bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synergistic phosphate fertilizer effects on soil nutrient and microbial diversity in wheat
Authors: Li Wubo , Yang Min , Hao Zenghui , Wang Xiulin , Shi Yan
Published: May 2023

In this experiment, itaconic acid, maleic acid, acrylic acid, and potassium persulfate were polymerized to form synergist, which was wrapped on the surface of phosphate fertilizer particles to make synergistic phosphate fertilizer. In order to explore synergistic phosphate fertilizer effects on soil nutrient and microbial in wheat (Triticum aestivum), four treatments were designed—CK: nitrogen fertilizer (containing N 306.14 kg/hm2), potassium fertilizer (containing K2O 116.67 kg/hm2), conventional phosphate fertilizer (containing P2O5 333.35 kg/hm2); T1: synergic phosphate fertilizer (containing P2O5 249.99 kg/hm2); T2: synergic phosphate fertilizer (containing P2O5 166.67 kg/hm2); and T3: synergic phosphate fertilizer (containing P2O5 83.32 kg/hm2). The application amount of nitrogen and potassium fertilizer in T1, T2, and T3 was the same as that in CK. The soil nutrient concentration of different treatments was analyzed, and the microbial diversity of different treatments was analyzed by Illumina MISEP high‐throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that the T2 treatment performed the best. In 2020, the pH of T2 was 1.87% lower than that of CK, and the contents of alkali hydrolyzed nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium were 5.8%, 11.44%, and 9.91% higher than CK, respectively. In 2021, the pH of T2 was 1.64% lower than that of CK, and the contents of alkali hydrolyzed nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium were 1.06%, 7.89%, and 16.53% higher than CK, respectively. In addition, the application of synergistic phosphate fertilizer could improve the richness, diversity, and evenness of microorganisms in soil.
Internet of Things (IoT) in digital agriculture: An overview
Authors: Dhal Sambandh , Wyatt Briana M. , Mahanta Shikhadri , Bhattarai Nishan , Sharma Sadikshya , Rout Tapas , Saud Pradip , Acharya Bharat Sharma
Published: May 2023

Climate change, land degradation, and limited land and water resources have challenged our ability to meet the food demand of a rapidly growing population. To tackle this challenge, modern agricultural systems are relying on new technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve agricultural productivity and resource use efficiency. Although IoT has gained considerable attention in the last few years, the key concepts of IoT and their applicability across different domains of agriculture are still new to many researchers, practitioners, managers, and policymakers. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive review of the use of different IoT platforms, wireless sensor networks, and other associated technologies like remote sensing, cloud computing, and big data analytics in digital agriculture. The review also explores the use of communication technologies, microcontrollers, and machine learning in smart irrigation and decision support systems. The necessity of interoperability (data transfer and communication without human interference) among devices is discussed in detail with regard to facilitating and exchanging agricultural data more effectively. The discussion also includes opportunities and challenges in standardizing IoT; developing energy‐efficient and affordable technologies; and improving data collection, transfer, storage, processing, security, anonymity, and privacy. This paper further calls for collaborative research in sensor and communication technologies in the agricultural sector.
Activity coefficient acquisition with thermodynamics‐informed active learning for phase diagram construction
Authors: Abranches Dinis O. , Maginn Edward J. , Colón Yamil J.
Published: May 2023

This work explores the use of thermodynamics‐informed Gaussian processes (GPs) and active learning (AL) to model activity coefficients and construct phase diagrams. Relying on synthetic data generated from an excess Gibbs energy model, GPs were found to accurately describe the activity coefficients of several binary mixtures across large composition and temperature ranges. Moreover, GPs could estimate their own uncertainty and identify composition/temperature regions where activity coefficient data provide the most information to the models. This was leveraged to build AL algorithms targeted at modeling phase equilibria. In many cases, a single active‐learning‐acquired data point was sufficient to describe the phase diagrams studied. Finally, the ability of AL to greatly reduce the amount of data needed to obtain accurate models was further verified on experimental case studies, namely individual ion activity coefficients, the solid–liquid and vapor–liquid equilibrium of deep eutectic solvents, and phase equilibria in ternary mixtures.
Green land: Multiple perspectives on green algal evolution and the earliest land plants
Authors: McCourt Richard M. , Lewis Louise A. , Strother Paul K. , Delwiche Charles F. , Wickett Norman J. , de Vries Jan , Bowman John L.
Published: May 2023

