bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Food insecurity is related to eating disorder psychopathology beyond psychological distress in rural Chinese adolescents
Authors: He Jinbo , Xiao Yueyang , Zhang Yulu , Wang Hanbin , Ganson Kyle T. , Nagata Jason M. , Chen Chun
Published: May 2024

Objective

This study aimed to examine the relationship between food insecurity (FI) and eating disorder psychopathology in a large sample of rural Chinese adolescents.

Methods

Analyses included 1654 adolescents (55.4% girls; Mage = 16.54 years, SD = 1.45) from a rural high school in southwestern China. FI, eating disorder psychopathology, and psychological distress (i.e., symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress) were assessed. Data were analyzed by sex. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to investigate the zero‐order association between FI and eating disorder psychopathology. Hierarchical linear regressions were used to explore whether FI could explain meaningful variance in eating disorder psychopathology beyond psychological distress and demographic covariates (e.g., socioeconomic status).

Results

FI was significantly associated with higher eating disorder psychopathology for boys (r = 0.44, p < 0.001) and girls (r = 0.43, p < 0.001), with medium‐to‐large effect sizes. FI accounted for significant unique variance in eating disorder psychopathology beyond psychological distress and demographic covariates for boys (ΔR2 = 0.14, p < 0.001) and girls (ΔR2 = 0.10, p < 0.001).

Discussion

Using a large sample of rural Chinese adolescents, this study extends the connection between FI and eating disorder pathology in adolescents beyond the Western context. Future investigations on the mechanisms underlying FI and eating disorder psychopathology are warranted for developing prevention strategies for eating disorders among rural Chinese adolescents.

Public Significance

This is the first investigation that examined the link between FI and eating disorder psychopathology among rural Chinese adolescents. Our findings highlight the importance of incorporating FI as a potential risk factor to screen for the prevention and intervention of eating disorders among rural Chinese adolescents.
Water‐in‐Polymer Salt Electrolyte for Long‐Life Rechargeable Aqueous Zinc‐Lignin Battery
Authors: Kumar Divyaratan , Franco Leandro R. , Abdou Nicole , Shu Rui , Martinelli Anna , Araujo C. Moyses , Gladisch Johannes , Gueskine Viktor , Crispin Reverant , Khan Ziyauddin
Published: May 2024

Zinc metal batteries (ZnBs) are poised as the next‐generation energy storage solution, complementing lithium‐ion batteries, thanks to their cost‐effectiveness and safety advantages. These benefits originate from the abundance of zinc and its compatibility with non‐flammable aqueous electrolytes. However, the inherent instability of zinc in aqueous environments, manifested through hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) and dendritic growth, has hindered commercialization due to poor cycling stability. Enter potassium polyacrylate (PAAK)‐based water‐in‐polymer salt electrolyte (WiPSE), a novel variant of water‐in‐salt electrolytes (WiSE), designed to mitigate side reactions associated with water redox processes, thereby enhancing the cyclic stability of ZnBs. In this study, WiPSE was employed in ZnBs featuring lignin and carbon composites as cathode materials. Our research highlights the crucial function of acrylate groups from WiPSE in stabilizing the ionic flux on the surface of the Zn electrode. This stabilization promotes the parallel deposition of Zn along the (002) plane, resulting in a significant reduction in dendritic growth. Notably, our sustainable Zn‐lignin battery showcases remarkable cyclic stability, retaining 80% of its initial capacity after 8000 cycles at a high current rate (1 A g−1) and maintaining over 75% capacity retention up to 2000 cycles at a low current rate (0.2 A g−1). This study showcases the practical application of WiPSE for the development of low‐cost, dendrite‐free, and scalable ZnBs.
Finding Wang Tonghui: The life and after‐life of a pioneer female Chinese anthropologist
Authors: An Mengzhu , Wang Jing , Xu Jing , Ye Wei
Published: May 2024

Our article recovers the obscured intellectual trajectories and contributions of Wang Tonghui (1912–1935AD), a pioneering female Chinese anthropologist, introducing her story for the first time to the Anglophone anthropological audience. By tracing her life, death, and after‐life, we critically examined how Wang's image as an ambitious and talented anthropologist was gradually erased and replaced by that of a supportive wife and a muse of a prominent male scholar. This shift highlights the challenges faced by female scholars within the entanglement of anthropology and China's political process since the early 20th century. Through interrogating the gendered power dynamics in the historical process of knowledge production in anthropology, we further seek to better understand our own condition as female anthropologists from the perspective of a non‐Anglophone context.
Environmental regulation and environmental performance of enterprises: Quasi‐natural experiment of the new environmental protection law
Authors: Chen Xiuying , Liu Huajie , Liu Sheng
Published: May 2024

