bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can you see the algae for the slime? Temporal patterns of biofilm food quality and quantity in lowland rivers
Authors: McInerney Paul J. , Shackleton Michael E. , McPhan Luke , Holland Aleicia , Rees Gavin N.
Published: October 2023

Animals must invest some portion of their metabolism to activities related to physiological maintenance and the remainder to processes related to the production of new biomass for growth and reproduction. Animal metabolism is fuelled by food, and the quality and quantity of food, along with the effort invested to obtain it, are fundamental to supporting populations. Biofilms are a primary basal food resource within riverine food webs, and it is thought that their nutritional value for animals decreases with age due to dynamic changes in community composition. We sought to test assumptions of spatiotemporal changes to biofilm nutritional value by assessing variations in biofilm mass and fatty acid composition in three rivers for 73 days. We also used a multi‐prong eDNA approach to characterize changes to biofilm fungal (ITS1–4), bacterial (16S), and algal (23S) community compositions. We anticipated biofilm food value to decrease with biofilm age due to shifts in composition from high‐quality green algae and diatoms to low‐quality cyanobacteria and filamentous algae. Our results partially support this contention; biofilm food value, assessed as a combination of fatty acid mass per unit area (in grams per square meter) and concentration of fatty acids (in milligrams per gram), was dynamic and peaked between 24 and 43 days following submersion. After 43 days, biofilm food value decreased. However, despite significant temporal changes in biofilm community composition and a decrease in overall lipid concentration, the proportions of different fatty acid classes among total lipids did not vary. Instead, the observed increase in the abundance of cyanobacteria and filamentous algae compared with diatoms and green algae, along with higher quantities of lipid‐poor extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), likely contributed to the reduction in overall lipid concentration relative to the biofilm dry mass. Here we present a novel approach to balance consumer energetic costs with food quality within aquatic food webs. Our results have important implications for river management and provide valuable information for the use of environmental water to support lotic ecosystems.
A narrative review on the role of hesperidin on metabolic parameters, liver enzymes, and inflammatory markers in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Morshedzadeh Nava , Ramezani Ahmadi Amirhossein , Behrouz Vahideh , Mir Elias
Published: October 2023

Insulin resistance, oxidative stress, hyperlipidemia, and inflammation play main roles in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Some studies have reported that hesperidin can reduce hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia by inhibiting inflammatory pathways. In the current study, our purpose was to evaluate whether it can influence the primary parameters in NAFLD and improve the treatment effectiveness for future trials. Various studies have found that hesperidin involves multiple signaling pathways such as cell proliferation, lipid and glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation, which can potentially affect NAFLD development and prognosis. Recent findings indicate that hesperidin also regulates key enzymes and may affect the severity of liver fibrosis. Hesperidin inhibits reactive oxygen species production that potentially interferes with the activation of transcription factors like nuclear factor‐κB. Appropriate adherence to hesperidin may be a promising approach to modulate inflammatory pathways, metabolic indices, hepatic steatosis, and liver injury.
Homogenization and thermal processing reduce the concentration of extracellular vesicles in bovine milk
Authors: Colella Anna P. , Prakash Anuradha , Miklavcic John J.
Published: October 2023

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) in bovine milk confer beneficial physiologic effects to consumers. Industrial processing treatments may affect the amount or bioactivity of EVs intrinsic to bovine milk. We investigated how the content and concentration of EVs were affected by homogenization and thermal processing of raw bovine milk. Raw milk was processed by homogenization, low‐temperature (LT) heat, or pasteurization [high‐temperature short‐time (HTST) and ultra‐high‐temperature (UHT)] in a pilot processing facility. EVs were isolated from the raw and processed bovine milk using differential ultracentrifugation and quantified using a nanoparticle tracking analyzer. Bovine milk EVs were assessed for total miRNA and protein concentrations standardized to particle count using a fluorometric assay. There were 1.01 × 1010 (±3.30 × 109) EV particles per ml of bovine milk. All industrial processing treatments caused >60% decrease in EV concentration compared to the raw bovine milk. Homogenization and heat treatments independently and additively reduced the content of EVs in bovine milk. The averages of total miRNA/particle and total protein/particle concentrations were elevated threefold by low‐temperature heat‐processing treatment relative to HTST and UHT pasteurizations. The average diameter of EVs was reduced by 11%–16% by low temperature compared to raw milk (127 ± 13 nm). Homogenization and pasteurization indiscriminately reduce the EV concentration of bovine milk. Smaller EVs with higher protein content resist degradation when processing bovine milk at sub‐pasteurization temperature. This new foundational knowledge may contribute to food product development on the preservation of EVs in processed dairy products, including bovine milk‐based infant formulas that some newborns are dependent on for adequate growth and development.
The Effects of Bromine Additives on the Recyclability of Injection Molded Electronic Waste Polymers
Authors: Lahtela Ville , Mielonen Katriina , Parkar Prashant , Kärki Timo
Published: October 2023

