bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The iDiv Ecotron—A flexible research platform for multitrophic biodiversity research
Authors: Schmidt Anja , Hines Jes , Türke Manfred , Buscot François , Schädler Martin , Weigelt Alexandra , Gebler Alban , Klotz Stefan , Liu Tao , Reth Sascha , Trogisch Stefan , Roy Jacques , Wirth Christian , Eisenhauer Nico
Published: October 2021

Across the globe, ecological communities are confronted with multiple global environmental change drivers, and they are responding in complex ways ranging from behavioral, physiological, and morphological changes within populations to changes in community composition and food web structure with consequences for ecosystem functioning. A better understanding of global change‐induced alterations of multitrophic biodiversity and the ecosystem‐level responses in terrestrial ecosystems requires holistic and integrative experimental approaches to manipulate and study complex communities and processes above and below the ground. We argue that mesocosm experiments fill a critical gap in this context, especially when based on ecological theory and coupled with microcosm experiments, field experiments, and observational studies of macroecological patterns. We describe the design and specifications of a novel terrestrial mesocosm facility, the iDiv Ecotron. It was developed to allow the setup and maintenance of complex communities and the manipulation of several abiotic factors in a near‐natural way, while simultaneously measuring multiple ecosystem functions. To demonstrate the capabilities of the facility, we provide a case study. This study shows that changes in aboveground multitrophic interactions caused by decreased predator densities can have cascading effects on the composition of belowground communities. The iDiv Ecotrons technical features, which allow for the assembly of an endless spectrum of ecosystem components, create the opportunity for collaboration among researchers with an equally broad spectrum of expertise. In the last part, we outline some of such components that will be implemented in future ecological experiments to be realized in the iDiv Ecotron.
Identifying and correcting spatial bias in opportunistic citizen science data for wild ungulates in Norway
Authors: Cretois Benjamin , Simmonds Emily G. , Linnell John D. C. , van Moorter Bram , Rolandsen Christer M. , Solberg Erling J. , Strand Olav , Gundersen Vegard , Roer Ole , Rød Jan Ketil
Published: October 2021

Many publications make use of opportunistic data, such as citizen science observation data, to infer large‐scale properties of species’ distributions. However, the few publications that use opportunistic citizen science data to study animal ecology at a habitat level do so without accounting for spatial biases in opportunistic records or using methods that are difficult to generalize. In this study, we explore the biases that exist in opportunistic observations and suggest an approach to correct for them. We first examined the extent of the biases in opportunistic citizen science observations of three wild ungulate species in Norway by comparing them to data from GPS telemetry. We then quantified the extent of the biases by specifying a model of the biases. From the bias model, we sampled available locations within the species’ home range. Along with opportunistic observations, we used the corrected availability locations to estimate a resource selection function (RSF). We tested this method with simulations and empirical datasets for the three species. We compared the results of our correction method to RSFs obtained using opportunistic observations without correction and to RSFs using GPS‐telemetry data. Finally, we compared habitat suitability maps obtained using each of these models. Opportunistic observations are more affected by human access and visibility than locations derived from GPS telemetry. This has consequences for drawing inferences about species’ ecology. Models naïvely using opportunistic observations in habitat‐use studies can result in spurious inferences. However, sampling availability locations based on the spatial biases in opportunistic data improves the estimation of the species’ RSFs and predicted habitat suitability maps in some cases. This study highlights the challenges and opportunities of using opportunistic observations in habitat‐use studies. While our method is not foolproof it is a first step toward unlocking the potential of opportunistic citizen science data for habitat‐use studies.
Multi‐trophic metacommunity interactions mediate asynchrony and stability in fluctuating environments
Authors: Firkowski Carina R. , Thompson Patrick L. , Gonzalez Andrew , Cadotte Marc W. , Fortin Marie‐Josée
Published: October 2021

Environmental fluctuations influence patterns of synchrony and stability in species abundances. Most of our understanding of synchrony and stability stems from competitive community and metacommunity ecology, when in reality species interact in more complex ways. Therefore, there is a mounting need for the integration of multi‐trophic interactions into metacommunity ecology. In particular, knowledge is lacking on: (1) whether synchrony and stability respond to environmental fluctuations similarly under competitive and multi‐trophic metacommunities; (2) how synchrony and stability change across the hierarchical levels of a metacommunity; and (3) whether trophic groups differ in their contributions to synchrony and stability. Here, we address these questions through a complementary approach, using model simulations to derive theoretical expectations for the effects of environmental fluctuations on synchrony and stability, and a microcosm experiment to test observations against these expectations. We created spatially heterogeneous metacommunities populated by eight protist and one rotifer species organized in a multi‐trophic food‐web. We controlled environmental fluctuations so that they were spatially uncorrelated and species were assumed to respond differently to environmental conditions. We contrasted the control of constant environmental conditions to the effects of periodic environmental fluctuations. We show that environmental fluctuations can reduce synchrony between patches and increase stability, but can also decouple asynchrony between species and increase population and metapopulation variability. We discuss how some of these findings apply to both competitive and multi‐trophic metacommunities but changes are stronger in multi‐trophic metacommunities, and how trophic groups differ in their contributions to synchrony and variability.
How scholars break down “policy coherence”: The impact of sustainable development global agendas on academic literature
Authors: Righettini Maria Stella , Lizzi Renata
Published: October 2021

