bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of timber harvesting on nest site availability for the Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus in native Southern Mistbelt forests of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Authors: Leaver Jessica , Carstens Johann C. , Wimberger Kirsten , Carstens Kate F. , Cherry Michael I.
Published: August 2022

The Amathole mistbelt forests in the Eastern Cape, South Africa harbour the largest remnant population of the nationally endangered endemic Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus, a secondary-cavity nester whose persistence is limited by suitable nest sites. These are also the only forests within Cape Parrot range in which selective timber harvesting remains permitted, but the impact of harvesting on the availability of parrot nest sites has not been investigated. This study aimed to determine the degree to which current harvest selection criteria stand to impact nest site availability. Results showed that Cape Parrots have specific nest tree requirements; and that there is overlap in the species and condition of trees selected for nesting, and harvesting. The two yellowwood species found in the region, Afrocarpus falcatus and Podocarpus latifolius, represented the majority of both harvested trees (78%), and Cape Parrot nest trees (79%). Moreover, both Cape Parrot and harvest selection criteria require large (≥50 cm diameter at breast height; ≥12 m high), old, dead, dying, or crown-damaged yellowwoods, such that 32% of trees considered potential nest trees were also candidates for harvesting. Current selection criteria need to be revised to ensure that timber use is compatible with biodiversity conservation in the Amathole forests. We suggest that all harvesting of dead standing yellowwoods be discontinued; and that the harvesting of live trees with crown damage, which are frequently used by parrots for nesting, be limited by a species-specific maximum harvestable diameter.
Embryo manipulation in neotropical characiform fish: incubation system, anaesthetic, and PGC transplantation in Prochilodus lineatus
Authors: Carvalho Gabriella Braga , Coelho Geovanna Carla Zacheo , Alves Andreoli Correia , Silva Amanda Pereira Dos Santos , Sérgio Monzani Paulo , Senhorini José Augusto , Castro Vianna Norberto , Yasui George Shigueki
Published: August 2022

Primordial germ cells transplantation is a unique approach for conservation and reconstitution of endangered fish species. This study aimed to establish techniques to culture dechorionated embryos in different incubation systems and also to determine anaesthetic concentration for fish recipients in the larval stage for subsequent primordial germ cell transplantation. Intact and dechorionated embryos were divided into three incubation systems: (1) a control group with manual replacement of the solution; (2) a closed environment with high oxygen with manual replacement of the solution; and (3) constant solution recirculation. This combination resulted in six treatments. For the evaluation of anaesthetics for larvae, the concentrations evaluated were 19.5 mM, 24.4 mM, 29.3 mM, and 34.2 mM of 2-phenoxyethanol. Anaesthesia concentration and recovery at different stages were evaluated. For transplantation, primordial germ cells of Astyanax altiparanae were transplanted into anaesthetised larvae (1 dph) of Prochilodus lineatus. Better results were obtained in the recirculation system for dechorionated embryos of P. lineatus for hatching (54.18%) and normal morphology (50.06%). The 2-phenoxyethanol anaesthetic with a dose of 29.3 mM resulted in shorter induction times, in addition to the recovery time between 5 and 10 min. By using this anaesthetic concentration at transplantation, GFP-positive cells were seen in two recipients, but the cells did not proliferate. This study established an effective incubation system for the development of the dechorionated embryo and determined an effective anaesthetic concentration for P. lineatus larvae. In addition, micromanipulation and transplantation of primordial germ cells in neotropical species were conducted for the first time.
Prenatal aortic valvuloplasty as a definite treatment in fetuses with critical aortic stenosis, severe mitral regurgitation and giant left atrium: a report of two cases with medium-term follow-up
Authors: Tulzer Andreas , Arzt Wolfgang , Tulzer Gerald
Published: August 2022

Fetuses with critical aortic stenosis, severe mitral regurgitation and left atrial enlargement are at risk to develop heart failure and intrauterine death. We present two cases with this physiology who underwent fetal aortic balloon valvuloplasty at 25 + 5 and 28 + 2 weeks as their only intervention without requiring postnatal treatment during short- to medium-term follow-up of 1.4 and 4.9 years.
RATIONALITY OVER NONCLOSED FIELDS OF FANO THREEFOLDS WITH HIGHER GEOMETRIC PICARD RANK
Authors: Kuznetsov Alexander , Prokhorov Yuri
Published: August 2022

We prove rationality criteria over nonclosed fields of characteristic
$0$
for five out of six types of geometrically rational Fano threefolds of Picard number
$1$
and geometric Picard number bigger than
$1$
. For the last type of such threefolds, we provide a unirationality criterion and construct examples of unirational but not stably rational varieties of this type.
ClusterAlign: A fiducial tracking and tilt series alignment tool for thick sample tomography
Authors: Seifer Shahar , Elbaum Michael
Published: August 2022

Thick specimens, as encountered in cryo-scanning transmission electron tomography, offer special challenges to conventional reconstruction workflows. The visibility of features, including gold nanoparticles introduced as fiducial markers, varies strongly through the tilt series. As a result, tedious manual refinement may be required in order to produce a successful alignment. Information from highly tilted views must often be excluded to the detriment of axial resolution in the reconstruction. We introduce here an approach to tilt series alignment based on identification of fiducial particle clusters that transform coherently in rotation, essentially those that lie at similar depth. Clusters are identified by comparison of tilted views with a single untilted reference, rather than with adjacent tilts. The software, called ClusterAlign, proves robust to poor signal to noise ratio and varying visibility of the individual fiducials and is successful in carrying the alignment to the ends of the tilt series where other methods tend to fail. ClusterAlign may be used to generate a list of tracked fiducials, to align a tilt series, or to perform a complete 3D reconstruction. Tools to evaluate alignment error by projection matching are included. Execution involves no manual intervention, and adherence to standard file formats facilitates an interface with other software, particularly IMOD/etomo, tomo3d, and tomoalign.
Die ärztliche Diagnose
Authors: Donner-Banzhoff Norbert
Published: August 2022

