bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound‐assisted ethanol/K2HPO4 aqueous two‐phase extraction of polysaccharides from Plantago asiatica L. seeds: Process optimization, physicochemical properties, and antioxidant activity
Authors: Zhang Hua , Zhu Wenbin
Published: January 2024

Introduction

The seeds of Plantago asiatica L., a folk herb, are rich in polysaccharides that possess antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti‐inflammatory properties. Polysaccharides with lower molecular weights generally exhibit higher biological activity, so a method to efficiently extract low‐molecular‐weight polysaccharides from P. asiatica L. seeds (PLPs) is needed.

Objectives

The aim was to establish an efficient method for extracting polysaccharides from P. asiatica L. seeds while preserving their activity.

Materials and Methods

Response surface methodology was applied to determine the optimal polysaccharide extraction conditions. Subsequently, the extracted polysaccharides were characterized to determine their monosaccharide composition, physicochemical properties, and molecular weight. Their antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring their ability to scavenge DPPH and ABTS free radicals.

Results

An extraction yield of 9.17% was achieved under an ethanol concentration of 18.0% (w/w), a K2HPO4 concentration of 27.8% (w/w), a solvent‐to‐material ratio of 30:1 (mL/g), an ultrasound power of 203 W, and an extraction time of 39 min. Structural analyses indicated that this method might cause physicochemical changes in the conformation of PLPs and induce the degradation of PLP side chains but not the backbone.

The antioxidant assay results showed that the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging rates of PLPs were 48.3% and 49.2%, respectively, while in the control group the radical scavenging rates were 35.5% and 37.1%, respectively.

Conclusion

The established method for extracting polysaccharides from P. asiatica L. seeds is efficient and reliable. The polysaccharides could be used as an important resource with antioxidant activity.
Two‐dimensional β‐ketoenamine linked azo covalent organic frameworks as heterogeneous catalysts for photo‐induced RCMP
Authors: Ding Qiuyu , Lu Zhen , Zhao Rui , Xiao Longqiang , Hou Linxi
Published: January 2024

Photo‐induced reversible complexation‐mediated polymerization (RCMP) is a green and economical method to prepare polymers with precise molecular weights, narrow molecular weight distributions and functionally active chain ends. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a promising heterogeneous photocatalyst for mediating RCMP due to their adjustable structure, band gap, and porosity. In this work, 1,3,5‐triformylphloroglucinol (Tp) and p‐azoaniline (Azo) were selected to construct 2D β‐ketoenamine linked Tp‐Azo‐COF as a heterogeneous photocatalyst to trigger RCMP under white light irradiation. A series of polymers with controllable molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution were successfully prepared by using Tp‐Azo‐COF as photocatalysis. On/off light experiments confirmed the good spatiotemporal control feature, and chain expansion experiments demonstrated the high “activity” of polymer chain ends. Furthermore, the mechanistic research elucidated that electron transfer between Tp‐Azo‐COF and initiator occurred, allowing the formation of reactive radicals to mediate RCMP. Density functional theory calculations revealed that the coordination of iodine on the initiator to catalyst obviously reduced the bond dissociation energy, leading to enhance in the polymerization rate. This work provides a platform for constructing heterogeneous photocatalysts with more efficient and stable to mediate RCMP.
Rehabilitation in children with home invasive mechanical ventilation
Authors: Genç Aysun , Sonel Tur Birkan
Published: January 2024

Children with home invasive mechanical ventilation need special health care and rehabilitation services due to complications caused by both the pulmonary system and physical inactivity. Children who are dependent on invasive mechanical ventilators due to breathing difficulties and lung problems can benefit from rehabilitation programs. Rehabilitation requires a close relationship between the child, parents and/or caregivers, and healthcare professionals. The main goal of rehabilitation is to improve breathing, lung function and overall quality of life. In this review, although full standard approaches have not been determined yet, rehabilitation approaches for children dependent on home‐type invasive mechanical ventilator will be discussed.
Tandem repeats of highly bioluminescent NanoLuc are refolded noncanonically by the Hsp70 machinery
Authors: Apostolidou Dimitra , Zhang Pan , Pandya Devanshi , Bock Kaden , Liu Qinglian , Yang Weitao , Marszalek Piotr E.
Published: January 2024

Chaperones are a large family of proteins crucial for maintaining cellular protein homeostasis. One such chaperone is the 70 kDa heat shock protein (Hsp70), which plays a crucial role in protein (re)folding, stability, functionality, and translocation. While the key events in the Hsp70 chaperone cycle are well established, a relatively small number of distinct substrates were repetitively investigated. This is despite Hsp70 engaging with a plethora of cellular proteins of various structural properties and folding pathways. Here we analyzed novel Hsp70 substrates, based on tandem repeats of NanoLuc (Nluc), a small and highly bioluminescent protein with unique structural characteristics. In previous mechanical unfolding and refolding studies, we have identified interesting misfolding propensities of these Nluc‐based tandem repeats. In this study, we further investigate these properties through in vitro bulk experiments. Similar to monomeric Nluc, engineered Nluc dyads and triads proved to be highly bioluminescent. Using the bioluminescence signal as the proxy for their structural integrity, we determined that heat‐denatured Nluc dyads and triads can be efficiently refolded by the E. coli Hsp70 chaperone system, which comprises DnaK, DnaJ, and GrpE. In contrast to previous studies with other substrates, we observed that Nluc repeats can be efficiently refolded by DnaK and DnaJ, even in the absence of GrpE co‐chaperone. Taken together, our study offers a new powerful substrate for chaperone research and raises intriguing questions about the Hsp70 mechanisms, particularly in the context of structurally diverse proteins.
Dipicolinate Oxovanadium(IV) Complexes – Well‐Defined, Universal Precatalysts for Ethylene Polymerization and Polar Monomers Oligomerization
Authors: Drzeżdżon Joanna , Białek Marzena , Parnicka Patrycja , Zaleska‐Medynska Adriana
Published: January 2024