Literature on policy coherence (PC) has been expanding particularly since the diffusion of the 2030 Agenda to better understand intersectoral policymaking and steering governance complexity in sustainable development, environmental and climate policies. Through research domain analysis, this article gives systematic evidence regarding the rise of PC literature; moreover, via content analysis, the research highlights the most relevant topics addressed by PC articles published over the last 20 years. Our analysis pinpoints that policy coherence has been studied regarding some research areas, such as sustainable development, environment, climate change, and the increasing transboundary governance concerns. Thus far, PC has been scrutinized mainly by addressing the implementation phase. Evidence suggests that, within the 2030 Agenda framework, future research and theoretical efforts should consider neglected dimensions of the policy process and incorporate them in a process‐oriented analytical framework.
MHC haplotype and B cell autoimmunity: Correlation with pathogenic IgG autoantibody subclasses and Fc glycosylation patterns
Authors: Nogueira Almeida Larissa , Clauder Ann‐Katrin , Meng Lingzhang , Ehlers Marc , Arce Sergio , Manz Rudolf Armin
Published: October 2021

Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) have identified many genes that are associated with the development of certain autoimmune disorders, but the MHC haplotypes still represent the most prevalent genetic risk factor for many autoimmune diseases. The mechanisms by which MHC‐associated genetic susceptibility translates into B cell autoimmunity and the development of autoimmune diseases are complex. There is increasing evidence that the MHC haplotype modulates autoreactive B cell responses in multiple ways. Instead of merely inhibiting the production of IgG autoantibodies and mediating complete immunological tolerance, the non‐permitting MHC haplotypes seem to facilitate the production of IgG autoantibodies exhibiting Fc glycosylation patterns that are associated with reduced pathogenicity and a protective cytokine profile of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells. Here, we discuss mechanisms linking MHC haplotypes to the production of pathogenic IgG autoantibodies, which could be relevant for the development of improved diagnosis, particularly in the context of individual medicine.
Seismic response of floor‐anchored nonstructural components fastened with yielding elements
Authors: Feinstein Tal , Moehle Jack P.
Published: October 2021

Failure of nonstructural components during an earthquake can lead to structure functionality loss, cause widespread property damage, and pose a life‐safety threat to the occupants. Current code provisions for floor‐anchored components aim to minimize the life safety threat by specifying lateral force demands and anchoring requirements. These code requirements are based on a simplified equation that does not fully consider the contribution of the attachment to the overall component dynamic response. Previous results from shaking‐table tests of anchored components suggest that the component attachment is an important parameter that determines its dynamic properties. For this study, a nonstructural experimental model was attached via several attachment designs to a concrete slab and tested on a shaking table to evaluate this contribution. The attachments were dimensioned based on a capacity design approach, such that they would be the weakest element in the force path while providing a yielding mechanism. The attachment designs provide different plastic mechanisms that control the displacement ductility in the response of the component. This paper focuses on the contribution of the attachment to the dynamic response and seismic force demand on the component. The experimental results demonstrate that the selected attachment properties govern the boundary conditions of the nonstructural component and strongly influence its dynamic response. The more flexible attachments sustained large deformations, leading to tensile membrane action and enhanced tensile strength in the attachments. Consequently, the ductile attachments did not result in reduced seismic loads in the nonstructural components.
Lost and found: Maximizing the information from a series of bedload tracer surveys
Authors: MacVicar Bruce J. , Papangelakis Elli
Published: October 2021

Bedload particle tracking is a technique used to better understand sediment dynamics in rivers. Despite technical advances, tracers may be missed in field surveys. The missed tracers may bias the study results even where recovery rates are high, for example if they are preferentially buried close to the seeding site or transported downstream of the surveyed reach. The goal of the current study is to demonstrate that more information can be extracted from a series of bedload tracer surveys by carefully considering the fate of missing and found tracers and implementing a set of strategies to include the (incomplete) information on sediment displacement metrics. A set of open‐source Matlab algorithms collectively called PITtrack are described that perform the calculations. Results from two tracer datasets show that commonly used sediment displacement metrics are sensitive to the inclusion of the missing tracers, even for cases with high recovery rates. Metrics that describe the variance and skewness of the tracers as they disperse are particularly sensitive. The recommended strategy is to include (a) inferred positions of tracers that are missing but unmoved, (b) likely positions of tracers that are missing, moved, and movement can be attributed to a survey period within the uncertain period that meets a dominant flood criterion, and (c) last known positions of tracers considered lost because they go missing and are never found again. Overall the results offer a method to include all available information on missing tracers to better understand sediment dispersion. Future work should be done to assess the classification system for a wider range of field sites and further refine classification based on spatial or other information.
Cooperative jamming in downlink satellite network with hardware impairments
Authors: Wu Haowei , Zheng Lixing , Li Zhe , Ma Rui , Ou Jinglan
Published: October 2021