Diagnosen zu stellen ist eine zentrale ärztliche Aufgabe. Mit klinischen Leitlinien und Handlungsempfehlungen bietet medizinische Forschung dazu die Grundlage. Aber im Alltag kommen vielfältige, oft widersprüchliche Gesichtspunkte hinzu: kollegiale Normen, Erwartungen von Patient*innen, wirtschaftliche Anreize, erstaunliche Traditionen und eine ärztliche Erfahrung, die tiefe Weisheiten, aber auch Irreführungen und Trugschlüsse umfassen kann. Das Buch macht deutlich, dass neben medizinischen Erkenntnissen auch Ethnologie, Philosophie, Psychologie und Medizingeschichte helfen, diesen Alltag zu verstehen; ihre Befunde sind handlungsrelevant für Praxis und Krankenhaus. Für angehende, aber auch erfahrene Ärzt*innen liest sich das Buch daher spannend und erhellend. Worauf basieren die im klinischen Alltag erlernten Diagnosen? Wie und warum werden Entscheidungen getroffen? Zuviel oder zu wenig Patientenpartizipation? Welche Rolle sollen technische Untersuchungen spielen? Welche Konsequenzen haben ärztliche Diagnosen für Patient*innen, Versorgungsstrukturen und die oft langfristige Weiterbehandlung. Fallbeispiele, klinische Bezüge und zusammenfassende Darstellungen, erleichtern das Verständnis und ermutigen dazu, Widersprüche und Paradoxien zu erkennen und auszuhalten, um so zu einer souveränen Grundhaltung zu finden und auch bei nicht eindeutigen Fällen verantwortungsvolle Entscheidungen treffen zu können.
Ratgeber Borderline-Persönlichkeitsstörung
Authors: Auer Anne Kristin von , Kaess Michael
Published: August 2022

Eltern von Jugendlichen mit einer Borderline-Symptomatik sind vor große emotionale Herausforderungen gestellt. Die Jugendlichen haben starke Gefühle und lösen damit auch bei Ihren Bezugspersonen starke Gefühle aus. Durch Suizidalität und selbstverletzendes Verhalten ist die Familie massiv belastet. Die Eltern sind mit Ängsten, Trauer, Selbstvorwürfen und Schmerz konfrontiert. Wie können Eltern zum eigenen Wohlbefinden und zur eigenen Stabilität beitragen? Wie können sie lernen, mit ihren eigenen starken Gefühlen gut umzugehen? Welche Strategien helfen ihnen, mit ihren Kindern in einem guten Kontakt zu bleiben und die Kinder besser zu verstehen? Wie können Eltern einen freundlichen Blick auf ihre Kinder und auf sich selbst bewahren?
Dieser Ratgeber informiert über die Erscheinungsform, die Ursachen und Behandlungsmöglichkeiten der Erkrankung. Er zeigt Eltern und anderen Bezugspersonen konkrete Strategien im Umgang mit den Jugendlichen und der eigenen emotionalen Belastung auf. Diese Strategien, sogenannte Familienskills, wurden speziell für Angehörige von Borderline-Patientinnen und -Patienten entwickelt. Sie sollen den Angehörigen helfen, einen guten Umgang mit sich selbst und ihren Kindern zu finden.
Scaling‐Up Methods Influence on the Spatial Variation in Plant Community Traits: Evidence Based on Leaf Nitrogen Content
Authors: Wang Ruomeng , Li Mingxu , Xu Li , Li Shenggong , He Nianpeng
Published: August 2022

Plant functional traits have received increasing attention at a community scale. There are three methods, for scaling‐up from the organ to the community: species arithmetic mean (SAM), community‐weighted mean (CWM), and per unit land area community‐weighted mean (PLA‐CWM). To date, it is unclear how these scaling‐up methods influence the spatial variation of these plant community traits. Here, we consistently measured the leaf nitrogen content (N) of 1,844 plant species from 22 natural communities along a 5,100 km transect with a temperature and precipitation gradient and explored the potential effect of different scaling‐up methods on leaf N in the community as NSAM, NCWM, and NPLA‐CWM. Our results demonstrated that leaf N at the community scale showed a different spatial variation among the three methods and was dependent on climate or plant community types. NSAM and NCWM decreased significantly with the increasing of mean annual precipitation (MAP), and NPLA‐CWM showed the opposite trend. Furthermore, NSAM overestimated the leaf nitrogen content at the community level compared to NCWM. SAM underestimated leaf nitrogen in a dry or cold environment and vice versa in a wet or warm environment compared to CWM. With MAP greater than 300 mm or with mean annual temperature higher than 0.24°C, NSAM and NCWM were significantly different, which should be emphasized. Based on these findings, over‐ or underestimation from different scaling‐up methods should be tested in other plant community traits. In summary, community‐weighted methods (CWM and PLA‐CWM), covering community information on species composition and traits, implicating many important ecological processes, should be helpful for evaluating the spatial variation of plant community traits on a large scale in the future.
Constraining Andean Propagation of Exhumation at the Limit of the Eastern Cordillera, NW Argentina, Using Low‐Temperature Thermochronology in a Structural Context
Authors: van Kooten Willemijn S. M. T. , Sobel Edward R. , del Papa Cecilia E. , Payrola Patricio , Glodny Johannes
Published: August 2022