Whether command‐control environmental regulation can play a positive role in circumstances of imperfect market incentive‐based environmental regulation remains rarely explored. Using the difference‐in‐difference model, we find that command‐control environmental regulation can significantly improve the environmental performance of heavily polluting firms. This result still holds after a sequence of robustness tests. The analysis of the economic mechanism indicates that the new environmental protection law mainly contributes positively to the environmental performance of high‐polluting firms by improving the quality of their environmental investments and pollution treatment disclosures, and by reducing the government subsidies they receive to improve the environmental performance of high‐polluting firms. Meanwhile, the new environmental protection law has a more pronounced impact on heavily polluting enterprises in the eastern region, with imperfect internal control, stronger environmental regulations, more distant political connections, greater pressure on regional GDP growth and weaker industry competition. This paper confirms the effectiveness of the new environmental law in improving environmental performance of heavily polluting enterprises in pursuit of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, and provides new evidence to test the weak Porter hypothesis in the context of transition economies.
A founder mutation in CA5A causing intrafamilial and interfamilial phenotypic variability in a cohort of 18 patients with carbonic anhydrase VA deficiency
Authors: Al‐Thihli Khalid , Al Hashmi Nadia , Al Balushi Aaisha , Al‐Habsi Asila , Al‐Ajmi Eiman , Al‐Jasmi Fatma , Al‐Murshedi Fathiya
Published: May 2024

Carbonic anhydrase VA (CA‐VA) deficiency is a rare cause of hyperammonemia caused by biallelic mutations in CA5A. Most patients present with hyperammonemic encephalopathy in early infancy to early childhood, and patients usually have no further recurrence of hyperammonemia with a favorable outcome. This retrospective cohort study reports 18 patients with CA‐VA deficiency caused by homozygosity for a founder mutation, c.59G>A p.(Trp20*) in CA5A. The reported patients show significant intrafamilial and interfamilial variability, and display atypical clinical features. Two adult patients were asymptomatic, 7/18 patients had recurrent hyperammonemia, 7/18 patients developed variable degree of developmental delay, 9/11 patients had hyperCKemia, and 7/18 patients had failure to thrive. Microcephaly was seen in three patients and one patient developed a metabolic stroke. The same variant had been reported already in a single South Asian patient presenting with neonatal hyperammonemic encephalopathy and subsequent development of seizures and developmental delay. This report highlights the limitations of current understanding of the pathomechanisms involved in this disorder, and calls for further evaluation of the possible role of genetic modifiers in this condition.
Tradeoffs between bite force and gape in Eulemur and Varecia
Authors: Laird Myra F. , Polvadore Taylor A. , Hirschkorn Gabrielle A. , McKinney Julie C. , Ross Callum F. , Taylor Andrea B. , Terhune Claire E. , Iriarte‐Diaz Jose
Published: May 2024

In 1974, Sue Herring described the relationship between two important performance variables in the feeding system, bite force and gape. These variables are inversely related, such that, without specific muscular adaptations, most animals cannot produce high bite forces at large gapes for a given sized muscle. Despite the importance of these variables for feeding biomechanics and functional ecology, the paucity of in vivo bite force data in primates has led to bite forces largely being estimated through ex vivo methods. Here, we quantify and compare in vivo bite forces and gapes with output from simulated musculoskeletal models in two craniofacially distinct strepsirrhines: Eulemur, which has a shorter jaw and slower chewing cycle durations relative to jaw length and body mass compared to Varecia. Bite forces were collected across a range of linear gapes from 16 adult lemurs (suborder Strepsirrhini) at the Duke Lemur Center in Durham, North Carolina representing three species: Eulemur flavifrons (n = 6; 3F, 3M), Varecia variegata (n = 5; 3F, 2M), and Varecia rubra (n = 5; 5F). Maximum linear and angular gapes were significantly higher for Varecia compared to Eulemur (p = .01) but there were no significant differences in recorded maximum in vivo bite forces (p = .88). Simulated muscle models using architectural data for these taxa suggest this approach is an accurate method of estimating bite force‐gape tradeoffs in addition to variables such as fiber length, fiber operating range, and gapes associated with maximum force. Our in vivo and modeling data suggest Varecia has reduced bite force capacities in favor of absolutely wider gapes compared to Eulemur in relation to their longer jaws. Importantly, our comparisons validate the simulated muscle approach for estimating bite force as a function of gape in extant and fossil primates.
Photo‐Deactivation Strategy for Switchable ATRP with the Assistance of Molecular Switches
Authors: Zhang Weidong , Chen Zhuan , Zhang Zhengbiao
Published: May 2024

Light irradiation is an external stimulus, rapidly developed in switchable atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) via photo‐activation methods in recent years. Herein, a photo‐deactivation strategy is introduced to regulate ATRP with the assistance of photoswitchable hexaarylbiimidozole (HABI). Under visible light irradiation and in the presence of HABI, ATRP is greatly decelerated or quenched depending on the concentration of HABI. Interestingly, with visible light off, ATRP can proceed smoothly and follow a first‐order kinetics. Moreover, photo‐switchable ATRP alternatively with light off and on is demonstrated. Besides, the mechanism of photo‐deactivation ATRP involving radical quenching is proposed in the presence of HABI.
Detection of α‐Synuclein in Oral Mucosa by Seed Amplification Assay in Synucleinopathies and Isolated REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
Authors: Zheng Yuanchu , Yu Zhenwei , Cai Huihui , Kou Wenyi , Yang Chen , Li Siming , Zhang Ning , Feng Tao
Published: May 2024

Objective

Evidence of abnormal α‐synuclein (α‐Syn) deposition in the brain is required for definitive diagnosis of synucleinopathies, which remains challenging. The seed amplification assay (SAA) is an innovative technique that can detect the seeding activity of misfolded α‐Syn, enabling the amplification and detection of minute quantities of pathogenic α‐Syn aggregates. This study aimed to evaluate oral mucosa α‐Syn SAA as possible diagnostic and prodromal biomarkers for synucleinopathies.

