bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endometrial microbiota composition is associated with reproductive outcome in infertile patients
Authors: Moreno Inmaculada , Garcia-Grau Iolanda , Perez-Villaroya David , Gonzalez-Monfort Marta , Bahçeci Mustafa , Barrionuevo Marcelo J. , Taguchi Sagiri , Puente Elena , Dimattina Michael , Lim Mei Wei , Meneghini Georgina , Aubuchon Mira , Leondires Mark , Izquierdo Alexandra , Perez-Olgiati Martina , Chavez Alejandro , Seethram Ken , Bau Davide , Gomez Carlos , Valbuena Diana , Vilella Felipe , Simon Carlos
Published: January 2022

Background

Previous evidence indicates associations between the female reproductive tract microbiome composition and reproductive outcome in infertile patients undergoing assisted reproduction. We aimed to determine whether the endometrial microbiota composition is associated with reproductive outcomes of live birth, biochemical pregnancy, clinical miscarriage or no pregnancy.

Methods

Here, we present a multicentre prospective observational study using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyse endometrial fluid and biopsy samples before embryo transfer in a cohort of 342 infertile patients asymptomatic for infection undergoing assisted reproductive treatments.

Results

A dysbiotic endometrial microbiota profile composed ofAtopobium,Bifidobacterium,Chryseobacterium,Gardnerella,Haemophilus,Klebsiella,Neisseria,StaphylococcusandStreptococcuswas associated with unsuccessful outcomes. In contrast,Lactobacilluswas consistently enriched in patients with live birth outcomes.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that endometrial microbiota composition before embryo transfer is a useful biomarker to predict reproductive outcome, offering an opportunity to further improve diagnosis and treatment strategies.
The relationship between reward context and inhibitory control, does it depend on BMI, maladaptive eating, and negative affect?
Authors: Tsegaye Afework , Guo Cuiling , Stoet Gijsbert , Cserjési Renata , Kökönyei Gyöngyi , Logemann H. N. Alexander
Published: January 2022

Background

Recent studies suggest that higher Body Mass Index (BMI) is associated with reduced inhibitory control in contexts of palatable food. However, due to limitations of previous studies, it remained the question whether this reduction is specific to food contexts, and whether it generalizes to other contexts of reward, such as money. This main question was addressed in the current study. In addition, we explored the effect of maladaptive eating and stress regarding inhibitory control across the contexts that differed in terms of reward.

Methods

In total, 46 participants between 19 and 50 years old (39% males and 61% females) with an average BMI of 23.5 (SD = 3.9) participated. Participants filled out questionnaires and performed a go/no-go task (indexing inhibitory control) with three conditions (neutral, food, and money condition).

Results

Relatively high (above median) BMI was associated with challenged inhibitory control in the food relative to the neutral context, but not in the money relative to neutral context. Explorative analyses suggested that maladaptive eating and stress were associated with reduced inhibitory control in the food context. Only rumination was associated with reduced inhibitory control in the money context.

Conclusions

The effects of BMI, maladaptive eating behavior, and stress on inhibitory control were specific to the food context, and did not generalize to a non-intrinsic reward condition, operationalized with money pictures. Our results imply that (research on) interventions directed at improving inhibitory control in relation to overweight and obesity, should consider food-reward context.
Structural stability of Cutibacterium acnes acyl carrier protein studied using CD and NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Jang Ahjin , Cheon Dasom , Hwang Eunha , Kim Yangmee
Published: January 2022

To survive in diverse environments, bacteria adapt by changing the composition of their cell membrane fatty acids. Compared with aerobic bacteria, Cutibacterium acnes has much greater contents of branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) in the cell membrane, which helps it survive in anaerobic environments. To synthesize BCFAs, C. acnes acyl carrier protein (CaACP) has to transfer growing branched acyl intermediates from its hydrophobic cavity to fatty acid synthases. CaACP contains an unconserved, distinctive Cys50 in its hydrophobic pocket, which corresponds to Leu in other bacterial acyl carrier proteins (ACPs). Herein, we investigated the substrate specificity of CaACP and the importance of Cys50 in its structural stability. We mutated Cys50 to Leu (C50L mutant) and measured the melting temperatures (Tms) of both CaACP and the C50L mutant by performing circular dichroism experiments. The Tm of CaACP was very low (49.6 °C), whereas that of C50L mutant was 55.5 °C. Hydrogen/deuterium exchange experiments revealed that wild-type CaACP showed extremely fast exchange rates within 50 min, whereas amide peaks of the C50L mutant in the heteronuclear single quantum coherence spectrum remained up to 200 min, thereby implying that Cys50 is the key residue contributing to the structural stability of CaACP. We also monitored chemical shift perturbations upon apo to holo, apo to butyryl, and apo to isobutyryl conversion, confirming that CaACP can accommodate isobutyryl BCFAs. These results provide a preliminary understanding into the substrate specificity of CaACPs for the production of BCFAs necessary to maintain cell membrane fluidity under anaerobic environments.
Characteristics of landslides triggered by the 2013 ML6.5 Nantou, Taiwan, earthquake
Authors: Wu Bing Sheng , Chuang Ray Y. , Chen Yi-Chin , Lin Ya-Shien
Published: January 2022

