bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Highly Sensitive Flexible Tactile Sensors in Wide Sensing Range Enabled by Hierarchical Topography of Biaxially Strained and Capillary‐Densified Carbon Nanotube Bundles
Authors: Sim Sangjun , Jo Eunhwan , Kang Yunsung , Chung Euichul , Kim Jongbaeg
Published: November 2021

Flexible tactile sensors with high sensitivity have received considerable attention for their use in wearable electronics, human–machine interfaces, and health‐monitoring devices. Although various micro/nanostructured materials are introduced for high‐performance tactile sensors, simultaneously obtaining high sensitivity and a wide sensing range remains challenging. Here, a resistive tactile sensor is presented based on the hierarchical topography of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) prepared by a low‐cost and straightforward manufacturing process. The 3D hierarchical structure of the CNTs over large areas is formed by transferring vertically aligned CNT bundles to a prestrained elastomer substrate and subsequently densifying them through capillary forming, providing a monotonic increase in the contact area as applied pressure. The deformable and hierarchical structure of CNTs allows the sensor to exhibit a wide sensing range (0–100 kPa), high sensitivity (141.72 kPa−1), and low detection limit (10 Pa). Additionally, the capillary‐formed CNT structure results in increased durability of the sensor over repeated pressures. Based on these advantages, meaningful applications of tactile sensors, such as object recognition gloves and multidirectional force perceptions, are successfully realized. Given the scalable fabrication method, 3D hierarchically structured CNTs provide an essential step toward next‐generation wearable devices.
Subtle characteristic classes for Spin-torsors
Authors: Tanania Fabio
Published: November 2021

Extending (Smirnov and Vishik, Subtle Characteristic Classes,arXiv:1401.6661), we obtain a complete description of the motivic cohomology with$${{\,\mathrm{\mathbb {Z}}\,}}/2$$Z/2-coefficients of the Nisnevich classifying space of the spin group$$Spin_n$$Spinnassociated to the standard split quadratic form. This provides us with very simple relations among subtle Stiefel–Whitney classes in the motivic cohomology of Čech simplicial schemes associated to quadratic forms from$$I^3$$I3, which are closely related to$$Spin_n$$Spinn-torsors over the point. These relations come from the action of the motivic Steenrod algebra on the second subtle Stiefel–Whitney class. Moreover, exploiting the relation between$$Spin_7$$Spin7and$$G_2$$G2, we describe completely the motivic cohomology ring of the Nisnevich classifying space of$$G_2$$G2. The result in topology was obtained by Quillen (Math Ann 194:197–212, 1971).
Trends in the use of oral anticoagulants, antiplatelets and statins in four European countries: a population-based study
Authors: García Rodríguez Luis A. , Cea Soriano Lucía , de Abajo Francisco J. , Valent Francesca , Hallas Jesper , Gil Miguel , Cattaruzzi Chiara , Rodriguez-Martin Sara , Vora Pareen , Soriano-Gabarró Montse , Gaist David
Published: November 2021

Purpose

To evaluate time trends in the prevalence of antithrombotic and statin use in four European countries.

Methods

Using population-based data from the United Kingdom, Denmark, Spain and Italy between 2010 and 2018, we calculated standardized annual prevalence proportions of antithrombotics and statin use, and changes in prevalence proportions (2018 vs. 2010).

Results

Prevalence proportion of statins increased from 24.8% to 24.6% (UK), 21.0% to 22.3% (Region of Southern Denmark [RSD]), 12.9% to 14.3% (Udine, Italy), and 20.3% to 23.2% (Spain). Prevalence proportions of antithrombotics declined in all four countries: 18.7% to 15.9% (UK; − 2.8% points), 18.9% to 18.1% (RSD; − 0.8% points), 17.7% to 16.6% (Udine; − 1.1% points) and 15.0% to 13.6% (Spain; − 1.4% points). These declines were driven by reductions in low-dose aspirin use: 15.3% to 8.9% (UK; − 6.4% points), 16.3% to 9.5% (RSD; − 6.8% points), 13.5% to 11.6% (Udine; − 1.9% points), and 10.2% to 8.8% (Spain; − 1.4% points). In the UK, low-dose aspirin use declined from 9.1% to 4.3% (− 4.8% points) for primary CVD prevention, and from 49.6% to 36.9% (− 12.7% points) for secondary prevention. Oral anticoagulant use gradually increased but did not fully account for the decrease in low-dose aspirin use.

Conclusions

Antithrombotic use in the UK, RSD, Udine and Spain declined between 2010 and 2018, driven by a reduction in use of low-dose aspirin that is not completely explained by a gradual increase in OAC use. Use of statins remained constant in the UK, and increased gradually in the RSD, Udine and Spain.
Sheffer operation in relational systems
Authors: Chajda Ivan , Länger Helmut
Published: November 2021

