bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Green fluorescent carbon dots as targeting probes for LED‐dependent bacterial killing
Authors: Samphire Jennifer , Takebayashi Yuiko , Hill Stephen A. , Hill Nicholas , Heesom Kate J. , Lewis Philip A. , Alibhai Dominic , Bragginton Eilis C. , Dorh Josephine , Dorh Neciah , Spencer James , Galan M. Carmen
Published: August 2021

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a significant health and economic challenge worldwide. The slow pace of antibacterial discovery necessitates strategies for optimal use of existing agents, including effective diagnostics able to drive informed prescribing; and development of alternative therapeutic strategies that go beyond traditional small‐molecule approaches. Thus, the development of novel probes able to target bacteria for detection and killing, and that can pave the way to effective theranostic strategies, is of great importance. Here we demonstrate that metal‐free green‐emitting fluorescent carbon dots (FCDs) synthesized from glucosamine·HCl and m‐phenylenediamine, and featuring 2,5‐deoxyfructosazine on a robust amorphous core, can label both Gram‐positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram‐negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacterial pathogens within 10 minutes of exposure. Moreover, effective killing of Gram‐positive and ‐negative bacteria can be induced by combining FCD treatment with irradiation by LED light in the visible range. Cell‐based, electron microscopy and tandem mass tag (TMT) proteomic experiments indicate that FCD administration in combination with LED exposure gives rise to local heating, ROS production, and membrane‐ and DNA‐damage, suggesting multiple routes to FCD‐mediated bacterial killing. Our data identify FCDs as materials that combine facile synthesis from low‐cost precursors with labeling and light‐dependent killing of clinically important bacterial species, and that thus warrant further exploration as the potential bases for novel theranostics.
A three‐dimensional hybrid finite element — spectral boundary integral method for modeling earthquakes in complex unbounded domains
Authors: Albertini Gabriele , Elbanna Ahmed E. , Kammer David S.
Published: August 2021

We present a 3D hybrid method which combines the finite element method (FEM) and the spectral boundary integral method (SBIM) to model nonlinear problems in unbounded domains. The flexibility of FEM is used to model the complex, heterogeneous, and nonlinear part— such as the dynamic rupture along a fault with near fault plasticity—and the high accuracy and computational efficiency of SBIM is used to simulate the exterior half spaces perfectly truncating all incident waves. The exact truncation allows us to greatly reduce the domain of spatial discretization compared to a traditional FEM approach, leading to considerable savings in computational time and memory requirements. The coupling of FEM and SBIM is achieved by the exchange of traction and displacement boundary conditions at the computationally defined boundary. The method is suited to implementation on massively parallel computers. We validate the developed method by means of a benchmark problem. Three more complex examples with a low velocity fault zone, low velocity off‐fault inclusion, and interaction of multiple faults, respectively, demonstrate the capability of the hybrid scheme in solving problems of very large sizes. Finally, we discuss potential applications of the hybrid method for problems in geophysics and engineering.
Licenced practical nurses' perceptions of their work environments and their intention to stay: A cross‐sectional study of four practice settings
Authors: Phillips Leah Adeline , de Los Santos Nyla , Jackson Jennifer
Published: August 2021

Aims and objectives

This study aimed to understand how licenced practical nurses perceive their work environments across different work settings and to analyse the association between these nurses’ perceptions of their work environments and their intentions to stay employed at their current nursing unit.

Design

A cross‐sectional descriptive survey was conducted with Licensed Practical Nurses in Alberta, Canada.

Methods

The study population consisted of 598 licenced practical nurses. Survey measures included demographic information, the Perceived Work Environment‐Nursing Work Index, and an intention to stay scale. Descriptive statistics were calculated and mean scores for perceptions about the work environment were compared by work setting. The associations between perceived work environment and intention to stay were analysed using linear regression.

Results

Overall, licenced practical nurses rated their work environment as mixed, with statistically significantly lower scores in acute care settings. Nurse manager ability and adequate staffing and resources were the highest contributing variables.
Dementia care education interventions on healthcare providers' outcomes in the nursing home setting: A systematic review
Authors: Zhao Yayi , Liu Li , Chan Helen Yue‐lai
Published: August 2021

Given the increasing prevalence of people with dementia in long‐term care, various educational interventions have been developed to enhance the dementia care competence of healthcare providers. The study aim was to appraise the evidence of the effects of dementia care educational programs on improving the preparedness of nursing home staff. Articles on dementia care education interventions for nursing home staff were searched from eight databases. The primary outcomes were staff knowledge, attitude, competence, and sense of competence or self‐efficacy related to dementia. The secondary outcomes were psychological outcomes, including burnout, caregiving stress, well‐being, and job satisfaction. The quality of evidence was appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tool. Out of the 3269 articles identified, 19 randomized controlled trials comprising 3947 participants from eight countries were included. The methodological quality of included studies was fair. A significant improvement in staff knowledge regarding dementia was reported. The intervention effects on attitudes and competence were insignificant, and the effects on the sense of competence or self‐efficacy related to dementia care were inconsistent. The effects on psychological outcomes seem limited because few significant changes were found. Multiple teaching methods, peer support, qualified trainers, and post‐training support were effective components in designing the educational interventions. However, given the variations in content and dose and the methodological limitations of the included studies, the effects of educational programs were inconclusive. The findings highlight the necessity of high‐quality studies on dementia‐care educational interventions, especially in other cultures than Western countries, such as in Asia.
The Courage to Prevail
Authors: Goodman Jack Alexander , Brašić James Robert
Published: August 2021

