bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Significance of Diabetes-Mellitus-Associated Antibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Erlandsson Malin C. , Tuameh Mahomud , Jukic Huduti Elin , Silfverswärd Sofia T. , Pullerits Rille , Bokarewa Maria I.
Published: November 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a canonical autoimmune disease that shares numerous risk factors with diabetes mellitus (DM). The production of autoantibodies is a characteristic feature in both diseases. To determine the frequency and specificity of DM-related antibodies (DMab) in RA patients and to study whether DMab associates with new DM cases in RA patients, we measured DMab defined as IgG against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA), tyrosine phosphatase (IA2-ab), and zinc transporter (ZnT8-ab) in a cohort of 290 RA patients (215 women and 75 men, median disease duration 11 years). Of those, 21 had a DM diagnosis at baseline. The development of new DM cases and mortality were traced in a 10-year prospective follow-up. Predictive analyses for DM and mortality were carried out by the Mantel–Cox regression. We found that 27 of the patients (9.3%) had DMab, equally often men and women. The presence of DMab was more frequent in patients with DM (p = 0.027. OR 4.01, 95%CI [1.20; 11.97]), suggesting their specificity for the disease. Men had more prevalent incidental DM at the baseline (12% vs. 5%, p = 0.030) and among the new DM cases (p = 0.012. HR 6.08, 95%CI [1.57; 25]). New DM developed equally frequently in DMab-positive and DMab-negative patients. DM, but not DMab, significantly increased the estimated mortality rate in RA patients (p = 0.021, OR 4.38 [1.2; 13.52]). Taken together, we conclude that DMab are associated with DM in RA patients, but they are not solely enough to predict disease development or mortality in those patients.
6-Shogaol Exhibits a Promoting Effect with Tax via Binding HSP60 in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Mulati Shulipan , Jiang Rongsong , Wang Jinfeng , Tao Yicun , Zhang Weiyi
Published: November 2022

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a prevalent malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Although surgical resection, adjuvant radiotherapy/chemotherapy, and targeted molecular therapy are the cornerstones of NSCLC treatment, NSCLC is associated with high recurrence rates and drug resistance. This study analyzed the potential targets and pathways of 6-Shogaol (6-SH) in NSCLC, showing that 6-SH binds to heat-shock 60 kDa protein (HSP60) in A549 cells, induces cell apoptosis, and arrests the cell cycle possibly by disrupting the mitochondrial function. HSP60 was identified as the target of 6-SH and 6-SH-induced HSP60 degradation which was mediated by the proteasome. The binding of 6-SH with HSP60 altered its stability, inhibited the ERK, Stat3, PI3K, Akt, and mTOR signaling pathways, and Tax acted synergistically with 6-SH, indicating that 6-SH could be developed as a potential therapeutic agent for an NSCLC treatment.
Thymosin Beta 15 Alters the Spatial Development of Thymic Epithelial Cells
Authors: Xu Xie , He Kai , Hoffman Robert D. , Ying Yuyuan , Tao Nana , Guo Wenqin , Shen Jiaman , Liu Xi , Li Meiya , Yan Meiqiu , Lv Guiyuan , Gao Jianli
Published: November 2022

The thymus is the most sensitive organ under various pathophysiological conditions, such as aging, starvation, and infection. As a key stromal cell for T cell development, it is well-known that thymic epithelial cells (TECs) play an important role in the thymus response to the external environment. Thymosin beta 15 (Tβ15) is a G-actin binding protein secreted by TECs, it plays an important role in maintaining the dynamic balance of actin, angiogenesis, axonal formation, and wound healing, but the relationship between Tβ15 and TECs is not clear yet. Here, we show the impact of Tβ15 on the TEC’s spatial development, as well as the T-cell differentiation and thymic output. As a result, TEC is the main effector cell of Tβ15 in the thymus. Tβ15 OX inhibits the chemotaxis of TECs to the medulla and subsequently blocks the positive selection of thymocytes from CD3+TCRβ+CD4+CD8+ double positive cells to CD3+TCRβ+CD4+CD8− single-positive (CD4SP) cells. Tβ15-knockdown accelerates the reticular differentiation of astral TECs and medullary TECs. Importantly, mice implanted with Tβ15-knockdown iTECs show high thymic output but low peripheral T cell maturity and activity. In a word, our results explain the role of Tβ15 on the differentiation and function of TECs and provide a new perspective for understanding the process of thymus development and degeneration.
Antibody Mediated Intercommunication of Germinal Centers
Authors: Arulraj Theinmozhi , Binder Sebastian C. , Meyer-Hermann Michael
Published: November 2022

Antibody diversification and selection of B cells occur in dynamic structures called germinal centers (GCs). Passively administered soluble antibodies regulate the GC response by masking the antigen displayed on follicular dendritic cells (FDCs). This suggests that GCs might intercommunicate via naturally produced soluble antibodies, but the role of such GC–GC interactions is unknown. In this study, we performed in silico simulations of interacting GCs and predicted that intense interactions by soluble antibodies limit the magnitude and lifetime of GC responses. With asynchronous GC onset, we observed a higher inhibition of late formed GCs compared to early ones. We also predicted that GC–GC interactions can lead to a bias in the epitope recognition even in the presence of equally dominant epitopes due to differences in founder cell composition or initiation timing of GCs. We show that there exists an optimal range for GC–GC interaction strength that facilitates the affinity maturation towards an incoming antigenic variant during an ongoing GC reaction. These findings suggest that GC–GC interactions might be a contributing factor to the unexplained variability seen among individual GCs and a critical factor in the modulation of GC response to antigenic variants during viral infections.
S-nitrosylated PARIS Leads to the Sequestration of PGC-1α into Insoluble Deposits in Parkinson’s Disease Model
Authors: Kim Hanna , Lee Ji-Yeong , Park Soo Jeong , Kwag Eunsang , Kim Jihye , Shin Joo-Ho
Published: November 2022