Methods

A total of 107 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, 99 multiple system atrophy (MSA) patients, 33 patients with isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) and 103 healthy controls (HC) were included. The SAA was applied to detect the seeding activity of α‐Syn from oral mucosa. A combination of morphological, biochemical, and biophysical methods was also used to analyze the fibrils generated from the oral mucosa α‐Syn SAA.

Results

Structured illumination microscopy images revealed the increased α‐Syn species in oral mucosa of PD, MSA, and iRBD patients than in HCs. Oral mucosa α‐Syn SAA distinguished patients with PD from HC with 67.3% sensitivity and 90.3% specificity. Oral mucosa was α‐Syn SAA positive in 53.5% MSA patients and 63.6% iRBD patients. Furthermore, the α‐Syn fibrils generated from MSA demonstrated greater resistance to proteinase K digestion and exhibited stronger cytotoxicity compared to those from PD patients.

Conclusion

Oral mucosa α‐Syn seeding activity may serve as novel non‐invasive diagnostic and prodromal biomarkers for synucleinopathies. The α‐Syn aggregates amplified from the oral mucosa of PD and MSA exhibited distinct biochemical and biophysical properties. © 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Gut instinct: Navigating the landscape of parenteral support in short bowel syndrome
Authors: Bering Jamie , Tarleton Sherry , DiBaise John K.
Published: May 2024

Depending on the remaining bowel anatomy and the degree of bowel adaptation, patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) may require parenteral nutrition (PN) and/or intravenous fluid support, sometimes temporarily and sometimes permanently. Although the use of parenteral support in SBS is often lifesaving, it is not without its limitations. Herein, we undertake a focused review of several issues related to use of parenteral support in patients with SBS, including initiation of parenteral support, considerations when formulating PN, select complications, short‐term and long‐term nutrition monitoring, and weaning strategies.
Evaluation of the effect of Modafinil in the improvement of the level of consciousness in patients with COVID‐19 encephalopathy: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Talebi Kiasari Fatemeh , Naghshbandi Mobin , Emamikhah Maziar , Moradi Moghaddam Omid , Niakan Lahiji Mohammad , Rohani Mohammad , Yazdi Narges , Movahedi Hamidreza , Amanollahi Alireza , Irandoost Pardis , Ghafoury Roya
Published: May 2024

Aim

COVID‐19 can lead to encephalopathy and loss of consciousness. This double‐blinded randomized clinical trial conducted in Tehran, Iran, aimed to assess the potential effectiveness of modafinil in patients with COVID‐19‐related encephalopathy.

Methods

Nineteen non‐intubated COVID‐19 patients with encephalopathy were randomized into two groups: a treatment group receiving crushed modafinil tablets and a placebo group receiving starch powder. Modafinil was administered at a dose of 100 mg every 2 h, reaching a peak dosage of 400 mg. The level of consciousness was assessed using the Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) at multiple time points on the day of medication administration. The trial was registered under IRCT20170903036041N3 on 23/5/2021.

Results

The average age in the modafinil and placebo groups was 75.33 and 70 years, respectively. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of chronic conditions, clinical symptoms, or laboratory data. GCS scores were similar between the groups at baseline (p‐value = 0.699). After four doses of modafinil, GCS scores were slightly higher in the treatment group, but this difference was not statistically significant (p‐value = 0.581). GCS scores after each round of drug administration didn't significantly differ between the treatment and placebo groups (p‐value = 0.908).

Conclusion

Modafinil exhibited a slight improvement in the level of consciousness among COVID‐19 patients with encephalopathy, although this improvement did not reach statistical significance when compared to the control group. Further research with larger sample sizes and longer treatment durations is recommended to explore modafinil's potential benefits in managing altered consciousness in COVID‐19 patients.
Societal drivers for the integration of hydrogeomorphology and human benefits in river restoration projects
Authors: Gariépy‐Girouard Étienne , Buffin‐Bélanger Thomas , Biron Pascale M.
Published: May 2024

Integrating hydrogeomorphological (HGM) principles into the restoration of degraded rivers can achieve sustainable results and provide various human benefits. HGM principles mainly involve understanding the context and processes that shape a fluvial system before any intervention, in order to support its dynamism and to align with its potential functioning and uses. Despite recent management approaches inspired by HGM principles, most restoration projects carried out in Quebec (Canada) are not process‐based and target specific one‐dimensional objectives. Although there is an overall lack of post‐project monitoring, several projects appear to have failed or had mixed success. This research aims to shed light on the diversity of societal drivers behind river restoration projects and to examine how they influence the integration of HGM principles and human benefits. Four restoration projects were characterized through participant observation and interviews with the organizations running them. Representatives of two ministries involved in river restoration and management were also interviewed. The results show that projects were mainly shaped by public acceptance disregarding HGM principles, which can lead to poorly‐informed action. Project funding and stakeholders' expertise have also challenged project implementation and played a key role in defining their objectives. The addition of these components improve the current analytical frameworks for identifying river restoration objectives. Depending on specific sociocultural, political and legislative contexts, funding programs and stakeholders' expertise may either facilitate or restrict the integration of HGM principles and human benefits in the projects. Recognizing these key drivers reframes river restoration as a fundamentally social activity and enlightens how they could impel innovative approaches towards more sustainable results.
Adsorption Properties of the Alkalized Accordion‐Like Ti3CN MXene for Pb(II) Ion
Authors: Qian XuKun , Zhao ZeFeng , Zhang RuiHua , Yu ChangBai
Published: May 2024