Earthquake-triggered landslides are common disasters of active mountain belts. Due to the lack of earthquake-triggered landslide inventory in Taiwan, it is not intuitive to observe spatial relationships and discover unique patterns between landslides and essential triggers. We examined strong earthquake events in Taiwan after the 1999 Mw7.6 Chi-Chi earthquake and targeted the 2013 ML6.5 Nantou earthquake to create the landslide inventory. We adopted two Landsat-8 satellite images before and after the event to detect landslides, and incorporated a 20-m DEM and rock type data of Taiwan to represent key factors triggering earthquake-induced landslides such as peak ground acceleration (PGA), lithology, slope roughness, slope, and aspect. Based on the analysis of the density of landslides, there are strong correlations between the landslide occurrence and seismic and geomorphic factors. Furthermore, we noticed that the landslide aspects have a systematic tendency towards the northeast, which is not correlated with the dip directions and wave propagation directions. Instead, we found that the northeastward landslide aspect is more associated with the westward–southwestward surface movement at the landslides. We found that the included angles between the landslide aspects and the displacement directions for all the landslides are  ~ 100°–180°. The relationship indicated that the coseismic deformation of the Nantou earthquake may play a role in the landslide distribution.

Graphical Abstract
Long-duration seismicity and their relation to Copahue volcano unrest
Authors: Melchor Ivan , Almendros Javier , Hantusch Marcia , Samsonov Sergey , Derauw Dominique , Martínez Enzo , Caselli Alberto
Published: January 2022

Understanding seismic tremor wavefields can shed light on the complex functioning of a volcanic system and, thus, improve volcano monitoring systems. Usually, several seismic stations are required to detect, characterize, and locate volcanic tremors, which can be difficult in remote areas or low-income countries. In these cases, alternative techniques have to be used. Here, we apply a data-reduction approach based on the analysis of three-component seismic data from two co-located stations operating in different times to detect and analyze long-duration tremors. We characterize the spectral content and the polarization of 355 long-duration tremors recorded by a seismic sensor located 9.5 km SE from the active vent of Copahue volcano in the period 2012–2016 and 2018–2019. We classified them as narrow- (NB) and broad-band (BB) tremors according to their spectral content. Several parameters describe the characteristic peaks composing each NB episode: polarization degree, rectilinearity, horizontal azimuth, vertical incidence. Moreover, we propose two coefficients $$C_P$$

C
P

and $$C_L$$

C
L

for describing to what extent the wavefield is polarized. For BB episodes, we extend these attributes and express them as a function of frequency. We compare the occurrence of NB and BB episodes with the volcanic activity (including the level of the crater lake, deformation, temperature, and explosive activity) to get insights into their mechanisms. This comparison suggests that the wavefield of NB tremors becomes more linearly polarized during eruptive episodes, but does not provide any specific relationship between the tremor frequency and volcanic activity. On the other hand, BB tremors show a seasonal behavior that would be related to the activity of the shallow hydrothermal system.

Graphical Abstract
The co-evolution of seaports and dry ports in Shandong province in China under the Belt and Road Initiative
Authors: Sun Yiran , Wang Yuqian , Xie Jingci
Published: January 2022

Nowadays, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been prosperous for a long time and brings plenty of opportunities to every aspect of China. As a coastal province with lots of port resources, Shandong province has implemented port integration, and there are some operation problems arising, too. In order to make the seaports and dry port reach their full potential, it is very crucial to explore the evolution trend of the ports, which can offer more chances for future development. Based on related theory, this article analyses the evolution of seaports and dry ports in Shandong Province, combined with the background of BRI. After showing the trend of port evolution, this paper points out the co-evolution mechanism of seaports and dry ports and describe a dry port-seaport logistics network in Shandong Province, which results from the mutual influence of seaports and dry ports. Finally, considering the influence of the BRI, this article points out that Shandong Province should take the inland cities as the basis and consider the various costs of the ports to fully take part in the Belt and Road Initiative, when constructing a logistics network.
Self-regulated learning of Natural Sciences and Mathematics future teachers: Learning strategies, self-efficacy, and socio-demographic factors
Authors: Arcoverde Ângela Regina dos Reis , Boruchovitch Evely , Góes Natália Moraes , Acee Taylor W.
Published: January 2022

Teacher education programs should have as one of their purposes the promotion of self-regulatory skills for learning among students who aspire to be teachers so that they can take a leading role in their learning and foster these skills in their future students. Considering the importance of knowing what students in teacher education programs do to study and learn, as well as how efficacious they feel to deal with academic demands, this study is part of a larger research and aims to investigate the learning and study strategies and self-efficacy for learning beliefs of 220 students enrolled in teacher education programs in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics of a Higher Education Institution in the state of Piauí, and examine them in relation to age, gender, licentiate area, and course semester. Brazilian translations of the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI — Third Edition) and the Self-efficacy for Learning Form were used for data collection. Scales were administered in the classrooms both through online platforms and in paper and pencil. Nonparametric inferential statistical approaches were used to test hypotheses regarding group differences. Statistically significant differences were found in LASSI in relation to gender, licentiate area, and course semester. Overall, students in Physics dealt better with anxiety; in Mathematics showed more favorable attitudes towards learning; in Chemistry reported managing their time better; in Biological Science showed significantly lower scores on many scales than did other students. Findings from this study could help inform curricular design decisions regarding teacher education programs and inform the design of interventions to strengthen the learning and study strategies and the self-efficacy for learning beliefs of future teachers.
Language skills differences between adults without formal education and low formal education
Authors: Pereira Ariane , Ortiz Karin Zazo
Published: January 2022

