bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular Complexity from Aromatics: Recent Advances in the Chemistry of paraQuinol and Masked para‐Quinone Monoketal
Authors: Chandra Girish , Patel Samridhi
Published: November 2020

Synthesis of complex organic molecules from simple, cheap, and readily available starting materials is one of the most challenging and desirable factors in organic synthesis. In the last two decades, various methods have been developed for the de‐aromatization reaction of planar aromatics compounds which lead to reactive intermediates like 2,5‐cyclohexadienone ketal and para‐quinol having a non‐planar framework. Recently, there is an upsurge of interest in the development of the chemistry of these intermediates due to their inherent dual electrophilic and nucleophilic character. The presence of diverse functionality makes them important scaffolds and thus these are intensively utilized for the development of methodologies towards the synthesis of the highly functionalized and diverse chemical framework. These synthons have also been used in the total synthesis of many natural products. Interestingly, these are also adaptable for asymmetric synthesis. This review is a summary of the recent development of methods for 2,5‐cyclohexadienone ketal and para‐quinol synthesis and their application in natural product synthesis.
Perceiving emotions in visual stimuli: social verbal context facilitates emotion detection of words but not of faces
Authors: Blom Stephanie S. A. H. , Aarts Henk , Semin Gün R.
Published: November 2020

Building on the notion that processing of emotional stimuli is sensitive to context, in two experimental tasks we explored whether the detection of emotion in emotional words (task 1) and facial expressions (task 2) is facilitated by social verbal context. Three different levels of contextual supporting information were compared, namely (1) no information, (2) the verbal expression of an emotionally matched word pronounced with a neutral intonation, and (3) the verbal expression of an emotionally matched word pronounced with emotionally matched intonation. We found that increasing levels of supporting contextual information enhanced emotion detection for words, but not for facial expressions. We also measured activity of the corrugator and zygomaticus muscle to assess facial simulation, as processing of emotional stimuli can be facilitated by facial simulation. While facial simulation emerged for facial expressions, the level of contextual supporting information did not qualify this effect. All in all, our findings suggest that adding emotional-relevant voice elements positively influence emotion detection.
Dysregulated microRNA expression in rheumatoid arthritis families—a comparison between rheumatoid arthritis patients, their first-degree relatives, and healthy controls
Authors: Renman Emma , Brink Mikael , Ärlestig Lisbeth , Rantapää-Dahlqvist Solbritt , Lejon Kristina
Published: November 2020

Objective

Recent studies have demonstrated an altered expression of certain microRNAs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as well as their first-degree relatives (FDRs) compared to healthy controls (HCs), suggesting a role of microRNA in the progression of the disease. To corroborate this, a set of well-characterized RA families originating from northern Sweden were analyzed for differential expression of a selected set of microRNAs.

Method

MicroRNA was isolated from frozen peripheral blood cells obtained from 21 different families and included 26 RA patients, 22 FDRs, and 21 HCs. Expression of the selected microRNAs miR-22-3p, miR-26b-5p, miR-34a-3p, miR-103a-3p, miR-142-3p, miR-146a-5p, miR-155, miR-346, and miR-451a was determined by a two-step quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Statistical analysis including clinical variables was applied.

Results

Out of the nine selected microRNAs that previously have been linked to RA, we confirmed four after adjusting for age and gender, i.e., miR-22-3p (p = 0.020), miR-26b-5p (p = 0.018), miR-142-3p (p = 0.005), and miR-155 (p = 0.033). Moreover, a significant trend with an intermediate microRNA expression in FDR was observed for the same four microRNAs. In addition, analysis of the effect of corticosteroid use showed modulation of miR-103a-3p expression.

Conclusions

We confirm that microRNAs seem to be involved in the development of RA, and that the expression pattern in FDR is partly overlapping with RA patients. The contribution of single microRNAs in relation to the complex network including all microRNAs and other molecules is still to be revealed.

Key Points• Expression levels of miR-22-3p, miR-26b-5p, miR-142-3p, and miR-155 were significantly altered in RA patients compared to those in controls.• In first-degree relatives, a significant trend with an intermediate microRNA expression in FDR was observed for the same four microRNAs.
Neuroprotective potential of isothiocyanates in an in vitro model of neuroinflammation
Authors: Latronico Tiziana , Larocca Marilena , Milella Serafina , Fasano Anna , Rossano Rocco , Liuzzi Grazia Maria
Published: November 2020

Isothiocyanates (ITCs), present as glucosinolate precursors in cruciferous vegetables, have shown anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticarcinogenic activities. Here, we compared the effects of three different ITCs on ROS production and on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9, which represent important pathogenetic factors of various neurological diseases. Primary cultures of rat astrocytes were activated by LPS and simultaneously treated with different doses of Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), 2-Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) and 2-Sulforaphane (SFN). Results showed that SFN and PEITC were able to counteract ROS production induced by H2O2. The zymographic analysis of cell culture supernatants evidenced that PEITC and SFN were the most effective inhibitors of MMP-9, whereas, only SFN significantly inhibited MMP-2 activity. PCR analysis showed that all the ITCs used significantly inhibited both MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression. The investigation on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway demonstrated that ITCs modulate MMP transcription by inhibition of extracellular-regulated protein kinase (ERK) activity. Results of this study suggest that ITCs could be promising nutraceutical agents for the prevention and complementary treatment of neurological diseases associated with MMP involvement.
Spectral Engineering via Complex Patterns of Circular Nano-object Miniarrays: I. Convex Patterns Tunable by Integrated Lithography Realized by Circularly Polarized Light
Authors: Sipos Áron , Tóth Emese , Fekete Olivér A. , Csete Mária
Published: November 2020