The concept of a Sheffer operation known for Boolean algebras and orthomodular lattices is extended to arbitrary directed relational systems with involution. It is proved that to every such relational system, there can be assigned a Sheffer groupoid and also, conversely, every Sheffer groupoid induces a directed relational system with involution. Hence, investigations of these relational systems can be transformed to the treatment of special groupoids which form a variety of algebras. If the Sheffer operation is also commutative, then the induced binary relation is antisymmetric. Moreover, commutative Sheffer groupoids form a congruence distributive variety. We characterize symmetry, antisymmetry and transitivity of binary relations by identities and quasi-identities satisfied by an assigned Sheffer operation. The concepts of twist products of relational systems and of Kleene relational systems are introduced. We prove that every directed relational system can be embedded into a directed relational system with involution via the twist product construction. If the relation in question is even transitive, then the directed relational system can be embedded into a Kleene relational system. Any Sheffer operation assigned to a directed relational system $${\mathbf {A}}$$
A
with involution induces a Sheffer operation assigned to the twist product of $${\mathbf {A}}$$
A
.
Longitudinal craze line propagation in human root dentin after instrumentation with NiTi rotary files of different instrument tapers after long-term chewing simulation
Authors: Heberer Marie-Therese , Roggendorf Hubert C. , Faber Franz-Josef , Lawrenz Nicolai-Alexander , Frankenberger Roland , Roggendorf Matthias J.
Published: November 2021

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate whether file design and taper significantly influence microcrack initiation during machine preparation.

Materials and methods

Sixty extracted teeth with straight single canals were selected. The teeth were randomly assigned to four groups based on their root canal anatomy and the corresponding NiTi rotary file system (I, Mtwo; II, ProTaper Universal; III, F6 SkyTaper; control, no preparation and filling). The root canals of the experimental groups were filled using the single-cone technique. The tested teeth were all subjected to a mechanical chewing simulation with flat lead loading over a period of 3 years (corresponding to 150,000 cycles). The teeth were checked for dentinal defects (accumulative crack growth in length) under the digital microscope (Keyence VHX-5000) at time 0 (baseline prior to chewing simulation) and after 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months of loading. The cumulative crack increase was statistically analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test, Jonckheere–Terpstra test, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

In contrast to preparation with greater-tapered instruments, ProTaper Universal (group II) and F6 SkyTaper (group III) instrumentation with the smaller tapered Mtwo files (group I) showed less accumulative propagation of craze lines (p < 0.05) at all time points.

Conclusion

Instruments with greater taper for root canal instrumentation should be used with care to avoid negative long-term effects in the form of propagation of dentinal defects over time. A positive cutting-edge angle and a smaller taper have a positive effect on a lower craze line development.

Clinical relevance

Instruments with a positive cutting-edge angle and a smaller taper are beneficial for the long-term preservation of dentinal tooth structure.
NATO 2030: Die Zukunft der Allianz und die Rolle Deutschlands
Authors: de Maizière Thomas
Published: November 2021

Mit dem Expertenbericht zum Reflexionsprozess und der anschließenden Entscheidung für ein neues Strategisches Konzept sollte die Diskussion über die Zukunft der NATO und Deutschlands Rolle darin nicht enden. Angesichts globaler tektonischer Verschiebungen mit systemischen Herausforderungen an Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik bedarf es tiefgreifender Anpassungen in Brüssel, u. a. in den Bereichen Umgang mit China, NATO-EU-Zusammenarbeit, Rüstungskontrolle und Balance der Kernaufgaben der Allianz. Die Analyse sieht Deutschland dabei in einer zentralen Rolle.
Extracellular vesicle-derived miR-320a targets ZC3H12B to inhibit tumorigenesis, invasion, and angiogenesis in ovarian cancer
Authors: Huang Yan , Xu Midie , Jing Chuyu , Wu Xiaohua , Chen Xiaojun , Zhang Wei
Published: November 2021

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play crucial roles in intercellular communication. miRNAs derived from EVs emerge as promising diagnostic indicators and therapeutic targets in a variety of malignancies. Tremendous studies have revealed the function of miRNAs derived from EVs in tumorigenesis, metastasis and other aspects. The mechanism of action of EV-derived miRNAs, however, in ovarian cancer remains largely unknown. In this study, EVs were enriched from the ovarian cancer cell lines. EVs as a whole could promote cell proliferation, invasion and new vasculature formation. However, the down-regulated EV-derived miR-320a was demonstrated to potentially suppress tumorigenesis, metastasis and angiogenesis. Moreover, EV-derived miR-320a has been proved to directly regulate a previously unknown target, ZC3H12B. An unreported role of ZC3H12B in promoting ovarian cancer cell proliferation has been elucidated and miR-320a could mediate the expression of ZC3H12B, thereby inhibiting the downstream response. As for the practical clinic values, lower expression of EV-derived miR-320a correlates with shorter survival period, indicating that EV-derived miR-320a may also serve as a prognostic biomarker in ovarian cancer. This research provides new insight into the molecular mechanism of EV-derived miR-320a in ovarian cancer and may provide new therapeutic and prognostic strategies for ovarian cancer treatment.
Exercise in Obesity—the Role of Technology in Health Services: Can This Approach Work?
Authors: Dobbie Laurence J. , Tahrani Abd , Alam Uazman , James Jennifer , Wilding John , Cuthbertson Daniel J.
Published: November 2021

Purpose of Review

Physical activity (PA) is an important strategy to prevent and treat obesity. Electronic health (eHealth) interventions, such as wearable activity monitors and smartphone apps, may promote adherence to regular PA and successful weight loss. This review highlights the evidence for eHealth interventions in promoting PA and reducing weight.