Neuronal accumulation of parkin-interacting substrate (PARIS), a transcriptional repressor of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), has been observed in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Herein, we showed that PARIS can be S-nitrosylated at cysteine 265 (C265), and S-nitrosylated PARIS (SNO-PARIS) translocates to the insoluble fraction, leading to the sequestration of PGC-1α into insoluble deposits. The mislocalization of PGC-1α in the insoluble fraction was observed in S-nitrosocysteine-treated PARIS knockout (KO) cells overexpressing PARIS WT but not S-nitrosylation deficient C265S mutant, indicating that insolubility of PGC-1α is SNO-PARIS-dependent. In the sporadic PD model, α-synuclein preformed fibrils (α-syn PFFs)-injected mice, we found an increase in PARIS, SNO-PARIS, and insoluble sequestration of PGC-1α in substantia nigra (SN), resulting in the reduction of mitochondrial DNA copy number and ATP concentration that were restored by N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor. To assess the dopaminergic (DA) neuronal toxicity by SNO-PARIS, lentiviral PARIS WT, C265S, and S-nitrosylation mimic C265W was injected into the SN of either PBS- or α-syn PFFs-injected mice. PARIS WT and C265S caused DA neuronal death to a comparable extent, whereas C265W caused more severe DA neuronal loss in PBS-injected mice. Interestingly, there was synergistic DA loss in both lenti-PARIS WT and α-syn PFFs-injected mice, indicating that SNO-PARIS by α-syn PFFs contributes to the DA toxicity in vivo. Moreover, α-syn PFFs-mediated increment of PARIS, SNO-PARIS, DA toxicity, and behavioral deficits were completely nullified in neuronal NOS KO mice, suggesting that modulation of NO can be a therapeutic for α-syn PFFs-mediated neurodegeneration.
RUNX Proteins as Epigenetic Modulators in Cancer
Authors: Yi Hongyang , He Yuhao , Zhu Qionghua , Fang Liang
Published: November 2022

RUNX proteins are highly conserved in metazoans and perform critical functions during development. Dysregulation of RUNX proteins through various molecular mechanisms facilitates the development and progression of various cancers, where different RUNX proteins show tumor type-specific functions and regulate different aspects of tumorigenesis by cross-talking with different signaling pathways such as Wnt, TGF-β, and Hippo. Molecularly, they could serve as transcription factors (TFs) to activate their direct target genes or interact with many other TFs to modulate chromatin architecture globally. Here, we review the current knowledge on the functions and regulations of RUNX proteins in different cancer types and highlight their potential role as epigenetic modulators in cancer.
Involvement of DAAO Overexpression in Delayed Hippocampal Neuronal Death
Authors: Liu Hao , Zhang Jun-Tao , Mou Chen-Ye , Hao Yue , Cui Wei
Published: November 2022

Background: D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) is a flavoenzyme that specifically catalyzes the deamination of many neutral and basic D-amino acids. This study aims to explore the pathological increment of hippocampal DAAO and its potential relationship with delayed hippocampal neuronal death. Methods: Ischemia–reperfusion was induced in mice through middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Neurological deficit scores and hippocampal neuronal death were assessed in MCAO mice. Immunofluorescent staining was applied to identify activated astrocytes and evaluate DAAO expression. TUNEL and Nissl staining were utilized to identify cell apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. Results: Hippocampal astrocytic DAAO was strikingly increased following ischemic stroke, with the greatest increase on day 5 after surgery, followed by the manifestation of neurobehavioral deficits. Astrocytic DAAO was found to be mainly expressed in the hippocampal CA2 region and linked with subsequent specific neural apoptosis. Thus, it is supposed that the activation of astrocytic DAAO in ischemic stroke might contribute to neuronal death. An intravenous, twice-daily administration of 4H-furo[3,2-b]pyrrole-5-carboxylic acid (SUN, 10 mg/kg) markedly relieved behavioral status and delayed hippocampal neuronal death by 38.0% and 41.5%, respectively, compared to the model group treated with saline. In transfected primary astrocytes, DAAO overexpression inhibits cell activity, induces cytotoxicity, and promotes hippocampal neuronal death at least partly by enhancing H2O2 levels with subsequent activation of TRP calcium channels in neurons. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that increased hippocampal DAAO is causally associated with the development of delayed neuronal death after MCAO onset via astrocyte–neuron interactions. Hence, targeting DAAO is a promising therapeutic strategy for the management of neurological disorders.
Mobilization of Children with External Ventricular Drains: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Reader Ben , Stegeman Emily , Zhang Nanhua , Greve Kelly
Published: November 2022