Background

The influence of education on cognition has been extensively researched, particularly in countries with high levels of illiteracy. However, the impact of low education in all cognitive functions appears to differ. Regarding to language, the effects of education on many linguistic tasks—supported by different processing—remain unclear. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether oral language task performance differs among individuals with no formal and low-educated subjects, as measured by the Brazilian Montreal-Toulouse Language Assessment Battery (MTL-BR). This is the only language battery available for use in Brazil, but lacks normative data for illiterate individuals. The secondary objective was to gather data for use as clinical parameters in assessing persons with aphasia (PWA) not exposed to a formal education.

Methods

A total of 30 healthy illiterate individuals aged 34–60 years were assessed. All participants underwent the MTL-BR Battery, excluding its written communication tasks. The data obtained in the present study were compared against results of a previous investigation of individuals with 1–4 years of education evaluated using the same MTL-BR instrument.

Results

Statistically significant differences in performance were found between non-formal education and the low-educated (2–4 years) groups on the tasks Auditory Comprehension, Repetition, Orthographic/Phonological Fluency, Number dictation, Reading of numbers and also on simple numerical calculations.

Conclusion

The study results showed that individuals with no formal education/illiterate had worse performance than low-education individuals on some of the language tasks of the MTL-Br Battery, suggesting that each year of education impacts cognitive-language performance. Also, data were obtained which can serve as a guide for PWA not exposed to a formal education.
RNA purification-free detection of SARS-CoV-2 using reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP)
Authors: Lai Meng Yee , Suppiah Jeyanthi , Thayan Ravindran , Ismail Ilyiana , Mustapa Nur Izati , Soh Tuan Suhaila Tuan , Hassan Afifah Haji , Peariasamy Kalaiarasu M. , Lee Yee Leng , Lau Yee Ling
Published: January 2022

Background

Current diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection relies on RNA purification prior to amplification. Typical extraction methods limit the processing speed and turnaround time for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing.

Methods

Here, we applied reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification directly onto human clinical swabs samples to amplify the RNA from SARS-CoV-2 swab samples after processing with chelating resin.

Results

By testing our method on 64 samples, we managed to develop an RT-LAMP assay with 95.9% sensitivity (95% CI 86 to 99.5%) and 100% specificity (95% CI 78.2–100%).

Conclusion

The entire process including sample processing can be completed in approximately 50 min. This method has promising potential to be applied as a fast, simple and inexpensive diagnostic tool for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.
Association between blood coagulability and migraine
Authors: Fahmy Ebtesam Mohamed , Hamdy Mona Salah Eldin , Mahmoud Reem Medhat , Elshebawy Haidy
Published: January 2022

Background

An association between migraine and stroke has been suggested for a long period, although conclusive evidence has not been reported. Several theories about hypercoagulability have been proposed for the association of ischemic stroke and migraine especially migraine with aura. This study aimed to assess blood coagulability in patients with migraine.

Results

Mean serum levels of protein S and anti-thrombin III were significantly lower in migraine patients compared to control subjects. Migraine patients showed abnormal MRI findings in the form of white matter hyper-intense lesions and ischemic foci compared to healthy controls. A significant negative correlation was detected between serum protein C level and intensity of migraine headache. Also, a significant correlation was found between deficient serum protein S and abnormal findings in brain MRI. Serum protein C deficiency is an independent predictor for migraine intensity grade.

Conclusions

There is an association between migraine and hypercoagulability, which may indicate increased risk of cerebral ischemic events in migraine patients and suggest adding prophylactic therapy to the management strategies of such patients.
Olivetolic acid, a cannabinoid precursor in Cannabis sativa, but not CBGA methyl ester exhibits a modest anticonvulsant effect in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome
Authors: Anderson Lyndsey L. , Udoh Michael , Everett-Morgan Declan , Heblinski Marika , McGregor Iain S. , Banister Samuel D. , Arnold Jonathon C.
Published: January 2022

Objective

Cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), a precursor cannabinoid in Cannabis sativa, has recently been found to have anticonvulsant properties in the Scn1a+/- mouse model of Dravet syndrome. Poor brain penetration and chemical instability of CBGA limits its potential as an anticonvulsant therapy. Here, we examined whether CBGA methyl ester, a more stable analogue of CBGA, might have superior pharmacokinetic and anticonvulsant properties. In addition, we examined whether olivetolic acid, the biosynthetic precursor to CBGA with a truncated (des-geranyl) form, might possess minimum structural requirements for anticonvulsant activity. We also examined whether olivetolic acid and CBGA methyl ester retain activity at the epilepsy-relevant drug targets of CBGA: G-protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) and T-type calcium channels.

Methods

The brain and plasma pharmacokinetic profiles of CBGA methyl ester and olivetolic acid were examined following 10 mg/kg intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration in mice (n = 4). The anticonvulsant potential of each was examined in male and female Scn1a+/- mice (n = 17–19) against hyperthermia-induced seizures (10–100 mg/kg, i.p.). CBGA methyl ester and olivetolic acid were also screened in vitro against T-type calcium channels and GPR55 using intracellular calcium and ERK phosphorylation assays, respectively.

