bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TNF-Polarized Macrophages Produce Insulin-like 6 Peptide to Stimulate Bone Formation in Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mice
Authors: Yi Xiangjiao , Liu Xin , Kenney H Mark , Duan Rong , Lin Xi , Schwarz Edward , Yao Zhenqiang
Published: September 2021

The risk of osteoporosis is increased in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy has markedly improved the outcomes of RA patients but does not improve osteoporosis in some reports. This could be a combined result of disease severity and other therapeutic agents, such as glucocorticoids that accelerate osteoporosis progression. We evaluated the effects of anti-TNF therapy on osteoporosis in an animal model of RA and explored the possible mechanisms involved. Six-week-old TNF transgenic (TNF-Tg) mice with early stage erosive arthritis were treated with TNF antibody (Ab) or control immunoglobulin (IgG) weekly for 4 weeks. We found that TNF Ab completely blocked the development of erosive arthritis in TNF-Tg mice, but only slightly increased vertebral bone mass, associated with reduction in parameters of both bone resorption and formation. Similarly, TNF Ab slightly increased trabecular bone mass in tibias of 8-month-old TNF-Tg mice with advanced erosive arthritis. Interestingly, TNFα increased osteoblast differentiation from mouse bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) containing large number of macrophages but not from pure mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs). TNFα-polarized macrophages (TPMs) did not express iNos and Arginase 1, typical markers of inflammatory and resident macrophages. Interestingly, TPMs stimulated osteoblast differentiation, unlike resident and inflammatory macrophages polarized by IL-4 and interferon-λ, respectively. RNA-seq analysis indicated that TPMs produced several anabolic factors, including Jagged1 and insulin like 6 (INSL6). Importantly, inhibition of either Jagged1 or INSL6 blocked TNFα-induced osteoblast differentiation. Furthermore, INSL6 Ab significantly decreased the expansion of TNF-induced MPCs in BMSCs, and anti-TNF Ab reduced INSL6 expression by macrophages in vitro and in TNF-Tg mice in vivo. We conclude that TPMs produce INSL6 to stimulate bone formation and anti-TNF Ab blocks not only enhanced bone resorption but also the anabolic effect of TPMs on bone, limiting its effect to increase bone mass in this model of RA. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Geriatric Nutrition Risk Index: Prognostic factor related to inflammation in elderly patients with cancer cachexia
Authors: Ruan Guo‐Tian , Zhang Qi , Zhang Xi , Tang Meng , Song Meng‐Meng , Zhang Xiao‐Wei , Li Xiang‐Rui , Zhang Kang‐Ping , Ge Yi‐Zhong , Yang Ming , Li Qin‐Qin , Chen Yong‐Bing , Yu Kai‐Ying , Cong Ming‐Hua , Li Wei , Wang Kun‐Hua , Shi Han‐Ping
Published: September 2021

Background

Systemic inflammation and cachexia are associated with adverse clinical outcomes in elderly patients with cancer. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is a simple and useful tool to assess these conditions, but its predictive ability for elderly patients with cancer cachexia (EPCC) is unknown.

Methods

This multicentre cohort study included 746 EPCC with an average age of 72.00 ± 5.24 years, of whom 489 (65.5%) were male. The patients were divided into two groups (high GNRI group ≥91.959 vs. low GNRI group <91.959) according to the optimal cut‐off value of the ROC curve. The calibration curves were performed to analyse the prognostic, predictive ability of GNRI. Comprehensive survival analyses were utilized to explore the relationship between GNRI and the overall survival (OS) of EPCC. Interaction analysis was used to investigate the comprehensive effects of low GNRI and subgroup parameters on the OS of EPCC.

Results

In this study, a total of 2560 patients were diagnosed with cancer cachexia, including 746 cases of EPCC. During the 3.6 year median follow‐up, we observed 403 deaths. The overall mortality rate for EPCC at 12 months was 34.3% (95% CI: 62.3% to 69.2%), and resulting in rate of 278 events per 1000 patient‐years. The GNRI score of EPCC was significantly lower than those of young patients with cancer cachexia (P < 0.001). The 1, 3, and 5 year calibration curves showed that the GNRI score had good survival prediction in the OS of EPCC. The GNRI could predict the OS of EPCC, whether as a continuous variable or a categorical variable. Particularly, we also found that low GNRI score (<91.959) of EPCC had a worse prognosis than those with a high GNRI score (≥91.959, P = 0.001, HR = 1.728, 95% CI: 1.244–2.401). Consistent results were observed in the tumour subgroups of gastric cancer and colorectal cancer. Notably, similar results were observed in the sensitivity analysis. In the subgroup analysis, the low GNRI has a combined effect with age (<70 years) on poor OS of EPCC. The results of the prognostic risk model found that the lower the GNRI score, the greater the prognostic risk score, and the greater the risk of death in EPCC.