This narrative tells the story of a boy who, with the help of his oncologists, parents, and community, conquered cancer.
Late effects in pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma survivors after uniform treatment with ABVD with or without radiotherapy
Authors: Mittal Abhenil , Bhethanabhotla Sainath , Ganguly Shuvadeep , Vishnubhatla Sreenivas , Khadgawat Rajesh , Patel Chetan , Mohan Anant , Biswas Ahitagni , Bakhshi Sameer
Published: August 2021

Purpose

ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin,vinblastine, and dacarbazine) is not a standard regimen in children due to concerns regarding late effects. However, no studies have evaluated long‐term toxicities of ABVD in children.

Methods

Total 154 pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors uniformly treated with ABVD were clinically followed up as per institutional protocol. All participants were evaluated for cardiac, pulmonary, and thyroid function abnormalities by multigated acquisition scan (MUGA) scan, spirometry with diffusion capacity of lung for the uptake of carbon monoxide (DLCO), and thyroid profile test, respectively, at a single time point. Predictors of toxicity were also analyzed.

Results

The median duration of follow‐up of the cohort was 10.3 years (6.04–16.8). No secondary malignant neoplasm (SMN) or symptomatic cardiac/pulmonary toxicities were detected. Nine patients (5.9%) had left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <55%. Subclinical and overt hypothyroidism were observed in 78 (50.6%) and 16 (10.4%) survivors, respectively. Abnormal spirometry and reduced DLCO was observed in 43.2% and 42.0% survivors, respectively. Receiving neck radiation was significantly associated with thyroid dysfunction (odds ratio [OR] 16.04, p < .001); age ≥10 years predicted reduced DLCO (OR 4.12, p = .001). Sixty‐three and 33 patients had one and two late adverse effects, respectively; receiving neck radiation predicted development of multiple late effects (proportional OR 4.72, p < 0.001). Cumulative dose of chemotherapy did not predict toxicity.

Conclusions

Overall, ABVD appears safe in children at a relatively short follow‐up. Long‐term safety data are required before it can be adopted for treating pediatric HL patients. Children receiving neck radiation require close follow‐up.
Introduction to the Performance and Mechanism of Various Photocatalytic Materials Compounded with Carbon Dots
Authors: Yan Fanyong , Wang Yao , Zang Yueyan , Sun Jingru , Yi Chunhui , Xu Ming , Xu Jinxia
Published: August 2021

With their unique optical and electronic properties, carbon dots (CDs) are showing great momentum in many fields such as biosensing, imaging, drug delivery, and photocatalysis. Due to their efficient light harvesting, extraordinary upconversion photoluminescence, and excellent photoinduced electron transfer capabilities, the combination of CDs with photocatalytic materials will promote light absorption resulting in increased generation of electron‐hole pairs and faster photogenerated electron transfer, effectively suppressing the rate of electron‐hole pair complexation and thus improving photocatalytic activity. In this paper, the mechanism of CDs photocatalysis and various photocatalytic materials such as TiO2, Bi‐based, CdS, and g‐C3N4 complexed with CDs are reviewed. It is hoped that research into CDs in the field of photocatalysis will be advanced and that CDs will be used more widely in environmental and energy applications.
The burden of sleep disordered breathing in children with sickle cell disease
Authors: Liguoro Ilaria , Arigliani Michele , Tan Hui‐Leng , Gupta Atul
Published: August 2021

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) have an increased risk of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) compared with the general pediatric population. There has been a growing research interest on this field in recent years, yet many questions regarding risk factors and clinical implications of SDB remain unclear. The aim of this review is to provide a concise narrative and systematic synthesis of the available evidence on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, complications, and management, of SDB in children with SCD. An electronic search was conducted on studies published from the 1st of January 2000 to the 31st of December 2020 in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane databases. All studies focusing on SDB in children with SCD aged from 0 to 20 years were included. Studies were eligible for inclusion if available in the English language. A quantitative synthesis of the included studies was performed. Only studies focusing on specific treatment outcomes were included in a meta‐analytic process. A total of 190 papers were initially identified. After screening the title and abstract, 112 articles were evaluated for eligibility. At the end of the selection process, 62 studies were included in the analysis. Sleep disordered breathing is associated with worse neurological, neurocognitive, and cardiological outcomes, whereas the association with frequency or severity of vaso‐occlusive pain events and acute chest syndrome was not clarified. Therapeutic interventions like adenotonsillectomy or oxygen supplementation may result in a significant increase in mean nocturnal oxygen saturation but effective clinical implications remain still unclear.
Ebola virus protein VP40 binding to Sec24c for transport to the plasma membrane
Authors: Bhattarai Nisha , Pavadai Elumalai , Pokhrel Rudramani , Baral Prabin , Hossen Md Lokman , Stahelin Robert V. , Chapagain Prem P. , Gerstman Bernard S.
Published: August 2021