Illumination of colloid sphere monolayers by circularly polarized beams enables the fabrication of concave patterns composed of circular nanohole miniarrays that can be transferred into convex metal nano-object patterns via a lift-off procedure. Unique spectral and near-field properties are achievable by controlling the geometry of the central nanoring and quadrumer of slightly rotated satellite nanocrescents and by selecting those azimuthal orientations that promote localized plasmon resonances. The spectral and near-field effects of hexagonal patterns composed of uniform gold nanorings and nanocrescents, which can be prepared by transferring masks fabricated by a perpendicularly and obliquely incident single homogeneous circularly polarized beam, were studied to uncover the supported localized plasmonic modes. Artificial rectangular patterns composed of a singlet nanoring and singlet nanocrescent as well as quadrumer of four nanocrescents were investigated to analyze the effect of nano-object interactions and lattice type. It was proven that all nanophotonical phenomena are governed by the azimuthal orientation independent localized resonance on the nanorings and by the C2, C1, and U resonances on the nanocrescents in case of $\bar {E}$
Ē
-field direction perpendicular and parallel to their symmetry axes. The interaction between localized surface plasmon resonances on individual nano-objects is weak, whereas scattered photonic modes have a perturbative role at the Rayleigh anomaly only on the larger periodic rectangular pattern of miniarrays. Considerable fluorescence enhancement of dipolar emitters is achievable at spectral locations promoting the C and U resonances on the constituent nano-object.
Multidisciplinary consensus on cancer management during pregnancy
Authors: Cubillo A. , Morales S. , Goñi E. , Matute F. , Muñoz J. L. , Pérez-Díaz D. , de Santiago J. , Rodríguez-Lescure Á.
Published: November 2020

Cancer during pregnancy is a challenge for multi- and interdisciplinary collaboration due to the diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic implications, the need for an integrated harmonization of medical action for the pregnant patient and the embryo or foetus and the characteristics of each gestational period, which will determine the protocol to be proposed and its limitations. For this reason, a group of experts appointed by participating scientific societies, which includes the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica—SEOM), the Spanish Association of Surgeons (Asociación Española de Cirujanos—AEC), the Spanish Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (Sociedad Española de Ginecología y Obstetricia—SEGO), the Spanish Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (Sociedad Española de Medicina Nuclear e Imagen Molecular—SEMNIM), the Spanish Society of Oncological Radiotherapy (Sociedad Española de Oncología Radioterápica—SEOR) and the Spanish Society of Medical Radiology (Sociedad Española de Radiología Médica—SERAM), have worked together to establish consensus recommendations that allow the harmonization of management and ultimately the optimization of the healthcare of pregnant patients with cancer. When cancer is detected in a pregnant woman, the week of gestation in which the diagnosis is made must be considered, as well as the characteristics of the tumour. It is strongly recommended that a multidisciplinary team assesses the situation and guides the patient and her family during the informing, diagnosis and treatment process. Likewise, the foetus should be monitored and managed by specialized obstetricians who are part of a multidisciplinary cancer committee.
The alkylation of oil fractions rich in aromatic hydrocarbons with C6, C8 and C10 α - olefins in the presence of ionic liquids catalytic systems
Authors: Aliyeva R. V. , Babashova Y. M. , Khamiyev M. J. , Bagirova Sh. R. , Azizbeyli H. R.
Published: November 2020

The article is dedicated to the development of processes for (oligo)alkylation of petroleum fractions rich in aromatic hydrocarbons, with α-olefins (hexene-1, octene-1, decene-1) in the presence of ionic-liquid catalytic systems and the study of the properties of the products obtained. Alkylation reactions were carried out in the presence of chloroaluminate ionic liquids; for the first time a (nano)metal-polymer composite (NMPC) was used in the catalytic system as a modifier, and zinc chloride (ZnCl2) was used in the catalytic system as a component and the results were compared. It has been shown that these ionic liquid catalytic systems (ILCS) are suitable for (oligo)alkylation reactions and the use of these additives in their composition will lead to efficient alkylation. The products obtained were analyzed by IR-, NMR- spectroscopy, fluorescent indicator adsorption methods, and size exclusion chromatography. It was shown that these petroleum fractions rich in aromatic hydrocarbons can be used as alkylation components, and depending on the composition of the ILCS, it is possible to regulate the molecular, thermophysical and other characteristics of the products obtained based on them. The alkylated products obtained have been tested as plasticizing additives in polyolefin composites.
Morphology and chemical composition of mineral matter present in fly ashes of bituminous coal and lignite
Authors: Strzałkowska E.
Published: November 2020