Conclusions

For the first time, this study found that the GNRI score can serve as an independent prognostic factor for the OS of EPCC.
Mitochondrial aberrations during the progression of disuse atrophy differentially affect male and female mice
Authors: Rosa‐Caldwell Megan E. , Lim Seongkyun , Haynie Wesley S. , Brown Jacob L. , Lee David E. , Dunlap Kirsten R. , Jansen Lisa T. , Washington Tyrone A. , Wiggs Michael P. , Greene Nicholas P.
Published: September 2021

Background

Disuse decreases muscle size and is predictive of mortality across multiple pathologies. Detriments to mitochondrial function are hypothesized to underlie disuse‐induced muscle atrophy. Little data exist on early mechanisms contributing to onset of these pathologies, nor is it known how they differ between sexes. The purpose of this study was to examine differential and conserved responses to mitochondrial quality control in male and female mice during the development and progression of disuse‐induced atrophy.

Methods

One hundred C57BL/6J mice (50 male and 50 female) were hindlimb unloaded to induce disuse atrophy for 0 (con), 24, 48, 72, or 168 h. At designated time‐points, extensor digitorum longus, gastrocnemius, and soleus muscles were collected for analysis of mitochondrial quality control markers.

Results

One hundred sixty‐eight hours of disuse resulted in ~25% lower oxidative muscle fibre CSA in both male (P = 0.003) and female (P = 0.02) mice without any differences due to disuse in glycolytic fibres. In male mice, 48 h of unloading was sufficient to result in ~67% greater mitochondrial oxidative stress as assessed by the reporter gene pMitoTimer compared with 0 h (P = 0.002), this mitochondrial stress preceded detectable muscle loss. However in female mice, mitochondrial oxidative stress did not occur until 168 h of disuse (~40% greater mitochondrial oxidative stress in 168 h compared with 0 h of disuse, P < 0.0001). Blunted oxidative stress in female mice appeared to coincide with greater inductions of autophagy and mitophagy in female mice (~3‐fold greater BNIP3 and ~6‐fold greater LC3II/I ratio P < 0.0001 and P = 0.038 respectively). Male mice overall had greater reactive oxygen species (ROS) production compared with female mice. Female mice had a greater induction of ROS within 24 h of disuse (~4‐fold greater compared with 0 h, P < 0.0001); whereas male mice did not have greater ROS production until 168 h of disuse (~2‐fold greater, P < 0.0001). Although all muscle types exhibited some alterations to mitochondrial quality control, such as increased markers of mitophagy and fission, the soleus muscle in both male and female mice exhibited consistent alterations to various markers of mitochondrial quality. Markers of mitochondrial translation were approximately 30–50% lower within 24 h of unloading in both male and female soleus muscle (P value ranges: <0.0001–0.03).

Conclusions

Disuse negatively affects mitochondria differentially between sexes during development of muscle wasting. Acutely, female mice may forgo muscle mass to maintain mitochondrial quality compared with male mice. These differences may contribute to divergent clinical manifestations of atrophy.
Polypoid invasive carcinoma of the gallbladder‐Another challenging polypoid neoplasm‐
Authors: Nakanuma Yasuni , Sugino Takashi , Nomura Yoshikatsu , Watanabe Hiroyuki , Terada Takuro
Published: September 2021

Background

Invasive gallbladder carcinoma generally presents as nodular‐sclerosing growth. Recently, “polypoid invasive carcinoma (PICA)” showing grossly visible polypoid neoplasm and histologically invasive carcinoma with no adenomatous components was proposed as a neoplastic polyp of the gallbladder.

Methods

We herein report five cases of PICA collected from 49 cases of invasive gallbladder carcinoma in comparison with another polypoid preinvasive neoplasm of gallbladder, intracholecystic papillary neoplasm (ICPN).

Results

Polypoid invasive carcinomas were composed of four males and one female with an average age of 74 years. Polypoid lesions were sessile (height ranging from 6 to 10 mm and the largest diameter ranging from 12 to 40 mm), and histologically, polypoid neoplasms presented papillary configuration containing tubular and cribriform components with thin inflammatory, fibrotic stroma. Polypoid carcinoma invaded directly and continuously into the gallbladder wall with destruction of the muscle layer. These patterns of PICA were different from ICPN, showing papillary patterns containing tubular components with fine fibrovascular stalks and with occasional focal stromal invasion but with preserved muscle layer. Post‐operative outcome was not favorable in PICA but was favorable in ICPN.