In this article, a land mobile satellite communication network with an external jammer to fight against the eavesdropper is investigated, where the hardware impairments are introduced to make the analyses more practical. It is worth noting that three jamming schemes, that is, the Gaussian noise jamming, the friendly jamming, and the scheme without jamming, are taken into account to explore the effect of the jammer comprehensively. The secrecy metrics such as the connectivity outage probability (COP), the security outage probability, and the secrecy throughput (ST), are derived for the passive eavesdropping scenario, while the ergodic secrecy capacity is analyzed for the active eavesdropping scenario. Moreover, to get intuitive insight from the closed‐form expressions, the asymptotic ST and the asymptotic COP under the condition of high signal‐to‐noise ratio are also considered. Finally, all the derivations are validated by Monte Carlo simulations, and the effects of different parameters on the performance of the network are analyzed.
From meta‐system theory to the sustainable management of rivers in the Anthropocene
Authors: Cid Núria , Erős Tibor , Heino Jani , Singer Gabriel , Jähnig Sonja C , Cañedo‐Argüelles Miguel , Bonada Núria , Sarremejane Romain , Mykrä Heikki , Sandin Leonard , Paloniemi Riikka , Varumo Liisa , Datry Thibault
Published: October 2021

Regional‐scale ecological processes, such as the spatial flows of material, energy, and organisms, are fundamental for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in river networks. Yet these processes remain largely overlooked in most river management practices and underlying policies. Here, we propose adoption of a meta‐system approach, where regional processes acting at different levels of ecological organization – populations, communities, and ecosystems – are integrated into conventional river conservation, restoration, and biomonitoring. We also describe a series of measurements and indicators that could be assimilated into the implementation of relevant biodiversity and environmental policies. Finally, we highlight the need for alternative management strategies that can guide practitioners toward applying recent advances in ecology to preserve and restore river ecosystems and the ecosystem services they provide, in the context of increasing alteration of river network connectivity worldwide.
No evidence of widespread algal bloom intensification in hundreds of lakes
Authors: Wilkinson Grace M , Walter Jonathan A , Buelo Cal D , Pace Michael L
Published: October 2021

Algal blooms, the rapid proliferation of algal biomass often to nuisance or harmful levels, diminish aquatic ecosystem services. Freshwater blooms can cause substantial economic damage by interrupting water supply, limiting recreation, and reducing property values. The interaction between eutrophication and climate change has been hypothesized to drive widespread intensification of blooms in inland waters, although there is little empirical evidence that this trend is pervasive. Here, we show that bloom intensification in inland waterbodies – defined as trends in chlorophyll‐a of increasing bloom magnitude, severity, or duration – has not been widespread for hundreds of lakes in the US. Only 10.8% of the 323 waterbodies analyzed had significant bloom intensification. Conversely, 16.4% of the waterbodies had significant decreasing trends during the same period. While it is encouraging that bloom intensification is not currently widespread, continued efforts toward aquatic ecosystem protection and restoration are imperative for maintaining ecosystem services into the future.
Phytochemical profiles of edible flowers of medicinal plants of Dendrobium officinale and Dendrobium devonianum
Authors: Zhao Ming , Fan Jiakun , Liu Qianting , Luo Hui , Tang Qingyan , Li Chongping , Zhao Jurun , Zhang Xinfeng
Published: October 2021

The discovery of new edible flowers that are nontoxic, innocuous flowers having human health benefits, surveys of their phytochemicals and utilization are of great scientific and commercial interest. Dendrobium officinale and Dendrobium devonianum are precious Traditional Chinese Medicine. During the massive commercial cultivation, a lot of flowers were produced and certified as edible flowers, and the phytochemical profiles and bioactivities warrant evaluate. The present study aimed to investigate the phytochemicals and antioxidative activities in flowers of D. officinale (DOF) and D. devonianum (DDF). In total, 474 metabolites were identified using a widely targeted metabonomics method, 16 amino acids and 6 flavonoids were measured using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and 8 fatty acids were detected using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). Both flowers contained various amino acids, including 7 essential amino acids, diverse flavonoids, especially quercetin, kaempferol and their derivatives, and high levels of methyl linoleate and methyl linolenate. The relative levels of quercetin, kaempferol and their glycosides were higher in DDF than in DOF, whereas the relative levels of several flavonoids C‐glycosides were high in DOF. Ethanol extracts of both DOF and DDF showed antioxidative capacities including the scavenging of 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl radicals. Both edible flowers contained flavonoids, amino acids, and fatty acids and have antioxidative activities, which should be explored for use in functional foods and pharmaceuticals.
The prevalence of depression among iran‐iraq war veterans, combatants and former prisoners of war: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Rahnejat Amir Mohsen , Ebrahimi Mohammadreza , Khoshdel Alireza , Noorbala Ahmad Ali , Shahmiri Barzoki Hassan , Avarzamani Lababeh , Avakh Farhad , Taghva Arsia
Published: October 2021