Results

CBGA methyl ester exhibited relatively limited brain penetration (13%), although somewhat superior to that of 2% for CBGA. No anticonvulsant effects were observed against thermally induced seizures in Scn1a+/- mice. Olivetolic acid also showed poor brain penetration (1%) but had a modest anticonvulsant effect in Scn1a+/- mice increasing the thermally induced seizure temperature threshold by approximately 0.4°C at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Neither CBGA methyl ester nor olivetolic acid displayed pharmacological activity at GPR55 or T-type calcium channels.

Conclusions

Olivetolic acid displayed modest anticonvulsant activity against hyperthermia-induced seizures in the Scn1a+/- mouse model of Dravet syndrome despite poor brain penetration. The effect was, however, comparable to the known anticonvulsant cannabinoid cannabidiol in this model. Future studies could explore the anticonvulsant mechanism(s) of action of olivetolic acid and examine whether its anticonvulsant effect extends to other seizure types.
Musculoskeletal ultrasound as a screening-tool for rheumatoid arthritis: results of the “Rheuma-Truck” screening and awareness initiative
Authors: Lautwein Alexander , Ostendorf Benedikt , Vordenbäumen Stefan , Liedmann Aiko , Brinks Ralph , Giulini Mario , Ohrndorf Sarah , Backhaus Marina , Acar Hasan , Sander Oliver , Richter Jutta G. , Schneider Matthias , Sewerin Philipp
Published: January 2022

Objective

To evaluate musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) as a screening tool for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients in a rheumatology-screening program.

Patients and methods

To raise awareness for rheumatic diseases, a mobile rheumatology office was deployed in different cities of Germany (“Rheuma-Truck”). Standardized questionnaire assessment, testing for rheumatoid factor and citrullinated peptide antibodies and medical student driven MSUS of the clinically dominant hand/foot including wrist, MCP-II, -III, -V, PIP-II, -III, MTP-II and -V were offered free of charge to the population. In case of suspicious results, a rheumatologist was consulted.

Results

In MSUS, 192 of 560 selected volunteers (aged 18–89, mean 52.7 years; 72.9% female) had suspicious findings including synovitis or erosions primarily affecting the MTP-II (11.8%), dorsal wrist (8.9%), and MCP-II (7%). 354 of the 560 volunteers further visited a rheumatologist of whom 76 were diagnosed with RA. According to the ‘US7 Score’, a sum scores ≥ 5 was significantly predictive for RA (odds ratio (OR) 5.06; confidence interval (CI) 0.83–35.32). 313 volunteers displayed signs of OA including osteophytes, while MCP-II (36.2%), MCP-III (14.8%), and the wrist (10.5%) were mostly affected. Diagnosis of RA was favoured over OA if the wrist (OR 4.2; CI 1.28–13.95), MTP-II (OR 1.62; CI 1.0–2.6), and MCP-V (OR 2.0; CI 1.0–3.8) were involved.

Conclusion

Medical student driven MSUS by the ‘US7 Score’ can facilitate diagnosis of RA in rheumatology-screening programs due to the level of the score and the affected joints. A high rate of unknown OA signs was detected by MSUS. A mobile rheumatology office displays an opportunity to screen patients for RA and OA.
A multiple regression assessment of the biomineral urease activity from urine drainpipes of California public restrooms
Authors: Lim Kahui , Leverenz Harold , Wademan Cara , Barnum Samantha
Published: January 2022

Clogging and odor is strongly associated with ureolytic biomineralization in waterless and low-flow urinal drainage systems in high usage settings. These blockages continue to hinder widespread waterless and low-flow urinal adoption due to subsequent high maintenance requirements and hygiene concerns. Through field observations, hypothesis testing, and multiple regression analysis, this study attempts to characterize, for the first time, the ureolytic activity of the biomineralization found in alternative technologies located at 9 State-owned restrooms. Multiple regression analysis (n = 55, df = 4, R2 = 0.665) suggests that intrasystem sampling location ($$ \hat{\upbeta} $$

β
̂

= 1.23, p < 0.001), annual users per rest area ($$ \hat{\upbeta} $$

β
̂

= 0.5, p = 0.004), and the volatile solids to total solids mass fraction ($$ \hat{\upbeta} $$

β
̂

= 0.59, p = 0.003), are statistically significant influencers of the ureolytic activity of biomineral samples (p < 0.05). Conversely, ureC gene abundance (p = 0.551), urinal type (p = 0.521) and sampling season (p = 0.956) are not significant predictors of biomineral ureolytic activity. We conclude that high concentrations of the urease alpha subunit, ureC, which can be interpreted as proxy measure of a strong, potentially ureolytic community, does not necessarily mean that the gene is being expressed. Future studies should assess ureC transcriptional activity to measure gene expression rather than gene abundance to assess the relationship between environmental conditions, their role in transcription, and urease activities. In sum, this study presents a method to characterize biomineral ureolysis. This study establishes baseline values for future ureolytic inhibition treatment studies that seek to improve the usability of urine collection and related source separation technologies.
Obesity, preoperative weight loss, and telemedicine before total joint arthroplasty: a review
Authors: Seward Michael W. , Chen Antonia F.
Published: January 2022

The preoperative period prior to elective total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is a critical time for lifestyle interventions since a scheduled surgery may help motivate patients to lose weight. Weight loss may reduce complications associated with obesity following TJA and enable patients with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] > 40 kg/m2) to become eligible for TJA, as many institutions use a 40 kg/m2 cut-off for offering surgery. A comprehensive review was conducted to (1) provide background on complications associated with obesity following TJA, (2) synthesize prior research on the success rate of patients losing weight after being denied TJA for severe obesity, (3) discuss bariatric surgery before TJA, and (4) propose mobile health telemedicine weight loss interventions as potential weight loss methods for patients preoperatively.