Conclusions

Polypoid invasive carcinoma shared several pathological features with ICPN, such as intraluminal polypoid pattern with papillary configurations, but PICAs were invasive adenocarcinoma with destruction of muscle layer while ICPNs were preinvasive neoplasm with occasional focal stromal invasion, thus both should be differentiated from each other.
Ablation versus medication as initial therapy for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: An updated meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Kewcharoen Jakrin , Prasitlumkum Narut , Chokesuwattanaskul Ronpichai , Yi Ruiyang , Jongnarangsin Krit , Bunch Thomas J. , Ranjan Ravi , Navaravong Leenhapong
Published: September 2021

Background

Recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggest that ablation is superior to antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) as an initial therapy for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF) to prevent arrhythmia recurrences. We performed an updated meta‐analysis of RCTs, to include recent data from cryoballoon‐based ablation and to compare arrhythmia‐free survival and adverse events between ablation and AADs.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception to December 2020. We included RCT comparing patients with pAF undergoing ablation or receiving AADs as an initial therapy. We combined data using the random‐effects model to calculate hazards ratio (HR) for arrhythmia‐free survival and odds ratio (OR) for adverse events.

Results

Five studies from 2005 to 2020 involving 985 patients were included (495 patients and 490 patients underwent ablation and medication as initial therapy, respectively). Patients who underwent ablation had higher freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATs) during the 12‐24 months follow‐up period (pooled HR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.40‐0.59, P < .001). In a subgroup analysis of ablation method used, both cryoablation group (pooled HR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.38‐0.64, P < .001) and radiofrequency ablation group (pooled HR = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.35‐0.64, P < .001) showed reduction in AT recurrence compared with AAD group. There were no differences in adverse events including cerebrovascular accident, pericardial effusion or tamponade, pulmonary vein stenosis, acute coronary syndrome, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and bradycardia requiring a pacemaker.

Conclusion

Catheter ablation (both cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation) is superior to AAD as an initial therapy for pAF in efficacy for reducing AT recurrences without a compromise in adverse events.
Calibration of the temporal drift in absolute and relative Raman intensities in large Raman images using a mercury–argon lamp
Authors: Jakubek Ryan S. , Fries Marc D.
Published: September 2021

Raman imaging is a powerful tool for the analysis of astromaterials including meteorites, cosmic dust, and samples returned to Earth by spacecraft. Many astromaterials are heterogeneous on mm‐ or cm‐sized scales requiring the collection of large Raman images with long accumulation times of days to weeks. It is known that the wavenumber and bandwidth calibration of a Raman instrument drifts with time and temperature resulting in significant changes in the observed Raman band over the course of Raman image collection. In this work, we examine the temporal and thermal drift of absolute and relative Raman intensities through the collection of a Raman image. We show that the spectrometer throughput and observed Raman intensities change over time and are correlated to small changes in lab temperature. We propose a method of calibrating for the drift in Raman intensities using a Hg–Ar (mercury–argon) calibration lamp integrated into the Raman instrument. We also show that relative Raman intensities drift with time as a function of temperature as a result of changes to the Raman instrument response function. We developed a method to calibrate the drifting instrument response function using only the calibration lines from the Hg–Ar lamp. Overall, our results elucidate the effects of temporal/thermal drift on Raman intensities and we propose calibration techniques to account for these effects.
Brazilian society of surgical oncology: Guidelines for the surgical treatment of mid‐low rectal cancer
Authors: Valadão Marcus , Cesar Daniel , Véo Carlos Augusto Rodrigues , Araújo Rodrigo Otávio , do Espirito Santo Gilmar Ferreira , Oliveira de Souza Rafael , Aguiar Samuel , Ribeiro Reitan , de Castro Ribeiro Héber Salvador , de Souza Fernandes Paulo Henrique , Oliveira Alexandre Ferreira
Published: September 2021

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer in North America, Western Europe, and Brazil, and represents an important public health problem. It is estimated that approximately 30% of all the CRC cases correspond to tumors located in the rectum, requiring complex multidisciplinary treatment. In an effort to provide surgeons who treat rectal cancer with the most current information based on the best evidence in the literature, the Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology (SBCO) has produced the present guidelines for rectal cancer treatment that is focused on the main topics related to daily clinical practice.

Objectives

The SBCO developed the present guidelines to provide recommendations on the main topics related to the treatment of mid‐low rectal cancer based on current scientific evidence.

Methods

Between May and June 2021, 11 experts in CRC surgery met to develop the guidelines for the treatment of mid‐low rectal cancer. A total of 22 relevant topics were disseminated among the participants. The methodological quality of a final list with 221 sources was evaluated, all the evidence was examined and revised, and the treatment guideline was formulated by the 11‐expert committee. To reach a final consensus, all the topics were reviewed via a videoconference meeting that was attended by all 11 of the experts.