Excessive waste amounts, such as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and plastic waste, have increased simultaneously with the development of society. Despite the increased material amounts, the recycling rates are too low and those have a great potential to contribute actions toward a circular economy. A certain restricted factor for recycling is the heterogenous nature of materials, such as WEEE‐included additives. This study investigates the effects of a WEEE polymer including bromine on recycling ability, analyzing its physical and mechanical features. The study demonstrates that polymer sorting is profitable for WEEE polymers from the material qualitative perspective, because various processability and material features are achieved in the study between material categories, and especially unidentified polymers have the weakest features in the studied tests. The separation of bromine concentration is also recommended because bromine‐free materials have more advanced features that can be confirmed by statistical analyses. The achieved results support the idea that novel circular economy actions have the potential for effective, efficient WEEE polymer recycling processes with technological innovations, especially when all variables (e.g., recycling cycles and process parameters) are observed and it enables an option to reduce the need for virgin plastic.
Cultivating participatory approaches in health promotion planning, delivery, and evaluation: A case study of an academic‐health service partnership in rural Victoria
Authors: Conlin Michèle , McLaren Dorothy , Spelten Evelien , MacDermott Sean
Published: October 2023

Issue Addressed

Community participation in planning, delivery, and evaluation of health promotion (HP) programs is a poorly explored topic. However, this approach has the potential to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequities, particularly for residents of rural and remote areas.

Methods

This case study describes the outputs of an academic‐health service partnership in rural Victoria. The collaboration has led to the implementation and ongoing evaluation of a microgrant program for HP which integrates community participation principles in the foundations of the program and its evaluation.

Results

To date, 10 funded projects have been brought to completion, with COVID‐19 having disturbed both grant distribution and funded activity implementation. Semi‐structured interviews with health service officers served to clarify conceptualisation and operationalization of HP principles. Focus groups with health service management and officers contributed to building an overarching evaluation framework for the HP team's activities. Finally, the specific methodological evaluation framework for the microgrant program was developed through a collaborative workshop with the HP team and grantees.

Conclusions

Fostering community participation in HP planning, delivery, and evaluation, especially in rural areas, is feasible as evidenced by the experience described in this case study. The forthcoming evaluation results will help clarify the impact of community participation on health‐related outcomes.

So What?

Documentation and dissemination of processes used to increase community participation in HP programs is essential to grow the knowledge base around what works and what doesn't, and for whom.
Integrated analysis of NET‐DNA receptor CCDC25 in malignant tumors: Pan‐cancer analysis
Authors: Cheng Xianlin , Yin Xinhai , Song Jukun
Published: October 2023

Background

Previously, it was reported that the coiled‐coil domain containing 25 (CCDC25) plays a role in the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). This study systematically analyzed the expression profiles of CCDC25 in 30 different types of cancer and one type of blood cancer, acute myeloid leukemia.

Methods

The GTEx and CCLE databases were used to evaluate the distribution of CCDC25 expression in both normal tissue and cancer cell lines. A comparison was performed between normal tissue and tumor tissue to analyze the differential expression of CCDC25. We assessed the impact of CCDC25 on the clinical outlook in the TCGA pan‐cancer data set by analyzing the Kaplan–Meier survival plot and conducting COX regression analysis. Moreover, the association between the expression levels of CCDC25 and the tumor microenvironment in multiple cancers was conducted. Additionally, the investigation also examined the link between CCDC25 and immune neoantigen, tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability, mismatch repair genes (MMRs), HLA‐related genes, and DNA methyltransferase (DNMT).

Results

CCDC25 was expressed in nearly all of the 31 normal tissues while exhibiting a moderate to low level of expression in cancer cell lines. While abnormal expression was detected in the majority of malignancies, there was no link found between elevated CCDC25 levels and overall survival, disease‐free survival, recurrence‐free survival, and disease‐free interval in the TCGA comprehensive cancer data set. Nevertheless, the expression of CCDC25 exhibited a notable link with the infiltration levels of activated CD4 memory T cells, quiescent mast cells, dendritic cells in an activated state, T cells that assist in follicle development, M2 macrophages, and neutrophils in various tumors.

Conclusions

In most cancers, the results indicate that there is no link between CCDC25 and prognosis. However, CCDC25 can be targeted for therapeutic purposes concerning metastasis and immune infiltration.
Pyroptosis‐related gene signatures are associated with prognosis and tumor microenvironment infiltration in head and neck cancer
Authors: Long Yan , Wu Yadong , Peng Juxiang , Song Jukun , Li Na
Published: October 2023

Background and Aims

Recent studies have highlighted the biological significance of pyroptosis in cancer development. Nevertheless, it is still uncertain if pyroptosis also plays a part in immune modulation and the creation of the tumor microenvironment (TME).

Methods

The pyroptosis regulatory genes (PRGs) were comprehensively assessed in 1938 head and neck cancer samples, and systematically correlated these modification patterns with the infiltration characteristics of TME cells. The unsupervised consensus analysis method was used to identify specific pyroptosis clusters. The single‐sample gene set enrichment analysis and CIBERSOFT algorithms were used to evaluate the infiltration levels of various immune cell subsets. A principal component analysis algorithm was used to construct the pyrolysis potential index (PPI) to quantify the pyrolysis regulation patterns in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC).

