bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Characterization of 3D MnNi2O4@MnNi2S4/NF-MOF-67-rGO nanoflower@nanosheet for ultra-high capacity electrode material
Authors: Antony Sakthi S. , Rakini Chanderasekaran J.H. , Niresha Gnana Mary A. , Surendra Varma M. , Lakhsmi Prabha P.
Published: July 2024

This study reports a novel 3D MnNi2O4@MnNi2S4/NF-MOF-67-rGO core-shell nanoflower@nanosheet synthesized at very high temperature and pressure shows an outstanding electrode substance for ultra-high super capacitor. The structure of MnNi2O4@MnNi2S4 was determined by using infrad red spectrum, scanning electron microscopic images and cyclic voltammetric techniques. The core (MnNi2O4) and shell (MnNi2S4) are both dynamic resources and they are involved in the Faraday redox processes to make possible the MnNi2O4@MnNi2S4 conducting device to acquire more electrochemical properties. The power capacitance of the MnNi2O4@MnNi2S4 electrode material reaches 805.09 C g−1 while the density of the current is 1.0 A g−1. Furthermore, the preservation rate of specific capacity of the MnNi2O4@MnNi2S4 electrode reaches 91.50% after the five thousand charge - discharge cycles while the density of current is 20.0 A g−1. The energy density for the MnNi2O4@MnNi2S4//AC material attains 74.64 Wh kg−1 at a energy density of 774.05 Wh kg−1. In addition, the MnNi2O4@MnNi2S4 //AC shows exceptional self-discharge properties. Therefore, the MnNi2O4@MnNi2S4 conducting device presents wide-ranging utilities and applications for capacitors of the battery-type. In this work, a novel 3D MnNi2O4@MnNi2S4 /NF-MOF-67-rGO core-shell nano arrangement was effectively grown-up on the Nickel foam via the reaction mixture growth technique, which misplaced the conductive additive and addition of binder and the complex method of electrode fabrication. It is quite remarkable that the maximum energy storage capacity of the 3D MnNi2O4@MnNi2S4/NF-MOF-67-rGO reaches 3579.60 F g−1 at the current density of 1.0 A g−1 and 1008.50 F g−1 at the current density of 20.0 A g−1. At a given density of current of 15.0 A g−1, the retention rate of maximum energy storage capacity reaches 94.10 % after 5 cycles, showing excellent cycling performances.
Formulation and characterization of Pyrazinamide loaded pegylated polypropylene imine dendrimer and its alteration in the pharmacokinetics
Authors: Balasubramanian Arul , Balasubramanian Valli Manalan , Ramalingam Kothai
Published: July 2024

Current study aimed to build a dendrimer for tuberculosis treatment that was loaded with pyrazinamide. The medication pyrazinamide was loaded onto a PEGylated poly(propylene-imine) dendrimer. When it comes to tailored drug delivery, dendrimers are just plain awesome. Investigations into improving the drug loading capacity are being conducted on the free dendrimer, and the synthesised pyrazinamide loaded dendrimer. According to multiple studies, the core Ethylene Diamine (EDA)-PPI dendrimers of the ethylene diamine initiator can be effectively modified by PEGylation. This effort will increase therapeutic value and minimise changes in plasma concentration by carrying out drug transportation at a controlled rate. The therapeutic intervention for tuberculosis patients is enhanced by this feature. A pyrazinamide drug-loaded dendrimer was prepared in separate batches with varying concentrations; the optimal formulation was chosen and given to a rabbit, with the plasma concentration compared to that of the pure drug. Various pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and the optimized formulation showed excel in the pharmacokinetic parameters.
Design, Synthesis, and In-vitro anti-tuberculosis activity of 2-substituted-1,5-diphenyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione Derivatives
Authors: Venkatachalam T , Sasi P , Senthilkumar N , Muthukrishnan M , Asrar Ahamed A , Premkumar R
Published: July 2024

In the present study, the novel mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) inhibitors, 2-substituted 1,5-diphenyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione derivatives, were designed and synthesized. FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and Mass spectrum were used to characterize the synthesized molecules. The docking analysis showed that the synthesized molecules have moderate to considerable interactions with the M. tuberculosis targeted enzyme. The molecules 3a (−16.33 kcal mol−1) and 3b (−15.36 kcal mol−1) show comparable C-docker energies to the standard M. tuberculosis drug, isoniazid (−16.95 kcal mol−1). The in vitro anti-tuberculosis efficacies were examined in the strain of M. tuberculosis H37Rv with the help of the LRP technique. At concentrations of 100 and 500 μg/ml, all tested molecules show a significant percentage of inhibition (89-98.6%). The derivatives 3a and 3b substituted with morpholine exhibit greater affinity toward strain of M. tuberculosis H37Rv at both concentration levels among the synthesized molecules.
AC Impedance Analysis of Blend Polymer Electrolyte of PVP – PPA with Magnesium Salts as an Ionic Dopant for Potential Battery Applications
Authors: Diana Sangeetha R.S. , Collins Arun Prakash V. , Indira J. , Daries Bella R.S. , Prabu S.
Published: July 2024