By exposing individuals to trauma, wars can cause a host of psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to collect and compare the studies conducted to estimate the prevalence of depression among veterans, former prisoners of war (POWs) and military personnel in the Iran–Iraq war (1980–1988). In this systematic review, a search was conducted using relevant keywords in major national and international databases, personal archives and national academic libraries. We screened 135 records using their abstracts and selected a total of 56 studies for full‐text review. Eventually, 19 studies were included in our systematic review and meta‐analysis. The estimated pooled prevalence of depression among Iranian veterans and POWs was 22.4% (95% confidence interval = 15.0–32.0). Although the results indicated disparities in the prevalence of depression among veterans and POWs, the aggregate estimated prevalence was much higher than what has been reported for military personnel. Effective policies and strategies are required for prevention and treatment of depression and related psychiatric complications among veterans and former POWs.
Vibrational two‐photon microscopy for tissue imaging: Short‐wave infrared surface‐enhanced resonance hyper‐Raman scattering
Authors: Olson Jacob E. , Yu Jung Ho , Thimes Rebekah L. , Camden Jon P.
Published: October 2021

Multiphoton microscopy using short‐wave infrared (SWIR) radiation offers nondestructive and high‐resolution imaging through tissue. Two‐photon fluorescence (TPF), for example, is commonly employed to increase the penetration depth and spatial resolution of SWIR imaging, but the broad spectral peaks limit its multiplexing capabilities. Hyper‐Raman scattering, the vibrational analog of TPF, yields spectral features on the order of 20 cm−1 and reporter‐functionalized noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) provide a platform for both hyper‐Raman signal enhancement and selective targeting in biological media. Herein we report the first tissue imaging study employing surface‐enhanced resonance hyper‐Raman scattering (SERHRS), the two‐photon analog of surface‐enhanced resonance Raman scattering. Specifically, we employ multicore gold‐silica NPs (Au@SiO2 NPs) functionalized with a near infrared‐resonant cyanine dye, 3,3′‐diethylthiatricarbocyanine iodide as a SERHRS reporter. SWIR SERHRS spectra are efficiently acquired from mouse spleen tissue. SWIR SERHRS combines two‐photon imaging advantages with narrow vibrational peak widths, presenting future applications of multitargeted bioimaging.
Evaluation of a new series of pyrazole derivatives as a potent epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitory activity: QSAR modeling using quantum‐chemical descriptors
Authors: Said Ridha Ben , Hanachi Riadh , Rahali Seyfeddine , Alkhalifah Mohammed A. M. , Alresheedi Faisal , Tangour Bahoueddine , Hochlaf Majdi
Published: October 2021

Pyrazole derivatives correspond to a family of heterocycle molecules with important pharmacological and physiological applications. At present, we perform a density functional theory (DFT) calculations and a quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) evaluation on a series of 1‐(4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl) ethan‐1‐one and 4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazole‐1‐carbothioamide derivatives as an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitory activity. We thus propose a virtual screening protocol based on a machine‐learning study. This theoretical model relates the studied compounds' biological activity to their calculated physicochemical descriptors. Moreover, the linear regression function is used to validate the model via the evaluation of Q2ext and Q2cv parameters for external and internal validations, respectively. Our QSAR model shows a good correlation between observed activities IC50 and predicted ones. Our model allows us to mitigate time‐consuming problems and waste chemical and biological products in the preclinical phases.
Assessment of antiphospholipid antibodies and calprotectin as biomarkers for discriminating mild from severe COVID‐19
Authors: Lee Anna , Nahm Chung Hyun , Lee Jin‐Soo , Lee Mi‐Kyeong , Lee Kyoung‐Ryul
Published: October 2021

Background

To explore the association of thrombo‐inflammatory biomarkers with severity in coronavirus disease (COVID‐19), we measured antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and calprotectin in sera of COVID‐19 patients.

Methods

Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and anti‐β2‐glycoprotein I antibodies were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and multiplex flow immunoassay (MFIA) in hospitalized COVID‐19 patients (N = 105) and healthy controls (N = 38). Anti‐phosphatidylserine/prothrombin antibodies, calprotectin, and C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels were also measured. We assessed the potential correlation between calprotectin levels and various laboratory parameters that were measured during the hospitalization period. After stratifying COVID‐19 patients into two groups by their oxygenation status or acute respiratory distress syndrome presentation, the discriminatory performance of each biomarker was evaluated.

Results

A high proportion of COVID‐19 patients (29.5%, 31/105) had low aCL IgM titers that were detectable by ELISA but mostly below the detection limit of MFIA. Calprotectin levels in severe groups of COVID‐19 were significantly higher than those in non‐severe groups, while CRP levels revealed no significant differences. Serum calprotectin levels showed strong to moderate degree of correlation with other routinely used parameters including peak levels of CRP, ferritin, procalcitonin, BUN, and neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, but a negative correlation with minimal lymphocyte count and CD4+ T cells. The discriminatory performance was highest for calprotectin in discriminating severe groups of COVID‐19.

Conclusions

Serum calprotectin levels were significantly elevated in severe COVID‐19 cases. The prevalence of clinically significant aPL did not differ. The link between calprotectin and inflammatory pathway in COVID‐19 may help improve the management and outcomes of COVID‐19 patients.
Identification of potential biomarkers associated with immune infiltration in papillary renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Deng Ran , Li Jianpeng , Zhao Hong , Zou Zhirui , Man Jiangwei , Cao Jinlong , Yang Li
Published: October 2021

Background

Immunotherapeutic approaches have recently emerged as effective treatment regimens against various types of cancer. However, the immune‐mediated mechanisms surrounding papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the tumor microenvironment (TME) and identify the potential immune‐related biomarkers for pRCC.

