bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Scavenger Receptor MARCO Expressed by Tumor-Associated Macrophages Are Highly Associated With Poor Pancreatic Cancer Prognosis
Authors: Shi Bian , Chu Junfeng , Huang Tao , Wang Xiaoqian , Li Qiujian , Gao Qilong , Xia Qingxin , Luo Suxia
Published: October 2021

Macrophage-targeting therapies have become attractive strategies for immunotherapy. Deficiency of MARCO significantly inhibits tumor progression and metastasis in murine models of pancreatic cancer. However, the role of MARCO in patients with pancreatic cancer remains unclear. In the present study, we analyzed tumor-associated macrophage (TAM)-related changes using the Cancer Genome Atlas database. We observed a significant enrichment of M2 macrophages in pancreatic cancer tissues. We found that several pro-tumor markers are increased in cancer tissues, including CD163, CD206, SIRPα, LILRB1, SIGLEC10, AXL, MERTK, and MARCO. Crucially, MARCO is highly or exclusively expressed in pancreatic cancer across many types of solid tumors, suggesting its significant role in pancreatic cancer. Next, we investigated the expression of MARCO in relation to the macrophage marker CD163 in a treatment-naïve pancreatic cancer cohort after surgery (n = 65). MARCO and CD163 were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. We observed increased expression of CD163 and MARCO in pancreatic cancer tissues compared with paracancerous tissues. Furthermore, we observed a large variation in CD163 and MARCO expression in pancreatic cancer tissues among cases, suggesting the heterogeneous expression of these two markers among patients. Correlation to clinical data indicated a strong trend toward worse survival for patients with high CD163 and MARCO macrophage infiltration. Moreover, high CD163 and MARCO expression negatively affected the disease-free survival and overall survival rates of patients with pancreatic cancer. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that CD163 and MARCO expression was an independent indicator of pancreatic cancer prognosis. In conclusion, high CD163 and MARCO expression in cancer tissues is a negative prognostic marker for pancreatic cancer after surgery. Furthermore, anti-MARCO may be a novel therapy that is worth studying in depth.
A Meta-Analysis of the Risk Factors of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in Newborns
Authors: Zhou Ran , Zheng You-Ning , Zhang Xin-Ying , Cheng Ya-Ying
Published: October 2021

Objective: To determine the risk factors of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn using a meta-analysis method and provide a reference for its clinical prevention and treatment.

Methods: A meta-analysis was performed by searching the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine Disc, Wanfang, and Chinese VIP journal databases, as well as the China National Knowledge Infrastructure.

Results: A total of 22 references were included in the meta-analysis; the cumulative medical records comprised 7,937 cases, and 2,613,072 control cases were included. A total of 12 related risk factors were included (7 were associated with pregnant women and 5 were associated with newborns).

Conclusion: Among the 12 associated risk factors included, the three most important and their combined odds ratio values and 95% CI were as follows: (1) pregnant women smoking, 4.85 (1.98–11.9) during pregnancy; (2) gestational weeks <37, 4.34 (1.64–11.5); (3) perinatal asphyxia, 3.9 (2.87–5.31).
Krill Oil Alleviated Methamphetamine-Induced Memory Impairment via the MAPK Signaling Pathway and Dopaminergic Synapse Pathway
Authors: Ru Qin , Tian Xiang , Xiong Qi , Xu Congyue , Chen Lin , Wu Yuxiang
Published: October 2021

Methamphetamine (METH) abuse exerts severe harmful effects in multiple organs, especially the brain, and can induce cognitive dysfunction and memory deficits in humans. Krill oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, while its effect on METH-induced cognitive impairment and mental disorders, and the underlying mechanism remain unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of krill oil on METH-induced memory deficits and to explore the molecular mechanisms by using an integrated strategy of bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification. METH-exposed mice were treated with or without krill oil. Learning and memory functions were evaluated by the Morris water maze. The drug–component–target network was constructed in combination with network pharmacology. The predicted hub genes and pathways were validated by the Western blot technique. With krill oil treatment, memory impairment induced by METH was significantly improved. 210 predicted targets constituted the drug–compound–target network by network pharmacology analysis. 20 hub genes such as DRD2, MAPK3, CREB, BDNF, and caspase-3 were filtered out as the underlying mechanisms of krill oil on improving memory deficits induced by METH. The KEGG pathway and GO enrichment analyses showed that the MAPK signaling pathway, cAMP signaling pathway, and dopaminergic synapse pathway were involved in the neuroprotective effects of krill oil. In the hippocampus, DRD2, cleaved caspase-3, and γ-H2AX expression levels were significantly increased in the METH group but decreased in the krill oil–treated group. Meanwhile, krill oil enhanced the expressions of p-PKA, p-ERK1/2, and p-CREB. Our findings suggested that krill oil improved METH-induced memory deficits, and this effect may occur via the MAPK signaling pathway and dopaminergic synapse pathways. The combination of network pharmacology approaches with experimental validation may offer a useful tool to characterize the molecular mechanism of multicomponent complexes.
Development of a Collagen Fibre Remodelling Rupture Risk Metric for Potentially Vulnerable Carotid Artery Atherosclerotic Plaques
Authors: Ghasemi Milad , Johnston Robert D. , Lally Caitríona
Published: October 2021

