bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Networks of solidarity economy, tools for local development and social innovation
Authors: Guarascio Carmela
Published: July 2022

The article analyzes the capability of enterprises and social enterprises (as reported by Borzaga and Fazzi (Le imprese sociali, Carocci Editore, Roma, 2011); as reported by Drapery (Comprendre l’économie social, Dunod, Paris 2007)) in promoting local sustainable development, starting from the organization of alternative agro-food networks Renting et al. (Environ Plann 35:393–411, 2003). The analysis starts from a case study of 40 solidarity purchasing groups of solidarity economy in Italy. In particular, the article focuses on the solidarity economic network “REES Marche”. Meanwhile, solidarity purchasing groups (SPGs) in the literature have been studied under the perspective of consumers, even those of the Marche Orazi (DES.so. Economia solidali e cittadini consapevoli, Cattedrale, Ancona, 2011), this article means to go ahead underlining also the perspective of producers.

The analysis of data raises up 4 types of possible organizations linked to solidarity purchasing groups, with different levels of social innovation in promoting a sustainable development. Results show that a sustainable local development is enhanced by a thick social cooperation among enterprises into a network, as, for example, that of SPGs. Moreover, it is promoted by a reorganization of the productive chain on local, ecological and ethical basis that directly impacts on production and consumption of fair products. Furthermore, the article shows that the direct relationship among entrepreneur and consumers stimulates a social innovation in solving problems.

We use a mixed method approach: a quantitative analysis of statistical data on the web site of REES Marche; a qualitative analysis based on participatory observation and on data collected through 34 in-depth interviews with network’s members.
Lithium chloride leads to concentration dependent brood damages in honey bee hives (Apis mellifera) during control of the mite Varroa destructor
Authors: Rein Carolin , Makosch Marisa , Renz Julia , Rosenkranz Peter
Published: July 2022

Lithium chloride (LiCl) has a high efficacy against Varroa destructor and a good tolerability for adult bees but the effect of LiCl on the honey bee brood has not been taken into consideration yet. We quantified the mortality of larvae fed with different concentrations of LiCl. For artificially reared larvae already, a concentration of 1 mM had significant toxic effects while under colony conditions, 10 mM was well tolerated. However, a chronic application of the effective concentration of 25 mM elicited brood mortalities between 60 and 90%. Shorter feeding periods of 2 or 4 days reduced the brood damages significantly. Measurements of the lithium concentrations in larvae and pupae during a chronic exposure with 10, 17.5 and 25 mM LiCl revealed respective lithium levels in 5th instar larvae of 7, 13 and 15 mg/kg. No lithium was detectable in 2-day old larvae indicating that pure worker jelly from the hypopharyngeal gland is not contaminated with LiCl. Based on these results, applications of LiCl in colonies with brood should be avoided.
A combined treatment with selective androgen and estrogen receptor modulators prevents bone loss in orchiectomized rats
Authors: Komrakova M. , Büchler G. , Böker K. O. , Lehmann W. , Schilling A. F. , Roch P. J. , Taudien S. , Hoffmann D. B. , Sehmisch S.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Enobosarm (EN), a selective androgen receptor modulator and raloxifene (RAL), a selective estrogen receptor modulator, have been shown to improve bone tissue in osteoporotic males. The present study evaluated the effects of a combination therapy of EN and RAL on bone properties in orchiectomized rats compared to the respective single treatments.

Methods

Eight-month-old male Sprague–Dawley rats were either left intact (Non-Orx) or orchiectomized (Orx). The Orx rats were divided into four groups (n = 15 each): 1) Orx, 2) EN treatment (Orx + EN), 3) RAL treatment (Orx + RAL), 4) combined treatment (Orx + EN + RAL). EN and RAL (0.4 mg and 7 mg/kg body weight/day) were applied immediately after Orx with a soy-free pelleted diet for up to 18 weeks. The lumbar spine and femora were examined by micro-CT, biomechanical, histomorphological, ashing, and gene expression analyses.

Results

EN exhibited an anabolic effect on bone, improving some of its parameters in Orx rats, but did not affect biomechanical properties. RAL exhibited antiresorptive activity, maintaining the biomechanical and trabecular parameters of Orx rats at the levels of Non-Orx rats. EN + RAL exerted a stronger effect than the single treatments, improving most of the bone parameters. Liver weight increased after all treatments; the kidney, prostate, and levator ani muscle weights increased after EN and EN + RAL treatments. BW was reduced due to a decreased food intake in the Orx + RAL group and due a reduced visceral fat weight in the Orx + EN + RAL group.

Conclusion

The EN + RAL treatment appeared to be promising in preventing male osteoporosis, but given the observed side effects on liver, kidney, and prostate weights, it requires further investigation.
Health-related quality of life in patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms: a two-wave longitudinal study
Authors: Modica R. , Scandurra C. , Maldonato N. M. , Dolce P. , Dipietrangelo G. G. , Centello R. , Di Vito V. , Giannetta E. , Isidori A. M. , Lenzi A. , Faggiano A. , Colao A.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Scientific knowledge on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) is still limited and longitudinal assessment of HRQoL over the time in NEN patients are scarce. The current study aimed to assess the role of clinical severity and heterogeneity of NEN, as well as resilience, in the HRQoL of NEN patients over the course of a year.