Results

Pyrophosphate regulatory genes (PRGs) are often upregulated in tumors due to mutations. PRGs relate to various clinical outcomes and pathways. Molecular subtyping identified pyroptosis patterns, which align with three tumor immunophenotypes: immune‐inflamed, immune‐excluded, and immune‐desert. The PPI measures pyrolysis roles, showing higher PPI in tumor samples linked to subtypes and clinical characteristics. Lower PPI correlates with longer survival, increased immune activity, more tumor mutations, high PD‐L1 expression, and mutations in significant genes like PIK3CA. Such patients also experience enhanced immune responses in immunotherapy trials.

Conclusion

We conducted a comprehensive examination of pyroptosis in HNSC and developed a PPI indicator that shows a strong correlation with the variety and intricacy of the TME.
Changes in throughfall induced by low‐severity fire in a coniferous and broadleaved mixed forest
Authors: Su Lei , Qi Linyu , Li Xiaolin , Liu Yanchun , Miao Yuan
Published: October 2023

Forest fires, as a prominent main natural disturbance in forest ecosystems, have a critical influence on hydrological processes through the alteration of forest stand structure. Despite throughfall (TF) being the dominant component of rainfall partitioning in forest ecosystems, limited research has thoroughly investigated how forest fire affects the spatial and temporal patterns of TF. This study examined TF patterns in response to low‐severity fire in a coniferous and broadleaved mixed forest in Central China. Our results showed that TF exhibited an increasing trend regarding gross rainfall, and its variability decreased with increasing gross rainfall regardless of burning states. Low‐severity fire induced a considerable enhancement in TF rate, enhancing it from 71.1% to 77.9%, and increased the coefficient of variation from 19.4% to 23.9%. Additionally, TF temporal patterns of burned forest were found to be marginally less stable than unburned forest. We used a sample size of 16 and 25 for unburned and burned forests, respectively, to accurately and reliably acquire TF with an accepted error of 10% and a 95% confidence level. Our findings suggest that low‐severity fire can enhance TF yield and variability, decrease temporal stability. Moreover, we recommend increasing the sample size of burned forest to ensure the collection of representative TF. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding and improve the prediction of forest hydrological processes in response to fire and optimize the sampling scheme of TF.
Effectiveness of a single low‐dose computed tomography screening for lung cancer: A population‐based perspective cohort study in China
Authors: Yu Zhifu , Ni Ping , Yu Huihui , Zuo Tingting , Liu Yunyong , Wang Danbo
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this perspective cohort study was to evaluate the effectiveness of low‐dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer in China. This study was conducted under the China Urban Cancer Screening Program (CanSPUC). The analysis was based on participants aged 40 to 74 years from 2012 to 2019. A total of 255 569 eligible participants were recruited in the study. Among the 58 136 participants at high risk of lung cancer, 20 346 (35.00%) had a single LDCT scan (defined as the screened group) and 37 790 (65.00%) not (defined as the non‐screened group). Overall, 1162 participants were diagnosed with lung cancer at median follow‐up time of 5.25 years. The screened group had the highest cumulative incidence of lung cancer and the non‐screened group had the highest cumulative lung cancer mortality and all‐cause cumulative mortality. We performed inverse probability weighting (IPW) to account for potential imbalances, and Cox proportional hazards model to estimate the weighted association between mortality and LDCT scans. After IPW adjusted with baseline characteristics, the lung cancer incidence density was significantly increased (37.0% increase) (HR1.37 [95%CI 1.12‐1.69]), lung cancer mortality was decreased (31.0% decrease) (HR0.69 [95%CI 0.49‐0.97]), and the all‐cause mortality was significantly decreased (23.0% lower) (HR0.77 [95% CI 0.68‐0.87]) in the screened group. In summary, a single LDCT for lung cancer screening will reduce the mortality of lung cancer and all‐cause mortality in China.
Biomimetic proteoglycans as a tool to engineer the structure and mechanics of porcine bioprosthetic heart valves
Authors: Petrovic Mark , Kahle Elizabeth R. , Han Lin , Marcolongo Michele S.
Published: October 2023

The utility of bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) is limited to certain patient populations because of their poor durability compared to mechanical prosthetic valves. Histological analysis of failed porcine BHVs suggests that degeneration of the tissue extracellular matrix (ECM), specifically the loss of proteoglycans and their glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), may lead to impaired mechanical performance, resulting in nucleation and propagation of tears and ultimately failure of the prosthetic. Several strategies have been proposed to address this deterioration, including novel chemical fixatives to stabilize ECM constituents and incorporation of small molecule inhibitors of catabolic enzymes implicated in the degeneration of the BHV ECM. Here, biomimetic proteoglycans (BPGs) were introduced into porcine aortic valves ex vivo and were shown to distribute throughout the valve leaflets. Incorporation of BPGs into the heart valve leaflet increased tissue overall GAG content. The presence of BPGs also significantly increased the micromodulus of the spongiosa layer within the BHV without compromising the chemical fixation process used to sterilize and strengthen the tissue prior to implantation. These findings suggest that a targeted approach for molecularly engineering valve leaflet ECM through the use of BPGs may be a viable way to improve the mechanical behavior and potential durability of BHVs.
Tensile Mechanical Properties of Dry Cortical Bone Extracellular Matrix: A Comparison Among Two Osteogenesis Imperfecta and One Healthy Control Iliac Crest Biopsies
Authors: Indermaur Michael , Casari Daniele , Kochetkova Tatiana , Willie Bettina M. , Michler Johann , Schwiedrzik Jakob , Zysset Philippe
Published: October 2023