Atherosclerotic plaque rupture in carotid arteries can lead to stroke which is one of the leading causes of death or disability worldwide. The accumulation of atherosclerotic plaque in an artery changes the mechanical properties of the vessel. Whilst healthy arteries can continuously adapt to mechanical loads by remodelling their internal structure, particularly the load-bearing collagen fibres, diseased vessels may have limited remodelling capabilities. In this study, a local stress modulated remodelling algorithm is proposed to explore the mechanical response of arterial tissue to the remodelling of collagen fibres. This stress driven remodelling algorithm is used to predict the optimum distribution of fibres in healthy and diseased human carotid bifurcations obtained using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). In the models, healthy geometries were segmented into two layers: media and adventitia and diseased into four components: adventitia, media, plaque atheroma and lipid pool (when present in the MRI images). A novel meshing technique for hexahedral meshing of these geometries is also demonstrated. Using the remodelling algorithm, the optimum fibre patterns in various patient specific plaques are identified and the role that deviations from these fibre configurations in plaque vulnerability is shown. This study provides critical insights into the collagen fibre patterns required in carotid artery and plaque tissue to maintain plaque stability.
Overexpression of IbFAD8 Enhances the Low-Temperature Storage Ability and Alpha-Linolenic Acid Content of Sweetpotato Tuberous Roots
Authors: Lee Chan-Ju , Kim So-Eun , Park Sul-U , Lim Ye-Hoon , Ji Chang Yoon , Jo Hyun , Lee Jeong-Dong , Yoon Ung-Han , Kim Ho Soo , Kwak Sang-Soo
Published: October 2021

Sweetpotato is an emerging food crop that ensures food and nutrition security in the face of climate change. Alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) is one of the key factors affecting plant stress tolerance and is also an essential nutrient in humans. In plants, fatty acid desaturase 8 (FAD8) synthesizes ALA from linoleic acid (LA). Previously, we identified the cold-induced IbFAD8 gene from RNA-seq of sweetpotato tuberous roots stored at low-temperature. In this study, we investigated the effect of IbFAD8 on the low-temperature storage ability and ALA content of the tuberous roots of sweetpotato. Transgenic sweetpotato plants overexpressing IbFAD8 (TF plants) exhibited increased cold and drought stress tolerance and enhanced heat stress susceptibility compared with non-transgenic (NT) plants. The ALA content of the tuberous roots of TF plants (0.19 g/100 g DW) was ca. 3.8-fold higher than that of NT plants (0.05 g/100 g DW), resulting in 8–9-fold increase in the ALA/LA ratio in TF plants. Furthermore, tuberous roots of TF plants showed better low-temperature storage ability compared with NT plants. These results indicate that IbFAD8 is a valuable candidate gene for increasing the ALA content, environmental stress tolerance, and low-temperature storage ability of sweetpotato tuberous roots via molecular breeding.
Fear of Backlash Moderates Female Senior Executives' Communion (but Not Agency) as Compared to Female Lecturers
Authors: Tan Xiao , Zuo Bin , Wen Fangfang , Xie Zhijie , Song Shijie
Published: October 2021

Today, many women work in occupational roles that had once been dominated by men (e.g., senior business executives). However, expectations on senior executives to be agentic (e.g., assertive, dominant) may conflict with prescriptive stereotypes about women to be communal (e.g., helpful, warm). According to this double-bind dilemma, female senior executives get criticized for lacking either agency or communion as both dimensions can be perceived as posing a tradeoff. We hypothesize that female senior executives report higher levels of agency and lower levels of communion than women in a more neutral role (e.g., lecturers) due to the perceived requirements of these occupational roles. In Study 1, N = 212 students rated adjectives on their desirability for men vs. women in Chinese society. They rated agentic characteristics as more desirable for men and communal characteristics as more desirable for women. Studies 2 and 3 used this material. Study 2 randomly assigned N = 207 female students to the role of a senior executive vs. lecturer. Study 3 was conducted with N = 202 female role occupants (96 senior executives, 106 lecturers). As expected, female senior executives reported higher levels of agency and lower levels of communion than female lecturers in both studies. Some women may be particularly aware of the above-mentioned double-bind dilemma and may be more worried about the potential backlash than others. They may attempt to reconcile occupational demands (i.e., higher agency, lower communion) with prescriptive gender stereotypes (i.e., lower agency, higher communion). We, therefore, explored whether fear of backlash attenuates the effect of the type of role of women (senior executives vs. lecturers) on agency and communion. Indeed, we found that senior executives who were particularly worried about backlash reported almost as much communion as lecturers did. In contrast, senior executives consistently reported higher levels of agency than lecturers regardless of their fear of backlash. The present study documents prescriptive gender stereotypes in China, how women differ as a function of their occupational roles, and how fear of backlash may motivate female senior executives to reconcile having high levels of both agency and communion.
Individual Differences in the Change of Attentional Functions With Brief One-Time Focused Attention and Open Monitoring Meditations
Authors: Tanaka Masaru , Nakashima Ryoichi , Hiromitsu Kentaro , Imamizu Hiroshi
Published: October 2021

