bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of hydrostatic pressure on structural and opto-electronic properties for barium based oxide perovskite
Authors: Erum Nazia , Iqbal Muhammad Azhar , Ashraf Fareed
Published: March 2022

In this study, the effects of hydrostatic pressure ranges from 0 Gpa to 20 Gpa on detailed pressure induced computations of Barium Zirconate BaZrO3, including initial geometry optimization, energy minimization calculations, total energy values, lattice parameters, energy band gaps (Eg), optical and elastic constants are reported. All subjected computational results are collected by applying Local Density Approximation functional proposed by Ceperley-Alder and reformulated by Perdew-Zunger (LDA-CAPZ) using Cambridge Serial Total Energy Package (CASTEP) module under the formulation of Density Function Theory (DFT). The reduced nature of cell volume as well as lattice constants confirm the structural compressibility of BaZrO3 under the application of applied pressure. Increasing bulk modulus values indicate maximum structural stiffness of BaZrO3 under applied pressure. The collected values are compared with available theoretical and experimental parameters. The investigated band structures predict direct bandgap of BaZrO3, that increase under the influence of applied pressure which tend to increase all optoelectronic behavior. So, the current investigation signifies, that these calculations provide a baseline for new researchers to establish further pressure investigations and could be helpful for the uses of BaZrO3 in optoelectronic applications.
General properties of terminating bands in the A = 110 and A = 160 mass regions
Authors: Shayestefar Mohadese , Kardan Azam
Published: March 2022

Band termination in different mass regions exhibits some similar characteristics. High spin states in odd-A
107−113Sb (Z = 51) and 155−157Ho (Z = 67) isotopes in addition to the N = 58 and N = 88 isotones are investigated within the cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky (CNS) approach. Also, experimental and calculation results are compared with a focus on the number of the holes and particles in different orbitals. Consequently, we deduce similarities and differences in the structure of the terminating bands in A ∼ 110 and the A ∼ 160 mass regions.
Unveiling the nature of SgrA* with the geodesic motion of S-stars
Authors: Della Monica Riccardo , de Martino Ivan
Published: March 2022

Despite the huge improvements guaranteed by future GRAVITY observations of the S0-2 star, these will not be able to unveil the fundamental nature, whether black hole or wormhole, of the central supermassive object. Nevertheless, observing stars orbiting closer to the central gravitational source could allow to distinguish between the black hole and wormhole nature of this object at more than 5σ.

Firstly, we have used publicly available astrometric and spectroscopic measurements of the S0-2 star to constrain the metric around the supermassive object without finding any evidence either favouring or ruling out the wormhole nature. Secondly, we have designed a mock catalogue of future observations of the S0-2 star mirroring the accuracy and precision of GRAVITY. Afterwards, we firstly tested our methodology showing that our procedure recovers the input model, and subsequently we demonstrated that the constraining power of such a dataset is not enough to distinguish between black hole and wormhole.
Finally, we built some toy models representing stars orbiting much closer the central object than S0-2.
We used these toy models to investigate which are the ideal orbital features and observational strategies to achieve our aim of unveiling the fundamental nature of the central supermassive object, demonstrating that a star with a period of the order of ∼ 5 years and a pericentre distance of ∼ 5 AU could identify the nature of the central object at almost 5σ accuracy.
Gamma-band enhancement of functional brain connectivity following transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
Authors: Zarei Ali Asghar , Jensen Winnie , Faghani Jadidi Armita , Lontis Eugen Romulus , Atashzar S Farokh
Published: March 2022

Objective. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has been suggested as a possible non-invasive pain treatment. However, the underlying mechanism of the analgesic effect of TENS and how brain network functional connectivity (FC) is affected following the use of TENS is not yet fully understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of high-frequency TENS on the alteration of functional brain network connectivity and the corresponding topographical changes, besides perceived sensations. Approach. Forty healthy subjects participated in this study. Electroencephalography (EEG) data and sensory profiles were recorded before and up to an hour following high-frequency TENS (100 Hz) in sham and intervention groups. Brain source activity from EEG data was estimated using the LORETA algorithm. In order to generate the functional brain connectivity network, the Phase Lag Index was calculated for all pair-wise connections of eight selected brain areas over six different frequency bands (i.e. δ, θ, α, β, γ, and 0.5–90 Hz). Main results. The results suggested that the FC between the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) and the anterior cingulate cortex, in addition to FC between SI and the medial prefrontal cortex, were significantly increased in the gamma-band, following the TENS intervention. Additionally, using graph theory, several significant changes were observed in global and local characteristics of functional brain connectivity in gamma-band. Significance. Our observations in this paper open a neuropsychological window of understanding the underlying mechanism of TENS and the corresponding changes in functional brain connectivity, simultaneously with alteration in sensory perception.
From legacy contamination to watershed systems science: a review of scientific insights and technologies developed through DOE-supported research in water and energy security
Authors: Dwivedi Dipankar , Steefel Carl I , Arora Bhavna , Banfield Jill , Bargar John , Boyanov Maxim I , Brooks Scott C , Chen Xingyuan , Hubbard Susan S , Kaplan Dan , Kemner Kenneth M , Nico Peter S , O’Loughlin Edward J , Pierce Eric M , Painter Scott L , Scheibe Timothy D , Wainwright Haruko M , Williams Kenneth H , Zavarin Mavrik
Published: March 2022