The implementation of early mobility programs for children with critical illnesses has been growing. Children with acute neurologic conditions that result in the requirement of an external ventricular drain (EVD) may be excluded from attaining the benefits of early mobility programs due to the fear of adverse events. The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation, safety, and outcomes of children with EVDs mobilized by physical therapists. A single-site retrospective cohort study of children with EVDs mobilized by physical therapy (PT) was conducted. Patients aged 3–21 years who were hospitalized from September 2016 to December 2020 were included in this study. Results: Out of a total of 192 electronic health records with EVDs, 168 patients (87.5%) participated in 1601 early mobilization encounters led by physical therapists. No adverse events occurred due to mobilization. Patients mobilized more frequently by PT had a higher level of activity at discharge (p = 0.014), a shorter length of stay (p = 0.001), and a more favorable discharge (p = 0.03). The early mobilization of children with EVDs can be implemented safely without adverse events. Patients mobilized with an EVD are more functional at discharge, spend fewer days in the hospital, and have a more favorable discharge compared to those who do not receive PT.
Predictors of Reactive Agility in Early Puberty: A Multiple Regression Gender-Stratified Study
Authors: Pavlinovic Vladimir , Foretic Nikola , Versic Sime , Sekulic Damir , Liposek Silvester
Published: November 2022

Reactive agility (RAG) is a crucial factor of success in sports, but there are practically no studies dealing with RAG among children. The main aim of this study was to identify predictors of RAG among early pubescent boys and girls. The participants were primary school boys (n = 73) and girls (n = 59) aged 11–12. The criterion variable was the originally developed “Triangle” test of reactive agility (Triangle-RAG). Predictors included anthropometric/body composition indices (body height, seated height, body mass, and body fat percentage) and motor abilities (10 and 20 m sprint, broad jump, squat jump, countermovement jump, drop jump, and two tests of change of direction speed—CODS (Triangle-CODS, and 20 yards)). The results of the univariate analysis showed that anthropometric/body composition indices were not significantly correlated to TRAG (0–4% of the common variance), while all motor abilities were significantly associated with TRAG (7–43% of the common variance) in both genders. Among boys, 64% of the TRAG variance was explained by multiple regression, with TCODS as the only significant predictor. Among girls, multiple regression explained 59% of the TRAG-variance with TCODS, countermovement jump, and drop jump as significant predictors. Differences in multivariate results between genders can be explained by (i) greater involvement in agility-saturated sports (i.e., basketball, tennis, soccer) in boys, and (ii) advanced maturity status in girls. The lack of association between anthropometric/body built and TRAG was influenced by the short duration of the TRAG (3.54 ± 0.4 s). Our findings suggest that pre-pubescent and early pubescent children should be systematically trained on basic motor abilities to achieve fundamentals for further developing RAG. Since in this study we observed predictors including only athletic abilities and anthropometric/body composition, in future studies, other motor abilities, as well as cognitive, perceptual, and decision-making parameters as potential predictors of RAG in children should be investigated.
RIP140-Mediated NF-κB Inflammatory Pathway Promotes Metabolic Dysregulation in Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells
Authors: Guo Zeli , Shen Yuli , Zhong Jianwen , Li Zhuoyun , Guo Qi , Yao Xiangchao , Wang Yandong , Wu Wenyu
Published: November 2022

Metabolic dysregulation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) has been implicated in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, the molecular regulation of RPE metabolism remains unclear. RIP140 is known to affect oxidative metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis by negatively controlling mitochondrial pathways regulated by PPAR-γ co-activator-1 α(PGC-1α). This study aims to disclose the effect of RIP140 on the RPE metabolic program in vitro and in vivo. RIP140 protein levels were assayed by Western blotting. Gene expression was tested using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), ATP production, and glycogen concentration assays, and the release of inflammatory factors was analyzed by commercial kits. Mice photoreceptor function was measured by electroretinography (ERG). In ARPE-19 cells, RIP140 overexpression changed the expression of the key metabolic genes and lipid processing genes, inhibited mitochondrial ATP production, and enhanced glycogenesis. Moreover, RIP140 overexpression promoted the translocation of NF-κB and increased the expression and production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in ARPE-19 cells. Importantly, we also observed the overexpression of RIP140 through adenovirus delivery in rat retinal cells, which significantly decreased the amplitude of the a-wave and b-wave measured by ERG assay. Therapeutic strategies that modulate the activity of RIP140 could have clinical utility for the treatment of AMD in terms of preventing RPE degeneration.
Clinics and Practice: A Rapidly Developing Journal
Authors: Varrassi Giustino
Published: November 2022

Recently, MDPI has acquired a new journal, Clinics and Practice, and started its development [...]
Assessment of Tissue Adequacy by EBUS in Conjunction with PET Scan and Operator’s Experience
Authors: Karim Nagla Abdel , Ullah Asad , Pulliam Steven , Mostafa Ahmed , Aragaki Alejandro , Eubanks Audrey , Mahajan Amit , Shehata Mahmoud , Benzaquen Sadia
Published: November 2022