Mindfulness meditation is increasingly used for clinical treatment and to improve well-being. One of the most fundamental benefits of mindfulness meditation is now considered as enhanced attentional control. Mindfulness meditation is a complex technique but most of its variants consist of a combination of two types of basic meditation practice: focused attention meditation (FAM) and open monitoring meditation (OMM). Although many studies have examined the effect of relatively long-term meditation on attention, some recent studies have focused on the effect of a brief one-time meditation on cognitive processing, including attentional functions. Furthermore, it is necessary to discuss the relationship between the effect of mindfulness meditation on attentional functions and personality traits (especially traits related to mindfulness). This study investigated whether attentional control is improved by a single 30-min FAM or OMM and whether the degree of improvement in attentional functions – alerting, orienting, and conflict monitoring – induced by the meditation varies according to the participant’s trait scores related to mindfulness measured by the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups, i.e., FAM, OMM, and no-meditation (noM) groups, and given an Attentional Network Test before and after each 30-min meditation session. Compared with the noM group, there was no overall improvement in attentional functions with either type of meditation. However, there were associations between the change of the alerting function’s score and the personality traits: in the FAM group, alerting scores were negatively associated with the nonreactivity facet of the FFMQ, and in the OMM group, alerting scores were positively associated with describing facet scores of the FFMQ. The results indicate that the effects of meditation methods on attentional functions could depend on the individual’s traits related to mindfulness and that mindfulness meditation could sometimes appear to have no impact on attentional functions.
Effect of Regret Aversion and Information Cascade on Investment Decisions in the Real Estate Sector: The Mediating Role of Risk Perception and the Moderating Effect of Financial Literacy
Authors: Wangzhou Kaixin , Khan Mahnoor , Hussain Sajjad , Ishfaq Muhammad , Farooqi Rabia
Published: October 2021

The real estate sector plays a significant role in the economy of any country. However, many investors make irrational investments in the real estate market. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the effects of regret aversion and information cascade on investment decisions while considering the moderating role of financial literacy and the mediating effect of risk perception in the real estate sector of developing countries. This research utilized a quantitative research technique, collecting data by distributing structured questionnaires to real estate investors, followed by convenience sampling. This study used both descriptive and inferential statistics to make the data more meaningful. SPSS 25.0 was utilized to interpret the data. Cronbach's alpha was used to test for internal consistency, while validity was checked through correlation. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied to confirm that the items on the questionnaire are perfectly loaded on their construct. Furthermore, process macro, model 5, was used to investigate the moderation mediation. This work addresses a gap in the literature by studying financial literacy as a moderator and risk perception as a mediating variable in regret aversion bias and information cascade bias's relationships with investment decisions in the real estate sector. The results confirmed that financial literacy weakens the negative effect of behavioral biases (regret aversion and information cascade) on investment decisions. In addition, risk perception mediates the relationships between these cognitive biases (regret aversion and information cascade) and decision making. The effects of other behavioral biases in real estate and stock market contexts should be examined in future research.
Developing an App to Screen for Dual Disorders: A Tool for Improving Treatment Services in Mexico
Authors: Marín-Navarrete Rodrigo , Torrens Marta , Toledo-Fernández Aldebarán , Mestre-Pinto Joan Ignasi , Sánchez-Domínguez Ricardo , Pérez-Lopez Alejandro , Saracco-Alvarez Ricardo , Madrigal-De León Eduardo Ángel , Szerman Nestor
Published: October 2021

Background: Previous studies in Mexico undertaken at residential facilities for treating substance use disorders (SUDs) reported that the prevalence of Dual Disorders (DDs) is over 65%. DDs pose a major challenge for the Mexican health system, particularly for community-based residential care facilities for SUDs, due to the shortage of certified professionals to diagnose and treat these patients. Moreover, the lack of standardized algorithms for screening for and evaluating DDs to refer patients to specialized services (whether private or public) hinders timely care, delaying the start of integrated treatment. The use of new technologies provides a strategic opportunity for the timely detection of DDs through the development of standardized digital applications for the timely detection of DDs.

Objective: To develop an app to screen for DDs, which will contribute to referral to specialized services in keeping with the level of severity of psychiatric and addictive symptomatology, and be suitable for use by community-based residential care facilities for SUDs.