In the field of polymers and organometallic chemistry, a significant gap is apparent in the area of research on well‐defined metal complexes targeted for using in catalysis leading to olefinic oligomers and polymers. Here, we report on the use in these processes the dipicolinate oxovanadium(IV) complexes, without and with auxiliary ligands, i. e. 1,10‐phenanthroline and 2,2’‐bipyridine. The investigated complexes turned out to be versatile precatalysts. After reaction with appropriate activator, they exhibited 11 times higher a catalytic activity than reference vanadium(IV) complexes with salen ligands – so far, precatalysts from a group of vanadium(IV) complexes with the highest known catalytic activity for polymerization of ethylene. In the case of the oligomerization of polar monomers (2‐chloro‐2‐propen‐1‐ol and 3‐buten‐2‐ol) the complexes described in this report have a catalytic activity (very high) similar to vanadium(IV) complexes known in the literature.
Synthesis of New Isoindolines Derived from L‐Α‐Amino Acids and their Selectivity on Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Mancilla Percino Teresa , Hernández Rodríguez Maricarmen , Mera Jiménez Elvia
Published: January 2024

Isoindolines are essential from the point of view of synthesis and their biological properties, so this work is focused on the synthesis of new isoindolines derived from the following L‐α‐amino acids, aspartic acid (1), arginine (2), glutamic acid (3‐5), serine (6), and lysine (7). All compounds were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, infrared, and high‐resolution mass spectrometry. In addition, the synthesized compounds were screened to investigate their antiproliferative activities against five human cancer cell lines, A549, U373, MDA‐MB‐231, MCF‐7, and HeLa, as well as on primary cell culture healthy, MGC, EC, and Vero cells lines. All tested compounds exhibited activity against cancer cell lines at mM concentrations. Notably, compounds 6 derived from Ser, and 7 derived from Lys exhibited remarkable effects on the A549 and U373. The IC50 values for these compounds were determined to be 0.001 and 0.007 mM, respectively. These findings indicate a significantly higher potency of compounds 6 and 7 than the other tested compounds. Among the tested compounds, only compound 5 displayed significant cytotoxic activity against the Vero cell line.
Doping‐Induced Surface and Grain Boundary Effects in Ni‐Rich Layered Cathode Materials
Authors: Kuo Liang‐Yin , Roitzheim Christoph , Valencia Helen , Mayer Joachim , Möller Sören , Myung Seung‐Taek , Finsterbusch Martin , Guillon Olivier , Fattakhova‐Rohlfing Dina , Kaghazchi Payam
Published: January 2024

In this work, the effects of dopant size and oxidation state on the structure and electrochemical performance of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) are investigated. It is shown that doping with boron (B) which has a small ionic radius and an oxidation state of 3+, leads to the formation of a boron oxide‐containing surface coating (probably Li3BO3), mainly on the outer surface of the secondary particles. Due to this effect, boron only slightly affects the size of the primary particle and the initial capacity, but significantly improves the capacity retention. On the other hand, the dopant ruthenium (Ru) with a larger ionic radius and a higher oxidation state of 5+ can be stabilized within the secondary particles and does not experience a segregation to the outer agglomerate surface. However, the Ru dopant preferentially occupies incoherent grain boundary sites, resulting in smaller primary particle size and initial capacity than for the B‐doped and pristine NCM811. This work demonstrates that a small percentage of dopant (2 mol%) cannot significantly affect bulk properties, but it can strongly influence the surface and/or grain boundary properties of microstructure and thus the overall performance of cathode materials.
Plasma‐Activated Coated Glass: A Novel Platform for Optimal Optical Performance and Cell Culture Substrate Customization
Authors: Tran Clara T. H. , Gilmour Aaron D. , Boumelhem Badwi B. , Fraser Stuart T. , Bilek Marcela M. M.
Published: January 2024

Borosilicate glass surpasses polystyrene in optical quality; however, it is less frequently used for cell culture due to poor protein and cell adhesion. To overcome this impasse, the surface of glass coverslips requires functionalization to enable facile covalent attachment of proteins to promote cell attachment and differentiation. Herein, a novel approach is presented to covalently attach proteins to glass by depositing a thin layer of radical‐rich carbon film using a plasma polymerization process. The surface chemistry of these plasma‐activated coatings can be controlled by varying the gas composition used during the deposition. Mass spectrometry reveals different protein profiles attached to functionalized glass coverslips when they are exposed to cell culture media. Mouse embryonic stem cell adhesion and subsequent differentiation into neural lineage on plasma‐treated coverslips are significantly enhanced compared to bare coverslips. Importantly, the coatings are in the nanometer range, preserve the optical properties of the glass coverslips for imaging, and remain stable for at least 4 weeks in simulated body fluid. These results demonstrate the utility of covalently attaching proteins to glass for enhanced cell attachment and stem cell differentiation and provide a promising technique to achieve better outcomes in cell culture in a range of biomedical applications.
Environmental and mechanical analysis of low‐carbon concrete with vitrified MSW incineration bottom ash as cement replacement
Authors: Sirico Alice , Bernardi Patrizia , Belletti Beatrice , Sciancalepore Corrado , Milanese Daniel , Paini Arianna , Vignali Giuseppe
Published: January 2024