Recent Findings

Wearables can increase PA and are associated with moderate weight loss in middle/older-aged individuals, with less convincing effects long-term (> 1 year) and in younger people. Data for interventions such as mobile phone applications, SMS, and exergaming are less robust. Investigations of all eHealth interventions are often limited by complex, multi-modality study designs, involving concomitant dietary modification, making the independent contribution of each eHealth intervention on body weight challenging to assess.

Summary

eHealth interventions may promote PA, thereby contributing to weight loss/weight maintenance; however, further evaluation is required for this approach to be adopted into routine clinical practice.
Delphi consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with short stature in Spain: GROW-SENS study
Authors: Corripio-Collado R. , Fernández-Ramos C. , González-Casado I. , Moreno-Macián F. , López-Siguero J.-P. , Labarta-Aizpún J.-I.
Published: November 2021

Purpose

To identify consensus aspects related to the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of short stature in children to promote excellence in clinical practice.

Methods

Delphi consensus organised in three rounds completed by 36 paediatric endocrinologists. The questionnaire consisted of 26 topics grouped into: (1) diagnosis; (2) monitoring of the small-for-gestational-age (SGA) patient; (3) growth hormone treatment; and (4) treatment adherence. For each topic, different questions or statements were proposed.

Results

After three rounds, consensus was reached on 16 of the 26 topics. The main agreements were: (1) diagnosis tests considered as a priority in Primary Care were complete blood count, biochemistry, thyroid profile, and coeliac disease screening. The genetic test with the greatest diagnostic value was karyotyping. The main criterion for initiating a diagnostic study was prediction of adult stature 2 standard deviations below the target height; (2) the main criterion for initiating treatment in SGA patients was the previous growth pattern and mean parental stature; (3) the main criterion for response to treatment was a significant increase in growth velocity and the most important parameter to monitor adverse events was carbohydrate metabolism; (4) the main attitude towards non-responding patients is to check their treatment adherence with recording devices. The most important criterion for choosing the delivery device was its technical characteristics.

Conclusions

This study shows the different degrees of consensus among paediatric endocrinologists in Spain concerning the diagnosis and treatment of short stature, which enables the identification of research areas to optimise the management of such patients.
Applications of graph’s complete degree with bipolar fuzzy information
Authors: Poulik Soumitra , Ghorai Ganesh
Published: November 2021

Due to the presence of two opposite directional thinking in relationships between countries and communication systems, the systems may not always be balanced. Therefore, the perfectness between countries relations are highly important. It comes from how much they were connected to each other for communication. In this study, first perfectly regular bipolar fuzzy graph is introduced and examined the regularity of nodes. Then, the relationship between the adjacent nodes and their regularity are visualized as a perfectly edge-regular bipolar fuzzy graphs. The totally accurate communication between all connected nodes is explained by introducing completely open neighborhood degree and completely closed neighborhood degree of nodes and edges in a bipolar fuzzy graph. Some algorithms and flowcharts of the proposed methods are given. Finally, two applications of these cogitation are exhibited in two bipolar fuzzy fields. The first one is in international relationships between some countries during cold-war era and the second one is in decision-making between teachers–students communication system for the improvement of teaching.
Comparison of the Spreading Characters of Fire Products in the Typical Metro Stations of Washington, D.C., and Guangzhou
Authors: Yu Heng
Published: November 2021

Fire is one of the most common disasters that threaten the safety of the crowd in metro stations. Due to the variations in the design of metro stations, the hazard posed by the spreading products of the fire can pose different risks. The typical structures of metro stations in Guangzhou and Washington, D.C., are very different from each other. In Washington, D.C., the “high-dome” structure is predominant in the construction of metro stations, while in Guangzhou, most metro stations have the “flat ceiling” structure. In this article, a numerical modeling for fire dynamic simulation is used to predict and compare the spreading characters of fire products (the smoke height change, the temperature distribution and the visibility change) when fires with 2.5 MW heat release rate occur in the platform center and at the platform end in the two kinds of metro stations. The results show that, in the same fire scenario, the lowest smoke heights monitored in the Guangzhou model is 0.6 m (fire at the platform end) and 0.8 m (fire in the platform center) above the safe smoke height in 360 s after a fire breaks out, while it is 6.15 m (fire in the platform center) and 6.2 m (fire at the platform end) above the smoke height in the Washington model. The temperature increment in the Guangzhou model is 23 °C (fire in the platform center) to 29 °C (fire at the platform end) in 360 s after the fire breaks out, while the temperature increment in the same period in the Washington model is 8.5 °C (fire at the platform end) to 9 °C (fire in the platform center). The visibility of most areas on the platform of the Guangzhou model is about 1 m no matter the fire is in the platform center or at the platform end at 360 s after the fire begins, while in the Washington model, the visibility of most areas is 1.5–13.5 mm (fire at the platform end) to 4–14 m (fire in the platform center) at the same moment. Based on the results, the environment is worse when the fire happens at the end of the platform than that when the fire happens in the platform center of the Guangzhou model. While the fire location has fewer impacts on the smoke height, temperature, and visibility in the Washington model, metro stations with a high-dome structure can be beneficial to fire evacuation safety; however, the construction cost can be high. Metro stations with flat ceiling are widely used in more cities for it has lower construction cost; to compensate for its weaker abilities under fire conditions, it is suggested that smoke exhaust systems should be carefully and fully considered.
Valuing the Impacts of Landslides: A Choice Experiment Approach
Authors: Spegel Elin , Ek Kristina
Published: November 2021

