bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Review of Medical Emergencies Related to the Embolic, Inflammatory, and Mechanical Complications in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Nabhani Hassan
Published: June 2023

Although the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) has decreased in the United States, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains a major medical problem. Many patients still need emergency care in the emergency department (ED) due to complications due to mechanical, inflammatory, and embolic factors. This summary aims to provide a brief summary of the available evidence in clinical medicine regarding the evaluation and management of mechanical, inflammatory, and embolic complications after myocardial infarction. Although 30-day mortality after AMI has decreased in recent years, it remains high at 7.8% due to many subacute complications that occur within a few weeks. Mechanical problems such as ventricular free wall rupture, ventricular septal rupture, mitral regurgitation, and left ventricular aneurysm formation have a high risk of morbidity. The complications of MI can vary in severity and can affect different organs and systems of the body. Heart attacks can disrupt the normal electrical activity of the heart, leading to irregular heart rhythms, such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. A heart attack can weaken the heart muscle, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood effectively. This can lead to heart failure, a condition where the heart is unable to meet the body's demand for blood and oxygen. In severe cases, a heart attack can cause cardiogenic shock, a condition characterized by a significant drop in blood pressure and inadequate blood flow to vital organs. This is a life-threatening situation that requires immediate medical attention. Sometimes, a heart attack can cause a rupture in the wall separating the heart's chambers (ventricular septum), leading to the formation of a VSD. This condition allows blood to flow between the ventricles, decreasing the heart's ability to pump blood effectively.

Mechanical, inflammatory, and embolic complications associated with AMI can have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Physicians should check for existing conditions when considering other diagnoses. In addition to monitoring disease progression and physical examination, electrocardiography and point-of-care echocardiography allow rapid and noninvasive assessment of the underlying pathophysiology. Management may vary depending on the particular presentation and etiology; however, relationships with cardiologists and cardiologists are recommended.
Improvement of Ceramic Insulation of Cook Stoves Using Carbonized Organic Waste
Authors: Kyuvi Esther , Nyangaya James , Aganda Alex
Published: June 2023

Many households and small hotels in Kenya source their energy from biomass; mainly wood and charcoal. For the urban poor, their energy source is basically charcoal. With increasing population, rural urban migration, tough economic times, the use of charcoal must be as efficient as possible. In cognizance of this need, development of energy efficient biomass (charcoal) cook stoves is paramount.

The main objective of the project was to optimize the insulating properties of ceramic insulation used in ceramic cook stoves using carbonized organic waste as the burnout additive. Carbonized organic waste herein referred to as char was collected and ground to fine dust. The char was used as a burnout medium in the clay to create pores, reduce density and increase porosity thereby improving insulation properties of the fired clay. Optimization was achieved by using different ratios of clay to char. Testing of biomass cook stove is provided for in ISO- 19867-0; the harmonized laboratory test protocol.

The results showed that the apparent porosity of the sample increased from 34% with no char to 87% when the sample had 50% char. On the other hand, the bulk density reduced from 2.8 g/cm3 with no char to 1.2 g/m3 with 50% char. The prototype thermal efficiency was 33% and 25.8% for the control cook stove. The prototype and control cook stove cooking power were 0.97kW and 0.71kW respectively. The prototype PM2.5 emissions estimated to be 76 mg/MJd and CO emissions at 21 g/MJd which were lower than the Kenya standard KS 1814:2019 maximum emission of 137 mg/MJd and 25 g/MJd respectively

This study has shown that when clay was mixed with char, there was a significant increase in desirable characteristics, which results in increased efficiency of biomass (charcoal) cook stoves and lower emissions.
Neurotoxicology and Behavior
Authors: Boyes William K.
Published: June 2023

Neurotoxicity is important to consider as a component of occupational and environmental safety and health programs. The failure to do so has contributed to a number of tragic cases in which people were irreparably harmed by exposure to compounds that proved toxic to the nervous system. The field of neurotoxicology originated in response to several episodes of mass poisoning and developed through advances in clinical practice, scientific research, and regulatory actions. This chapter reviews broadly the development of the field of neurotoxicity and discusses some of the predominant current issues. The chapter includes consideration of the features of the nervous system that make it susceptible to toxicity, the response to injury, the evaluation of sensory, cognitive, and motor functions, and effects on emotionality, mood, and social conduct. An emphasis is placed on functional outcomes that may be especially important in occupational and industrial hygiene settings. There is increasingly an emphasis on potential toxic effects on neurodevelopment and contributions to neurodegenerative diseases. Also, there is a large and growing effort to develop more rapid and cost‐efficient screening tests for potential neurotoxicity. A brief overview of some of the major classes of neurotoxic substances is provided including metals, solvents, pesticides, persistent organic compounds, and air pollution. Finally, the need for programs to prevent neurotoxic illness is discussed.
Mercury
Authors: Farina Marcelo , Aschner Michael , Rocha Joao B.T.
Published: June 2023