Within the Central Andes of NW Argentina, the spatiotemporal distribution and style of deformation is strongly influenced by pre‐Cenozoic heterogeneities, mostly related to the Salta rift extension in the Cretaceous. At the enigmatic junction of the thin‐skinned Subandean belt and the thick‐skinned Santa Barbara System, the Tilcara Range and adjacent San Lucas block, located within the Eastern Cordillera, show thermochronological and field evidence of multiple exhumation events. Mesozoic (140‐115 Ma), pre‐Andean exhumation of basement highs is constrained by unconformities between basement and syn‐rift strata, as well as zircon (U‐Th‐Sm)/He cooling ages. Cenozoic Andean exhumation is quantified by apatite (U‐Th‐Sm)/He and fission track cooling ages, which were reset between the Late Cretaceous and Miocene. These data show that the westernmost Tilcara Range began exhuming in the late Oligocene‐early Miocene (26‐16 Ma), after which exhumation propagated to the border of the Eastern Cordillera in the middle Miocene (22‐10 Ma). The onset of rapid exhumation in the San Lucas block, which is located east of the Tilcara Range, occurred in the late Miocene (10‐8 Ma) in its western part, and in the late Miocene‐early Pliocene (6‐4 Ma) in its eastern part. Internal deformation of the San Lucas block, disturbing zircon (U‐Th‐Sm)/He and apatite fission track age patterns, predates propagation of rapid exhumation. The here presented low‐temperature thermochronology data set thus quantifies the multi‐phase exhumation history of the Eastern Cordillera of NW Argentina and constrains the timing of Andean propagation of exhumation within the Eastern Cordillera and the adjacent structural transition zone.
Anti-COX-2 autoantibody is a novel biomarker of immune aplastic anemia
Authors: Kelkka Tiina , Tyster Mikko , Lundgren Sofie , Feng Xingmin , Kerr Cassandra , Hosokawa Kohei , Huuhtanen Jani , Keränen Mikko , Patel Bhavisha , Kawakami Toru , Maeda Yuka , Nieminen Otso , Kasanen Tiina , Aronen Pasi , Yadav Bhagwan , Rajala Hanna , Nakazawa Hideyuki , Jaatinen Taina , Hellström-Lindberg Eva , Ogawa Seishi , Ishida Fumihiro , Nishikawa Hiroyoshi , Nakao Shinji , Maciejewski Jaroslaw , Young Neal S. , Mustjoki Satu
Published: August 2022

In immune aplastic anemia (IAA), severe pancytopenia results from the immune-mediated destruction of hematopoietic stem cells. Several autoantibodies have been reported, but no clinically applicable autoantibody tests are available for IAA. We screened autoantibodies using a microarray containing >9000 proteins and validated the findings in a large international cohort of IAA patients (n = 405) and controls (n = 815). We identified a novel autoantibody that binds to the C-terminal end of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2, aCOX-2 Ab). In total, 37% of all adult IAA patients tested positive for aCOX-2 Ab, while only 1.7% of the controls were aCOX-2 Ab positive. Sporadic non-IAA aCOX-2 Ab positive cases were observed among patients with related bone marrow failure diseases, multiple sclerosis, and type I diabetes, whereas no aCOX-2 Ab seropositivity was detected in the healthy controls, in patients with non-autoinflammatory diseases or rheumatoid arthritis. In IAA, anti-COX-2 Ab positivity correlated with age and the HLA-DRB1*15:01 genotype. 83% of the >40 years old IAA patients with HLA-DRB1*15:01 were anti-COX-2 Ab positive, indicating an excellent sensitivity in this group. aCOX-2 Ab positive IAA patients also presented lower platelet counts. Our results suggest that aCOX-2 Ab defines a distinct subgroup of IAA and may serve as a valuable disease biomarker.
Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells for psoriasis: a phase 1/2a, single-arm study
Authors: Cheng Lamei , Wang Siqi , Peng Cong , Zou Xiao , Yang Chao , Mei Hua , Li Chuang , Su Xian , Xiao Na , Ouyang Qi , Zhang Mi , Wang Qiaolin , Luo Yan , Shen Minxue , Qin Qun , Wang Honglin , Zhu Wu , Lu Guangxiu , Lin Ge , Kuang Yehong , Chen Xiang
Published: August 2022

Psoriasis is a common, chronic immune-mediated systemic disease that had no effective and durable treatment. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have immunomodulatory properties. Therefore, we performed a phase 1/2a, single-arm clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UMSCs) in the treatment of psoriasis and to preliminarily explore the possible mechanisms. Seventeen patients with psoriasis were enrolled and received UMSC infusions. Adverse events, laboratory parameters, PASI, and PGA were analyzed. We did not observe obvious side effects during the treatment and 6-month follow-up. A total of 47.1% (8/17) of the psoriasis patients had at least 40% improvement in the PASI score, and 17.6% (3/17) had no sign of disease or minimal disease based on the PGA score. And the efficiency was 25% (2/8) for males and 66.7% (6/9) for females. After UMSC transplantation (UMSCT), the frequencies of Tregs and CD4+ memory T cells were significantly increased, and the frequencies of T helper (Th) 17 and CD4+ naive T cells were significantly decreased in peripheral blood (PB) of psoriasis patients. And all responders showed significant increases in Tregs and CD4+ memory T cells, and significant decreases in Th17 cells and serum IL-17 level after UMSCT. And baseline level of Tregs in responders were significantly lower than those in nonresponders. In conclusion, allogeneic UMSCT is safe and partially effective in psoriasis patients, and level of Tregs may be used as a potent biomarker to predict the clinical efficacy of UMSCT. Trial registration Clinical Trials NCT03765957
A temperature responsive adhesive hydrogel for fabrication of flexible electronic sensors
Authors: Liu Wan , Xie Ruijie , Zhu Jingyu , Wu Jiansheng , Hui Junfeng , Zheng Xiaoyan , Huo Fengwei , Fan Daidi
Published: August 2022