This paper analyzes the preferences for reducing the negative impacts of landslides. Negative consequences of landslides include impacts on transport infrastructure, humans, the environment and important societal services. We apply a choice experiment. The analysis is based on 6048 observations from 504 participants in a web panel. The overall finding is that reducing the risk of landslides would have a positive impact on individuals’ utility, and that individuals prioritize preventing negative consequences on human health and safety over maintaining societal services, environmental status, and preventing damages to transport infrastructure, which seems to be least pressing. Results indicate that prioritizations of citizens differ from the prioritizations of public authorities, whose risk assessment model for evaluating the consequences of landslides gives equal weight to the different impacts.
Contra las culturas del acoso en la arqueología: Enfoques socioambientales y basados en el trauma para la transformación disciplinaria
Authors: Voss Barbara L.
Published: November 2021

Este artículo es el segundo de una serie de dos partes que analiza la investigación actual sobre el acoso en la arqueología. Estudios cualitativos y cuantitativos, como también relatos de activistas y testimonios de sobrevivientes, han establecido que el acoso ocurre a tasas epidémicas en la arqueología. Estos estudios han identificado patrones clave en relación al acoso y señalan posibles intervenciones para prevenirlo, para apoyar a les sobrevivientes y para responsabilizar a les perpetradores. Este artículo discute cinco obstáculos clave a superar en la cultura disciplinaria de la arqueología: normalización, prácticas excluyentes, confraternización, gatekeeping e impedimentos para la presentación de denuncias. Con base en dos paradigmas de salud pública —el modelo socioambiental y los enfoques basados en el trauma— se identifican intervenciones potenciales aplicables a todos los niveles de la práctica arqueológica: individual, relacional, organizacional, comunitario y social.
Cyanobacteria Blooms Exceed WHO Thresholds in Midwest Lakes
Authors: Dzombak Rebecca
Published: November 2021

A study of 369 lakes across the Midwest finds that many of them, especially those close to agriculture, have high concentrations of harmful algal bloom-causing cyanobacteria.
Spatially Resolved Photochemistry Impacts Emissions Estimates in Fresh Wildfire Plumes
Authors: Palm Brett B. , Peng Qiaoyun , Hall Samuel R. , Ullmann Kirk , Campos Teresa L. , Weinheimer Andrew , Montzka Deedee , Tyndall Geoffrey , Permar Wade , Hu Lu , Flocke Frank , Fischer Emily V. , Thornton Joel A.
Published: November 2021

Wildfire emissions affect downwind air quality and human health. Predictions of these impacts using models are limited by uncertainties in emissions and chemical evolution of smoke plumes. Using high‐time‐resolution aircraft measurements, we illustrate spatial variations that can exist within a plume due to differences in the photochemical environment. Horizontal and vertical crosswind gradients of dilution‐corrected mixing ratios were observed in midday plumes for reactive compounds and their oxidation products, such as nitrous acid, catechol, and ozone, likely due to faster photochemistry in optically thinner plume edges relative to darker plume cores. Gradients in plumes emitted close to sunset are characterized by titration of O3 in the plume and reduced or no gradient formation. We show how crosswind gradients can lead to underestimated emission ratios for reactive compounds and overestimated emission ratios for oxidation products. These observations will lead to improved predictions of wildfire emissions, evolution, and impacts across daytime and nighttime.
On the Variability of EMIC Waves and the Consequences for the Relativistic Electron Radiation Belt Population
Authors: Ross J. P. J. , Glauert S. A. , Horne R. B. , Watt C. E. J. , Meredith N. P.
Published: November 2021

The interactions between electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves and relativistic electrons are influential in diffusing radiation belt electrons into the loss code from which the electrons are lost into the atmosphere. These wave‐particle interactions between EMIC waves and electrons with energies of a few MeV or more depend strongly on wave spectra and plasma properties. Here we study the variability in wave spectra and plasma properties as a function of L* found during Van Allen Probe EMIC observations. These results are used to calculate statistical bounce and drift average diffusion coefficients that include the variation in wave spectra and plasma density as a function of L* and activity by averaging observation‐specific diffusion coefficients. The diffusion coefficients are included in global radiation belt simulations and the effect of the EMIC waves is explored. The distribution in the plasma frequency to electron gyrofrequency ratio decreases to lower values as L* decreases. As a result, few EMIC waves are able to resonate with 2–3 MeV electrons at L* ≤ 3.75 while electrons of the same energy at larger L* are diffused by EMIC waves in high density regions. In comparison, a sufficient number of EMIC waves are able to resonate with higher energy electrons, MeV, at L* ≥ 3.25 to significantly affect the decay in electron flux. EMIC wave parametrisations of electron diffusion by EMIC waves are compared and solar wind dynamic pressure is found to give the best agreement with Van Allen Probe observations.
A Multicomponent Magnetic Proxy for Solar Activity
Authors: Warren Harry P. , Floyd Linton E. , Upton Lisa A.
Published: November 2021

