bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Occurrence of hyperoxia during iNO treatment for persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn: a cohort study
Authors: de Jager Justine , Brouwer Fleur , Reijman Jeroen , van der Palen Roel L. F. , Steggerda Sylke J. , Visser Remco , te Pas Arjan B. , Dekker Janneke
Published: March 2024

High concentrations of oxygen are often needed to optimize oxygenation in infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN), but this can also increase the risk of hyperoxemia. We determined the occurrence of hyperoxemia in infants treated for PPHN. Medical records of infants ≥ 34 + 0 weeks gestational age (GA) who received inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) were retrospectively reviewed for oxygenation parameters during iNO therapy. Oxygen was manually titrated to target arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) 10–13 kPa and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) 92–98%. The main study outcomes were the incidence and duration of hyperoxemia and hypoxemia and the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2). A total of 181 infants were included. The median FiO2 was 0.43 (IQR 0.34–0.56) and the maximum FiO2 was 1.0 in 156/181 (86%) infants, resulting in at least one PaO2 > 13 kPa in 149/181 (82%) infants, of which 46/149 (31%) infants had minimal one PaO2 > 30 kPa. SpO2 was > 98% in 179/181 (99%) infants for 17.7% (8.2–35.6%) of the iNO time. PaO2 < 10 kPa occurred in 160/181 (88%) infants, of which 81/160 (51%) infants had minimal one PaO2 < 6.7 kPa. SpO2 was < 92% in 169/181 (93%) infants for 1.6% (0.5–4.3%) of the iNO time.

    Conclusion: While treatment of PPHN is focused on preventing and reversing hypoxemia, hyperoxemia occurs inadvertently in most patients.

What is Known:• High concentrations of oxygen are often needed to prevent hypoxemia-induced deterioration of PPHN, but this can also increase the risk of hyperoxemia.• Infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension may be particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of oxygen, and hyperoxemia could further induce pulmonary vasoconstriction, potentially worsening the condition.

What is New:• Hyperoxemia occurs in the majority of infants with PPHN during treatment with iNO.• Infants with PPHN spent a considerably longer period with saturations above the target range compared to saturations below the target range.
Differences Between Farmers and Crop Protection Service Providers in the Use of Pesticides
Authors: Heinzl Andreas , Braun Roman , Köppl Hubert , Pöchtrager Siegfried , Steinkellner Siegrid
Published: March 2024

EU-wide statistics on the use of pesticides in agriculture are available on the quantities placed on the market, but data on actual use in practice are limited. In this study, comparative data on pesticide use and resistance management were collected for a region with mixed agriculture (arable and animal husbandry) in Austria. Based on individual pesticide records of 30 farmers and 10 service providers who perform plant protection tasks for 30 farms, the average application rates of pesticides, the change of the active substance group as well as the shortfalls and exceedances of the maximum permissible application rate were compared. Most farmers and service providers usually make a well-considered change in the group of active substances to avoid the development of resistance. Exceedances and underdosing of authorised application rates were found for both groups of people, with farmers tending to deviate more often. The applications amounts were largely in compliance with the law, however, in 3.69% of the 2387 evaluated uses of pesticides, the authorised application rate was exceeded. This excess was found somewhat more frequently among farmers than service providers. The application rate excesses can be attributed to technical overruns due to differences between actually farmed and formally declared area, confusion caused by complex application instructions but also by intention. To avoid inadequate information on authorised application rates and to simplify information gathering, the development of databases and apps that take into account not only the indisputably essential aspect of correct registration, but especially the user and user-friendliness, would be of great benefit and value. Packaging sizes adapted to different requirements and farm sizes would also be advantageous. High priority should be given to the technical training of users and sales personnel. This can contribute to higher professionalism in the use of pesticides in terms of compliance and resistance management, but also to the reduction of pesticides.
Economic keywords in political communications and financial markets
Authors: Ficcadenti Valerio , Cerqueti Roy
Published: March 2024

This paper investigates the interplay between the use of economically significant keywords in political speeches—indicative of their economic content—and observed trends in financial markets. To this end, we implement a statistical/bibliometric study on the speeches stated by the US Presidents and the Standard and Poor’s 500 index (S &P 500). The corpus covers 1951-2017, including 376 discourses. The S &P 500 daily returns, prices, and volumes are considered in the same period. Our analysis utilises Kendall’s $$\tau $$
τ
correlation to assess the relationship between S &P 500 variables and the frequency of economic terms in the speeches. Additionally, four distance measures are applied to evaluate the similarities among these time series. Lastly, we compare Shannon entropies computed for each variable. The values of the index are observed the day before, the same day, and the day after the Presidents conducted their speeches. The joint evaluation of the results shows that the speeches’ economic content and the S &P 500 volume have the most meaningful relationship. In particular, the volume shows some changes interrelated to the speeches before and after the days of the talks. The price has similar behaviour but with a lighter magnitude than volume. The daily returns are poorly responsive to the speeches’ economic content, but entropy suggests that they present some distributional similarities.
Teacher educators’ use of mind mapping in the development of TPACK in a technology-rich learning environment
Authors: Theodorio Adedayo Olayinka , Mataka Tawanda Wallace , Shambare Brian
Published: March 2024