Mercury is a global pollutant that exists in three oxidation states: Hg
0
(metallic), Hg
+
(mercurous), and Hg
2+
(mercuric) mercury. In organometallic derivatives, such as methylmercury (CH
3
Hg
+
), mercury is covalently bound to carbon. In its elemental form, mercury is a dense, silvery‐white, shiny metal, which is liquid at room temperature and boils at 357°C. At 20°C, the vapor pressure of the metal is 0.17 Pa (0.0013 mmHg), and a saturated atmosphere at this temperature contains a mercury concentration of 14 mg Hg/m
3
, which is more than 200 times the occupational exposure limit. Hg
0
residence in the atmosphere can be high (greater than a year). Mercury compounds differ greatly in their solubility, with metallic mercury being very sparingly soluble, and several salts, such as mercuric chloride, being soluble in water. Of relevance for its environmental fate, methylmercury interacts with nucleophilic groups (i.e. thiols) in aquatic organisms (mainly fish), being bioaccumulated and biomagnified in the aquatic food chain, which represents a major source of human exposure. Both Hg
2+
and methylmercury have strong affinity for thiol groups, in such a way that in the presence of living cells and dissolved organic matter, they will be found mainly bound to sulfide‐ or thiol‐containing molecules.
Lead
Authors: Jacobs David E.
Published: June 2023

Lead is an important industrial commodity that has numerous adverse health effects, even at relatively low levels of exposure. The mining of lead‐containing ores began in antiquity and was used in coins, weights, ornaments, cosmetics, utensils, ceramic glazes, solder, paints, gasoline, conduits for drinking water, and others. Although descriptions of the toxic effects of lead appeared very early in history, the association between the use of lead in industry, construction, and commerce and health effects was very slow to evolve. Insights into mechanisms of lead toxicity did not appear until the twentieth century. The correlation between pathological and clinical and sub‐clinical effects of lead on organ systems and routes of exposure in both the workplace and the community are reviewed. There continues to be an extensive body of new scientific literature to this day regarding the effects of lead, which allows for more precise interpretation of relationships between exposure and effect, especially “low level” lead exposures in both children and adults. The best treatment is the prevention of exposure. The objective of this chapter is to integrate the emerging scientific advances in the toxicology of lead with the occurrence and recognition of both clinical and more subtle subclinical effects. A list of current publications regarding health criteria and protective regulatory and guidance measures for exposure to lead in both the occupational setting and the community (with a focus on children) are provided.
Zirconium and Hafnium
Authors: Bevan Ruth
Published: June 2023

Zirconium and hafnium belong to the group IVB of the periodic table. A characteristic feature of these transition elements is the ease with which they form stable complex ions. Features that contribute to this ability are favorably high charge‐to‐radius ratios and the availability of unfilled d orbitals. The ability of forming metallic bonds is demonstrated by the existence of a wide variety of alloys among different transition metals. Other features of these metals are high densities, high melting points, and low vapor pressures. Within this group, these properties tend to increase with increasing atomic weight.

This chapter discusses the chemical and physical properties followed by the toxicity of each chemical and compound in two sections: the first section provides details on zirconium, and the second section on hafnium.
Manganese and Rhenium
Authors: Santonen Tiina , Sainio Markku
Published: June 2023

Manganese (Mn) and rhenium (Re) are group 7 (VIIB) transition elements. They both can exist in multiple valence states ranging from −3 to +7. While manganese is one of the most abundant elements in the earth's crust, rhenium is one of the rarest elements. The main use of manganese is in steel production. Organic manganese compound methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) is used as an additive to gasoline. Rhenium is one of the densest metals known. It is used in high‐temperature superalloys and, for example, in platinum–rhenium catalysts.

Manganese is an essential nutrient and readily available from a wide variety of foods. The main target organ of manganese toxicity is the brain. Clinical adverse effects have been described in occupational settings due to inhalation of Mn fumes and dusts, but excessive manganese intake may also result from dietary, environmental, or from its dysfunctional excretion. High exposure to manganese in miners and smelters has led to manganism, that is, a severe movement disorder, cognitive dysfunction, behavioral disturbances, and loss of libido. This is due to manganese accumulation and adverse effects in the brain basal ganglia. Recognition of subtle neurobehavioral effects in workers exposed to lower levels of manganese has led to progressive actions to limit occupational exposure. Manganese exposure has shown also effects in the respiratory system, which, however, may rather be due to particulate matter than to manganese ion. High doses of manganese have affected the sperm parameters and fertility of males in animal studies. Developmental neurotoxicity studies in animals suggest that early Mn exposure may impair learning, memory, and attention of the offspring. Very few information exists on the toxicity of rhenium. Limited evidence suggests low acute toxicity of perrhenates. Perrhenates accumulate in the thyroid. Repeated exposure to ammonium perrhenate has resulted in thyroid enlargement and follicular cell hypertrophy in animals at high doses.
Iron and Cobalt
Authors: Peterson Michael K.
Published: June 2023

This chapter provides an broad overview of topics relative to the occupational use and exposure to iron and cobalt. Topics addressed include chemical/physical properties, uses, exposure assessment, and toxic effects, as well as standards, regulations, and guidelines for exposure. Some information is provided on commonly found compounds of these elements as well.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Methylated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, and Polycyclic Azaaromatic Compounds
Authors: Beland Frederick A. , Camacho Luísa , Marques M. Matilde
Published: June 2023