Methods

39 consecutive NEN patients (25 men and 14 women) aged from 29 to 73 years participated in a longitudinal Italian multicentric study. The main outcome measure concerned the severity and heterogeneity of NEN, HRQoL, and resilience.

Results

Over the course of a year, higher levels of the global health (GH) were associated to the absence of distant metastases, while the presence of metastases with higher levels of fatigue, diarrhea, and financial difficulties. Higher levels of resilience are still associated with better GH and lower levels of fatigue, diarrhea, and financial difficulties, but no longer with constipation. Furthermore, patients with gastroenteropancreatic NEN still have higher scores on constipation, but not on GH, fatigue, diarrhea, and financial difficulties. Patients with hereditary NEN continue to have greater GH than those with a sporadic NEN and lower fatigue, diarrhea, and financial difficulties.

Conclusion

These findings showed that the effects of severity and clinical heterogeneity of the NEN on HRQoL may change over time. This evidence should lead clinicians to monitor the HRQoL of NEN patients throughout the course of the disease and psychologists to implement evidence-based resilience interventions.
Sentimental wildfire: a social-physics machine learning model for wildfire nowcasting
Authors: Lever Jake , Arcucci Rossella
Published: July 2022

The intensity of wildfires and wildfire season length is increasing due to climate change, causing a greater threat to the local population. Much of this population are increasingly adopting social media, and sites like Twitter are increasingly being used as a real-time human-sensor network during natural disasters; detecting, tracking and documenting events. The human-sensor concept is currently largely omitted by wildfire models, representing a potential loss of information. By including Twitter data as a source in our models, we aim to help disaster managers make more informed, socially driven decisions, by detecting and monitoring online social media sentiment over the course of a wildfire event. This paper implements machine learning in a wildfire prediction model, using social media and geophysical data sources with Sentiment Analysis to predict wildfire characteristics with high accuracy. We also use wildfire-specific attributes to predict online social dynamics, as this has been shown to be indicative of localised disaster severity. This may be useful for disaster management teams in identifying areas of immediate danger. We combine geophysical satellite data from the Global Fire Atlas with social data provided by Twitter. We perform data collection and subsequent analysis & visualisation, and compare regional differences in online social sentiment expression. Following this, we compare and contrast different machine learning models for predicting wildfire attributes. We demonstrate social media is a predictor of wildfire activity, and present models which accurately model wildfire attributes. This work develops the concept of the human sensor in the context of wildfires, using users’ Tweets as noisy subjective sentimental accounts of current localised conditions. This work contributes to the development of more socially conscious wildfire models, by incorporating social media data into wildfire prediction and modelling.
Moldova’s First Quarter Century: Flawed Transition and Failed Democracy
Authors: Crowther William
Published: July 2022

This article assesses Moldova’s political evolution during its first 25 years of independence. It argues that while the country has gone through 3 very distinct periods of governance during that time, the underlying conditions that have hobbled efforts to establish a stable democratic regime remained consistent. These included the country’s precarious location in the international system, weak institutions and the rule of law, and a deep cleavage regarding national identity. Consequently, the country settled into a pattern of systemic corruption and, at best, a deeply flawed form of democracy. By the end of this period, Moldovans faced the task of mounting a renewed effort to regain control over their political institutions.
Association between the pharmacological treatment of bipolar disorder and risk of traumatic injuries: a self-controlled case series study
Authors: Ng Vanessa W. S. , Gao Le , Chan Esther W. , Lee Ho Ming Edwin , Hayes Joseph F. , Osborn David P. J. , Rainer Timothy H. , Man Kenneth K. C. , Wong Ian C. K.
Published: July 2022

Background

Patients with bipolar disorder (BPD) are prone to engage in risk-taking behaviours and self-harm, contributing to higher risk of traumatic injuries requiring medical attention at the emergency room (ER).We hypothesize that pharmacological treatment of BPD could reduce the risk of traumatic injuries by alleviating symptoms but evidence remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between pharmacological treatment and the risk of ER admissions due to traumatic injuries.

Methods

Individuals with BPD who received mood stabilizers and/or antipsychotics were identified using a population-based electronic healthcare records database in Hong Kong (2001–2019). A self-controlled case series design was applied to control for time-invariant confounders.

Results

A total of 5040 out of 14 021 adults with BPD who received pharmacological treatment and had incident ER admissions due to traumatic injuries from 2001 to 2019 were included. An increased risk of traumatic injuries was found 30 days before treatment [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 4.44 (3.71–5.31), p < 0.0001]. After treatment initiation, the risk remained increased with a smaller magnitude, before returning to baseline [IRR 0.97 (0.88–1.06), p = 0.50] during maintenance treatment. The direct comparison of the risk during treatment to that before and after treatment showed a significant decrease. After treatment cessation, the risk was increased [IRR 1.34 (1.09–1.66), p = 0.006].