The presence of poisonous Pb(II) ions in water resources has raised global health concerns. Herein, the adsorption performance of accordion‐like Ti3CN MXene for Pb(II) ions was investigated for the first time. Batch experiments were carried out by varying modifications, pH values, initial Pb(II) concentrations, adsorption time and temperatures. The results prove that the alkalized‐Ti3CN shows enhanced adsorption performance. Although the temperature effect is insignificant, the Pb(II) adsorption is strongly pH‐dependent. The maximum Pb(II) adsorption capacity of alkalized −Ti3CN is about 2.5 times higher than that of activated carbon. The adsorption ratio of Pb(II) is up to 96.6 %. The adsorption capacity increases with increasing the initial concentration of Pb(II). The alkalized‐Ti3CN adsorbs Pb(II) very quickly and the adsorption equilibrium is nearly achieved within 70 minutes. The adsorption follows the quasi‐second‐order kinetic model as well as the Langmuir model, and is mainly controlled by chemical adsorption. It is preliminarily concluded that Pb(II) replaces Na(I) of the −ONa functional groups on the alkalized‐Ti3CN surfaces. This study proves the alkalized‐Ti3CN MXene has potential application for the purification treatment of wastewater contaminated with Pb(II) ions.
Electrochemical and Theoretical Modelled Reduction of β‐Diketone Inspired Chalcones
Authors: Izuchukwu Ugwu David , Conradie Jeanet
Published: May 2024

The growing interest in synthesizing electrochemically active organic ligands stems from extensive reports highlighting the applications of redox‐active organic molecules. These molecules play a crucial role in capturing and converting CO2 into valuable organic compounds, including carbonates used as solvents in lithium batteries. In this study, we present an electrochemical investigation of two chalcone derivatives, referred to as (1) and (2). We explored the influence of different solvent systems, specifically acetonitrile and dimethyl sulfoxide, on the reduction potential of these chalcones. The reported chalcone derivatives were characterized using various analytical techniques, including UV/Visible spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Proton and Carbon‐13 nuclear magnetic resonance, as well as mass spectrometry. The characterization of the reported chalcones, exhibiting properties of both β‐diketones and 2‐hydroxyphenones, is underscored by a density functional theory (DFT) study of chalcones (1) and (2). This research establishes a correlation between the energies calculated through DFT and the experimental reduction potentials of chalcones (1) and (2), in comparing them with a series of β‐diketones and 2‐hydroxyphenones.
Ultrasound evaluation of stiffness and vascularity of renal parenchymal damage secondary to hydronephrosis in pediatric patients using shear wave elastography and superb microvascular imaging
Authors: Günay Burak , Solak Serdar , Ustabaşıoğlu Fethi Emre , Kula Osman , Karabulut Derya , Tunçbilek Nermin
Published: May 2024

Aims

The purpose of this study is to assess the diagnostic value of SWE (shear wave elastography) and renal parenchymal elasticity and microvascularization with the SMI (super microvascular imaging) technique in diagnosing and predicting the progression of renal parenchymal damage in pediatric patients with hydronephrosis.

Patients and Methods

A total of 45 patients were included in the prospective study. To evaluate parenchymal changes, SWE and SMI‐Vacularity Index (VI) measurements were performed in various sections of the affected and normal kidneys. The affected and control renal pelvises' anteroposterior (AP) diameters were also measured.

Results

The average SWE values were measured as 16.62 kPa for the affected kidneys, whereas the control kidneys showed an average SWE value of 12.70 kPa, indicating a statistically significant difference (p < .01). Furthermore, in the affected kidneys, the average SMI‐VI value was measured as 5.92, whereas the control kidneys exhibited a higher average SMI‐VI value of 6.64, showing a statistically significant difference (p < .01). A reverse correlation was found between renal pelvis AP diameter and SMI‐VI values, while a positive correlation existed between renal pelvis AP diameter and SWE values.