Outbreaks of the Ebola virus (EBOV) continue to occur and while a vaccine and treatment are now available, there remains a dearth of options for those who become sick with EBOV disease. An understanding at the atomic and molecular level of the various steps in the EBOV replication cycle can provide molecular targets for disrupting the virus. An important step in the EBOV replication cycle is the transport of EBOV structural matrix VP40 protein molecules to the plasma membrane inner leaflet, which involves VP40 binding to the host cell's Sec24c protein. Though some VP40 residues involved in the binding are known, the molecular details of VP40–Sec24c binding are not known. We use various molecular computational techniques to investigate the molecular details of how EBOV VP40 binds with the Sec24c complex of the ESCRT‐I pathway. We employed different docking programs to identify the VP40‐binding site on Sec24c and then performed molecular dynamics simulations to determine the atomic details and binding interactions of the complex. We also investigated how the inter‐protein interactions of the complex are affected upon mutations of VP40 amino acids in the Sec24c‐binding region. Our results provide a molecular basis for understanding previous coimmunoprecipitation experimental studies. In addition, we found that VP40 can bind to a site on Sec24c that can also bind Sec23 and suggests that VP40 may use the COPII transport mechanism in a manner that may not need the Sec23 protein in order for VP40 to be transported to the plasma membrane.
Combination of modified biochar and polyurea microcapsules to co‐encapsulate a fumigant via interface polymerization for controlled release and enhanced bioactivity
Authors: Ren Lirui , Hao Baoqiang , Fang Wensheng , Zhang Daqi , Cheng Hongyan , Li Qingjie , Yan Dongdong , Li Yuan , Wang Qiuxia , Zhou Zhiqiang , Jin Xi , Cao Aocheng
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND

Soil fumigants—the most effective agrochemicals for managing soil‐borne diseases—have been used extensively. However, high volatility, moderate toxicity and insufficient effective duration considerably limit their application. In the present study, interface polymerization was used to combine modified biochar (BC) and polyurea microcapsules (MCs) to co‐encapsulate allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), developing a model fumigant for controlled release (AITC@BC‐MCs).

RESULTS

The physical characteristics of BC modified by sand‐milling were significantly improved. In addition, chemical properties and morphological features of AITC@BC‐MCs characterized by integrated methods revealed successful preparation of BC‐MCs. Compared with monolayer MCs, BC‐MCs could significantly delay AITC release owing to the composite obstruction effect. Moreover, modifying BC endowed the cargo molecules with a pH‐responsive release property. Additionally, this composite showed a longer persistent duration by prolonging AITC degradation half‐life, which was 3.2–3.5‐fold greater than that of the AITC technical concentrate under different soil conditions. Finally, the control efficacy of the AITC@BC‐MC against pathogens, including nematodes and fungi, as well as against weeds was significantly enhanced at the same dose, but the composite did not inhibit seed germination and growth after 10 days when fumigated soil was aerated.

CONCLUSION

Construction of a composite encapsulation system enhanced pesticide efficacy, reduced dose via controlled release and delayed fumigant degradation in soil, indicating the great potential of this strategy for developing an effective and environmentally friendly fumigant formulation. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
Eccentricity‐based topological invariants of tightest nonadjacently configured stable pentagonal structure of carbon nanocones
Authors: Zobair Mian Muhammad , Malik Mehar Ali , Shaker Hani
Published: August 2021

Conjugated open‐ended cones in which the configured pentagons are consistent, lies in the circle of Fries Kekule structure. This nonadjacent tightest configuration of pentagons as shown in Figure 1 is consistent with a Fries Kekule structure and thus provides the most stable cone. In the study, various topological indices of the same structure in regard of physico‐concoction resources and bioactivity of substance mixtures are studied which further helps to study the behavior of chemical compounds. In this regard, Zagreb indices and of a molecular graph G is used to evaluate the complexity in chemical systems and biological organisms. In this article, we consider two complex families of stable carbon nanocones and compute their ECI, TEI, and eccentricity‐based Zagreb indices.
Effect of K on carbon adsorption and deposition on the Co(111) surface
Authors: Liu Shaoli , Qi Lingxi , Zhang Zheng , Hou Xuejie , Li Wenzuo
Published: August 2021

Theoretical calculations were performed to investigate the effect of potassium on carbon adsorption and deposition on the Co(111) surface. Cn species are expected, and the C2 dimer may be a critical elementary unit. Increasing the carbon coverage, some carbon atoms may diffuse into the subsurface. However, kinetically, the formation of Cn species is more favorable, and there is no driving force for carbon migrating into the subsurface. With increasing of the carbon concentration, the adsorbed carbons form carbon chains and then graphene sheets parallel to the surface. The potassium promoter has little effect on the most stable configurations but increases the adsorption energy, which can be explained by the decrease in the work function resulting from the electronic effects of the potassium promoter. Potassium promotes carbon deposition and carbonization of the cobalt surface to a certain extent. These results could provide useful information for carbon deposition and cobalt carbide formation.
Oxidation of Silanes to Silanols with Oxygen via Photoredox Catalysis
Authors: Li Jiayan , Xu Dandan , Shi Guangrui , Liu Xingyuan , Zhang Jianqiang , Fan Baomin
Published: August 2021