Conclusions

This study supports the hypothesis that pharmacological treatment of BPD was associated with a lower risk of ER admissions due to traumatic injuries but an increased risk after treatment cessation. Close monitoring of symptoms relapse is recommended to clinicians and patients if treatment cessation is warranted.
Terrestrial protected areas do not fully shield their streams from exogenous stressors
Authors: Mollmann Victor Hugo dos Santos , Santos Sandro , Fernandes Gracieli , Mossolin Emerson Contreira , Dalosto Marcelo Marchet , Cardoso Sônia Maria Vaz Sanches , Prestes Osmar Damian , Zanella Renato , Bartholomei-Santos Marlise Ladvocat
Published: July 2022

Protected areas (PAs) represent a powerful refuge for maintaining and safeguarding biodiversity. Generally, PAs are delineated to protect terrestrial taxa, providing incidental protection to the aquatic ecosystems within their borders. Here, we compare water quality within PAs and non-PAs in southern Brazil, encompassing remnants of the Atlantic Forest biome, to assess whether PAs serve as a buffer from external pressures for aquatic ecosystems within their boundaries. In addition to physicochemical and microbiological water parameters, we analysed 147 pesticide and 31 pharmaceutical compounds in water samples from 33 sites within and outside PAs. The water quality did not differ between PAs and non-PAs but indicated clear pollution from sewage discharges. We found 19 pesticides and five pharmaceuticals in streams within the study area. We detected pesticides in all sampling sites, with the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid present in 91% of them. Our data show that PAs are insufficient means to mitigate the impacts stemming from their catchments, and the running water that reaches their domains already shows signs of anthropogenic interference, which may affect aquatic biodiversity. Protection and management measures require consideration of the whole watershed to protect freshwater habitats and biota.
A BK inequality for random matchings
Authors: Mészáros András
Published: July 2022

Let
$G=(S,T,E)$
be a bipartite graph. For a matching
$M$
of
$G$
, let
$V(M)$
be the set of vertices covered by
$M$
, and let
$B(M)$
be the symmetric difference of
$V(M)$
and
$S$
. We prove that if
$M$
is a uniform random matching of
$G$
, then
$B(M)$
satisfies the BK inequality for increasing events.
Who’s fit for the job? Allocating ministerial portfolios to outsiders and experts
Authors: Kaltenegger Matthias , Ennser-Jedenastik Laurenz
Published: July 2022

Why do parties appoint outsiders and experts to ministerial positions? Extant research offers explanations based on institutional arrangements and external shocks (e.g. political or economic crises). We go beyond such system-level variables to argue that the characteristics of ministerial appointees are a function of the portfolio they are being appointed to. Drawing on theories of political delegation, we argue that outsider and expert appointments to ministerial office are affected by a portfolio’s policy jurisdiction, its financial resources and appointment powers, and the partisan leanings of the ministerial bureaucracy. We test these arguments on all appointments of senior and junior ministers in Austria between 1945 and 2020. The analysis shows that outsiders are more likely to be appointed to ministries with greater party support in the bureaucracy, while experts are more likely appointed to portfolios dealing with high-salience issues.
Nobel Recognition for the Roles of Complexity and Intermittency
Authors: Schertzer Daniel , Nicolis Catherine
Published: July 2022

The 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to three scientists “for groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of complex physical systems.”
A wide-field and high-resolution lensless compound eye microsystem for real-time target motion perception
Authors: Zhang Li , Zhan Haiyang , Liu Xinyuan , Xing Fei , You Zheng
Published: July 2022

Optical measurement systems suffer from a fundamental tradeoff between the field of view (FOV), the resolution and the update rate. A compound eye has the advantages of a wide FOV, high update rate and high sensitivity to motion, providing inspiration for breaking through the constraint and realizing high-performance optical systems. However, most existing studies on artificial compound eyes are limited by complex structure and low resolution, and they focus on imaging instead of precise measurement. Here, a high-performance lensless compound eye microsystem is developed to realize target motion perception through precise and fast orientation measurement. The microsystem splices multiple sub-FOVs formed by long-focal subeyes, images targets distributed in a panoramic range into a single multiplexing image sensor, and codes the subeye aperture array for distinguishing the targets from different sub-FOVs. A wide-field and high resolution are simultaneously realized in a simple and easy-to-manufacture microelectromechanical system (MEMS) aperture array. Moreover, based on the electronic rolling shutter technique of the image sensor, a hyperframe update rate is achieved by the precise measurement of multiple time-shifted spots of one target. The microsystem achieves an orientation measurement accuracy of 0.0023° (3σ) in the x direction and 0.0028° (3σ) in the y direction in a cone FOV of 120° with an update rate ~20 times higher than the frame rate. This study provides a promising approach for achieving optical measurements with comprehensive high performance and may have great significance in various applications, such as vision-controlled directional navigation and high-dynamic target tracking, formation and obstacle avoidance of unmanned aerial vehicles.
The effect of dietary fat consumption on Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis in mouse models
Authors: Amelianchik Anna , Sweetland-Martin Lauren , Norris Erin H.
Published: July 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a fatal cognitive disorder with proteinaceous brain deposits, neuroinflammation, cerebrovascular dysfunction, and extensive neuronal loss over time. AD is a multifactorial disease, and lifestyle factors, including diet, are likely associated with the development of AD pathology. Since obesity and diabetes are recognized as risk factors for AD, it might be predicted that a high-fat diet (HFD) would worsen AD pathology. However, modeling HFD-induced obesity in AD animal models has yielded inconclusive results. Some studies report a deleterious effect of HFD on Aβ accumulation, neuroinflammation, and cognitive function, while others report that HFD worsens memory without affecting AD brain pathology. Moreover, several studies report no major effect of HFD on AD-related phenotypes in mice, while other studies show that HFD might, in fact, be protective. The lack of a clear association between dietary fat consumption and AD-related pathology and cognitive function in AD mouse models might be explained by experimental variations, including AD mouse model, sex and age of the animals, composition of the HFD, and timeline of HFD consumption. In this review, we summarize recent studies that aimed at elucidating the effect of HFD-induced obesity on AD-related pathology in mice and provide an overview of the factors that may have contributed to the results reported in these studies. Based on the heterogeneity of these animal model studies and given that the human population itself is quite disparate, it is likely that people will benefit most from individualized nutritional plans based on their medical history and clinical profiles.
Succinate dehydrogenase B-deficient renal cell carcinoma with a germline variant in a Japanese patient: a case report
Authors: Higashi Shinichiro , Sasaki Takeshi , Uchida Katsunori , Kageyama Takumi , Ikejiri Makoto , Matsumoto Ryuki , Kato Manabu , Masui Satoru , Yoshio Yuko , Nishikawa Kouhei , Okugawa Yoshinaga , Watanabe Masatoshi , Inoue Takahiro
Published: July 2022

Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-deficient renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a rare renal cancer. A 75-year-old Japanese female presented with gross hematuria. Computed tomography revealed two tumors in the left kidney, which were resected. Immunohistochemistry indicated negative staining for the B subunit of SDH (SDHB) in the resected specimen, leading to a final diagnosis of SDHB-deficient RCC. Genetic testing for SDHB showed a RCC germline variant in exon 6 (NM_003000.3:c.642 G > C) that was previously reported but associated with a novel phenotype (i.e., RCC). Twenty-six years prior, her daughter, who was 25 years old at the time, had undergone radical nephrectomy for a pathologic diagnosis of renal oncocytoma of the right kidney; SDHB immunostaining of her daughter’s tumor was also negative retrospectively. We confirmed that her daughter carried the germline variant in SDHB exon 6, similar to the patient. The patient had no evidence of disease progression at 15 months after surgery.
Nanoscale regulation of Ca2+ dependent phase transitions and real-time dynamics of SAP97/hDLG
Authors: Rajeev Premchand , Singh Nivedita , Kechkar Adel , Butler Corey , Ramanan Narendrakumar , Sibarita Jean-Baptiste , Jose Mini , Nair Deepak
Published: July 2022

Synapse associated protein-97/Human Disk Large (SAP97/hDLG) is a conserved, alternatively spliced, modular, scaffolding protein critical in regulating the molecular organization of cell-cell junctions in vertebrates. We confirm that the molecular determinants of first order phase transition of SAP97/hDLG is controlled by morpho-functional changes in its nanoscale organization. Furthermore, the nanoscale molecular signatures of these signalling islands and phase transitions are altered in response to changes in cytosolic Ca2+. Additionally, exchange kinetics of alternatively spliced isoforms of the intrinsically disordered region in SAP97/hDLG C-terminus shows differential sensitivities to Ca2+ bound Calmodulin, affirming that the molecular signatures of local phase transitions of SAP97/hDLG depends on their nanoscale heterogeneity and compositionality of isoforms.
Synthetic periphyton as a model system to understand species dynamics in complex microbial freshwater communities
Authors: Lamprecht Olga , Wagner Bettina , Derlon Nicolas , Tlili Ahmed
Published: July 2022

Phototrophic biofilms, also known as periphyton, are microbial freshwater communities that drive crucial ecological processes in streams and lakes. Gaining a deep mechanistic understanding of the biological processes occurring in natural periphyton remains challenging due to the high complexity and variability of such communities. To address this challenge, we rationally developed a workflow to construct a synthetic community by co-culturing 26 phototrophic species (i.e., diatoms, green algae, and cyanobacteria) that were inoculated in a successional sequence to create a periphytic biofilm on glass slides. We show that this community is diverse, stable, and highly reproducible in terms of microbial composition, function, and 3D spatial structure of the biofilm. We also demonstrate the ability to monitor microbial dynamics at the single species level during periphyton development and how their abundances are impacted by stressors such as increased temperature and a herbicide, singly and in combination. Overall, such a synthetic periphyton, grown under controlled conditions, can be used as a model system for theory testing through targeted manipulation.
Epigenetic clocks in relapse after a first episode of schizophrenia
Authors: Segura Àlex-González , Prohens Llucia , Mezquida Gisela , Amoretti Silvia , Bioque Miquel , Ribeiro María , Gurriarán-Bas Xaquin , Rementería Lide , Berge Daniel , Rodriguez-Jimenez Roberto , Roldán Alexandra , Pomarol-Clotet Edith , Ibáñez Angela , Usall Judith , García-Portilla Maria Paz , Cuesta Manuel J. , Parellada Mara , González-Pinto Ana , Berrocoso Esther , Bernardo Miquel , Mas Sergi ,   2EPS group, González-Díaz Jairo M. , Arbelo Néstor , González-Peñas Javier , Pina-Camacho Laura , Diestre Alba , Selma Judit , Zorrilla Iñaki , López Purificación , Trabsa Amira , Monserrat Clara , Sanchez-Pastor Luis , Nuñez-Doyle Aggie , Fatjó-Vilas Mar , Sarró Salvador , Butjosa Anna , Pardo Marta , López-Ilundain Jose M. , Sánchez Torres Ana M. , Saiz-Ruiz Jerónimo , Ochoa-Mangado Enriqueta , RIevero Olga , De-la-Cámara Concepción , Echevarría Rafael Segarra , González-Blanco Leticia
Published: July 2022