Green plants, broadly defined as green algae and the land plants (together, Viridiplantae), constitute the primary eukaryotic lineage that successfully colonized Earth's emergent landscape. Members of various clades of green plants have independently made the transition from fully aquatic to subaerial habitats many times throughout Earth's history. The transition, from unicells or simple filaments to complex multicellular plant bodies with functionally differentiated tissues and organs, was accompanied by innovations built upon a genetic and phenotypic toolkit that have served aquatic green phototrophs successfully for at least a billion years. These innovations opened an enormous array of new, drier places to live on the planet and resulted in a huge diversity of land plants that have dominated terrestrial ecosystems over the past 500 million years. This review examines the greening of the land from several perspectives, from paleontology to phylogenomics, to water stress responses and the genetic toolkit shared by green algae and plants, to the genomic evolution of the sporophyte generation. We summarize advances on disparate fronts in elucidating this important event in the evolution of the biosphere and the lacunae in our understanding of it. We present the process not as a step‐by‐step advancement from primitive green cells to an inevitable success of embryophytes, but rather as a process of adaptations and exaptations that allowed multiple clades of green plants, with various combinations of morphological and physiological terrestrialized traits, to become diverse and successful inhabitants of the land habitats of Earth.
The contribution of mosaicism to genetic diseases and de novo pathogenic variants
Authors: Tinker Rory J. , Bastarache Lisa , Ezell Kimberly , Kobren Shilpa Nadimpalli , Esteves Cecilia , Rosenfeld Jill A. , Macnamara Ellen F. , Hamid Rizwan , Cogan Joy D. , Rinker David , Mukharjee Souhrid , Glass Ian , Dipple Katrina , Phillips John A. ,   Undiagnosed Diseases Network
Published: May 2023

The contribution of mosaicism to diagnosed genetic disease and presumed de novo variants (DNV) is under investigated. We determined the contribution of mosaic genetic disease (MGD) and diagnosed parental mosaicism (PM) in parents of offspring with reported DNV (in the same variant) in the (1) Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) (N = 1946) and (2) in 12,472 individuals electronic health records (EHR) who underwent genetic testing at an academic medical center. In the UDN, we found 4.51% of diagnosed probands had MGD, and 2.86% of parents of those with DNV exhibited PM. In the EHR, we found 6.03% and 2.99% and (of diagnosed probands) had MGD detected on chromosomal microarray and exome/genome sequencing, respectively. We found 2.34% (of those with a presumed pathogenic DNV) had a parent with PM for the variant. We detected mosaicism (regardless of pathogenicity) in 4.49% of genetic tests performed. We found a broad phenotypic spectrum of MGD with previously unknown phenotypic phenomena. MGD is highly heterogeneous and provides a significant contribution to genetic diseases. Further work is required to improve the diagnosis of MGD and investigate how PM contributes to DNV risk.
Regional Glymphatic Abnormality in Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia
Authors: Jiang Deming , Liu Li , Kong Yu , Chen Zhongyun , Rosa‐Neto Pedro , Chen Kewei , Ren Liankun , Chu Min , Wu Liyong ,   Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Glymphatic function has not yet been explored in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). The spatial correlation between regional glymphatic function and bvFTD remains unknown.

Method

A total of 74 patients with bvFTD and 67 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls (HCs) were selected from discovery dataset and replication dataset. All participants underwent neuropsychological assessment. Glymphatic measures including choroid plexus (CP) volume, diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular (DTI‐ALPS) index, and coupling between blood‐oxygen‐level‐dependent signals and cerebrospinal fluid signals (BOLD‐CSF coupling), were compared between the two groups. Regional glymphatic function was evaluated by dividing DTI‐ALPS and BOLD‐CSF coupling into anterior, middle, and posterior regions. The bvFTD‐related metabolic pattern was identified using spatial covariance analysis based on l8F‐FDG‐PET.

Results

Patients with bvFTD showed higher CP volume (p < 0.001); anterior and middle DTI‐ALPS (p < 0.001); and weaker anterior BOLD‐CSF coupling (p < 0.05) than HCs after controlling for cortical gray matter volume in both datasets. In bvFTD from the discovery dataset, the anterior DTI‐ALPS was negatively associated with the expression of the bvFTD‐related metabolic pattern (r = −0.52, p = 0.034) and positively related with regional standardized uptake value ratios of l8F‐FDG‐PET in bvFTD‐related brain regions (r range: 0.49 to 0.62, p range: 0.017 to 0.047). Anterior and middle glymphatic functions were related to global cognition and disease severity.

Interpretation

Our findings reveal abnormal glymphatic function, especially in the anterior and middle regions of brain in bvFTD. Regional glymphatic dysfunction may contribute to the pathogenesis of bvFTD. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:442–456
The Optical Perspective of Hawking‐Like Radiation on a Curved Surface
Authors: Ding Weifeng , Wang Zhaoying
Published: May 2023

Electrodynamics on curved surfaces, as a developed theory, has analogously become a new experimental verification of light transmission in general relativity. The thermal effect of an optical field on a specific 2D surface with constant Gaussian curvature is described in this paper. By considering the analogy between Schrodinger equation and Helmholtz equation under the paraxial approximation, the “quantized” momentum field is generated from the light transmitting on a curved surface by using the effective potential approach, and when decreasing the number of photons until is thought about, a temperature of Hawking‐like radiation is obtained. The creation process of radiation is also investigated, which is the scattering of light as it travels from a surface of positive curvature to a surface of negative curvature. The derived temperature of radiation field is also equivalent to the event horizon scattering explanation of Hawking radiation. The research may provide new perspectives for Hawking radiation and thermal lens.
Complementarity and action mechanisms of Fe2+‐activated persulfate and H2O2 system
Authors: Yu Bolun , Yao Jingjing , Li Haipu , Yang Hui Ying
Published: May 2023