We present a new, multicomponent magnetic proxy for solar activity derived from full disk magnetograms that can be used in the specification and forecasting of the Sun’s radiative output. To compute this proxy we project Carrington maps, such as the synchronic Carrington maps computed with the Advective Flux Transport (AFT) surface flux transport model, to heliographic cartesian coordinates and determine the total unsigned flux as a function of absolute magnetic flux density. Performing this calculation for each day produces an array of time series, one for each flux density interval. Since many of these time series are strongly correlated, we use principal component analysis to reduce them to a smaller number of uncorrelated time series. We show that the first few principal components accurately reproduce widely used proxies for solar activity, such the the 10.7 cm radio flux and the Mg core‐to‐wing ratio. This suggests that these magnetic time series can be used as a proxy for irradiance variability for emission formed over a wide range of temperatures.
Environmental Flow Scenarios for a Regulated River System: Projecting Catchment‐Wide Ecosystem Benefits and Consequences for Hydroelectric Production
Authors: Widén Åsa , Malm Renöfält Birgitta , Degerman Erik , Wisaeus Dag , Jansson Roland
Published: November 2021

To enable prioritization among measures for ecological restoration, knowing the expected benefits and consequences of implementation is imperative but rarely explicitly quantified. We developed a novel method to prioritize among environmental flow measures to rehabilitate ecosystems in the Ume River catchment in northern Sweden, a river system heavily regulated for hydropower production. Our strategy was to identify measures with minimal impact on hydropower production while providing substantial environmental benefits. Based on field surveys of remaining natural values and potential for ecological rehabilitation, we quantified the projected gain in habitat area of implementing environmental flows for target organism groups, for example, lotic fish species and riparian vegetation, along the whole river length. We quantified the consequences for hydropower production by identifying a set of hydropower operational rules reflecting the constraints added by environmental flows. We then used production optimization software to calculate changes in hydropower production and revenues. Implementing restrictions on zero‐flow events by mandating minimum discharge at all run‐of‐river hydropower stations and allocating 1%–12% of mean annual discharge to bypassed reaches in the entire catchment would result in a 2.1% loss of annual electricity production. Adding flow to fishways would increase the loss to 3.1% per year. With implementation of more natural water‐level fluctuations in run‐of‐river impoundments, the loss increases to 3.8%. These actions would increase the habitat for lotic species like the grayling Thymallus more than threefold and increase the area of riparian vegetation by about 66%. Our method forms a basis for ongoing implementation of nationwide environmental rehabilitation schemes.
Stretchable and anti-impact iontronic pressure sensor with an ultrabroad linear range for biophysical monitoring and deep learning-aided knee rehabilitation
Authors: Xu Hongcheng , Gao Libo , Zhao Haitao , Huang Hanlin , Wang Yuejiao , Chen Gang , Qin Yuxin , Zhao Ningjuan , Xu Dandan , Duan Ling , Li Xuan , Li Siyu , Luo Zhongbao , Wang Weidong , Lu Yang
Published: November 2021

Monitoring biophysical signals such as body or organ movements and other physical phenomena is necessary for patient rehabilitation. However, stretchable flexible pressure sensors with high sensitivity and a broad range that can meet these requirements are still lacking. Herein, we successfully monitored various vital biophysical features and implemented in-sensor dynamic deep learning for knee rehabilitation using an ultrabroad linear range and high-sensitivity stretchable iontronic pressure sensor (SIPS). We optimized the topological structure and material composition of the electrode to build a fully stretching on-skin sensor. The high sensitivity (12.43 kPa−1), ultrabroad linear sensing range (1 MPa), high pressure resolution (6.4 Pa), long-term durability (no decay after 12000 cycles), and excellent stretchability (up to 20%) allow the sensor to maintain operating stability, even in emergency cases with a high sudden impact force (near 1 MPa) applied to the sensor. As a practical demonstration, the SIPS can positively track biophysical signals such as pulse waves, muscle movements, and plantar pressure. Importantly, with the help of a neuro-inspired fully convolutional network algorithm, the SIPS can accurately predict knee joint postures for better rehabilitation after orthopedic surgery. Our SIPS has potential as a promising candidate for wearable electronics and artificial intelligent medical engineering owing to its unique high signal-to-noise ratio and ultrabroad linear range.
Blood-based mitochondrial respiratory chain function in major depression
Authors: Fernström Johan , Mellon Synthia H. , McGill Marlon A. , Picard Martin , Reus Victor I. , Hough Christina M. , Lin Jue , Epel Elissa S. , Wolkowitz Owen M. , Lindqvist Daniel
Published: November 2021

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD). A measure of mitochondrial respiratory chain (RC) enzymatic activity—the Mitochondrial Health Index (MHI)—has previously been found to correlate with stress and emotional states in caregivers. We here report mitochondrial RC activities, mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), and the composite MHI in unmedicated and somatically healthy subjects with MDD (n = 47) and healthy controls (HC) (n = 11). We also explore, in a subset of the MDD sample (n = 33), whether these markers are associated with response to 8 weeks of SSRI treatment. Mitochondrial RC complexes I, II, IV, citrate synthase (CS), mtDNAcn, and the MHI were assayed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Treatment response was defined as >50% decrease on the 25-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HRDS-25). There were no significant differences in MHI or any of the mitochondrial markers between MDD subjects and HCs. Compared to SSRI nonresponders, SSRI responders had significantly higher baseline mitochondrial content markers CS (p = 0.02) and mtDNAcn (p = 0.02), and higher complex I activity (p = 0.01). Complex II activity increased significantly over treatment, irrespective of clinical response (p = 0.03). Complex I activity decreased in responders (n = 9), but increased in nonresponders (n = 18) (group x time interaction, p = 0.02). Absolute treatment-associated change in HDRS-25 scores correlated significantly with change in complex I activity between baseline and week 8 (r = 0.47, p = 0.01). Although mitochondrial markers did not distinguish MDD from controls, they did distinguish SSRI responders from nonresponders. If larger studies validate these mitochondrial differences, they may become useful biomarkers and identify new drug targets.
Ischemic tolerance and cardiac repair in the spiny mouse (Acomys)
Authors: Koopmans Tim , van Beijnum Henriette , Roovers Elke F. , Tomasso Antonio , Malhotra Divyanshu , Boeter Jochem , Psathaki Olympia E. , Versteeg Danielle , van Rooij Eva , Bartscherer Kerstin
Published: November 2021