The changing properties of energy waste force us to look for alternative directions of their use. The aim of the research presented in this paper was to indicate the possibilities of managing fly ashes from bituminous coal and lignite based on the observation of individual particles of these ashes. Innovative research techniques were used, among others: SEM with EDS detector and Image Analysis. Microscopic observations have shown that fly ashes are a heterogeneous material composed of particles occurring in three basic morphological forms: spherical, irregular and fine-detritic. A high proportion of spherical particles was found in bituminous coal ashes (rich in SiO2 and Al2O3), which gives them high pozzolanic activity. This kind of morphology and chemical composition make these ashes a potential material for zeolites synthesis. The amorphic phase of ash from lignite coal has aluminium–silicate-calcium chemical composition, which is what determines pozzolanic and hydraulic properties of these ashes. Magnetic separation of iron-rich particles may be a way to manage the researched ashes. One of the valuable components of hard coal ash are microspheres, which are characterized by high variability in chemical composition, so further utilization will require prior refining. The main component of irregular particles found in ashes is unburned coal and, to a lesser extent, a mineral substance. The separation of all useful components from the tested ashes before their further management will allow the full use of their raw material potential.
Klagekollektive als „Watchdogs“
Authors: Hahn Lisa , von Fromberg Myriam
Published: November 2020

In den vergangenen Jahren haben sich eine Reihe von Klagekollektiven gegründet, die strategische Prozesse als einen formalisierten Weg zur Überprüfung staatlichen Handelns wählen. Kritische Stimmen sehen darin eine problematische Form der Interessenspolitik. Der Beitrag argumentiert demgegenüber, dass strategische Prozessführung die demokratische Kontrolle staatlicher Machtausübung fördert. Klagekollektive fungieren dabei als „Watchdogs“: Ihre Prozesse machen Gerichte und die Öffentlichkeit auf Missstände aufmerksam, sie fordern mit ihnen eine rechtliche Bewertung und Sanktionierung ein. Damit kompensieren sie zunehmende Kontrolldefizite im demokratischen Rechtsstaat und tragen zu einer Stärkung seiner Institutionen bei.
‘Irish fever’ in Britain during the Great Famine: immigration, disease and the legacy of ‘Black ’47’
Authors: Darwen Lewis , MacRaild Donald M. , Gurrin Brian , Kennedy Liam
Published: November 2020

During the worst year of the Great Irish Famine, ‘Black ’47’, tens of thousands of people fled across the Irish Sea from Ireland to Britain, desperately escaping the starvation and disease plaguing their country. These refugees, crowding unavoidably into the most insalubrious accommodation British towns and cities had to offer, were soon blamed for deadly outbreaks of epidemic typhus which emerged across the country during the first half of 1847. Indeed, they were accused of transporting the pestilence, then raging in Ireland, over with them. Typhus mortality rates in Ireland and Britain soared, and so closely connected with the disease were the Irish in Britain that it was widely referred to as ‘Irish fever’. Much of what we know about this epidemic is based on a handful of studies focusing almost exclusively on major cities along the British west-coast. Moreover, there has been little attempt to understand the legacy of the episode on the Irish in Britain. Taking a national perspective, this article argues that the ‘Irish fever’ epidemic of 1847 spread far beyond the western port of entry, and that the epidemic, by entrenching the association of the Irish with deadly disease, contributed significantly to the difficulties Britain's Irish population faced in the 1850s.
Diagnostic comparison of stool exam and point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) test for schistosomiasis mansoni diagnosis in a high endemicity area in northeastern Brazil
Authors: Bezerra Danielle de Freitas , Pinheiro Marta Cristhiany Cunha , Barbosa Luciene , Viana Agostinho Gonçalves , Fujiwara Ricardo Toshio , Bezerra Fernando Schemelzer de Moraes
Published: November 2020

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) test in a highly endemic area in Brazil, comparing it to the Kato-Katz (KK) technique for sensitivity, specificity and the intensity of the reaction of the test in relation to the parasitic load. The community in Sergipe, Brazil, participated in the study, providing three stool samples, one of urine (POC-CCA) and fingers tick blood sample was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, kappa coefficient and Spearman's correlation were calculated for the POC-CCA test using the KK as the reference. The prevalence of schistosomiasis by KK testing was 48.82%; POC-CCA (t+) 66.14%; POC-CCA (t−) 45.24%. ELISA results showed 100% agreement in individuals with high and moderate eggs per gram (EPG). POC-CCA presented good diagnostic performance in individuals with medium and high EPG, but there were a high number of false negatives in individuals with low intensity infections. As observed, POC-CCA-filter test improves accuracy and sensitivity compared to a conventional test.
CRITICAL BINOMIAL IDEALS OF NORTHCOTT TYPE
Authors: GARCÍA‐SÁNCHEZ P. A. , LLENA D. , OJEDA I.
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we study a family of binomial ideals defining monomial curves in the n-dimensional affine space determined by n hypersurfaces of the form

$x_i^{c_i} - x_1^{u_{i1}} \cdots x_n^{u_{1n}}$
in

$\Bbbk [x_1, \ldots , x_n]$
with

$u_{ii} = 0, \ i\in \{ 1, \ldots , n\}$
. We prove that the monomial curves in that family are set-theoretic complete intersections. Moreover, if the monomial curve is irreducible, we compute some invariants such as genus, type and Frobenius number of the corresponding numerical semigroup. We also describe a method to produce set-theoretic complete intersection semigroup ideals of arbitrary large height.
The Political Economy of African International Relations
Authors: Shaw Timothy M.
Published: November 2020