Since 2020, teaching has gone through substantive transformation. Teacher educators have been compelled to reevaluate their instructional strategies and the use of technology to deliver effective training for pre-service teachers. The year 2020 escalated the use of teaching strategies that relied on technology as a crucial tool in all teaching processes. Moreover, from the year 2020 and onwards, teacher educators’ knowledge of teaching, curriculum, and technology has been transformed to align with the new teaching and learning requirements for creating and delivering instruction in teacher education. However, little is mentioned in studies on how teacher educators think about lesson activities, especially how they map out instructional pathways and technology integration in a technology-rich environment. It is against this backdrop that this study uses qualitative and interpretive paradigms to investigate teacher educators’ use of mind-mapping for instructional practices in a technology-rich environment. The objective was to understand how they develop or prioritize the development of technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK). Six participants were purposively selected based on the criteria that the participants must use mind-mapping to plan lesson activities and integrate technology into the lesson, reflect on the instructional process, and allow the researchers to observe their classroom teaching engagements. Data was generated and collected using journal reflections, observations, and document analysis. The findings showed that the teacher educators made use of mind-mapping in the preparation of lesson activities and created rubrics using mind-mapping. They also used self-made video podcasts and integrated videos in lesson activities and mind-mapped assessment pathways with technology. From the narrations shared by the participants, the use of mind-mapping opened new strategies of planning, teaching, and assessing instruction with technology to develop technological pedagogical content knowledge.
Firms’ Bond Market Access and Impact on Bank Borrowing Costs
Authors: Thia Jang Ping , Kong Xinyu
Published: March 2024

This paper documents that companies with bond issuance are larger, are more leveraged, and have higher financing needs, but have lower observed syndicated loan spreads. Using endogenous treatment and outcome estimations, we find that companies would potentially face an average of 114 to 185 basis points (bps) higher loan spreads in counterfactual absence of bond market access, significantly larger than observational difference (57 bps) or existing estimates in the literature. This finding underscores the importance of bond markets for corporate financing and overcoming lending constraints or market power of banks, and also casts doubt on valued banking services as the explanation why loans are more costly to bonds. We also find bond issuance as information release a partial explanation only.
Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profiles of Himalayan Bumble Bees (Hymenoptera: Bombus Latreille) are Species-Specific and Show Elevational Variation
Authors: Narah Jaya , Streinzer Martin , Chakravorty Jharna , Megu Karsing , Spaethe Johannes , Brockmann Axel , Schmitt Thomas
Published: March 2024

Bumble bees are important pollinators in natural environments and agricultural farmlands, and they are in particular adapted to harsh environments like high mountain habitats. In these environments, animals are exposed to low temperature and face the risk of desiccation. The Eastern Himalayas are one of the recognized biodiversity hotspots worldwide. The area covers subtropical rainforest with warm temperature and high precipitation as well as high mountain ranges with peaks reaching up to 7,000 m, shaping a diverse floral and faunal community at the different elevational zones. To identify possible adaptation strategies, we investigated the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of four bumble bee species occurring at different elevational ranges in Arunachal Pradesh, the northeastern most state in India. At 17 locations along an elevational gradient, we collected workers of two species from lower elevations (B. albopleuralis and B. breviceps; ~ 100 m − 3,000 m asl) and two species from higher elevations (B. prshewalskyi and B. mirus; ~ 2,800 m − 4,500 m asl). The CHC profiles of all four species showed a significant degree of variation in the composition of hydrocarbons, indicating species specificity. We also found clear correlation with elevation. The weighted mean chain length of the hydrocarbons significantly differed between the low and high elevation species, and the proportion of saturated hydrocarbons in CHC profiles significantly increased with the elevational range of the bumble bee species. Our results indicate that bumble bees living at high elevations reduce the risk of water loss by adapting their CHC composition on their cuticle, a phenomenon that has also been found in other insects like ants and fruit flies.
Sustainable Institutions: How to Secure Values
Authors: Hindriks Frank
Published: March 2024

Social sustainability plays a prominent role in the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, but a proper analysis of the concept is still lacking. According to a widespread conception, a system is sustainable when it is preserved or developed in a robust manner. I argue, however, that social sustainability is best understood in explicitly normative terms. Formulating suitable development goals requires a conception of the kind of society that is worth sustaining. I propose that, for a system to be socially sustainable is for it to secure a range of values, including justice. Furthermore, I argue that social sustainability is first and foremost a property of institutions. I go on to ask what it takes for an institution to secure values and why justice is so important for institutions. The answers culminate in a social sustainability framework, which explains why making institutions more sustainable is so challenging.
Vortex Depinning in a Two-Dimensional Superfluid
Authors: Liu I.-Kang , Prasad Srivatsa B. , Baggaley Andrew W. , Barenghi Carlo F. , Wood Toby S.
Published: March 2024