Ischemic heart disease and by extension myocardial infarction is the primary cause of death worldwide, warranting regenerative therapies to restore heart function. Current models of natural heart regeneration are restricted in that they are not of adult mammalian origin, precluding the study of class-specific traits that have emerged throughout evolution, and reducing translatability of research findings to humans. Here, we present the spiny mouse (Acomys spp.), a murid rodent that exhibits bona fide regeneration of the back skin and ear pinna, as a model to study heart repair. By comparing them to ordinary mice (Mus musculus), we show that the acute injury response in spiny mice is similar, but with an associated tolerance to infarction through superior survivability, improved ventricular conduction, and near-absence of pathological remodeling. Critically, spiny mice display increased vascularization, altered scar organization, and a more immature phenotype of cardiomyocytes, with a corresponding improvement in heart function. These findings present new avenues for mammalian heart research by leveraging unique tissue properties of the spiny mouse.
Implementation of SiN thin film in fiber-optic sensor working in telecommunication range of wavelengths
Authors: Pawłowska Sandra , Gierowski Jakub , Stonio Bartłomiej , Juchniewicz Marcin , Ficek Mateusz , Kruczkowski Michał , Szczerska Małgorzata
Published: November 2021

Mirrors are used in optical sensors and measurement setups. This creates a demand for mirrors made of new materials and having various properties tailored to specific applications. In this work, we propose silicon covered with a thin silicon nitride layer as a mirror for near-infrared measurements. SiN layer was deposited on a standard silicon wafer with a Low-Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition furnace. Then, the created layer was investigated using ellipsometry and scanning electron microscope. Subsequently, the mirror was used as a reflecting surface in a Fabry–Perot fiber-optic interferometer. The mirror performance was investigated for wavelengths used in telecomunication (1310 nm and 1550 nm) and then compared with results obtained with the same measurement setup, with a silver mirror instead of silicon covered with SiN, as reference. Results showed that the proposed mirror can replace the silver one with satisfying results for investigated wavelengths.
Synchrony in the periphery: inter-subject correlation of physiological responses during live music concerts
Authors: Czepiel Anna , Fink Lauren K. , Fink Lea T. , Wald-Fuhrmann Melanie , Tröndle Martin , Merrill Julia
Published: November 2021

While there is an increasing shift in cognitive science to study perception of naturalistic stimuli, this study extends this goal to naturalistic contexts by assessing physiological synchrony across audience members in a concert setting. Cardiorespiratory, skin conductance, and facial muscle responses were measured from participants attending live string quintet performances of full-length works from Viennese Classical, Contemporary, and Romantic styles. The concert was repeated on three consecutive days with different audiences. Using inter-subject correlation (ISC) to identify reliable responses to music, we found that highly correlated responses depicted typical signatures of physiological arousal. By relating physiological ISC to quantitative values of music features, logistic regressions revealed that high physiological synchrony was consistently predicted by faster tempi (which had higher ratings of arousing emotions and engagement), but only in Classical and Romantic styles (rated as familiar) and not the Contemporary style (rated as unfamiliar). Additionally, highly synchronised responses across all three concert audiences occurred during important structural moments in the music—identified using music theoretical analysis—namely at transitional passages, boundaries, and phrase repetitions. Overall, our results show that specific music features induce similar physiological responses across audience members in a concert context, which are linked to arousal, engagement, and familiarity.
The photoprotective properties of α-tocopherol phosphate against long-wave UVA1 (385 nm) radiation in keratinocytes in vitro
Authors: Saleh M. M. , Lawrence K. P. , Jones S. A. , Young A. R.
Published: November 2021