It is well established that obesity increases complications associated with TJA. In total knee arthroplasty (TKA), obesity increases operative time, length of stay, and hospitalization costs as well as the risk of deep infection, revision, and component malpositioning. Obesity may have an even larger impact on complications associated with total hip arthroplasty (THA), including wound complications and deep infection. Obesity also increases the risk of hip dislocation, aseptic loosening, and venous thromboembolism after THA.

Synthesis of the only two studies (n = 417), to our knowledge, that followed patients denied TJA for severe obesity demonstrated that only 7% successfully reduced their BMI below 40 kg/m2 via lifestyle modifications and ultimately underwent TJA. Unfortunately, bariatric surgery may only increase certain post-TKA complications including death, pneumonia, and implant failure, and there is limited research on preoperative weight loss via lifestyle modification. A review of short-term mobile health weight loss interventions that combined personalized counseling with self-monitoring via a smartphone app found about 5 kg of weight loss over 3-6 months. Patients with severe obesity have more weight to lose and may have additional motivation to do so before TJA, so weight loss results may differ by patient population. Research is needed to determine whether preoperative mobile health interventions can help patients become eligible for TJA and produce clinically significant weight loss sufficient to improve postoperative outcomes.
Role of portal color Doppler ultrasonography as noninvasive predictive tool for esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients
Authors: Nouh Mohamed Alaa ELdin , Abd-Elmageed Mohamed Kamel , Amer Amany Abas Mohamed , ELhamouly Moamena Said
Published: January 2022

Background

Esophageal varices (EV) is the most common apprehensive complication of portal hypertension in patients with cirrhotic liver. Guidelines recommend Upper gastro-intestinal endoscopic screening for EV in patients with newly diagnosed chronic cirrhosis (Imperiale et al. in Hepatology 45(4):870–878, 2007). Yet, it is invasive, time consuming and costly. To avoid unnecessary endoscopy, some studies have suggested Doppler ultrasound examination as simple, and noninvasive tool in prediction and assessment of severity of EV (Agha et al. in Dig Dis Sci 54(3):654–660, 2009). Our study was to assess the role of different Doppler indices of portal vein, hepatic and splenic arteries as a noninvasive tool for prediction of esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients.

Results

This prospective case control study was conducted on 100 cirrhotic liver patients and 100 of healthy volunteers as control group. Patients were subjected to clinical examination, upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy, abdominal ultrasonography with duplex Doppler evaluation of different portal Doppler hemodynamic indices were done for each patient. The results revealed that portal vein diameter, hepatic artery pulsatility index, portal hypertensive index, portal vein flow velocity, portal congestion index have high sensitivity for prediction of EV. However, Splenic artery resistance index, hepatic artery resistance index HARI, liver vascular index and platelet count/spleen diameter have less sensitivity for prediction of EV.

Conclusion

Measuring the portal hemodynamic indices can help physicians as noninvasive predictors of EV in cirrhotic patients to restrict the need for unnecessary endoscopic screening especially when endoscopic facilities are limited.
Brain magnetic resonance imaging surface-based analysis and cortical thickness measurement in relapsing remission multiple sclerosis
Authors: Baghdadi Michael , Badwey Manal Ezzat , Khalil Mohamed , Dawoud Rasha Mahmoud
Published: January 2022

Background

Damage occurs in the brain tissue in MS which appears normal on standard conventional imaging (normal appearing brain tissue). This slow, evolving damage can be monitored by nonconventional advanced MR imaging techniques. New techniques for the measurement of cortical thickness have been validated against histological analysis and manual measurements. The aim of our study was to study the role of MRI surface-based analysis and cortical thickness measurement in the evaluation of patients with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis and to detect if there is localized rather than generalized cortical atrophy in Multiple Sclerosis patients and correlating these findings with clinical data.

Results

30 patients and 30 healthy control were included in this study and they were subjected to cortical thickness analysis using MRI. The patients in our study showed decreased thickness of the precentral, paracentral, postcentral, posterior cingulate cortices and mean cortical thickness in both hemispheres when compared with the normal control group. Statistical analysis was significant (P value < 0.05) for the precentral, paracentral, postcentral, posterior cingulate cortices and mean cortical thickness in both hemispheres. On the other hand, statistical analysis was not significant (P value > 0.05) for other cortices. There was a significant negative correlation between the precentral, paracentral, postcentral, posterior cingulate cortices and mean cortical thickness in both hemispheres and EDSS scores with correlation coefficients ranging from − 0.9878 to − 0.7977.