We employ the Gross–Pitaevskii theory to model a quantized vortex depinning from a small obstacle in a two-dimensional superfluid due to an imposed background superfluid flow. We find that, when the flow’s velocity exceeds a critical value, the vortex drifts orthogonally to the flow before subsequently moving parallel to it away from the pinning site. The motion of the vortex around the pinning site is also accompanied by an emission of a spiral-shaped sound pulse. Through simulations, we present a phase diagram of the critical flow velocity for vortex depinning together with an empirical formula that illustrates how the critical velocity increases with the height and width of the pinning site. By employing a variety of choices of initial and boundary conditions, we are able to obtain lower and upper bounds on the critical velocity and demonstrate the robustness of these results.
KP solitons and the Riemann theta functions
Authors: Kodama Yuji
Published: March 2024

We show that the $$\tau $$
τ
-functions of the regular KP solitons from the totally nonnegative Grassmannians can be expressed by the Riemann theta functions on singular curves. We explicitly write the parameters in the Riemann theta function in terms of those of the KP soliton. We give a short remark on the Prym theta function on a double covering of singular curves. We also discuss the KP soliton on quasi-periodic background, which is obtained by applying the vertex operators to the Riemann theta function.
Calculating High-Pressure PAO4 Viscosity with Equilibrium Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Kruse Lars B. , Falk Kerstin , Moseler Michael
Published: March 2024

The development of optimized lubricants is hindered by missing knowledge of fluid properties, in particular the viscosity, in the range of extreme pressures and temperatures relevant for application. Molecular dynamics simulations can be used to calculate viscosity, but the necessary computational effort imposes practical limits for high viscosities. In this study, the viscosity of PAO4 oil was extracted from equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations as a function of pressure and temperature reaching viscosities up to 20 Pas. Three calculation methods based on different microscopic expressions for the viscosity were used. The methods exhibit considerably different performance with respect to preciseness and computational efficiency. The highest viscosities were found to be calculated most efficiently via the Stokes–Einstein relation, by computing the diffusion coefficient from the velocity correlation function. This offers a new, more effective route to push viscosity calculations in equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations to higher pressure systems.

Graphical Abstract
Waste Viscose for Optically pure Lactic acid Production
Authors: Campos Joana , Bågenholm-Ruuth Edvin , Sanchis-Sebastiá Miguel , Bao Jie , Wallberg Ola
Published: March 2024

Recycling of textile fibers is a mandatory step in the life-cycle of fabrics to avoid incineration or landfilling. After fiber-to-fiber recycling, cellulose fiber saccharification opens the door to the production of biochemical building blocks through microbial fermentation. This study documents for the first time the production of optically pure D-lactic acid (D-LA), one of the precursors of polylactic acid (PLA), from post-consumer waste viscose. Enzymatic hydrolysis was applied to white and colored waste viscose to produce two glucose-rich solutions that were used as carbon source for the genetically modified Pediococcus acidilactici ZP26. Afterward, batch and fed-batch cultivations were conducted with very similar results for the control and both waste viscose hydrolysates (white and colored). The strain was able to produce D-LA without any signs of inhibition by possibly toxic compounds present in the recycled textiles (additives, dyes, and other contaminants). The highest D-LA concentration and yield was reached in the batch reactors with colored waste viscose at 42.4 g/L and 0.97 g/g, respectively. In the fed-batch cultivations, the best result was achieved with the white waste solution, with 59.5 g of D-LA (40.8 g/L), and a yield on total glucose of 0.70 g/g. Notwithstanding the need for more research in the utilization of saccharified waste viscose as carbon source for bioprocesses, this is an important proof of concept of an application of streams from tertiary recycling of cellulosic fibers in the production of platform biochemicals.

Graphical Abstract
Cyclosporin A-loaded dissolving microneedles for dermatitis therapy: Development, characterisation and efficacy in a delayed-type hypersensitivity in vivo model
Authors: Martínez-Navarrete Miquel , Guillot Antonio José , Lobita Maria C. , Recio María Carmen , Giner Rosa , Aparicio-Blanco Juan , Montesinos María Carmen , Santos Hélder A. , Melero Ana
Published: March 2024

Several drugs can be used for treating inflammatory skin pathologies like dermatitis and psoriasis. However, for the management of chronic and long-term cases, topical administration is preferred over oral delivery since it prevents certain issues due to systemic side effects from occurring. Cyclosporin A (CsA) has been used for this purpose; however, its high molecular weight (1202 Da) restricts the diffusion through the skin structure. Here, we developed a nano-in-micro device combining lipid vesicles (LVs) and dissolving microneedle array patches (DMAPs) for targeted skin delivery. CsA-LVs allowed the effective incorporation of CsA in the hydrophilic DMAP matrix despite the hydrophobicity of the drug. Polymeric matrix composed of poly (vinyl alcohol) (5% w/v), poly (vinyl pyrrolidine) (15% w/v) and CsA-LV dispersion (10% v/v) led to the formation of CsA-LVs@DMAPs with adequate mechanical properties to penetrate the stratum corneum barrier. The safety and biocompatibility were ensured in an in vitro viability test using HaCaT keratinocytes and L929 fibroblast cell lines. Ex vivo permeability studies in a Franz-diffusion cell setup showed effective drug retention in the skin structure. Finally, CsA-LVs@DMAPs were challenged in an in vivo murine model of delayed-type hypersensitivity to corroborate their potential to ameliorate skin inflammatory conditions. Different findings like photon emission reduction in bioluminescence study, normalisation of histological damage and decrease of inflammatory cytokines point out the effectivity of CsA-LVs@DMAPs to treat these conditions. Overall, our study demonstrates that CsA-LVs@DMAPs can downregulate the skin inflammatory environment which paves the way for their clinical translation and their use as an alternative to corticosteroid-based therapies.