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic, collagen‐related bone disease that increases the incidence of bone fractures. Still, the origin of this brittle mechanical behavior remains unclear. The extracellular matrix (ECM) of OI bone exhibits a higher degree of bone mineralization (DBM), whereas compressive mechanical properties at the ECM level do not appear to be inferior to healthy bone. However, it is unknown if collagen defects alter ECM tensile properties. This study aims to quantify the tensile properties of healthy and OI bone ECM. In three transiliac biopsies (healthy n = 1, OI type I n = 1, OI type III n = 1), 23 microtensile specimens (gauge dimensions 10 × 5 × 2 μm3) were manufactured and loaded quasi‐statically under tension in vacuum condition. The resulting loading modulus and ultimate strength were extracted. Interestingly, tensile properties in OI bone ECM were not inferior compared to controls. All specimens revealed a brittle failure behavior. Fracture surfaces were graded according to their mineralized collagen fibers (MCF) orientation into axial, mixed, and transversal fracture surface types (FST). Furthermore, tissue mineral density (TMD) of the biopsy cortices was extracted from micro–computed tomogra[hy (μCT) images. Both FST and TMD are significant factors to predict loading modulus and ultimate strength with an adjusted R2 of 0.556 (p = 2.65e−05) and 0.46 (p = 2.2e−04), respectively. The influence of MCF orientation and DBM on the mechanical properties of the neighboring ECM was further verified with quantitative polarized Raman spectroscopy (qPRS) and site‐matched nanoindentation. MCF orientation and DBM were extracted from the qPRS spectrum, and a second mechanical model was developed to predict the indentation modulus with MCF orientation and DBM (R2 = 67.4%, p = 7.73e−07). The tensile mechanical properties of the cortical bone ECM of two OI iliac crest biopsies are not lower than the one from a healthy and are primarily dependent on MCF orientation and DBM. © 2023 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
The relationship between dissociation and panic symptoms in adolescence and the exploration of potential mediators
Authors: Shipp Lottie , Musatova Alisa , Černis Emma , Waite Polly
Published: October 2023

Background

Dissociative experiences have been linked to panic symptoms in adolescents, yet the nature of the association remains unclear.

Methods

In the present study, we investigated the longitudinal relationship between dissociative experiences (focusing on the felt sense of anomaly subtype) and panic, as well as the potential mediating roles of emotion regulation strategies (expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal), alexithymia, and cognitive appraisals of dissociation. Four thousand five hundred one adolescents aged 13–18 years were recruited via social media advertising to take part in an online survey at two timepoints, 1 month apart.

Results

Analysis of 421 datasets found a significant positive relationship between initial dissociative experiences and panic symptoms reported 1 month later. This was mediated by the emotion regulation strategy of cognitive reappraisal, and cognitive appraisals of dissociation. These two variables were no longer significant mediators when controlling for panic symptoms at the first time point, likely due to the stability of panic symptoms across both assessments. Neither alexithymia nor expressive suppression were significant mediators.

Conclusions

Thus, dissociative experiences that are persistently misinterpreted in a catastrophic manner may lead to escalating anxiety and panic symptoms, which could in turn heighten and maintain the feared dissociation sensation. These results indicate that dissociative experiences are associated with panic symptoms in adolescence, with cognitive appraisals of dissociation and cognitive reappraisal playing a role in this relationship.
Seasonal variations of the epididymis in donkeys (Equus asinus) with special reference to blood epididymal barrier
Authors: Abdel‐maksoud Fatma M. , Zayed Ahmed E. , Abdelhafez Enas A. , Hussein Manal T.
Published: October 2023

The epididymis, a key component of the male reproductive system, controls spermatozoa's maturation, fertility, and storage. The objective of this study is to evaluate the histological, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical variations in the epididymis of donkeys that occur throughout the year. During the breeding season (spring) and nonbreeding seasons (summer, autumn, and winter), 20 epididymis were collected from adult, clinically healthy donkeys. Compared to non‐breeding seasons, the epididymal duct displayed a more active lining epithelium and more sperm in the lumen during the breeding season. The epithelial height is the lowest and the lumen is the widest during the breeding season. Furthermore, the epididymal epithelium in the tail region exhibits undulations with polyps‐like projections. The epididymal epithelium is composed mainly of the principal, basal, and dark cells. Tight junction between adjacent principal cells is more obvious in the breeding season as compared to the non‐breeding seasons. However, intraepithelial lymphocytes, phagocytic, and other immune cells are more frequent in non‐breeding seasons. β‐catenin, which is a component of the adherent junctions between adjacent PCs, exhibits more immunoreactivity during the spring. On the other hand, iNOS, an indicator of oxidative stress, reacts positively during the summer. Additionally, during non‐breeding seasons, autophagy was detected within the epididymal epithelium which may be linked to stress adaptation. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the histological and ultrastructural characteristics of the epididymal epithelium are more active during spring compared to other seasons of the year.