Results

The prepared guidelines contained 22 topics considered to be highly relevant in the treatment of mid‐low rectal cancer, covering subjects related to the tests required for staging, surgical technique‐related aspects, recommended measures to reduce surgical complications, neoadjuvant strategies, and nonoperative treatments. In addition, a checklist was proposed to summarize the important information and offer an updated tool to assist surgeons who treat rectal cancer provide the best care to their patients.

Conclusion

These guidelines summarize concisely the recommendations based on the most current scientific evidence on the most relevant aspects of the treatment of mid‐low rectal cancer and are a practical guide that can help surgeons who treat rectal cancer make the best therapeutic decision.
Cysteine‐rich intestinal protein 1 enhances the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via Ras signaling
Authors: He Hong‐Yu , Hu Li
Published: September 2021

The present study aimed to explore the expression and clinical significance of cysteine‐rich intestinal protein 1 (CRIP1) mRNA in the serum of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) was performed to explore the level of CRIP1 mRNA in the tissues and serum of patients with HCC. Our data showed that the mRNA level of CRIP1 was significantly elevated in the serum and tissues of HCC patients. Moreover, serum CRIP1 mRNA was significantly elevated in HCC patients with larger tumor sizes and higher tumor node metastasis (TNM) stages. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that compared with a single marker, the combined detection of alpha‐fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, and CRIP1 had the highest accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. Further study showed that the overexpression of CRIP1 enhanced the proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells, but the inhibition of CRIP1 decreased the proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells. Microarray assays and KyotoEncyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis showed that overexpression of CRIP1 induced the activation of Ras signaling. Co‐immunoprecipitation (Co‐IP) assays indicated that CRIP1 could interact with Ras. To further evaluate whether CRIP1 interacts with Ras, a specific siRNA targeting Ras was selected. We found that Ras knockdown reduced the activation of Ras/AKT signaling even in HepG2 cells transfected with CRIP1. Moreover, elevated expression of CRIP1 increased the proliferation of HepG2 cells, but such effects could be abolished by silencing Ras. In summary, elevated CRIP1 levels enhanced the progression of CRIP1 via Ras signaling.
Hollow Microporous Organic Nanospheres with an Organocatalyst and a Metal Catalyst for Tandem Reactions
Authors: Zhang Li , Meng Guojie , Yu Haitao , Zhang Hui , Huang Kun
Published: September 2021

Amino‐functionalized hollow microporous organic nanospheres supported palladium catalysts (Pd@NH2‐H‐MONs) are prepared via the integration of hyper‐crosslinking induced self‐assembly strategy and a simple impregnation method by employing polylactide‐b‐poly(Boc‐aminoethyl acrylamide)‐b‐polystyrene (PLA‐b‐PBOCa‐b‐PS) triblock copolymers as precursors, in which Pd nanoparticles are uniformly anchored on NH2‐H‐MONs based on the strong interaction between Pd nanoparticles and amino functional groups. Combining with the unique micro/mesoporous structure derived from hyper‐crosslinking shell and the degradation of PLA block, the coexistence of free amine moieties produced by the deprotection of PBOCa block and well‐dispersed Pd nanoparticles endows the Pd@NH2‐H‐MONs with excellent catalysis activity for various cascade reactions. The present strategy opens a novel avenue for the multifunctional H‐MONs acting as a superior candidate for the heterogeneous tandem catalysis reactions.
Catalyst Type Effects on Structure/Property Relations of Polypropylene Random Copolymers
Authors: Paulik Christian , Tranninger Cornelia , Wang Jingbo , Shutov Pavel , Mileva Daniela , Gahleitner Markus
Published: September 2021

Polypropylene (PP) random copolymers are an important class of commercial materials that can be tuned for a wide range of different applications. The structure–property relations are mainly discussed in this article focusing on two major influencing factors, the catalyst system and the type and amount of comonomer. Ziegler–Natta (ZN) catalyst systems still dominate the production of polypropylene and todays sixth‐generation ZN catalysts are based on postphthalate donor systems. Metallocene (MC) catalysts offer possibilities to exactly control the microstructure of the polymer even better. Mostly, ethylene is used as comonomer being randomly distributed for up to 7.3 mol% when using ZN catalysts. For single site catalysts, homogenous (single phase) materials can be achieved up to ethylene contents of 20.8 mol%. The incorporated comonomer reduces the crystallization speed and the lamellar thickness of the polymer thus affording soft and highly transparent materials. Random copolymers and terpolymers with higherα‐olefins only play a minor role but offer an additional possibility for property adjustments. PP random copolymers can also be varied in their performance through multistage polymerizations, altering the comonomer content and or the molecular weight in the different polymerization reactors.
Contribution of uniparental disomy in a clinical trio exome cohort of 2675 patients
Authors: Wang Lei , Liu Pengfei , Bi Weimin , Sim Teresa , Wang Xia , Walkiewicz Magdalene , Leduc Magalie Sophie , Meng Linyan , Xia Fan , Eng Christine M. , Yang Yaping , Yuan Bo , Dai Hongzheng
Published: September 2021