An efficient method for the oxidation of silanes to silanols with oxygen is described. The reaction proceeded under the catalysis of the photoredox catalyst Ru(bpy)3Cl2.6H2O by irradiation with 30 W blue LED. The reaction exhibited good substrate scope with up to 88 % yield. The applicability of the present methodology is demonstrated by gram scale synthesis. A plausible reaction mechanism is also proposed.
Pretreatment with metformin prevents microcystin‐LR‐induced tau hyperphosphorylation via mTOR‐dependent PP2A and GSK‐3β activation
Authors: Zhang Yali , Fan Xing , Su Zhangyao , Yuan Tianli , Yin Haimeng , Gu Haohao , Zuo Yue , Chen Shiyin , Zhou Hongyu , Su Gaoxing
Published: August 2021

Microcystin‐leucine‐arginine (MC‐LR) is a toxin secreted by freshwater cyanobacteria that is considered a potential environmental risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). A previous study indicated that tau protein hyperphosphorylation via protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and GSK‐3β inhibition was the mechanism by which MC‐LR induces neurotoxicity; however, how MC‐LR‐induced neurotoxicity can be effectively prevented remains unclear. In this study, the reversal effect of metformin on MC‐LR‐induced neurotoxicity was investigated. The results showed that metformin effectively prevented tau hyperphosphorylation at Ser202 caused by MC‐LR through PP2A and GSK‐3b activity. The effect of metformin on PP2A activity was dependent on the inhibition of mTOR in MC‐LR‐treated SH‐SY5Y cells. Metformin prevented spatial memory deficits in rats caused by intrahippocampal MC‐LR administration. In sum, the results suggested that metformin can ameliorate the MC‐LR–induced AD‐like phenotype by preventing tau phosphorylation at Ser202, which was mainly mediated by mTOR‐dependent PP2A and GSK‐3β activation.
Serum L‐arginine and endogenous methylarginine concentrations predict irritable bowel syndrome in adults: A nested case‐control study
Authors: McEvoy Mark A. , Attia John R. , Oldmeadow Christopher , Holliday Elizabeth , Smith Wayne T. , Mangoni Arduino A. , Peel Roseanne , Hancock Stephen J. , Walker Marjorie M. , Talley Nicholas J.
Published: August 2021

Background & Aims

Nitric oxide, a major inhibitory nonadrenergic, noncholinergic neurotransmitter that relaxes smooth muscle, may be implicated in the pathophysiology of visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Impaired bioavailability of the nitric oxide precursor molecule L‐arginine and higher concentrations of methylarginines (endogenous inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis) are known to impair nitric oxide synthesis in numerous gastrointestinal cell types. We therefore examined serum concentrations of L‐arginine and the methylarginines in a nested case‐control study, to assess whether these factors are associated with adult IBS.

Methods

Data on clinical characteristics, methylarginines, and L‐arginine (measured using LC‐MS/MS) were collected from a random population‐based cohort of Australian adults (median age = 64 years; IQR = 60–70). Cases of IBS, defined according to Rome III criteria (N = 156), and controls (N = 332) were identified from within the cohort at the 5‐year follow‐up.

Results

In adjusted logistic regression analyses, L‐arginine, asymmetric dimethylarginine, symmetric dimethylarginine, L‐arginine/asymmetric dimethylarginine ratio, and Kessler‐10 psychological distress scores were significantly associated with IBS (p > 0.05). Similar results were found for IBS subtypes. Higher serum L‐arginine concentration had the strongest association with IBS diagnosis, with an odds ratio of 9.03 for those with serum L‐arginine at the 75th (84 μmol/L) versus 25th (46 μmol/L) percentile (95% CI: 5.99–13.62). L‐arginine had the best discriminative ability with a bias‐adjusted area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of 0.859.

Conclusions

Higher serum concentrations of L‐arginine and endogenous methylarginines are strongly associated with IBS in adults.
Trends in inflammatory bowel disease treatment in the past two decades‐a high‐level text mining analysis of PubMed publications
Authors: Klang Eyal , Barash Yiftach , Soffer Shelly , Shachar Eyal , Lahat Adi
Published: August 2021

Aim

Many therapeutic options for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) emerged during the last 2 decades, along with the rise in disease prevalence and incidence. We aimed at assessing the published literature on different treatment options in that period. Special attention was attributed to specific medication mechanisms and geographic diversity.