Our understanding of the international political economy of Africa is
underdeveloped; we have inadequate data and theories about the development
of underdevelopment on the continent. Even the orthodox study of
international politics and foreign policy in Africa is largely a recent
phenomenon, stimulated by the rise of new states in the last twenty years.
This essay, then, can be no more than a review of the field and a lament
over its deficiencies. In particular, we are concerned about: i) the
relative inattention afforded the impact of international politics on the
rate and direction of social change in African states; ii) the need for a
new conceptual framework to advance our understanding of the linkage
politics between African elites and external interests; and iii) the related
growth and international inequalities on the continent. This essay proceeds
therefore from a critical review of analyses of the international political
economy of Africa to a tentative presentation of a new typology of states
and regimes, regions and behavior, in Africa which reflects the importance
of those variables on which students of political economy focus.
Peers als Quelle aktueller Motivation?
Authors: Knickenberg Margarita , Zurbriggen Carmen , Schmidt Philipp
Published: November 2020

Zusammenfassung: Die Relevanz von Peers für die Entwicklung von Jugendlichen konnte in verschiedenen Studien bereits bestätigt werden. Im Unterricht zeigt sich dies u.a. durch höhere situative Motivation und Freude sowie geringerem Stressempfinden während sozialer Interaktionen mit Mitschülerinnen und -schülern verglichen mit Einzelarbeitssituationen. Allerdings stellte sich auch heraus, dass Jugendliche mit Verhaltensauffälligkeiten Schwierigkeiten im Knüpfen und Aufrechterhalten von sozialen Kontakten und Freundschaften haben. Während in bisherigen Studien Verhalten als dichotome Variable untersucht wurde, wird hier ein dimensionaler, personzentrierter Ansatz zur Identifizierung von Gruppen mit heterogenen Verhaltensweisen verfolgt. Ziel dieses Beitrags ist daher die Untersuchung von Effekten sozialer Interaktionen im Unterricht auf das emotionale Erleben von Jugendlichen mit heterogenen Verhaltensweisen. Zudem wird ein möglicher Moderationseffekt der Klassenkomposition in Bezug auf das Verhalten überprüft. Hierzu wurden N = 719 Schülerinnen und Schülern der fünften und sechsten Jahrgangsstufe unter Verwendung der experience sampling method zu zwei bis drei Messzeitpunkten pro Tag an fünf aufeinanderfolgenden Schultagen zu ihrem aktuellen emotionalen Erleben und ihrem sozialen Kontext befragt. Insgesamt lagen 8870 „Momentaufnahmen" des emotionalen Erlebens und von Unterrichtssituationen vor. Auf der Grundlage von Verhaltenseinschätzungen durch Lehrpersonen wurden mittels latenter Profilanalysen drei Profiltypen innerhalb der Schülerschaft identifiziert: Jugendliche mit adaptivem, internalisierendem und externalisierendem Verhalten. Ergebnisse von Multilevel-Strukturgleichungsmodellen zeigen, dass Jugendliche in Unterrichtssituationen, in denen sie mit ihren Peers interagieren (z.B. in Partner- oder Gruppenarbeiten), motivierter und weniger gestresst sind als in Einzelsituationen. Für Jugendliche mit externalisierendem oder internalisierendem Verhalten ist dieser Effekt stärker ausgeprägt. Die geringfügigen, jedoch nicht signifikanten differenziellen moderierenden Effekte verweisen zudem darauf, dass der Zusammenhang des emotionalen Erlebens und der Peerinteraktionen für Jugendliche nicht durch ihr Klassenumfeld in Bezug auf prosoziales oder problematisches Verhalten moderiert wird. Die Ergebnisse werden sowohl methodisch als auch inhaltlich diskutiert, unter anderem in Bezug auf die Frage, ob und inwiefern Peers Quellen aktueller Motivation im Unterricht darstellen.
Europe Targets 100 Climate-Neutral Cities by 2030
Authors: Dacey James
Published: November 2020

Europe is launching an ambitious mission to decarbonize many of its urban areas within a decade. But is it realistic?
Interannual Variability of the South Atlantic Ocean Heat Content in a High‐Resolution Versus a Low‐Resolution General Circulation Model
Authors: Gronholz Alexandra , Dong Shenfu , Lopez Hosmay , Lee Sang‐Ki , Goni Gustavo , Baringer Molly
Published: November 2020

High‐ and low‐resolution coupled climate model simulations are analyzed to investigate the impact of model resolution on South Atlantic Ocean Heat Content (OHC) variability at interannual time scale and the associated physical mechanisms. In both models, ocean heat transport convergence is the main driver of OHC variability on interannual time scales. However, the origin of the meridional heat transport (MHT) convergence anomalies differs in the two models. In the high‐resolution model, OHC variability is dominated by MHT from the south. This is in contrast to the low‐resolution model, where OHC variability is largely controlled by MHT from the north. In the low‐resolution simulation, both the Ekman and geostrophic transports contribute to the OHC variability, whereas in the high‐resolution model, the geostrophic transport dominates. These differences highlight the importance of model resolution to appropriately represent ocean dynamics in the South Atlantic Ocean and associated impacts on regional and global climate.
A Case Study of Nonresonant Mode 3‐s ULF Waves Observed by MMS
Authors: Wang Shan , Chen Li‐Jen , Ng Jonathan , Bessho Naoki , Le Guan , Fung Shing F. , Gershman Daniel J. , Giles Barbara L.
Published: November 2020