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polycyclic azaaromatic compounds (carbazoles and acridines) are chemicals formed by the incomplete combustion of organic matter. These compounds have been detected in a wide variety of sources, including mainstream and sidestream cigarette smoke, mainstream smoke of marijuana cigarettes, gasoline, coal, and oil, gasoline and diesel engine exhaust, emissions from the combustion of oil, coal, wood, and garbage, grilled and smoked fish and meats, cooking oils, butter, and margarine, urban air, and various workplace scenarios. Due to their ubiquitous distribution, human exposure to these chemicals invariably occurs. A major concern regarding these agents is their potential carcinogenicity. In this chapter, we review the general properties, production, use, exposure assessment, metabolism, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity of specific chemicals from each of these classes. The focus is on agents that have been reviewed for carcinogenicity by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP).
Aliphatic Carboxylic Acids: Unsaturated
Authors: Bolt Hermann M.
Published: June 2023

As a class, the unsaturated carboxylic acids have been subjected to an extensive battery of studies, including acute, short‐term, and chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity tests and reproductive and developmental toxicity and genotoxicity tests. Overall, these acids have a low level of mammalian toxicity, although they are strong skin and eye irritants in animal tests and are irritating to mucosal membranes in humans. For those acids for which adequate studies have been conducted, there is no evidence that they are reproductive or developmental toxicants or carcinogens. Mutagenicity and clastogenicity studies suggest that this group of acids is devoid of genotoxic activity. The biochemistry of many of these acids can be found in general textbooks. Rapid metabolism to other fatty acids may explain their general low degree of toxicity.
Carbon Black
Authors: McCunney Robert J. , Levy Len , Chaudhuri Ishrat , Ngiewih Yufanyi , Yong Mei , Wampler Wesley
Published: June 2023

Carbon black is a powdered form of elemental carbon in the form of near‐spherical colloidal particles and coalesced particle aggregates of colloidal size, obtained by partial combustion or thermal decomposition of hydrocarbons. Due to its structure of aciniform (grape‐like) aggregates, carbon black is a member of the class of substances known as industrial aciniform aggregates (IAA), which also include precipitated amorphous silica, pyrogenic silica, titania, and pyrogenic alumina. It is distinguishable from other commercial carbons, such as charcoal, by its fine particulate nature and the shape, structure, and degree of fusion of the particles observed with the electron microscope. The fundamental unit of a carbon black particle is the aggregate.
Toxicokinetics
Authors: Clewell Rebecca A. , Clewell Harvey J.
Published: June 2023

This chapter presents an overview of current toxicokinetic modeling approaches for describing the absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of toxic chemicals in the body, and provides several examples of the application of toxicokinetic modeling in various aspects of chemical risk assessments. The concepts described in this chapter are important elements for understanding the determinants of chemical disposition, for determining the mode of action for the toxicity of a chemical, and for supporting more accurate extrapolations across dose and species for estimating the risks associated with exposures to the chemical.
Candidatus Nanoclepta
Authors: St. John Emily , Reysenbach Anna‐Louise
Published: June 2023

Na.no.clep'ta. Gr. masc. n.
nânos,
a dwarf; Gr. masc. n.
kleptês,
a thief; N.L. masc. n.
Nanoclepta,
a small thief, a small organism that steals from its host.

Nanoarchaeota / Nanobdellia / Nanobdellales / Nanobdellaceae / Candidatus
Nanoclepta

The genus
Candidatus
Nanoclepta currently comprises a single species,
Candidatus
Nanoclepta minutus Ncl‐1, an anaerobic hyperthermophile (optimal growth observed from 80 to 85°C) cultivated from a New Zealand hot spring. Cells are ultra‐small cocci (∼200 nm) with archaeal flagella and are cultivated in near‐neutral pH conditions (pH ∼6.0). Like several other
Nanoarchaeota
,
Ca
. N. minutus cells are epibionts on the surface of a host from the
Crenarchaeota
. Although this symbiosis is obligate for
Ca
. N. minutus, the relationship is not required for the host,
Zestosphaera tikiterensis
NZ3
T
, which can survive as a free‐living organism.
Ca
. N. minutus has a highly reduced genome (∼0.58 Mb) with minimal biosynthetic potential and no detected ATP synthase genes, and
Ca
. Nanoclepta cells likely rely on their host for many metabolic precursors.

DNA G + C content (mol%)
:
32.2 (genome analysis).

Type species
:
Candidatus Nanoclepta minutus
St. John et al. 2019a.
Tsuneonella
Authors: Zhou Peng , Bu Yu‐Xin , Xu Xue‐Wei
Published: June 2023

Tsu.ne.o.nel'la. N.L. fem. dim. n.
Tsuneonella
, named in honor of Tsuneo Shiba who established genus
Erythrobacter
.

