chapter examines how the law addresses this issue. It reviews proposed reforms and evaluates whether these should be adopted. It concludes by considering whether the example of cohabitation sheds light on other alternative forms of family organisation and what implications a shift from a focus on formal status to functional and practical family arrangements has for the body of law called ‘family’ law.
Leveraging built environment interventions to equitably promote health during and after COVID-19 in Toronto, Canada
Authors: Hassen Nadha
Published: July 2021

A key public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic is the mandate to stay home and practice physical distancing. In Canada, with essential activities such as grocery shopping, outdoor exercise and transportation, people need to be able to safely navigate dense, urban spaces while staying at least two metres or six feet apart. This pandemic has exacerbated the health inequities across neighbourhoods in cities like Toronto, Canada which are often segregated along racial and income lines. These inequities impact who has access to urban infrastructure that promotes health and quality of life. Safety in a time of COVID-19 goes beyond just exposure to the virus, it is complicated by notions of who belongs where, and who has access to what resources. The built environment has a role in maintaining and promoting physical and mental health during this pandemic and beyond it. This paper puts forwards three considerations for built environment interventions to promote health equitably: (i) addressing structural determinants of health and embedding anti-racist intersectional principles, (ii) revisiting tactical urbanism as a health promotion tool and (iii) rethinking community engagement processes through equity-based placemaking. This paper outlines four built environment interventions in Toronto, Canada that seek to address the challenges in navigating urban space safely in the short term, including street design that prioritizes pedestrians, protected cycling infrastructure, access to inclusive green space and safe, affordable housing. Longer-term strategies to create health-promoting urban environments that are equitable are discussed and may be valuable to other cities with similar urban equity concerns.
New Therapeutic Approach for Intestinal Fibrosis Through Inhibition of pH-Sensing Receptor GPR4
Authors: Weder Bruce , Schefer Fabian , van Haaften Wouter Tobias , Patsenker Eleonora , Stickel Felix , Mueller Sebastian , Hutter Senta , Schuler Cordelia , Baebler Katharina , Wang Yu , Mamie Céline , Dijkstra Gerard , de Vallière Cheryl , Imenez Silva Pedro H , Wagner Carsten A , Frey-Wagner Isabelle , Ruiz Pedro A , Seuwen Klaus , Rogler Gerhard , Hausmann Martin
Published: July 2021

Background

Patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) express increased mucosal levels of pH-sensing receptors compared with non-IBD controls. Acidification leads to angiogenesis and extracellular matrix remodeling. We aimed to determine the expression of pH-sensing G protein-coupled receptor 4 (GPR4) in fibrotic lesions in Crohn’s disease (CD) patients. We further evaluated the effect of deficiency in Gpr4 or its pharmacologic inhibition.

Methods

Paired samples from fibrotic and nonfibrotic terminal ileum were obtained from CD patients undergoing ileocaecal resection. The effects of Gpr4 deficiency were assessed in the spontaneous Il-10-/- and the chronic dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) murine colitis model. The effects of Gpr4 deficiency and a GPR4 antagonist (39c) were assessed in the heterotopic intestinal transplantation model.

Results

In human terminal ileum, increased expression of fibrosis markers was accompanied by an increase in GPR4 expression. A positive correlation between the expression of procollagens and GPR4 was observed. In murine disease models, Gpr4 deficiency was associated with a decrease in angiogenesis and fibrogenesis evidenced by decreased vessel length and expression of Edn, Vegfα, and procollagens. The heterotopic animal model for intestinal fibrosis, transplanted with terminal ileum from Gpr4-/- mice, revealed a decrease in mRNA expression of fibrosis markers and a decrease in collagen content and layer thickness compared with grafts from wild type mice. The GPR4 antagonist decreased collagen deposition. The GPR4 expression was also observed in human and murine intestinal fibroblasts. The GPR4 inhibition reduced markers of fibroblast activation stimulated by low pH, notably Acta2 and cTgf.