The Fe2+‐activated persulfate and H2O2 (Fe2+/persulfate/H2O2) system achieved 94% removal of four mixed sulfonamides with 300‐s treatment and possessed excellent complementarity and stability over a wide pH (3–11) and temperature (5–65°C) range. The quenching and electron spin resonance spectroscopy results confirmed the coexistence of sulfate radicals and hydroxyl radicals in the coupled system, which were responsible for the elimination of sulfonamides under ambient conditions. The reaction rate constants of sulfate radicals and hydroxyl radicals at possible reactive sites distinguished the difference in removal ratios of four sulfonamides, according to experimental determination and density functional theory calculations. The removal ratio of sulfathiazole was higher than others because its calculated reaction rate constants of sulfate radicals and hydroxyl radicals were higher than those of sulfamerazine, sulfamethoxazole, and sulfamethazine. The finding provided a reference for investigating the removal mechanism of mixed organic pollutants in the presence of multiple free radicals.
Bio‐based fluorine‐free branched polyurethane@organosilicon water‐repellent agent for cotton fabric
Authors: Huang Shangdong , Meng Yeyun , Li Hongqiang , Zeng Xingrong
Published: May 2023

In recent years, with the increasing consciousness on environment protection, fluorine‐free water‐repellent agents in textile industry have attracted considerable attention. Herein, we proposed a new strategy to prepare bio‐based fluorine‐free branched polyurethane@organosilicon water‐repellent agent for cotton fabric (CF). Branched polyurethane (BPU) with long alkyl chains was firstly synthesized through the reaction of glycerin monostearate extracted from natural palm fruit, toluene diisocyanate, trimethylopropane and N‐methyl diethanolamine, and then utilized to coat the C24‐28 olefin modified hydroxyl silicone oil (C24‐28 HSO) by emulsification procedure to obtain branched polyurethane@organosilicon (BPU@C24‐28 HSO) water‐repellent agent. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy confirmed the chemical structures of BPU, C24‐28 HSO and BPU@C24‐28 HSO water‐repellent agent. The biomass carbon content of the water‐repellent agent reached 54.0%. Transmission electron microscope demonstrated that the BPU@C24‐28 HSO water‐repellent agent appeared obvious spherical shape with core‐shell structure. Owing to the introduction of organosilicon, the water‐repellent agent significantly improved the softness of the CF. In addition, the CF finished by the BPU@C24‐28 HSO water‐repellent agent also exhibited excellent water‐repellent score of 90+, high water contact angle of 141.6° and superior surface stability. Our findings provided a direction to prepare environmental‐friendly and high‐performance water‐repellent agents for various fabrics.
Behavioral services for individuals with Prader–Willi Syndrome: An initial examination of experiences, needs, and wants of caregivers
Authors: Bedard Kasey E. , Griffith Annette K. , Strittman Mary E. , Eaton Angeline
Published: May 2023

Prader–Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare neurogenetic disorder that presents with a variety of behaviors that could be considered challenging by caregivers, including excessive food consumption and volatile tantrums. Although these behavior challenges can be dangerous and interfere with successful daily living, previous research suggests that caregivers have trouble accessing effective interventions. Twenty‐seven caregivers of individuals with PWS completed a survey to assess their needs and wants for services addressing behavioral challenges related to PWS. The survey was classified into four sections: prevalence of behavioral concerns, current access or barriers to accessing behavioral supports, familiarity with applied behavior analysis (ABA), and specific needs when accessing behavioral services. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Although caregivers reported struggling with behaviors, such as tantrums, repetitive behaviors, and rigidity, many identified barriers to accessing treatment, including difficulty in finding services or practitioners familiar with PWS. Applied behavior analysis shows potential for addressing many of the behavioral challenges associated with PWS reported by caregivers. As caregivers of PWS continue to advocate for ABA‐based therapy for the individuals they support, practitioners need to take into account the needs and wants of PWS caregivers and specific behavioral needs of individuals with PWS.
Recent and advanced therapy for oral cancer
Authors: Baskar Gomathy , Palaniyandi Thirunavukkarasu , Viswanathan Sandhiya , Wahab Mugip Rahaman Abdul , Surendran Hemapreethi , Ravi Maddaly , Sivaji Asha , Rajendran Barani Kumar , Natarajan Sudhakar , Govindasamy Gopu
Published: May 2023

Oral cancer is a common and deadly kind of tissue invasion, has a high death rate, and may induce metastasis that mostly affects adults over the age of 40. Most in vitro traditional methods for studying cancer have included the use of monolayer cell cultures and several animal models. There is a worldwide effort underway to reduce the excessive use of laboratory animals since, although being physiologically adequate, animal models rarely succeed in exactly mimicking human models. 3D culture models have gained great attention in the area of biomedicine because of their capacity to replicate parent tissue. There are many benefits to using a drug delivery approach based on nanoparticles in cancer treatment. Because of this, in vitro test methodologies are crucial for evaluating the efficacy of prospective novel nanoparticle drug delivery systems. This review discusses current advances in the utility of 3D cell culture models including multicellular spheroids, patient‐derived explant cultures, organoids, xenografts, 3D bioprinting, and organoid‐on‐a‐chip models. Aspects of nanoparticle‐based drug discovery that have utilized 2D and 3D cultures for a better understanding of genes implicated in oral cancers are also included in this review.
Characteristics and electrochemical performances of nickel@nano‐silicon/carbon nanofibers composites as anode materials for lithium secondary batteries
Authors: Choi Jin‐Yeong , Cong Ruye , Martino Angelica , Jeon Jiyun , Lee Hochun , Park Jaehee , Park Hyun‐Ho , Lee Chang‐Seop
Published: May 2023