Pseudomonadota / Alphaproteobacteria / Sphingomonadales / Erythrobacteraceae / Tsuneonella

The members of the genus
Tsuneonella
have been isolated from various environments, including air, freshwater, sediment, and sea urchin. Cells are ovoid to rod‐shaped, non‐spore‐forming, Gram‐stain‐negative, and nonmotile. They are aerobic or facultatively aerobic and contain carotenoid pigments but not bacteriochlorophyll
a
. The predominant quinone is ubiquinone‐10, and the major fatty acid is C
18:1
ω7
c
or summed feature 8 (C
18:1
ω7
c
and/or C
18:1
ω6
c
). The major polar lipids include diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Based on phylogenic analysis of the core genome, the genus
Tsuneonella
represents a distinct lineage in the family
Erythrobacteraceae
of the class
Alphaproteobacteria
.

DNA G + C content (mol%)
: 60.5–67.0 (genome sequence).

Type species
:
Tsuneonella dongtanensis
Xu et al. 2020
VP
(basonym: Altererythrobacter dongtanensis Fan et al. 2011
VP
).
Implementation of a Best Practice Advisory to Improve Infection Screening Prior to New Prescriptions of Biologics and Targeted Synthetic Drugs
Authors: Baker Hailey , Fine Rebecca , Suter Fenn , Allore Heather , Hsiao Betty , Chowdhary Vaidehi , Lavelle Elizabeth , Chen Ping , Hintz Richard , Suter Lisa G. , Danve Abhijeet
Published: June 2023

Objective

Use of biologic and targeted synthetic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) in patients with preexisting tuberculosis (TB), hepatitis B virus (HBV), or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can have serious consequences. Although various society guidelines recommend routine screening for these infections before initiating certain b/tsDMARDs, adherence to these recommendations varies widely. This quality improvement initiative evaluated local compliance with screening and assessed whether an automated computerized decision support system in the form of a best practice advisory (BPA) in the electronic health record could improve patient screening.

Methods

Established patients with autoimmune rheumatic disease (ARD) aged 18 years or older with at least one visit to our rheumatology practice between October 1, 2017, and March 3, 2022, were included. When prescribing a new b/tsDMARD, clinicians were alerted via a BPA that showed the most recent results for TB, HBV, and HCV. Screening proportions for TB, HBV, and HCV before BPA initiation were compared with those of eligible patients after the BPA implementation.

Results

A total of 711 patients pre‐BPA and 257 patients post‐BPA implementation were included in the study. The BPA implementation was associated with statistically significant improvement in screening for TB from 66% to 82% (P ≤ 0.001), HCV from 60% to 79% (P ≤ 0.001), hepatitis B core antibody 32% to 51% (P ≤ 0.001), and hepatitis B surface antigen from 51% to 70% (P ≤ 0.001).

Conclusion

Implementation of a BPA can improve infectious disease screening for patients with ARD who are started on b/tsDMARDs and has potential to improve patient safety.
Powder‐Based Additive Manufacturing: A Critical Review of Materials, Methods, Opportunities, and Challenges
Authors: Shanthar Rajinth , Chen Kun , Abeykoon Chamil
Published: June 2023

As a 0D material, powder particles can be used to create almost any complicated engineering component by utilizing the high‐performance manufacturing capabilities of additive manufacturing (AM). Although powder‐based AM methods provide an outstanding practical value and development for modern manufacturing world, they continue to face challenges such as a lack of accessible categories, temperature restrictions, and poor performance of molded components. Therefore, researching for new AM materials and procedures has become an extremely necessary endeavor. For this purpose, a firm grasp of the current state of the art of powder‐based AM technologies is imperative. Hence, herein, a comprehensive review is presented on the most widely used powder‐based AM methods, and the materials used by these methods. For each method, the development and current state, operating principles, limitations, and future prospects are summarized. In contrast, for materials, their classifications, properties, and preparation methods are explored in great detail, while also commenting on the specific compatibilities between powder materials and powder methods. Industrial and commercialized applications of powder‐based AM are also presented in this work. Finally, the limitations of the current powder‐based technologies are highlighted, with comments regarding the future of this field.
Fabrication of TC4/TiCp New Hip Prosthesis by Laser Cladding
Authors: Niu Fangyong , Zhang Kaijun , Han Jun , Xu Mingze , Wang Jianhe , Jiang Nizhou , Ma Guangyi , Wu Dongjiang , Wang Hong
Published: June 2023

Artificial hip prostheses are commonly utilized in total hip replacement surgeries. However, current single materials like metal, polyethylene, and ceramic do not satisfy the comprehensive performance requirements of prostheses, such as biocompatibility, wear resistance, and toughness. To address these limitations, a new metal–ceramic hip prosthesis which can be prepared by laser cladding technique is proposed. By combining the advantages of metal and ceramic, this prosthesis aims to overcome existing product limitations. A TiCp bioceramic coating is prepared on the TC4 surface, and its microstructure, mechanical properties, and biological characteristics are systematically analyzed. The results show that the TiCp phase is uniformly distributed in the coating. Additionally, dendritic TiCp at the bonding interface results in metallurgical bond between the coating and substrate. The α‐Ti phase in the matrix of the TiCp coating helps to enhance its fracture toughness and fatigue strength, while the solid solution of trace C elements in the matrix provides solid solution strengthening. Mechanical tests reveal that the microhardness of the TiCp coating is 2.5 times greater than that of the substrate, and the wear mass is reduced by 89.4%. Finally, the TiCp bioceramic coating is verified to be biocompatible, demonstrating excellent potential for use in hip prostheses.
Combining PEDOT:PSS Polymer Coating with Metallic 3D Nanowires Electrodes to Achieve High Electrochemical Performances for Neuronal Interfacing Applications
Authors: Muguet Ines , Maziz Ali , Mathieu Fabrice , Mazenq Laurent , Larrieu Guilhem
Published: June 2023