The building sector is responsible for about 37% of the global carbon dioxide emissions, 6% of which result from concrete (and particularly cement) production. Using recycled and supplementary cementitious materials and adopting a whole building life cycle approach can be seen as multi‐beneficial strategies for materials' design. In this framework, this study aims to formulate a green concrete, by replacing 10, 15 and 20% of cement with a secondary raw material constituted of vitrified bottom ash derived from municipal solid waste incineration. The basic physical and mechanical properties were measured up to 365 days, so to evaluate the effects of the cement replacement both on short and long‐term behavior. Life Cycle Assessment was used as a tool to evaluate the environmental performance of the developed green concrete. An Eco‐Mechanical Analysis was also performed to match the environmental impacts with the mechanical behavior, allowing to assess that the concrete produced by replacing 20% of cement with vitrified municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (if classified as hazardous waste) is the one that leads to optimize the overall sustainability. The approach proposed in this work, which can be easily generalized, contributes to the definition of a route for the implementation of innovative green construction building materials by using waste.
A metaheuristic‐based method for analysis of tensegrity structures
Authors: Bekdaş Gebrail , Ocak Ayla , Nigdeli Sinan Melih , Toklu Yusuf Cengiz
Published: January 2024

Tensegrity systems are construction system that offers solutions for lighter designs compared with a standard truss system consisting of tension and compression elements. Due to their structure, they are recommended in the design of space structures due to the use of lighter and easy‐to‐assemble structural elements such as cables, ropes, and similar to provide the desired durability. In this study, energy minimization was carried out to solve the structural element displacements. It is expected to reduce the total potential energy of the system with minimization. By minimizing the total potential energy of the tensegrity system models, the displacement of each building element is found for the equilibrium condition. Tensegrity models were analyzed by minimizing energy via the adaptive harmony search (AHS) algorithm. In this research, two distinct tensegrity structure specimens were employed. One comprised a cantilever beam, while the other adopted a cyclic model, forming eight equal octagons from eight nodes at both the base and the top. Additionally, an examination was conducted on a two‐layer iteration of the cyclic model. The method is robust for both space and planar tensegrity structures, allowing the determination of deformed shapes under various loads without design assumptions. The TPO/MA method demonstrates superiority in handling nonlinear and barely stable systems, as evidenced by examples illustrating its efficacy in maintaining structural form under increasing loads and challenging conditions.
Cerebrospinal fluid biomarker profiling of diverse pathophysiological domains in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Trombetta Bianca A. , Wu Chao‐Yi , Kuo Evan , de Geus Matthijs B. , Dodge Hiroko H. , Carlyle Becky C. , Kivisäkk Pia , Arnold Steven E.
Published: January 2024

INTRODUCTION

While Alzheimer's disease (AD) is defined by amyloid‐β plaques and tau tangles in the brain, it is evident that many other pathophysiological processes such as inflammation, neurovascular dysfunction, oxidative stress, and metabolic derangements also contribute to the disease process and that varying contributions of these pathways may reflect the heterogeneity of AD. Here, we used a previously validated panel of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers to explore the degree to which different pathophysiological domains are dysregulated in AD and how they relate to each other.

METHODS

Twenty‐five CSF biomarkers were analyzed in individuals with a clinical diagnosis of AD verified by positive CSF AD biomarkers (AD, n = 54) and cognitively unimpaired controls negative for CSF AD biomarkers (CU‐N, n = 26) using commercial single‐ and multi‐plex immunoassays.

RESULTS

We noted that while AD was associated with increased levels of only three biomarkers (MMP‐10, FABP3, and 8OHdG) on a group level, half of all AD participants had increased levels of biomarkers belonging to at least two pathophysiological domains reflecting the diversity in AD. LASSO modeling showed that a panel of FABP3, 24OHC, MMP‐10, MMP‐2, and 8OHdG constituted the most relevant and minimally correlated set of variables differentiating AD from CU‐N. Interestingly, factor analysis showed that two markers of metabolism and oxidative stress (24OHC and 8OHdG) contributed independent information separate from MMP‐10 and FABP3 suggestive of two independent pathophysiological pathways in AD, one reflecting neurodegeneration and vascular pathology, and the other associated with metabolism and oxidative stress.

DISCUSSION

Better understanding of the heterogeneity among individuals with AD and the different contributions of pathophysiological processes besides amyloid‐β and tau will be crucial for optimizing personalized treatment strategies.

Highlights

A panel of 25 highly validated biomarker assays were measured in CSF.

MMP10, FABP3, and 8OHdG were increased in AD in univariate analysis.

Many individuals with AD had increased levels of more than one biomarker.

Markers of metabolism and oxidative stress contributed to an AD multianalyte profile.

Assessing multiple biomarker domains is important to understand disease heterogeneity.
Association between prognosis and lymph node status using 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose‐positron emission tomography in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with esophagectomy post‐neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Ohsawa Manato , Hamai Yoichi , Emi Manabu , Ibuki Yuta , Kurokawa Tomoaki , Yoshikawa Toru , Hirohata Ryosuke , Kitasaki Nao , Okada Morihito
Published: January 2024

Background

There are few reports on the associations between lymph node (LN) status, determined by preoperative 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose‐positron emission tomography (FDG‐PET), and prognosis in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who underwent esophagectomy post‐neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT). Additionally, details on the diagnostic performance of LN metastasis determination based on pathological examination versus FDG‐PET have not been reported. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the associations among LN status using FDG‐PET, LN status based on pathological examination, and prognosis in patients with locally advanced ESCC who underwent esophagectomy post‐NCT.