Mediastinal lymph node assessment is a crucial step in non-small cell lung cancer staging. Positron emission tomography (PET) has been the gold standard for the assessment of mediastinal lymphadenopathy, though it has limited specificity. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is quick, accurate, and a less invasive method for obtaining a diagnostic sample in contrast to mediastinoscopy. We performed a retrospective chart analysis of 171 patients to assess the adequacy of tissue obtained by EBUS for diagnosis and molecular profiling as well as the assessment of staging and lymph node (LN) stations diagnostic yield, in correlation to PET scan and the operator’s level of experience. A significantly increased tissue adequacy was observed based on the operators’ experience, with the highest adequacy noted in trained Interventional Pulmonologist (IP) (100%), followed by >5 years of experience (93.33%), and 88.89% adequacy with <5 years of experience (p = 0.0019). PET-CT scan 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in levels 1, 2, and 3 LN had a tissue adequacy of 76.67%, 54.64%, and 35.56%, respectively (p = 0.0009). EBUS bronchoscopy method could be used to achieve an accurate diagnosis, with IP-trained operators yielding the best results. There is no correlation with PET scan positivity, indicating that both PET and EBUS are complementary methods needed for staging.
Chemical Structure, Optical and Dielectric Properties of PECVD SiCN Films Obtained from Novel Precursor
Authors: Ermakova Evgeniya , Mogilnikov Konstantin , Asanov Igor , Fedorenko Anastasiya , Yushina Irina , Kichay Vadim , Maksimovskiy Eugene , Kosinova Marina
Published: November 2022

A phenyl derivative of hexamethyldisilazane—bis(trimethylsilyl)phenylamine—was first examined as a single-source precursor for SiCN film preparation by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The use of mild plasma (20 W) conditions allowed the preparation of highly hydrogenated polymeric-like films. The synthesis was carried out under an inert He atmosphere or under that of NH3 with the deposition temperature range from 100 to 400 °C. The chemical bonding structure and elemental composition were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The surface morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Ellipsometric porosimetry, a unique high-precision technique to investigate the porosity of thin films, was applied to examine the porosity of SiCN samples. The films were found to possess a morphologically homogenous dense defect-free structure with a porosity of 2–3 vol.%. SiCN films were studied in terms of their optical and dielectric properties. Depending on the deposition conditions the refractive index ranged from 1.53 to 1.78. The optical bandgap obtained using UV-Vis spectroscopy data varied from 2.7 eV for highly hydrogenated polymeric-like film to 4.7 eV for cross-linked nitrogen-rich film. The dielectric constant was found to decrease from 3.51 to 2.99 with the rise of hydrocarbon groups’ content. The results obtained in this study were compared to the literature data to understand the influence of precursor design to the optical and electrical properties of the films.
Dimensionless Analysis to Determine Elastoplastic Properties of Thin Films by Indentation
Authors: Long Xu , Li Jiao , Shen Ziyi , Su Yutai
Published: November 2022

By assuming the elastoplastic properties of thin-film materials, a reverse analysis method is proposed by deriving a dimensionless function for the indentation process. The substrate effect is taken into account by assuming a perfect interface between thin-film and substrate materials. In order to obtain the applied load–penetration depth (P-h) curves, the indentation process is numerically modeled as an axisymmetric problem with a rigid-body Berkovich indenter on the semi-infinite substrate when performing finite element (FE) simulations. As a typical soft film/hard substrate problem, the elastic substrate is assumed and the power–law model is used to describe the constitutive properties of thin-film materials. Varying elastic modulus (10–50 GPa), yield strength (60–300 MPa), and hardening exponent (0.1–0.5) characterize different elastoplastic mechanical properties of thin-film materials with film thickness of 10–30 μm. Owing to the good trending P-h curves with the maximum indentation depth up to the 2/3 film thickness for different elastoplastic thin-film materials, a dimensionless function is derived and validated based on the predictions by reliable FE simulations. The proposed dimensionless function elegantly elucidates the essential relationship between the elastoplastic mechanical properties of the thin-film material and indentation responses (e.g., loading and unloading variables). The elastoplastic constitutive curves predicted by the proposed reverse method are confirmed to be in good agreement with the stress-strain curves of materials by FE simulations with the randomly selected elastoplastic mechanical properties and film thicknesses. This study provides a theoretical guidance to understand the explicit relationship between elastoplastic mechanical properties of the thin-film material and indentation responses.
Preparation of Pie-Shaped CoMoO4 with High Capacitive and Photocatalytic Properties by a Solvothermal Method
Authors: Chen Shuoyan , Wu Juan , Wang Gang , Wang Jing , Fan Licai , Hao Jian , Wang Shen , Liu Yang , Wu Hongyu , Li Yang , Gao Jing , Yang Mingli
Published: November 2022