Graphical Abstract
Generalized Cesàro operators in weighted Banach spaces of analytic functions with sup-norms
Authors: Albanese Angela A. , Bonet José , Ricker Werner J.
Published: March 2024

An investigation is made of the generalized Cesàro operators $$C_t$$

C
t

, for $$t\in [0,1]$$

t
∈
[
0
,
1
]

, when they act on the space $$H({{\mathbb {D}}})$$

H
(
D
)

of holomorphic functions on the open unit disc $${{\mathbb {D}}}$$
D
, on the Banach space $$H^\infty $$

H
∞

of bounded analytic functions and on the weighted Banach spaces $$H_v^\infty $$

H
v
∞

and $$H_v^0$$

H
v
0

with their sup-norms. Of particular interest are the continuity, compactness, spectrum and point spectrum of $$C_t$$

C
t

as well as their linear dynamics and mean ergodicity.
An Updated View of the Effect of Probiotic Supplement on Sports Performance: A Detailed Review
Authors: Aykut Miray Nur , Erdoğan Esma Nur , Çelik Menşure Nur , Gürbüz Murat
Published: March 2024

Purpose of Review

Modulation of the host microbiota through probiotics has been shown to have beneficial effects on health in the growing body of research. Exercise increases the amount and diversity of beneficial microorganisms in the host microbiome. Although low- and moderate-intensity exercise has been shown to reduce physiological stress and improve immune function, high-intensity prolonged exercise can suppress immune function and reduce microbial diversity due to intestinal hypoperfusion. The effect of probiotic supplementation on sports performance is still being studied; however, questions remain regarding the mechanisms of action, strain used, and dose. In this review, the aim was to investigate the effects of probiotic supplements on exercise performance through modulation of gut microbiota and alleviation of GI symptoms, promotion of the immune system, bioavailability of nutrients, and aerobic metabolism.

Recent Findings

Probiotic supplementation may improve sports performance by reducing the adverse effects of prolonged high-intensity exercise.

Although probiotics have been reported to have positive effects on sports performance, information about the microbiome and nutrition of athletes has not been considered in most current studies. This may have limited the evaluation of the effects of probiotic supplementation on sports performance.
Storage mycotoxin producing fungi in Hungarian sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) samples—molecular approach of Fusarium spp.
Authors: Szabó Barbara Katalin , Körösi Katalin
Published: March 2024

The last few years have been a huge challenge for every farmer in Europe and Hungary because of the increase in hot days and the decrease in precipitation. These facts induced the farmer’s interest in sorghum because it has better stress tolerance than many other cereales, but little is known about mycotoxin-producing fungi, which can infect this crop. Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of filamentous fungi, and they are not only phytotoxic but also harmful to humans and animals. This study aimed to determine the internal infection caused by Alternaria spp., Fusarium spp., and Aspergillus spp., which are known as mycotoxin-producing fungi in food raw material. In our study in the case of sorghum, the presence of various mycotoxin-producing fungi was detected on Fusarium selective media (Nash and Snyder media), and the results indicate that these genera are present in sorghum grains as potential mycotoxin producers. To determine which Fusarium species is occurring in our sorghum grain samples, a molecular genetic study was performed on isolated fungi using the TEF region primer pairs to identify the occurring Fusarium species. We mainly identified Fusarium proliferatum in our conventional sorghum samples. The results show that the mentioned mycotoxin-producing fungi are in the sorghum grains and may pose a risk to the safety of feed and food because they may produce mycotoxins in the field or while being stored.
Canadian agriculture technology adoption
Authors: Easher Tahmid Huq , Enstroem Rickard , Griffin Terry , Nilsson Tomas
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Statistics Canada administers the Agricultural Census every 5 years, and this paper presents unsuppressed data from the 2016 and 2021 Census. The data set encompasses detailed information on farm types, sizes, technology choices, and a demographic profile of farm operators from the 2021 Census. Data on farm characteristics and operator demographics is crucial for understanding innovation in agriculture and formulating evidence-based policies.