Solid polymer electrolyte films containing blend polymer electrolyte of Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and Poly p - amino benzoic acid (PPA) with varying ratios of magnesium salts were synthesized by solution casting method. Their conduction and relaxation mechanisms were studied by impedance spectroscopy (AC) at room temperature. The dependence of electrical data on frequency was analyzed by Cole – Cole plot and Jonscher’s power law. The semicircle seen in the plot represents the double relaxation process and shows how bulk electrolyte and the interfacial effect contribute to non-Debye and electrical conduction. The ac and dc conductivity values were calculated and the conductivity variation for the blend polymer PVP – PPA doped with different concentrations of magnesium salts was explained by the ionic contribution of the electrolytes. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss were measured by the dielectric investigations. The relaxation phenomenon of these electrolytes is provided by the dissipation factor analysis and electric modulus value. The conductivity of the system determines the suitability of the thin film concentration for potential battery applications as a polymer electrolyte.
Polymer based Carbon Aerogels for Methylene blue and indigo carmine dyes removal
Authors: Anusuya S , Ganesamoorthy R , Jeyakanthan M
Published: July 2024

Herein we prepared the polymer-based carbon aerogel (CAs) from resorcinol and thiophene-2-carboxyaldehyde. The prepared CAs was characterized using the powder X-Ray diffraction (PXRD) spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The above characterization techniques confirmed the formation of CA’s. As we know the CA’s possess good surface area. Hence, we used the CAs for the purpose of removing the organic dyes from the water. In the application purpose we removed Methylene Blue (MB) dye and Indigo Carmine (IC) dye from the water. Initial results confirmed that CAs actively removes 100% dyes in 3.5 and 4 h for MB and IC dyes respectively.
Rotary barrel tumbling as a method of surface preparation for pin-on-disc wear testing samples
Authors: Xavier Leonardo M , Neto Carlos A R , Marins Antonio A L , Strey Nathan F , Boher Christine , Scandian Cherlio
Published: July 2024

Surface preparation is essential to ensure sample homogeneity in terms of surface roughness and mechanical properties, as these factors can significantly affect wear behavior and test repeatability. Although conventional semi-automatic and automatic grinding and polishing processes are efficient and well established, limitations arise for the preparation of large numbers of samples of a hard material such as high-carbon steel, including issues with sample geometry, the need for on-demand sample holders, cost-related limitations, and even considerable human workload and expertise. This study aims to evaluate the use of rotary barrel tumbling—a polishing method that relies on the sliding of abrasive media over the samples’ surface inside a rotating barrel—as an alternative method to prepare the surface of wheel and rail steel samples for pin-on-disc wear testing. A 4-stage tumbling procedure was employed, using different compositions of tumbling media in each stage. Surface roughness and hardness were evaluated throughout the process via 2D and 3D profilometry, microhardness Vickers measurements, and optical microscopy. The proposed method resulted in significant reductions in the surface roughness and hardness of the samples, along with improved homogeneity between samples of different materials and within the same material. These findings suggest that rotary barrel tumbling is an effective alternative method for the surface preparation of pins and discs made of high-carbon steel, enhancing the samples’ suitability for subsequent wear tests.
A differentiable quantum phase estimation algorithm
Authors: Castaldo Davide , Jahangiri Soran , Migliore Agostino , Miguel Arrazola Juan , Corni Stefano
Published: July 2024

The simulation of electronic properties is a pivotal issue in modern electronic structure theory, driving significant efforts over the past decades to develop protocols for computing energy derivatives. In this work, we address this problem by developing a strategy to integrate the quantum phase estimation algorithm within a fully differentiable framework. This is accomplished by devising a smooth estimator able to tackle arbitrary initial states. We provide analytical expressions to characterize the statistics and algorithmic cost of this estimator. Furthermore, we provide numerical evidence that the estimation accuracy is retained when an arbitrary state is considered and that it exceeds the one of standard majority rule. We explicitly use this procedure to estimate chemically relevant quantities, demonstrating our approach through ground-state and triplet excited state geometry optimization with simulations involving up to 19 qubits. This work paves the way for new quantum algorithms that combine interference methods and quantum differentiable programming.
Optimizers of three-point energies and nearly orthogonal sets
Authors: Bilyk Dmitriy , Ferizović Damir , Glazyrin Alexey , Matzke Ryan , Park Josiah , Vlasiuk Oleksandr
Published: July 2024

This paper is devoted to spherical measures and point configurations optimizing three-point energies. Our main goal is to extend the classic optimization problems based on pairs of distances between points to the context of three-point potentials. In particular, we study three-point analogues of the sphere packing problem and the optimization problem for

p
p

-frame energies based on three points. It turns out that both problems are inherently connected to the problem of nearly orthogonal sets by Erdős. As the outcome, we provide a new solution of the Erdős problem from the three-point packing perspective. We also show that the orthogonal basis uniquely minimizes the

p
p

-frame three-point energy when

0
>
p
>
1

0>p>1

in all dimensions. The arguments make use of multivariate polynomials employed in semidefinite programming and based on the classical Gegenbauer polynomials. For

p
=
1

p=1

, we completely solve the analogous problem on the circle. As for higher dimensions, we show that the Hausdorff dimension of minimizers is not greater than

d
−
2

d-2

for measures on

S

d
−
1

\mathbb {S}^{d-1}

.
Shared and redundant proteins coordinate signal cross-talk between MAPK pathways in yeast
Authors: Zhang Shu , Wang Hao , Sipko Emily L. , Li Shuang , Daugird Timothy A. , Legant Wesley R. , Dohlman Henrik G.
Published: July 2024