The nature of the 3‐s ultralow frequency (ULF) wave in the Earth's foreshock region and the associated wave‐particle interaction are not yet well understood. We investigate the 3‐s ULF waves using Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) observations. By combining the plasma rest frame wave properties obtained from multiple methods with the instability analysis based on the velocity distribution in the linear wave stage, the ULF wave is determined to be due to the ion/ion nonresonant mode instability. The interaction between the wave and ions is analyzed using the phase relationship between the transverse wave fields and ion velocities and using the longitudinal momentum equation. During the stage when ULF waves have sinusoidal waveforms up to |dB|/|B0| ~ 3, where dB is the wave magnetic field and B0 is the background magnetic field, the wave electric fields perpendicular to B0 do negative work to solar wind ions; along B0, a longitudinal electric field develops, but the V × B force is stronger and leads to solar wind ion deceleration. During the same wave stage, the backstreaming beam ions gain energy from the transverse wave fields and get deceleration along B0 by the longitudinal electric field. The ULF wave leads to electron heating, preferentially in the direction perpendicular to the local magnetic field. Secondary waves are generated within the ULF waveforms, including whistler waves near half of the electron cyclotron frequency, high‐frequency electrostatic waves, and magnetosonic whistler waves. The work improves the understanding of the nature of 3‐s ULF waves and the associated wave‐particle interaction.
Quasi‐Biweekly Mode of the Asian Summer Monsoon Revealed in Bay of Bengal Surface Observations
Authors: Sree Lekha J. , Lucas Andrew J. , Sukhatme Jai , Joseph Jossia K. , Ravichandran M. , Suresh Kumar N. , Farrar J. Thomas , Sengupta D.
Published: November 2020

Asian summer monsoon has a planetary‐scale, westward propagating “quasi‐biweekly” mode of variability with a 10–25 day period. Six years of moored observations at 18°N, 89.5°E in the north Bay of Bengal (BoB) reveal distinct quasi‐biweekly variability in sea surface salinity (SSS) during summer and autumn, with peak‐to‐peak amplitude of 3–8 psu. This large‐amplitude SSS variability is not due to variations of surface freshwater flux or river runoff. We show from the moored data, satellite SSS, and reanalyses that surface winds associated with the quasi‐biweekly monsoon mode and embedded weather‐scale systems, drive SSS and coastal sea level variability in 2015 summer monsoon. When winds are calm, geostrophic currents associated with mesoscale ocean eddies transport Ganga‐Brahmaputra‐Meghna river water southward to the mooring, salinity falls, and the ocean mixed layer shallows to 1–10 m. During active (cloudy, windy) spells of quasi‐biweekly monsoon mode, directly wind‐forced surface currents carry river water away to the east and north, leading to increased salinity at the moorings, and rise of sea level by 0.1–0.5 m along the eastern and northern boundary of the bay. During July–August 2015, a shallow pool of low‐salinity river water lies in the northeastern bay. The amplitude of a 20‐day oscillation of sea surface temperature (SST) is two times larger within the fresh pool than in the saltier ocean to the west, although surface heat flux is nearly identical in the two regions. This is direct evidence that spatial‐temporal variations of BoB salinity influences sub‐seasonal SST variations, and possibly SST‐mediated monsoon air‐sea interaction.
Anatomy of Subinertial Waves Along the Patagonian Shelf Break in a 1/12° Global Operational Model
Authors: Poli Léa , Artana Camila , Provost Christine , Sirven Jérôme , Sennéchael Nathalie , Cuypers Yannis , Lellouche Jean‐Michel
Published: November 2020

The Patagonian slope hosts a variety of waves. We used a state‐of‐the‐art ocean reanalysis to examine waves at the shelf break and in the core of the Malvinas Current (MC) at periods larger than 10 days. Statistics over 25 years indicated three types of signals: in phase signals at specific locations of the shelf break to the south of 47°S; fast propagating signals all along the shelf break (phase speed from 140 to 300 cm/s) at periods between 5 and 110 days; and slower signals in the core of the MC (phase speeds from 10 to 30 cm/s) at 20‐day, 60‐day, and 100‐day periods. The large zonal wind stress variations south of 47°S forced in‐phase along‐slope velocity variations and triggered fast propagating waves at distinct sites corresponding to abrupt changes in the shelf‐break orientation. The shelf‐break waves modulated the intensity of the inshore jet, which varied from 0 to 30 cm/s at 100 m depth, and had spatial and temporal structures and scales consistent with those of observed upwelling events. Slow propagating waves in the core of the MC had along‐slope wavelengths between 450 and 1,200 km and were not forced by the local winds. They were tracked back to the Drake Passage and the Malvinas Escarpment.
Deviant reporter expression and P2X4 passenger gene overexpression in the soluble EGFP BAC transgenic P2X7 reporter mouse model
Authors: Ramírez-Fernández Antonio , Urbina-Treviño Lidia , Conte Giorgia , Alves Mariana , Rissiek Björn , Durner Anna , Scalbert Nicolas , Zhang Jiong , Magnus Tim , Koch-Nolte Friedrich , Plesnila Nikolaus , Deussing Jan M. , Engel Tobias , Kopp Robin , Nicke Annette
Published: November 2020