Data description

The data sets cover the two most recent agriculture censuses of 2016 and 2021, presenting data on the number of farmers by region, farm type, size, and the adoption of technologies. Additionally, a third data set lists the number of farm operators by age and sex. The census questionnaire inquires about using different technologies, varying the types across the two census periods. Notably, there is no data suppression in these data sets, and they cover all 10 provinces in Canada, excluding the three territories. Farm types are categorized based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), and farm size is measured in acres.
The Tahitian chestnut [Inocarpus fagifer (Parkinson ex F.A.Zorn) Fosberg, Fabaceae], a neglected multi-purpose tree from the Asia–Pacific region
Authors: Müller Jonas V.
Published: March 2024

The Tahitian (or Polynesian) chestnut Inocarpus fagifer is distributed widely in tropical South-East Asia and in the Pacific region. It is an important component in traditional agroforestry systems. However, its importance as a food plant has decreased considerably. There is no evidence that the species has ever been domesticated, nor that deliberate breeding and crop improvement is presently taking place. This article aims to provide an overview of the current status of knowledge about its distribution, biology, its past and current cultivation and use as a species in agroforestry systems, and to analyse its future potential for production, commercial use and plant improvement. Inocarpus fagifer grows in lowlands in coastal and near coastal areas, often along rivers. It often forms almost pure stands underneath the canopy trees. Inocarpus fagifer trees are very vigorous and shade-tolerant. They thrive in moist to wet soils. Nearly all parts of the tree have been used for multiple purposes including timber, medicine, and animal fodder. The seed has significant traditional importance as human food, and it plays an important role in the diets of rural communities, in particular during the crop harvesting season. Inocarpus fagifer is mostly disease-free. Reports about the commercial use of I. fagifer remain localised and largely anecdotal. The species retains a good potential for commercial development and for a wider commercial use as an alternative food source. No accessible genebank accessions are available. Fundamental questions on its marketability and genetic potential need to be answered.
Strategizing in the Polish Furniture Industry
Authors: Bednarz-Łuczewska Paulina
Published: March 2024

The Element provides a broad overview of the Polish furniture industry. It tells the story of a sector that grew from a bundle of craftsmen into Europe's largest and the world's second-largest furniture exporter within three decades. This is also the story of a sector marked by a subordinate role in global value chains and a mediocre ranking in the global value capture game. Equipped with the methods of anthropology and the theoretical lenses of strategic management, the author guides the reader through the living world of the sector's strategists – their environment, resources, and dilemmas. The Element reconstructs how the strategists engage in creative dialogue with factors at the macro level (semi-peripheral economy, global value chain position), meso level (human capital, governmental programs) and micro level (family traditions, personal interests) to create their unique business models.
TWO-CARDINAL DERIVED TOPOLOGIES, INDESCRIBABILITY AND RAMSEYNESS
Authors: CODY BRENT , LAMBIE-HANSON CHRIS , ZHANG JING
Published: March 2024

We introduce a natural two-cardinal version of Bagaria’s sequence of derived topologies on ordinals. We prove that for our sequence of two-cardinal derived topologies, limit points of sets can be characterized in terms of a new iterated form of pairwise simultaneous reflection of certain kinds of stationary sets, the first few instances of which are often equivalent to notions related to strong stationarity, which has been studied previously in the context of strongly normal ideals. The non-discreteness of these two-cardinal derived topologies can be obtained from certain two-cardinal indescribability hypotheses, which follow from local instances of supercompactness. Additionally, we answer several questions posed by the first author, Holy and White on the relationship between Ramseyness and indescribability in both the cardinal context and in the two-cardinal context.
Increased cardiac vagal tone in childhood-only, adolescent-only, and persistently antisocial teenagers: the mediating role of low heart rate
Authors: Raine Adrian , Brodrick Lia , Pardini Dustin , Jennings J. Richard , Waller Rebecca
Published: March 2024

Background

Cardiac vagal tone is an indicator of parasympathetic nervous system functioning, and there is increasing interest in its relation to antisocial behavior. It is unclear however whether antisocial individuals are characterized by increased or decreased vagal tone, and whether increased vagal tone is the source of the low heart rate frequently reported in antisocial populations.

Methods

Participants consisted of four groups of community-dwelling adolescent boys aged 15.7 years: (1) controls, (2) childhood-only antisocial, (3) adolescent-only antisocial, and (4) persistently antisocial. Heart rate and vagal tone were assessed in three different conditions: rest, cognitive stressor, and social stressor.

Results

All three antisocial groups had both lower resting heart rates and increased vagal tone compared to the low antisocial controls across all three conditions. Low heart rate partially mediated the relationship between vagal tone and antisocial behavior.

Conclusions

Results indicate that increased vagal tone and reduced heart rate are relatively broad risk factors for different developmental forms of antisocial behavior. Findings are the first to implicate vagal tone as an explanatory factor in understanding heart rate – antisocial behavior relationships. Future experimental work using non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation or heart rate variability biofeedback is needed to more systematically evaluate this conclusion.
Effect of Yangxin Huoxue Jiedu recipe on inflammatory factors and oxidative stress on viral myocarditis in children
Authors: Hao Hengrui , Ji Meixia , Zhou Kuilong , Zhang Yunxia , Zhang Gaoyin , Ruan Lianying
Published: March 2024

Objective:

This observation purposed to investigate the effect of the Yangxin Huoxue Jiedu formula on children with viral myocarditis and its effect on inflammatory factors and oxidative response.