All cells must detect, interpret, and adapt to multiple and concurrent stimuli. While signaling pathways are highly specialized, different pathways often share components or have components with overlapping functions. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the high osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway has two seemingly redundant branches, mediated by Sln1 and Sho1. Both branches are activated by osmotic pressure, leading to phosphorylation of the MAPKs Hog1 and Kss1. The mating pathway is activated by pheromone, leading to phosphorylation of the MAPKs Fus3 and Kss1. Given that Kss1 is shared by the two pathways, we investigated its role in signal coordination. We activated both pathways with a combination of salt and pheromone, in cells lacking the shared MAPK and in cells lacking either of the redundant branches of the HOG pathway. By systematically evaluating MAPK activation, translocation, and transcription programs, we determined that Sho1 mediates cross talk between the HOG and mating pathways and does so through Kss1. Further, we show that Kss1 initiates a transcriptional program that is distinct from that induced by Hog1 and Fus3. Our findings reveal how redundant and shared components coordinate concurrent signals and thereby adapt to sudden environmental changes.
Beyond Hawks and Doves
Authors: McCourt David
Published: July 2024

This chapter traces the polarization of Engagement within America’s Chin field. For several years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, strategy toward each was largely consensual and bipartisan, both countries viewed through a lens of opportunity. On distinct timelines, America’s approach polarized, broad groupings emerging pushing more and less critical readings of developments in Russia and China. This chapter details the emergence of pro- versus anti-Engagement groups, and a “shift in the center of gravity” of the China-watching community. The chapter notes the importance of Trump’s election, which furthered a latent polarization around Engagement, and details the strange bedfellows created as disillusioned left-wing academics made common cause with military hawks and human rights defenders, while libertarian think tankers came to agree with former diplomats defending the record of Engagement.
The Politics of U.S. Russia Expertise
Authors: McCourt David
Published: July 2024

Professional status competition in the Russia-watching community shares important features with the China field. Putative experts police field boundaries, disagreeing over what constitutes Russia expertise. Similarly, calls for and rejections of nuanced assessments align with distinct perspectives on relations with Moscow. How America’s Russia experts see their object depends on where they see it from, as further analysis of the contending open letters of 2020 attests; different kinds of Absent the same kinds of divisions in the smaller and more unified Russia-watching community, the Russia community has not witnessed a similar paradigmatic turnover to China Engagement as frame and community. Salient here too are differences between China and Russia as objects of knowledge, and the divergent, but connected, histories of China and Russia-watching as institutionalized practices. In particular, where China watching steadily increased after the Cold War, the Russia field entered a steep decline, only arrested after 2014.
A classification system for germination in desiccation-sensitive Fagaceae acorns: with particular focus on physiological and epicotyl dormancy
Authors: Jaganathan Ganesh K , Phartyal Shyam S
Published: July 2024

Since the 17th century, understanding the germination ecology of Fagaceae fruits has attracted considerable interest. However, several questions remain, including: (i) How widespread is the coexistence of dormancy and desiccation-sensitivity (DS)? (ii) What kind of dormancy do Fagaceae fruits/acorns have? (iii) How common is epicotyl dormancy in Fagaceae fruits/acorns? (iv) What is the influence of embryonic axis position in Fagaceae fruits/acorns in relation to germination? Our literature synthesis shows that most—but not all—Fagaceae fruits/acorns are desiccation-sensitive. Many Quercus species have either physiological dormancy (PD) or epicotyl physiological dormancy (ePD), though the latter has been hitherto underestimated. Here, we propose a new classification system for Fagaceae species and identify two germination types: Type-I and Type-II. Further, we subdivide Type-I into Type-IA adjacent lingular (radicle extends through the apex and shoots develop close to the fruits/acorns) and Type-IS adjacent lingular (radicle extends near the scar and shoots develop close to the fruits/acorns), and Type-II into Type-IIA remote tubular, where the radicle extends through the apex or near the scar (Type-IIS), but shoots emerge at a distance from the fruits/acorns. Why the embryonic axis position varies between species cannot be explained based on phylogenetic relationships.
Use of bimekizumab to treat palmoplantar psoriasis in a patient receiving treatment for disseminated tuberculosis: a case report
Authors: Koroneos Georgia , Nicolopoulos Jenny , Braue Anna , Dolianitis Con
Published: July 2024

Owing to their inherent role in immunomodulation, concerns have long existed about the use of biologic therapies in patients with active tuberculosis (TB). Most guidelines currently list active TB as an absolute contraindication to the use of immunomodulatory therapies. Contrary to this, we present a case of a patient with active disseminated TB who was safely treated with the interleukin-17 inhibitor bimekizumab.
Estrogen Receptor β Activation Mitigates Colitis-associated Intestinal Fibrosis via Inhibition of TGF-β/Smad and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Signaling Pathways
Authors: Ling Fangmei , Chen Yidong , Li Junrong , Xu Mingyang , Song Gengqing , Tu Lei , Wang Huan , Li Shuang , Zhu Liangru
Published: July 2024

Background

Intestinal fibrosis, a complex complication of colitis, is characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. Estrogen receptor (ER) β may play a role in regulating this process.