Conclusions

MRI and post-processing segmentation analysis for cortical thickness is non-invasive imaging techniques that can increase the level of diagnostic confidence in diagnosis of MS patients and should be included as routine modality when evaluating patients with MS.
Model development and prediction of anti-icing longevity of asphalt pavement with salt-storage additive
Authors: Zhang Yan , Deng Yong , Shi Xianming
Published: January 2022

This study established a systematic simulation framework to predict the anti-icing longevity of a thin overlay of asphalt pavement with salt-storage additive (APSSA). The water and chloride transport in the overlay when subjected to varying precipitation, temperature, thermal cracking, and fatigue cracking over time were modeled using a Finite Element Method based software. The simulation included two parts: water transport followed by chloride transport. Water transport that obeys the law of conservation of mass was modeled using the phase transport in porous media (phtr) interface of COMSOL, while chloride transport based on Fick’s second law was modeled with the transport of diluted species (tds) interface. The simulation results show that the anti-icing function of a 16-mm thick overlay was fully effective in 2 years and 5 years for the minimum pavement temperature above -3.4 °C and -2.4 °C, respectively. These two pavement temperatures are equivalent to 97.4-percentile and 96.3-percentile of historical hourly pavement temperature near Pullman, Washington.

Graphical abstract
Environmental hazard of polypropylene microplastics from disposable medical masks: acute toxicity towards Daphnia magna and current knowledge on other polypropylene microplastics
Authors: Jemec Kokalj Anita , Dolar Andraž , Drobne Damjana , Marinšek Marjan , Dolenec Matej , Škrlep Luka , Strmljan Gregor , Mušič Branka , Škapin Andrijana Sever
Published: January 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the use of disposable plastics, including medical masks, which have become a necessity in our daily lives. As these are often improperly disposed of, they represent an important potential source of microplastics in the environment. We prepared microplastics from polypropylene medical masks and characterised their size, shape, organic chemical leaching, and acute toxicity to the planktonic crustacean Daphnia magna. The three layers of the masks were separately milled and characterised. Each of the inner frontal, middle filtering, and outer layers yielded different types of microplastics: fibres were obtained from the inner and outer layer, but irregular fragments from the middle layer. The shape of the obtained microplastics differed from the initial fibrous structure of the intact medical mask layers, which indicates that the material is deformed during cryo-milling. The chemical compositions of plastics-associated chemicals also varied between the different layers. Typically, the inner layer contained more chemicals related to antimicrobial function and flavouring. The other two layers also contained antioxidants and their degradation products, plasticisers, cross-linking agents, antistatic agents, lubricants, and non-ionic surfactants. An acute study with D. magna showed that these microplastics do not cause immobility but do physically interact with the daphnids. Further long-term studies with these microplastics are needed using a suite of test organisms. Indeed, studies with other polypropylene microplastics have shown numerous adverse effects on other organisms at concentrations that have already been reported in the environment. Further efforts should be made to investigate the environmental hazards of polypropylene microplastics from medical masks and how to handle this new source of environmental burden.
Latent subtypes of manic and/or irritable episode symptoms in two population-based cohorts
Authors: Arathimos Ryan , Fabbri Chiara , Vassos Evangelos , Davis Katrina A. S. , Pain Oliver , Gillett Alexandra , Coleman Jonathan R. I. , Hanscombe Ken , Hagenaars Saskia , Jermy Bradley , Corbett Anne , Ballard Clive , Aarsland Dag , Creese Byron , Lewis Cathryn M.
Published: January 2022

Background

Mood disorders are characterised by pronounced symptom heterogeneity, which presents a substantial challenge both to clinical practice and research. Identification of subgroups of individuals with homogeneous symptom profiles that cut across current diagnostic categories could provide insights in to the transdiagnostic relevance of individual symptoms, which current categorical diagnostic systems cannot impart.

Aims

To identify groups of people with homogeneous clinical characteristics, using symptoms of manic and/or irritable mood, and explore differences between groups in diagnoses, functional outcomes and genetic liability.

Method

We used latent class analysis on eight binary self-reported symptoms of manic and irritable mood in the UK Biobank and PROTECT studies, to investigate how individuals formed latent subgroups. We tested associations between the latent classes and diagnoses of psychiatric disorders, sociodemographic characteristics and polygenic risk scores.

Results

Five latent classes were derived in UK Biobank (N = 42 183) and were replicated in the independent PROTECT cohort (N = 4445), including ‘minimally affected’, ‘inactive restless’, active restless’, ‘focused creative’ and ‘extensively affected’ individuals. These classes differed in disorder risk, polygenic risk score and functional outcomes. One class that experienced disruptive episodes of mostly irritable mood largely comprised cases of depression/anxiety, and a class of individuals with increased confidence/creativity reported comparatively lower disruptiveness and functional impairment.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that data-driven investigations of psychopathological symptoms that include sub-diagnostic threshold conditions can complement research of clinical diagnoses. Improved classification systems of psychopathology could investigate a weighted approach to symptoms, toward a more dimensional classification of mood disorders.
Dynamics in direct two-photon transition by frequency combs
Authors: Dan Lin , Xu Hao , Guo Ping , Zhao Jianye
Published: January 2022