Water resources, including groundwater and prominent rivers worldwide, are under duress because of excessive contaminant and nutrient loads. To help mitigate this problem, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) has supported research since the late 1980s to improve our fundamental knowledge of processes that could be used to help clean up challenging subsurface problems. Problems of interest have included subsurface radioactive waste, heavy metals, and metalloids (e.g. uranium, mercury, arsenic). Research efforts have provided insights into detailed groundwater biogeochemical process coupling and the resulting geochemical exports of metals and nutrients to surrounding environments. Recently, an increased focus has been placed on constraining the exchanges and fates of carbon and nitrogen within and across bedrock to canopy compartments of a watershed and in river–floodplain settings, because of their important role in driving biogeochemical interactions with contaminants and the potential of increased fluxes under changing precipitation regimes, including extreme events. While reviewing the extensive research that has been conducted at DOE’s representative sites and testbeds (such as the Oyster Site in Virginia, Savannah River Site in South Carolina, Oak Ridge Reservation in Tennessee, Hanford in Washington, Nevada National Security Site in Nevada, Riverton in Wyoming, and Rifle and East River in Colorado), this review paper explores the nature and distribution of contaminants in the surface and shallow subsurface (i.e. the critical zone) and their interactions with carbon and nitrogen dynamics. We also describe state-of-the-art, scale-aware characterization approaches and models developed to predict contaminant fate and transport. The models take advantage of DOE leadership-class high-performance computers and are beginning to incorporate artificial intelligence approaches to tackle the extreme diversity of hydro-biogeochemical processes and measurements. Recognizing that the insights and capability developments are potentially transferable to many other sites, we also explore the scientific implications of these advances and recommend future research directions.
Resetting random walks in one-dimensional lattices with sinks
Authors: Christophorov L N
Published: March 2022

A standard symmetrical random walk with Poissonian resetting in a chain with terminal sinks is considered. The expressions for probabilities of occupation of chain nodes are obtained for arbitrary values of chain length N, rate k of jumps to adjacent nodes, sink intensities q
0, q

N
and placements of resetting node n

r
and starting node n
0. These expressions are used for calculating the dependences of the prime characteristics of the process (unconditional and conditional mean first passage/exit times and splitting probabilities W
0, W

N
) on resetting rate r. Among a rich variety of process scenarios, the possibility of inverting the ratio W
0/W

N
with r growing is of special interest. This provides an effective mechanism of controlling the process outcome.
Micropatterned conductive elastomer patch based on poly (glycerol sebacate)-graphene for cardiac tissue repair
Authors: Shi Mengting , Bai Lang , Xu Meiguang , Li Zhenlong , Hu Tianli , Hu Juan , Zhang Zixi , Yin Zhanhai , Guo Baolin
Published: March 2022

Preparing a micropatterned elastomer film with characteristics that can simulate the mechanical properties, anisotropy, and electroactivity of natural myocardial tissues is crucial in cardiac tissue engineering after myocardial infarction (MI). Therefore, in this study, we developed several elastomeric films with a surface micropattern based on poly (glycerol sebacate) (PGS) and graphene (Gr). These films have sufficient mechanical strength (0.6 ± 0.1–3.2 ± 0.08 MPa) to withstand heartbeats, and the micropatterned structure also satisfies the natural myocardium anisotropy in the transverse and vertical. Moreover, Gr makes these films conductive (up to 5.80 × 10−7 S m−1), which is necessary for the conduction of electrical signals between cardiomyocytes and the cardiac tissue. Furthermore, they have good cytocompatibility and can promote cell proliferation in H9c2 rat cardiomyocyte cell lines. In vivo test results indicate that these films have good biocompatibility. Notably, a film with 1 wt% Gr content (PGS–Gr1) significantly affects the recovery of myocardial function in rats after MI. This film effectively decreased the infarct size and degree of myocardial fibrosis and reduced collagen deposition. Echocardiographic evaluation showed that after treatment with this film, the left ventricular internal dimension (LVID) in systole and LVID in diastole of rats exhibited a significant downward trend, whereas the fractional shortening and ejection fraction were significantly increased compared with the control group. These data indicate that this electroactive micropatterned anisotropic elastomer film can be applied in cardiac tissue engineering.
Laser induced fluorescence of cervical tissues: an in-vitro study for the diagnosis of cervical cancer from the cervicitis
Authors: Barik Ajaya Kumar , Pavithran M Sanoop , N Mithun , Pai Muralidhar V , Upadhya Rekha , Lukose Jijo , Pai Abhilash K , Pai Kanthilatha , Chidangil Santhosh
Published: March 2022