The main objective of the present study was to investigate the association between several epigenetic clocks, covering different aspects of aging, with schizophrenia relapse evaluated over a 3-year follow-up period in a cohort of ninety-one first-episode schizophrenia patients. Genome-wide DNA methylation was profiled and four epigenetic clocks, including epigenetic clocks of chronological age, mortality and telomere length were calculated. Patients that relapsed during the follow-up showed epigenetic acceleration of the telomere length clock (p = 0.030). Shorter telomere length was associated with cognitive performance (working memory, r = 0.31 p = 0.015; verbal fluency, r = 0.28 p = 0.028), but no direct effect of cognitive function or symptom severity on relapse was detected. The results of the present study suggest that epigenetic age acceleration could be involved in the clinical course of schizophrenia and could be a useful marker of relapse when measured in remission stages.
Cinnamon extract improves abnormalities in glucose tolerance by decreasing Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family 1 expression in adipocytes
Authors: Nishikai-Shen Tsubame , Hosono-Fukao Tomomi , Ariga Toyohiko , Hosono Takashi , Seki Taiichiro
Published: July 2022

We previously demonstrated that cinnamon extract (CE) alleviates streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes in rats. The present study aimed to elucidate the detailed molecular target of cinnamon in cultured adipocytes and epididymal adipose tissue of type 2 diabetes model mice. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was employed to determine the molecular target of cinnamon in adipocytes. The function of Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family-1 (ACSL1), a molecular target of cinnamon that was identified in this study, was further investigated in 3T3-L1 adipocytes using specific inhibitors. Type 2 diabetes model mice (KK-Ay/TaJcl) were used to investigate the effect of CE on glucose tolerance, ACSL1 expression, and related signal molecules in vivo. CE decreased ACSL1 mRNA and protein expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes but increased glucose uptake and AMPK signaling activation; moreover, a similar effect was observed with an ACSL1 inhibitor. CE improved glucose tolerance and downregulated ACSL1 in mice adipose tissue in vivo. ACSL1 was demonstrated as a molecular target of CE in type 2 diabetes both in a cell culture system and diabetic mouse model.
A new L-shaped rigid beam FBG acceleration sensor
Authors: Teng Yuntian , Wang Yewei , Tang Yixiang , Wang Xiaomei , Li Caihua , Qiu Zhongchao
Published: July 2022

Acceleration detection is an important technology in the fields of seismic monitoring, structural health monitoring and resource exploration. A FBG acceleration sensor with the combination of L-shaped rigid beam and spring structure based on bearings is proposed against the low sensitivity that predominates in the low-frequency vibration measurement by FBG acceleration sensors, where L-shaped rigid beam is utilized to amplify the vibration signal, and is fixed by the bearings at both ends to effectively suppress the transverse crosstalk. The effects of structural parameters on the sensitivity and natural frequency of the sensors were analyzed using Origin theory, and such parameters were optimized; next, static stress and modal simulation analysis was made using COMSOL; in the end, a test system was built to test the performance of the real sensors. According to the findings, the acceleration sensor, whose natural frequency is 57 Hz, is of a flat sensitivity response in the low frequency range of 1–35 Hz, with the dynamic range being 89.83 dB, the acceleration sensitivity being up to 1241.85 pm/g, the coefficient of determination R2for the sensitivity fit is 0.9997, and the transverse crosstalk being -26.20 dB within the operating frequency band. The findings offer a reference for improving the low-frequency vibration measurement capability of FBG acceleration sensors.
Anti-cardiolipin IgG autoantibodies associate with circulating extracellular DNA in severe COVID-19
Authors: Bertin Daniel , Brodovitch Alexandre , Lopez Alexandre , Arcani Robin , Thomas Grace M. , Beziane Abdou , Weber Samuel , Babacci Benjamin , Heim Xavier , Rey Louise , Leone Marc , Mege Jean Louis , Bardin Nathalie
Published: July 2022

Whereas the detection of antiphospholipid autoantibodies (aPL) in COVID-19 is of increasing interest, their role is still unclear. We analyzed a large aPL panel in 157 patients with COVID-19 according to the disease severity. We also investigated a potential association between aPL and extracellular DNA (exDNA, n = 85) or circulating markers of neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) such as citrullinated histones H3 (CitH3, n = 49). A total of 157 sera of patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 were collected. A large aPL panel including lupus anticoagulant, anti-cardiolipin and anti-beta-2 glycoprotein I (IgG, IgM and IgA), anti-phosphatidylethanolamine IgA, anti-prothrombin (IgG and IgM) was retrospectively analyzed according to the disease severity. We found a total aPL prevalence of 54.8% with almost half of the cases having aCL IgG. Within an extended panel of aPL, only aCL IgG were associated with COVID-19 severity. Additionally, severe patients displayed higher CitH3 levels than mild patients. Interestingly, we highlighted a significant association between the levels of aCL IgG and exDNA only in aCL positive patients with severe disease. In conclusion, we showed a significant link between aPL, namely aCL IgG, and circulating exDNA in patients with severe form of COVID-19, that could exacerbate the thrombo-inflammatory state related to disease severity.
Molecular docking analysis and evaluation of the antimicrobial properties of the constituents of Geranium wallichianum D. Don ex Sweet from Kashmir Himalaya
Authors: Mir Wajahat Rashid , Bhat Basharat Ahmad , Rather Muzafar Ahmad , Muzamil Showkeen , Almilaibary Abdullah , Alkhanani Mustfa , Mir Manzoor Ahmad
Published: July 2022