Conclusions

We believe that SWE and SMI may be useful for diagnosing and predicting the progression of renal parenchymal damage in pediatric hydronephrotic patients.
Building pose detection for the characterization of reinforced concrete buildings
Authors: Iturburu Lissette , Liu Xiaoyu , Zhang Xin , Wogen Benjamin E. , Villamizar Juan Nicolas , Dyke Shirley J. , Ramirez Julio , Choi Jongseong Brad , Valencia Gianella , Alcocer Sergio M.
Published: May 2024

The automated identification of building characteristics for seismic vulnerability remains a challenge for governments due to the high number of buildings in cities. The diverse architectural styles of these buildings complicate the automated identification of building information (e.g., number of stories, structural system, and material type). Deep learning techniques lose accuracy as they generalize information, while the visual contents of a building exhibit a considerable range and diversity. This study leverages the pose detection technique to tackle such issues by focusing on a common construction style: reinforced concrete buildings representing columns, beams, or floors on the façade. With an aim to enable the assessment of seismic vulnerability, the technique developed herein is conceived for buildings with up to six stories that are more likely to be moment‐frame buildings. The AI‐enabled proposed framework starts with collecting building images and categorizing those containing this specific building type. A bounding box detector is then used to isolate building facades, for the subsequent identification of the structural frame with the High‐Resolution Network (HR‐Net). For demonstration, we illustrate this technique by identifying the structural frame on concrete buildings with a sample dataset developed based on buildings found in Mexico City in a pre‐earthquake event state.
A revised tribal classification of Papaveraceae (poppy family) based on molecular and morphological data
Authors: Peng Huan‐Wen , Xiang Kun‐Li , Lian Lian , Liu Bing , Erst Andrey S. , Gao Tian‐Gang , Ortiz Rosa Del C. , Jabbour Florian , Chen Zhi‐Duan , Wang Wei
Published: May 2024

Papaveraceae, commonly known as the poppy family, contains many species with horticultural and/or pharmaceutical importance and has been the subject of various molecular studies. However, a widely accepted tribal classification for Papaveraceae remains lacking. In this study, we used a sampling covering all 48 of the currently recognized genera of Papaveraceae. Our study is to employ broad morphological data in combination with sequence data from two nuclear and seven plastid DNA regions to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships within the family. Our analyses indicate that Pteridophylloideae is sister to the clade containing Hypecooideae and Fumarioideae, and these three lineages are in turn sister to Papaveroideae. The alternative topologies constraining Pteridophylloideae as sister to the other poppy species, to Papaveroideae or to Hypecooideae, as recovered in previous studies, are all rejected. Fumarioideae contains nine main clades, and Fumarieae is nested in traditional Corydaleae. Within Papaveroideae, three main clades are recovered and Platystemoneae is embedded within traditional Papavereae. Both topologies constraining traditional Corydaleae or Papavereae as monophyletic are significantly rejected. Within this phylogenetic framework, the evolution of selected characters is inferred and diagnostic morphological characters at different taxonomic levels are identified and discussed. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, a new tribal classification of Papaveraceae is presented, in which 4 subfamilies, 14 tribes (including 7 newly described tribes), and 43 genera are recognized.
Influence of administration timing of San‐Huang‐Xie‐Xin‐Tang treatment on attenuating Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection
Authors: Chang Chiung‐Hung , Wang Shu‐Chiu , Lee Chia‐Ying , Su Chiu‐Hsian , Lai Yen‐Ju , Lin Wei‐De , Hsu Yuan‐Man
Published: May 2024

Salmonella infections are a serious global health concern, particularly in developing countries, and are further exacerbated by the emergence of antibiotic resistance. San‐Huang‐Xie‐Xin‐Tang (SHXXT), a traditional herbal medicine with potent anti‐inflammatory properties, has recently gained attention as an alternative treatment. Our study emphasizes on the importance of precise timing in accordance with traditional Chinese medicine principles. A mouse infection model was established while different administration times of SHXXT were recorded for the body weight, clinical scores, bacterial counts in blood, and organs. Additionally, cytokine levels, fatty acids, and amino acids in the serum were also monitored. We found that administering SHXXT 1 day after Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) infection (T1 group) leads to positive outcomes. This includes restoration of body weight, improved clinical scores, and reduced bacterial counts in blood and vital organs. Interferon‐gamma levels remained consistently high across all treatment groups 6 days post‐infection. However, the T1 group showed exclusive suppression of serum levels of tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐1 beta (IL‐1β). The timing of administration significantly influenced serum fatty acid concentrations, countering Salmonella‐induced disruptions, aligning with TNF‐α and IL‐1β levels. SHXXT had also restored amino acid profiles disrupted by the infection, with notable effects when administered at the correct timing. Our research highlights SHXXT's potential in treating S. Typhimurium infection, emphasizing the importance of precise timing in line with traditional Chinese medicine principles for effective treatment at different disease stages.
Construction of [P4442]2[IDA]/Zirconium Metal‐Organic Framework (UiO‐66) for Curing with Epoxy Resin
Authors: Zhang Zhiwei , Ma Yilin , Liu Encheng , Cheng Junjie , Chen Fengfeng , Ling Bin , Di Ningyu , Gao Junkuo
Published: May 2024