Methods

The CIBERSORT algorithm was used to calculate the abundance ratio of immune cells in each pRCC samples. Univariate Cox analysis was used to select the prognostic‐related tumor‐infiltrating immune cells (TIICs). Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to develop a signature based on the selected prognostic‐related TIICs. Then, these pRCC samples were divided into low‐ and high‐risk groups according to the obtained signature. Analyses using Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were performed to investigate the biological function of the DEGs (differentially expressed genes) between the high‐ and low‐risk groups. The hub genes were identified using a weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA) and a protein‐protein interaction (PPI) analysis. The hub genes were subsequently validated by multiple clinical traits and databases.

Results

According to our analyses, nine immune cells play a vital role in the TME of pRCC. Our analyses also obtained nine potential immune‐related biomarkers for pRCC, including TOP2A, BUB1B, BUB1, TPX2, PBK, CEP55, ASPM, RRM2, and CENPF.

Conclusion

In this study, our data revealed the crucial TIICs and potential immune‐related biomarkers for pRCC and provided compelling insights into the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets for pRCC.
Responses of CD27+CD38+ plasmablasts, and CD24hiCD27hi and CD24hiCD38hi regulatory B cells during primary dengue virus 2 infection
Authors: Lei Chenshuang , Yu Qinhua , Wang Hong , Liu JieJing , Chen Sufeng , Zhao Zhao , Qiu Liannv
Published: October 2021

Background

Humoral immunity is thought to play a central role in mediating the immunopathogenesis of dengue virus (DENV) infection; however, the B‐cell responses elicited by primary DENV2 infection are incompletely understood. Follicular helper T cells (Tfh) are important to promote B‐cell activation and differentiation.

Methods

The present study analyzed the detailed dynamic changes of circulating B‐cell subsets and Tfh (cTfh) using flow cytometry to explore their responses to DENV2 infection.

Results

Thirty‐six patients with DENV2 and 21 healthy individuals were included. The results showed that CD27+CD38+ plasmablasts emerged after DENV2 infection, and correlated with CXCR5+PD‐1+ or CXCR5+ICOS+PD‐1+ cTfh, which increased after DENV2 infection, and correlated with DENV2 RNA viral loads. Significantly low levels of CD27− naïve B cells, and CD24hiCD27hi and CD24hiCD38hi regulatory B cells (Breg) were observed after DENV2 infection, which correlated negatively with CXCR5+PD‐1+ or CXCR5+ICOS+PD‐1+ cTfh cells.

Conclusion

Overall, these results provide insights into the DENV2‐elicited B‐cell response and revealed previously unidentified CD24hiCD27hi and CD24hiCD38hi Breg responses to DENV2 infection.
Characterization of LncRNA expression profile and identification of functional LncRNAs associated with unstable angina
Authors: Liu Sudong , Hou Jingyuan , Gu Xiaodong , Weng Ruiqiang , Zhong Zhixiong
Published: October 2021

Background

Increasing evidences suggest that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the association between lncRNAs expression profiles and unstable angina (UA) remained poorly known. Thus, the present study aims to investigate expression patterns, biological functions, and diagnostic value of lncRNAs in UA.

Methods

The present study explored the lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of UA patients and normal coronary artery (NCA) controls using RNA‐seq. The biological function of differentially expressed lncRNAs was analyzed using gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. The expression of the selected lncRNAs was validated in another 44 UA patients and 46 NCA controls. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of lncRNAs for UA.

Results

A total of 98 lncRNAs and 615 mRNAs were observed differentially expressed in PBMCs of UA patients as compared to NCA controls. The 10 most upregulated lncRNAs were LNC_000226, DANCR, RP1‐167A14.2, LNC_002091, LNC_001526, LNC_001165, LNC_002772, LNC_000088, LNC_001226, and FAM157C, and the 10 most downregulated lncRNAs were RP11‐734I18.1, RP11‐185E8.1, RP11‐360I2.1, LNC_001302, LNC_001287, RN7SL471P, LNC_000914, LINC01506, RP11‐160E2.6, and LNC_000995. LNC_000226 and MALAT1 have high area under the curve values (AUC) for distinguishing UA from NCA patients (0.810 and 0.799, respectively), and the combination of MALAT1 and LNC_000226 increased the AUC value to 0.878.