Geranium wallichianumD. Don ex Sweet is a well-known medicinal plant in Kashmir Himalya. The evidence for its modern medicinal applications remains majorly unexplored. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the detailed antimicrobial promises of different crude extracts (methanolic, ethanolic, petroleum ether, and ethyl acetate) ofG. wallichainumagainst common human bacterial and fungal pathogens in order to scientifically validate its traditional use. The LC–MS analysis ofG. wallichainumyielded 141 bioactive compounds with the vast majority of them having therapeutic applications. Determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) by broth microdilution method ofG. wallichainumwas tested against bacterial and fungal pathogens with MICs ranging from 0.39 to 400 µg/mL. Furthermore, virtual ligands screening yielded elatine, kaempferol, and germacrene-A as medicinally most active constituents and the potential inhibitors of penicillin-binding protein (PBP), dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS), elongation factor-Tu (Eu-Tu), ABC transporter, 1,3 beta glycan, and beta-tubulin. The root mean square deviation (RMSD) graphs obtained through the molecular dynamic simulations (MDS) indicated the true bonding interactions which were further validated using root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) graphs which provided a better understanding of the amino acids present in the proteins responsible for the molecular motions and fluctuations. The effective binding of elatine, kaempferol, and germacrene-A with these proteins provides ground for further research to understand the underlying mechanism that ceases the growth of these microbes.
Short-term responses of the anammox process to Ni(II): nitrogen removal, mechanisms and inhibition recovery
Authors: Li Yu-Qi , Zhao Bai-Hang , Sun Qi , Zhang Jing , Zhang Yu-Qing , Li Jun
Published: July 2022

Anaerobic ammonia oxidizing (anammox) has already been recognized as an innovative and economical nitrogen removal technology. However, the effect of heavy metals on anammox bacteria in aquatic ecosystem remains largely unknown. Ni(II) is a common kind of heavy metals detected in industrial wastewater and municipal sewage treatment plants. Hence, the responses of the anammox process to Ni(II) were studied here. The results showed that anammox was the dominant reaction with Ni(II) concentrations no more than 25 mg/L. 1 mg/L of Ni(II) addition promoted nitrogen removal by anammox. The higher the Ni(II) concentrations and longer exposure time, the more inhibition for anammox bacteria was gotten. The IC50 of Ni(II) to anammox was determined as 83.86 mg/L by an exponential regression equation. The inhibition of Ni(II) on anammox activity was mainly attributed to intracellular accumulation Ni(II) inhibition to HDH activity. Two times increase of IC50 after 4 times circles of domestication suggests multiple intermittent domestication can increase the tolerance of anammox bacteria to Ni(II). EDTA washing can eliminate the inhibition of anammox activity by Ni(II) with Ni(II) addition no more than 25 mg/L.
Multisensory interactions on auditory and somatosensory information in expert pianists
Authors: Hirano Masato , Furuya Shinichi
Published: July 2022

Fine-tuned sensory functions typically characterize skilled individuals. Although numerous studies demonstrated enhanced unimodal sensory functions at both neural and behavioral levels in skilled individuals, little is known about their multisensory interaction function, especially multisensory integration and selective attention that involve volitional control of information derived from multiple sensory organs. In the current study, expert pianists and musically untrained individuals performed five sets of intensity discrimination tasks at the auditory and somatosensory modalities with different conditions: (1) auditory stimulus, (2) somatosensory stimulus, (3) congruent auditory and somatosensory stimuli (i.e., multisensory integration), (4) auditory and task-irrelevant somatosensory stimuli, and (5) somatosensory and task-irrelevant auditory stimuli. In the fourth and fifth conditions, participants were instructed to ignore a task-irrelevant stimulus and to pay attention to a task-relevant stimulus (i.e., selective attention), respectively. While the discrimination perception was superior in the condition (3) compared to the better one of the individual unimodal conditions only in the pianists, the task-irrelevant somatosensory stimulus worsened the auditory discrimination more in the pianists than the nonmusicians. These findings indicate unique multisensory interactions in expert pianists, which enables pianists to efficiently integrate the auditory and somatosensory information, but exacerbates top-down selective inhibition of somatosensory information during auditory processing.
New systematic study approach of green synthesis CdS thin film via Salvia dye
Authors: Najm A. S. , Naeem Hasanain Salah , Alabboodi Khalid O. , Hasbullah Siti Aishah , Hasan Hiba Ali , Holi Araa Mebdir , AL-Zahrani Asla Abdullah , Sopian K. , Bais Badariah , Majdi Hasan Sh. , Sultan Abbas J.
Published: July 2022