This paper reports a method for fabricating pie-shaped CoMoO4 nanomaterials. The morphologic characterization and phase analysis showed that the prepared material was CoMoO4 and presented a pie-shape. Pie-shaped CoMoO4 electrode materials possess high specific capacitance in three-electrode electrochemical measurement systems. When the current density is 1 A/g, the specific capacitance reaches 1902 F/g. In addition, it has good cycle stability. With 10,000 charge–discharge cycle experiments at a current density of 15 A/g, pie-shaped CoMoO4 has a specific capacity retention ratio of 99.5%. In addition, the CoMoO4//CNTs device can provide a maximum energy density of 55.6 Wh/kg (1 A/g) and a maximum power density of 10,900 W/kg (15 A/g), showing good electrochemical performance. The photocatalytic properties of pie-shaped CoMoO4 were also studied. The results show that the degradation rates of MO (methyl orange), MB (methyl blue), and CR (Congo red) can reach 97.8%, 98.8%, and 99.6% at 100 min, 40 min, and 65 min, respectively. The material has good photocatalytic performance. The excellent performance of pie-shaped CoMoO4 indicates that the electrode material has potential application scenarios in electrode materials and photocatalysis.
Marginal Adaptation and Internal Fit of 3D-Printed Provisional Crowns and Fixed Dental Prosthesis Resins Compared to CAD/CAM-Milled and Conventional Provisional Resins: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Al Wadei Mohammed Hussain Dafer , Sayed Mohammed E. , Jain Saurabh , Aggarwal Aparna , Alqarni Hatem , Gupta Shilpi Gilra , Alqahtani Saeed M. , Alahmari Nasser M. , Alshehri Abdullah Hasan , Jain Meena , Ageeli Abrar A. , AlResayes Saad Saleh , Alghamdi Samar , Alnajdi Alhanouf K. , Gharawi Mafaz M.
Published: November 2022

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the marginal fit and internal adaptation of provisional crowns and fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) fabricated using 3D-printing resins and compared them with those fabricated by CAD/CAM (computer-aided designing/computer-aided manufacturing) milling and conventional resins. The null hypotheses tested were that there would be no differences in the marginal fit and internal adaptation of 3D-printed provisional crowns and FDP resins when compared to CAD/CAM-milled and conventional provisional resins. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to construct this systematic review. The focused PICO/PECO (Population, Intervention/Exposure, Comparison, Outcome) question was “Do provisional crowns and FDPs (P) fabricated by 3D-printing (I) have similar marginal adaptation and internal fit (O) when compared to those fabricated by CAD/CAM milling and conventional techniques (C)?”. The protocol used for this systematic review was pre-registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). Electronic databases (e.g., MEDLINE/PubMed and Web of Science (Core Collection)) were systematically searched for indexed English literature published up to June 2022. In the initial electronic search of the selected databases, 519 articles were identified. Duplicates were removed, and screening was performed to select the articles that met the preset inclusion criteria. Sixteen studies were selected for qualitative analysis, but only ten of them provided comparative data and were selected for quantitative analysis. The modified CONSORT scale was used for qualitative analysis, and most of the included studies were rated to be of moderate quality. Based on the findings, it could be concluded that provisional crowns and FDPs fabricated from 3D-printing resins have a superior marginal fit and internal adaptation when compared to CAD/CAM-milled and conventional provisional resins; thus, they can be used as a dependable alternative to other resins.
(Z)-2-(2-(Anthracen-9-ylmethylene)hydrazineyl)pyrimidine-rhodium(III): Crystal Structure and DNA Binding Property
Authors: Deng Qianjun , Tang Zitian , Liu Ruixue , Liu Yuan , Liang Huaxuan , Liu Yancheng
Published: November 2022

A new rhodium(III) complex of a 9-anthrahydrazone ligand ((Z)-2-(2-(Anthracen-9-ylmethylene)hydrazineyl)pyrimidine, 9-PMAH) is six-coordinated respectively by one bidentate ligand, one solvent DMSO, and three chlorides, to form a distorted octahedral coordination geometry. The ligand chelates to Rh(III) via the hydrazone N atom (N1) and pyrimidine N atom (N3), whereas DMSO coordinates to Rh(III) via the S atom. The three chloride ligands (Cl1, Cl2, and Cl3) are in a mer-configuration of the octahedron, with the DMSO cis- to the pyrimidine nitrogen. In solution, the complex may exist in the positively charged species, [RhIIICl2(DMSO)(9-PMAH)]+, but can be stable in this mode for no less than 48 h. It was suggested by the fluorescence spectroscopic analysis that the complex showed much higher intercalative binding ability with ct-DNA than the typical DNA intercalator, EtBr.
High Temperature Fatigue Behavior and Failure Mechanism of Ti-45Al-4Nb-1Mo-0.15B Alloy
Authors: Jiang Kanghe , Li Wei , Chen Jingwei , Ma Li , Zeng Wu , Yang Junjie
Published: November 2022

Strain-controlled low cycle fatigue experiments were carried out on the TiAl alloy Ti-45Al-4Nb-1Mo-0.15B at 400 °C and 750 °C to reveal the cyclic mechanical behavior and failure mechanism. The TiAl alloy presents stable cyclic characteristics under fatigue loading at elevated temperatures. No obvious cyclic softening or cyclic hardening was manifested during experiments. The cyclic stress–strain relationship is well described by the Ramberg–Osgood equation. The fatigue lifetime at different temperatures has a log-linear relationship with the total strain ranges. The fracture morphology indicates the main fracture mode of fatigue specimens at 400 °C is a brittle fracture, while there is a ductile fracture at 750 °C. Meanwhile, the trans-lamellar fracture is dominant for the lamellar microstructure and the percentages of the inter-lamellar fracture decreases with the strain amplitude.
Understanding Cysteine Chemistry Using Conventional and Serial X-ray Protein Crystallography
Authors: Smith Nathan , Wilson Mark A.
Published: November 2022