Research Highlights

The study aimed to evaluate the histological, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical variations in the blood epididymal barrier (BEB) and epididymal epithelium of donkeys that occur throughout the year.

In comparison to non‐breeding seasons, the epididymal duct displayed a more active lining epithelium and more sperm in the lumen during the breeding season.

The epithelial height is the lowest and the lumen is the widest during the breeding season.

The epididymal epithelium in the tail region exhibits undulations with polyps‐like projections that increase the surface area.

β‐catenin, which is a component of the adherent junctions between adjacent PCs, exhibits more immunoreactivity during the spring. On the other hand, iNOS, an indicator of oxidative stress, reacts positively during the summer.
Unprecedented, catalyst‐free, and rapid one‐pot, three‐component green synthesis of substituted 3‐hydroxy‐2‐oxindoles in water
Authors: Patil Mayur G. , Thakur Ganesh A. , Kadu Rupashri K. , Thakur Pramod B.
Published: October 2023

An efficient, unprecedented, catalyst‐free, and rapid synthesis of substituted 3‐hydroxy‐2‐oxindoles is described by the one‐pot, three‐component reaction of hydrazine hydrate, ethyl acetoacetate, and isatins in water. The reported protocol is a green and general route for the simple preparation of new heteroaromatic substituted 3‐hydroxy‐2‐oxindoles in quantitative yields under very mild reaction conditions by using simple, cheap, and readily available materials. The developed method is effectively applicable to a variety of isatin substrates. Operational simplicity, mild and greener reaction conditions, short reaction time, a wide scope of substrates, good isolated yields of the products, and environmentally benign reaction medium are the distinctive features of the present method.
Assessment of Pulmonary Arteries Hemodynamics and Its Relationship With Cardiac Remodeling and Myocardial Fibrosis in Athletes With Four‐Dimensional Flow MRI
Authors: Tang Mingsong , Zhang Fan , Liu Binyao , Liu Qian , Qi Wanying , Tang Min , Luo Yong , Chen Jing
Published: October 2023

Background

Exercise‐induced cardiac remodeling (CR) and myocardial fibrosis (MF) can increase cardiovascular risk in athletes. Early detection of pulmonary arterial hemodynamics parameters among athletes may be beneficial in optimizing the frequency of clinical follow‐ups.

Purpose

To analyze the hemodynamics of pulmonary arteries and its relationship with CR and MF in athletes using four‐dimensional (4D) flow MRI.

Study Type

Prospective.

Population

One hundred twenty‐one athletes (median age, 24 years; mean exercise per week 10 hours, for mean of 5 years) and twenty‐one sedentary healthy controls (median age, 25 years; exercise per week <3 hours, irregular pattern).

Field Strength/Sequence

True fast imaging with steady state free precession, time‐resolved 3D Cartesian phase‐contrast, and phase sensitive inversion recovery late gadolinium enhancement sequences at 3.0 T.

Assessment

CR was defined as any cardiac parameters exceeding the 99th percentile upper reference limits, encompassing ventricular function, bi‐atrium and bi‐ventricle diameters, and ventricular wall thickness. MF was visually evaluated by three independent radiologists. 4D flow parameters were assessed in the main, right, and left pulmonary arteries (MPA, RPA, and LPA, respectively) and compared between different groups. Four machine learning (ML) models were developed to differentiate between athletes with and without CR and/or MF.

Statistical Tests

Univariate analysis was used to compare groups. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to assess the performance of the ML models.

Results

Athletes had significantly higher WSSmax in the MPA, RPA, and LPA than controls. Athletes with CR and/or MF (N = 30) had significantly lower RPmax from MPA to RPA than those without (N = 91). Among the ML models, the gradient boosting machine model had the highest performance, with an AUC of 0.90.

Conclusion

The pulmonary arterial hemodynamics parameters could differentiate CR and/or MF in athletes, which may be potential to assist in optimizing frequency of follow‐up.

Evidence Level

1

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2
PET imaging of synaptic density in Parkinsonian disorders
Authors: Martin Sarah L. , Uribe Carme , Strafella Antonio P.
Published: October 2023

Synaptic dysfunction and altered synaptic pruning are present in people with Parkinsonian disorders. Dopamine loss and alpha‐synuclein accumulation, two hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD) pathology, contribute to synaptic dysfunction and reduced synaptic density in PD. Atypical Parkinsonian disorders are likely to have unique spatiotemporal patterns of synaptic density, differentiating them from PD. Therefore, quantification of synaptic density has the potential to support diagnoses, monitor disease progression, and treatment efficacy. Novel radiotracers for positron emission tomography which target the presynaptic vesicle protein SV2A have been developed to quantify presynaptic density. The radiotracers have successfully investigated synaptic density in preclinical models of PD and people with Parkinsonian disorders. Therefore, this review will summarize the preclinical and clinical utilization of SV2A radiotracers in people with Parkinsonian disorders. We will evaluate how SV2A abundance is associated with other imaging modalities and the considerations for interpreting SV2A in Parkinsonian pathology.
ECG abnormality and predictor of new‐onset atrial fibrillation in hypertension and diabetes mellitus population: An observational analytic study from cardiovascular outpatient clinic at a National Cardiovascular Center in Indonesia
Authors: Kikuko Irawati Hajar , Julario Rerdin , Puspitasari A’rofah Nurlina , Intan Ryan Enast , Azmi Yusuf , Nisa’i Fatimah Fahrun , Savitri Cornelia Ghea , Firmanda Dwika Rasyid , Suhandoko Lidya Pertiwi , Fildzah Dini Atikah S.
Published: October 2023