In this study, we aimed to increase the knowledge regarding the response mechanisms which were associated with the formation of CdS thin films. CdS thin film remains the most appealing alternative for many researchers, as it has been a capable buffer material for effect in film based polycrystalline solar cells (CdTe, CIGSe, CZTS). The Linker Assisted and Chemical Bath Deposition (LA-CBD) technique, which combines the Linker Assisted (LA) technique and the chemical bath deposition (CBD) method for forming high quality CdS thin film, was presented as an efficient and novel hybrid sensitization technique. CdS films were bound to soda lime with the help of electrostatic forces, which led to the formation of the intermediate complexes [Cd (NH3)4]2+that helped in the collision of these complexes with a soda lime slide. Salvia dye and as a linker molecule 3-Mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) was used in the one step fabrication technique. Optical results showed that the bandgap varied in the range of (2.50 to 2.17) eV. Morphological properties showed a homogeneous distribution of the particles that aspherical in shape in the CdS + MPA + Salvia dye films. This technique significantly affected on the electrical characterizations of CdS films after the annealing process. The CdS + Ag + MPA + Salvia dye films showed the maximum carrier concentration and minimum resistivity, as 5.64 × 1018 cm−3and 0.83 Ω cm respectively.
Logic and memory functions of an inverter comprising reconfigurable double gated feedback field effect transistors
Authors: Jeon Juhee , Woo Sola , Cho Kyoungah , Kim Sangsig
Published: July 2022

In this study, we propose an inverter consisting of reconfigurable double-gated (DG) feedback field-effect transistors (FBFETs) and examine its logic and memory operations through a mixed-mode technology computer-aided design simulation. The DG FBFETs can be reconfigured to n- or p-channel modes, and these modes exhibit an on/off current ratio of ~ 1012 and a subthreshold swing (SS) of ~ 0.4 mV/dec. Our study suggests the solution to the output voltage loss, a common problem in FBFET-based inverters; the proposed inverter exhibits the same output logic voltage as the supply voltage in gigahertz frequencies by applying a reset operation between the logic operations. The inverter retains the output logic ‘1’ and ‘0’ states for ~ 21 s without the supply voltage. The proposed inverter demonstrates the promising potential for logic-in-memory application.
Impact on the reduction of CO2 emissions due to the use of telemedicine
Authors: Morcillo Serra César , Aroca Tanarro Ana , Cummings Catherine Mary , Jimenez Fuertes Araceli , Tomás Martínez José Francisco
Published: July 2022

Digital health can reduce CO2 emissions thanks to telemedicine and access to digital test results and medical reports. However, the environmental impact of digital health activity is not well known. Here, we show that telemedicine reduces CO2 emissions. We found a net total of 6,655 tons of CO2 emissions decrease through a reduction in patient travel to surgeries and medical clinics thanks to the alternatives of digital appointments and digital access to test results and medical reports, which avoid the need to travel to a clinic for a face-to-face visit or to pick up printed results or reports. During 2020, a total of 640,122 digital appointments were carried out by the health care company, which avoided 1,957 net tons of CO2 emissions, while patients downloaded 3,064,646 digital medical reports through the company portal, which avoided an additional 4,698 net tons of CO2 emissions. Our results demonstrate how digital appointments and digital reports, reduce CO2 emissions by reducing the need for patient travel.
Leveraging plant physiological dynamics using physical reservoir computing
Authors: Pieters Olivier , De Swaef Tom , Stock Michiel , wyffels Francis
Published: July 2022

Plants are complex organisms subject to variable environmental conditions, which influence their physiology and phenotype dynamically. We propose to interpret plants as reservoirs in physical reservoir computing. The physical reservoir computing paradigm originates from computer science; instead of relying on Boolean circuits to perform computations, any substrate that exhibits complex non-linear and temporal dynamics can serve as a computing element. Here, we present the first application of physical reservoir computing with plants. In addition to investigating classical benchmark tasks, we show thatFragaria × ananassa(strawberry) plants can solve environmental and eco-physiological tasks using only eight leaf thickness sensors. Although the results indicate that plants are not suitable for general-purpose computation but are well-suited for eco-physiological tasks such as photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate. Having the means to investigate the information processing by plants improves quantification and understanding of integrative plant responses to dynamic changes in their environment. This first demonstration of physical reservoir computing with plants is key for transitioning towards a holistic view of phenotyping and early stress detection in precision agriculture applications since physical reservoir computing enables us to analyse plant responses in a general way: environmental changes are processed by plants to optimise their phenotype.
Evaluation of the contact surface between vertebral endplate and 3D printed patient-specific cage vs commercial cage
Authors: Fernandes Renan Jose Rodrigues , Gee Aaron , Kanawati Andrew James , Siddiqi Fawaz , Rasoulinejad Parham , Zdero Radovan , Bailey Christopher Stewart
Published: July 2022

Biomechanical study. To evaluate the performance of the contact surface for 3D printed patient-specific cages using CT-scan 3D endplate reconstructions in comparison to the contact surface of commercial cages. Previous strategies to improve the surface of contact between the device and the endplate have been employed to attenuate the risk of cage subsidence. Patient-specific cages have been used to help, but only finite-element studies have evaluated the effectiveness of this approach. There is a possible mismatch between the CT-scan endplate image used to generate the cage and the real bony endplate anatomy that could limit the performance of the cages. A cadaveric model is used to investigate the possible mismatch between 3D printed patient-specific cages and the endplate and compare them to commercially available cages (Medtronic Fuse and Capstone). Contact area and contact stress were used as outcomes. When PS cage was compared to the Capstone cage, the mean contact area obtained was 100 ± 23.6 mm2 and 57.5 ± 13.7 mm2, respectively (p < 0.001). When compared to the Fuse cage, the mean contact area was 104.8 ± 39.6 mm2 and 55.2 ± 35.1 mm2, respectively(p < 0.001). Patient-specific cages improve the contact area between the implant and the endplate surface, reducing the contact stress and the risk of implant subsidence during LIF surgeries.
Real intensity of physical activity capacity of patients with chronic disease: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Allado Edem , Poussel Mathias , Albuisson Eliane , Paysant Jean , Temperelli Margaux , Hily Oriane , Moussu Anthony , Benhajji Noura , Gauchard Gerôme , Chenuel Bruno
Published: July 2022