Materials and methods:

A total of 121 children with viral myocarditis were randomly divided into two groups, namely the control group (N = 60) and the traditional Chinese medicine group (N = 61). The control group was mainly treated with routine therapy, while the traditional Chinese medicine group was treated with Yangxin Huoxue Jiedu recipes based on the control group. The creatine kinase, creatine kinase myocardial isoenzyme, aspartate aminotransferase, lactic dehydrogenase, hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, cardiac troponin I, brain natriuretic peptide, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha, superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde in viral myocarditis patients were tested to estimate the myocardial function, inflammation, and oxidative situation.

Results:

After Yangxin Huoxue Jiedu treatment, 15 cases were recovered, 20 were excellent, and 21 were effective, which had a significant difference from the control group. The concentration of creatine kinase, creatine kinase myocardial isoenzyme, aspartate aminotransferase, lactic dehydrogenase, hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, cardiac troponin I and brain natriuretic peptide was decreased in the traditional Chinese medicine group. The levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha in the traditional Chinese medicine group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Superoxide dismutase was higher and malondialdehyde was lower than those in the control group.

Conclusion:

The use of Yangxin Huoxue Jiedu in the treatment of viral myocarditis has a definite clinical effect, which could improve myocardial function, reduce body inflammation, and promote oxidative recovery.
Depth Dependent Dynamics Explain the Equatorial Jet Difference Between Jupiter and Saturn
Authors: Duer Keren , Galanti Eli , Kaspi Yohai
Published: March 2024

Jupiter's equatorial eastward zonal flows reach wind velocities of ∼100 m s−1, while on Saturn they are three times as strong and extend about twice as wide in latitude, despite the two planets being overall dynamically similar. Recent gravity measurements obtained by the Juno and Cassini spacecraft uncovered that the depth of zonal flows on Saturn is about three times greater than on Jupiter. Here we show, using 3D deep convection simulations, that the atmospheric depth is the determining factor controlling both the strength and latitudinal extent of the equatorial zonal flows, consistent with the measurements for both planets. We show that the atmospheric depth is proportional to the convectively driven eddy momentum flux, which controls the strength of the zonal flows. These results provide a mechanistic explanation for the observed differences in the equatorial regions of Jupiter and Saturn, and offer new understandings about the dynamics of gas giants beyond the Solar System.
Multiplexed fluorescence and scatter detection with single cell resolution using on-chip fiber optics for droplet microfluidic applications
Authors: Gupta Preksha , Mohan Ambili , Mishra Apurv , Nair Atindra , Chowdhury Neeladri , Balekai Dhanush , Rai Kavyashree , Prabhakar Anil , Saiyed Taslimarif
Published: March 2024

Droplet microfluidics has emerged as a critical component of several high-throughput single-cell analysis techniques in biomedical research and diagnostics. Despite significant progress in the development of individual assays, multiparametric optical sensing of droplets and their encapsulated contents has been challenging. The current approaches, most commonly involving microscopy-based high-speed imaging of droplets, are technically complex and require expensive instrumentation, limiting their widespread adoption. To address these limitations, we developed the OptiDrop platform; this platform is a novel optofluidic setup that leverages the principles of flow cytometry. Our platform enables on-chip detection of the scatter and multiple fluorescence signals from the microfluidic droplets and their contents using optical fibers. The highly customizable on-chip optical fiber-based signal detection system enables simplified, miniaturized, low-cost, multiparametric sensing of optical signals with high sensitivity and single-cell resolution within each droplet. To demonstrate the ability of the OptiDrop platform, we conducted a differential expression analysis of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) protein in response to IFNγ stimulation. Our results showed the platform’s ability to sensitively detect cell surface biomarkers using fluorescently labeled antibodies. Thus, the OptiDrop platform combines the versatility of flow cytometry with the power of droplet microfluidics to provide wide-ranging, scalable optical sensing solutions for research and diagnostics.
Myricetin alleviates diabetic cardiomyopathy by regulating gut microbiota and their metabolites
Authors: Zhu Jinxiu , Bao Zhijun , Hu Zuoqi , Wu Shenglin , Tian Cuihong , Zhou Yueran , Ding Zipeng , Tan Xuerui
Published: March 2024

Background

The gut microbiota is involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Myricetin protects cardiac function in DCM. However, the low bioavailability of myricetin fails to explain its pharmacological mechanisms thoroughly. Research has shown that myricetin has a positive effect on the gut microbiota. We hypothesize that myricetin improves the development of DCM via regulating gut microbiota.

Methods

DCM mice were induced with streptozotocin and fed a high-fat diet, and then treated with myricetin by gavage and high-fat diet for 16 weeks. Indexes related to gut microbiota composition, cardiac structure, cardiac function, intestinal barrier function, and inflammation were detected. Moreover, the gut contents were transplanted to DCM mice, and the effect of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on DCM mice was assessed.