Curing agents for epoxy resin (EP) are one of the most important branches in the polymer materials field due to their enormous potential in many fields, but constructing them in a well‐controlled curing temperature remains challenging. Herein, a novel curing agent is constructed by the zirconium metal‐organic framework (UiO‐66) and [P4442]2[IDA] through an impregnation method. [P4442]2[IDA]@UiO‐66 is utilized as a functional nanofiller and curing agent to construct the [P4442]2[IDA]@UiO‐66/EP nanocomposites. The chemical structures of [P4442]2[IDA]@UiO‐66 were investigated by XRD, SEM, DSC, and TG characterizations. The various [P4442]2[IDA]@UiO‐66 with different loading amounts of [P4442]2[IDA] were used to investigate the curing behaviors of the EP‐51. The DSC results confirm that the curing temperature of the [P4442]2[IDA]@UiO‐66/EP is higher than that of [P4442]2[IDA]/EP. In addition, the kinetic parameters and the activation energy of the curing reaction were acquired according to the fitting of Kissinger equation and Ozawa equation. The drying time of [P4442]2[IDA]@UiO‐66/EP system at 40 °C was enhanced 17 times compare to that of [P4442]2[IDA]/EP system. This study opens new avenues for the rational design of EP nanocomposites by employing ionic liquids@MOFs composite materials as curing agent for wide engineering applications.
Sturm’s Comparison Theorem for Classical Discrete Orthogonal Polynomials
Authors: Suzuki A.
Published: May 2024

In an earlier work (Castillo et al. in J Math Phys 61:103505, 2020), it was established, from a hypergeometric-type difference equation, tractable sufficient conditions for the monotonicity with respect to a real parameter of zeros of classical discrete orthogonal polynomials on linear, quadratic, q-linear, and q-quadratic grids. In this work, we continue with the study of zeros of these polynomials by giving a comparison theorem of Sturm type. As an application, we analyze in a simple way some relations between the zeros of certain classical discrete orthogonal polynomials.
Solutions with moving singularities for a one-dimensional nonlinear diffusion equation
Authors: Fila Marek , Takahashi Jin , Yanagida Eiji
Published: May 2024

The aim of this paper is to study singular solutions for a one-dimensional nonlinear diffusion equation. Due to slow diffusion near singular points, there exists a solution with a singularity at a prescribed position depending on time. To study properties of such singular solutions, we define a minimal singular solution as a limit of a sequence of approximate solutions with large Dirichlet data. Applying the comparison principle and the intersection number argument, we discuss the existence and uniqueness of a singular solution for an initial-value problem, the profile near singular points and large-time behavior of solutions. We also give some results concerning the appearance of a burning core, convergence to traveling waves and the existence of an entire solution.
Canonical Supermultiplets and Their Koszul Duals
Authors: Cederwall Martin , Jonsson Simon , Palmkvist Jakob , Saberi Ingmar
Published: May 2024

The pure spinor superfield formalism reveals that, in any dimension and with any amount of supersymmetry, one particular supermultiplet is distinguished from all others. This “canonical supermultiplet” is equipped with an additional structure that is not apparent in any component-field formalism: a (homotopy) commutative algebra structure on the space of fields. The structure is physically relevant in several ways; it is responsible for the interactions in ten-dimensional super Yang–Mills theory, as well as crucial to any first-quantised interpretation. We study the
$$L_\infty $$

L
∞

algebra structure that is Koszul dual to this commutative algebra, both in general and in numerous examples, and prove that it is equivalent to the subalgebra of the Koszul dual to functions on the space of generalised pure spinors in internal degree greater than or equal to three. In many examples, the latter is the positive part of a Borcherds–Kac–Moody superalgebra. Using this result, we can interpret the canonical multiplet as the homotopy fiber of the map from generalised pure spinor space to its derived replacement. This generalises and extends work of Movshev–Schwarz and Gálvez–Gorbounov–Shaikh–Tonks in the same spirit. We also comment on some issues with physical interpretations of the canonical multiplet, which are illustrated by an example related to the complex Cayley plane, and on possible extensions of our construction, which appear relevant in an example with symmetry type
$$G_2 \times A_1$$

G
2

×

A
1

.
Variation in metabolic rate during low tide aerial exposure in the Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus
Authors: Griffen Blaine D. , Ashton Ian B. , Dominguez-Villalobos Amanda , Fletcher Laura S. , Marlow Bailey N. , Raj Vibalia , Reese Lia A. , Reese Tanner C. , Richardson Hannah C.
Published: May 2024

Intertidal animals deal with physical gradients daily that create stressful conditions across the shore. These physical gradients influence the physiological performance of organisms, requiring responses that may differ with height on the shore. We examined the respiratory response to aerial exposure in the invasive Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus during periods of low tide emersion using two field experiments. The first experiment simultaneously measured respiration of individuals collected from different heights on the shore, which had therefore been emersed for different lengths of time. The second experiment measured respiration of individuals collected at different times from the same tidal height. Respiration rates of crabs in both experiments increased immediately after emersion, nearly doubling by and peaking at ~ 1.5 h of aerial exposure, before decreasing again over the next 1.5 h. These results suggest that the energetic cost of low tide exposure is greatest shortly after emersion during the first half of the typical low tide period, but then decreases thereafter. These respiration patterns facilitate the broad intertidal distribution of this species on rocky shores throughout its range.
Plasma microRNA-143 and microRNA-145 levels are elevated in patients with left ventricular dysfunction
Authors: Murase Hirotaka , Minatoguchi Shingo , Heishima Kazuki , Yasuda Shinji , Satake Atsushi , Yoshizumi Ryo , Komaki Hisaaki , Baba Shinya , Ojio Shinsuke , Tanaka Toshiki , Akao Yukihiro , Minatoguchi Shinya , Okura Hiroyuki
Published: May 2024