Methods

Intestinal tissue samples from stenotic and nonstenotic regions were collected from Crohn’s disease (CD) patients. RNA sequencing was conducted on a mouse model to identify differentially expressed mRNAs. Histological, immunohistochemical, and semiquantitative Western blotting analyses were employed to assess ECM deposition and fibrosis. The roles of relevant pathways in fibroblast transdifferentiation, activity, and migration were examined.

Results

Estrogen receptor β expression was found to be downregulated in the stenotic intestinal tissue of CD patients. Histological fibrosis score, collagen deposition, and profibrotic molecules in the colon of an intestinal fibrosis mouse model were significantly decreased after activation of ERβ. In vitro, ERβ activation alleviated transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-induced fibroblast activation and migration, as evidenced by the inhibition of col1α1, fibronectin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, and N-cadherin expression. RNA sequencing showed that ERβ activation affected the expression of genes involved in ECM homeostasis and tissue remodeling. Enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes highlighted that the downregulated genes were enriched in ECM-receptor interaction, TGF-β signaling, and Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling. Western blotting confirmed the involvement of TGF-β/Smad and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathways in modulating fibrosis both in vivo and in vitro. The promoter activity of TGF-β1 and TLR4 could be suppressed by ERβ transcription factor.

Conclusion

Estrogen receptor β may regulate intestinal fibrosis through modulation of the TGF-β/Smad and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathways. Targeting ERβ activation could be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating intestinal fibrosis.
The choice of the PICC as the proper law of the contract in Latin American jurisdictions: Chilean contract law as a sample study
Authors: Vial Undurraga María Ignacia , Zuloaga Ríos Isabel
Published: July 2024

This article analyses a distinctive trend in Latin American conflict laws to enable the parties to choose the Unidroit Principles of International Commercial Contracts (PICC) as the proper law of the contract since this choice must be upheld by national courts. This provides an incentive for contracting parties linked to Latin American jurisdictions to adopt updated and fair rules that are inexistent in their domestic contract laws. This trend began with the 1994 Mexico Convention and has spread to the new conflict rules on contracts enacted in Latin America and even to the 2015 Hague Principles. Nowadays, the choice of the PICC to govern the substance of a contract might be upheld in the national courts of several Latin American countries. This solution is unique since it is not allowed in most jurisdictions, such as those of the European Union, which only accept ‘ordinary legal techniques’ for applying the PICC. There is now legal certainty that the PICC will be applied in arbitration and litigation in these Latin American jurisdictions, either via the ordinary legal techniques or via choosing the PICC as the rules of law governing a contract subject to judicial adjudication. This benefits parties that do not have in their domestic contract law some of the PICC’s solutions. Using Chilean contract law as a sample study, we will show that the PICC’s rules on the pre-contractual stage and on hardship are better suited than existing national laws to negotiate, conclude, and perform international commercial contracts.
Sensitivity of Meloidogyne incognita and Rotylenchulus reniformis to Cyclobutrifluram
Authors: Brown Katherine , Faske Travis R.
Published: July 2024

Cyclobutrifluram, a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicide, is being evaluated as a seed-applied nematicide in cotton and soybean to manage plant-parasitic nematodes. Currently, there is no information on the toxicity, ovicidal activity, nematode recovery, or effects on nematode infection for Meloidogyne incognita or Rotylenchulus reniformis after exposure to low concentrations of cyclobutrifluram. Nematode toxicity assays were performed in aqueous solutions of cyclobutrifluram, and root infection assays were conducted on tomato. Nematode paralysis was observed after 2 h of exposure to 0.5 μg/ml cyclobutrifluram for both nematode species. Based on an assay of nematode motility, the 2-h effective concentration of fungicide required for 50% growth inhibition (EC50) value for M. incognita and R. reniformis was 0.48 and 1.07 μg/ml, respectively. In a comparable assay with a similar nematicide, continuous exposure to 0.5 μg/ml cyclobutrifluram for 24 h resulted in at least 45% more immotile nematodes for both species compared with those treated with 0.5 μg/ml fluopyram. Continuous exposure to concentrations greater than 1.0 μg/ml suppressed hatching for both species compared with the water control. Nematode recovery from paralysis was greater than 80% for M. incognita and R. reniformis 24 h after nematodes were rinsed and removed from a 1-h treatment to their respective 2-h EC50 concentrations. Nematode infection of tomato roots was reduced following a 1-h treatment with aqueous solutions of cyclobutrifluram, ranging from 0.12 to 0.48 μg/ml for M. incognita and 0.27 to 1.07 μg/ml for R. reniformis. Overall, the toxicity of cyclobutrifluram to these nematode species was greater than that of fluopyram, and although the effects of cyclobutrifluram were reversible, low concentrations were effective at reducing the ability of both nematodes to infect tomato roots.
Comparison of Scheimpflug Imaging (Pentacam HR) and Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography (CASIA2) in Eyes With Macular Corneal Dystrophy
Authors: Berger Tim , Flockerzi Elias , Daas Loay , Maiassi Nadir , Seitz Berthold
Published: July 2024

Purpose:

Assessment of tomographic characteristics and interdevice comparability between Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam HR, Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) and swept-source optical coherence tomography (CASIA2, Tomey Corp., Nagoya, Japan) in eyes with macular corneal dystrophy (MCD).

Methods:

Eyes with MCD were examined by Pentacam HR and CASIA2. Interdevice comparison was performed using a Wilcoxon matched pairs test and Bland–Altman plots with 95% limit of agreement. A Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used for correlating indices of both devices.