Flexible electronics are playing an increasingly important role in human health monitoring and healthcare diagnosis. Strong adhesion on human tissue would be ideal for reducing interface resistance and motion artifacts, but arising problems such as skin irritation, rubefaction, and pain upon device removal have hampered their utility. Here, inspired by the temperature reversibility of hydrogen bonding, a skin-friendly conductive hydrogel with multiple-hydrogen bonds was designed by using biocompatible poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), phytic acid (PA), and gelatin (Gel). The obtained PVA/PA/Gel (PPG) hydrogel with temperature-triggered tunable mechanic could reliably adhere to skin and detect electrophysiological signals under a hot compress while be readily removed under a cool compress. Furthermore, the additional advantages of transparency, breathability, and antimicrobial activity of the PPG hydrogel ensure its long-time wearable value on the skin. It is both environmentally friendly and cost saving for the waste PPG hydrogel during production can be recycled based on their reversible physical bonding. The PPG hydrogel sensor is expected to have good application prospects to record electrophysiological signals in human health monitoring.
Degradation of thermal oxide film on pure titanium in an acidic environment containing fluoride
Authors: Wang Liwei , Wang Mingtao , Zhong Mingyuan , Li Xiaoqi , Cui Zhongyu
Published: August 2022

Electrochemical degradation behavior of thermally oxidized pure Ti in the fluoride-containing acidic environments was investigated. Compact TiO2 oxides with acceptable hardness and superior corrosion resistance are formed through the thermal oxidation at 650 °C for 24 h. Corrosion of the oxidized Ti depends on the oxidation condition and fluoride content, resulting in the various interfacial structures at the oxide/solution and metal/solution interface. Degradation of the oxidized Ti consists of three stages during long-term immersion, while its critical fluoride concentration is increased by 1~2 orders of magnitude, attributed to the high stability of the TiO2 thermal oxides.
Specific gut microbiota alterations in essential tremor and its difference from Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Zhang Pingchen , Huang Pei , Du Juanjuan , He Yixi , Liu Jin , He Guiying , Cui Shishuang , Zhang Weishan , Li Gen , Chen Shengdi
Published: August 2022

Essential tremor (ET) is the most common movement disorder and share overlapping symptoms with Parkinson’s disease (PD), making differential diagnosis challenging. Gut dysbiosis is regarded crucial in the pathogenesis of PD. Since ET patients also has comorbidity in gastrointestinal disorders, the relationship between gut microbiota and ET really worth investigating and may help distinguishing ET from PD. Fecal samples from 54 ET, 67 de novo PD and 54 normal controls (NC) were collected for 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR. ET showed lower species richness (Chao1 index) than NC and PD. ET was withBacteroides-dominant enterotype, while PD was withRuminococcus-dominant enterotype. Compared with NC, 7 genera were significantly reduced in ET, 4 of which (Ruminococcus, Romboutsia, Mucispirillum,andAeromonas) were identified to be distinctive with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.705. Compared to PD, 26 genera were found significantly different from ET, 4 of which (Bacteroides,Fusobacterium,Phascolarctobacterium,andLachnospira)were found distinguishable with an AUC of 0.756. Clinical association results indicated thatProteuswas associated with disease severity (TETRAS) of ET, whileKlebsiellawas linked to depression and anxiety in ET. Functional predictions revealed that 4 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were altered in ET. This study reveals gut dysbiosis in ET and it provides new insight into the pathogenesis of ET and helps distinguishing ET from PD.
Interfacial phase frustration stabilizes unconventional skyrmion crystals
Authors: Mohanta Narayan , Dagotto Elbio
Published: August 2022

Chiral magnetic phases with an unconventional topological twist in the magnetization are of huge interest due to their potential in spintronics applications. Here, we present a general method to induce such exotic magnetic phases using interfacial phase frustration within artificially grown superlattices. To demonstrate our method, we consider a multilayer with two different chiral magnetic phases as the competing orders at the top and bottom and show, using Monte Carlo calculations, that the interfacial phase frustration is realized at the central layer. In particular, we obtain three unconventional phases: a checkerboard skyrmion crystal, an incommensurate skyrmion stripe, and a ferrimagnetic skyrmion crystal. In these frustration-induced phases, the spin chirality-driven topological Hall conductivity can be largely enhanced. This method provides a playground to realize unconventional magnetic phases in any family of materials that can be grown in superlattices.
Language specificity in cortical tracking of speech rhythm at the mora, syllable, and foot levels
Authors: Peter Varghese , van Ommen Sandrien , Kalashnikova Marina , Mazuka Reiko , Nazzi Thierry , Burnham Denis
Published: August 2022

Recent research shows that adults’ neural oscillations track the rhythm of the speech signal. However, the extent to which this tracking is driven by the acoustics of the signal, or by language-specific processing remains unknown. Here adult native listeners of three rhythmically different languages (English, French, Japanese) were compared on their cortical tracking of speech envelopes synthesized in their three native languages, which allowed for coding at each of the three language’s dominant rhythmic unit, respectively the foot (2.5 Hz), syllable (5 Hz), or mora (10 Hz) level. The three language groups were also tested with a sequence in a non-native language, Polish, and a non-speech vocoded equivalent, to investigate possible differential speech/nonspeech processing. The results first showed that cortical tracking was most prominent at 5 Hz (syllable rate) for all three groups, but the French listeners showed enhanced tracking at 5 Hz compared to the English and the Japanese groups. Second, across groups, there were no differences in responses for speech versus non-speech at 5 Hz (syllable rate), but there was better tracking for speech than for non-speech at 10 Hz (not the syllable rate). Together these results provide evidence for both language-general and language-specific influences on cortical tracking.
Influence of organic ammonium derivatives on the equilibria between NH4+, NO2− and NO3− ions in the Nistru River water
Authors: Spataru Petru
Published: August 2022