The aim of this study was to evaluate the real intensity level of exercise in a sample of patients with chronic disease from obesity, rheumatology, hematology and other departments involved in a hospital-based program of adapted physical activity (APA). For this cross-sectional study, we studied seventy-five patients with chronic disease and no beta-blocker treatment. They systematically performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test before participating in a supervised APA practice using a telemetry wireless system to monitor heart rate (HR) during the first session. Based upon the results of the functional evaluation of exercise performance, we studied two groups of patients: (1) No limitation in exercise performance (maximal oxygen uptake greater than or equal to 80% of the theoretical reference) and (2) limited exercise performance (maximal oxygen uptake less than 80% of the theoretical value). Fifty-two patients (69.3%) were women, mean age was 42.6 (± 13.8), and mean BMI was 36.7 (± 10.6). Most patients had been referred for obesity (57.3%). We found 39 patients with normal exercise capacities and 36 patients with limited exercise performance. There were no significant differences in demographic and clinical characteristics between the two groups. For all populations, the mean and median real intensity levels of exercise in a sample of patients were moderate (55–70% HR max) and were the same for both groups. During the most intensive 15-min bout of the APA session, the HR for patients in both groups was greater than 70% of the actual maximum HR. This study observed a moderate level of APA exercise intensity in patients suffering from various chronic diseases. We found no significant difference in intensity level of exercise between patients’ capacities, i.e., with and without limitation of their maximal performance.
Tunable room temperature magnetic skyrmions in centrosymmetric kagome magnet Mn4Ga2Sn
Authors: Chakrabartty Dola , Jamaluddin Sk , Manna Subhendu K. , Nayak Ajaya K.
Published: July 2022

The successful realization of skyrmion-based spintronic devices depends on the easy manipulation of underlying magnetic interactions in the skyrmion-hosting materials. Although the mechanism of skyrmion formation in non-centrosymmetric magnets is comprehensively established, the stabilization process of different skyrmion-like magnetic textures in centrosymmetric magnets needs further investigation. Here, we utilize Lorentz transmission electron microscopy study to report the finding of a tunable skyrmion lattice up to room temperature in a centrosymmetric kagome ferromagnet Mn4Ga2Sn. We demonstrate that a controlled switching between the topological skyrmions and non-topological type-II magnetic bubbles can be realized at the optimal magnetic anisotropy. We find that the topological skyrmions are the energetically most stable magnetic objects in the centrosymmetric hexagonal magnets, whereas application of in-plane magnetic field stabilizes type-II magnetic bubbles as an excited state. The present study is a significant step towards understanding of the skyrmion stabilization mechanism in centrosymmetric materials for their future applications.
Forensic Chemistry of Substance Misuse
Authors: King Leslie A
Published: July 2022

Updating and expanding the coverage of the first Edition, this book provides a chemical background to domestic and international controls on substances of misuse. In the United Kingdom, structure-specific (generic) controls have been further developed in the past 13 years and now cover 17 groups of compounds. The focus of those controls has been on new psychoactive substances (NPS). Since 1997, over 800 NPS have been reported to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drugs Addiction. International generic and analogue controls are described together with a critical review of their effectiveness. Other, established, drugs are described as well as a large group of psychoactive substances that are not scheduled by the International Conventions

This book has general appeal to those needing information on illicit drugs including forensic scientists, lawyers, law enforcement agencies, drug regulatory authorities as well as graduate and postgraduate students of chemistry and the criminal law. The chapters are supported by chemical structures, numerous tables and charts, appendices, a glossary and a bibliography. This unique book is a valuable addition to the literature in this area and will be of great assistance to those studying this topic.
A fish-scale derived multifunctional nanofiber membrane for infected wound healing
Authors: Li Hailing , Kang Zewen , He Enxue , Wu Xunxun , Ma Xiaojuan , Yang Da-Peng , Diao Yong , Chen Xiaofang
Published: July 2022

Electrospinning FSC/CuS NPs for wound healing.
The combination of laser photodissociation, action spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry to identify and separate isomers
Authors: Marlton Samuel J. P. , Trevitt Adam J.
Published: July 2022

The separation and detection of isomers remains a challenge for many areas of mass spectrometry. Incorporating tunable laser and ion mobility tools provides new tools for isomer detection.
Ratiometric fluorescent and colorimetric dual-modal sensing strategy for discrimination and detection of D2O from H2O
Authors: Liu Jingda , Ma Xinyu , Song Qi , Zang Junying , Hao Jingcheng , Liu Weisheng , Jiang Jie
Published: July 2022

A ratiometric fluorescent and colorimetric dual-modal sensing strategy was reported to distinguish and detect D2O from H2O based on ground-state proton transfer for the first time, which provided a more accurate monitoring protocol for D2O analysis.