Method: The research project was implemented in two stages. Stage 1 involved obtaining the psychometric properties of the Dual Diagnosis Screening Interview (DDSI). Stage 2 consisted of two steps to test the Beta version of the app and the quality of version 1.0.

Results: The DDS obtained sensitivity and specificity scores above 85%. The app and its algorithm to screen for and refer DDs proved to be efficient and easy to apply with satisfactory community acceptance.

Conclusion: The app promises to be a useful screening tool at residential addiction treatment centers.
Inclusive Early Childhood Education for Children With and Without Autism: Progress, Barriers, and Future Directions
Authors: Siller Michael , Morgan Lindee , Wedderburn Quentin , Fuhrmeister Sally , Rudrabhatla Asha
Published: October 2021

University-affiliated lab and model schools play an important role in creating educational innovations in inclusive early childhood education (ECE) for young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In the United States, access to inclusive high-quality ECE programs for young children with disabilities has been required by law for over 40 years, has been recommended by leading professional organizations, and has been emphasized in federal public policy initiatives. Yet, improvement in the rates of young children with disabilities experiencing inclusion has been limited. This review article consists of three parts. First, we identify and describe four barriers to wide-scale implementation of inclusive ECE programs for children with ASD in the US. These barriers include (1) the fragmented nature of the ECE system in the United States, (2) the age at which ASD is typically first diagnosed in the community, (3) the diverse presentation/support needs of children with ASD, and (4) the thoughts and feelings of parents of children without disability about inclusion. Second, we used a snowball sampling approach to identify nine leading university-affiliated, inclusive lab and model schools for young children with ASD. By describing these programs, we highlight similarities and differences between programs, and capture the unique ways in which these programs adapt to local conditions, resources, and barriers (e.g., federal and state regulations, funding sources, community resources, institutional structures and priorities, professional orientation and training, access to families and staff). Finally, we propose a roadmap for researchers focused on the development, evaluation, and implementation of community-viable inclusive ECE programs in ASD. This roadmap leverages synergies between inclusive university-affiliated lab and model preschools in ASD, and proposes the formation of a research network that creates an infrastructure for cross-program collaboration.
Global, Regional, and National Death, and Disability-Adjusted Life-Years (DALYs) for Cardiovascular Disease in 2017 and Trends and Risk Analysis From 1990 to 2017 Using the Global Burden of Disease Study and Implications for Prevention
Authors: Li Zhiyong , Lin Longfei , Wu Hongwei , Yan Lei , Wang Huanhuan , Yang Hongjun , Li Hui
Published: October 2021

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and a major barrier to sustainable human development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the global, sex, age, region, and country-related cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden, as well as the trends, risk factors, and implications for the prevention of CVD.

Methods: Detailed information from 1990 to 2017, including global, regional, and national rates of CVD, and 11 categories of mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were collected from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The time-dependent change in the trends of CVD burdens was evaluated by annual percentage change.

Results: More than 17 million people died from CVD in 2017, which was approximately two times as many as cancer, and increased nearly 50% compared with 1990. Ischemic heart disease and stroke accounted for 85% of the total age-standardized death rate (ASDR) of CVD. The ASDR and age-standardized DALYs rate (ASYR) of CVD were 1.5 times greater in men compared with women. People over the age of 50 were especially at risk for developing CVD, with the number of cases and deaths in this age group accounting for more than 90% of all age groups. CVD mortality was related to regional economic development and the social demographic index. In regions with a high economic income or socio-demographic index, there was a greater decline in the ASDR of CVD. The ASDR of CVD in high SDI regions decreased more than 50% from 1990 to 2017. Tobacco use, diets low in whole grains, diets high in sodium, and high systolic blood pressure were the important risk factors related to CVD mortality.

Conclusions: CVD remains a major cause of death and chronic disability in all regions of the world. Ischemic heart disease and stroke account for the majority of deaths related to CVD. Although the mortality rate for CVD has declined in recent years from a global perspective, the results of CVD data in 2017 suggest that the mortality and DALYs of CVD varied in different ages, sexes, and countries/regions around the world. Therefore, it is necessary to elucidate the specific characteristics of global CVD burden and establish more effective and targeted prevention strategies.
COVID-19 Crisis Management: Lessons From the United Arab Emirates Leaders
Authors: Abbas Zaher Walid , Ahamed Faheem , Ganesan Subhashini , Warren Katherine , Koshy Ashish
Published: October 2021