Background

Uniparental disomy (UPD) is the inheritance of two homologous chromosomes from the same parent. UPD may result in clinical phenotypes when occurring on chromosomes with specific imprinting pattern, when leading to homozygosity of a deleterious recessive allele inherited from one carrier parent, or when associated with a mosaic aneuploidy. Due to the importance of UPD in genetic disease etiology, UPD analysis has started to be implemented in the context of exome sequencing (ES) or genome sequencing.

Methods

We developed an in‐house algorithm TRIPS (Trio Parentage/UPD Studies) to identify UPD events in trio ES cases. This method identifies regions with uniparental inheritance by utilizing the trio genotyping data obtained from the concurrent SNP array to delineate the parental origin of the SNPs in the proband.

Results

We identified 16 UPD events from 2675 ES trios. Among those, four events led to imprinting disorders, seven unmasked a pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant in a recessive disease gene, and two were consistent with a mosaic genome wide paternal UPD pattern. Twelve of these UPD events directly contributed to the molecular diagnosis of the patients.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated the contribution of UPD to the molecular diagnosis in one clinical ES cohort, thus UPD analysis should be incorporated into routine clinical ES interpretation.
The impact of exercise intended for fitness or sport on the prevalence of non‐specific neck pain in adults: A systematic review
Authors: Ireland Josh , Window Peter , O’Leary Shaun P.
Published: September 2021

Objective

This study systematically reviewed the literature investigating the relationship between participation in exercise intended to improve fitness or sport and the prevalence of non‐specific neck pain in adults. A secondary objective evaluated if exercise characteristics (frequency, and total duration of weekly exercise) impacted any observed relationship between this form of exercise and neck pain prevalence.

Design

Narrative systematic review.

Literature Search

Six databases including Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library were searched from their inception up to April 2021.

Study Selection Criteria

Studies were deemed eligible if they investigated the relationship between exercise participation and prevalence of non‐specific neck pain. Only full‐text, cross‐sectional and longitudinal studies in an adult population were included.

Data Synthesis

Due to heterogeneity of characteristics in the included studies, a meta‐analysis was not deemed feasible. Data were synthesised using narrative synthesis with subgroup analysis of exercise themes including frequency, and total weekly duration.

Results

Fair to good quality evidence from eight studies indicated that regular participation in exercise intended for fitness or sport was associated with a reduced prevalence of neck pain in adults. Three cross‐sectional studies reported a positive relationship between greater weekly exercise duration and reduced neck pain prevalence.

Conclusion

The results of this review provide preliminary evidence of a potential protective effect of participation in exercise intended for fitness or sport on the prevalence of non‐specific neck pain in the community. This protective relationship appeared to be stronger when exercise was undertaken for a greater total weekly duration.
History of bariatric surgery and COVID‐19 outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes: Results from the CORONADO study
Authors: Blanchard Claire , Perennec Tanguy , Smati Sarra , Tramunt Blandine , Guyomarch Béatrice , Bigot‐Corbel Edith , Bordier Lyse , Borot Sophie , Bourron Olivier , Caussy Cyrielle , Coffin‐Boutreux Christine , Dutour Anne , Germain Natacha , Gonfroy‐Leymarie Céline , Meyer Laurent , Prevost Gaëtan , Roussel Ronan , Seret‐Bégué Dominique , Thivolet Charles , Vergès Bruno , Pichelin Matthieu , Gourdy Pierre , Hadjadj Samy , Wargny Matthieu , Pattou François , Cariou Bertrand ,   for the CORONADO investigators
Published: September 2021

Objective

This study assessed the impact of a history of metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) on the clinical outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and severe obesity hospitalized for COVID‐19.

Methods

In this post hoc analysis from the nationwide observational CORONADO (Coronavirus SARS‐CoV2 and Diabetes Outcomes) study, patients with T2D and a history of MBS were matched with patients without MBS for age, sex, and BMI either at the time of MBS or on admission for COVID‐19. The composite primary outcome (CPO) combined invasive mechanical ventilation and/or death within 7 and 28 days following admission.