Results:

This retrospective study included 31 eyes of 18 patients (mean age: 32.1 ± 10.7 years). Eyes with MCD demonstrated a moderate astigmatism with a Cylinder anterior of 2.56 ± 1.50 D (Pentacam HR) and 2.52 ± 1.57 D (CASIA2) without a difference between both devices. CASIA2 (0.34 ± 0.14 D) measured lower values of Cylinder posterior compared with Pentacam HR (0.96 ± 0.66 D) (P < 0.0001). Comparison of pachymetry (Pentacam HR vs. CASIA2) showed higher values of the central corneal thickness (619 ± 227 μm vs. 445 ± 67 μm, P = 0.0001) and the thinnest corneal thickness (499 ± 165 μm vs. 430 ± 60 μm, P = 0.0167) for Pentacam HR. Corneal densitometry measurement revealed that increasing gray scale units caused a greater interdevice difference for pachymetry values, as Pentacam HR measured higher than CASIA2 for more opaque corneas.

Conclusions:

Eyes with MCD tend to have thinner corneas and a higher amount of corneal astigmatism than healthy eyes. In advanced MCD, Scheimpflug technology may mistakenly overestimate corneal thickness. The pachymetry measurement of the optical coherence tomography should be used when planning corneal surgery such as excimer laser-assisted phototherapeutic keratectomy to determine the ablation depth.
Cancer-associated thrombosis: the role of inherited thrombophilia
Authors: Zia Anita , Shams Mahmood , Dabbagh Ali , Shahsavari Milad , Dorgalaleh Akbar
Published: July 2024

Cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) is a common complication and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with active cancers. CAT is common in various malignancies, particularly pancreatic, ovarian, gastric, colorectal, and hematologic cancers. In fact, CAT is a complicated multifactorial complication that may be influenced by the type of cancer as well as by the genetic background and inheritance of thrombophilic variants and elevated concentrations of coagulation factors. Several studies have shown the prominent role of inherited thrombophilias, such as prothrombin 20210, factor V Leiden, factor XIII Val34Leu, MTHFR C677T, in the occurrence of CAT, while others have found no correlation between them and CAT. In the present review, we have attempted to investigate the possible role of inherited thrombophilia in the occurrence of CAT.
Dietary fats as regulators of neutrophil plasticity: an update on molecular mechanisms
Authors: Parolini Anna , Da Dalt Lorenzo , Norata Giuseppe Danilo , Baragetti Andrea
Published: July 2024

Purpose of review

Contemporary guidelines for the prevention of cardio-metabolic diseases focus on the control of dietary fat intake, because of their adverse metabolic effects. Moreover, fats alter innate immune defenses, by eliciting pro-inflammatory epigenetic mechanisms on the long-living hematopoietic cell progenitors which, in the bone marrow, mainly give rise to short-living neutrophils. Nevertheless, the heterogenicity of fats and the complexity of the biology of neutrophils pose challenges in the understanding on how this class of nutrients could contribute to the development of cardio-metabolic diseases via specific molecular mechanisms activating the inflammatory response.

Recent findings

The knowledge on the biology of neutrophils is expanding and there are now different cellular networks orchestrating site-specific reprogramming of these cells to optimize the responses against pathogens. The innate immune competence of neutrophil is altered in response to high fat diet and contributes to the development of metabolic alterations, although the precise mechanisms are still poorly understood.

Defining the different molecular mechanisms involved in the fat-neutrophil crosstalk will help to reconcile the sparse data about the interaction of dietary fats with neutrophils and to tailor strategies to target neutrophils in the context of cardio-metabolic diseases.
Patients with cardinal symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis. Prejudice affects clinical practice…
Authors: Voulgaris Theodoros , Alexopoulos Theodoros , Vlachogiannakos Jiannis , Kamberoglou Dimitrios , Koutsoumbas Andreas , Papaxoinis Kostantinos , Fytily Paraskeyi , Papatheodoridis George , Karamanolis George P.
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Dysphagia and bolus impaction are the cardinal manifestations of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Esophageal biopsy sampling is mandatory for EoE diagnosis, data though suggest that clinician do not always obtain biopsies from patients with cardinal EoE symptoms during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy even if no other entity than EoE can explain patients symptoms. We aimed to search for the esophageal biopsy procurement rate as also for factors that drive clinicians to obtain esophageal biopsies among patients with cardinal EoE symptoms.

Methods

We retrospectively searched for patients with cardinal EoE symptoms submitted to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between 1/2018 and 12/2023 in our department. Epidemiologic, clinical, endoscopic, and histological data were analyzed.

Results

In total 163 patients with cardinal EoE symptoms (dysphagia: 63 and bolus impaction: 100) were included in the study (M/F: 100/63, mean age: 54 ± 22 years). Biopsy sampling was obtained in 77/163 (47.2%) patients and sampling rates did not differ between patients with bolus impaction or dysphagia (47/100, 47% vs 30/63, 47.6%, P = 0.553). Higher rates of sampling were observed in males (P = 0.045), those younger than 65 years old (P < 0.001) and patients with endoscopic EoE signs (P = 0.004). Age and endoscopic findings compatible to EoE were independently correlated to biopsy sampling. EoE was diagnosed in 35/74 patients (47.3%); the majority of patients were male, with a bolus impaction episode, compatible endoscopic findings and all were younger than 65 years old.