Materials and Methods

We have queried PubMed for all available IBD‐related entries published during 2000–2020. The following data were extracted for each entry: PubMed unique article ID (PMID), title, publishing journal, abstract text, keywords (if any), and authors' affiliations. Two gastrointestinal specialists decided in consensus on a list of terms to classify entries. The terms belonged to five treatment groups: medical, surgical, dietary, microbiome manipulation, and complementary medicine. The medical and complementary medicine groups were further sub‐classified. Annual trends of publications for the years 2000–2020 were plotted for different treatment types. The slopes of publication trends were calculated by fitting regression lines to the annual number of publications.

Results

Overall, 77,505 IBD entries were published between 2000 and 2020. Medical treatment showed the highest number of total publications 21,540/77,505 (27.8%), followed by surgical 7605/77,505 (9.8%), microbiome research 5260/77,505 (6.8%), dietary 4819/77,505 (6.2%), and complementary medicine treatment 762/77,505 (1.0%). Interestingly, since 2012 there is a steep rise in microbiome publications that outnumbered surgery in the last 2 years. Trend analysis of medical treatment showed that biologics had the steepest slope (57.5, p < 0.001), followed by immunomodulators (4.9, p < 0.001), small molecules (3.9, p < 0.001), and 5‐ASA (3.8, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

According to our high‐level publications trend analysis, the past 2 decades certainly deserve the reference as the “biologic era”, as publications regarding biological therapy outnumbered all other treatment options. Interestingly, though very popular among patients, complementary medicine was not studied with correlation to its' acceptance among patients.
Mechanochemical Synthesis as a Greener Way to Produce Iron‐based Oxygen Reduction Catalysts
Authors: Gernhard M. , Rautenberg M. , Hörner G. , Weber B. , Emmerling F. , Roth C.
Published: August 2021

Iron‐based catalysts have been reported manifold and studied as platinum group metal (PGM) free alternatives for the catalysis of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, their sustainable preparation by greener synthesis approaches is usually not discussed. In this work, we propose a new method for the sustainable preparation of such catalysts by using a mechanochemical approach, with no solvents and non‐toxic chemicals. The materials obtained from low temperature carbonization (700 °C) exhibit considerable and stable catalytic performance for ORR in alkaline medium. A catalyst obtained from iron hydroxide, tryptophan, dicyandiamide, and ammonium nitrate shows the best electrocatalytic performance with an overpotential of 921 mV vs. RHE at 0.1 mA/cm2 and an electron transfer number of 3.4.
Stress Out: Translating Real-World Stressors into Audio-Visual Stress Cues in VR for Police Training
Authors: Nguyen Quynh , Jaspaert Emma , Murtinger Markus , Schrom-Feiertag Helmut , Egger-Lampl Sebastian , Tscheligi Manfred
Published: August 2021

Virtual Reality (VR) training has become increasingly important for police first responders in recent years. Improving the training experience in such complex contexts requires ecological validity of virtual training. To achieve this, VR systems need to be capable of simulating the complex experiences of police officers ‘in the field.’ One way to do this is to add stressors into training simulations to induce stress similar to the stress experienced in real-life situations, particularly in situations where this is difficult (e.g., dangerous or resource-intensive) to achieve with traditional training. To include stressors in VR, this paper thus presents the concept of so-called ‘stress cues’ for operationalizing stressors to augment training in VR simulations for the context of police work. Considering the level of complexity of police work and training, a co-creation process that allows for creative collaboration and mitigation of power imbalances was chosen to access the police officers’ knowledge and experience. We assert that stress cues can improve the training experience from the trainer’s perspective as they provide novel interaction design possibilities for trainers to control the training experience. E.g., by actively intervening in training and dynamically changing the interaction space for trainees which also improves the trainee’s experience. Stress cues can also improve the trainee’s experience by enabling personalizable and customizable training based on real-time stress measurements and supplementing information for improved training feedback.
Quantum-inspired event reconstruction with Tensor Networks: Matrix Product States
Authors: Araz Jack Y. , Spannowsky Michael
Published: August 2021

Abstract

Tensor Networks are non-trivial representations of high-dimensional tensors, originally designed to describe quantum many-body systems. We show that Tensor Networks are ideal vehicles to connect quantum mechanical concepts to machine learning techniques, thereby facilitating an improved interpretability of neural networks. This study presents the discrimination of top quark signal over QCD background processes using a Matrix Product State classifier. We show that entanglement entropy can be used to interpret what a network learns, which can be used to reduce the complexity of the network and feature space without loss of generality or performance. For the optimisation of the network, we compare the Density Matrix Renormalization Group (DMRG) algorithm to stochastic gradient descent (SGD) and propose a joined training algorithm to harness the explainability of DMRG with the efficiency of SGD.
Entanglement wedge minimum cross-section in holographic massive gravity theory
Authors: Liu Peng , Niu Chao , Shi Zi-Jian , Zhang Cheng-Yong
Published: August 2021

Abstract

We study the entanglement wedge cross-section (EWCS) in holographic massive gravity theory, in which a first and second-order phase transition can occur. We find that the mixed state entanglement measures, the EWCS and mutual information (MI) can characterize the phase transitions. The EWCS and MI show exactly the opposite behavior in the critical region, which suggests that the EWCS captures distinct degrees of freedom from that of the MI. More importantly, EWCS, MI and HEE all show the same scaling behavior in the critical region. We give an analytical understanding of this phenomenon. By comparing the quantum information behavior in the thermodynamic phase transition of holographic superconductors, we analyze the relationship and difference between them and provide two mechanisms of quantum information scaling behavior in the thermodynamic phase transition.
Generalized Giveon-Kutasov duality
Authors: Nii Keita
Published: August 2021