Si is a next‐generation ideal anode material for Li‐ion batteries (LIBs) because of its high‐theoretical capacity (4200 mAh/g) and natural abundance. However, severe volume expansion and unstable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film formation during lithiation/delithiation, and poor electron conductivity have significantly restricted the commercial application of Si. In this study, transition metal‐coated Si was synthesized and used as the anode material of LIBs. The transition metal salt of Ni was dissolved in an aqueous solution and used to coat the metal surface of Si nanoparticles. The coating was achieved by dropwise addition of metal solutions into Si dispersions. Thereafter, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were grown on the transition metal‐coated Si nanoparticles via chemical vapor deposition method. The morphologies, compositions, and crystal quality of transition metal@Si/CNFs composites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, x‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The electrochemical characteristics of the hybrid anodes were investigated using a coin cell and battery tester. Voltage profile measurements at 0.1 A/g of 0.02 M‐Ni@Si/CNFs composite showed satisfactory initial Coulombic efficiency of 85.6%; 0.01 M‐Ni@Si/CNFs composite exhibited high initial capacity of 1300.9 mAh/g retained to 828.4 mAh/g after 100 cycles, corresponding to 63.7% capacity retention. Even at high current densities, the 0.02 M‐Ni@Si/CNFs composite delivered 342.78 mAh/g of capacity at 5 A/g. This work realizes a Si‐based hybrid anode from Ni‐coated Si catalyst used for direct CNFs synthesis with a stable SEI layer, superior initial Coulombic efficiency with satisfactory cycle and rate performance suitable for commercialized advanced battery applications.
Causes of death in children and adolescents: Guns outpace overdoses and car crashes
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: May 2023

A letter to the editor of the New England Journal of Medicine picked up on a steady stream of criticism of gun laws – or lack of them – in the United States, focusing on increasing deaths of young people.
Sport in ischemic heart disease: Focus on primary and secondary prevention
Authors: Romano Silvio , Minardi Simona , Patrizi Giampiero , Palamà Zefferino , Sciahbasi Alessandro
Published: May 2023

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is one of the leading causes of death and morbidity in the world. The role of primary prevention is particularly relevant since IHD can be for a long time asymptomatic until the occurrence of a condition that could lead to plaque instabilization or increased oxygen demand. Secondary prevention is also essential to improve patients' prognosis and quality of life. The aim of this review is to provide a detailed and updated description of the role of sport and physical activity both in primary prevention and secondary prevention. In primary prevention, sport and physical activity are effective through the control of the main cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension and dyslipidemia. In secondary prevention, sport and physical activity can lead to a reduction in subsequent coronary events. Every effort must be made to encourage the performance of physical and sports activity both in asymptomatic subjects at risk and those with a history of IHD.
Central projections of auditory nerve fibers in the western rat snake (Pantherophis obsoletus)
Authors: Han Dawei , Carr Catherine E.
Published: May 2023

Despite the absence of tympanic middle ears, snakes can hear. They are thought to primarily detect substrate vibration via connections between the lower jaw and the inner ear. We used the western rat snake (Pantherophis obsoletus) to determine how vibration is processed in the brain. We measured vibration‐evoked potential recordings to reveal sensitivity to low‐frequency vibrations. We then used tract tracing combined with immunohistochemistry and Nissl staining to describe the central projections of the papillar branch of the VIIIth nerve. Applications of biotinylated dextran amine to the basilar papilla (homologous to the organ of Corti of mammals) labeled bouton‐like terminals in two first‐order cochlear nuclei, a rostrolateral nucleus angularis (NA) and a caudomedial nucleus magnocellularis (NM). NA formed a distinct dorsal eminence, consisted of heterogenous cell types, and was parvalbumin positive. NM was smaller and poorly separated from the surrounding vestibular nuclei. NM was distinguished by positive calbindin label and included fusiform and round cells. Thus, the atympanate western rat snake shares similar first‐order projections to tympanate reptiles. Auditory pathways may be used for detecting vibration, not only in snakes but also potentially in atympanate early tetrapods.
Pharmacokinetics of Nifedipine‐Sustained Release Tablets in Healthy Subjects After a Single Oral Administration: Bioequivalence Analysis and Food Effects
Authors: Wu You‐Xuan , Zhong Xue‐Feng , Li Xiao‐Min , Liu Wan‐Li , Zhang Yan‐Xin , Shen Qiu‐Ying , Xu Su‐Mei , Xu Ping‐Sheng
Published: May 2023