This study analyses the UAE leadership's approach in response to the COVID-19 crisis through the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's Strategic Crisis Management Framework. This framework analyzes the crisis management in three phases: the preparedness, the response to mitigate damage and the feedback mechanism after the crisis. The analysis showed that the key components of the UAE's crisis management included efficient and able governance, integrated utilization of public-private partnerships and a global workforce of excellence. As a result, the UAE now ranks among the top 10 countries worldwide for its leadership and proactive approach during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Global Response to Infectious Diseases Index. The SWOT analysis on the response toward COVID-19 crisis management helped in critically analyzing and understanding the UAE's unified and systematic response to the pandemic, which provides developing and developed countries alike a new high standard for leadership and effective public health management.
“Something Good Has to Come Out of the Horror”: A Qualitative Examination of Cancer Survivors' Attitudes Towards Participation in Research During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Fox Louis , Wylie Harriet , Haire Anna , Green Saran , Kibaru Joyce , Van Hemelrijck Mieke
Published: October 2021

Introduction: The first year of the COVID-19 pandemic has been highly disruptive for people with cancer. Furthermore, it has been shown that accrual to cancer trials dropped substantially in 2020. Building on findings from a previous pilot survey, the present study used qualitative methods to gain insights into attitudes towards participation in research studies amongst people who have experienced cancer, in the context of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and Methods: We interviewed 13 participants from the UK, who were purposively sampled, including a broad sample of cancer types, and a mixture of individuals who have and have not taken part in research previously. Participants underwent semi-structured interviews (median interview duration: 47 min) and were asked open-ended questions about their attitude towards and experiences with COVID-19, and their attitude towards research participation. In addition to this, prompts were used to ask participants about concerns that were highlighted by our previous quantitative work on this topic, such as concerns about being older or having to travel to participate. Interview transcripts were analysed using a framework analysis approach.

Results: Our findings suggest that cancer patient decision-making about research participation during an infectious disease pandemic may be a function of a basic cost-benefit analysis, which considers the benefit of taking part, either personally to themselves or to wider society. The benefit may then be weighed by the patient against the risk of being infected, which may be influenced by trust in the relevant clinicians/researchers; familiarity with the study location; provision of detailed information on safety protocols for infectious disease; and, in particular, the availability of safe transport to and from the study location.

Discussion: Some cancer patients say that they would be less likely to participate in a research study in the middle of an infectious disease pandemic due to an increased risk to themselves. Patients' perceived risk to themselves from participating may be ameliorated via the provision of certain practical solutions that can be considered at the study protocol design stage, such as safe travel, information, and the use of staff and study sites familiar to the patient.
QF-TraderNet: Intraday Trading via Deep Reinforcement With Quantum Price Levels Based Profit-And-Loss Control
Authors: Qiu Yifu , Qiu Yitao , Yuan Yicong , Chen Zheng , Lee Raymond
Published: October 2021

Reinforcement Learning (RL) based machine trading attracts a rich profusion of interest. However, in the existing research, RL in the day-trade task suffers from the noisy financial movement in the short time scale, difficulty in order settlement, and expensive action search in a continuous-value space. This paper introduced an end-to-end RL intraday trading agent, namely QF-TraderNet, based on the quantum finance theory (QFT) and deep reinforcement learning. We proposed a novel design for the intraday RL trader’s action space, inspired by the Quantum Price Levels (QPLs). Our action space design also brings the model a learnable profit-and-loss control strategy. QF-TraderNet composes two neural networks: 1) A long short term memory networks for the feature learning of financial time series; 2) a policy generator network (PGN) for generating the distribution of actions. The profitability and robustness of QF-TraderNet have been verified in multi-type financial datasets, including FOREX, metals, crude oil, and financial indices. The experimental results demonstrate that QF-TraderNet outperforms other baselines in terms of cumulative price returns and Sharpe Ratio, and the robustness in the acceidential market shift.
Business Model Innovation for Circular Economy in Fashion Industry: A Startups' Perspective
Authors: Ostermann Cristina M. , Nascimento Leandro da Silva , Zen Aurora Carneiro
Published: October 2021

Circular Economy (CE) has emerged as a potential strategy for developing business practices based on sustainability concerns, especially in the fashion industry, which presents high environmental and social impacts. Startups are responsible for introducing innovations in business conduction toward CE. As a current theme, research on Business Model Innovation for Circular Economy (BMI4CE) has increased. However, empirical research in the fashion industry and startups is still scarce. This paper aimed to identify the key elements of startups' BMI4CEs, using the fashion industry as the context of the study. We conducted an exploratory and descriptive multiple case study composed of ten early-stage fashion startups from Europe, North America, and Asia. The findings suggest that environmental and economic sustainability dimensions receive priority in the analyzed BMI4CEs. On business type, we found differences between product-based and service-based Business Models (BMs). The Business Models Innovations (BMIs) were based mainly on CE principles of closed-loop and reducing material use and consumption. BMs focus on CE strategies of product reuse and extend resource time by lowering consumption and material use. Findings also demonstrate the role of emerging and digital technologies (e.g., blockchain and artificial intelligence) for BMI4CEs effectiveness. We developed five propositions and a theoretical framework from a triple bottom line perspective. This research highlights new theoretical perspectives under an investigation area still little explored in the literature. Results enable fashion startup managers to understand better the functioning of BMI4CEs and the critical elements needed for their effectiveness.
Solar Wind Plasma Properties During Ortho-Parker IMF Conditions and Associated Magnetosheath Mirror Instability Response
Authors: Génot V. , Lavraud B.
Published: October 2021