Conclusions

The present study added our understanding about the lncRNA expression profile in UA patients and provided potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of UA.
Insight into the role of dermal white adipose tissue loss in dermal fibrosis
Authors: Liu Si‐Yu , Wu Jun‐Jie , Chen Zhong‐Hua , Zou Ming‐Li , Teng Ying‐Ying , Zhang Kai‐Wen , Li Yue‐Yue , Guo Dang‐Yang , Yuan Feng‐Lai , Li Xia
Published: October 2021

The loss of dermal white adipose tissue (dWAT) is vital to the formation of dermal fibrosis (DF), but the specific mechanism is not well understood. A few studies are reviewed to explore the role of dWAT in the formation of DF. Recent findings indicated that the adipocytes‐to‐myofibroblasts transition in dWAT reflects the direct contribution to the DF formation. While adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) contained in dWAT express antifibrotic cytokines, the loss of ADSCs leads to skin protection decreased, which indirectly exacerbates DF and tissue damage. Therefore, blocking or reversing the adipocytes‐to‐myofibroblasts transition or improving the survival of ADSCs in dWAT and the expression of antifibrotic cytokines may be an effective strategy for the treatment of DF.
Diagnosis of sarcopenia by evaluating skeletal muscle mass by adjusted bioimpedance analysis validated with dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry
Authors: Cheng Keith Yu‐Kin , Chow Simon Kwoon‐Ho , Hung Vivian Wing‐Yin , Wong Carissa Hing‐Wai , Wong Ronald Man‐Yeung , Tsang Charlotte Sau‐Lan , Kwok Timothy , Cheung Wing‐Hoi
Published: October 2021

Background

This study aimed to adjust and cross‐validate skeletal muscle mass measurements between bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) for the screening of sarcopenia in the community and to estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia in Hong Kong.

Methods

Screening of sarcopenia was provided to community‐dwelling older adults. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) was evaluated by BIA (InBody 120 or 720) and/or DXA. Handgrip strength and/or gait speed were assessed. Diagnosis of sarcopenia was based on the 2019 revised Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia cut‐offs. Agreement analysis was performed to cross‐validate ASM measurements by BIA and DXA. Multiple regression was used to explore contribution of measured parameters in predicting DXA ASM from BIA.

Results

A total of 1587 participants (age = 72 ± 12 years) were recruited; 1065 participants were screened by BIA (InBody 120) with 18 followed up by DXA, while the remaining 522 participants were assessed by the BIA (InBody 720) and DXA. The appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) evaluated by BIA showed a mean difference of 2.89 ± 0.38 kg/m2 (InBody 120) and 2.97 ± 0.45 kg/m2 (InBody 720) against DXA gold standard. A significant overestimation of muscle mass was measured by BIA compared with DXA (P < 0.005). BIA data were adjusted using prediction equation and mean difference reduced to −0.02 ± 0.31 kg/m2 in cross‐validation. Prevalence of sarcopenia in older adults ≥65 ranged from 39.4% (based on ASMI by DXA) to 40.8% (based on predicted DXA ASMI from BIA). Low ASMI by DXA was found in 68.5% of the older adults screened. The percentage of older adults exhibited low handgrip strength ranged from 31.3% to 56%, while 49% showed low gait speed.

Conclusions

Bioimpedance analysis was found to overestimate skeletal muscle mass compared with DXA. With adjustment equations, BIA can be used as a quick and reliable tool for screening sarcopenia in community and clinical settings with limited access to better options.
Effect of Q‐Box size on liver stiffness measurement by two‐dimensional shear wave elastography
Authors: Wang Huipeng , Zheng Pengchao , Wang Xuemei , Sang Liang
Published: October 2021

Purpose

To investigate the effect of the Q‐Box size on liver stiffness (LS) measurement by two‐dimensional shear wave elastography (2D SWE).

Methods

Ninety‐eight patients with chronic liver disease were enrolled. Each patient was continuously measured five times. The Q‐Box diameter was adjusted to 10, 20, and 30 mm each time. The liver stiffness values (LSVs) at different diameters were compared in the following groups: LSVs ≤6.2 kPa, 6.2 kPa < LSVs ≤11 kPa, LSVs >11 kPa. The reliability and repeatability of LS measurement at different diameters were evaluated.

Results

The differences in LSVs at different Q‐Box diameters were statistically significant only when LSV ≤6.2 kPa (p = 0.004). There were no statistically significant differences in standard deviation (SD), SD/median, coefficient of variation (CV), and interquartile range (IQR)/median at different Q‐Box diameters (p > 0.05). There were statistical differences in minimum LSVs and percentage of minimum LSVs ≤0.2 kPa as well as in stability index (SI) and percentage of SI <90% at different Q‐Box diameters (p < 0.05). The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were up to 0.98 at Q‐Box diameters of 10, 20, and 30 mm.

Conclusions

Our study showed that Q‐Box size may lead to significant differences in LSVs, especially when LSVs ≤6.2 kPa. The Q‐Box size had a large effect on the reliability of a single LS measurement but did not affect the repeatability of multiple measurements.
Effective use of the blank comparison procedure in simple discrimination by infant capuchin monkeys: A methodological note
Authors: de Oliveira Jiménez Érika Larissa , de Faria Brino Ana Leda , Goulart Paulo Roney Kilpp , de Faria Galvão Olavo , McIlvane William J.
Published: October 2021