Conclusion

Clinicians take esophageal biopsies in half of patients with cardinal EoE. Age and supportive endoscopic evidence drive clinicians’ decision to obtain esophageal biopsies.
Integrating risks and benefits: pretransplant assessment and patient selection for heart transplantation in adult congenital heart disease
Authors: Lewis Matthew J. , Schlendorf Kelly H. , Reardon Leigh C.
Published: July 2024

Purpose of review

The number of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients presenting for consideration of heart transplantation continues to grow. Comprehensive pretransplant assessment and thoughtful patient selection are of critical importance to mitigate perioperative and posttransplant morbidity and mortality in this population.

Recent findings

There is increasing evidence that patient outcomes after the onset of heart failure in the ACHD population are poor while overall transplant outcomes for ACHD patients have improved over time. Delineation of factors associated with better versus worse posttransplant outcomes is an area of ongoing research. Several studies have found that delayed patient referral, anatomic complexity and the presence of noncardiac organ dysfunction may increase peri-transplant and posttransplant risk.

Pretransplant assessment and patient selection in ACHD patients should focus on mitigating perioperative and early posttransplant risk. Anatomic complexity, noncardiac organ dysfunction, and referral timing after the onset of heart failure can contribute to poor posttransplant outcomes and should inform patient selection.
Ultrasound-Guided Perineural Hydrodissection for the Treatment of Lacertus Fibrosus Syndrome in a Baseball Player: A Case Report
Authors: Nakagawa Hirotaka F. , Zheng Kevin , Sung Kyungje , Sussman Walter I.
Published: July 2024

Abstracts

Lacertus fibrosus Syndrome (LFS) is a rare cause of persistent medial elbow pain in baseball players, often not considered in the initial diagnostic considerations. This case report details a 19-year-old collegiate baseball player who presented with insidious left anterior medial elbow pain, initially diagnosed as biceps tendonitis. The patient did not experience pain relief after six months of conservative management. Sonopalpation during diagnostic ultrasound localized the source of pain to the median nerve at the level of the lacertus fibrosus, and the decision was made to perform ultrasound-guided hydrodissection of the median nerve at this level. The procedure resulted in rapid and sustained symptom relief without the scarring that has been associated with traditional surgical techniques. To date, there has been no study investigating the use of ultrasound-guided hydrodissection targeting lacertus fibrosus. This report highlights the importance of considering LFS in throwing athletes with persistent elbow pain, and advocates for considering ultrasound-guided hydrodissection as a management option for patients with clinical suspicion of LFS.
The evolving spectrum of complex inherited neuropathies
Authors: Rossor Alexander M. , Haddad Saif , Reilly Mary M.
Published: July 2024

Purpose of review

Inherited peripheral neuropathies can be divided into those diseases in which peripheral neuropathy is the sole or main feature of the disease (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease) and those in which peripheral neuropathy is just one feature of a more complex syndrome. In recent years there has been a substantial expansion in the number of genes associated with complex neuropathy syndromes.

Recent findings

This review will focus on emerging themes in this group of diseases, namely the increasing number of diseases due to repeat expansions; the emergence of both recessive and dominant negative alleles in the same gene producing a common phenotype and diseases in which there is selective loss of the allele from haematopoietic stem cells making genetic diagnosis on blood derived DNA problematic.

In this review we provide a practical approach to investigating and diagnosing patients with peripheral neuropathy as part of a complex syndrome and provide an updated table of the genes associated with this group of diseases.
Risk of corrected QT interval prolongation in patients receiving antipsychotics
Authors: Rivas Juan Carlos , Galindo-A Juliana , Zambrano Luis Fernando , Miranda-B Carlos Alberto , Ramírez Sandra Milena , Rivas-Grajales Ana María , Hernández-Carrillo Mauricio , Rincón Erika Andrea , Perafán Pablo Eduardo , Gómez-Mesa Juan Esteban
Published: July 2024

Antipsychotic (AP) use has been associated to QT interval prolongation on the surface electrocardiogram (ECG). Our study aimed to determine the incidence of corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation among patients admitted to a psychiatric hospitalization unit requiring AP treatment and to assess the relationship between administered dose and QTc interval changes. We enrolled 179 patients admitted to the Hospital Psiquiátrico Departamental Universitario del Valle in Cali, Colombia. ECGs were conducted upon admission, and again at 3 and 7 days postadmission. The QT interval was measured, and QTc interval correction was performed using Bazzet’s formula. QTc interval prolongation at time points B or C was observed in 9.5% of patients. Clozapine was the most common AP associated with QTc interval prolongation (20.59%), followed by olanzapine (15.38%). The relative risk of QT interval prolongation with clozapine compared to haloperidol was 4.17 (95% confidence interval, 1.14–15.17, P = 0.02). AP use upon hospital admission was linked to early (within 3 days) QTc interval prolongation. Clozapine and olanzapine were associated with a greater increase in QTc interval compared to haloperidol, indicating a need for rigorous electrocardiographic monitoring with their use.
Wrinkling of fluid deformable surfaces
Authors: Krause Veit , Voigt Axel
Published: July 2024