Results

Out of 2,398 CORONADO participants, 20 had a history of MBS. When matching for BMI at the time of MBS and after adjustment for diabetes duration, the CPO occurred less frequently within 7 days (3 vs. 17 events, OR: 0.15 [0.01 to 0.94], p = 0.03) and 28 days (3 vs. 19 events, OR: 0.11 [0.01 to 0.71], p = 0.02) in patients with MBS (n = 16) vs. controls (n = 44). There was no difference in CPO rate between patients with MBS and controls when matching for BMI on admission.

Conclusions

These data are reassuring regarding COVID‐19 prognosis in patients with diabetes and a history of MBS compared with those without MBS.
The nature of the exceptional impact of ultra‐low silica contents on the properties of cyanate ester resin‐based nano‐ and subnanocomposites
Authors: Bershtein Vladimir A. , Grigoryeva Olga P. , Yakushev Pavel N. , Fainleib Alexander M.
Published: September 2021

Our study clarifies the nature of the exceptional impact of the ultra‐low content of silica (SiO2) units on the properties of the heterocyclic cyanate ester resin (CER) network matrix in the subnano‐ or nanocomposites. To this effect, we have performed a series of calculations of average distances between SiO2 units and the interfacial area values in the composites as functions of the content and size of SiO2 units. The estimates were made for the CER composites with SiO2 and POSS additives, based on these calculations and the composites' previously measured structural characteristics. It was found that the aforementioned unusual effect was controlled by the constrained interfacial matrix dynamics in the composites. Thus, when (a) the SiO2 content was 0.03–0.1 wt%, (b) SiO2 units and the matrix network had covalent bonding, and (c) SiO2 units had quasi‐regular distribution in the amorphous matrix (as found for the subnanocomposites), we found that distances between SiO2 units equaled 6 and 10 nm, that is, these distances were commensurable with the lengths of Kuhn segments in heterocyclic macromolecules.
Bending‐Free Lattices as Underlying Optimal Isotropic Microstructures of the Least‐Compliant 2D Elastic Bodies
Authors: Czarnecki Sławomir , Łukasiak Tomasz
Published: September 2021

This study puts forward a method of reconstruction of the suboptimal isotropic truss microstructures for the known distribution of Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio predicted by the Isotropic Material Design (IMD) method of minimizing the compliance (maximizing the stiffness) of a 2D elastic body. The varying underlying microstructures corresponding to the optimal designs are recovered by matching the values of the optimal elastic moduli with the values of the effective moduli of the representative volume elements (RVE) computed by the asymptotic homogenization method. The used hexagonal shape of the RVE with its specific internal symmetry provides the assumed isotropy of the periodic body. Hexagonal periodic cells are made up of 3 or 12 pin‐jointed families of bars with different stiffness characteristics. Combining these families into two or three groups with identical bar stiffnesses in a group allows for the exact reproduction of Poisson's ratio for each point of the body. The ability to model an auxetic behavior within the subdomains where the optimal Poisson's ratio assumes negative values is also shown. The effective value of the Young's modulus is scaled independently of the value of the effective Poisson's ratio by selecting the cross section of the bars in the group.
Effect of curcumin on C‐reactive protein as a biomarker of systemic inflammation: An updated meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Gorabi Armita Mahdavi , Abbasifard Mitra , Imani Danyal , Aslani Saeed , Razi Bahman , Alizadeh Shahab , Bagheri‐Hosseinabadi Zahra , Sathyapalan Thozhukat , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: September 2021

It has been suggested that curcumin is a potential agent for lowering the levels of C‐reactive protein (CRP) and high‐sensitivity CRP (hs‐CRP), as markers of inflammation. In the current meta‐analysis, we attempted to clarify the efficacy of curcumin supplementation in lowering the concentrations of CRP and hs‐CRP in patients with autoinflammatory conditions. Nine studies were found evaluating the effect of curcumin on CRP levels, while 23 studies were identified for hs‐CRP. CRP concentration was decreased significantly compared to the placebo (WMD = ‐3.67 mg/L, 95% CI = −6.96 to −0.38, p = 0.02). There was a significant effect of curcumin at dose ≤1,000 mg/day on the CRP concentration. CRP concentration significantly decreased after >10‐week intervention compared with placebo.hs‐CRP concentration in the intervention group was significantly lower than that of placebo group. A significant effect of curcumin consumption was detected on the serum level of hs‐CRP in studies with prescribing ≤1,000 mg/day, and those with ≤10‐week duration of intervention. Curcumin consumption resulted in a reduction of hs‐CRP in a non‐linear fashion with stronger effects with less than 2000 mg curcumin per day. Curcumin seems to be beneficial in decreasing the hs‐CRP and CRP levels in proinflammatory settings.
Zeylenone synergizes with cisplatin in osteosarcoma by enhancing DNA damage, apoptosis, and necrosis via the Hsp90/AKT/GSK3β and Fanconi anaemia pathway
Authors: Yang Shuxian , Xiao Haiyan , Sun Yunfang , Cao Li
Published: September 2021