This study presents a novel approach to improve the performance of microelectrode arrays (MEAs) used for electrophysiological studies of neuronal networks. The integration of 3D nanowires (NWs) with MEAs increases the surface‐to‐volume ratio, which enables subcellular interactions and high‐resolution neuronal signal recording. However, these devices suffer from high initial interface impedance and limited charge transfer capacity due to their small effective area. To overcome these limitations, the integration of conductive polymer coatings, poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)‐poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is investigated as a mean of improving the charge transfer capacity and biocompatibility of MEAs. The study combines platinum silicide‐based metallic 3D nanowires electrodes with electrodeposited PEDOT:PSS coatings to deposit ultra‐thin (<50 nm) layers of conductive polymer onto metallic electrodes with very high selectivity. The polymer‐coated electrodes were fully characterized electrochemically and morphologically to establish a direct relationship between synthesis conditions, morphology, and conductive features. Results show that PEDOT‐coated electrodes exhibit thickness‐dependent improved stimulation and recording performances, offering new perspectives for neuronal interfacing with optimal cell engulfment to enable the study of neuronal activity with acute spatial and signal resolution at the sub‐cellular level.
Sorting, Characterization, Environmentally Friendly Recycling, and Reuse of Components from End‐of‐Life 18650 Li Ion Batteries
Authors: Cattaneo Pietro , Callegari Daniele , Merli Daniele , Tealdi Cristina , Vadivel Dhanalakshmi , Milanese Chiara , Kapelyushko Valeriy , D'Aprile Fiorenza , Quartarone Eliana
Published: June 2023

The rapid growth in demand for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) is posing challenges in the management of end‐of‐life (EoL) systems and the supply of critical raw materials (CRMs), especially lithium, cobalt, and nickel. Such challenges can be addressed by collecting and recycling spent LIBs through economically and environmentally sustainable processes and by enabling the transition to a circular economy vision based on the use of secondary raw materials. These processes involve not only the metallurgic approaches to recover the critical metals, but also the pretreatment approaches that are crucial to enhance the recovery efficiency of other valuable materials (e.g., graphite, fluorinated compounds, binders, electrolyte). Herein, pretreatment processes ranging from the disassembling, opening, and sorting to the component separation, collection, and recovery, are described for the EoL 18650‐type commercial LIB. A closed loop of eco‐friendly recycling to fully recover the composite cathode, i.e., the cathode active material (CAM), the fluorinated binder, and the conductive carbon, as well as the separator, is presented. The recovery approach is based on green solvents and is designed to limit water consumption. The recovered materials are used to assemble a new cell, and the electrochemical characterization is used to evaluate the effective feasibility of the whole recycling process.
Adaptive Robust Control for Uncertain Underactuated Mechanical Systems
Authors: Zhang Jiale , Jiao Shengjie , Yi Xiaogang , Wu Chenguang
Published: June 2023

An adaptive robust control method is proposed for underactuated mechanical systems (UMSs) with uncertainty in the paper. UMSs are supposed to follow prescribed constraints when there is uncertainty. Inspired by the Udwadia–Kalaba modeling approach, those constraints are considered as control objectives realized by robust control. The uncertainty considered in UMSs is characterized as time‐varying and bounded, albeit with unknown bounds. In order to estimate the boundary information, a novel adaptive law is developed. By using the Lyapunov function, the UMS is guaranteed to be uniform boundedness and uniform ultimate boundedness. The simulation is validated by using a two‐wheeled bicycle as an example, compared to conventional PD control methods. The simulation comparison results show that the proposed control method exhibits notable characteristics, including fast transient response, small overshoots, and good robust performance.
Identification of Histone Lysine Acetoacetylation as a Dynamic Post‐Translational Modification Regulated by HBO1
Authors: Gao Yan , Sheng Xinlei , Tan Doudou , Kim SunJoo , Choi Soyoung , Paudel Sanjita , Lee Taeho , Yan Cong , Tan Minjia , Kim Kyu Min , Cho Sam Seok , Ki Sung Hwan , Huang He , Zhao Yingming , Lee Sangkyu
Published: June 2023