In studies of simple and conditional discrimination, procedures are needed to measure those aspects of stimuli that control behavior. The blank comparison procedure is one such procedure. It was designed explicitly for assessing S+ and S‐ functions when discriminative stimuli are presented simultaneously. In this procedure, a neutral stimulus serves sometimes as S+ and sometimes as S‐. Its discriminative function is defined in relation to other stimuli in the display. The present study aimed to prepare 2 infant female capuchin monkeys for the effective use of the blank comparison procedure in a simple discrimination task. First, simple discrimination training was applied up to a stable accuracy criterion of ≥90%. This training was followed by the replacement of S+ and then of S‐ stimuli with new stimuli. Ultimately, trials with the blank comparison were introduced. Following this sequence, both monkeys immediately displayed highly accurate blank‐comparison performances without the need for stimulus control shaping or other preparatory discrimination training. Thus, this procedure sequence may be an efficient, effective method for establishing blank‐comparison baselines for experimental analyses of S+/S‐ discriminative functions and perhaps for other applications in teaching simple and conditional discrimination performances to this species and others.
Gemella haemolysans as an emerging pathogen for bacteremia among the elderly
Authors: Kodaka Satoko , Uchida Takuro , Gomi Harumi
Published: October 2021

We report a patient of an 82‐year‐old woman with occult Gemella haemolysans bacteremia without a clear entry site. Gemella haemolysans is part of the normal human flora but can cause severe systemic infections such as infective endocarditis on rare occasions. In this patient, physical examination showed no localized symptoms, and a transthoracic echocardiogram showed no vegetation on the heart valves. The entry site for this pathogen was unclear. As the number of the elderly with asymptomatic infections has been increasing, clinicians should be aware of that this microorganism can cause occult bacteremia and infective endocarditis.
Risk factors of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in lean body mass population: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Alam Shahinul , Eslam Mohammad , SKM Hasan Nazmul , Anam Kamrul , Chowdhury Muhammad Abdul Baker , Khan Md Abdullah Saeed , Hasan Mohammad J , Mohamed Rosmawati
Published: October 2021

The pathophysiology and risk factors of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among lean patients is poorly understood and therefore investigated. We performed a meta‐analysis of observational studies. Of 1175 articles found through searching from Medline/PubMed, Banglajol, and Google Scholar by two independent investigators, 22 were selected. Data from lean (n = 6768) and obese (n = 9253) patients with NAFLD were analyzed; lean (n = 43 398) and obese (n = 9619) subjects without NAFLD served as controls. Age, body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) had significantly higher estimates in lean NAFLD patients than in lean non‐NAFLD controls. Fasting blood sugar [MD(mean difference) 5.17 mg/dl, 95% CI(confidence interval) 4.14–6.16], HbA1c [MD 0.29%, 95% CI 0.11–0.48], and insulin resistance [HOMA‐IR] [MD 0.49 U, 95% CI 0.29–0.68]) were higher in lean NAFLD patients than in lean non‐NAFLD controls. All components of the lipid profile were raised significantly in the former group except high‐density lipoprotein. An increased uric acid (UA) level was found to be associated with the presence of NAFLD among lean. Cardio‐metabolic profiles of nonlean NAFLD patients significantly differs from the counter group. However, the magnitude of the difference of lipid and glycemic profile barely reached statistical significance when subjects were grouped according to lean and nonlean NAFLD. But DBP (slope: 0.19, P < 0.037), HOMA‐IR (slope: 0.58, P < 0.001), and UA (slope: 0.36, P = 0.022) were significantly higher if NAFLD was present compared to that of non‐NAFLD group. Lean and nonlean NAFLD patients are metabolically similar and share common risk factors.
Spinal ganglia and peripheral nerves innervating the regenerating tail and muscles of lizards
Authors: Alibardi Lorenzo
Published: October 2021

The present review summarizes available information on the contribution of regenerating nerves to the process of regeneration in the tail of lizards. From the last three segments of the spinal cord and ganglia proximal to the regenerating tail, motor, sensory somatic and autonomous nerves regenerate and richly innervate the growing blastema. However, experimental studies have indicated that peripheral nerves are not essential for stimulating the regeneration of the tail that instead is mainly sustained by the interaction of the apical ependyma with the wound epidermis. Ganglion neurons innervating the regenerating blastema increase their size and some satellite cells multiply but no ganglion neurons are regenerated. Numerous Schwann cells proliferate to keep pace with nerve regeneration, and they form myelin starting from 3 to 4 weeks of tail regeneration. The hypertrophic ganglion neurons synthesize growth factors and signaling proteins such as FGFs and Wnts that are transported into the regenerating blastema through the regenerating nerves. Nerves form synaptic‐like contacts with mesenchymal cells or fibroblasts at the tip of the regenerating blastema but not synaptic boutons. These terminals may discharge stimulating factors that favor cell proliferation but this is not experimentally demonstrated. Most of the innervation is directed to differentiating muscles where nerve endings form cholinergic motor‐plates. Transcriptome data on the regenerating blastema‐cone detect up‐regulation of various genes coding for ionic channels, neurotransmitter receptors and signaling proteins. The latter suggests that the neurotrophic stimulation may control cell proliferation but is most directed to the functionality of regenerating muscles.
The association between famotidine and in‐hospital mortality of patients with COVID‐19
Authors: Kuno Toshiki , So Matsuo , Takahashi Mai , Egorova Natalia N.
Published: October 2021