Wrinkling instabilities of thin elastic sheets can be used to generate periodic structures over a wide range of length scales. Viscosity of the thin elastic sheet or its surrounding medium has been shown to be responsible for dynamic processes. We here consider wrinkling of fluid deformable surfaces. In contrast with thin elastic sheets, with in-plane and out-of-plane elasticity, these surfaces are characterized by in-plane viscous flow and out-of-plane elasticity and have been established as model systems for biomembranes and cellular sheets. We use this hydrodynamic theory and numerically explore the formation of wrinkles and their coarsening, either by a continuous reduction of the enclosed volume or by the continuous increase of the surface area. Both lead to almost identical results for wrinkle formation and the coarsening process, for which a scaling law for the wavenumber is obtained for a broad range of surface viscosity and rate of change of volume or area. However, for large Reynolds numbers and small changes in volume or area, wrinkling can be suppressed and surface hydrodynamics allows for global shape changes following the minimal energy configurations of the Helfrich energy for corresponding reduced volumes.
Computational modelling of scleral photocrosslinking: from rat to minipig to human
Authors: Wood-Yang Amy J. , Gerberich Brandon G. , Prausnitz Mark R.
Published: July 2024

Selective scleral crosslinking has been proposed as a novel treatment to increase scleral stiffness to counteract biomechanical changes associated with glaucoma and high myopia. Scleral stiffening has been shown by transpupillary peripapillary scleral photocrosslinking in rats, where the photosensitizer, methylene blue (MB), was injected retrobulbarly and red light initiated crosslinking reactions with collagen. Here, we adapted a computational model previously developed to model this treatment in rat eyes to additionally model MB photocrosslinking in minipigs and humans. Increased tissue length and subsequent diffusion and light penetration limitations were found to be barriers to achieving the same extent of crosslinking as in rats. Per cent inspired O
2
, injected MB concentration and laser fluence were simultaneously varied to overcome these limitations and used to determine optimal combinations of treatment parameters in rats, minipigs and humans. Increasing these three treatment parameters simultaneously resulted in maximum crosslinking, except in rats, where the highest MB concentrations decreased crosslinking. Additionally, the kinetics and diffusion of photocrosslinking reaction intermediates and unproductive side products were modelled across space and time. The model provides a mechanistic understanding of MB photocrosslinking in scleral tissue and a basis for adapting and screening treatment parameters in larger animal models and, eventually, human eyes.
Do autistic adults spontaneously reason about belief? A detailed exploration of alternative explanations
Authors: Wu Ruihan , Lim Jing Tian , Ahmed Zahra , Berger Rachael , Acem Ensar , Chowdhury Ishita , White Sarah J
Published: July 2024

Southgate
et al.
’s (Southgate 2007
Psychol. Sci.
18, 587-92 (doi:
10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01944.x
)) anticipatory-looking paradigm has presented exciting yet inconclusive evidence surrounding spontaneous mentalizing in autism. The present study aimed to develop this paradigm to address alternative explanations for the lack of predictive eye movements on false-belief tasks by autistic adults. This was achieved through implementing a multi-trial design with matched true-belief conditions, and both high and low inhibitory demand false-belief conditions. We also sought to inspect if any group differences were related to group-specific patterns of attention on key events. Autistic adults were compared with non-autistic adults on this adapted implicit mentalizing task and an established explicit task. The two groups performed equally well in the explicit task; however, autistic adults did not show anticipatory-looking behaviour in the false-belief trials of the implicit task. Critically, both groups showed the same attentional distribution in the implicit task prior to action prediction, indicating that autistic adults process information from social cues in the same way as non-autistic adults, but this information is not then used to update mental representations. Our findings further document that many autistic people struggle to spontaneously mentalize others’ beliefs, and this non-verbal paradigm holds promise for use with a wide range of ages and abilities.
Ruthenium(II) complexes of curcumin and β-diketone derivatives: effect of structural modifications on their cytotoxicity
Authors: Jacinto Flávia E. , de Oliveira Letícia Pires , Batista Alzir A. , Oliveira Katia M. , Correa Rodrigo S.
Published: July 2024

Ruthenium(II) complexes (
Ru1
–
Ru3
) with the general formula [Ru(O-O)(PPh
3
)
2
(bipy)]PF
6,
bearing two triphenylphosphine (PPh
3
), bipyridine (bipy) and a series of natural and synthetic β-diketones (O,O) ligands were synthesized and characterized using various analytical techniques. The interaction between the complexes and
calf thymus
DNA (CT-DNA) was investigated and demonstrated a weak interaction. The cytotoxicity of the complexes was investigated against breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7), lung cancer cells (A549), cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells (A2780
cis
), as well as non-tumour lung (MRC-5) and non-tumour breast (MCF-10A) cell lines. All complexes exhibited cytotoxic activity against all the cell lines studied, with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC
50
) values ranging from 0.39 to 13 µM. Notably, the three complexes demonstrated selectivity against the A2780
cis
cell line, with IC
50
ranging from 0.39 to 0.82 µM. Among them, Ru2 exhibited the highest cytotoxicity, with an IC
50
value of 0.39 µM. Consequently, this new class of complexes shows good selectivity towards cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells and it is promising for further investigation as anti-cancer agents.
Plug-and-play analytical paradigm for the scattering of plane waves by ‘layer-cake’ periodic systems
Authors: Salasiya Prasanna , Meng Shixu , Guzina Bojan B.
Published: July 2024