The toxic effects of ammonium derivatives in the river water depend dramatically on their natural or synthetic origins and on their chemical structures. It has been proved that 1-naphtylamine (1-NA) and diphenylamine (DPA) breaking impact on the ammonium oxidation and especially on nitrite ions oxidation processes in natural waters is associated with its toxicity. The NH4+ oxidation process slows down for about five days and ten days in river water samples with 0.5 mg/L DPA and corresponding 0.5 mg/L 1-NA. The NO2− oxidation delay in model samples of river water with 0.025 and 0.05 mg/L 1-NA, is four days and 35 days in the one with 0.5 mg/L 1-NA. For the sample with 0.05 mg/L DPA the delay of the NO2− oxidation is approximately of six days and 25 days for sample with 0.5 mg/L, DPA. The laboratory simulations have revealed: (1) absorption–desorption, the micro biotic reaction to the instantaneous increase of the concentration of ammonium ion in the river water (so-called shock/stress effect) and (2) the NH4+ increase stimulated by a certain (0.05 mg/L) concentration of 1-NA.The diethylamine (DEA) decomposition leads to increasing with approximately 3.8 mg/L NH4+ in river water samples of 20.0 mg/L DEA.
Epidemiological features of tuberculosis infection in a rural prefecture of Japan from 2007 to 2018
Authors: Lu Yixiao , Cai Guoxi , Liu Yuhang , He Fei , Aoyagi Kiyoshi
Published: August 2022

This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological features of reported tuberculosis (TB) infections in a western prefecture (Nagasaki Prefecture) from 2007 to 2018, and to identify the high-risk group for TB infection. The characteristics of 12 years of reported TB infections from the Nagasaki Prefectural Informational Center of Infectious Diseases were summarized by median (interquartile range [IQR]) and proportion; the annual TB infections’ notification rate regarding sex/age was calculated accordingly. The diagnosis of TB infection was made according to clinic symptoms and laboratory examination. In total, 4364 TB infections were reported in 2007 and 2018, with a median age (IQR) of 74 (55–84) years. The majority of TB infections were male (52.6%, 2297/4364), > 65 years (65.8%, 2869/4364), and indigenous (98.1%, 4276/4364). Among active TB, 66.9% (1833/2740) had pulmonary TB, and 25.3% (694/2740) were diagnosed as extrapulmonary TB. The highest notification rate of TB infection was observed in the elderly male population (> 85 years). The annual notification rate of TB infections ranged between 19.4/and 34.0/100,000 for 12 years. The notification rates of TB infections were high in older people of both sexes, especially in men aged > 85. Therefore, appropriate interventions and health management are essential for TB control in (and with a focus on) the elderly population.
Non-cystic macular thickening on optical coherence tomography as an alternative to fluorescein angiography for predicting retinal vascular leakage in early stages of uveitis
Authors: Ebrahimiadib Nazanin , Kianzad Zahra , Zarei Mohammad , Davoudi Samaneh , Riazi-Esfahani Hamid , Bazvand Fatemeh , Mahdizad Zahra , Modjtahedi Bobeck S.
Published: August 2022

To evaluate the relationship between non-cystic thickening of the macula on optical coherence tomography (OCT) and retinal vascular leakage on fluorescein angiogram (FA) in patients with uveitis. A cross-sectional study of patients seen in the uveitis clinic. Patients with any degree of inflammatory cells in the anterior vitreous were included, provided that no macular cyst or subretinal fluid or macular atrophy was observed in OCT. The correlation between OCT features and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the degree of inflammation, and FA findings were examined. The severity of vascular leakage in FA was graded for optic nerve, macula and posterior and peripheral leakage. We used generalized estimation equation to assess the associations between macular thickness and volume with angiographic scores. A total of 43 patients (100 exam data) met inclusion criteria. There was a significant relationship between OCT parameters (central macular thickness, 3 mm and 6 mm perifoveal macular thickness as well as total and central macular volume) with angiographic scores (macular, optic disc, posterior and peripheral vascular leakage score) (all P values < 0.0001). The correlation between the 6 mm perifoveal thickness and peripheral vascular leakage score (R = 0.76; P < 0.001) was stronger than the correlation of CMT with this angiographic score (R = 0.69; P < 0.001). Non-cystic thickening of the macula on OCT, especially in perifoveal area, is a reliable predictor of the presence of retinal vascular leakage in patients with uveitis.
Staphylococcus aureus lineages associated with a free-ranging population of the fruit bat Pteropus livingstonii retained over 25 years in captivity
Authors: Fountain Kay , Barbon Alberto , Gibbon Marjorie J. , Lloyd David H. , Loeffler Anette , Feil Edward J.
Published: August 2022

Conservation of endangered species has become increasingly complex, and costly interventions to protect wildlife require a robust scientific evidence base. This includes consideration of the role of the microbiome in preserving animal health. Captivity introduces stressors not encountered in the wild including environmental factors and exposure to exotic species, humans and antimicrobial drugs. These stressors may perturb the microbiomes of wild animals, with negative consequences for their health and welfare and hence the success of the conservation project, and ultimately the risk of release of non-native organisms into native ecosystems. We compared the genomes of Staphylococcus aureus colonising critically endangered Livingstone’s fruit bats (Pteropus livingstonii) which have been in a captive breeding programme for 25 years, with those from bats in the endemic founder population free ranging in the Comoros Republic. Using whole genome sequencing, we compared 47 isolates from captive bats with 37 isolates from those free ranging in the Comoros Republic. Our findings demonstrate unexpected resilience in the bacteria carried, with the captive bats largely retaining the same two distinctive lineages carried at the time of capture. In addition, we found evidence of genomic changes which suggest specific adaptations to the bat host.
Cell-based receptor discovery identifies host factors specifically targeted by the SARS CoV-2 spike
Authors: Husain Bushra , Yuen Kobe , Sun Dawei , Cao Shengya , Payandeh Jian , Martinez-Martin Nadia
Published: August 2022