We compared newly developed delayed‐release oral tablets (test) of 30‐mg nifedipine (NFP) with its marketed counterpart (30 mg; reference) in healthy adult Chinese volunteers to assess the former's bioequivalence. This was a randomized, open‐label, four‐period, crossover trial study including fasting and fed trials. The participants were randomly administered test or reference formulations (1:1 ratio) throughout each period, with a 7‐day washout period. In the next session, they were administered the alternate products. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and WinNonlin software were used to evaluate the bioequivalence of the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of NFP and the area under the concentration–time curve (AUC). In total, 46 and 48 people participated in the fasting and postprandial trials. In both groups, the 90% confidence intervals of geometric mean ratios of Cmax, AUC from time zero to time t, and AUC from time zero to infinity were in the equivalence range (80%–125%). When NFP was administered concomitantly with a high‐fat meal, time to maximum concentration was approximately twofold earlier, absorption was approximately 4.8% less, and Cmax exhibited a slight change relative to those under fasting conditions. Moreover, no serious adverse events were recorded in the participants. The present findings confirm the bioequivalence of test and reference formulations of NFP tablets under fasting and postprandial conditions.
Bioequivalence of Celecoxib Capsules in Chinese Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Dong Lichun , Zhao Mingxuan , Huang Huiyuan , Guan Runfang , Li Ruixia , Fan Yuxin , Feng Jin , Zhang Juan , Zou Wenhong , Chen Jiong , Long Shuxian , He Jianchang
Published: May 2023

Celecoxib is a sulfanilamide nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug that can selectively inhibit cyclooxygenase‐2 to inhibit prostaglandin production, achieving anti‐inflammatory and analgesic effects. This study investigated the pharmacokinetics, safety, and bioequivalence of a single oral dose of celecoxib capsule (the test or reference preparation) in healthy volunteers under fasting and fed conditions. A single‐center, randomized, open, single‐dose, double‐cycle crossover self‐control design was conducted: 40 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the fasting and fed groups, respectively. A completely randomized method was used, with one group taking the test celecoxib preparation (T) and the other taking the reference celecoxib preparation (R). During the administration period, the safety of the drug was evaluated simultaneously, and venous blood was collected at the corresponding time points. The concentration of celecoxib in plasma was measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The main pharmacokinetic parameters were logarithmically converted and analyzed for variance. The 90% confidence interval for the bioavailability of the T compared to the R was calculated using maximum drug plasma concentration, area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time zero to the last quantifiable concentration point, and area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time zero to infinity for a single oral dose in volunteers, and the data obtained were all between 80% and 125%, indicating that the T and R have bioequivalence and good safety during fasting and fed administration.
Characterization of neuropathology in ovine CLN5 and CLN6 neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (Batten disease)
Authors: Mitchell Nadia L. , Russell Katharina N. , Barrell Graham K. , Tammen Imke , Palmer David N.
Published: May 2023

Sheep with naturally occurring CLN5 and CLN6 forms of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (Batten disease) share the key clinical features of the human disease and represent an ideal model system in which the clinical efficacy of gene therapies is developed and test. However, it was first important to characterize the neuropathological changes that occur with disease progression in affected sheep. This study compared neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and lysosomal storage accumulation in CLN5 affected Borderdale, CLN6 affected South Hampshire, and Merino sheep brains from birth to end‐stage disease at ≤24 months of age. Despite very different gene products, mutations, and subcellular localizations, the pathogenic cascade was remarkably similar for all three disease models. Glial activation was present at birth in affected sheep and preceded neuronal loss, with both spreading from the visual and parieto‐occipital cortices most prominently associated with clinical symptoms to the entire cortical mantle by end‐stage disease. In contrast, the subcortical regions were less involved, yet lysosomal storage followed a near‐linear increase across the diseased sheep brain with age. Correlation of these neuropathological changes with published clinical data identified three potential therapeutic windows in affected sheep—presymptomatic (3 months), early symptomatic (6 months), and a later symptomatic disease stage (9 months of age)—beyond which the extensive depletion of neurons was likely to diminish any chance of therapeutic benefit. This comprehensive natural history of the neuropathological changes in ovine CLN5 and CLN6 disease will be integral in determining what impact treatment has at each of these disease stages.
One and Two‐Dimensional 1,4‐Xylylenediammonium (pXDA) Lead Halides: Powders and Thin Films
Authors: García‐Espejo Gonzalo , Konidaris Konstantis F. , Anzini Pietro , Brenna Stefano , Guagliardi Antonietta , Masciocchi Norberto
Published: May 2023

The discovery of new 3D perovskites and their 2D and 1D analogues continues to attract the interest of the scientific community and therefore the understanding of their structural, optical, and physicochemical properties is of fundamental importance. Here, we report the one‐pot synthesis and the full characterization of 1D and 2D lead halide polycrystalline solids containing the rather rigid 1,4‐xylylenediammonium (pXDA) organic cation as spacer. We isolated 2D Dion‐Jacobson (DJ) perovskites, namely (pXDA)PbX4 (X=Cl, Br) and the mixed halide (pXDA)Pb(Br1–xIx)4 species (all based on 2D monolayers of corner‐sharing lead halide octahedra), and, for iodine, the (pXDA)Pb2I6 . 2H2O phase, which contains 1D
ribbons. The latter species can be reversibly dehydrated by gentle heating, forming the isomorphous (pXDA)Pb2I6. crystal phase. These species, some of which have recently been studied in the frame of broad light emitters and for photovoltaic applications, have been characterized by variable‐temperature X‐ray diffraction methods, shedding light onto their anisotropic thermal responses, of utmost importance for day‐night cycling in functional devices. Spin‐coated thin films were also prepared and studied by means of synchrotron radiation grazing incidence X‐ray diffraction, SEM imaging and fluorescence spectroscopy experiments.
Transcriptome network analysis links perinatal Staphylococcus epidermidis infection to microglia reprogramming in the immature hippocampus
Authors: Gravina Giacomo , Ardalan Maryam , Chumak Tetyana , Rydbeck Halfdan , Wang Xiaoyang , Ek Carl Joakim , Mallard Carina
Published: May 2023

Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) is the most common nosocomial pathogen in preterm infants and associated with increased risk of cognitive delay, however, underlying mechanisms are unknown. We employed morphological, transcriptomic and physiological methods to extensively characterize microglia in the immature hippocampus following S. epidermidis infection. 3D morphological analysis revealed activation of microglia after S. epidermidis. Differential expression combined with network analysis identified NOD‐receptor signaling and trans‐endothelial leukocyte trafficking as major mechanisms in microglia. In support, active caspase‐1 was increased in the hippocampus and using the LysM‐eGFP knock‐in transgenic mouse, we demonstrate infiltration of leukocytes to the brain together with disruption of the blood–brain barrier. Our findings identify activation of microglia inflammasome as a major mechanism underlying neuroinflammation following infection. The results demonstrate that neonatal S. epidermidis infection share analogies with S. aureus and neurological diseases, suggesting a previously unrecognized important role in neurodevelopmental disorders in preterm born children.
The neural signature of reality‐monitoring: A meta‐analysis of functional neuroimaging studies
Authors: Lavallé Layla , Brunelin Jérôme , Jardri Renaud , Haesebaert Frédéric , Mondino Marine
Published: May 2023

Distinguishing imagination and thoughts from information we perceived from the environment, a process called reality‐monitoring, is important in everyday situations. Although reality monitoring seems to overlap with the concept of self‐monitoring, which allows one to distinguish self‐generated actions or thoughts from those generated by others, the two concepts remain largely separate cognitive domains and their common brain substrates have received little attention. We investigated the brain regions involved in these two cognitive processes and explored the common brain regions they share. To do this, we conducted two separate coordinate‐based meta‐analyses of functional magnetic resonance imaging studies assessing the brain regions involved in reality‐ and self‐monitoring. Few brain regions survived threshold‐free cluster enhancement family‐wise multiple comparison correction (p < .05), likely owing to the small number of studies identified. Using uncorrected statistical thresholds recommended by Signed Differential Mapping with Permutation of Subject Images, the meta‐analysis of reality‐monitoring studies (k = 9 studies including 172 healthy subjects) revealed clusters in the lobule VI of the cerebellum, the right anterior medial prefrontal cortex and anterior thalamic projections. The meta‐analysis of self‐monitoring studies (k = 12 studies including 192 healthy subjects) highlighted the involvement of a set of brain regions including the lobule VI of the left cerebellum and fronto‐temporo‐parietal regions. We showed with a conjunction analysis that the lobule VI of the cerebellum was consistently engaged in both reality‐ and self‐monitoring. The current findings offer new insights into the common brain regions underlying reality‐monitoring and self‐monitoring, and suggest that the neural signature of the self that may occur during self‐production should persist in memories.
Managing the risks of artificial general intelligence: A human factors and ergonomics perspective
Authors: Salmon Paul M. , Baber Chris , Burns Catherine , Carden Tony , Cooke Nancy , Cummings Missy , Hancock Peter , McLean Scott , Read Gemma J. M. , Stanton Neville A.
Published: May 2023

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is the next and forthcoming evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Though there could be significant benefits to society, there are also concerns that AGI could pose an existential threat. The critical role of Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) in the design of safe, ethical, and usable AGI has been emphasized; however, there is little evidence to suggest that HFE is currently influencing development programs. Further, given the broad spectrum of HFE application areas, it is not clear what activities are required to fulfill this role. This article presents the perspectives of 10 researchers working in AI safety on the potential risks associated with AGI, the HFE concepts that require consideration during AGI design, and the activities required for HFE to fulfill its critical role in what could be humanity's final invention. Though a diverse set of perspectives is presented, there is broad agreement that AGI potentially poses an existential threat, and that many HFE concepts should be considered during AGI design and operation. A range of critical activities are proposed, including collaboration with AGI developers, dissemination of HFE work in other relevant disciplines, the embedment of HFE throughout the AGI lifecycle, and the application of systems HFE methods to help identify and manage risks.
Association between medically diagnosed postnatal infection and childhood cancers: A matched case‐control study in Denmark, 1978 to 2016
Authors: Sirirungreung Anupong , Hansen Johnni , Ritz Beate , Heck Julia E.
Published: May 2023