The ATP-gated P2X7 receptor is highly expressed in microglia and has been involved in diverse brain diseases. P2X7 effects were also described in neurons and astrocytes but its localisation and function in these cell types has been challenging to demonstrate in situ. BAC transgenic mouse lines have greatly advanced neuroscience research and two BAC-transgenic P2X7 reporter mouse models exist in which either a soluble EGFP (sEGFP) or an EGFP-tagged P2X7 receptor (P2X7-EGFP) is expressed under the control of a BAC-derived P2rx7 promoter. Here we evaluate both mouse models and find striking differences in both P2X expression levels and EGFP reporter expression patterns. Most remarkably, the sEGFP model overexpresses a P2X4 passenger gene and sEGFP shows clear neuronal localisation but appears to be absent in microglia. Preliminary functional analysis in a status epilepticus model suggests functional consequences of the observed P2X receptor overexpression. In summary, an aberrant EGFP reporter pattern and possible effects of P2X4 and/or P2X7 protein overexpression need to be considered when working with this model. We further discuss reasons for the observed differences and possible caveats in BAC transgenic approaches.
Excess heat production in the redox couple reaction of ferricyanide and ferrocyanide
Authors: Sugiyama Atsushi , Miura Makoto , Oshikiri Yoshinobu , Kim Yena , Morimoto Ryoichi , Miura Miki , Osaka Tetsuya , Mogi Iwao , Yamauchi Yusuke , Aogaki Ryoichi
Published: November 2020

In order to establish the universality of the excess heat production in electrochemical reaction, under a high magnetic field, as one of the most fundamental electrochemical reactions, the case of ferricyanide-ferrocyanide redox reaction was examined, where ionic vacancies with ± 1 unit charge were collided by means of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow. As a result, from the pair annihilation of the vacancies with opposite signs, beyond 7 T, excess heat production up to 25 kJ·mol−1 in average at 15 T was observed, which was attributed to the liberation of the solvation energy stored in a pair of the vacancy cores with a 0.32 nm radius, i.e., 112 kJ·mol−1. Difference between the observed and expected energies comes from the small collision efficiency of 0.22 due to small radius of the vacancy core. Ionic vacancy initially created as a by-product of electrode reaction is unstable in solution phase, stabilized by releasing solvation energy. Ionic vacancy utilizes the energy to enlarge the core and stores the energy in it. As a result, solvated ionic vacancy consists of a polarized free space of the enlarged core surrounded by oppositely charged ionic cloud. The accuracy and precision of the measured values were ascertained by in situ standard additive method.
Revisiting potential associations between brain morphology, fear acquisition and extinction through new data and a literature review
Authors: Ehlers Mana R. , Nold Janne , Kuhn Manuel , Klingelhöfer-Jens Maren , Lonsdorf Tina B.
Published: November 2020

Inter-individual differences in defensive responding are widely established but their morphological correlates in humans have not been investigated exhaustively. Previous studies reported associations with cortical thickness of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, insula and medial orbitofrontal cortex as well as amygdala volume in fear conditioning studies. However, these associations are partly inconsistent and often derived from small samples. The current study aimed to replicate previously reported associations between physiological and subjective measures of fear acquisition and extinction and brain morphology. Structural magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 107 healthy adults who completed a differential cued fear conditioning paradigm with 24 h delayed extinction while skin conductance response (SCR) and fear ratings were recorded. Cortical thickness and subcortical volume were obtained using the software Freesurfer. Results obtained by traditional null hypothesis significance testing and Bayesians statistics do not support structural brain-behavior relationships: Neither differential SCR nor fear ratings during fear acquisition or extinction training could be predicted by cortical thickness or subcortical volume in regions previously reported. In summary, the current pre-registered study does not corroborate associations between brain morphology and inter-individual differences in defensive responding but differences in experimental design and analyses approaches compared to previous work should be acknowledged.
The maturity in fetal pigs using a multi-fluid metabolomic approach
Authors: Lefort Gaëlle , Servien Rémi , Quesnel Hélène , Billon Yvon , Canario Laurianne , Iannuccelli Nathalie , Canlet Cécile , Paris Alain , Vialaneix Nathalie , Liaubet Laurence
Published: November 2020

In mammalian species, the first days after birth are an important period for survival and the mortality rate is high before weaning. In pigs, perinatal deaths average 20% of the litter, with important economic and societal consequences. Maturity is one of the most important factors that influence piglet survival at birth. Maturity can be defined as the outcome of complex mechanisms of intra-uterine development and maturation during the last month of gestation. Here, we provide new insights into maturity obtained by studying the end of gestation at two different stages (3 weeks before term and close to term) in two breeds of pigs that strongly differ in terms of neonatal survival. We used metabolomics to characterize the phenotype, to identify biomarkers, and provide a comprehensive understanding of the metabolome of the fetuses in late gestation in three fluids (plasma, urine, and amniotic fluid). Our results show that the biological processes related to amino acid and carbohydrate metabolisms are critical for piglet maturity. We confirm the involvement of some previously described metabolites associated with delayed growth (e.g., proline and myo-inositol). Altogether, our study proposes new routes for improved characterization of piglet maturity at birth.
Potential of dredged bioremediated marine sediment for strawberry cultivation
Authors: Martínez-Nicolás Juan José , Legua Pilar , Núñez-Gómez Dámaris , Martínez-Font Rafael , Hernández Francisca , Giordani Edgardo , Melgarejo Pablo
Published: November 2020