Receptor-ligand interactions on the plasma membrane regulate cellular communication and play a key role in viral infection. Despite representing main targets for drug development, the characterization of these interactions remains challenging in part due to the dearth of optimal technologies. Here, we build a comprehensive library of human proteins engineered for controlled cell surface expression. Coupled to tetramer-based screening for increased binding avidity, we develop a high throughput cell-based platform that enables systematic interrogation of receptor-ligand interactomes. Using this technology, we characterize the cell surface proteins targeted by the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV spike protein. Host factors that specifically bind to SARS CoV-2 but not SARS CoV RBD are identified, including proteins that are expressed in the nervous system or olfactory epithelium. Remarkably, our results show that Contactin-1, a previously unknown SARS CoV-2 spike-specific receptor that is upregulated in COVID-19 patients, significantly enhances ACE2-dependent pseudotyped virus infection. Starting from a versatile platform to characterize cell surface interactomes, this study uncovers host factors specifically targeted by SARS CoV-2, information that may help design improved therapeutic strategies against COVID-19.
Conformational flexibility in neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 by naturally elicited anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies
Authors: Li Ruofan , Mor Michael , Ma Bingting , Clark Alex E. , Alter Joel , Werbner Michal , Lee Jamie Casey , Leibel Sandra L. , Carlin Aaron F. , Dessau Moshe , Gal-Tanamy Meital , Croker Ben A. , Xiang Ye , Freund Natalia T.
Published: August 2022

As new variants of SARS-CoV-2 continue to emerge, it is important to assess the cross-neutralizing capabilities of antibodies naturally elicited during wild type SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the present study, we evaluate the activity of nine anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), previously isolated from convalescent donors infected with the Wuhan-Hu-1 strain, against the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron. By testing an array of mutated spike receptor binding domain (RBD) proteins, cell-expressed spike proteins from VOCs, and neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs as pseudoviruses, or as the authentic viruses in culture, we show that mAbs directed against the ACE2 binding site (ACE2bs) are more sensitive to viral evolution compared to anti-RBD non-ACE2bs mAbs, two of which retain their potency against all VOCs tested. At the second part of our study, we reveal the neutralization mechanisms at high molecular resolution of two anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing mAbs by structural characterization. We solve the structures of the Delta-neutralizing ACE2bs mAb TAU-2303 with the SARS-CoV-2 spike trimer and RBD at 4.5 Å and 2.42 Å resolutions, respectively, revealing a similar mode of binding to that between the RBD and ACE2. Furthermore, we provide five additional structures (at resolutions of 4.7 Å, 7.3 Å, 6.4 Å, 3.3 Å, and 6.1 Å) of a second antibody, TAU-2212, complexed with the SARS-CoV-2 spike trimer. TAU-2212 binds an exclusively quaternary epitope, and exhibits a unique, flexible mode of neutralization that involves transitioning between five different conformations, with both arms of the antibody recruited for cross linking intra- and inter-spike RBD subunits. Our study provides additional mechanistic understanding about how antibodies neutralize SARS-CoV-2 and its emerging variants and provides insights on the likelihood of reinfections.
Red light-induced conjugation of amines through amide bond formation triggered via photooxidation of 3-acylindolizines
Authors: Watanabe Kenji , Kuratsu Asuka , Hashizume Daisuke , Niwa Takashi , Hosoya Takamitsu
Published: August 2022

The development of a conjugation method initiated by irradiation of long-wavelength light (>500 nm) to prepare densely functionalized molecules while avoiding undesired photodegradation has attracted considerable attention. Here we show an amide bond formation method based on the photoreaction of 3-acylindolizines in the presence of amines triggered via red-light irradiation. Photooxidation of 3-acylindolizines using a catalytic amount of a photosensitizer and red light-emitting diodes (660 nm) affords the corresponding conjugated amides in nearly quantitative yields within <5 min. This transformation can be performed in aqueous organic solvents and is applicable to diverse aliphatic amines with various functional groups, including the moieties responsive to short-wavelength light.
Reservoir computing on a silicon platform with a ferroelectric field-effect transistor
Authors: Toprasertpong Kasidit , Nako Eishin , Wang Zeyu , Nakane Ryosho , Takenaka Mitsuru , Takagi Shinichi
Published: August 2022

Reservoir computing offers efficient processing of time-series data with exceptionally low training cost for real-time computing in edge devices where energy and hardware resources are limited. Here, we report reservoir computing hardware based on a ferroelectric field-effect transistor (FeFET) consisting of silicon and ferroelectric hafnium zirconium oxide. The rich dynamics originating from the ferroelectric polarization dynamics and polarization-charge coupling are the keys leading to the essential properties for reservoir computing: the short-term memory and high-dimensional nonlinear transform function. We demonstrate that an FeFET-based reservoir computing system can successfully solve computational tasks on time-series data processing including nonlinear time series prediction after training with simple regression. Due to the FeFET’s high feasibility of implementation on the silicon platform, the systems have flexibility in both device- and circuit-level designs, and have a high potential for on-chip integration with existing computing technologies towards the realization of advanced intelligent systems.
Reversible speed control of one-stimulus-double-response, temperature-sensitive asymmetric hydrogel micromotors
Authors: Teora Serena P. , van der Knaap Kirsten H. , Keller Shauni , Rijpkema Sjoerd J. , Wilson Daniela A.
Published: August 2022

The use of microfluidics for generation of thermo-responsive micromotors in which the catalyst is either physically encapsulated or chemically linked.
N-Silylamines in catalysis: synthesis and reactivity
Authors: Verma Vani , Koperniku Ana , Edwards Peter M. , Schafer Laurel L.
Published: August 2022