Background

Population‐based studies have also found that diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT) are independent risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, less is known about new‐onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) risk factors and its correlation with DM and HT. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and pattern of ECG abnormalities, and the predictor of NOAF in patients with HT and DM.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study was conducted at a tertiary hospital from May until December 2021. All medical record data from outpatients who had both diagnoses HT and DM were included in this study. Data from patients with unstable hemodynamics and lack of complete medical record data were excluded. Then, patient history, medical records, ECG, and laboratory information were reviewed.

Results

There were 162 patients included in this study. Arrhythmia was found in 14.2% of the population, with new‐onset AF (NOAF) as the most common finding with 8.6% incidence, followed by PVC (3.1%) and PAC (2.5%). Bivariate analysis showed that valvular heart disease, random blood glucose, LVEF, and infection status were associated with a higher incidence of NOA. Model from multivariate logistic regression showed that valvular heart disease and random blood glucose level were independently correlated with NOAF (p = .009).

Conclusion

It can be concluded that random blood glucose level at a certain point and valvular heart disease can be used as a risk predictor of NOAF in the hypertension population with concomitant DM.
The 2023 Orthopaedic Research Society International Consensus Meeting on musculoskeletal infection
Authors: Moriarty Thomas F. , Hickok Noreen J. , Saeed Kordo , Schaer Thomas P. , Chen Antonia F. , Schwarz Edward M.
Published: October 2023

The Orthopaedic Research Society's Research Interest Group completed its international consensus meeting (ICM) on musculoskeletal infections (MSKI) following the 2023 Annual Meeting. The work products from this ICM include the 65 questions with recommendation and rationale, and the voting results from the 72 delegates. There are also five Consensus Articles in this issue of the Journal of Orthopaedic Research from the ICM Sections: Host Immunity, Established Infection‐Treatment, Clinical Questions not addressed by the prior MSKI ICMs, In Vitro, and Animal Models. This Introduction summarizes the 3‐year Delphi process used by the ICM with timelines and critical milestones. It also highlights several challenges that had to be addressed, and a large body of work that remains.
Near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for monitoring the nutritional composition of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and frass
Authors: Alagappan Shanmugam , Hoffman Louwrens , Mikkelsen Deirdre , Mantilla Sandra Olarte , James Peter , Yarger Olympia , Cozzolino Daniel
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND

The demand for protein obtained from animal sources is growing rapidly, as is the necessity for sustainable animal feeds. The use of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) reared on organic side streams as sustainable animal feed has been receiving attention lately. This study assessed the ability of near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) combined with chemometrics to evaluate the nutritional profile of BSFL instars (fifth and sixth) and frass obtained from two different diets, namely soy waste and customised bread‐vegetable diet. Partial least squares (PLS) regression with leave one out cross‐validation was used to develop models between the NIR spectral data and the reference analytical methods.

RESULTS

Calibration models with good [coefficient of determination in calibration (Rcal2): 0.90; ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) value: 3.6] and moderate (Rcal2: 0.76; RPD value: 2.1) prediction accuracy was observed for acid detergent fibre (ADF) and total carbon (TC), respectively. However, calibration models with moderate accuracy were observed for the prediction of crude protein (CP) (Rcal2: 0.63; RPD value: 1.4), crude fat (CF) (Rcal2: 0.70; RPD value: 1.6), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (Rcal2: 0.60; RPD value: 1.6), starch (Rcal2: 0.52; RPD value: 1.4), and sugars (Rcal2: 0.52; RPD value: 1.4) owing to the narrow or uneven distribution of data over the range evaluated.

CONCLUSION

The near‐infrared (NIR) calibration models showed a good to moderate prediction accuracy for the prediction of ADF and TC content for two different BSFL instars and frass reared on two different diets. However, calibration models developed for predicting CP, CF, starch, sugars and NDF resulted in models with limited prediction accuracy. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Clinical factors influencing olfactory performance in patients with persistent COVID‐19 smell loss longer than 1 year
Authors: Pendolino Alfonso Luca , Ottaviano Giancarlo , Navaratnam Annakan V. , Scarpa Bruno , Andrews Peter J.
Published: October 2023

Objectives

Factors affecting persistence of COVID‐19‐related olfactory dysfunction (OD) remain partially unknown. We aim to evaluate the clinical factors which could influence olfactory performance in patients with persistent COVID‐19‐related smell loss.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 100 patients with persistent COVID‐19‐related OD was performed between October 2020 and December 2022 at a single‐center long‐COVID smell clinic. All subjects underwent smell assessment using Sniffin' Sticks (S'S) extended test, nasal endoscopy, nasal airflow evaluation (peak nasal inspiratory flow [PNIF]), allergy test (skin prick test [SPT]) for common aeroallergens, MRI of the head and patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs—VAS, SF‐36, Short QOD‐NS, SNOT‐22). Based on S'S score, subjects were divided into normosmics (TDI ≥ 30.75) and dysosmics (TDI < 30.75).