Abstract

We generalize the Giveon-Kutasov duality by adding possible Chern-Simons interactions for the U(N) gauge group. Some of the generalized dualities are known in the literature and many others are new to the best of our knowledge. The dualities are connected to the non-supersymmetric bosonization duality via mass deformations. For N = 1, there are an infinite number of magnetic-dual theories.
Immunosuppressive network promotes immunosenescence associated with aging and chronic inflammatory conditions
Authors: Salminen Antero
Published: August 2021

The functional competence of the immune system gradually declines with aging, a process called immunosenescence. The age-related remodelling of the immune system affects both adaptive and innate immunity. In particular, a chronic low-grade inflammation, termed inflammaging, is associated with the aging process. Immunosenescence not only is present in inflammaging state, but it also occurs in several pathological conditions in conjunction with chronic inflammation. It is known that persistent inflammation stimulates a counteracting compensatory immunosuppression intended to protect host tissues. Inflammatory mediators enhance myelopoiesis and induce the generation of immature myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) which in mutual cooperation stimulates the immunosuppressive network. Immunosuppressive cells, especially MDSCs, regulatory T cells (Treg), and M2 macrophages produce immunosuppressive factors, e.g., TGF-β, IL-10, ROS, arginase-1 (ARG1), and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), which suppress the functions of CD4/CD8T and B cells as well as macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells, and dendritic cells. The immunosuppressive armament (i) inhibits the development and proliferation of immune cells, (ii) decreases the cytotoxic activity of CD8T and NK cells, (iii) prevents antigen presentation and antibody production, and (iv) suppresses responsiveness to inflammatory mediators. These phenotypes are the hallmarks of immunosenescence. Immunosuppressive factors are able to control the chromatin landscape, and thus, it seems that the immunosenescence state is epigenetically regulated.
Warum in Königsberg, warum Samuel Jessner, warum 1921?
Authors: Moll Friedrich H. , Kühl Richard , Krischel Matthis , Halling Thorsten , Fangerau Heiner
Published: August 2021

Der Dermatovenerologe Samuel Jessner (1859–1929) erhielt im Jahr 1921 einen Lehrauftrag für „Sexuallehren“ an der Universität Königsberg (heute: russ Калининград, Kaliningrad). Im Reichsmedizinalkalender wurde er aber auch als Urologe geführt. Dieser Beitrag zeichnet seinen Lebensweg und sein Wirken nach und fragt, wie Jessner in der Peripherie der deutschen Sexualwissenschaft und ohne enge Anbindung an deren Netzwerke dieser akademische Erfolg gelingen konnte. Sein geringer Einfluss in der Forschung, seine fehlende Anbindung an eine „Schule“ der Sexualwissenschaft im deutschsprachigen Raum und seine jüdische Herkunft waren Faktoren, die sowohl die Wahrnehmung seiner Arbeit unter Zeitgenossen als auch das Vergessen seiner Tätigkeiten in der Geschichtsschreibung präformierten.
Isolation and structural elucidation of dimeric epigallocatechin-3-gallate autoxidation products and their antioxidant capacity
Authors: Alfke Julian , Kampermann Uta , Kalinina Svetlana , Esselen Melanie
Published: August 2021

Dietary polyphenols like epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)—which represents the most abundant flavan-3-ol in green tea—are subject of several studies regarding their bioactivity and health-related properties. On many occasions, cell culture or in vitro experiments form the basis of published data. Although the stability of these compounds is observed to be low, many reported effects are directly related to the parent compounds whereas the impact of EGCG degradation and autoxidation products is not yet understood and merely studied. EGCG autoxidation products like its dimers theasinensin A and D, “P2” and oolongtheanin are yet to be characterized in the same extent as their parental polyphenol. However, to investigate the bioactivity of autoxidation products—which would minimize the discrepancy between in vitro and in vivo data—isolation and structure elucidation techniques are urgently needed. In this study, a new protocol to acquire the dimers theasinensin A and D as well as oolongtheanin is depicted, including a variety of spectroscopic and quadrupole time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometric (qTOF-HRMS) data to characterize and assign these isolates. Through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, polarimetry, and especially circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy after enzymatic hydrolysis the complementary atropisomeric stereochemistry of the isolated theasinensins is illuminated and elucidated. Lastly, a direct comparison between the isolated EGCG autoxidation products and the monomer itself is carried out regarding their antioxidant properties featuring Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) values. These findings help to characterize these products regarding their cellular effects and—which is of special interest in the flavonoid group—their redox properties.
Impact of established cardiovascular disease on 10-year death after coronary revascularization for complex coronary artery disease
Authors: Wang Rutao , Garg Scot , Gao Chao , Kawashima Hideyuki , Ono Masafumi , Hara Hironori , van Geuns Robert-Jan , Morice Marie-Claude , Davierwala Piroze M. , Kappetein Arie Pieter , Holmes David R. , Wijns William , Tao Ling , Onuma Yoshinobu , Serruys Patrick W.
Published: August 2021

Aims

To investigate the impact of established cardiovascular disease (CVD) on 10-year all-cause death following coronary revascularization in patients with complex coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods

The SYNTAXES study assessed vital status out to 10 years of patients with complex CAD enrolled in the SYNTAX trial. The relative efficacy of PCI versus CABG in terms of 10-year all-cause death was assessed according to co-existing CVD.