Ketone bodies have long been known as a group of lipid‐derived alternative energy sources during glucose shortages. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying their non‐metabolic functions remain largely elusive. This study identified acetoacetate as the precursor for lysine acetoacetylation (Kacac), a previously uncharacterized and evolutionarily conserved histone post‐translational modification. This protein modification is comprehensively validated using chemical and biochemical approaches, including HPLC co‐elution and MS/MS analysis using synthetic peptides, Western blot, and isotopic labeling. Histone Kacac can be dynamically regulated by acetoacetate concentration, possibly via acetoacetyl‐CoA. Biochemical studies show that HBO1, traditionally known as an acetyltransferase, can also serve as an acetoacetyltransferase. In addition, 33 Kacac sites are identified on mammalian histones, depicting the landscape of histone Kacac marks across species and organs. In summary, this study thus discovers a physiologically relevant and enzymatically regulated histone mark that sheds light on the non‐metabolic functions of ketone bodies.
Efficient Mining of Anticancer Peptides from Gut Metagenome
Authors: Ma Yue , Liu Xiaolin , Zhang Xuan , Yu Ying , Li Yujing , Song Moshi , Wang Jun
Published: June 2023

The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in modulating host health and disease. It serves as a vast reservoir of functional molecules that hold great potential for clinical applications. One specific area of interest is identifying anticancer peptides (ACPs) for innovative cancer therapies. However, ACPs discovery is hindered by a heavy reliance on experimental methodologies. To overcome this limitation, we here employed a novel approach by leveraging the overlap between ACPs and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). By combining well‐established AMP prediction methods with mining techniques in metagenomic cohorts, a total of 40 potential ACPs is identified. Out of the identified ACPs, 39 demonstrated inhibitory effects against at least one cancer cell line, exhibiting significant differences from known ACPs. Moreover, the therapeutic potential of the two most promising peptides in a mouse xenograft cancer model is evaluated. Encouragingly, the peptides exhibit effective tumor inhibition without any detectable toxic effects. Interestingly, both peptides display uncommon secondary structures, highlighting its distinctive characteristics. This findings highlight the efficacy of the multi‐center mining approach, which effectively uncovers novel ACPs from the gut microbiome. This approach has significant implications for expanding treatment options not only for CRC, but also for other cancer types.
HaptGlove—Untethered Pneumatic Glove for Multimode Haptic Feedback in Reality–Virtuality Continuum
Authors: Qi Jiaming , Gao Feng , Sun Guanghui , Yeo Joo Chuan , Lim Chwee Teck
Published: June 2023

Novel haptics technologies are urgently needed to bridge the gap between entirely physical world and fully digital environment to render a more realistic and immersive human–computer interaction. Current virtual reality (VR) haptic gloves either deliver limited haptic feedback or are bulky and heavy. The authors develop a haptic glove or HaptGlove, an untethered and lightweight pneumatic glove, that allows users to “physically” interact in a VR environment and enables both kinesthetic and cutaneous sensations naturally and realistically. Integrated with five pairs of haptic feedback modules and fiber sensors, HaptGlove provides variable stiffness force feedback and fingertip force and vibration feedback, allowing users to touch, press, grasp, squeeze, and pull various virtual objects and feel the dynamic haptic changes. Significant improvements in VR realism and immersion are observed in a user study with participants achieving 78.9% accuracy in sorting six virtual balls of different stiffnesses. Importantly, HaptGlove facilitates VR training, education, entertainment, and socialization in a reality–virtuality continuum.
Long‐Read Sequencing Reveals Extensive DNA Methylations in Human Gut Phagenome Contributed by Prevalently Phage‐Encoded Methyltransferases
Authors: Sun Chuqing , Chen Jingchao , Jin Menglu , Zhao Xueyang , Li Yun , Dong Yanqi , Gao Na , Liu Zhi , Bork Peer , Zhao Xing‐Ming , Chen Wei‐Hua
Published: June 2023

DNA methylation plays a crucial role in the survival of bacteriophages (phages), yet the understanding of their genome methylation remains limited. In this study, DNA methylation patterns are analyzed in 8848 metagenome‐assembled high‐quality phages from 104 fecal samples using single‐molecule real‐time sequencing. The results demonstrate that 97.60% of gut phages exhibit methylation, with certain factors correlating with methylation densities. Phages with higher methylation densities appear to have potential viability advantages. Strikingly, more than one‐third of the phages possess their own DNA methyltransferases (MTases). Increased MTase copies are associated with higher genome methylation densities, specific methylation motifs, and elevated prevalence of certain phage groups. Notably, the majority of these MTases share close homology with those encoded by gut bacteria, suggesting their exchange during phage–bacterium interactions. Furthermore, these MTases can be employed to accurately predict phage–host relationships. Overall, the findings indicate the widespread utilization of DNA methylation by gut DNA phages as an evasion mechanism against host defense systems, with a substantial contribution from phage‐encoded MTases.
InSitu Integrated Fabrication for Multi‐Interface Stabilized and Highly Durable Polyaniline@Graphene Oxide/Polyether Ether Ketone Special Separation Membranes
Authors: Lin Ziyu , Zhong Jundong , Sun Runyin , Wei Yingzhen , Sun Zhonghui , Li Wenying , Chen Liyuan , Sun Yirong , Zhang Haibo , Pang Jinhui , Jiang Zhenhua
Published: June 2023