The transformation of normal cervix to cervicitis as well as to cervical cancer is accompanied with biochemical alterations at cellular level. Laser induced fluorescence (LIF) can reflect those changes either as variations in the fluorescence intensity or as shift in the fluorescence maxima of bio fluorophores present in tissues. The curve resolved fluorescence investigation of tissues under 325 nm excitation provides collagen, bound nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and free NADH as the discrimination factors between normal, cervicitis and cervical cancer. Even though the fluorescence emission intensity derived from collagen fiber is comparable in both normal and cervicitis, a considerable reduction was observed for the cervical cancer tissues compared to the former. Fluorescence corresponding to bound NADH is found to be reduced during the progression from normal to cervicitis and to cervical cancer, whereas the free NADH shows an opposite trend. The principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to obtain classification of spectral data from different categories on a reduced dimensional space. Furthermore, to test the usefulness of the recorded fluorescence spectra in discriminating the malignant and non-malignant (cervicitis and normal) samples, a supervised machine learning model based on support vector machine (SVM) was built using the PCA-reduced data. The proposed SVM model was able to detect the malignant samples with a sensitivity of 94.19% and specificity of 96.51%. Moreover, the Raman spectral data from the corresponding tissue sites corroborate well with the observations derived from the fluorescence measurement. The results obtained in the present pilot study strongly suggests the potential of LIF technique combined with multivariate data analysis tool for the diagnosis of cervicitis and cervical malignancy.
Prediction of dry sliding wear behaviour of China clay particles reinforced AA6082 matrix composites using response surface methodology and analysis of the worn surfaces
Authors: Bright Renjin J , G Selvakumar , M Sumathi
Published: March 2022

This research work presents an attempt solemnly carried out to analyze and predict the wear behaviour of the cost-effective China clay particles reinforced AA6082 aluminium alloy composites. The combined effect of the independent variables (mass fraction of the reinforcement, applied load and sliding speed) on the wear loss and coefficient of friction of the composites were studied. The wear tests were conducted using a computerized pin on disc tribometer. For all the experiments the sliding distance was kept constant as 1500 m. In order to perform the experiments in an organized manner, the response surface methodology (RSM) was designated. The significant parameters which govern the wear loss and coefficient of friction were identified using the ANOVA (Analysis of variance) test. The regression equations developed to predict the response parameters (wear and coefficient of friction) were validated extensively by choosing several values of the independent variables within the design space. From the study, it was noted that RSM holds good reliability in the prediction of the wear behaviour of the composites. The composite materials exhibited better wear resistance with the increase in the incorporation of China clay particles. The worn-out samples were segregated as high, medium and low wear loss categories to analyze the worn surface morphology and to interpret the wear mechanism.
A Monte Carlo study of near infrared light propagation in the human head with lesions—a time-resolved approach
Authors: Vera Demián A , García Héctor A , Victoria Waks Serra Ma , Baez Guido R , Iriarte Daniela I , Pomarico Juan A
Published: March 2022

Several clinical conditions leading to traumatic brain injury can cause hematomas or edemas inside the cerebral tissue. If these are not properly treated in time, they are prone to produce long-term neurological disabilities, or even death. Low-cost, portable and easy-to-handle devices are desired for continuous monitoring of these conditions and Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) techniques represent an appropriate choice. In this work, we use Time-Resolved (TR) Monte Carlo simulations to present a study of NIR light propagation over a digital MRI phantom. Healthy and injured (hematoma/edema) situations are considered. TR Diffuse Reflectance simulations for different lesion volumes and interoptode distances are performed in the frontal area and the left parietal area. Results show that mean partial pathlengths, photon measurement density functions and time dependent contrasts are sensitive to the presence of lesions, allowing their detection mainly for intermediate optodes separations, which proves that these metrics represent robust means of diagnose and monitoring. Conventional Continuous Wave (CW) contrasts are also presented as a particular case of the time dependent ones, but they result less sensitive to the lesions, and have higher associated uncertainties.
Ta/NiO subwavelength bilayer for wide gamut, strong interference structural color
Authors: Spenato David , Dubreuil Matthieu , Morineau Denis , Giamarchi Philippe , Dekadkevi David , Jay Jean-Philippe , Fessant Alain , Rivet Sylvain , Le Grand Yann
Published: March 2022

In this paper we demonstrate that Ta/NiO bilayers may be use as high-efficiency, lithography free, reflective structural color filters for generating broad color gamut. Experimental results show that reflectance spectra present deep dips in the visible range, leading to strong structural colors that can be adjusted via the NiO subwavelength layer thickness. Simulation based on thin film interference theory allow to account for the experimental data. We demonstrate that the optical interference effect is still effective when the films are deposited on a flexible substrates such as paper and kapton, enabling to consider flexible color filtering applications.
Plant and soil microbial responses to irrigation retirement in semiarid cropping systems
Authors: Núñez Agustín , Ball Ryan , Schipanski Meagan
Published: March 2022

Water scarcity limits irrigated agriculture, and there is an increasing frequency of situations where farmers must transition from irrigated to dryland cropping systems. This transition poses several challenges, and it is necessary to understand the changes in crop productivity and soil health for the design of viable cropping systems. Our objective was to compare the impact of irrigation retirement on crop production and soil microbial dynamics under the two major crops of the semiarid High Plains. In a formerly irrigated field, we installed a transition experiment that consisted of two irrigation managements, irrigated and non-irrigated (retired), under two cropping systems: continuous maize and continuous winter wheat. Lower soil moisture after irrigation retirement decreased plant biomass production in both crops, with a higher effect on maize (2 to 6-fold decrease) than on wheat (20% less aboveground biomass production). In both crops, irrigation retirement affected crop development in the order grain yield > aboveground biomass > belowground biomass. Soil microbial communities were less affected by irrigation retirement than the evaluated crops and changes were concentrated in the maize agroecosystem. After three seasons, the high decrease in maize productivity and soil moisture resulted in 50% less extracellular enzyme activity in the dryland treatment, but without consistent effects on microbial biomass or community composition assessed by phospholipid fatty acids. Winter wheat appears as a viable option not only to sustain crop production but also to minimize the negative impacts of irrigation retirement on soil health. However, root production was lower in wheat than in maize, which may affect the long-term evolution of soil organic carbon.
Finite-field coupling via learning the charge response kernel
Authors: Shao Yunqi , Andersson Linnéa , Knijff Lisanne , Zhang Chao
Published: March 2022