Based on the proposed theoretical model of a three-level system, the optical Bloch equations including the direct two-photon transition (DTPT) process using the optical frequency comb (OFC) were derived and the population distribution of particles in the upper states varying with the velocity of the atoms was obtained. Comparing to the resonance two-photon transition process, that population was increased by a factor of 1.4 without the Doppler shift, which is consistent with our previous experimental results. Simultaneously, the relationships between momentum transfers, and atomic velocity and pulse number were analyzed. When applied to a multi-level system it was found that the population of particles in the excited states increased by a few percentages. The novel approach of DTPT using OFC improved the utilization of comb teeth and atoms, increased the momentum transfer path, reduced the reachable Doppler temperature limit, and encouraged us to use OFC to cool multiple elements simultaneously through the DTPT process. By analyzing the Doppler temperature of 133Cs and 87Rb in one dimension, it was found that this process can lower a temperature below 100 mK and generate dipolar molecules 133Cs87Rb via photoassociation, which provides us with a new tool to create dipolar molecules and to investigate their complex rovibrational spectra in ultra-cold chemistry.
Mentoring High-Impact Undergraduate Research Experiences
Authors: Moore Jessie L. , Myers Angela , McConnell Hayden
Published: January 2022

This article illustrates the Ten Salient Practices of Undergraduate Research Mentors with examples for English studies. The authors include both one-to-one and research-team examples, recognizing that although much English scholarship is solitary, peers and near peers play key roles in high-quality, mentored undergraduate research experiences.
Undergraduate Research and the Public Humanities
Authors: Smith Jamie
Published: January 2022

This article proposes that an unexplored avenue of pedagogy in undergraduate research lies in courses that merge English and the public humanities. These disciplines often have shared goals, including increased interest in the humanities and engagement with local communities, greater accessibility to scholarly materials, more research opportunities for and fewer burdens on instructors, and more frequent occasions for scholars at all levels to participate in knowledge making. Examining a course titled Writing About Public Problems, this article argues that undergraduates are capable of undertaking theoretical, creative, and practical writing and research when paired with empirical data collection on public stakeholders. Additionally, performance theory can facilitate experiential learning and a greater connection in undergraduate public humanities work between academics and the publics with which they seek to communicate.
An Enterprising Take on Undergraduate Research in English
Authors: Adams Heather Brook , Harrison Abigail
Published: January 2022

This article profiles a University of North Carolina Greensboro undergraduate research digital humanities opportunity. The authors explain how their faculty-student-library team met challenges of generating a digital exhibit while overcoming typical resource constraints. They articulate three sites of applied knowledge the student gained from this research and detail the project design and efforts to call attention to invisible undergraduate research (UR). Such visibility facilitates additional course-based research opportunities and helps institutional stakeholders imagine further enterprising opportunities for UR despite time and material constraints.
Conducting Consequential Research
Authors: Fishman Jenn , Hovland Katherine , Leonhard Ali , Randhawa Sunaina
Published: January 2022

This article examines the value undergraduate research adds to writing centers in their role as anchor institutions within English and across college and university campuses. It focuses on a pilot project conducted by a team of mentored peer tutors who researched the accessibility of writing at Marquette University. Their successes and failures show how, beyond research findings, undergraduate research experience can be consequential for practitioners and their communities.
Isoform-dependent lysosomal degradation and internalization of apolipoprotein E requires autophagy proteins
Authors: Fote Gianna M. , Geller Nicolette R. , Efstathiou Nikolaos E. , Hendricks Nathan , Vavvas Demetrios G. , Reidling Jack C. , Thompson Leslie M. , Steffan Joan S.
Published: January 2022

The human apolipoprotein E4 isoform (APOE4) is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD), and lysosomal dysfunction has been implicated in AD pathogenesis. We found, by examining cells stably expressing each APOE isoform, that APOE4 increases lysosomal trafficking, accumulates in enlarged lysosomes and late endosomes, alters autophagic flux and the abundance of autophagy proteins and lipid droplets, and alters the proteomic contents of lysosomes following internalization. We investigated APOE-related lysosomal trafficking further in cell culture, and found that APOE from the post-Golgi compartment is degraded through autophagy. We found that this autophagic process requires the lysosomal membrane protein LAMP2 in immortalized neuron-like and hepatic cells, and in mouse brain tissue. Several macroautophagy-associated proteins were also required for autophagic degradation and internalization of APOE in hepatic cells. The dysregulated autophagic flux and lysosomal trafficking of APOE4 that we observed suggest a possible novel mechanism that might contribute to AD pathogenesis.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Towards understanding the neural origins of hibernation
Authors: Junkins Madeleine S. , Bagriantsev Sviatoslav N. , Gracheva Elena O.
Published: January 2022

Hibernators thrive under harsh environmental conditions instead of initiating canonical behavioral and physiological responses to promote survival. Although the physiological changes that occur during hibernation have been comprehensively researched, the role of the nervous system in this process remains relatively underexplored. In this Review, we adopt the perspective that the nervous system plays an active, essential role in facilitating and supporting hibernation. Accumulating evidence strongly suggests that the hypothalamus enters a quiescent state in which powerful drives to thermoregulate, eat and drink are suppressed. Similarly, cardiovascular and pulmonary reflexes originating in the brainstem are altered to permit the profoundly slow heart and breathing rates observed during torpor. The mechanisms underlying these changes to the hypothalamus and brainstem are not currently known, but several neuromodulatory systems have been implicated in the induction and maintenance of hibernation. The intersection of these findings with modern neuroscience approaches, such as optogenetics and in vivo calcium imaging, has opened several exciting avenues for hibernation research.
Polyamines of cotton during reproductive development
Authors: Μπιμπή Ανδρονίκη
Published: January 2022