The properties of the solar wind fraction that exhibits an Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) orientation orthogonal to the classical Parker spiral (so-called ortho-Parker) are investigated. We make use of a solar wind plasma categorization scheme, using 10 years of OMNI data, and show that the fractions of the different plasma origins (streamer-belt-origin plasma, coronal-hole-origin plasma, sector-reversal-region plasma and ejecta) identified by this scheme are rather constant when expressed as a function of the IMF orientation whereas the Alfvén Mach number significantly depends on this orientation. This has direct implication on the magnetosheath dynamics and, as an example, the stability of the mirror mode in this compressed plasma is studied thanks to Rankine-Hugoniot anisotropic relations. This study sheds light on previously reported, yet unexplained, observations of a larger occurrence of mirror mode in the magnetosheath downstream of ortho-Parker IMF.
The Impact of Bacillus subtilis PB6 and Chromium Propionate on the Performance, Egg Quality and Nutrient Metabolizability of Layer Breeders
Authors: Souza Otoniel , Adams Carine , Rodrigues Beatriz , Krause Alexandre , Bonamigo Renata , Zavarize Kelen , Stefanello Catarina
Published: October 2021

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Bacillus subtillis PB6, chromium propionate or a combination of the two on the performance, egg and eggshell quality, nutrient metabolizability and serum biochemistry of layer breeders. White Plymouth Rock and Red Rhodes Island breeder hens at 55 weeks of age were allocated in individual cages using a completely randomized block design with 16 replicates. Hens were fed control, control + probiotic (500 g/ton of Bacillus subtilis PB6), control + CrProp (50 g/ton of chromium propionate) and control + probiotic + CrProp diets from 55 to 70 weeks of age. Productive parameters and eggshell quality as well as cortisol and blood biochemistry were grouped each 28 d as well as for the overall period. The metabolizability of nutrients and energy was determined at 70 weeks of age. In the overall period, hens fed the control + probiotic or control + probiotic + CrProp diets had significantly higher egg production, egg mass, shell percentage, thickness and shell strength. The metabolizability of dry matter, nitrogen and energy increased in hens that were fed the control + probiotic + CrProp diet. In conclusion, diets supplemented with Bacillus subtillis PB6 and chromium propionate resulted in improved productive performance, eggshell quality and nutrient metabolizability of layer breeders, without modifying serum cortisol, albumin and triglycerides.
Mixed Temperature-Moisture Signal in δ18O Records of Boreal Conifers from the Permafrost Zone
Authors: Zharkov Mikhail S. , Fonti Marina V. , Trushkina Tatyana V. , Barinov Valentin V. , Taynik Anna V. , Porter Trevor J. , Saurer Matthias , Churakova (Sidorova) Olga V.
Published: October 2021

Global climatic changes have been observed for all natural biomes, with the greatest impact in the permafrost zone. The short series of direct observations of air temperature and precipitation from meteorological stations for this territory make it difficult to use them in studies of the impact of climate change on forest and forest-tundra ecosystems, but only longer series of gridded data expand the temporal-spatial resolution of this analysis. We compared local and gridded air temperature, precipitation and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) data, analyzed the trends of their changes over the last century for three sites in the permafrost zone (YAK and TAY in Russia, and CAN in Canada), and estimated the effect of their variability on oxygen isotopes in the tree-ring cellulose (δ18Ocell) of three different species (Larix cajanderi Mayr, Larix gmelinii Rupr. Rupr and Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss). Climate trend analysis showed strong changes after the 1980s, and even more pronounced from 2000 to 2020. We revealed that δ18Ocell-YAK showed mixed signals of the July temperature (r = 0.49; p = 0.001), precipitation (r = −0.37; p = 0.02) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) (r = 0.31; p = 0.02), while δ18Ocell-CAN captured longer March–May (r = 0.37, p = 0.001) and July (r = 0.32, p < 0.05) temperature signals as well as spring VPD (r = 0.54, p = 0.001). The δ18Ocell-TAY showed a significant correlation with air temperature in July (r = 0.23, p = 0.04) and VPD in March (r = −0.26, p = 0.03). The obtained eco-hydrological relationships indicate the importance of temperature and moisture to varying degrees, which can be explained by site- and species-specific differences.
Assessment of Aerosol Mechanisms and Aerosol Meteorology Feedback over an Urban Airshed in India Using a Chemical Transport Model
Authors: Gupta Medhavi , Mohan Manju
Published: October 2021