Results

Myricetin could improve cardiac function in DCM mice by decreasing cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis. The composition of gut microbiota, especially for short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria involving Roseburia, Faecalibaculum, and Bifidobacterium, was more abundant by myricetin treatment in DCM mice. Myricetin increased occludin expression and the number of goblet cells in DCM mice. Compared with DCM mice unfed with gut content, the cardiac function, number of goblet cells, and expression of occludin in DCM mice fed by gut contents were elevated, while cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and TLR4/MyD88 pathway-related proteins were decreased.

Conclusions

Myricetin can prevent DCM development by increasing the abundance of beneficial gut microbiota and restoring the gut barrier function.
Long term outcomes of nonmyeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation with TSEB TLI and ATG for Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome
Authors: Morris S. L. , Thomas B. R. , Palanicawandar R. , Whittaker S. , Child F. , Wain M. , Sim V. , Szydlo R. , Mangar S. , Olavarria E. , Lozano Cerrada S. , Muzamil A. , Kanfer E.
Published: March 2024

Advanced stage (IIB-IVB) Mycosis Fungoides (MF) and Sezary Syndrome (SS) have a poor prognosis with median survival <5 years. We report long-term outcomes of a non-myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation regimen consisting of total skin electron beam therapy, total lymphoid irradiation and antithymocyte globulin. Our prospective cohort consisted of 41 patients with a higher proportion of MF (34MF, 7SS). Acute GVHD Grade 2 to 4 was seen in 31.7% and chronic GVHD Grade 2 to 4 in 24%. The cumulative incidence of non-relapse mortality was 9.8% at 1 year and 12.6% at 2 years. At Day +90 post-transplant 66% of patients had a complete response (CR). With a median post-transplant follow up of 5.27 years, the 5-year overall survival rate was 37.7% (MF 36.7%, SS 57.1%). The 5-year cumulative incidence of progressive disease or relapse was 52.7% in all patients but only 20.8% in those with CR at transplant compared to 70.6% in those not in CR at transplant (p = 0.006). Long term survival is possible in advanced MF and SS with non-myeloablative transplantation and outcomes are improved in patients with CR at transplant.
Functionalized graphene-oxide grids enable high-resolution cryo-EM structures of the SNF2h-nucleosome complex without crosslinking
Authors: Chio Un Seng , Palovcak Eugene , Smith Anton A. A. , Autzen Henriette , Muñoz Elise N. , Yu Zanlin , Wang Feng , Agard David A. , Armache Jean-Paul , Narlikar Geeta J. , Cheng Yifan
Published: March 2024

Single-particle cryo-EM is widely used to determine enzyme-nucleosome complex structures. However, cryo-EM sample preparation remains challenging and inconsistent due to complex denaturation at the air-water interface (AWI). Here, to address this issue, we develop graphene-oxide-coated EM grids functionalized with either single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or thiol-poly(acrylic acid-co-styrene) (TAASTY) co-polymer. These grids protect complexes between the chromatin remodeler SNF2h and nucleosomes from the AWI and facilitate collection of high-quality micrographs of intact SNF2h-nucleosome complexes in the absence of crosslinking. The data yields maps ranging from 2.3 to 3 Å in resolution. 3D variability analysis reveals nucleotide-state linked conformational changes in SNF2h bound to a nucleosome. In addition, the analysis provides structural evidence for asymmetric coordination between two SNF2h protomers acting on the same nucleosome. We envision these grids will enable similar detailed structural analyses for other enzyme-nucleosome complexes and possibly other protein-nucleic acid complexes in general.
Systematic review of the uncertainty of coral reef futures under climate change
Authors: Klein Shannon G. , Roch Cassandra , Duarte Carlos M.
Published: March 2024

Climate change impact syntheses, such as those by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, consistently assert that limiting global warming to 1.5 °C is unlikely to safeguard most of the world’s coral reefs. This prognosis is primarily based on a small subset of available models that apply similar ‘excess heat’ threshold methodologies. Our systematic review of 79 articles projecting coral reef responses to climate change revealed five main methods. ‘Excess heat’ models constituted one third (32%) of all studies but attracted a disproportionate share (68%) of citations in the field. Most methods relied on deterministic cause-and-effect rules rather than probabilistic relationships, impeding the field’s ability to estimate uncertainty. To synthesize the available projections, we aimed to identify models with comparable outputs. However, divergent choices in model outputs and scenarios limited the analysis to a fraction of available studies. We found substantial discrepancies in the projected impacts, indicating that the subset of articles serving as a basis for climate change syntheses may project more severe consequences than other studies and methodologies. Drawing on insights from other fields, we propose methods to incorporate uncertainty into deterministic modeling approaches and propose a multi-model ensemble approach to generating probabilistic projections for coral reef futures.
Synapsin 2a tetramerisation selectively controls the presynaptic nanoscale organisation of reserve synaptic vesicles
Authors: Longfield Shanley F. , Gormal Rachel S. , Feller Matis , Parutto Pierre , Reingruber Jürgen , Wallis Tristan P. , Joensuu Merja , Augustine George J. , Martínez-Mármol Ramón , Holcman David , Meunier Frédéric A.
Published: March 2024