Proteins that use cysteine residues for catalysis or regulation are widely distributed and intensively studied, with many biomedically important examples. Enzymes where cysteine is a catalytic nucleophile typically generate covalent catalytic intermediates whose structures are important for understanding mechanism and for designing targeted inhibitors. The formation of catalytic intermediates can change enzyme conformational dynamics, sometimes activating protein motions that are important for catalytic turnover. However, these transiently populated intermediate species have been challenging to structurally characterize using traditional crystallographic approaches. This review describes the use and promise of new time-resolved serial crystallographic methods to study cysteine-dependent enzymes, with a focus on the main (Mpro) and papain-like (PLpro) cysteine proteases of SARS-CoV-2, as well as on other examples. We review features of cysteine chemistry that are relevant for the design and execution of time-resolved serial crystallography experiments. In addition, we discuss emerging X-ray techniques, such as time-resolved sulfur X-ray spectroscopy, that may be able to detect changes in sulfur charge states and covalency during catalysis or regulatory modification. In summary, cysteine-dependent enzymes have features that make them especially attractive targets for new time-resolved serial crystallography approaches, which can reveal both changes to enzyme structures and dynamics during catalysis in crystalline samples.
End-of-Life Liquid Crystal Displays Recycling: Physico-Chemical Properties of Recovered Liquid Crystals
Authors: Moundoungou Idriss , Bouberka Zohra , Fossi Tabieguia Guy-Joël , Barrera Ana , Derouiche Yazid , Dubois Frédéric , Supiot Philippe , Foissac Corinne , Maschke Ulrich
Published: November 2022

This report focuses particularly on liquid crystals display (LCD) panels because they represent a significant amount of all WEEE collected. Technologies involving liquid crystals (LCs) have enjoyed considerable success since the 1970s in all fields of LC displays (LCDs). This currently provokes the problem of waste generated by such equipment. Based on current statistical data, the LC amount represents approximately 1.3 g for a 35-inch diameter LCD panel unit possessing a total weight of 15 kg. In France, a recent study revealed LCD waste to represent an average of 5.6 panels per household. This represents an important quantity of LCs, which are generally destroyed by incineration or washed out with detergents during the recycling processes of end-of-life (EOL) LCDs. Hence, the aim of this study is to show that it is possible to remove LC molecules from EOL-LCD panels with the goal of valorizing them in new sectors. EOL-LCD panels have undergone various stages of dismantling, chemical treatments and characterization. The first stage of manual dismantling enables the elimination of the remaining physical components of the panels to process LC molecules only, sandwiched between the two glass plates. Mechanical treatment by scraping allows us to obtain a concentrate of LCs. The results obtained from chemical and physical techniques show that these molecules retain the characteristics essential for their operation in the field of optical and electro-optical devices. As the use of LCD surfaces continues to rise significantly, the amounts and economic stakes are huge, fully justifying the development of an LC recovery process for used panels. Many potential uses have been identified for these LC molecules: in new flat LCD panels after purification of the LCs concentrate, in PDLC systems, as lubricants or in thermal applications.
Prediction of Lattice Volumes of Crystal Samples by Computer Image Recognition on the X-ray Diffraction Patterns
Authors: Ma Dong , Liu Yuke , Fan Qingwen , Li Xinsheng , Ma Daichuan , Luo Daibing
Published: November 2022

Computer image recognition (CIR) on the diffraction patterns of X-ray single crystal diffractometer was used to assist the analysis of the unit cell parameters in terms of lattice volume. This method can improve the prediction accuracy of unit cell parameters in the pre-experiment step since erroneous prediction by the software may occur for 5% tested crystal samples, which may critically affect the complete crystal data quality and cause unnecessary testing time. In the imaging processing, the diffraction pattern images saved as .img format files were firstly batch transferred into .jpg format with high quality for further treatment. Specific features of the crystal diffraction points or zones in the images were extracted for the recognition processing by color mode. The Findcontour algorithm and the Canny algorithm based on Gaussian filtering were used for the diffraction peak points and area detection. The relationship between the distribution of crystal diffraction points (DCDP) and the lattice volumes based on reciprocal lattice theory was established for the users to judge the reasonable location range of the lattice volumes. A Density model was proposed to correlate the dependence of the DCDP and the experimental data. Special crystal samples were chosen to test the CIR performance, and its accuracy for the lattice volume prediction was evaluated. The CIR method can be used for the assistance in the analysis of the lattice volume location range and for crystal structure solving.
High-Resolution Mapping of Seagrass Biomass Dynamics Suggests Differential Response of Seagrasses to Fluctuating Environments
Authors: Chen Kuan-Yu , Lin Hsing-Juh
Published: November 2022