Response of the electronic density at the electrode–electrolyte interface to the external field (potential) is fundamental in electrochemistry. In density-functional theory, this is captured by the so-called charge response kernel (CRK). Projecting the CRK to its atom-condensed form is an essential step for obtaining the response charge of atoms. In this work, the atom-condensed CRK is learnt from the molecular polarizability using machine learning (ML) models and subsequently used for the response-charge prediction under an external field (potential). As the machine-learnt CRK shows a physical scaling of polarizability over the molecular size and does not (necessarily) require the matrix-inversion operation in practice, this opens up a viable and efficient route for introducing finite-field coupling in the atomistic simulation of electrochemical systems powered by ML models.
Partial tensor-product functors and crossed-product functors
Authors: Kranz Julian , Siebenand Timo
Published: March 2022

For a given discrete group

G
G

, we apply results of Kirchberg on exact and injective tensor products of

C
∗

C^*

-algebras to give an explicit description of the minimal exact correspondence crossed-product functor and the maximal injective crossed-product functor for

G
G

in the sense of Buss, Echterhoff and Willett. In particular, we show that the former functor dominates the latter.
Successive spectral sequences
Authors: Matschke Benjamin
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we develop a structure theory for generalized spectral sequences, which are derived from chain complexes that are filtered over arbitrary partially ordered sets. Also, a more general construction method reminiscent of exact couples is studied, together with examples where they arise naturally. As for ordinary spectral sequences we will see differentials and group extensions, however the real power comes from the appearance of natural isomorphisms between pages of differing indices.

The constructions reveal finer invariants than ordinary spectral sequences, and they connect to other fields such as Fary functors and perverse sheaves. They are based on a natural index scheme, which allows us to obtain new results even in the standard case of

Z

\mathbb {Z}

-filtered chain complexes, e.g. a useful criterion for a product structure for Grothendieck’s spectral sequences, and new paths to connect the first or second page to the limit.

This turns out to yield the right framework for unifying several spectral sequences that one would usually apply one after another. Examples that we work out are successive Leray–Serre spectral sequences, the Adams–Novikov spectral sequence following the chromatic spectral sequence, successive Grothendieck spectral sequences, and successive Eilenberg–Moore spectral sequences.
The cross–product conjecture for width two posets
Authors: Chan Swee Hong , Pak Igor , Panova Greta
Published: March 2022

The cross–product conjecture (CPC) of Brightwell, Felsner and Trotter [Order 12 (1995), pp. 327-349] is a two-parameter quadratic inequality for the number of linear extensions of a poset

P
=
(
X
,
≺
)

P= (X, \prec )

with given value differences on three distinct elements in 

X
X

. We give two different proofs of this inequality for posets of width two. The first proof is algebraic and generalizes CPC to a four-parameter family. The second proof is combinatorial and extends CPC to a

q
q

-analogue. Further applications include relationships between CPC and other poset inequalities, and the equality part of the CPC for posets of width two.
Poisson boundary on full Fock space
Authors: Rajarama Bhat B. , Bikram Panchugopal , De Sandipan , Rakshit Narayan
Published: March 2022

This article is devoted to studying the non-commutative Poisson boundary associated with

(

B

(

F

(

H

)

)

,

P

ω

)

\Big (B\big (\mathcal {F}(\mathcal {H})\big ), P_{\omega }\Big )

where

H

\mathcal {H}

is a separable Hilbert space (finite or infinite-dimensional),

dim
⁡

H

>
1

\dim \mathcal {H} > 1

, with an orthonormal basis

E

\mathcal {E}

,

B

(

F

(

H

)

)

B\big (\mathcal {F}(\mathcal {H})\big )

is the algebra of bounded linear operators on the full Fock space

F

(

H

)

\mathcal {F}(\mathcal {H})

defined over

H

\mathcal {H}

,

ω
=
{

ω
e

:
e
∈

E

}

\omega = \{\omega _e: e \in \mathcal {E} \}

is a sequence of strictly positive real numbers such that

∑
e

ω
e

=
1

\sum _e \omega _e = 1

and

P

ω

P_{\omega }

is the Markov operator on

B

(

F

(

H

)

)

B\big (\mathcal {F}(\mathcal {H})\big )

defined by
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="StartLayout 1st Row upper P Subscript omega Baseline left-parenthesis x right-parenthesis equals sigma-summation Underscript e element-of script upper E Endscripts omega Subscript e Baseline l Subscript e Superscript asterisk Baseline x l Subscript e Baseline comma x element-of upper B left-parenthesis script upper F left-parenthesis script upper H right-parenthesis right-parenthesis comma EndLayout">