The direct aerosol-radiative effects in the WRF-Chem model account for scattering/absorption of solar radiation due to aerosols, while aerosol–cloud interactions result in modifying wet scavenging of the ambient concentrations as an indirect aerosol effect. In this study, impact of aerosol on meteorological parameters, PM10 and ozone concentrations are analysed which revealed (i) that a net decrease in shortwave and longwave radiation by direct feedback results in decrease in temperature up to 0.05 K, (ii) that a net increase due to longwave and shortwave radiation when both direct and indirect effects are taken together results in an increase in temperature up to 0.25 K (where the mean of temperature is 33.5 °C and standard deviation 2.13 °C), (iii) a marginal increase in boundary layer height of 50 m with increase in temperature with feedbacks, (iv) overall net increase in radiation by direct and indirect effect together result in an increase in PM10 concentration up to 12 μg m−3 (with PM10 mean as 84.5 μg m−3 and standard deviation 28 μg m−3) and an increase in ozone concentration up to 3 μg m−3 (with ozone mean as 29.65 μg m−3 and standard deviation 5.2 μg m−3) mainly due to net increase in temperature. Furthermore, impact of sensitivity of different aerosol mechanisms on PM10 concentrations was scrutinized for two different mechanisms that revealed underestimation by both of the mechanisms with MOSAIC scheme, showing less fractional bias than MADE/SORGAM. For the dust storm period, MOSAIC scheme simulated higher mass concentrations than MADE/SORGAM scheme and performed well for dust-storm days while closely capturing the peaks of high dust concentrations. This study is one of the first few to demonstrate the impact of both direct and indirect aerosol feedback on local meteorology and air quality using a meteorology–chemistry modelling framework; the WRF-Chem model in a tropical urban airshed in India located in semi-arid climatic zone. It is inferred that semi-arid climatic conditions behave in a vastly different manner than other climatic zones for direct and indirect radiative feedback effects.
Breath-Taking Perspectives and Preliminary Data toward Early Detection of Chronic Liver Diseases
Authors: Murgia Antonio , Ahmed Yusuf , Sweeney Kelly , Nicholson-Scott Louise , Arthur Kayleigh , Allsworth Max , Boyle Billy , Gandelman Olga , Smolinska Agnieszka , Ferrandino Giuseppe
Published: October 2021

The gold standard method for chronic liver diseases diagnosis and staging remains liver biopsy, despite the spread of less invasive surrogate modalities based on imaging and blood biomarkers. Still, more than 50% of chronic liver disease cases are detected at later stages when patients exhibit episodes of liver decompensation. Breath analysis represents an attractive means for the development of non-invasive tests for several pathologies, including chronic liver diseases. In this perspective review, we summarize the main findings of studies that compared the breath of patients with chronic liver diseases against that of control subjects and found candidate biomarkers for a potential breath test. Interestingly, identified compounds with best classification performance are of exogenous origin and used as flavoring agents in food. Therefore, random dietary exposure of the general population to these compounds prevents the establishment of threshold levels for the identification of disease subjects. To overcome this limitation, we propose the exogenous volatile organic compounds (EVOCs) probe approach, where one or multiple of these flavoring agent(s) are administered at a standard dose and liver dysfunction associated with chronic liver diseases is evaluated as a washout of ingested compound(s). We report preliminary results in healthy subjects in support of the potential of the EVOC Probe approach.
Striatal Dopamine Transporter Availability Is Not Associated with Food Craving in Lean and Obese Humans; a Molecular Imaging Study
Authors: van Son Jamie , van Galen Katy A. , Bruijn Anne Marijn , Koopman Karin E. , Versteeg Ruth I. , la Fleur Susanne E. , Serlie Mireille J. , Booij Jan
Published: October 2021

Brain dopamine signaling is essential for the motivation to eat, and obesity is associated with altered dopaminergic signaling and increased food craving. We used molecular neuroimaging to explore whether striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) availability is associated with craving as measured with the General Food Craving Questionnaire-Trait (G-FCQ-T). We here show that humans with obesity (n = 34) experienced significantly more craving for food compared with lean subjects (n = 32), but food craving did not correlate significantly with striatal DAT availability as assessed with 123I-FP-CIT single-photon emission computed tomography. We conclude that food craving is increased in obesity, but the scores for food craving are not related to changes in striatal DAT availability.
Electromagnetic Field Stimulation Attenuates Phasic Nociception after Complete Spinal Cord Injury in Rats
Authors: Kumar Suneel , Pal Ajay , Jain Suman , Velpandian Thirumurthy , Mathur Rashmi
Published: October 2021