Results

Established CVD status was recorded in 1771 (98.3%) patients, of whom 827 (46.7%) had established CVD. Compared to those without CVD, patients with CVD had a significantly higher risk of 10-year all-cause death (31.4% vs. 21.7%; adjusted HR: 1.40; 95% CI 1.08–1.80, p = 0.010). In patients with CVD, PCI had a non-significant numerically higher risk of 10-year all-cause death compared with CABG (35.9% vs. 27.2%; adjusted HR: 1.14; 95% CI 0.83–1.58, p = 0.412). The relative treatment effects of PCI versus CABG on 10-year all-cause death in patients with complex CAD were similar irrespective of the presence of CVD (p-interaction = 0.986). Only those patients with CVD in ≥ 2 territories had a higher risk of 10-year all-cause death (adjusted HR: 2.99, 95% CI 2.11–4.23, p < 0.001) compared to those without CVD.

Conclusions

The presence of CVD involving more than one territory was associated with a significantly increased risk of 10-year all-cause death, which was non-significantly higher in complex CAD patients treated with PCI compared with CABG. Acceptable long-term outcomes were observed, suggesting that patients with established CVD should not be precluded from undergoing invasive angiography or revascularization.

Trial registration

SYNTAX: ClinicalTrials.gov reference: NCT00114972. SYNTAX Extended Survival: ClinicalTrials.gov reference: NCT03417050.

Graphic abstract
Consequences and predisposing factors of self-discharge against medical advice in plastic and hand surgery
Authors: Könneker Sören , Luketina Rosalia , Bozadzhieva Stefaniya , von Lengerke Thomas , Krezdorn Nicco , Luketina Theodore L. H. , Vogt Peter M. , Kaltenborn Alexander
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Therapeutic success of surgical interventions is significantly affected by patients’ adherence. Patient autonomy can lead to unreasonable behavior. We analyzed the consequences and predisposing factors of patient self-discharge in a plastic and hand surgery cohort.

Study design and setting

Data was collected retrospectively in a case–control study with n = 73 patients who had self-discharged in a 10-year time period and n = 130 controls (discharge by the surgeon). Data was collected through the hospital information systems and a particular questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed via chi-squared test and logistic regression analyses.

Results

Patients who self-discharged against medical advice had a significantly higher complication rate (p = 0.045) and a higher number of revision operations (p < 0.001). They were more often dissatisfied with the primary inpatient treatment (p < 0.05). Secondly, they lived more often in shared households (p = 0.002; OR 5.387 (1.734–16.732)) or had to take care of their children at home (p = 0.006; OR 1.481 (1.280–1.741)). There was a significantly lower pain score (NAS) on time of self-discharge (p = 0.002) as well as 24 h after self-discharge (p < 0.001) in self-discharged patients.

Conclusion

Self-discharge was associated with predisposing factors and poorer outcomes. Patient autonomy can lead to health-compromising behavior and patients should be counseled accordingly.
Predicting functional consequences of mutations using molecular interaction network features
Authors: Ozturk Kivilcim , Carter Hannah
Published: August 2021

Variant interpretation remains a central challenge for precision medicine. Missense variants are particularly difficult to understand as they change only a single amino acid in a protein sequence yet can have large and varied effects on protein activity. Numerous tools have been developed to identify missense variants with putative disease consequences from protein sequence and structure. However, biological function arises through higher order interactions among proteins and molecules within cells. We therefore sought to capture information about the potential of missense mutations to perturb protein interaction networks by integrating protein structure and interaction data. We developed 16 network-based annotations for missense mutations that provide orthogonal information to features classically used to prioritize variants. We then evaluated them in the context of a proven machine-learning framework for variant effect prediction across multiple benchmark datasets to demonstrate their potential to improve variant classification. Interestingly, network features resulted in larger performance gains for classifying somatic mutations than for germline variants, possibly due to different constraints on what mutations are tolerated at the cellular versus organismal level. Our results suggest that modeling variant potential to perturb context-specific interactome networks is a fruitful strategy to advance in silico variant effect prediction.
Cochlear Implant Research and Development in the Twenty-first Century: A Critical Update
Authors: Carlyon Robert P. , Goehring Tobias
Published: August 2021