P

ω

(
x
)
=

∑

e
∈

E

ω
e

l
e
∗

x

l
e

,
 
x
∈
B

(

F

(

H

)

)

,

\begin{align*} P_{\omega }(x) = \sum _{e \in \mathcal {E}} \omega _e l_e^* x l_e, \ x \in B\big (\mathcal {F}(\mathcal {H})\big ), \end{align*}

where, for

e
∈

E

e \in \mathcal {E}

,

l
e

l_e

denotes the left creation operator associated with

e
e

. We observe that the non-commutative Poisson boundary associated with

(

B

(

F

(

H

)

)

,

P

ω

)

\Big (B\big (\mathcal {F}(\mathcal {H})\big ), P_{\omega }\Big )

is

σ
\sigma

-weak closure of the Cuntz algebra

O

dim
⁡

H

\mathcal {O}_{\dim \mathcal {H}}

generated by the right creation operators. We prove that the Poisson boundary is an injective factor of type

I
I
I

III

for any choice of

ω
\omega

. Moreover, if

H

\mathcal {H}

is finite-dimensional, we completely classify the Poisson boundary in terms of its Connes’

S
S

invariant and curiously they are type

I
I

I

λ

III _{\lambda }

factors with

λ
\lambda

belonging to a certain small class of algebraic numbers.
The Drosophila spectraplakin Short stop regulates focal adhesion dynamics by cross-linking microtubules and actin
Authors: Zhao Andrew J. , Montes-Laing Julia , Perry Wick M.G. , Shiratori Mari , Merfeld Emily , Rogers Stephen L. , Applewhite Derek A.
Published: March 2022

The Drosophila spectraplakin Short stop plays a role in regulating cell migration not only through actin-microtubule cross-linking but also through the integration of cell–matrix adhesion in an actin–microtubule cross-linking-dependent manner.
High-light inhibition of two submerged macrophytes in a shallow water experiment
Authors: Yuan Jin-Rui , Bai Zhong-Xi , Ye Shi-Yun , Liu Hui , Wang Yan-Hong , Li Feng , Xie Yong-Hong , Gao An-Guo , Wu Ai-Ping
Published: March 2022

The negative effects, caused by high light, on algae, terrestrial and marine aquatic plants are well documented; those negative effects on freshwater submerged plants are, however, not well known. We determined the negative effects of two common submerged species, Myriophyllum spicatum and Vallisneria natans, on their growth and reproduction in a shallow water experiment along an irradiance gradient. Our results highlighted that the plant mass, relative growth rate and shoot height of V. natans and M. spicatum, and root mass and root length:root mass of M. spicatum and leaf mass and shoot height:shoot mass of V. natans were significantly negatively affected in shallow water with high-light regime (>50 % of full light). While the ramet number of the two species was stimulated by from 20.0 to 36.4 %, and root length, root:shoot, chlorophyll (a:b), chlorophyll (a + b), leaf carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus contents of the two studied macrophytes were not significantly impacted by light. Our results indicated that the high-light inhibition of plant growth was greater on the shoots than on the roots of the plants, although these effects were significantly different between the two studied submerged species and among the measured traits. Accordingly, we should avoid negative effects caused by high light to improve the performance of submerged species when we conduct submerged aquatic vegetation restoration programmes in eutrophic lakes.
Isolation of phenolic acids and tannin acids from Mangifera indica L. kernels as inhibitors of lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells
Authors: Fujimaki Takahiro , Sato Chikako , Yamamoto Rei , Watanabe Sayo , Fujita Hikaru , Kikuno Hidehiko , Sue Masayuki , Matsushima Yoshitaka
Published: March 2022

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) kernels are usually discarded as waste, but they contain many pharmacological properties and bioactivities. In this study, we isolated antiobesity agents from mango kernels that inhibit intracellular lipid formation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Two phenolic acids, ethyl gallate and ethyl digallate, and 2 tannin acids, 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose (PGG) and 3-O-digalloyl-1,2,4,6-tetra-O-β-d-glucose (HGG), were identified from mango kernels and were found to be suppressed lipid accumulation as evidenced by Oil Red O staining. Furthermore, ethyl digallate, PGG, and HGG significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors such as C/EBPα and PPARγ. However, ethyl gallate did not affect the expression of these transcription factors. Our findings reveal the presence of antiobesity compounds in mango kernels, implying its therapeutic role against obesity.
Striatal synaptic bioenergetic and autophagic decline in premotor experimental parkinsonism
Authors: Merino-Galán Leyre , Jimenez-Urbieta Haritz , Zamarbide Marta , Rodríguez-Chinchilla Tatiana , Belloso-Iguerategui Arantzazu , Santamaria Enrique , Fernández-Irigoyen Joaquín , Aiastui Ana , Doudnikoff Evelyne , Bézard Erwan , Ouro Alberto , Knafo Shira , Gago Belén , Quiroga-Varela Ana , Rodríguez-Oroz María Cruz
Published: March 2022