Το βαμβάκι (Gossypium hirsutum L.) είναι μια σημαντική βιομηχανική καλλιέργεια που καλλιεργείται για φυτικές ίνες, καύσιμα και ζωοτροφές, αλλά παρουσιάζει ευαισθησία στο στρες υψηλής θερμοκρασίας κατά την αναπαραγωγική ανάπτυξη. Ο αριθμός των σπόρων ανά καρύδι είναι βασικό συστατικό της απόδοσης του βαμβακιού και της ποιότητας των ινών. Οι πολυαμίνες συμμετέχουν ενεργά στην επιτυχή αναπαραγωγική ανάπτυξη πολλών καλλιεργειών και φημολογείται ότι παίζουν σημαντικό ρόλο στην ανθοφορία, την επικονίαση και την ανάπτυξη πρώιμων καρπών σε φυτά κηπευτικών, αλλά υπάρχουν περιορισμένες πληροφορίες για το βαμβάκι. Οι στόχοι αυτής της μελέτης ήταν αρχικά η διερεύνηση της κατανομής των πολυαμινών ανα κόμβο στο φυτό βαμβακιού, δεύτερον το πως επηρεάζεται η συγκέντρωση των πολυαμινών και το σύνολο των σπόρων που παράγονται, μετά από εξωγενή εφαρμογή πουτρεσκίνης και τέλος η διερεύνηση της επίδρασης ενός εμπορικά χρησιμοποιούμενου ρυθμιστής ανάπτυξης φυτών στη συγκέντρωση των πολυαμινών αλλά και στο σύνολο των σπόρων που παράγονται σε τρείς γονότυπους βαμβακιού (FM960BR, DP444BR και ST5599BR). Δύο μελέτες στο πεδίο που πραγματοποιήθηκαν στη Mαριανα, Aρκάνσας το 2005 και το 2006 αποκάλυψαν ότι μεμονωμένες πολυαμίνες έχουν ένα διακριτό μοτίβο κατανομής στο κύριο στέλεχος του φυτού βαμβακιού που συσχετίζεται με την ανάπτυξη της απόδοσης στο φυτό. Μεταξύ των γονότυπων βαμβακιού που δοκιμάστηκαν, οι διαφορές στην περιεκτικότητα σε πολυαμίνη των ωοθηκών ήταν περιορισμένες με μόνο το FM960BR να έχει υψηλότερη περιεκτικότητα σε πολυαμίνη, αλλά αυτό δεν ήταν συνεπές από έτος σε έτος. Επιπλέον, πραγματοποιήθηκαν δύο μελέτες θαλάμου ανάπτυξης χρησιμοποιώντας την ποικιλία βαμβακιού DP444BR για τη διερεύνηση της επίδρασης της υψηλής θερμοκρασίας και της εξωγενούς εφαρμογής πουτρεσκίνης στη συγκέντρωση πολυαμίνων και το σύνολο σπόρων βαμβακιού. Η εξωγενής εφαρμογή της πουτρεσκίνης φάνηκε να αυξάνει σημαντικά τη συγκέντρωση της πουτρεσίνης στις ωοθήκες του βαμβακιού, ενώ η υψηλή θερμοκρασία (38oC) προκάλεσε σημαντική μείωση της περιεκτικότητας σε σπερμιδίνη και σπερμίνη των ωοθηκών αλλά όχι σε πουτρεσκίνη, σε σύγκριση με τον έλεγχο (30oC). Η εξωγενής εφαρμογή της πουτρεσίνης μπορεί να βελτιώσει εν μέρει τις αρνητικές επιπτώσεις των ακραίων θερμοκρασιών και να αυξήσει σημαντικά τον συνολικό αριθμό σπόρων της καλλιέργειας. Τέλος, δύο μελέτες πεδίου στη Mαριανα, Aρκάνσας το 2005 και το 2006 διερεύνησαν την επίδραση του ρυθμιστή ανάπτυξης φυτών BM86, που φημίζεται ότι ενισχύει τη βιοσύνθεση πολυαμίνης, στην περιεκτικότητα σε πολυαμίνη και στην αποτελεσματικότητα του συνόλου των σπόρων των ποικιλιών βαμβακιού FM960BR, DP444BR, και ST5599. Η εφαρμογή του BM86 αύξησε σημαντικά την περιεκτικότητα σε πουτρεσκίνη και σπερμιδίνη των ωοθηκών βαμβακιού και αύξησε σημαντικά τον συνολικό αριθμό σπόρων. Οι μικρές διαφορές που ανιχνεύονται στην περιεκτικότητα σε πολυαμίνη των ωοθηκών μεταξύ των σημερινών εμπορικών ποικιλιών που χρησιμοποιούνται μπορούν να αποδοθούν στη στενή γενετική δεξαμενή από όπου προέρχονται οι σημερινοί γονότυποι βαμβακιού.