A safer and more effective combination strategy designed to enhance the efficacy and minimize the toxicity of cisplatin in osteosarcoma (OS) is urgently needed. Zeylenone (zey), a cyclohexene oxide compound, exerted an obvious inhibitory effect on several cancer cell lines and exhibited little cytotoxicity towards normal cells, enabling zey to play a unique role in combination therapy. Thus, the study aimed to determine whether the combination of zey and cisplatin produces synergistic antitumour effects on OS and to further explore molecular mechanisms. Initially, we found that zey potentiated the anti‐osteosarcoma efficacy of cisplatin and exhibited synergistic interactions with cisplatin in vitro, which also were confirmed in vivo by using xenograft model. Mechanistically, zey and cisplatin synergistically induced DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, necrosis, and apoptosis in OS cells. Importantly, zey had a high binding affinity for Hsp90 and reduced the expression of Hsp90, which further induced the suppression of AKT/GSK3β signalling axis and the degradation of Fanconi anaemia (FA) pathway proteins. Thus, the Hsp90/AKT/GSK3β and FA pathway are the key to the synergism between zey and cisplatin. Overall, zey shows promise for development as a cisplatin chemosensitizer with clinical utility in restoring cisplatin sensitivity of cancer cells.
Environmental management of waters and riparian areas to protect biodiversity through River Contracts: The experience of Tiber River (Rome, Italy)
Authors: Caneva Giulia , Ceschin Simona , Lucchese Fernando , Scalici Massimiliano , Battisti Corrado , Tufano Massimo , Tullio Maria Cristina , Cicinelli Emanuela
Published: September 2021

Urban rivers may perform important ecological roles and provide many ecosystem services, especially in urban contexts. Considering this, River Contracts were officially introduced in 2000, during the Second Forum of the World Water Council, as participative agreements aimed at managing the complexity of fluvial ecosystems. Collecting data on fluvial and riparian biodiversity, establishing ecological relationships among biological components, and evaluating their resistance and resilience to anthropic impacts are needed to assess the ecological sustainability of the anthropic actions. Here, we provide a review of literature and regulation on River Contracts, and a methodological contribution to the evaluation of different environmental components, their ecological connections, and the role of anthropic impacts. To address the aim, we performed a critical analysis of the existing data on the Tiber River close to Rome. We used the information to identify the actions that should be included in the Tiber River Contract to improve its natural value and its potential ecosystem services. Several areas emerged where information was lacking such as the human impact on these ecosystems. Data highlight the disappearance of rare Mediterranean species and of those linked to wetland habitats, as well as an increase in alien species and species typical of disturbed areas. Further research on biodiversity and management is required to support nature conservation.
Organizational unlearning and inclusive innovation: The moderating role of green control ambidexterity
Authors: Zhao Yunhui , Wang Zhimin , Feng Taiwen , Kong Ting , Zhang Qiansong
Published: September 2021

Inclusive innovation is critical for poverty eradication and literature has identified several factors affecting inclusive innovation. However, our understanding of how organizational unlearning affects inclusive innovation is still limited. This study explores how organizational unlearning affects two dimensions of inclusive innovation (i.e., symbolic and substantive) via supply chain green learning and the moderating role of green control ambidexterity. We develop hypotheses based on organizational learning theory and organizational control theory and test hypotheses using survey data from 217 Chinese firms. The results indicate that supply chain green learning mediates the impacts of non‐environmental forgetting and environmental change on symbolic and substantive inclusive innovation. The results also reveal that the balanced dimension of green control ambidexterity strengthens the positive impact of supply chain green learning on substantive inclusive innovation, while the combined dimension of green control ambidexterity weakens the positive impact of supply chain green learning on symbolic inclusive innovation. This study enriches the literature and practice in the field of inclusive innovation and organizational control.
Nanoarchitectonics of Metal–Organic Frameworks for Capacitive Deionization via Controlled Pyrolyzed Approaches
Authors: Wang Hao , Chen Biaohua , Liu Di‐Jia , Xu Xingtao , Osmieri Luigi , Yamauchi Yusuke
Published: September 2021