Synaptic impairment might precede neuronal degeneration in Parkinson’s disease. However, the intimate mechanisms altering synaptic function by the accumulation of presynaptic α-synuclein in striatal dopaminergic terminals before dopaminergic death occurs, have not been elucidated. Our aim is to unravel the sequence of synaptic functional and structural changes preceding symptomatic dopaminergic cell death. As such, we evaluated the temporal sequence of functional and structural changes at striatal synapses before parkinsonian motor features appear in a rat model of progressive dopaminergic death induced by overexpression of the human mutated A53T α-synuclein in the substantia nigra pars compacta, a protein transported to these synapses. Sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra proteomics identified deregulated proteins involved first in energy metabolism and later, in vesicle cycling and autophagy. After protein deregulation and when α-synuclein accumulated at striatal synapses, alterations to mitochondrial bioenergetics were observed using a Seahorse XF96 analyser. Sustained dysfunctional mitochondrial bioenergetics was followed by a decrease in the number of dopaminergic terminals, morphological and ultrastructural alterations, and an abnormal accumulation of autophagic/endocytic vesicles inside the remaining dopaminergic fibres was evident by electron microscopy. The total mitochondrial population remained unchanged whereas the number of ultrastructurally damaged mitochondria increases as the pathological process evolved. We also observed ultrastructural signs of plasticity within glutamatergic synapses before the expression of motor abnormalities, such as a reduction in axospinous synapses and an increase in perforated postsynaptic densities. Overall, we found that a synaptic energetic failure and accumulation of dysfunctional organelles occur sequentially at the dopaminergic terminals as the earliest events preceding structural changes and cell death. We also identify key proteins involved in these earliest functional abnormalities that may be modulated and serve as therapeutic targets to counterbalance the degeneration of dopaminergic cells to delay or prevent the development of Parkinson’s disease.
Digital (in-)Visibilities: Spatializing and Visualizing Politics of Voice
Authors: Georgiou Myria
Published: March 2022

This article focuses on the conditions of migrant (in-)visibilities in digital mediascapes. Addressing the ambivalent and complex communicative architecture of voice in the context of digitization and migration, it tackles three fundamental questions:

Does digital visibility contest political silencing of the migrant subject? Is the migrant who speaks also heard? And what kind of recognition do digital visibilities allow for and what kind of misrecognition might they hide? Thinking through Arendt’s subjective-in-between (1998), this article reflects on the value of voice beyond its conception as an individual right and as a mediated occasion of appearance.
Association of metabolic acidosis with fractures, falls, protein-calorie malnutrition and failure to thrive in patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Mathur Vandana , Reaven Nancy L , Funk Susan E , Whitlock Reid , Ferguson Thomas W , Collister David , Tangri Navdeep
Published: March 2022

Background

The risk of adverse geriatric outcomes such as falls and fractures is high among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Metabolic acidosis is associated with protein catabolism and bone loss in experimental animal and human studies. We sought to quantify the independent association of metabolic acidosis with adverse muscle, bone and functional outcomes in a large US community-based cohort.

Methods

The Optum's de-identified Integrated Claims-Clinical dataset of US patients (2007–2017) was used to generate a cohort of patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD who had estimated glomerular filtration rate >10 to <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and two serum bicarbonate values 12 to <22 mmol/L or 22–29 mmol/L. The primary outcomes were failure to thrive, protein-calorie malnutrition, and fall or fracture. Cox proportional hazards models were used for the primary outcomes for up to 10 years, while logistic regression models were used at 2 years.

Results

A total of 51 558 patients qualified for the study, with a median [Interquartile Range (IQR)] follow-up time of 4.2 (2.5–5.8) years. Over a ≤10-year period, for each 1 mmol/L increase in serum bicarbonate, the hazard ratios (adjusted for age, sex, race, estimated glomerular filtration rate, serum albumin, hemoglobin, diabetes and cardiovascular comorbidities) for failure to thrive, protein-calorie malnutrition and fall or fracture were 0.91 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.90–0.92], 0.91 (95% CI: 0.90–0.92) and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.95–0.96), all P < 0.001, respectively.

Conclusions

The presence and severity of metabolic acidosis was a significant, independent risk factor for failure to thrive, protein-calorie malnutrition and fall or fracture in this large community cohort of patients with stage 3–5 CKD.
Historical connectivity and environmental filtering jointly determine the freshwater fish assemblages on Taiwan and Hainan Islands of China
Authors: Lin Haoxian , Dai Chao , Yu Hongyin , Tu Jiahao , Yu Jiehua , He Jiekun , Jiang Haisheng
Published: March 2022