Seagrass beds are major blue carbon ecosystems. Climate change-associated factors may change the seagrass community and affect the capacity of carbon sequestration. To explore the possible effects of warming, higher precipitation levels and/or sea level rise on seagrasses, the spatial and seasonal dynamics in shallow seagrass beds comprising the late-successional seagrass Thalassia hemprichii and the early-successional seagrass Halodule uninervis were tracked. The high-resolution mapping of seagrass biomass dynamics showed that T. hemprichii was the dominant species in the study sites year round, as the space occupation by the larger seagrass T. hemprichii was more efficient than that by the smaller seagrass H. uninervis. The space occupation by both species in the low-elevation site was more efficient than in the high-elevation site. In the low-elevation site, while the dominance of the faster growing seagrass H. uninervis was increasing, the dominance of T. hemprichii was decreasing. This suggested that the carbon sequestration capacity of the seagrass beds will decrease, as T. hemprichii was capable of storing more carbon in the sediments. In the high-elevation site, however, the distribution of both species was distinct and showed a clear seasonal succession. The dominance of H. uninervis moved to shallower water in the wet season and then moved back to deeper water in the dry season. Our observations suggested that four possible mechanisms might be involved in the dominance shift in the shallow seagrass beds: (1) the deeper water in the low-elevation site or the higher precipitation levels in the wet season might reduce the drought stress of H. uninervis at low tide and enhance the competition of H. uninervis over T. hemprichii; (2) the growth of H. uninervis might be stimulated more by the flushing of land-based nutrients caused by the higher precipitation rates in the wet season; (3) in the high-elevation site, the faster flow velocity and frequently disturbed sediments in the dry season might constrain the further expansion of H. uninervis to shallower water; (4) the faster flow velocity in the high-elevation site might reduce the impacts of periphyton overgrowth on T. hemprichii and maintain the dominance of T. hemprichii in the community. Our results suggest seagrasses will not necessarily respond to fluctuating environments in the same way in the coming decades.
Application of Phytoplankton Taxonomic α-Diversity Indices to Assess Trophic States in Barrier Lake: A Case of Jingpo Lake
Authors: Cai Yang , Qi Lin , Shan Tao , Liu Yan , Zhang Nannan , Lu Xinxin , Fan Yawen
Published: November 2022

Phytoplankton taxonomic α-diversity indices are useful tools to characterize the trophic states in freshwater ecosystems. However, the application of these indices to assess trophic states in large barrier lakes is rare, especially in China. To test the usefulness of phytoplankton taxonomic α-diversity indices in trophic state assessments, we investigated the taxonomic α-diversity-Comprehensive Trophic Level Index (TLI) relationships in the second largest alpine lava barrier lake (Jingpo Lake, China) in the rainy and dry season from 2017 to 2018. Based on a two-year dataset, we found that there was a significant difference in the phytoplankton community, α-diversity indices, and TLI dynamic between the rainy season and the dry season. First, there was significant variation in phytoplankton abundance, the Margalef index, and the Shannon-Wiener index in different hydrological periods (p < 0.05). Second, the mean TLI in the rainy season (44 ± 5) was higher than in the dry season (41 ± 5) (p < 0.05). Lastly, the response characteristics of the Margalef and Shannon-Wiener index with TLI were different in different hydrological periods, and the relationship between the Pielou evenness index and TLI was weak. This study highlights that phytoplankton taxonomic α-diversity indices are relevant tools in water quality assessments but selecting the fit index is necessary. The current study provides key information about phytoplankton community, α-diversity, and trophic states in the largest alpine lava barrier lake, and the results of the study will benefit water quality management and biodiversity conservation in barrier lakes.
Phylogenetic Relationships in Earthworm Megascolex Species (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) with Addition of Two New Species
Authors: Lone Azhar Rashid , Thakur Samrendra Singh , Tiwari Pooja , James Samuel Wooster , Yadav Shweta
Published: November 2022

Megascolex (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) are endemic species to India and Sri Lanka, however, to date their molecular taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships have not been reported. We applied the first integrative approach using morpho-anatomical features and a COI dataset to unveil species delimitation (SD), molecular taxonomy, and phylogenetic relationships in Megascolex species. Our morpho-anatomical results revealed nine Megascolex species, namely, M. auriculata, M. cochinensis cochinensis, M. filiciseta, M. ratus, M. travancorensis travancorensis, M. triangularis, M. konkanensis konkanensis, M. polytheca polytheca, and M. polytheca zonatus. We also reported the occurrence of two new species, namely, M. papparensis sp. nov, and M. vazhichlensis sp. nov. Such findings were also supported by the analysed COI dataset, in which these new species appeared distinct on the phylogenetic trees with strong support. The studied Megascolex species appeared paraphyletic and formed three subclades on Bayesian inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic trees. The first clade consisted of six species: M. cochinensis cochinensis, M. polytheca polytheca, M. polytheca zonatus, M. konkanensis konkanensis, M. filiciseta, and M. auriculata with strong posterior probability support. The second clade consisted of M. travancorensis travancorensis, M. papparensis sp. nov, and M. vazhichlensis sp. nov with strong support. The third clade consisted of M. ratus and M. triangularis with good support. In addition, the validation of species was confirmed by SD methods, in which the congruence among OTUs was observed with the clear barcode gap of 12–14% suggested by ABGD analysis. However, the species M. ratus and M. travancorensis travancorensis show deep intraspecific divergence and, therefore, require more sampling data. Such findings are essential to study the phylogenetics and evolution of the genus and, nonetheless, demand larger COI datasets to make concrete conclusions.
Exploring the Diversity of Elopidae (Teleostei; Elopiformes) Using DNA Barcoding Analysis
Authors: de Sousa Rodrigo Petry Corrêa , Bessa-Brito Carla Denise , Guimarães-Costa Auryceia , Evangelista-Gomes Grazielle , Sampaio Iracilda , de Oliveira Edivaldo Herculano Corrêa , Vallinoto Marcelo
Published: November 2022