UVA1 radiation (340–400 nm), especially longwave UVA1 (> 370 nm), is often ignored when assessing sun protection due to its low sunburning potential, but it generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and is poorly attenuated by sunscreens. This study aimed to investigate if α-tocopherol phosphate, (α-TP) a promising new antioxidant, could protect against long-wave UVA1 induced cell death and scavenge UVA1 induced ROS in a skin cell model. HaCaT keratinocyte cell viability (24 h) was assessed with Alamar Blue and Neutral Red assays. The metabolism of α-TP into α-T, assessed using mass spectrometry, and the compound's radical scavenging efficacy, assessed by the dichlorodihydrofluorescein (H2DCFDA) ROS detection assay, was monitored in HaCaTs. The mechanism of α-TP ROS scavenging was determined using non-cell based DPPH and ORAC assays. In HaCaT keratinocytes, irradiated with 226 J/cm2 UVA1 in low-serum (2%, starved) cell culture medium, pretreatment with 80 µM α-TP significantly enhanced cell survival (88%, Alamar Blue) compared to control, whereas α-T pre-treatment had no effect survival (70%, Alamar Blue). Pre-treatment of cells with 100 μM α-TP or 100 μM α-T before 57 J/cm2 UVA1 also significantly reduced ROS generation over 2 h (24.1% and 23.9% respectively) compared to the control and resulted in α-TP bioconversion into α-T. As α-TP displayed weak antioxidant activity in the cell-free assays thus its photoprotection was assigned to its bioconversion to α-T by cellular phosphatases. Through this mechanism α-TP prevented long-wave UVA1 induced cell death and scavenged UVA1 induced ROS in skin cells when added to the starved cell culture medium before UVA1 exposure by bioconversion into α-T.
Instrumental variable analysis using offspring BMI in childhood as an indicator of parental BMI in relation to mortality
Authors: Blond Kim , Carslake David , Gjærde Line Klingen , Vistisen Dorte , Sørensen Thorkild I. A. , Smith George Davey , Baker Jennifer L.
Published: November 2021

Childhood BMI shows associations with adult mortality, but these may be influenced by effects of ill health in childhood on BMI and later mortality. To avoid this, we used offspring childhood BMI as an instrumental variable (IV) for own BMI in relation to mortality and compared it with conventional associations of own childhood BMI and own mortality. We included 36,097 parent–offspring pairs with measured heights and weights from the Copenhagen School Health Records Register and register-based information on death. Hazard ratios (HR) were estimated using adjusted Cox regression models. For all-cause mortality, per zBMI at age 7 the conventional HR = 1.07 (95%CI: 1.04–1.09) in women and 1.02 (95%CI: 0.92–1.14) in men, whereas the IV HR = 1.23 (95%CI: 1.15–1.32) in women and 1.05 (95%CI: 0.94–1.17) in men. Per zBMI at age 13, the conventional HR = 1.11 (95%CI: 1.08–1.15) in women and 1.03 (95%CI: 0.99–1.06) in men, whereas the IV HR = 1.30 (95%CI: 1.19–1.42) in women and 1.15 (95%CI: 1.04–1.29) in men. Only conventional models showed indications of J-shaped associations. Our IV analyses suggest that there is a causal relationship between BMI and mortality that is positive at both high and low BMI values.
Plasma shielding removes prior magnetization record from impacted rocks near Santa Fe, New Mexico
Authors: Kletetschka Gunther , Kavkova Radana , Ucar Hakan
Published: November 2021

The shock exposure of the Santa Fe’s impact structure in New Mexico is evidenced by large human-size shatter cones. We discovered a new magnetic mechanism that allows a magnetic detection of plasma’s presence during the impact processes. Rock fragments from the impactites were once magnetized by a geomagnetic field. Our novel approach, based on Neel’s theory, revealed more than an order of magnitude lower magnetizations in the rocks that were exposed to the shockwave. Here we present a support for a newly proposed mechanism where the shock wave appearance can generate magnetic shielding that allow keeping the magnetic grains in a superparamagnetic-like state shortly after the shock’s exposure, and leaves the individual magnetized grains in random orientations, significantly lowering the overall magnetic intensity. Our data not only clarify how an impact process allows for a reduction of magnetic paleointensity but also inspire a new direction of effort to study impact sites, using paleointensity reduction as a new impact proxy.
Understanding etiology of chromosome 21 nondisjunction from gene × environment models
Authors: Halder Pinku , Pal Upamanyu , Ganguly Agnish , Ghosh Papiya , Ray Anirban , Sarkar Sumantra , Ghosh Sujay
Published: November 2021

Maternal risk factors and their interactions with each other that associate chromosome 21 nondisjunction are intriguing and need incisive study to be resolved. We determined recombination profile of nondisjoined chromosome 21 and maternal genotypes for four selected polymorphic variants from the folate regulators genes stratifying the women according to the origin of segregation error and age at conception. We conducted association study for genotype and maternal addiction to smokeless chewing tobacco, usually chopped tobacco leaves or paste of tobacco leaves with the incidence of Down syndrome birth. Additionally, we designed various logistic regression models to explore the effects of maternal genotype, maternal habit of smokeless chewing tobacco, maternal age at conception and all possible interactions among them on chromosome 21 nondisjunction. We found folate regulator gene mutations are associated with maternal meiosis II error. Regression models revealed smokeless chewing tobacco and folate polymorphic/mutant risk genotype interact with each other to increase the risk of reduced and single peri-centromeric recombination events on chromosome 21 that nondisjoined at meiosis II in the oocytes and the effect is maternal age independent. We inferred maternal folate polymorphic/mutant risk genotypes and habit of smokeless chewing tobacco interact with each other and increase the risk of meiosis II error in oocytes in maternal age-independent manner.
Gpr19 is a circadian clock-controlled orphan GPCR with a role in modulating free-running period and light resetting capacity of the circadian clock
Authors: Yamaguchi Yoshiaki , Murai Iori , Goto Kaoru , Doi Shotaro , Zhou Huihua , Setsu Genzui , Shimatani Hiroyuki , Okamura Hitoshi , Miyake Takahito , Doi Masao
Published: November 2021