Methods

We reviewed the data of 124 consecutive patients with ESCC who underwent esophagectomy with R0 resection post‐NCT between December 2008 and August 2022 and were evaluated pre‐ and post‐NCT using FDG‐PET. The associations among LN status using FDG‐PET, LN status based on pathological examination, and prognosis were assessed.

Results

Station‐by‐station analysis of PET‐positive LNs pre‐ and post‐NCT correlated significantly with pathological LN metastases (sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy pre‐ and post‐NCT: 51.6%, 96.0%, and 92.1%; and 28.2%, 99.5%, and 93.1%, respectively; both p < 0.0001). Using univariate and multivariate analyses, LN status determined using PET post‐NCT was a significant independent predictor of both recurrence‐free survival and overall survival.

Conclusion

The LN status assessed using FDG‐PET post‐NCT was significantly associated with the pathological LN status and prognosis in patients with ESCC who underwent esophagectomy post‐NCT. Therefore, FDG‐PET is a useful diagnostic tool for preoperatively predicting pathological LN metastasis and survival in these patients and could provide valuable information for selecting individualized treatment strategies.
Boundary correlators and the Schwarzian mode
Authors: Daguerre Lucas
Published: January 2024

Abstract

The effective low temperature dynamics of near-extremal black holes is governed by the quantum fluctuations of the Schwarzian mode of JT gravity. Utilizing as a proxy a planar charged black hole in asymptotically Anti-de-Sitter spacetime, we investigate the effects of these fluctuations on a probe scalar field. The corresponding holographic real-time boundary correlators are computed following a holographic renormalization procedure, using the dubbed gravitational Schwinger-Keldysh geometry (grSK) and known exact results of boundary correlators from the near-horizon region. This analysis gives rise to a retarded Green’s function that decays as a power law for late Lorentzian times. Its analytic structure indicates the presence of a branch cut in the complex frequency domain at finite temperature. These features are a non-perturbative hallmark that prevails as long as the planar transverse space is kept compact.
Soft theorem to three loops in QCD and $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 super Yang-Mills theory
Authors: Chen Wen , Luo Ming-xing , Yang Tong-Zhi , Zhu Hua Xing
Published: January 2024

Abstract

The soft theorem states that scattering amplitude in gauge theory with a soft gauge-boson emission can be factorized into a hard scattering amplitude and a soft factor. In this paper, we present calculations of the soft factor for processes involving two hard colored partons, up to three loops in QCD. To accomplish this, we developed a systematic method for recursively calculating relevant Feynman integrals using the Feynman-Parameter representation. Our results constitute an important ingredient for the subtraction of infrared singularities at N4LO in perturbative QCD. Using the principle of leading transcendentality between QCD and $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 super Yang-Mills theory, we determine the soft factor in the latter case to three loops with full-color dependence. As a by-product, we also obtain the finite constant $$ {f}_2^{(3)} $$

f
2

3

in the Bern-Dixon-Smirnov ansatz analytically, which was previously known numerically only.
The Maximum Number of Cliques in Graphs with Bounded Odd Circumference
Authors: Lv Zequn , Győri Ervin , He Zhen , Salia Nika , Xiao Chuanqi , Zhu Xiutao
Published: January 2024

In this work, we give the sharp upper bound for the number of cliques in graphs with bounded odd circumferences. This generalized Turán-type result is an extension of the celebrated Erdős and Gallai theorem and a strengthening of Luo’s recent result. The same bound for graphs with bounded even circumferences is a trivial application of the theorem of Li and Ning.
Update der Point-of-care-basierten Gerinnungstherapie
Authors: Schmitt Felix C. F. , Schöchl Herbert , Brün Kathrin , Kreuer Sascha , Schneider Sven , Hofer Stefan , Weber Christian F.
Published: January 2024

Point-of-care(POC)-taugliche viskoelastische Testverfahren (VET) sind im klinischen Einsatz weitverbreitet. Aufgrund des erweiterten Spektrums an verfügbaren Geräten und insbesondere durch die Entwicklung neuer Testansätze bzw. -methoden ist aus Sicht der Autoren ein Update der aktuellen Behandlungsalgorithmen notwendig. Ziel dieses Artikels ist es, einen Überblick sowohl über die aktuell verfügbaren VET-Geräte als auch über die dazugehörigen Reagenzien zu vermitteln. Darüber hinaus werden 2 Therapiealgorithmen für die am häufigsten im deutschsprachigen Raum eingesetzten VET-Geräte vorgestellt.
„Schwierige“ Patient:innen – Vestibularisdiagnostik unter erschwerten Bedingungen: Teil 2
Authors: Dlugaiczyk Julia
Published: January 2024