Conclusions

Expression of GPR4 positively correlates with the expression of profibrotic genes and collagen. Deficiency of Gpr4 is associated with a decrease in angiogenesis and fibrogenesis. The GPR4 antagonist decreases collagen deposition. Targeting GPR4 with specific inhibitors may constitute a new treatment option for IBD-associated fibrosis.
Association of Host Factors With Antibody Response to Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients
Authors: Linnik Janina , Syedbasha Mohammedyaseen , Kaltenbach Hans-Michael , Vogt Dominik , Hollenstein Yvonne , Kaufmann Lukas , Cantoni Nathan , Ruosch-Girsberger Sabine , Müller Antonia M S , Schanz Urs , Pabst Thomas , Stüssi Georg , Weisser Maja , Halter Jörg , Stelling Jörg , Egli Adrian
Published: July 2021

Background

Influenza vaccination efficacy is reduced after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and patient factors determining vaccination outcomes are still poorly understood.

Methods

We investigated the antibody response to seasonal influenza vaccination in 135 HSCT patients and 69 healthy volunteers (HVs) in a prospective observational multicenter cohort study. We identified patient factors associated with hemagglutination inhibition titers against A/California/2009/H1N1, A/Texas/2012/H3N2, and B/Massachusetts/2012 by multivariable regression on the observed titer levels and on seroconversion/seroprotection categories for comparison.

Results

Both regression approaches yielded consistent results but regression on titers estimated associations with higher precision. HSCT patients required 2 vaccine doses to achieve average responses comparable to a single dose in HVs. Prevaccination titers were positively associated with time after transplantation, confirming that HSCT patients can elicit potent antibody responses. However, an unrelated donor, absolute lymphocyte counts below the normal range, and treatment with calcineurin inhibitors lowered the odds of responding.

Conclusions

HSCT patients show a highly heterogeneous vaccine response but, overall, patients benefited from the booster shot and can acquire seroprotective antibodies over the years after transplantation. Several common patient factors lower the odds of responding, urging identification of additional preventive strategies in the poorly responding groups.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT03467074.
Imaging of bone and jointsin vivo: pathological osteoclastogenesis in arthritis
Authors: Hasegawa Tetsuo , Kikuta Junichi , Ishii Masaru
Published: July 2021

Osteoimmunology highlights the reciprocal interactions between the skeletal and immune systems. Over the past two decades, many molecules that link the two have been identified, including cytokines, receptors and transcription factors, leading to successful translation of research into therapeutic approaches to autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The development of an intravital imaging system using two-photon microscopy, combined with a variety of fluorescent probes and reporter mouse strains, has provided valuable insights into the real-time dynamics of osteoclasts and immune cells in the bone marrow. This technique is now applied to the synovial tissue of arthritic mice to investigate the pathogenesis of osteoimmune diseases and enables direct observation of complex biological phenomena in vivo. In addition, rapid progress in the next-generation sequencing technologies has provided important insights into the field of osteoimmunology through characterizing individual cells in the synovial microenvironment. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dissects cellular heterogeneity within a biological system and enables the identification of specific cells differentiating into mature osteoclasts within the previously defined ‘osteoclast precursor-containing population’. In this review, we will explain the cellular interactions and cytokine milieu involved in inflammatory bone destruction and update how the novel technologies, such as scRNA-seq and intravital imaging, have contributed to better understand the pathogenesis of bone destruction in arthritis.
Modified methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus detected in neonatal intensive care patients
Authors: Gitman Melissa R , Alburquerque Bremy , Chung Marilyn , van de Guchte Adriana , Sullivan Mitchell J , Obla Ajay , Polanco Jose , Oussenko Irina , Smith Melissa L , Samaroo Flora , Barackman Debbie , Altman Deena R , Sordillo Emilia Mia , van Bakel Harm
Published: July 2021

Objectives

As part of an active MRSA surveillance programme in our neonatal ICU, we identified nares surveillance cultures from two infants that displayed heterogeneity in methicillin resistance between isolated subclones that lacked mecA and mecC.

Methods

The underlying mechanism for the modified Staphylococcus aureus (MODSA) methicillin-resistance phenotype was investigated by WGS.

Results

Comparison of finished-quality genomes of four MODSA and four MSSA subclones demonstrated that the resistance changes were associated with unique truncating mutations in the gene encoding the cyclic diadenosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase enzyme GdpP or a non-synonymous substitution in the gene encoding PBP2.

Conclusions

These two cases highlight the difficulty in identifying non-mecA, non-mecC-mediated MRSA isolates in the clinical microbiology laboratory, which leads to difficulties in implementing appropriate therapy and infection control measures.