Results

The median age was 42 years and the median length of patient‐reported OD was 1.4 years. 20 patients (20.0%) were normosmic at the time of S'S assessment. Dysosmic patients were found to have significantly lower scores at the SF‐36 health domains for energy/fatigue (p = .0004) and emotional wellbeing (p = .04) when compared to normosmics. A moderate correlation (r = .45–.59) between S'S scores and some PROMs was also demonstrated. At the multivariate analysis higher PNIF scores positively influenced odor threshold (p = .001) while positivity to SPT negatively influenced odor identification (p = .04).

Conclusions

Impairment of nasal airflow and sensitivity to aeroallergens can negatively affect olfactory performance in COVID‐19‐related OD. Long‐COVID smell loss deeply affects QoL although recovery of olfaction can bring it back to a normal range.

Level of Evidence

IV.
Photoacclimation dynamics in coral holobionts responding to thermal and irradiance changes correlate with photon pressure per symbiont
Authors: Mason Robert A. B. , Skirving William J. , Dove Sophie G.
Published: October 2023

Photoacclimation is a key homeostatic process that enables photosymbiotic reef corals to flourish within highly variable light environments. However, the temporal dynamics of photoacclimation remain poorly characterized. We studied photoacclimation at several time points over 24 d in two scleractinian coral taxa (mounding Porites spp. and branching Acropora muricata). Coral specimens preacclimated at 24°C and 171 μmol quanta m−2 s−1 were exposed to three light levels (−32%, +27%, and +65% relative to that of the acclimation period) at two temperatures (control, 24°C; mildly stressful, 29°C). Intra‐tissue light environment—specifically, photon pressure per symbiont—increased dramatically with each additional light dose and again with increasing temperature in Porites spp.; net photosynthesis (Pnet) rates continued to change for at least 2 weeks following light increase but not light reduction, and vice versa for symbiont densities. Intra‐tissue light environments were substantially dimmer and more homogeneous among all light treatments in A. muricata, which continued to increase its light‐use efficiency and Pnet through time in most or all treatments. Consequently, prolonged change in Fv/Fm at elevated temperature in Porites spp. but not A. muricata may have been caused by differing photodamage loads. Moderation of light levels by conditions within the coral tissue seems to affect the temporal dynamics of the photoacclimation response, and this finding emphasizes new avenues for photoacclimation research.
Frequency‐Resolved Optical Gating in Transverse Geometry for On‐Chip Optical Pulse Diagnostics
Authors: Yu Huakang , Lun Yipeng , Lin Jintian , Li Yantong , Huang Xingzhao , Liu Bodong , Wu Wanling , Wang Chunhua , Cheng Ya , Li Zhi‐yuan , Khurgin Jacob B.
Published: October 2023

A new on‐chip diagnostic tool is developed, allowing for real‐time full characterization of waveguided ultrashort optical pulses. This technique, called transverse frequency‐resolved optical gating (T‐FROG), relies on second harmonic generation (SHG) in a transverse (surface emitting) geometry. The T‐FROG is implemented on a thin‐film lithium niobate (LN) platform, demonstrating its versatility and consistency in accurately characterizing waveguided femtosecond pulses, including information about chirp and self‐phase modulation. In contrast to traditional FROG techniques, T‐FROG represents a significant improvement as it provides temporal amplitude and phase profiles of ultrafast optical pulses directly inside photonic integrated circuits. The real‐time in situ characteristics and dynamics of optical pulses offered by T‐FROG show promise for their potential applications in the design, testing, and optimization of ultrafast photonic integrated circuits.
Soft Hydrogels with Double Porosity Modified with RGDS for Tissue Engineering
Authors: Podhorská Bohumila , Chylíková‐Krumbholcová Eva , Dvořáková Jana , Šlouf Miroslav , Kobera Libor , Pop‐Georgievski Ognen , Frejková Markéta , Proks Vladimír , Janoušková Olga , Filipová Marcela , Chytil Petr
Published: October 2023

This study develops and characterizes novel biodegradable soft hydrogels with dual porosity based on N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymers cross‐linked by hydrolytically degradable linkers. The structure and properties of the hydrogels are designed as scaffolds for tissue engineering and they are tested in vitro with model mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs). Detailed morphological characterization confirms dual porosity suitable for cell growth and nutrient transport. The dual porosity of hydrogels slightly improves rMSCs proliferation compared to the hydrogel with uniform pores. In addition, the laminin coating supports the adhesion of rMSCs to the hydrogel surface. However, hydrogels modified by heptapeptide RGDSGGY significantly stimulate cell adhesion and growth. Moreover, the RGDS‐modified hydrogels also affect the topology of proliferating rMSCs, ranging from single‐cell to multicellular clusters. The 3D reconstruction of the hydrogels with cells obtained by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) confirms cell penetration into the inner structure of the hydrogel and its corresponding microstructure. The prepared biodegradable oligopeptide‐modified hydrogels with dual porosity are suitable candidates for further in vivo evaluation in soft tissue regeneration.
A Novel PEtOx‐Based Nanogel Targeting Prostate Cancer Cells for Drug Delivery
Authors: Gülyüz Sevgi , Sessevmez Melike , Ukuser Gokcen , Khalily Melek Parlak , Tiryaki Selen , Sipahioglu Tarik , Birgül Kaan , Ömeroğlu İpek , Özçubukçu Salih , Telci Dilek , Küçükgüzel Ş. Güniz , Durmuş Mahmut , Cevher Erdal , Yılmaz Özgür
Published: October 2023