Patient:innen mit dem Leitsymptom „Schwindel“ stellen häufig eine diagnostische Herausforderung für die betreuenden Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Ärzt:innen dar. Während im ersten Teil dieser Fortbildungsreihe der Fokus auf der Anamnese und klinisch-neurootologischen Untersuchung lag, behandelt der vorliegende zweite Teil wichtige Aspekte der „schwierigen“ apparativen Vestibularisprüfung, insbesondere: Indikationsstellung, Lösungsansätze bei eingeschränkter Kooperationsfähigkeit der Patient:innen, Auswahl der vestibulären Tests in Abhängigkeit von Komorbiditäten, Interpretation von diskrepanten Befunden aus einzelnen Teiluntersuchungen. Des Weiteren wird dargelegt, welche Schlussfolgerungen aus einer normwertigen Vestibularisprüfung gezogen werden können (und welche nicht) und wie dieses Ergebnis den Patient:innen erläutert werden kann.
Cue-exposure treatment influences resting-state functional connectivity—a randomized controlled fMRI study in alcohol use disorder
Authors: Farré-Colomés Àlvar , Tan Haoye , Gerhardt Sarah , Gerchen Martin Fungisai , Kirsch Martina , Hoffmann Sabine , Kirsch Peter , Kiefer Falk , Vollstädt-Klein Sabine
Published: January 2024

Rationale

Cue-exposure therapy (CET) consists of exposing patients to the cause of their affliction in a controlled environment and after psychological preparation. Ever since it was conceived, it has been suggested as a treatment for different types of behavioural impairments, from anxiety disorders to substance abuse. In the field of addictive behaviour, many different findings have been shown regarding the effectiveness of this therapy.

Objectives

This study aims to examine the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of the effects of CET in patients with alcohol use disorder using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).

Methods

In a randomized, controlled study, we examined patients after inpatient detoxification as well as healthy controls. Patients underwent nine sessions of CET spaced over 3 weeks. Rs-fMRI was conducted before treatment and 3 weeks after treatment onset in patients, healthy controls received only one rs-fMRI measurement. The final participant sample with complete data included 35 patients in the CET group, 17 patients in the treatment-as-usual group, and 43 HCs.

Results

Our results show differences in the Salience Network when comparing the CET group to the treatment-as-usual group (TAU). Functional connectivity between the anterior cingulate Cortex (ACC) and the insula was increased after CET, whereas it was decreased from ACC to the putamen and globus pallidus. Further, increased connectivity with the precuneus was found in the dorsal attention network after cue exposure treatment.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that cue exposure therapy changes the resting-state brain connectivity with additional effects to the standard psychotherapy treatment. Hence, our study results suggest why including CET in standard therapies might improve the preparation of patients in front of daily situations.
Analytical chemistry in front of the curtain!
Authors: Rosenberg Erwin , Krska Rudolf
Published: January 2024

This feature article discusses the enabling role of analytical chemistry in important fields of research and development such as life science, material sciences and environmental sciences. It comments on the often limited visibility of analytical sciences in the public perception and suggests ways to overcome this shortcoming and to create bigger impact.

Graphical Abstract
Transformative shifts in dough and bread structure with pumpkin seed protein concentrate enrichment
Authors: Galenko Oleg , Shevchenko Anastasiia , Ceccanti Costanza , Mignani Chiara , Litvynchuk Svitlana
Published: January 2024

Pumpkin seed protein concentrate, a promising raw material with high biological value, holds potential for incorporation into bread technology. Protein structural changes occur during the bread-making process. This study aimed to investigate how pumpkin seed protein concentrate incorporated at different concentrations (5, 10, and 20%) affected the structural, mechanical properties, and conformational changes in protein substances within dough and bread made from wheat flour, utilizing near-infrared reflection spectroscopy. The gas- and shape-holding capacities of dough enriched and unenriched by pumpkin seed protein concentrate resulted similar. This aspect is important for the impact of the final product as bread on the consumers. The near-infrared reflection spectroscopy analysis revealed that the enrichment of bread with pumpkin seed protein concentrate not only introduced higher protein and unsaturated fat content in bread but also reduced the level of lignin, enhancing the digestibility of the final product. A deeper investigation into the nutraceutical and nutritional value of this enriched bread as well as of physio-chemical features investigated in the present work could be useful for the introduction of a new functional food in the market. Moreover, the enriched bread was acceptable in terms of sensory quality analysis, especially using 10% pumpkin seed protein concentrate. Therefore, to better understand the market potentiality of the enriched bread proposed in this study, future research should investigate how consumer acceptability could increase with a higher concentration of nutritional components perceived as beneficial for a lifestyle by specific consumer segments.
Feeding rates and carbon and nitrogen partitioning in crown-of-thorns sea star larvae (Acanthaster cf. solaris) during development
Authors: Patel Frances , Zeng Chaoshu , Logan Murray , Uthicke Sven
Published: January 2024

Crown-of-thorns sea star (CoTS; Acanthaster cf. solaris) outbreaks are a significant cause of coral decline. Enhanced food supply for the larvae via eutrophication is implicated as a cause of outbreaks, yet larval feeding ecology is poorly understood. In this study, feeding experiments were carried out at two algal food concentrations of 1000 cells mL−1 (~ 1.52 µg chl a L−1) and 3000 cells mL−1 (~ 4.56 µg chl a L−1) across six successive larval stages to investigate the effect of food concentration on filtration rate and ingestion rate for these stages. Filtration rate increased with larval stage and more than tripled from 127 ± 32 µL larva−1 h−1 (mean ± SE) of the youngest (2–3 dpf) larvae to 497 ± 109 µL larva−1 h−1 at late brachiolaria stage (9–10 dpf). Ingestion rate increased with food concentration and larval age, with advanced brachiolaria larvae consuming 313.5 ± 39.1 cells larva−1 h−1 in the higher algal food treatment. Organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) measured in larvae and their food indicated that the youngest feeding larvae ingested 13% their body carbon content daily, with that number almost doubling to 24% by advanced bipinnaria stage. The C/N ratio decreased sharply for brachiolaria larvae, reflecting developmental changes and greater dependence on exogenous nutrition. These results add to our understanding of the role food concentration plays in the growth and survivorship of CoTS larvae in the field.
Singular Yamabe problem for scalar flat metrics on the sphere
Authors: Karakhanyan Aram L.
Published: January 2024