MicroRNA(miR)-143 and miR-145 are mainly expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells. However, the relationship between plasma miR-143 or miR-145 levels and the left ventricular (LV) function in patients with heart diseases remains unclear. Blood samples were taken from the antecubital vein in patients with heart diseases (n = 52), such as coronary artery disease, old myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, and valvular heart disease, and controls without heart diseases (n = 22). We measured plasma miR-143 and -145 levels by quantitative RT–PCR using TaqMan MicroRNA Assays and THUNDERBIRD Probe qPCR Mix. Plasma BNP levels were also measured. Echocardiography was performed to measure the LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and LV dilation. Plasma miR-143 and miR-145 levels were significantly higher in patients with heart diseases than in controls, respectively. Plasma miR-143 and miR-145 levels were significantly higher in patients with LVEF < 50% than in those with LVEF ≧ 50%, respectively. Plasma miR-143 and miR-145 levels were inversely correlated with LVEF, respectively. Plasma miR-143 and miR-145 levels were positively correlated with LV end-systolic dimension, respectively. Plasma miR-143 and -145 levels were positively correlated with plasma BNP levels, respectively. Plasma BNP levels were inversely correlated with LVEF. Plasma miR-143 and miR-145 levels are elevated in patients with LV dysfunction and may counteract LV dysfunction.
Cystatin SA attenuates gastric cancer cells growth and increases sensitivity to oxaliplatin via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Lu Yida , Wang Huizhen , Chen Sihan , Yang Bo , Li Yaxian , Li Yongxiang
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Cystatin SA (CST2) belongs to the superfamily of cysteine protease inhibitors. Emerging research indicates that CST2 is often dysregulated across various cancers. Its role and molecular mechanisms in gastric cancer remain underexplored. This study aims to explore the expression and function of CST2 in gastric cancer.

Methods

CST2 expression was analyzed and validated through Western blot. CST2 overexpression was induced by lentivirus in GC cells, and the correlation between CST2 expression levels and downstream signaling pathways was assessed. In addition, multiple assays, including cell proliferation, colony formation, wound-healing, and transwell migration/invasion, were considered to ascertain the influence of CST2 overexpression on gastric cancer. The cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry.

Results

CST2 expression at the protein level was decreased to be reduced in both gastric cancer tissues and cell lines, and CST2 expression attenuate gastric cancer growth, an effect restricted to gastric cancer cells and absent in gastric epithelial GES-1 cells. Furthermore, CST2 was demonstrated to improve chemosensitivity to Oxaliplatin in gastric cancer cells through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that CST2 is downregulated at the protein level in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. Additionally, CST2 was found to attenuate the growth of gastric cancer cells and to enhance sensitivity to Oxaliplatin through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, specific to gastric cancer cell lines. CST2 may serve as a tumor suppressor gene increasing sensitivity to Oxaliplatin in gastric cancer.
Zircon trace element fingerprint of changing tectonic regimes in Permian rhyolites from the Central European Lowlands
Authors: Słodczyk Elżbieta , Pietranik Anna , Repstock Alexander , Przybyło Arkadiusz , Glynn Sarah , Lukács Réka
Published: May 2024

The late Carboniferous/early Permian post-collisional rhyolites (305–285 Ma) that formed in Central Europe have generally similar whole rock compositions to that of older Late-Variscan rhyolites (330–310 Ma). However, data compilation combining zircon age with the chemical composition of rhyolites from 20 units shows a trend of increasing zircon saturation temperature with decreasing age. This trend is particularly well identified in rhyolites from the Central European Lowlands (CEL)—consisting of the NE German and NW Polish Basin—and also correlates their location with the zircon saturation temperature increasing from SE to NW from 750°C to 850°C. We infer that these higher temperatures of zircon saturation reflect a contemporaneous change in the tectonic setting from collisional to divergent, reflecting the onset of the Central European continental rifting. This interpretation is further corroborated by the trace element compositions of the CEL zircons, which resembles zircon crystallized in a divergent setting. Interestingly, the zircon formed globally in this type of setting is chemically diverse, especially considering uranium concentration. For example, zircon from locations dominated by mafic magma fractionation, such as rhyolites from Iceland, have low U concentrations and low U/Yb ratios. On the other hand, zircon formed in rhyolites in rifted margins, like western North America, tends to have much higher U and U/Yb ratios. Such high concentrations are not observed in zircon from the CEL, suggesting that the mantle input could be higher and residence times within continental crust shorter than those for rhyolites from the Cenozoic western USA. This may, in turn, suggest that the region might have been affected by a hot spot, similar to that responsible for rhyolite formation of the Snake River Plain.

Graphical abstract
Omega-3 index in patients with severe diabetic ocular complications
Authors: Guttmann Andreas , Wallisch Fabian , Hoeflechner Lukas , Pahljina Christian , Lindner Marlene , Wedrich Andreas , Lindner Ewald , Ivastinovic Domagoj
Published: May 2024

Background

The aim of the study was to assess the omega‑3 index and the proportions of other relevant fatty acids (FAs) in patients undergoing vitrectomy due to severe diabetic ocular complications. According to evidence, an optimal omega‑3 index range is 8–11% and a high level of saturated FAs correlate with advanced diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) undergoing vitrectomy due to diabetic macular edema or vitreous hemorrhage secondary to proliferative DRP were recruited for this study. Prior to surgery, the omega‑3 index, defined as the proportion of omega‑3 FAs in the membranes of erythrocytes, and the proportions of omega‑6, omega‑9, saturated and trans FAs were assessed using “high-sensitivity” gas chromatography with flame ionization detection.