This study focuses on creating a specialized nanogel for targeted drug delivery in cancer treatment, specifically targeting prostate cancer. This nanogel (referred to as SGK 636/Peptide 563/PEtOx nanogel) is created using hydrophilic poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) (PEtOx) through a combination of living/cationic ring‐opening polymerization (CROP) and alkyne‐azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) “click” chemical reactions. A fluorescent probe (BODIPY) is also conjugated with the nanogel to monitor drug delivery. The characterizations through 1H‐NMR, and FT‐IR, SEM, TEM, and DLS confirm the successful production of uniform, and spherical nanogels with controllable sizes (100 to 296 nm) and stability in physiological conditions. The biocompatibility of nanogels is evaluated using MTT cytotoxicity assays, revealing dose‐dependent cytotoxicity. Drug‐loaded nanogels exhibited significantly higher cytotoxicity against cancer cells in vitro compared to drug‐free nanogels. Targeting efficiency is examined using both peptide‐conjugated and peptide‐free nanogels, with the intracellular uptake of peptide 563‐conjugated nanogels by tumor cells being 60‐fold higher than that of nanogels without the peptide. The findings suggest that the prepared nanogel holds great potential for various drug delivery applications due to its ease of synthesis, tunable functionality, non‐toxicity, and enhanced intracellular uptake in the tumor region.
Multiblock Poly‐ε‐Caprolactones: One‐Step Synthesis toward Programmable Properties
Authors: Shen Ting , Deng Kaicheng , Chen Yuewei , He Yong , Zhu Yang , Xu Junting , Ling Jun
Published: October 2023

Control of monomer sequence enables predictable structure–property relationships in versatile polymeric materials. The facile synthesis of multiblock copolymers (MBCPs) with controlled chain structure is highly challenging, particularly for those prepared via one‐pot copolymerization of mixed monomers. Herein, poly‐ε‐caprolactone MBCPs, a series of thermoplastic elastomers with tailored thermal, mechanical, rheological, and degradable properties, are synthesized by Janus polymerization. Melting temperature, tensile strength, ductility, viscosity, and enzymatic degradability are governed by block length which is in turn dictated by the monomer‐to‐catalyst feed ratio. The relationships between the physicochemical properties and the architectures are investigated in detail.
Influence of a commonly accepted hardness tolerance on the thermo‐mechanical and vibration‐insulating properties of an acrylonitrile‐butadiene elastomer
Authors: Frick A. , Ernst C. , Taha I.
Published: October 2023

Die Shore‐Härte dient nach wie vor als charakteristisches Merkmal für Elastomere. Gummimischungen mit einer Härte von 60 Shore A werden u. a. für Elemente zur Schwingungsisolierung eingesetzt; die Härte von Dichtungen für die Pneumatik liegt im Bereich 80 Shore A und für die Hydraulik bei etwa 95 Shore A. Die Härte einer Gummimischung wird u. a. durch den Füllstoffgehalt im Kautschuk bestimmt, mit zunehmendem Füllstoffgehalt steigen die Härte und damit die Steifigkeit einer Mischung. Industrielle Gummihersteller tolerieren ihre Werkstoffe häufig mit einer Toleranz von ±3 Shore A. Dieser Wert erscheint gering und wird deswegen von den Anwendern oft akzeptiert. Die Bedeutung dieser Toleranz für die Gebrauchseigenschaften wird am Beispiel einer Acrylnitril‐Butadien‐Mischung mit einer Shore‐Härte von 60 Shore A und Härtetoleranz von ±3 Shore A untersucht. Die Ergebnisse von Zugversuchen und der dynamisch‐mechanischen‐thermischen Analyse an den Proben zeigen, bereits eine geringe Abweichung von der nominellen Härte bewirkt einen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Materialsteifigkeit und Dämpfung im gesamten Anwendungstemperaturbereich. Durchgeführte Vibrationstests belegen ebenso eine große Variation im Schwingungsübertragungsverhalten, die eine solche Härtetoleranz bedingt.
Factors influencing enterprise organizational resilience: Evidence based on machine learning
Authors: Meng Tao , Zhang Tiankai , Chen Mengyuan , Cao Jiang
Published: October 2023

This paper synthesizes the differences in the predictive power of multidimensional firm characteristics on organizational resilience and further identifies the key characteristics and their specific impact patterns. It is found that the firm's stability during the crisis depends more on the pre‐crisis firm's operating conditions, while the post‐crisis firm's flexibility depends more on the firm's internal and external resources. Besides, some firm characteristics rank higher in predicting the importance of organizational resilience. This study examines organizational resilience characteristics from a more comprehensive perspective and provides empirical evidence on how managers can better respond to systemic crises and enhance organizational resilience.