Let $$\Omega $$
Ω
be a domain on the unit n-sphere $$ {\mathbb {S}}^n$$

S

n

and $$ \overset{{\,}_\circ }{g}$$

g

∘

the standard metric of $${\mathbb {S}}^n$$

S

n

, $$n\ge 3$$

n
≥
3

. We show that there exists a conformal metric g with vanishing scalar curvature $$R(g)=0$$

R
(
g
)
=
0

such that $$(\Omega , g)$$

(
Ω
,
g
)

is complete if and only if the Bessel capacity $${\mathcal {C}}_{\alpha , q}({\mathbb {S}}^n\setminus \Omega )=0$$

C

α
,
q

(

S

n

\
Ω
)

=
0

, where $$\alpha =1+\frac{2}{n}$$

α
=
1
+

2
n

and $$q=\frac{n}{2}$$

q
=

n
2

. Our analysis utilizes some well known properties of capacity and Wolff potentials, as well as a version of the Hopf–Rinow theorem for the divergent curves.
Evaluation of the quality and the productivity of neuroradiological reading of multiple sclerosis follow-up MRI scans using an intelligent automation software
Authors: Federau Christian , Hainc Nicolin , Edjlali Myriam , Zhu Guangming , Mastilovic Milica , Nierobisch Nathalie , Uhlemann Jan-Philipp , Paganucci Silvio , Granziera Cristina , Heinzlef Olivier , Kipp Lucas B. , Wintermark Max
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The assessment of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions on follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is tedious, time-consuming, and error-prone. Automation of low-level tasks could enhance the radiologist in this work. We evaluate the intelligent automation software Jazz in a blinded three centers study, for the assessment of new, slowly expanding, and contrast-enhancing MS lesions.

Methods

In three separate centers, 117 MS follow-up MRIs were blindly analyzed on fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), pre- and post-gadolinium T1-weighted images using Jazz by 2 neuroradiologists in each center. The reading time was recorded. The ground truth was defined in a second reading by side-by-side comparison of both reports from Jazz and the standard clinical report. The number of described new, slowly expanding, and contrast-enhancing lesions described with Jazz was compared to the lesions described in the standard clinical report.

Results

A total of 96 new lesions from 41 patients and 162 slowly expanding lesions (SELs) from 61 patients were described in the ground truth reading. A significantly larger number of new lesions were described using Jazz compared to the standard clinical report (63 versus 24). No SELs were reported in the standard clinical report, while 95 SELs were reported on average using Jazz. A total of 4 new contrast-enhancing lesions were found in all reports. The reading with Jazz was very time efficient, taking on average 2min33s ± 1min0s per case. Overall inter-reader agreement for new lesions between the readers using Jazz was moderate for new lesions (Cohen kappa = 0.5) and slight for SELs (0.08).

Conclusion

The quality and the productivity of neuroradiological reading of MS follow-up MRI scans can be significantly improved using the dedicated software Jazz.
Sensor system for analysis of biofilm sensitivity to ampicillin
Authors: Guliy Olga I. , Evstigneeva Stella S. , Shirokov Alexander A. , Bunin Victor D.
Published: January 2024

The resistance of biofilms to antibiotics is a key factor that makes bacterial infections unsusceptible to antimicrobial therapy. The results of classical tests of cell sensitivity to antibiotics cannot be used to predict therapeutic success in infections associated with biofilm formation. We describe a simple and rapid method for the real-time evaluation of bacterial biofilm sensitivity to antibiotics, with Pseudomonas putida and ampicillin as examples. The method uses an electric biosensor to detect the difference between changes in the biofilm electric polarizability, thereby evaluating antibiotic sensitivity. The electric signals showed that P. putida biofilms were susceptible to ampicillin and that at high antibiotic concentrations, the biofilms differed markedly in their susceptibility (dose-dependent effect). The sensor also detected differences between biofilms before and after ampicillin treatment. The electric-signal changes enabled us to describe the physical picture of the processes occurring in bacterial biofilms in the presence of ampicillin. The approach used in this study is promising for evaluating the activity of various compounds against biofilms, because it permits a conclusion about the antibiotic sensitivity of biofilm bacteria to be made in real time and in a short period (analysis time, not longer than 20 min). An added strong point is that analysis can be done directly in liquid, without preliminary sample preparation.

Key points

• Sensor system to analyze biofilm antimicrobial susceptibility is described.

• The signal change depended on the ampicillin concentration (dose-dependent effect).