Special separation membranes are widely employed for separation and purification purposes under challenging operating conditions due to their low energy consumption, excellent solvent, and corrosion resistance. However, the development of membranes is limited by corrosion‐resistant polymer substrates and precise interfacial separation layers. Herein, polyaniline (PANI) is employed to achieve insitu anchoring of multiple interfaces, resulting in the fabrication of polyaniline@graphene oxide/polyether ether ketone (PANI@GO/PEEK) membranes. Insitu growth of PANI achieves the adequate bonding of the PEEK substrate and GO separation interface, which solves the problem of solution processing of PEEK and the instability of GO layers. By bottom‐up confined polymerization of aniline, it could control the pore size of the separation layer, correct defects, and anchor among polymer, nano‐separation layer, and nano‐sheet. The mechanism of membrane construction within the confined domain and micro‐nano structure modulation is further explored. The membranes demonstrate exceptional stability realizing over 90% rejection in 2 m HCl, NaOH, and high temperatures. Additionally, –membranes exhibit remarkable durability after 240 days immersion and 100 h long‐term operation, which display the methanol flux of 50.2 L m−2 h−1 and 92% rejection of AF (585 g mol−1). This method substantially contributes to special separation membranes by offering a novel strategy.
Low Catalyst Loading Enhances Charge Accumulation for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
Authors: Liu Tianying , Li Wei , Wang David Z. , Luo Tongtong , Fei Muchun , Shin Dongyoon , Waegele Matthias M. , Wang Dunwei
Published: June 2023

Solar water oxidation is a critical step in artificial photosynthesis. Successful completion of the process requires four holes and releases four protons. It depends on the consecutive accumulation of charges at the active site. While recent research has shown an obvious dependence of the reaction kinetics on the hole concentrations on the surface of heterogeneous (photo)electrodes, little is known about how the catalyst density impacts the reaction rate. Using atomically dispersed Ir catalysts on hematite, we report a study on how the interplay between the catalyst density and the surface hole concentration influences the reaction kinetics. At low photon flux, where surface hole concentrations are low, faster charge transfer was observed on photoelectrodes with low catalyst density compared to high catalyst density; at high photon flux and high applied potentials, where surface hole concentrations are moderate or high, slower surface charge recombination was afforded by low‐density catalysts. The results support that charge transfer between the light absorber and the catalyst is reversible; they reveal the unexpected benefits of low‐density catalyst loading in facilitating forward charge transfer for desired chemical reactions. It is implied that for practical solar water splitting devices, a suitable catalyst loading is important for maximized performance.
Why do we need sex‐balanced studies of autism?
Authors: Nordahl Christine Wu
Published: June 2023

Males are diagnosed with autism much more frequently than females, and most research study samples reflect this male predominance. The result is that autistic females are understudied. There is a critical need to increase our understanding of autistic females, both biologically and clinically. The only way to do this is to recruit sex‐balanced cohorts in studies so that similarities and differences between males and females can be evaluated in all autism research studies. The purpose of this commentary is to (1) provide historical context about how females came to be under‐represented in all research, not just in the field of autism and (2) learn from other areas of health and medicine about the potentially dire consequences of not studying both sexes, and (3) draw attention to the need to recruit sex‐balanced cohorts in autism research, particularly in neuroimaging studies.
Automated calibration training for forecasters
Authors: Stone Eric R. , Luu Jason , Costello Cory K. , Somerville Annie H.
Published: June 2023

In two studies, we investigated the effectiveness of an automated form of calibration training via individualized feedback as a means to improve calibration in forecasts. In Experiment 1, this training procedure was tested in a realistic forecasting situation, namely, predicting the outcome of baseball games. Experiment 2 was similar but used a more controlled forecasting task, predicting whether competitors would bust in a modified version of blackjack. In comparison to a control group without training, participants provided with calibration training had reduced confidence levels, which translated into reduced overconfidence and better overall calibration in Experiment 2. The results across both studies suggest that an automated form of individualized performance feedback can reduce the confidence of initially overconfident forecasters.
Disruption of regulatory domains and novel transcripts as disease‐causing mechanisms
Authors: Allou Lila , Mundlos Stefan
Published: June 2023

Deletions, duplications, insertions, inversions, and translocations, collectively called structural variations (SVs), affect more base pairs of the genome than any other sequence variant. The recent technological advancements in genome sequencing have enabled the discovery of tens of thousands of SVs per human genome. These SVs primarily affect non‐coding DNA sequences, but the difficulties in interpreting their impact limit our understanding of human disease etiology. The functional annotation of non‐coding DNA sequences and methodologies to characterize their three‐dimensional (3D) organization in the nucleus have greatly expanded our understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying gene regulation, thereby improving the interpretation of SVs for their pathogenic impact. Here, we discuss the various mechanisms by which SVs can result in altered gene regulation and how these mechanisms can result in rare genetic disorders. Beyond changing gene expression, SVs can produce novel gene‐intergenic fusion transcripts at the SV breakpoints.
Inhibitory Effects of Corydalis saxicola Bunting Total Alkaloids on Macrophage Pyroptosis
Authors: Feng Cong , Yong Xiangzhi , Jiang Qiaozhi , Su Zhiheng , Liu Zhenmin , Wu Tiantian , Tao Renchuan
Published: June 2023