Cochlear implants (CIs) are the world’s most successful sensory prosthesis and have been the subject of intense research and development in recent decades. We critically review the progress in CI research, and its success in improving patient outcomes, from the turn of the century to the present day. The review focuses on the processing, stimulation, and audiological methods that have been used to try to improve speech perception by human CI listeners, and on fundamental new insights in the response of the auditory system to electrical stimulation. The introduction of directional microphones and of new noise reduction and pre-processing algorithms has produced robust and sometimes substantial improvements. Novel speech-processing algorithms, the use of current-focusing methods, and individualised (patient-by-patient) deactivation of subsets of electrodes have produced more modest improvements. We argue that incremental advances have and will continue to be made, that collectively these may substantially improve patient outcomes, but that the modest size of each individual advance will require greater attention to experimental design and power. We also briefly discuss the potential and limitations of promising technologies that are currently being developed in animal models, and suggest strategies for researchers to collectively maximise the potential of CIs to improve hearing in a wide range of listening situations.
Nonparametric semi-supervised classification with application to signal detection in high energy physics
Authors: Casa Alessandro , Menardi Giovanna
Published: August 2021

Model-independent searches in particle physics aim at completing our knowledge of the universe by looking for new possible particles not predicted by the current theories. Such particles, referred to assignal, are expected to behave as a deviation from thebackground, representing the known physics. Information available on the background can be incorporated in the search, in order to identify potential anomalies. From a statistical perspective, the problem is recasted to a peculiar classification one where only partial information is accessible. Therefore a semi-supervised approach shall be adopted, either by strengthening or by relaxing assumptions underlying clustering or classification methods respectively. In this work, following the first route, we semi-supervise nonparametric clustering in order to identify a possible signal. The main contribution consists in tuning a nonparametric estimate of the density underlying the experimental data to identify a partition which guarantees a signal warning while allowing for an accurate classification of the background. As a side contribution, a variable selection procedure is presented. The whole procedure is tested on a dataset mimicking proton–proton collisions performed within a particle accelerator. While finding motivation in the field of particle physics, the approach is applicable to various science domains, where similar problems of anomaly detection arise.
Sorption and Reaction of Biomass Derived HC Blends and Their Constituents on a Commercial Pt–Pd/Al2O3 Oxidation Catalyst
Authors: Schönberger Ariel Augusto , Haselmann Greta Marie , Wolkenar Bernd , Schönebaum Simon , Mauermann Peter , Sterlepper Stefan , Pischinger Stefan , Simon Ulrich
Published: August 2021

Within the Research Cluster of Excellence “The Fuel Science Center” at RWTH Aachen University, the production and application of new fuels from bio-based carbon feedstocks and CO2 with hydrogen from renewable electricity generation is being investigated. In this study, the storage and oxidation of ethanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanone, cyclopentanone, and cyclopentane as well as two blends thereof on a series production Pt–Pd/Al2O3 oxidation catalyst were investigated. Hydrocarbon (HC) storage and temperature-programmed surface reaction (TPSR) experiments were carried out to analyze their adsorption and desorption behavior. In addition, the individual HCs and both blends were investigated using Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (TP-DRIFTS). In general, all oxygenated HCs are adsorbed more strongly than cyclopentane due to their higher polarity. Interestingly, it could be observed that the two different blends [blend 1: ethanol (50 mol %), 2-butanone (21 mol %), cyclopentanone (14 mol %) and cyclopentane (15 mol %); blend 2: 1-butanol (45 mol %), ethanol (29 mol %) and cyclopentane (27 mol %)] exhibit a different storage behavior compared to the single hydrocarbons. It was shown that the presence of 1-butanol and cyclopentane in blend 2 strongly inhibits the oxidation of ethanol. As a result, the ethanol light-off temperature was increased by at least 100 K. A difference was also found in the storage behavior of cyclopentane. While no significant storage could be detected in the pure compound experiment, the experiments with both mixtures showed a larger amount stored. The presence of adsorbed species of the hydrocarbons and their corresponding reaction products has been demonstrated and gives an insight into the storage mechanism of blends.

Graphic Abstract
Instructional guidelines based on conceptions of students and scientists about economic and population growth within planetary boundaries
Authors: Lampert Irene , Niebert Kai , Wilhelm Markus
Published: August 2021

The burden placed by human activities on Earth is ever-increasing. Global environmental changes have profoundly affected the Earth’s core systems and processes, thus, risking their stability. These core systems and processes are described in the planetary boundary framework. The drastic rate of environmental change over the last 200 years, which is also known as the Great Acceleration, has been depicted graphically by the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program. This study is aimed to (1) examine the conceptions of students and scientists regarding socioeconomic growth within planetary boundaries, and (2) develop instructional guidelines based on the comparison of their conceptions. Accordingly, relevant conceptions of 22 junior and 20 senior secondary school students were analyzed. Scientists’ conceptions were extracted by thoroughly analyzing nine publications, which were selected by systematic literature search. Student statements and scientific inferences were coded following established protocols. Our results indicated that junior and senior secondary school students considered global population growth to be the primary cause of global environmental changes. On the contrary, the scientists considered the quantity of natural resources consumed by rich countries in their economic pursuits as the most critical factor in environmental degradation. Based on our findings, we proposed instructional guidelines for planning lessons on changing current socioeconomic systems to enable humans to live within planetary boundaries.