• The sensor allows real-time determination of the antibiofilm effect of ampicillin.
Genomic classification and outcomes of young patients with polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia according to the presence of splanchnic vein thrombosis and its chronology
Authors: Garrote Marta , López-Guerra Mónica , García-Pagán Juan Carlos , Arellano-Rodrigo Eduardo , Ferrer-Marín Francisca , Hernández-Boluda Juan Carlos , Bellosillo Beatriz , Nomdedeu Meritxell , Hernández-Gea Virginia , Triguero Ana , Guijarro Francesca , Álamo José , Baiges Anna , Turon Fanny , Colomer Dolors , Cervantes Francisco , Alvarez-Larrán Alberto
Published: January 2024

To elucidate the role of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) and genomic characteristics in prognosis and survival, we compared patients with polycythemia vera (PV) or essential thrombocythemia (ET) presenting SVT at diagnosis (n = 69, median age 43 years) or during follow-up (n = 21, median age 46 years) to a sex- and age-matched control group of PV/ET without SVT (n = 165, median age 48 years). The majority of patients presenting with SVT at diagnosis were classified as myeloproliferative neoplasm with heterozygous JAK2 mutation (87% of cases vs. 69% in PV/ET control group, p < 0.05), characterized by low JAK2 allele burden and no high-risk mutations. Despite this lower molecular complexity, patients presenting with SVT showed a higher risk of death (HR 3.0, 95% CI 1.5-6.0, p = 0.003) and lower event-free survival (HR 3.0, 95% CI 1.9–4.8, p < 0.001) than age- and sex-matched PV/ET controls. In patients presenting with SVT, molecular high-risk was associated with increased risk of venous re-thrombosis (HR 5.8, 95% CI 1.4–24.0, p = 0.01). Patients developing SVT during follow-up were more frequently allocated in molecular high-risk than those with SVT at diagnosis (52% versus 13%, p < 0.05). In the whole cohort of patients, molecular classification identified PV/ET patients at higher risk of disease progression whereas DNMT3A/TET2/ASXL1 mutations were associated with higher risk of arterial thrombosis. In conclusion, clinical and molecular characteristics are different in PV/ET patients with SVT, depending on whether it occurs at diagnosis or at follow-up. Molecular characterization by NGS is useful for assessing the risk of thrombosis and disease progression in young patients with PV/ET.
Immersive haptic simulation for training nurses in emergency medical procedures
Authors: Gutiérrez-Fernández Alexis , Fernández-Llamas Camino , Vázquez-Casares Ana M. , Mauriz Elba , Riego-del-Castillo Virginia , John Nigel W.
Published: January 2024

The use of haptic simulation for emergency procedures in nursing training presents a viable, versatile and affordable alternative to traditional mannequin environments. In this paper, an evaluation is performed in a virtual environment with a head-mounted display and haptic devices, and also with a mannequin. We focus on a chest decompression, a life-saving invasive procedure used for trauma-associated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (and other causes) that every emergency physician and/or nurse needs to master. Participants’ heart rate and blood pressure were monitored to measure their stress level. In addition, the NASA Task Load Index questionnaire was used. The results show the approved usability of the VR environment and that it provides a higher level of immersion compared to the mannequin, with no statistically significant difference in terms of cognitive load, although the use of VR is perceived as a more difficult task.
We can conclude that the use of haptic-enabled virtual reality simulators has the potential to provide an experience as stressful as the real one while training in a safe and controlled environment.
Clinically relevant molecular hallmarks of PFA ependymomas display intratumoral heterogeneity and correlate with tumor morphology
Authors: Gödicke Swenja , Kresbach Catena , Ehlert Max , Obrecht Denise , Altendorf Lea , Hack Karoline , von Hoff Katja , Carén Helena , Melcher Viktoria , Kerl Kornelius , Englinger Bernhard , Filbin Mariella , Pajtler Kristian W. , Gojo Johannes , Pietsch Torsten , Rutkowski Stefan , Schüller Ulrich
Published: January 2024

Posterior fossa type A (PF-EPN-A, PFA) ependymoma are aggressive tumors that mainly affect children and have a poor prognosis. Histopathology shows significant intratumoral heterogeneity, ranging from loose tissue to often sharply demarcated, extremely cell-dense tumor areas. To determine molecular differences in morphologically different areas and to understand their clinical significance, we analyzed 113 PF-EPN-A samples, including 40 corresponding relapse samples. Cell-dense areas ranged from 0 to 100% of the tumor area and displayed a higher proportion of proliferating tumor cells (p < 0.01). Clinically, cell density was associated with poor progression-free and overall survival (pPFS = 0.0026, pOS < 0.01). Molecularly, tumor areas with low and high cell density showed diverging DNA methylation profiles regarding their similarity to distinct previously discovered PF-EPN-A subtypes in 9/21 cases. Prognostically relevant chromosomal changes at 1q and 6q showed spatial heterogeneity within single tumors and were significantly enriched in cell-dense tumor areas as shown by single-cell RNA (scRNA)-sequencing as well as copy number profiling and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses of different tumor areas. Finally, spatial transcriptomics revealed cell-dense areas of different tumors to be more similar than various different areas of the same tumor. High-density areas distinctly overexpressed genes encoding histone proteins, WNT5A, TGFB1, or IGF2. Relapsing tumors displayed a higher proportion of cell-dense areas (p = 0.036), a change in PF-EPN-A methylation subtypes (13/32 patients), and novel chromosome 1q gains and 6q losses (12/32 cases) compared to corresponding primary tumors. Our data suggest that PF-EPN-A ependymomas habor a previously unrecognized intratumoral heterogeneity with clinical implications, which has to be accounted for when selecting diagnostic material, inter alia, by histological evaluation of the proportion of cell-dense areas.
Neuropathy in ARSACS is demyelinating but without typical nerve enlargement in nerve ultrasound
Authors: Kneer Katharina , Straub Stephanie , Wittlinger Julia , Stahl Jan-Hendrik , Winter Natalie , Timmann Dagmar , Schöls Ludger , Synofzik Matthis , Bender Friedemann , Grimm Alexander
Published: January 2024

Background

To specify peripheral nerve affection in autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) by correlating high-resolution nerve ultrasound and nerve conduction studies.