This study investigated the effect of Corydalis saxicola Bunting total alkaloids (CSBTA) on pyroptosis in macrophages (Mϕ). In the Mϕ pyroptosis model, an inverted fluorescence microscope was used to assess cell pyroptosis, while a scanning electron microscope was used to observe morphological changes in Mϕ. NLR family pyrin domain‐containing 3 (NLRP3), caspase‐1, and gasdermin D (GSDMD) expression levels were detected by polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, whereas interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) and interleukin‐18 (IL‐18) expression levels were measured by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. After pretreatment with CSBTA or the caspase‐1 inhibitor, acetyl‐tyrosyl‐valyl‐alanyl‐aspartyl‐chloromethylketone (Ac‐YVAD‐cmk), it was discovered that NLRP3, caspase‐1, and GSDMD expressions were significantly reduced at both the mRNA and protein levels, as were IL‐1 and IL‐18 levels. The inhibitory effects of CSBTA and Ac‐YVAD‐cmk did not differ significantly. These findings indicate that CSBTA blocks Porphyromonas gingivalis‐lipopolysaccharide‐induced Mϕ pyroptosis.
Chemical Synthesis of Peptides and Proteins Bearing Base‐Labile Post‐Translational Modifications: Evolution of the Methods in Four Decades
Authors: Ma Wenjie , Liu Han , Li Xuechen
Published: June 2023

The S‐palmitoylation on Cys residue and O‐acetylation on Ser/Thr residues are two types of base‐labile post‐translational modifications (PTMs) in cells. The lability of these PTMs to bases and nucleophiles makes the peptides/proteins bearing S‐palmitoyl or O‐acetyl groups challenging synthetic targets, which cannot be prepared via the standard Fmoc‐SPPS and native chemical ligation. In this review, we summarized the efforts towards their preparation in the past 40 years, with the focus on the evolution of synthetic methods.
Primary lung adenocarcinoma in transplanted lung in post bilateral lung transplantation
Authors: Mubarak Fathima Shafra , Agrawal Sanjay , Rao Jagan
Published: June 2023

Key Clinical Message

Primary lung cancer was reported by a bilateral lung transplant patient without any risk factors. Single lung transplantation should be contemplated instead of double lung transplantation as it has been shown to increase the risk of lung cancers.

This is a case report of a 37‐year‐old woman, with no history of smoking, who developed adenocarcinoma in her transplanted lung 17 years post transplantation. The development of lung cancer 17 years after transplantation is considered as a rare finding in this case report. According to the Annual Report on Cardiothoracic Organ Transplantation 2019–2020, the NHS Blood and Transplant Data, approximately 156 lung transplants were performed in the UK during 2019–2020. The third most common primary disease group recipient was cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. There are several medical complications described in the recipients' post‐lung transplantation, and the increased risk of lung malignancy due to immunosuppression is well‐established in comparison to the general population. Most cancers, however, develop in the native lung following a single lung transplant. Several cases of lymphoproliferative malignancies in the transplanted lung have been reported following bilateral lung transplantation. This is a case report of a 37‐year‐old woman with no history of smoking who developed adenocarcinoma in her transplanted lung 17 years later. This patient underwent lobectomy via thoracotomy and was discharged home in good condition. Only a few cases of patients developing primary lung cancer in the transplanted lung with no recipient risk factor have been reported in the literature to date. The development of lung cancer 17 years after transplantation was a rare finding in this case report.
Beyond entrepreneurial failure: Framing failure in the context of family business succession
Authors: Yezza Hedi , Chabaud Didier
Published: June 2023

Entrepreneurial failure in the business creation context has received increasing attention over the past 2 decades. However, family business succession failure remains largely unexplored. Accordingly, the aim of this research is to understand the meaning of failure during family succession by proposing a typology of failure adapted to this context. A longitudinal qualitative study was conducted over six years with seven Tunisian family businesses, involving 54 interviews, mainly with their incumbent and successor. The main results highlight diverse perceptions of failure among successors, incumbents and other stakeholders. The findings also demonstrate that the family dimension must be considered to better understand business succession failure.
Microblog topic detection using evolutionary clustering and social network information
Authors: Mashayekhi Hoda , Alavi Elham Sadat , Rezaie Behzad
Published: June 2023

The messages in microblogs, like Twitter, present a wealth of information around the hot topics and public opinions. Topic detection and tracking enables a better understanding of the incoming information from social networks. Many of the studies performed in this field consider a set of predefined number of topics (clusters) which remain constant during the detection process. Such approaches are not efficient when data is dynamic and cumulative. In addition, nonparametric evolutionary topic models do not have an accurate performance on short texts due to the data deficiency. In this article, we propose an evolutionary clustering model based on the Bayesian nonparametric Dirichlet process mixture model, which automatically determines the number of clusters. To improve the algorithm performance when dealing with short social media texts, temporal information of tweets and other social network parameters are used in a weighted combination to augment the text similarity in detecting topics. Model evaluation is performed on the data gathered from the Twitter during a 2.5‐month period. Results reveal that the social network information can promote the topic detection performance. The proposed model outperforms previous study in terms of topic coherence and clustering performance, leading to a better clustering on short texts.