The biotas of Taiwan and Hainan Islands are of continental origin, but the manner with which historical and ecological factors shaped these insular species is still unclear. Here, we used freshwater fish as a model to fill this gap by quantifying the phylogenetic structure of the insular faunas and disentangling the relative contribution of potential drivers. Firstly, we used clustering and ordination analyses to identify regional species pools. To test whether the insular freshwater fish faunas were phylogenetically clustered or overdispersed, we calculated the net relatedness index (NRI) and the nearest taxon index (NTI). Finally, we implemented logistic regressions to disentangle the relative importance of species attributes (i.e., maximum body length, climatic niche dissimilarity [ND], and diversification) and historical connectivity (HC) in explaining the insular faunas. Our results showed that the most possible species pools of Taiwan are Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, and those of Hainan are Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. These insular faunas showed random phylogenetic structures in terms of NRI values. According to the NTI values, however, the Taiwanese fauna displayed more phylogenetic clustering, while the Hainanese one was more overdispersed. Both the standard and phylogenetic logistic regressions identified HC and climatic ND as the 2 top explanatory variables for species assemblages on these islands. Our reconstruction of the paleo-connected drainage basins provides insight into how historical processes and ecological factors interact to shape the freshwater fish fauna of the East Asian islands.
Radiation safety for cardiovascular computed tomography imaging in paediatric cardiology: a joint expert consensus document of the EACVI, ESCR, AEPC, and ESPR
Authors: Francone Marco , Gimelli Alessia , Budde Ricardo P J , Caro-Dominguez Pablo , Einstein Andrew J , Gutberlet Matthias , Maurovich-Horvat Pal , Miller Owen , Nagy Eszter , Natale Luigi , Peebles Charles , Petersen Steffen E , Semple Thomas , Valverde Israel , Voges Inga , Secinaro Aurelio , Di Salvo Giovanni
Published: March 2022

Children with congenital and acquired heart disease may be exposed to relatively high lifetime cumulative doses of ionizing radiation from necessary medical invasive and non-invasive imaging procedures. Although these imaging procedures are all essential to the care of these complex paediatric population and have contributed to meaningfully improved outcomes in these patients, exposure to ionizing radiation is associated with potential risks, including an increased lifetime attributable risk of cancer. The goal of this manuscript is to provide a comprehensive review of radiation dose management and cardiac computed tomography performance in the paediatric population with congenital and acquired heart disease, to encourage informed imaging to achieve indication-appropriate study quality at the lowest achievable dose.
Body weight and physical fitness in women with ischaemic heart disease: does physical fitness contribute to our understanding of the obesity paradox in women?
Authors: Quesada Odayme , Lauzon Marie , Buttle Rae , Wei Janet , Suppogu Nissi , Kelsey Sheryl F , Reis Steven E , Shaw Leslee J , Sopko George , Handberg Eileen , Pepine Carl J , Bairey Merz C Noel
Published: March 2022

Aims

Body mass index (BMI) defined obesity is paradoxically associated with lower all-cause mortality in patients with known cardiovascular disease. This study aims to determine the role of physical fitness in the obesity paradox in women with ischaemic heart disease (IHD).

Methods and Results

Women undergoing invasive coronary angiography with signs/symptoms of IHD in the Women’s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) prospective cohort (enrolled 1997–2001) were analysed. This study investigated the longer-term risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality associated with BMI and physical fitness measured by Duke Activity Status Index (DASI). Overweight was defined as BMl ≥25 to 30 kg/m2, obese as BMI ≥30 kg/m2, unfit as DASI scores <25, equivalent to ≤7 metabolic equivalents. Among 899 women, 18.6% were normal BMI-fit, 11.4% overweight-fit, 10.4% obese-fit, 15.3% normal BMI-unfit, 23.8% overweight-unfit, and 30.4% obese-unfit. In adjusted models compared to normal BMI-fit, normal BMI-unfit women had higher MACE risk [hazard ratio (HR) 1.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17–2.32; P = 0.004]; whereas obese-fit and overweight-fit women had lower risk of mortality (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.40–0.89; P = 0.012 and HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.41–0.92; P = 0.018, respectively).

Conclusion

To address the paradox of body weight and outcomes in women, we report for the first time that among women with signs/symptoms of IHD overweight-fit and obese-fit were at lower risk of long-term all-cause mortality; whereas normal BMI-unfit were at higher risk of MACE. Physical fitness may contribute to the obesity paradox in women, warranting future studies to better understand associations between body weight, body composition, and physical fitness to improve cardiovascular outcomes in women.
Genome size evolution in the beetle genus Diabrotica
Authors: Lata Dimpal , Coates Brad S , Walden Kimberly K O , Robertson Hugh M , Miller Nicholas J
Published: March 2022

Diabrocite corn rootworms are one of the most economically significant pests of maize in the United States and Europe and an emerging model for insect–plant interactions. Genome sizes of several species in the genus Diabrotica were estimated using flow cytometry along with that of Acalymma vittatum as an outgroup. Genome sizes ranged between 1.56 and 1.64 gigabase pairs and between 2.26 and 2.59 Gb, respectively, for the Diabrotica subgroups fucata and virgifera; the Acalymma vittatum genome size was around 1.65 Gb. This result indicated that a substantial increase in genome size occurred in the ancestor of the virgifera group. Further analysis of the fucata group and the virgifera group genome sequencing reads indicated that the genome size difference between the Diabrotica subgroups could be attributed to a higher content of transposable elements, mostly miniature inverted-transposable elements and gypsy-like long terminal repeat retroelements.
Association of Global Cognitive Function With Psychological Distress and Adherence to Public Health Recommendations During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: The Women’s Health Initiative
Authors: Shadyab Aladdin H , Larson Joseph C , Rapp Stephen R , Shumaker Sally A , Kroenke Candyce H , Meliker Jaymie , Saquib Nazmus , Ikramuddin Farha , Michael Yvonne L , Goveas Joseph S , Garcia Lorena , Wactawski-Wende Jean , Luo Juhua , Hayden Kathleen M , Chen Jiu-Chiuan , Weitlauf Julie , Baker Laura D
Published: March 2022

Background

The association of cognitive function with symptoms of psychological distress during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic or adherence to COVID-19 protective health behaviors is not well-understood.