Efficient catalytic routes to prepare electronically and sterically distinct silylamine building blocks for the step-economic synthesis of amines and N-heterocycles.
Enhancing SIM behaviour in a mononuclear tetrahedral [Co(N,N′-2-iminopyrrolyl)2] complex
Authors: Ferreira Patrícia S. , Malta José F. , Bandeira Nuno A. G. , Allgaier Alexander , van Slageren Joris , Paixão José A. , Almeida Manuel , Pereira Laura C. J. , Gomes Pedro T.
Published: August 2022

Co(ii)–N4complex displays slow magnetisation at zero static field, exhibiting a high spin-reversal energy barrierUeff= 85 cm−1.
TEMPO coordination and reactivity in group 6; pseudo-pentagonal planar (η2-TEMPO)2CrX (X = Cl, TEMPO)
Authors: Kayser Ann K. , Wolczanski Peter T. , Cundari Thomas R. , Bollmeyer Melissa M. , Lancaster Kyle M. , MacMillan Samantha N.
Published: August 2022

The quest for homoleptic Cr TEMPO species has led to the preparation of pseudo-pentagonal planar (η2-TEMPO)2CrX (X = Cl, TEMPO), with perturbations from TEMPO(−) lone pairs at roughly 0°, 90°, 135°, 225° and 270°.
Low-cost synthesis of a nanocomposite of MoS2 and alkali-activated halloysite nanotubes for photocatalytic RhB degradation
Authors: Wang Dongxu , Bai Jiaxuan , Hao Ming , Liang Jinsheng , Fang Baizeng , Wang Yulei , Cui Kaibin , Wang Fei
Published: August 2022

A novel nanocomposite of ultrathin MoS2 nanosheets/alkali-activated halloysite was fabricated via a hydrothermal method, which exhibited improved photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B compared with the MoS2/HNTs and pristine MoS2.
Catalytic formation of oxalic acid on the partially oxidised greigite Fe3S4(001) surface
Authors: Santos-Carballal David , de Leeuw Nora H
Published: August 2022

The partially oxidised (001) surface of greigite (Fe3S4) catalyses the conversion of water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) into oxalic acid (H2C2O4).
Effects of dissolved oxygen on water quality and biofilms in the raw water distribution pipeline for a reserved water source
Authors: Wang Yueting , Xu Hang , Shen Zhen , Ding Mingmei , Xue Rubing , Lin Tao
Published: August 2022

Higher initial DO concentrations could enhance the nitrification reaction and purification process of the raw water.
Characterization of activated sludge in wastewater treatment processes using front-face excitation–emission matrix (FF-EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy
Authors: Yu Huaorng , Li Yimeng , Yang Haiyang , Lv Yong , Wang Jingyin , Rong Hongwei , Qu Fangshu
Published: August 2022

The novel front-face fluorescence excitation–emission matrix (FF-EEM) spectroscopy was applied to in situ and online analyze the activated sludge from wastewater treatment processes to probe its biomass and bioactivity.
Improved microcanonical instanton theory
Authors: Lawrence Joseph E. , Richardson Jeremy O.
Published: August 2022

We develop a microcanonical version of instanton theory for studying deep tunnelling reactions under the statistical assumptions of RRKM. The new theory provides a correction to the theory of Chapman, Garrett and Miller for non-separable systems.
Correction: Visible-light-mediated minisci C–H alkylation of heteroarenes with 4-alkyl-1,4-dihydropyridines using O2 as an oxidant
Authors: Dong Jianyang , Yue Fuyang , Xu Wentao , Song Hongjian , Liu Yuxiu , Wang Qingmin
Published: August 2022

Correction for ‘Visible-light-mediated minisci C–H alkylation of heteroarenes with 4-alkyl-1,4-dihydropyridines using O2 as an oxidant’ by Jianyang Dong et al., Green Chem., 2020, 22, 5599–5604, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0GC02111C.
Customizing the spatial distribution and release of silver for the antibacterial actionviabiomineralized self-assembling silver-loaded hydroxyapatite
Authors: Qiao Yunping , Mai Guangqing , Li Yujing , Guan Rengui , Han Yanyang , Cui Wei , Wang Xinglong , Liu Shiliang , Liu Shanshan , He Tao
Published: August 2022

By customizing the spatial distribution of Ag in Ag-loaded hydroxyapatite (Ag–HA) hybrid materials, the controlled release of Ag+ions for specific antibacterial requirements is realizedviaa self-assembling biomineralization approach.
Additive manufacturing: modular platform for 3D printing fluid-containing monoliths
Authors: Cipriani Ciera E. , Starvaggi Nicholas C. , Edgehouse Katelynn J. , Price Jordan B. , Vivod Stephanie L. , Pentzer Emily B.
Published: August 2022

Fluid-filled capsules and liquidous polymers are combined to produce 3D printable inks, enabling printing of fluid-containing monoliths with porous and nonporous microstructures.
Correction: Engineering metal–organic frameworks for adsorption-based gas separations: from process to atomic scale
Authors: Taddei Marco , Petit Camille
Published: August 2022

Correction for ‘Engineering metal–organic frameworks for adsorption-based gas separations: from process to atomic scale’ by Marco Taddei and Camille Petit, Mol. Syst. Des. Eng., 2021, 6, 841–875, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D1ME00085C.
Cysteine ratiometric fluorescence sensing reaction actuated B-ring naphthalene-substituted flavonol-based PhotoCORM: precisely controlled linear CO liberation
Authors: Sun Ying-Ji , Liu Bei , Zhao Deng-Jie , Zhang Yi , Yu Chao
Published: August 2022

This study describes the first B-ring-naphthalene-substituted flavonol-based ratiometric fluorescent probe to efficiently detect and image endo/exo-genous Cys bothin vivo, and subsequent Cys-driven, visible-light triggered linear CO delivery under O2.
Hot off the Press
Authors: Hill Robert A. , Sutherland Andrew
Published: August 2022