We investigate the scattering of scalar plane waves in two dimensions by a heterogeneous layer that is periodic in the direction parallel to its boundary. On describing the layer as a union of periodic laminae, we develop a solution of the scattering problem by merging the concept of propagator matrices and that of Bloch eigenstates featured by the unit cell of each lamina. The featured Bloch eigenstates are obtained by solving the quadratic eigenvalue problem (QEVP) that seeks a complex-valued wavenumber normal to the layer boundary given (i) the excitation frequency, and (ii) real-valued wavenumber parallel to the boundary—that is preserved throughout the system. Spectral analysis of the QEVP reveals sufficient conditions for discreteness of the eigenvalue spectrum and the fact that all eigenvalues come in complex-conjugate pairs. By deploying the factorization afforded by the propagator matrix approach, we demonstrate that the contribution of individual eigenvalues (and so eigenmodes) to the solution diminishes exponentially with absolute value of their imaginary part, which then forms a rational basis for truncation of the factorized Bloch (FB)-wave solution. The proposed methodology caters for the optimal design of rainbow traps, energy harvesters and metasurfaces, whose potency to manipulate waves is decided not only by the individual dispersion characteristics of the component laminae, but also by ordering and generally fitting of the latter into a composite layer. Using the FB approach, evaluation of trial configurations—as generated by the permutation and window translation/stretching of the component laminae—can be accelerated by decades.
The changing landscape of text mining: a review of approaches for ecology and evolution
Authors: Farrell Maxwell J. , Le Guillarme Nicolas , Brierley Liam , Hunter Bronwen , Scheepens Daan , Willoughby Anna , Yates Andrew , Mideo Nicole
Published: July 2024

In ecology and evolutionary biology, the synthesis and modelling of data from published literature are commonly used to generate insights and test theories across systems. However, the tasks of searching, screening, and extracting data from literature are often arduous. Researchers may manually process hundreds to thousands of articles for systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and compiling synthetic datasets. As relevant articles expand to tens or hundreds of thousands, computer-based approaches can increase the efficiency, transparency and reproducibility of literature-based research. Methods available for text mining are rapidly changing owing to developments in machine learning-based language models. We review the growing landscape of approaches, mapping them onto three broad paradigms (frequency-based approaches, traditional Natural Language Processing and deep learning-based language models). This serves as an entry point to learn foundational and cutting-edge concepts, vocabularies, and methods to foster integration of these tools into ecological and evolutionary research. We cover approaches for modelling ecological texts, generating training data, developing custom models and interacting with large language models and discuss challenges and possible solutions to implementing these methods in ecology and evolution.
Evolutionary assembly of the plant terrestrialization toolkit from protein domains
Authors: Dhabalia Ashok Amra , de Vries Sophie , Darienko Tatyana , Irisarri Iker , de Vries Jan
Published: July 2024

Land plants (embryophytes) came about in a momentous evolutionary singularity: plant terrestrialization. This event marks not only the conquest of land by plants but also the massive radiation of embryophytes into a diverse array of novel forms and functions. The unique suite of traits present in the earliest land plants is thought to have been ushered in by a burst in genomic novelty. Here, we asked the question of how these bursts were possible. For this, we explored: (i) the initial emergence and (ii) the reshuffling of domains to give rise to hallmark environmental response genes of land plants. We pinpoint that a quarter of the embryophytic genes for stress physiology are specific to the lineage, yet a significant portion of this novelty arises not de novo but from reshuffling and recombining of pre-existing domains. Our data suggest that novel combinations of old genomic substrate shaped the plant terrestrialization toolkit, including hallmark processes in signalling, biotic interactions and specialized metabolism.
Archival mitogenomes identify invasion by the
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
CAPE lineage caused an African amphibian extinction in the wild
Authors: Sewell Thomas R. , van Dorp Lucy , Ghosh Pria N. , Wierzbicki Claudia , Caroe Christian , Lyakurwa John V. , Tonelli Elena , Bowkett Andrew E. , Marsden Stuart , Cunningham Andrew A. , Garner Trenton W. J. , Gilbert Tom P. , Moyer David , Weldon Ché , Fisher Matthew C.
Published: July 2024

Outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases are influenced by local biotic and abiotic factors, with host declines occurring when conditions favour the pathogen. Deterioration in the population of the micro-endemic Tanzanian Kihansi spray toad (
Nectophrynoides asperginis
) occurred after the construction of a hydropower dam, implicating habitat modification in this species decline. Population recovery followed habitat augmentation; however, a subsequent outbreak of chytridiomycosis caused by
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
(
Bd
) led to the spray toad's extinction in the wild. We show using spatiotemporal surveillance and mitogenome assembly of
Bd
from archived toad mortalities that the outbreak was caused by invasion of the
Bd
CAPE lineage and not the panzootic lineage
Bd
GPL. Molecular dating reveals an emergence of
Bd
CAPE across southern Africa overlapping with the timing of the spray toad's extinction. That our post-outbreak surveillance of co-occurring amphibian species in the Udzungwa Mountains shows widespread infection by
Bd
CAPE yet no signs of ill-health or decline suggests these other species can tolerate
Bd
when environments are stable. We conclude that, despite transient success in mitigating the impact caused by dams’ construction, invasion by
Bd
CAPE caused the ultimate die-off that led to the extinction of the Kihansi spray toad.