Results

In total, 12 patients with DM type 1 (n = 2) and type 2 (n = 10) were enrolled. Their age was 69 ± 12 years and their HbA1c averaged 7.6 ± 1.2%. The omega‑3 index was 4.5 ± 1.2%. There was a moderate negative correlation between HbA1c and the omega‑3 index (r = −0.51, p = 0.09). The proportions of other FAs were within the normal ranges. However, the proportions of omega‑6 and saturated FAs were in the upper range (33.3 ± 2.2% and 41.1 ± 1.3%, respectively).

Conclusion

Patients with severe diabetic ocular complications who require vitreoretinal surgery are generally under-supplied with omega‑3 FAs and over-supplied with omega‑6 and saturated FAs. Patients with diabetes might consequently benefit from early omega‑3 FA supplementation and a reduction of saturated FAs in order to prevent or at least slow down the development of DRP and ultimately preserve vision.
Potential antiprostatic performance of novel lanthanide-complexes based on 5-nitropicolinic acid
Authors: García-García Amalia , Cristobal-Cueto Pablo , Hidalgo Tania , Vitórica-Yrezábal Iñigo J. , Rodríguez-Diéguez Antonio , Horcajada Patricia , Rojas Sara
Published: May 2024

Two new lanthanide-complexes based on the 5-nitropicolinate ligand (5-npic) were obtained and fully characterized. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that these compounds are isostructural to a Dy-complex, previously published by us, based on dinuclear monomers link together with an extended hydrogen bond network, providing a final chemical formula of [Ln2(5-npic)6(H2O)4]·(H2O)2, where Ln = Dy (1), Gd (2), and Tb (3). Preliminary photoluminescent studies exhibited a ligand-centered emission for all complexes. The potential antitumoral activity of these materials was assayed in a prostatic cancer cell line (PC-3; the 2nd most common male cancerous disease), showing a significant anticancer activity (50–60% at 500 μg·mL−1). In turn, a high biocompatibility by both, the complexes and their precursors in human immunological HL-60 cells, was evidenced. In view of the strongest toxic effect in the tumoral cell line provided by the free 5-npic ligand (~ 40–50%), the overall anticancer complex performance seems to be triggered by the presence of this molecule.

Graphical Abstract
Metalloproteins as risk factors for osteoarthritis: improving and understanding causal estimates using Mendelian randomization
Authors: Li Jiaze , Guan Mingyang , Qi Lin , Zhang Fengping , Jia Chenxu , Meng Qingtao , Han Jian
Published: May 2024

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders and a primary cause of pain and disability among the elderly population. Research on the relationship between metalloproteins (MPs) and OA is limited, and causality remains unclear. Our objective is to utilize Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore the possible causal relationship between MPs and OA. The data on MPs were derived from a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) analysis involving 3301 samples. The GWAS data for OA were obtained from an analysis involving 462,933 European individuals. In this study, a variety of two-sample Mendelian randomization methods (two-sample MR) to evaluate the causal effect of MPs on OA, including inverse variance weighted method (IVW), MR-Egger method, weighted median method (WM), simple mode, weight mode, and Wald ratio. The primary MR analysis using the IVW method reveals a significant negative correlation between Metallothionein-1F (MT-1F), zinc finger protein 134 (ZNF134), calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type 1D (CAMK1D), and EF-hand calcium-binding domain-containing protein 14 (EFCAB14) with the occurrence of osteoarthritis (OA) (p value < 0.05). However, no causal relationship was observed in the opposite direction between these MPs and OA. Notably, even in combined models accounting for confounding factors, the negative association between these four MPs and OA remained significant. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy or heterogeneity, and leave-one-out analysis confirmed the robustness of the results. In this study, we have established a conspicuous association between four distinct MPs and OA. This discovery augments our understanding of potential avenues for the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

Key Points• The MR method was employed to assess the relationship between MPs and OA.• A total of four types of MPs have demonstrated inhibitory effects on the occurrence of OA.
A Lagrangian approach for solving an axisymmetric thermo-electromagnetic problem. Application to time-varying geometry processes
Authors: Benítez Marta , Bermúdez Alfredo , Fontán Pedro , Martínez Iván , Salgado Pilar
Published: May 2024

The aim of this work is to introduce a thermo-electromagnetic model for calculating the temperature and the power dissipated in cylindrical pieces whose geometry varies with time and undergoes large deformations; the motion will be a known data. The work will be a first step towards building a complete thermo-electromagnetic-mechanical model suitable for simulating electrically assisted forming processes, which is the main motivation of the work. The electromagnetic model will be obtained from the time-harmonic eddy current problem with an in-plane current; the source will be given in terms of currents or voltages defined at some parts of the boundary. Finite element methods based on a Lagrangian weak formulation will be used for the numerical solution. This approach will avoid the need to compute and remesh the thermo-electromagnetic domain along the time. The numerical tools will be implemented in FEniCS and validated by using a suitable test also solved in Eulerian coordinates.