Gpr19 encodes an evolutionarily conserved orphan G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) with currently no established physiological role in vivo. We characterized Gpr19 expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the locus of the master circadian clock in the brain, and determined its role in the context of the circadian rhythm regulation. We found that Gpr19 is mainly expressed in the dorsal part of the SCN, with its expression fluctuating in a circadian fashion. A conserved cAMP-responsive element in the Gpr19 promoter was able to produce circadian transcription in the SCN. Gpr19−/− mice exhibited a prolonged circadian period and a delayed initiation of daily locomotor activity. Gpr19 deficiency caused the downregulation of several genes that normally peak during the night, including Bmal1 and Gpr176. In response to light exposure at night, Gpr19−/− mice had a reduced capacity for light-induced phase-delays, but not for phase-advances. This defect was accompanied by reduced response of c-Fos expression in the dorsal region of the SCN, while apparently normal in the ventral area of the SCN, in Gpr19−/− mice. Thus, our data demonstrate that Gpr19 is an SCN-enriched orphan GPCR with a distinct role in circadian regulation and may provide a potential target option for modulating the circadian clock.
Removal of Sb(III) by 3D-reduced graphene oxide/sodium alginate double-network composites from an aqueous batch and fixed-bed system
Authors: Yang Xiuzhen , Zhou Tengzhi , Deng Renjian , Zhu Zhenya , Saleem Atif , Zhang Yuezhou
Published: November 2021

We created 3D-reduced graphene oxide/sodium alginate double network (GAD) beads to address the problem of local water pollution by antimony. GAD is a novel material with the high specific surface area of graphene and biosecurity of sodium alginate. Due to the introduction of graphene, the thermal stability and specific surface area of GAD are enhanced, as shown from the FTIR, TGA, BET, Raman, and XRD characterizations. The influence of different environmental variables-such as the pH, dosage, temperature, contact time, and sodium chloride concentration on the Sb(III) sorption with GAD-was investigated. The adsorption results fit well with both the pseudo-second order (R2 > 0.99) and Freundlich (R2 > 0.99) isotherm models. The temperature rise has a negative influence on the adsorption. The Langmuir adsorption capacity is 7.67 mg/g, which is higher than many adsorbents. The GAD results from the fixed-bed adsorption experiment were a good fit with the Thomas model (R2 > 0.99). In addition, GAD appears to be a renewable and ideal adsorbent for the treatment of antimony pollution in aqueous systems.
Association of cardiac injury with hypertension in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in China
Authors: Zeng Xiaofang , Rathinasabapathy Anandharajan , Liu Dongliang , Zha Lihuang , Liu Xiangwei , Tang Yiyang , Li Famei , Lin Wenchao , Yu Zaixin , Chen Huiling
Published: November 2021

Outbreak of global pandemic Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has so far caused countless morbidity and mortality. However, a detailed report on the impact of COVID-19 on hypertension (HTN) and ensuing cardiac injury is unknown. Herein, we have evaluated the association between HTN and cardiac injury in 388 COVID-19 (47.5 ± 15.2 years) including 75 HTN and 313 normotension. Demographic data, cardiac injury markers, other laboratory findings, and comorbidity details were collected and analyzed. Compared to patients without HTN, hypertensive-COVID-19 patients were older, exhibited higher C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and comorbidities such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. Further, these hypertensive-COVID-19 patients presented more severe disease with longer hospitalization time, and a concomitant higher rate of bilateral pneumonia, electrolyte disorder, hypoproteinemia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. In addition, cardiac injury markers such as creatine kinase (CK), myoglobin, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide were significantly increased in these patients. Correlation analysis revealed that systolic blood pressure correlated significantly with the levels of CK, and LDH. Further, HTN was associated with increased LDH and CK-MB in COVID- 19 after adjusting essential variables. We also noticed that patients with elevated either high sensitivity-CRP or CRP demonstrated a significant high level of LDH along with a moderate increase in CK (p = 0.07) and CK-MB (p = 0.09). Our investigation suggested that hypertensive patients presented higher risk of cardiac injury and severe disease phenotype in COVID-19, effectively control blood pressure in HTN patients might improve the prognosis of COVID-19 patients.
Substituting facial movements in singers changes the sounds of musical intervals
Authors: Laeng Bruno , Kuyateh Sarjo , Kelkar Tejaswinee
Published: November 2021

Cross-modal integration is ubiquitous within perception and, in humans, the McGurk effect demonstrates that seeing a person articulating speech can change what we hear into a new auditory percept. It remains unclear whether cross-modal integration of sight and sound generalizes to other visible vocal articulations like those made by singers. We surmise that perceptual integrative effects should involve music deeply, since there is ample indeterminacy and variability in its auditory signals. We show that switching videos of sung musical intervals changes systematically the estimated distance between two notes of a musical interval so that pairing the video of a smaller sung interval to a relatively larger auditory led to compression effects on rated intervals, whereas the reverse led to a stretching effect. In addition, after seeing a visually switched video of an equally-tempered sung interval and then hearing the same interval played on the piano, the two intervals were judged often different though they differed only in instrument. These findings reveal spontaneous, cross-modal, integration of vocal sounds and clearly indicate that strong integration of sound and sight can occur beyond the articulations of natural speech.