Neurotransmitter release relies on the regulated fusion of synaptic vesicles (SVs) that are tightly packed within the presynaptic bouton of neurons. The mechanism by which SVs are clustered at the presynapse, while preserving their ability to dynamically recycle to support neuronal communication, remains unknown. Synapsin 2a (Syn2a) tetramerization has been suggested as a potential clustering mechanism. Here, we used Dual-pulse sub-diffractional Tracking of Internalised Molecules (DsdTIM) to simultaneously track single SVs from the recycling and the reserve pools, in live hippocampal neurons. The reserve pool displays a lower presynaptic mobility compared to the recycling pool and is also present in the axons. Triple knockout of Synapsin 1-3 genes (SynTKO) increased the mobility of reserve pool SVs. Re-expression of wild-type Syn2a (Syn2aWT), but not the tetramerization-deficient mutant K337Q (Syn2aK337Q), fully rescued these effects. Single-particle tracking revealed that Syn2aK337QmEos3.1 exhibited altered activity-dependent presynaptic translocation and nanoclustering. Therefore, Syn2a tetramerization controls its own presynaptic nanoclustering and thereby contributes to the dynamic immobilisation of the SV reserve pool.
Identifying regulators of aberrant stem cell and differentiation activity in colorectal cancer using a dual endogenous reporter system
Authors: Spisak Sandor , Chen David , Likasitwatanakul Pornlada , Doan Paul , Li Zhixin , Bala Pratyusha , Vizkeleti Laura , Tisza Viktoria , De Silva Pushpamali , Giannakis Marios , Wolpin Brian , Qi Jun , Sethi Nilay S.
Published: March 2024

Aberrant stem cell-like activity and impaired differentiation are central to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). To identify functional mediators of these key cellular programs, we engineer a dual endogenous reporter system by genome-editing the SOX9 and KRT20 loci of human CRC cell lines to express fluorescent reporters, broadcasting aberrant stem cell-like and differentiation activity, respectively. By applying a CRISPR screen targeting 78 epigenetic regulators with 542 sgRNAs to this platform, we identify factors that contribute to stem cell-like activity and differentiation in CRC. Perturbation single cell RNA sequencing (Perturb-seq) of validated hits nominate SMARCB1 of the BAF complex (also known as SWI/SNF) as a negative regulator of differentiation across an array of neoplastic colon models. SMARCB1 is a dependency and required for in vivo growth of human CRC models. These studies highlight the utility of biologically designed endogenous reporter platforms to uncover regulators with therapeutic potential.
Cobalt catalyzed practical hydroboration of terminal alkynes with time-dependent stereoselectivity
Authors: Wen Jinglan , Huang Yahao , Zhang Yu , Grützmacher Hansjörg , Hu Peng
Published: March 2024

Stereodefined vinylboron compounds are important organic synthons. The synthesis of E−1-vinylboron compounds typically involves the addition of a B-H bond to terminal alkynes. The selective generation of the thermodynamically unfavorable Z-isomers remains challenging, necessitating improved methods. Here, such a proficient and cost-effective catalytic system is introduced, comprising a cobalt salt and a readily accessible air-stable CNC pincer ligand. This system enables the transformation of terminal alkynes, even in the presence of bulky substituents, with excellent Z-selectivity. High turnover numbers (>1,600) and turnover frequencies (>132,000 h−1) are achieved at room temperature, and the reaction can be scaled up to 30 mmol smoothly. Kinetic studies reveal a formal second-order dependence on cobalt concentration. Mechanistic investigations indicate that the alkynes exhibit a higher affinity for the catalyst than the alkene products, resulting in exceptional Z-selective performance. Furthermore, a rare time-dependent stereoselectivity is observed, allowing for quantitative conversion of Z-vinylboronate esters to the E-isomers.
Stable hydrogen evolution reaction at high current densities via designing the Ni single atoms and Ru nanoparticles linked by carbon bridges
Authors: Yao Rui , Sun Kaian , Zhang Kaiyang , Wu Yun , Du Yujie , Zhao Qiang , Liu Guang , Chen Chen , Sun Yuhan , Li Jinping
Published: March 2024

Continuous and effective hydrogen evolution under high current densities remains a challenge for water electrolysis owing to the rapid performance degradation under continuous large-current operation. In this study, theoretical calculations, operando Raman spectroscopy, and CO stripping experiments confirm that Ru nanocrystals have a high resistance against deactivation because of the synergistic adsorption of OH intermediates (OHad) on the Ru and single atoms. Based on this conceptual model, we design the Ni single atoms modifying ultra-small Ru nanoparticle with defect carbon bridging structure (UP-RuNiSAs/C) via a unique unipolar pulse electrodeposition (UPED) strategy. As a result, the UP-RuNiSAs/C is found capable of running steadily for 100 h at 3 A cm−2, and shows a low overpotential of 9 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 under alkaline conditions. Moreover, the UP-RuNiSAs/C allows an anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer to operate stably at 1.95 Vcell for 250 h at 1 A cm−2.