Although the association between infection and childhood cancer has been long investigated, there is limited information on rarer cancers. This article aimed to explore the association between postnatal infection and childhood cancers in the Danish population. A matched case‐control study was conducted using Danish nationwide registries from 1978 to 2016. Each childhood cancer case was matched 1:25 with controls by birth date within a week and sex. Postnatal infections were identified from the Danish National Patient Registry, which lists diagnoses seen in hospital, specialist or emergency care services. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (adj.OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Specific types of infections and the number of infection episodes were also considered. The study included 4125 childhood cancer cases and 103 526 matched controls with ages ranging from 0 to 19 years. Medically diagnosed postnatal infections were positively associated with many types of childhood cancer including acute lymphoblastic leukemia (adj.OR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.23‐1.63), acute myeloid leukemia (adj.OR = 1.80; 95% CI: 1.28‐2.52), non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (adj.OR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.19‐1.97) and central nervous system tumors (adj.OR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.39‐1.77). A higher number of infection episodes were also associated with an increased risk of these cancers. Specific infections such as viral, enteric and urinary tract infections were also strongly associated with specific types of cancer. In conclusion, children who later develop cancer appear to have adverse reactions to infections necessitating referral to specialized health care services, perhaps indicating dysregulated immune function.
Do cryptocurrencies integrate with the indices of equity, sustainability, clean energy, and crude oil? A wavelet coherency approach
Authors: Annamalaisamy Bhuvaneskumar , Vepur Jayaraman Sivakumar
Published: May 2023

The paper examines market co‐movement between pairs of financial assets in the time‐frequency domain. Recent finance literature confirms the integration of cryptocurrencies and financial assets, which may bring more investments with the possibility of surplus liquidity in the cryptocurrency segment, leading to financial instability. The novelty of this paper is examining the integration of cryptocurrencies and the indices of equity, sustainability, renewable energy, and crude oil for the daily observations from 2015 to 2021 by using the wavelet coherency method. The empirical results signify no integration in the short‐term scales and grow stronger in the medium‐term scales, especially during the COVID‐19 period, and further exhibit weaker heterogeneous associations in the long‐term scales. However, the sustainability, clean energy indices follow similar dynamics of the equity market and crypto pairs. In contrast, the global crude oil index showcases the minor integration with cryptocurrencies compared with other traditional asset classes. Hence, the cryptocurrency market fails to confirm the safe haven features, especially during the COVID‐19 periods (Medium‐term), which facilitate the domestic and international investors expecting to hedge their price risk in equity markets using cryptocurrencies may have to look for short‐term. The lead–lag heterogeneous effects of the asset‐pairs may pave arbitrage opportunities for investors.
“How to” guide for pharmacist‐led implementation of beta‐lactam therapeutic drug monitoring in the critically ill
Authors: Ausman Sara E. , Moreland‐Head Lindsay N. , Abu Saleh Omar M. , Jannetto Paul J. , Rivera Christina G. , Stevens Ryan W. , Wessel Rebecca J. , Wieruszewski Patrick M. , Barreto Erin F. ,   For the BLOOM Study group
Published: May 2023

Beta‐lactam therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) can improve precision dosing and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients, but has not been implemented widely in the United States. Mayo Clinic recently implemented a beta‐lactam TDM program. This single‐center experience forms the basis of the manuscript which outlines practical considerations involved with beta‐lactam TDM implementation, including the pharmacist's role as a leader. Our implementation effort focused on three primary domains. First, we aimed to ensure a supportive organizational infrastructure. Early leadership engagement by the pharmacist‐led core team facilitated advocacy for the clinical need, allocation of resources, and assay development. Second, core clinical workflows were developed that addressed the preferred patient population for use, desirable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic targets, and the preferred sampling strategy. Clinical tools to guide pharmacists in interpreting the results (e.g., pharmacokinetics calculator) and documenting decisions were developed. Third, stakeholders were offered repeated exposure to evidence and expertise to facilitate understanding and application of the new practice. This act of ‘individual internalization’ seems to be uniquely important to beta‐lactam TDM implementation compared with the implementation of other antimicrobial TDM programs. Educational strategies and supportive materials that were developed were focused on providing substantive and varied information tailored to the stakeholders' role in the process. For pharmacists, this included both clinical and operational considerations. A continuous improvement plan to support management of the process was instituted to address necessary updates and changes that inevitably emerged. In summary, the described approach to implementation of a pharmacist‐led beta‐lactam TDM program could be used as a roadmap to aid other institutions that aim to develop such a program.
Iron overload induced by diphenylamine triggers reactive oxygen species and apoptosis in the spleen of pregnant rats and their fetuses
Authors: Latif Heba M. Abd El , Atallah Marwa N. , Kandil Eman H. , El‐Borm Hend T.
Published: May 2023

Diphenylamine (DPA) is an aniline derivative, used widely as an industrial antioxidant, dye mordant, and agricultural fungicide. DPA was reported as hazardous to mammals both acutely and chronically, however little is known about the toxicity of DPA and its derivatives during pregnancy. This study aimed to evaluate and explain the possible mechanism of toxicity induced by DPA on blood and spleen, as a fundamental hematopoietic target organ, in pregnant rats and their fetuses. Pregnant rats were orally administrated distilled water, corn oil, and/or DPA (400 mg/kg b.wt) from the 5th to 19th day of gestation. DPA‐induced spleen toxicity was mirrored by significant upregulation of programmed death‐1 (PD‐1) protein expression and an increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells and a decrease in their proliferating capacity. These results have been confirmed through marked G0/G1 cell‐cycle arrest that was observed by flow cytometric analysis of spleen cells. Moreover, the contents of reactive oxygen species and iron in the spleen tissue were significantly higher than that of the control group. DPA resulted in severe anemia, decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia in addition to significant changes in differential leukocytic count of both mothers and fetuses. Evidently, DPA triggered serious pathological changes in the spleen tissue of both mothers and fetuses and the histochemical examination revealed a significant increase in iron expression. In conclusion, these results implicate the hemato‐ and splenotoxicity of DPA and the possible role of oxidative stress and apoptosis in DPA‐induced toxicity in the spleen of pregnant rats and their fetuses. This in‐turn suggests the urgent need to reduce exposure to DPA as possible as it can.
Investigating the role of Bacillus subtilis type II toxin–antitoxin system in drought stress survival
Authors: Nasehi Rozhin , Masjedian Jazi Faramarz , Pakzad Parviz
Published: May 2023