Methods

We assessed a cohort of 11 ARSACS patients with standardized nerve conduction studies and high-resolution ultrasound of peripheral nerves and compared nerve ultrasound findings to a healthy control group matched for age, sex, size and weight.

Results

Mean age of patients was 39.0 (± 14.1) years and disease duration at assessment 30.6 (± 12.5) years. All patients presented with a spasticity, ataxia and peripheral neuropathy. Neuropathy appeared to be primarily demyelinating in 9/11 cases and was not classifiable in 2/11 cases due to not evocable potentials. Nerve ultrasound revealed a normal ultrasound pattern sum score (UPSS) in each ARSACS patient and no significant nerve enlargement compared to the control group.

Conclusions

Peripheral neuropathy in ARSACS showed primarily demyelinating rather than axonal characteristics and presented without nerve enlargement. As demyelinating neuropathies do commonly present enlarged nerves we recommend further genetic testing of the SACS gene in patients who present with this combination of demyelinating neuropathy without nerve enlargement. ARSACS cases that initially presented only with neuropathy without spasticity or ataxia and therefore were misdiagnosed as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease are supporting this suggestion.
Longitudinal volumetric changes in amygdala subregions in frontotemporal dementia
Authors: Huang Mengjie , Landin-Romero Ramon , Matis Sophie , Dalton Marshall A. , Piguet Olivier
Published: January 2024

Amygdala atrophy has been found in frontotemporal dementia (FTD), yet the specific changes of its subregions across different FTD phenotypes remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the volumetric alterations of the amygdala subregions in FTD phenotypes and how they evolve with disease progression. Patients clinically diagnosed with behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD) (n = 20), semantic dementia (SD) (n = 20), primary nonfluent aphasia (PNFA) (n = 20), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (n = 20), and 20 matched healthy controls underwent whole brain structural MRI. The patient groups were followed up annually for up to 3.5 years. Amygdala nuclei were segmented using FreeSurfer, corrected by total intracranial volumes, and grouped into the basolateral, superficial, and centromedial subregions. Linear mixed effects models were applied to identify changes in amygdala subregional volumes over time. At baseline, bvFTD, SD, and AD displayed global amygdala volume reduction, whereas amygdala volume appeared to be preserved in PNFA. Asymmetrical amygdala atrophy (left > right) was most pronounced in SD. Longitudinally, SD and PNFA showed greater rates of annual decline in the right basolateral and superficial subregions compared to bvFTD and AD. The findings provide comprehensive insights into the differential impact of FTD pathology on amygdala subregions, revealing distinct atrophy patterns that evolve over disease progression. The characterization of amygdala subregional involvement in FTD and their potential role as biomarkers carry substantial clinical implications.
On the efficacy of preventive toltrazuril treatments and the diagnosis of Cystoisospora suis infections in intensively raised piglets in farms from southeast Spain
Authors: Deak Georgiana , González-Amador Lola , Goyena Elena , Cârstolovean Andrada-Silvia , Risueño José , Berriatua Eduardo
Published: January 2024

This study investigated the presence and abundance of Cystoisospora suis oocysts in faecal samples from 131 one- to three-week-old pig litters belonging to eight intensively raised, indoor herds in Spain. Seven herds used preventive anticoccidial toltrazuril treatments administered orally or by intramuscular injection, and one did not use preventive anticoccidial treatments. The diagnosis was performed using two oocyst flotation-concentration methods, Bailenger’s method in every herd and the more recent Joachim’s method in four herds. Oocysts were detected in every farm, the proportion of oocyst-positive samples was higher with Bailenger’s technique, and the estimated overall prevalence (95% confidence interval) was 40 (32–49)%, including 47 (29–65)% in non-medicated litters, 52 (38–67)% in orally medicated litters and 28 (16–40)% in intramuscularly medicated litters (p < 0.05). However, mixed logistic regression models indicated that the risk of infection was not significantly associated with preventive anticoccidial treatments (p > 0.05), and increased with age, was higher in herds with partially compared to fully slatted dung floors in farrowing pens and in litters with pigs with diarrhoea (p < 0.05). The median (range) oocysts per gram of faeces (OpG) in infected litters by Bailenger’s method was 623 (35–49048) and mixed negative binomial models revealed no significant association between infection intensity in positive litters and pen’s floor type and piglets age, faecal consistency and treatment status (p > 0.05). The apparent low efficacy of Toltrazuril suggests treatment administration failures, reduced residual efficacy or low susceptibility of C. suis strains in study farms and needs further investigation.
The Cone of $$5\times 5$$ Completely Positive Matrices
Authors: Pfeffer Max , Samper José Alejandro
Published: January 2024

We study the cone of completely positive (cp) matrices for the first interesting case $$n = 5$$

n
=
5

. This is a semialgebraic set for which the polynomial equalities and inequlities that define its boundary can be derived. We characterize the different loci of this boundary and we examine the two open sets with cp-rank 5 or 6. A numerical algorithm is presented that is fast and able to compute the cp-factorization even for matrices in the boundary. With our results, many new example cases can be produced and several insightful numerical experiments are performed that illustrate the difficulty of the cp-factorization problem.