Methods

We examined 2 890 older women from the Women’s Health Initiative cohort. Prepandemic (ie, within 12 months prior to pandemic onset) and peripandemic global cognitive function scores were assessed with the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-m). Anxiety, stress, and depressive symptom severity during the pandemic were assessed using validated questionnaires. We examined adherence to protective behaviors that included safe hygiene, social distancing, mask wearing, and staying home. Multivariable models were adjusted for age, race, ethnicity, education, region of residence, alcohol intake, and comorbidities.

Results

Every 5-point lower prepandemic TICS-m score was associated with 0.33-point mean higher (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20, 0.45) perceived stress and 0.20-point mean higher (95% CI, 0.07, 0.32) depressive symptom severity during the pandemic. Higher depressive symptom severity, but not anxiety or perceived stress, was associated with a 0.69-point (95% CI, −1.13, −0.25) mean decline in TICS-m from the prepandemic to peripandemic period. Every 5-point lower peripandemic TICS-m score was associated with 12% lower odds ratio (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.80, 0.97) of practicing safe hygiene.

Conclusions

Among older women, we observed that: (a) lower prepandemic global cognitive function was associated with higher stress and depressive symptom severity during the pandemic; (b) higher depressive symptom severity during the pandemic was associated with cognitive decline; and (c) lower global cognitive function during the pandemic was associated with lower odds of practicing safe hygiene.
Assessing the long-term effects of Basic Medical Insurance on catastrophic health spending in China
Authors: Liu Kai , Liu Wenting , Frank Richard , Lu Chunling
Published: March 2022

Many developing countries have implemented social health insurance programmes to protect their citizens against the financial risks of seeking healthcare. While many studies have explored how individual insurance enrolments affect catastrophic health spending (CHS) in the short term, there is a lack of evidence on the long-term macro-level effects of social health insurance on CHS in low- and middle-income countries. This study examines the long-term effects of Basic Medical Insurance (BMI) on individual CHS in China, a middle-income country that has witnessed one of the highest worldwide increases in CHS rates despite its remarkable achievement of universal health insurance coverage. Specifically, we used existing longitudinal data from 1989 to 2015, therein assessing BMI policy effects by constructing two macro-level indicators, including the year of BMI presence at the prefectural level and number of years relative to BMI introduction. We employed a three-level difference-in-differences approach for the estimation. There were two main findings. First, BMI policy did not significantly reduce the probability of incurring CHS for BMI enrollees over time. Years after BMI was introduced, the policy even predicted a significant increase in the probability of incurring CHS for individuals who shifted their enrolments from traditional insurance to BMI. Second, BMI policy had spillover effects on the increase in the probability of incurring CHS for non-BMI individuals a few years after its inception. We believe there are three possible explanations for these findings: (1) shrinking BMI service coverage compared to pre-existing government-funded insurance schemes, (2) a profit-driven hospital reform that induces the overuse of expensive medicines and diagnostic tests and (3) the absence of strategic purchasing among local BMI agencies. We also discuss how relevant policy interventions may alleviate insurance-driven financial risks.
Reduced telomere length in amniocytes: an early biomarker of abnormal fetal development?
Authors: Goumy Carole , Veronese Lauren , Stamm Rodrigue , Domas Quentin , Hadjab Kamil , Gallot Denis , Laurichesse Hélène , Delabaere Amélie , Gouas Laetitia , Salaun Gaelle , Perbel-Richard Céline , Vago Philippe , Tchirkov Andrei
Published: March 2022

Telomeres protect chromosome ends and control cell division and senescence. During organogenesis, telomeres need to be long enough to ensure the cell proliferation necessary at this stage of development. Previous studies have shown that telomere shortening is associated with growth retardation and congenital malformations. However, these studies were performed in newborns or postnatally, and data on telomere length (TL) during the prenatal period are still very limited. We measured TL using quantitative PCR in amniotic fluid (AF) and chorionic villi (CV) samples from 69 control fetuses with normal ultrasound (52 AF and 17 CV) and 213 fetuses (165 AF and 48 CV) with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) or congenital malformations diagnosed by ultrasound. The samples were collected by amniocentesis at the gestational age (GA) of 25.0 ± 5.4 weeks and by CV biopsy at 18.1 ± 6.3 weeks. In neither sample type was TL influenced by GA or fetal sex. In AF, a comparison of abnormal versus normal fetuses showed a significant telomere shortening in cases of IUGR (reduction of 34%, P < 10−6), single (29%, P < 10−6) and multiple (44%, P < 10−6) malformations. Similar TL shortening was also observed in CV from abnormal fetuses but to a lesser extent (25%, P = 0.0002; 18%, P = 0.016; 20%, P = 0.004, respectively). Telomere shortening was more pronounced in cases of multiple congenital anomalies than in fetuses with a single malformation, suggesting a correlation between TL and the severity of fetal phenotype. Thus, TL measurement in fetal samples during pregnancy could provide a novel predictive marker of pathological development.