Toxin–antitoxin (TA) systems, present in plasmids and bacterial chromosomes, are widespread in bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis and are known to be involved in growth regulation, bacterial tolerance to environmental stress conditions as well as biofilm formation. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of TA systems in drought condition stress in B. subtilis isolates. The presence of TA systems including mazF/mazE and yobQ/yobR in B. subtilis (strain 168) was investigated using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. TA system expression at 438 and 548 g/L of ethylene glycol concentrations was evaluated using real‐time PCR method and sigB gene was used as internal control. The expression rate (fold change) of mazF toxin gene treated with 438 and 548 g/L of ethylene glycol was 6 and 8.4, respectively. This indicates an increase in the expression of this toxin in drought stress condition. Also, the fold change of mazE antitoxin in the treatment with 438 and 548 g/L of ethylene glycol was 8.6 and 5, respectively. While yobQ/yobR showed a decrease in expression in 438 and 548 g/L of ethylene glycol concentrations. So that the highest expression reduction (8.3) was observed for yobQ gene at the concentration of 548 g/L of ethylene glycol. Results of this study revealed the significant role of B. subtilis TA systems in drought stress which can be considered as the resistance mechanism of this bacterium under stress conditions.
Factors associated with failure to operate and its impact on survival in early‐stage pancreatic cancer
Authors: Murimwa Gilbert Z. , Karalis John D. , Meier Jennie , Nehrubabu Mithin , Thornton Micah , Porembka Matthew , Wang Sam , Zeh Herbert J. , Yopp Adam C. , Polanco Patricio M.
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Curative intent for localized pancreatic cancer (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [PDAC]) requires surgery, but despite improved perioperative outcomes, surgery remains underutilized. This study analyzed the Texas Cancer Registry (TCR) to identify resectable PDAC patients who underwent curative‐intent surgery in Texas between 2004 and 2018. We then evaluated demographic and clinical factors associated with failure to operate and survival (OS).

Methods

We identified patients with localized PDAC or regional lymph node spread between 2004 and 2018 in the TCR. Resection rates were determined and multivariable regression and cox proportional hazards were used to identify factors associated with failure to OS.

Results

Of 4274 patients, 22% underwent resection, 57% were not offered surgery, 6% had comorbidities precluding surgery, and 3% refused. Resection rates decreased from 31% in 2004 to 22% in 2018. Increasing age was associated with failure to operate (odds ratio [OR] 2.55; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.80–3.61; p < 0.0001) while treatment at a Commission on Cancer (CoC) center correlated with reduced failure to operate (OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.50–0.78; p < 0.0001). Resection correlated with survival (HR 0.34; 95% CI 0.31‐0.38; p < 0.0001) as did treatment at a National Cancer Institute (NCI)‐designated center (hazard ratio 0.79; 95% CI 0.70–0.89; p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Surgery is underutilized for the treatment of resectable PDAC in Texas with decreasing utilization, annually. Evaluation at CoC was associated with improved resection rates and NCI was associated with increased survival. Expanding access to multidisciplinary care including trained hepato‐pancreatico‐biliary surgeons may improve outcomes for PDAC patients.
Response of soil N dynamics to land‐use change and topographic position in a semiarid hilly grassland
Authors: Liu Jian , Qiu Liping , Chen Chunliang , Wang Mengying , Wei Xiaorong , Kong Weibo , Cheng Jimin
Published: May 2023

Land‐use changes through grazing exclusion (GE) or grassland afforestation (GA) are common restoring practices in semiarid ecosystems, but whether GE and GA exert similar or distinct effect on soil nitrogen (N) dynamics in certain ecosystem is still unclear, particularly in areas with complex terrain. Here, seasonal patterns of soil net N mineralization rates and mineral N contents were characterized in a hilly grassland on the Loess Plateau, China. A fenced grassland, an afforested shrubland and a grazing grassland (reference) with three topographic positions (the top, the north slope, and the south slope) were selected. Results showed that GE decreased soil net N mineralization rates but increased mineral N contents, while GA did not affect these metrics. Furthermore, topographic positions changed the effects of GE, with greater increase of soil total mineral N and nitrate N on the north slope than those on the top and the south slop. Soil layers also changed the effects of GE, with greater decrease in soil net N mineralization rates and greater increase in total mineral N and nitrate N contents at 0–10 cm than those at 10–20 cm. However, there was no difference among three topographic positions or between two soil layers under GA. These results demonstrated that GE was a better restoration practice than GA in respective of soil N dynamics.