A personal selection of 32 recent papers is presented covering various aspects of current developments in bioorganic chemistry and novel natural products such as hyperispirone A fromHypericum beanii.
Challenges of lead leakage in perovskite solar cells
Authors: Dou Jing , Bai Yang , Chen Qi
Published: August 2022

This review summarizes the latest research progress on strategies for lead leakage control in perovskite solar cells to facilitate the future development of efficient, stable, and environmentally friendly perovskite photovoltaic devices.
Intumescent flame retardancy and smoke suppression of Eucommia ulmoides gum/natural rubber blends based on synergistic g-C3N4@Fe3O4 nanocomposites
Authors: Li Zheng , Cheng Xinyu , Liu Yanji , Liu Hao , Jiang Yan , Wang Na
Published: August 2022

A flame retardant synergist (g-C3N4@Fe3O4) was designed through in situ co-precipitation method by using graphitized carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and Fe3O4, and flame retardancy of EUG/NR was improved by variable IFR and g-C3N4@Fe3O4 content.
KOH-activated microstructured carbon derived from Asclepias syriaca floss for extraordinary 200k cycle stability in supercapacitors
Authors: Byatarayappa Gopalakrishna , Guna Vijaykumar , G Radhika M. , Venkatesh Krishna , Zhao Yi , N. Nagaraju , Reddy Narendra , Nagaraju Kathyayini
Published: August 2022

We report a novel carbon material obtained from low-density fibrous fur-like biowaste Asclepias syriaca (milkweed) floss for use as low-cost and efficient electrodes in electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLCs).
Molecular dyads with non-fused electron acceptor backbones for single-component organic solar cells
Authors: Wei Wang , Gao Yuan , Wu Yao , Yang Xinrong , Chen Zhihao , Chen Zeng , Wang Tao , Sun Rui , Wu Qiang , Hao Xiaotao , Zhu Haiming , Ponomarenko Sergey , Luponosov Yuriy , Min Jie
Published: August 2022

SW1, with non-fused acceptor backbones, creates a high PCE of 3.78% for SMOSCs, with a JSC of 9.12 mA cm−2.
La gouvernance de l’eau à l’épreuve du droit négocié. Enquête sur l’activité réglementaire des commissions locales de l’eau
Authors: Barbier Rémi , Liziard Sophie , Fernandez Sara
Published: August 2022

L’article porte sur le pouvoir réglementaire conféré aux commissions locales de l’eau par la loi sur l’eau et les milieux aquatiques de 2006. En enquêtant sur la manière dont les commissions s’en sont saisies, il met en lumière les enjeux, les ressorts et les effets de l’inscription d’un «  droit négocié  » dans la gouvernance territoriale de l’eau. La négociation continue avec les services de l’État, sur les cibles et le contenu des règles, conduit d’abord à envisager cette gouvernance comme une forme de co-management de la ressource. L’analyse montre ensuite que les animateurs de schémas d?aménagement et de gestion de l?eau (SAGE) déploient une diversité de tactiques pour gérer les relations avec les représentants de l’État et produire par ailleurs un équilibre entre défense des intérêts catégoriels et dynamique de communalisation. Après son adoption enfin, le sort du règlement dépend en particulier de la posture de la police de l’eau et de sa reprise au sein d’une large communauté d’acteurs.
Les élèves en prise avec l’orthographe du français : ce qu’ils font, ce qu’ils pensent, ce qu’ils apprennent
Authors: Brissaud Catherine
Published: August 2022

Nous nous centrons dans cette contribution sur l’orthographe pratiquée par les élèves, leurs connaissances du système et l’évolution de ces connaissances. Nous donnons tout d’abord un panorama (non exhaustif) de travaux récents conduits de la maternelle à l’âge adulte. Puis nous abordons les moyens que nous nous donnons pour appréhender, évaluer et faire évoluer les compétences des élèves. Nous nous intéressons également aux unités linguistiques que les élèves manipulent et aux moyens que les chercheurs adoptent pour évaluer et mieux accompagner les apprentissages… sans oublier le texte qui est au coeur de l’objectif visé, à savoir l’amélioration de sa qualité orthographique. Nous terminons, en conclusion, par trois questions qui ouvrent des perspectives de travail.
Mise en place de dispositifs pour une meilleure maîtrise de l’écrit à l’université : quels sont les besoins selon les enseignants et les étudiants ?
Authors: Clayette Élodie
Published: August 2022

Les étudiants entrant à l’université peinent parfois à maîtriser la langue française, ce qui constitue un frein à la réussite de certains. Des dispositifs d’aide à l’amélioration des compétences écrites sont mis en place dans les universités afin d’y remédier. À Le Mans Université, les étudiants de première année de licence participent, de manière obligatoire, à ces enseignements. Nous nous intéressons ici aux représentations des étudiants et des enseignants sur les besoins étudiants en langue française en début et en fin de dispositif.
Les outils numériques d’aide à la révision et à la correction en classe de français : réel levier pour l’apprentissage et l’évaluation de l’orthographe ?
Authors: Grégoire Pascal
Published: August 2022

Le numérique mène-t-il les élèves à améliorer leurs performances en écriture lors d’évaluations nationales ? Nous avons testé cette hypothèse auprès de 314 adolescent・e・s québécois・e・s dans une quasi-expérimentation. Trois dispositifs d’écriture numérique (traitement de texte [TT] ; TT et correcticiel [TT+C] ; TT+C et formation) ont été comparés à l’écriture manuscrite. L’analyse quantitative (ANOVA) du nombre d’erreurs montre des gains liés au correcticiel, mais seulement en orthographe (lexicale, grammaticale).