For the maintenance of the economic activity of the ports, it is necessary to dredge the marine sediments in order to guarantee their depth. These sediments, considered by European legislation as residues, present relevant limitations of use and generate environmental and economic problems concerning their final disposal. In this context, the present work aims to identify the phytoremediated dredged sediments potential as an alternative to the traditional substrate (peat) in horticultural growing through two-years controlled strawberry cultivation. The growing media mixes used were: (1) 100% peat (Pt) as a control substrate; (2) 100% dredged remediated sediment (DRS); (3) 50% each (Pt-DRS). The dredged sediment, plant drainage and strawberry plant parts (leaves, stems, roots, and fruits) were analyzed to mineral elements, heavy metal contents, and pesticide residues (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls and specific fumigants) during the experimental period. Only seven (Mn, Fe, Zn, Mo, Al, Mn and Ni) of the twenty-two metals and two (nitrates and fluorene) of the six hundred-thirteen pesticides analyzed were detected in the strawberry fruits. In all the cases, values detected were under the Spanish and European legal limit. The suitability of strawberry fruits for fresh and/or processed consumption with no risk was confirmed. Based on the results, can be affirmed that the dredged remediated sediment can be used as a culture substrate, alone or mixed with other substrates. Additional researches should be carried out to confirm the sediment characteristics and compare with other substrates to improve the physical and chemical properties.
Enhancing near-infrared photoluminescence from single-walled carbon nanotubes by defect-engineering using benzoyl peroxide
Authors: Przypis Lukasz , Krzywiecki Maciej , Niidome Yoshiaki , Aoki Haruka , Shiraki Tomohiro , Janas Dawid
Published: November 2020

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been modified with ester groups using typical organic radical chemistry. Consequently, traps for mobile excitons have been created, which enhanced the optical properties of the material. The proposed methodology combines the benefits of mainstream approaches to create luminescent defects in SWCNTs while it simultaneously avoids their limitations. A step change was achieved when the aqueous medium was abandoned. The selection of an appropriate organic solvent enabled much more facile modification of SWCNTs. The presented technique is quick and versatile as it can engage numerous reactants to tune the light emission capabilities of SWCNTs. Importantly, it can also utilize SWCNTs sorted by chirality using conjugated polymers to enhance their light emission capabilities. Such differentiation is conducted in organic solvents, so monochiral SWCNT can be directly functionalized using the demonstrated concept in the same medium without the need to redisperse the material in water.
DeepLMS: a deep learning predictive model for supporting online learning in the Covid-19 era
Authors: Dias Sofia B. , Hadjileontiadou Sofia J. , Diniz José , Hadjileontiadis Leontios J.
Published: November 2020

Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has imposed a complete shut-down of face-to-face teaching to universities and schools, forcing a crash course for online learning plans and technology for students and faculty. In the midst of this unprecedented crisis, video conferencing platforms (e.g., Zoom, WebEx, MS Teams) and learning management systems (LMSs), like Moodle, Blackboard and Google Classroom, are being adopted and heavily used as online learning environments (OLEs). However, as such media solely provide the platform for e-interaction, effective methods that can be used to predict the learner’s behavior in the OLEs, which should be available as supportive tools to educators and metacognitive triggers to learners. Here we show, for the first time, that Deep Learning techniques can be used to handle LMS users’ interaction data and form a novel predictive model, namely DeepLMS, that can forecast the quality of interaction (QoI) with LMS. Using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, DeepLMS results in average testing Root Mean Square Error (RMSE)$$<0.009$$<0.009, and average correlation coefficient between ground truth and predicted QoI values$$r\ge 0.97$$r≥0.97$$(p<0.05)$$(p<0.05), when tested on QoI data from one database pre- and two ones during-Covid-19 pandemic. DeepLMS personalized QoI forecasting scaffolds user’s online learning engagement and provides educators with an evaluation path, additionally to the content-related assessment, enriching the overall view on the learners’ motivation and participation in the learning process.
Persistence of pdm2009-H1N1 internal genes of swine influenza in pigs, Thailand
Authors: Nasamran Chanakarn , Janetanakit Taveesak , Chiyawong Supasama , Boonyapisitsopa Supanat , Bunpapong Napawan , Prakairungnamthip Duangduean , Thontiravong Aunyaratana , Amonsin Alongkorn
Published: November 2020

Swine influenza is one of the important zoonotic diseases of pigs. We conducted a longitudinal survey of swine influenza A viruses (S-IAV) circulating in a pig farm with history of endemic S-IAV infection from 2017 to 2018. The samples were collected from 436 pigs including nasal swab samples (n = 436) and blood samples (n = 436). Our result showed that 18.81% (82/436) were positive for influenza A virus and subsequently 57 S-IAV could be isolated. Then 24 out of 57 S-IAVs were selected for whole genome sequencing and could be subtyped as S-IAV-H1N1 (n = 18) and S-IAV-H3N2 (n = 6). Of 24 S-IAVs, we observed 3 genotypes of S-IAVs including rH1N1 (pdm + 1), rH1N1 (pdm + 2), and rH3N2 (pdm + 2). Since all genotypes of S-IAVs in this study contained internal genes from pdmH1N1-2009, it could be speculated that pdmH1N1-2009 was introduced in a pig farm and then multiple reassorted with endemic S-IAVs to generate diversify S-IAV genotypes. Our study supported and added the evidences that pdmH1N1-2009 and it reassortant have predominately persisted in pig population in Thailand. Thus, monitoring of S-IAVs in pigs, farm workers and veterinarians in pig farms is important and should be routinely conducted.
The value of MR-based radiomics in identifying residual disease in patients with carcinoma in situ after cervical conization
Authors: Song Mengfan , Lin Jing , Song Fuzhen , Wu Dan , Qian Zhaoxia
Published: November 2020

Carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the uterine cervix is a precursor to cervical carcinoma. However, hysterectomy can be avoided in patients who can be treated by cone biopsy. Previous studies have shown that imaging-based approaches allow for the noninvasive visualization of cervical cancer, and radiomics has high accuracy in classifying cancer and predicting treatment outcome for different cancer types. To develop a magnetic resonance (MR)-based radiomics model for identifying residual disease in patients with CIS after cervical conization. Patients who had CIS after conization and finally underwent hysterectomy were collected to comprise a database to establish an imaging model for predicting the residual status after conization. Then, patients who opted for uterine preservation were classified as high-risk or low-risk patients according to the model. The disease-free survival was compared between the different risk groups using the Kaplan–Meier curve. The model built with the Boruta features outperformed the random forest model. Further validation with patients with uterine preservation showed that the patients classified as high risk were more likely to have tumor recurrence/residual disease in the follow-up period. In conclusion, radiomics can be used to identify residual disease in patients with CIS after cervical conization and could have the potential to predict recurrence in patients who opt for uterine preservation.
Natural bladder filling alters resting brain function at multiple spatial scales: a proof-of-concept MAPP Network Neuroimaging Study
Authors: Mawla Ishtiaq , Schrepf Andrew , Ichesco Eric , Harte Steven E. , Klumpp David J. , Griffith James W. , Strachan Eric , Yang Claire C. , Lai Henry , Andriole Gerald , Magnotta Vincent A. , Kreder Karl , Clauw Daniel J. , Harris Richard E. , Clemens J. Quentin , Landis J. Richard , Mullins Chris , Rodriguez Larissa V. , Mayer Emeran A. , Kutch Jason J.
Published: November 2020

Neural circuitry regulating urine storage in humans has been largely inferred from fMRI during urodynamic studies driven by catheter infusion of fluid into the bladder. However, urodynamic testing may be confounded by artificially filling the bladder repeatedly at a high rate and examining associated time-locked changes in fMRI signals. Here we describe and test a more ecologically-valid paradigm to study the brain response to bladder filling by (1) filling the bladder naturally with oral water ingestion, (2) examining resting state fMRI (rs-fMRI) which is more natural since it is not linked with a specific stimulus, and (3) relating rs-fMRI measures to self-report (urinary urge) and physiologic measures (voided volume). To establish appropriate controls and analyses for future clinical studies, here we analyze data collected from healthy individuals (N = 62) as part of the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network. Participants orally ingested approximately 350 mL of water, and had a 10 min “fuller bladder” rs-fMRI scan approximately 1 h later. A second 10 min “empty bladder” rs-fMRI scan was conducted immediately following micturition. We examined multiple spatial scales of brain function, including local activity, circuits, and networks. We found changes in brain function distributed across micturition loci (e.g., subregions of the salience, sensorimotor, and default networks) that were significantly related to the stimulus (volume) and response (urinary urge). Based on our results, this paradigm can be applied in the future to study the neurobiological underpinnings of urologic conditions.
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies is insufficient for the diagnosis of active or cured COVID-19
Authors: Escribano Pilar , Álvarez-Uría Ana , Alonso Roberto , Catalán Pilar , Alcalá Luis , Muñoz Patricia , Guinea Jesús
Published: November 2020

We assessed the performance of Abbott's SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay and the PanbioTM COVID-19 IgG/IgM rapid test device for the diagnosis of either active or cured COVID-19. Three cohorts of patients were chosen. Cohort 1, patients (n = 65) who attended the emergency department on March 30, 2020 with clinical suspicion of active COVID-19 (n = 56 with proven/probable COVID-19). Cohort 2, hospital workers (n = 92) who had either been (n = 40) or not (n = 52) diagnosed with proven/probable COVID-19 and were asymptomatic at the time of the sampling. Cohort 3, patients (n = 38) cared at the hospital before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Detection of serum antibodies was done using Abbott´s SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay and the PanbioTM COVID-19 IgG/IgM device. Both methods showed 98% agreement for IgG detection. No antibodies were detected in the 38 samples from hospitalized pre-COVID subjects. The diagnostic performance of IgGs detected by Abbott´s SARS-CoV-2 assay in Cohorts 1/2 was: sensitivity (60.7%/75%) and specificity (100%/84.6%). The diagnostic performance of IgM by PanbioTM COVID-19 in Cohorts 1/2 was: sensitivity (16%/17.5%) and specificity (100%/98.1%). We show that IgG detection alone is insufficient for the diagnosis of active or cured COVID-19. IgM detection has a limited diagnostic value.