Famotidine has been considered to be a potential treatment for COVID‐19 but the current data is conflicting. This retrospective study was conducted by utilizing data of 9565 COVID‐19 hospitalized patients. Patients treated with and without famotidine were matched by propensity score using a 1:1 matching scheme. A total of 1593 patients (16.7%) received famotidine. In‐hospital mortality was similar in patients treated with and without famotidine in the propensity‐matched cohorts (28.3% vs. 28.2%, p = 0.97), which remains similar irrespective of severity or concomitant treatment by steroids. Famotidine treatment was not associated with a lower risk of in‐hospital mortality of COVID‐19 patients.
Modeling and analysis of all‐optical pressure sensor using photonic crystal based micro ring resonator
Authors: Biswas Uttara , Rakshit Jayanta Kumar , Suthar Bhuvneshwer , Kumar Deepak , Nayak Chittaranjan
Published: October 2021

The paper illustrates a photonic crystal micro ring resonator based pressure sensor utilizing the variation of refractive index of the material and the structural deformation. FEM is employed for reformed structure analysis. Structural deformation and change in refractive index are taken as input variables in FDTD simulation and the external pressure is measured by analyzing shift in resonance wavelength. A comparative study of the rod type and the hole type photonic crystal micro ring resonator based pressure sensor is reported in this paper. Both the structures are ultra compact and can be used for compact photonic integrated circuits.
An optimal second‐order sliding mode based inter‐area oscillation suppressor using chaotic whale optimization algorithm for doubly fed induction generator
Authors: Darvish Falehi Ali
Published: October 2021

This paper suggests an inter‐area oscillation suppressor based on second‐order sliding mode controller (SOSMC) for doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) to suppress the inter‐area power system oscillations. SOSMC‐based suppressor targets at improving the reactive power control capability of DFIG to retrieve the stability of affected power system caused by fault occurrence into the stable condition. This controller has been initially designed for two‐area power system, after that it has been extended for multi‐area power systems. SOSMC‐based suppressor has no sensitivity to the uncertainty and variation of the parameter in all system operation conditions as compared with the conventional suppressors. Due to exploration and exploitation capability of chaotic whale optimization algorithm (CWOA), it is applied as main optimizer to optimally tune the suppressor's parameters and merge with the dynamic stability scheme. This optimization algorithm is beneficial for complex dynamic stability problem, because during the iterative procedure, it can enhance the exploration capability to find the best solution. The optimization scheme based on CWOA has been compared with the conventional whale optimization algorithm (WOA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). The suppressor damping capability has been evaluated with consideration of some possible disturbance scenarios. Furthermore, the objective function has been carried out based on the prominent dynamic performance criteria such as integral of time multiplied absolute error (ITAE), integral of absolute error (IAE), integral of squared error (ISE), and integral of time multiplied squared error (ITSE). Considering the various operating points, the SOSMC‐based suppressor ameliorates the system robustness as compared to the conventional suppressor. At last, the simulation results extracted from both interconnected power systems confirm the enhancement of power system operability and performance in suppression of the inter‐area oscillations, and also validate the robustness of the suggested control strategy against the model uncertainties and unmodeled dynamics.
Synthesis and characterization of lotus seed protein‐based curcumin microcapsules with enhanced solubility, stability, and sustained release
Authors: Su Ya , Chen Ying , Zhang Li , Adhikari Benu , Xu Baoguo , Li Jianlin , Zheng Tiesong
Published: October 2021

BACKGROUND

Lotus seed protein (LSP) was extracted from lotus seed and used to encapsulate curcumin with or without complexing with pectin. The physicochemical properties of LSP‐based microcapsules, including solubility, stability, and in vitro sustained release, were determined. The mechanism of interaction between curcumin, LSP, and pectin was revealed.

RESULTS

The encapsulation efficiency of curcumin was found to depend on LSP concentration and was highest (86.32%, w/w) at 50 mg mL−1. The curcumin in curcumin–LSP and curcumin–LSP–pectin powder particles achieved a solubility of 75.15% and 81.39%, respectively, which was a remarkable enhancement. The microencapsulation with LSP and LSP–pectin matrix showed a significant improvement in the antioxidant activity, photostability, thermostability, and storage stability of free curcumin. The microencapsulated curcumin showed sustained control release at the gastric stage and burst‐type release in the subsequent intestinal stage, presenting cumulative release rates of 64.3% and 72.4% from curcumin–LSP and curcumin–LSP–pectin particles after gastrointestinal digestion. The LSP–pectin complex produced microcapsules with higher solubility, smaller particle size, enhanced physicochemical stability, and increased bioaccessibility. Fourier transform infrared, circular dichroism spectra, and differential scanning calorimetry data indicated that the encapsulated curcumin interacted with LSP and pectin mainly through hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic, and electrostatic interactions.

CONCLUSION

This work shows that LSP can be an alternative encapsulant for the delivery of hydrophobic nutraceuticals with enhanced solubility, stability, and sustained release. The results may contribute to the design of novel food‐grade delivery systems based on LSP vehicles, thereby broadening the applications of LSP in the fields of functional food. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.