Elopidae is the most speciose family within the Elopiformes, comprising seven valid species. Despite this reduced number of species, the family presents poorly resolved systematics, mainly owing to its wide distribution and highly conserved anatomic features. Therefore, we aimed to explore the species diversity of the Elopidae using species delimitation, genetic diversity, and phylogenetic analysis combined with DNA barcoding of the COI gene. The results from the delimitation analysis grouped the species into a single cluster, while the genetic diversity analysis among the groups showed a distance ranging between 1.29 and 2.78%. Both phylogenetic and haplotype network analysis grouped the species into four clades, associated with the distribution of the organisms. The lack of resolution in the species delimitation analysis might be directly associated with the recent radiation of the group, a hypothesis corroborated by both the low genetic diversity (close to the 2% threshold) and the few mutations that separate the haplotypes observed among the species. Interestingly, our data supported a new arrangement for the Elops species. In addition, the data available in public databases present taxonomic errors at several levels. Although some issues remain unsolved, our results can be used in the identification of taxa and provide information to assist taxonomic revisions of the Elopidae.
Biomedical Diagnosis of Breast Cancer Using Deep Learning and Multiple Classifiers
Authors: Alsheikhy Ahmed A. , Said Yahia , Shawly Tawfeeq , Alzahrani A. Khuzaim , Lahza Husam
Published: November 2022

Breast cancer is considered one of the deadliest diseases in women. Due to the risk and threat it poses, the world has agreed to hold a breast cancer awareness day in October, encouraging women to perform mammogram inspections. This inspection may prevent breast-cancer-related deaths or reduce the death rate. The identification and classification of breast cancer are challenging tasks. The most commonly known procedure of breast cancer detection is performed by using mammographic images. Recently implemented algorithms suffer from generating accuracy below expectations, and their computational complexity is high. To resolve these issues, this paper proposes a fully automated biomedical diagnosis system of breast cancer using an AlexNet, a type of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), and multiple classifiers to identify and classify breast cancer. This system utilizes a neuro-fuzzy method, a segmentation algorithm, and various classifiers to reach a higher accuracy than other systems have achieved. Numerous features are extracted to detect and categorize breast cancer. Three datasets from Kaggle were tested to validate the proposed system. The performance evaluation is performed with quantitative and qualitative accuracy, precision, recall, specificity, and F-score. In addition, a comparative assessment is performed between the proposed system and some works of literature. This assessment shows that the presented algorithm provides better classification results and outperforms other systems in all parameters. Its average accuracy is over 98.6%, while other metrics are more than 98%. This research indicates that this approach can be applied to assist doctors in diagnosing breast cancer correctly.
Severe Gastritis Due to Nivolumab Treatment of a Metastatic Melanoma Patient
Authors: Samonis George , Bousmpoukea Aikaterini , Molfeta Aristea , Kalkinis Antonios D. , Petraki Kalliopi , Koutserimpas Christos , Bafaloukos Dimitrios
Published: November 2022

Nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 check point inhibitor, is an immunotherapeutic agent, representing a major step in the treatment of melanoma. However, its use is associated with severe toxicities. Among them, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders from the lower GI tract have been widely reported. On the contrary, disorders from the upper GI tract are rare. Such a case of delayed nivolumab induced severe gastritis in a 53-year-old Caucasian female patient suffering metastatic melanoma is described. The patient’s symptoms from the upper GI tract began 4 months after nivolumab treatment initiation. The diagnosis was based on imaging, including PET/CT, endoscopical and pathological findings. The side effect was successfully treated with prolonged administration of proton pump inhibitors and corticosteroids. There are only a few cases of immune check point inhibitors (ICPis) induced upper GI tract disorders, while it seems that the symptoms from nivolumab induced upper GI tract damages appear later than those reported in the lower part. Nivolumab, among other side effects, may cause severe gastritis. Hence, this pathological entity should be included in the list of this drug’s side effects.
Automated Systems for Calculating Arteriovenous Ratio in Retinographies: A Scoping Review
Authors: García-Sierra Rosa , López-Lifante Victor M. , Isusquiza Garcia Erik , Heras Antonio , Besada Idoia , Verde Lopez David , Alzamora Maria Teresa , Forés Rosa , Montero-Alia Pilar , Ugarte Anduaga Jurgi , Torán-Monserrat Pere
Published: November 2022

There is evidence of an association between hypertension and retinal arteriolar narrowing. Manual measurement of retinal vessels comes with additional variability, which can be eliminated using automated software. This scoping review aims to summarize research on automated retinal vessel analysis systems. Searches were performed on Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane to find studies examining automated systems for the diagnosis of retinal vascular alterations caused by hypertension using the following keywords: diagnosis; diagnostic screening programs; image processing, computer-assisted; artificial intelligence; electronic data processing; hypertensive retinopathy; hypertension; retinal vessels; arteriovenous ratio and retinal image analysis. The searches generated 433 articles. Of these, 25 articles published from 2010 to 2022 were included in the review. The retinographies analyzed were extracted from international databases and real scenarios. Automated systems to detect alterations in the retinal vasculature are being introduced into clinical practice for diagnosis in ophthalmology and other medical specialties due to the association of such changes with various diseases. These systems make the classification of hypertensive retinopathy and cardiovascular risk more reliable. They also make it possible for diagnosis to be performed in primary care, thus optimizing ophthalmological visits.