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most incapacitating pathologies, leading to huge rehabilitation challenges besides a social-economic burden on SCI patients and their families. There is no complete curative treatment available so far. Non-invasive and patient-friendly use of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field stimulation (EMF) has emerged as a therapeutic and rehabilitation option. In this study, we tested whole-body EMF stimulation on thoracic complete SCI-induced nociception including sensorimotor deficits in rats. The EMF application significantly attenuated hyperalgesia and allodynia to thermal, electrical, and chemical stimuli from 6 weeks onwards as well as restoration of spinal reflexes, viz., H-reflex and nociceptive flexion reflex at the study endpoint (week 8). Besides, massively increased glutamate at the SCI injury site was observed in SCI rats with no treatment, which was also attenuated significantly by EMF stimulation. Spinal cord histology of the injury area showed a decrease in lesion volume and glial population in the EMF-stimulated rats. These findings indicate the beneficial role of EMF stimulation after thoracic complete SCI in adult male rats and, thereby, a beneficial patient-friendly rehabilitation tool.
Infratentorial Stereotactic Biopsy of Brainstem and Cerebellar Lesions
Authors: Furtak Jacek , Śledzińska Paulina , Bebyn Marek G. , Szylberg Tadeusz , Krajewski Stanisław , Birski Marcin , Harat Marek
Published: October 2021

Stereotactic biopsy of posterior fossa lesions is often regarded as hazardous due to the critical structures in that area. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and safety of infratentorial stereotactic biopsy of brainstem or cerebellar lesions and its associations with other clinical, laboratory, and radiological parameters. From January 2000 to May 2021, 190 infratentorial stereotactic biopsies of posterior fossa tumors, including 108 biopsies of brainstem lesions, were performed. Moreover, 63 supratentorial biopsies of cerebral peduncle lesions were analyzed to compare the safety and efficacy of both approaches. Additionally, the presence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) were documented in 67 and 66 patients, respectively, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were evaluated in 114 patients. Only 4% of patients had minor complications and 1.5% had major complications, including one patient who died from intracranial bleeding. Nine (4.7%) biopsies were non-diagnostic. Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation, 1p/19q codeletion, and O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status were assessed in 29 patients, and were non-diagnostic in only 3 (10.3%) cases. Patients with high-grade gliomas (HGG) were more frequently seropositive for T. gondii than individuals with low-grade gliomas (LGG; p < 0.001). A total of 27% of HGG and 41% of LGG were non-enhancing on MRI. The infratentorial approach is generally safe and reliable for biopsy of brainstem and cerebellar lesions. In our study, the safety and efficacy of supratentorial biopsy of the cerebral peduncle and infratentorial biopsy of lesions below the cerebral peduncle were comparably high. Moreover, patients with HGG were more frequently seropositive for T. gondii than patients with LGG, and the relationship between toxoplasmosis and gliomagenesis requires further investigation.
Connection Lost, MAM: Errors in ER–Mitochondria Connections in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Johri Ashu , Chandra Abhishek
Published: October 2021

Mitochondria associated membranes (MAMs), as the name suggests, are the membranes that physically and biochemically connect mitochondria with endoplasmic reticulum. MAMs not only structurally but also functionally connect these two important organelles within the cell which were previously thought to exist independently. There are multiple points of communication between ER–mitochondria and MAMs play an important role in both ER and mitochondria functions such as Ca2+ homeostasis, proteostasis, mitochondrial bioenergetics, movement, and mitophagy. The number of disease-related proteins and genes being associated with MAMs has been continually on the rise since its discovery. There is an overwhelming overlap between the biochemical functions of MAMs and processes affected in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington’s disease (HD). Thus, MAMs have received well-deserving and much delayed attention as modulators for ER–mitochondria communication and function. This review briefly discusses the recent progress made in this now fast developing field full of promise for very exciting future therapeutic discoveries.
Use of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to Predict and Measure Cochlear Implant Outcomes: A Scoping Review
Authors: Harrison Samantha C. , Lawrence Rachael , Hoare Derek J. , Wiggins Ian M. , Hartley Douglas E. H.
Published: October 2021

Outcomes following cochlear implantation vary widely for both adults and children, and behavioral tests are currently relied upon to assess this. However, these behavioral tests rely on subjective judgements that can be unreliable, particularly for infants and young children. The addition of an objective test of outcome following cochlear implantation is therefore desirable. The aim of this scoping review was to comprehensively catalogue the evidence for the potential of functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to be used as a tool to objectively predict and measure cochlear implant outcomes. A scoping review of the literature was conducted following the PRISMA extension for scoping review framework. Searches were conducted in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and Web of Science electronic databases, with a hand search conducted in Google Scholar. Key terms relating to near infrared spectroscopy and cochlear implants were used to identify relevant publications. Eight records met the criteria for inclusion. Seven records reported on adult populations, with five records only including post-lingually deaf individuals and two including both pre- and post-lingually deaf individuals. Studies were either longitudinal or cross-sectional, and all studies compared fNIRS measurements with receptive speech outcomes. This review identified and collated key work in this field. The homogeneity of the populations studied so far identifies key gaps for future research, including the use of fNIRS in infants. By mapping the literature on this important topic, this review contributes knowledge towards the improvement of outcomes following cochlear implantation.