Next‐generation desalination technologies are needed to meet the increasing demand for clean water. Capacitive deionization (CDI) is a thermodynamically efficient technique to treat non‐potable water with relatively low salinity. The salt removal capacity and rate of CDI are highly dependent on the electrode materials, which are preferentially porous to store ions through electrosorption and/or redox reactions. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with “infinite” combinations of transition metals and organic linkers simplify the production of carbonaceous materials often with redox‐active components after pyrolysis. MOFs‐derived materials show great tunability in both compositions and structures but require further refinement to improve CDI performance. This review article summarizes recent progress in derivatives of MOFs and MOF‐like materials used as CDI electrodes, focusing on the structural and compositional material considerations as well as the processing parameters and electrode architectures of the device. Furthermore, the challenges and opportunities associated with this research area are also discussed.
Dataset or Not? A Study on the Veracity of Semantic Markup for Dataset Pages
Authors: Alrashed Tarfah , Paparas Dimitris , Benjelloun Omar , Sheng Ying , Noy Natasha
Published: September 2021

Semantic markup, such as , allows providers on the Web to describe content using a shared controlled vocabulary. This markup is invaluable in enabling a broad range of applications, from vertical search engines, to rich snippets in search results, to actions on emails, to many others. In this paper, we focus on semantic markup for datasets, specifically in the context of developing a vertical search engine for datasets on the Web, Google’s Dataset Search. Dataset Search relies on to identify pages that describe datasets. While was the core enabling technology for this vertical search, we also discovered that we need to address the following problem: pages from 61% of internet hosts that provide markup do not actually describe datasets. We analyze the veracity of dataset markup for Dataset Search’s Web-scale corpus and categorize pages where this markup is not reliable. We then propose a way to drastically increase the quality of the dataset metadata corpus by developing a deep neural-network classifier that identifies whether or not a page with markup is a dataset page. Our classifier achieves 96.7% recall at the 95% precision point. This level of precision enables Dataset Search to circumvent the noise in semantic markup and to use the metadata to provide high quality results to users.
Introduction
Authors: Kelly Ashley Scott , Lu Xiaoxuan
Published: September 2021

The book’s introduction, Landscape as Development, introduces the distinct positions of critic and planner in development and offers initial justifications for a “critical” practice of ecological planning, as construed by landscape architecture. Landscape architecture has the most substantial ecological mandate among its sister disciplines of architecture and urban planning and has made significant recent historical contributions to development planning, including being the origin of modern landscape ecology and geographic information systems science. In order to become “critical,” landscape architecture, as planning, must recognize the contradictions between urban or economic sustainability and the critical social theory undercurrents in sustainable development. We introduce a working definition of “critical landscape planning” as it is developed throughout the book: A practice of critical landscape planning, routed in landscape architecture, uses multiple forms of sustainability to plan for landscapes engaging in (or encountering) development. The critical landscape planner holds a cultural-technological position and simultaneously applies science to specific site conditions, is critical of that science, and in the process and practice of applying it, refines and deepens the relevant scope of work. This introduction finishes by covering the structure of this book.
Infrastructural Connectivity and Difference
Authors: Kelly Ashley Scott , Lu Xiaoxuan
Published: September 2021

This chapter, Infrastructural connectivity and difference, presents two strategic planning proposals dealing with “direct” impacts of the construction of the China-Laos Railway. Practices of “sustainable” development, in those practices’ approaches, however genuine, to physically and economically connect communities to new markets and generate new economies, disrupt preexisting modes of connectivity, whether socioeconomic, cultural or ecological. One proposal offers strategies to mitigate the socioecological impacts of temporary access roads built tends of kilometers into rural landscape to construct the China-Laos Railway, while the other proposal offers physical and organizational strategies for impacted agricultural communities to mitigate the disruption of irrigation networks, fragmented farmlands, issues of development transparency and uncertainty in compensation timelines. Through these proposals’ analyses and strategic deployment of connectivity and emphasis of cultural and ecological difference, they may help reform discourse on the assessment of cumulative impacts in the development process.
Northern Scientific Knowledge and Indigenous Knowledge
Authors: Kelly Ashley Scott , Lu Xiaoxuan
Published: September 2021

This chapter features three planning proposals focused on the ideological friction between Northern scientific knowledge and indigenous knowledge. Northern scientific knowledge has enabled and legitimized various territorialization projects since the establishment of the Lao PDR. Over the past decade, the application of such knowledge has diversified and expanded along with Laos’s increasing integration into the socio-economic geography of the China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor. Unlike World Bank-funded green-neoliberal development that dominated Laos in the 1990s and 2000s, some China-funded projects are furthering the green neoliberal valuation of ecosystems in monetary terms and these ecosystems’ conservation by means of market dynamics. These ecosystem territories inevitably overlap with the country’s indigenous territories and their natural resource-dependent communities. The three planning proposals featured in this chapter foreground Laos’s remarkable human diversity and local communities’ valuable traditional ecological knowledge and practices. These planning proposals are situated in a diverse range of socio-ecological contexts, namely Nam Ha National Protected Area, a protected forest in Luang Prabang, and agricultural land within the capital Vientiane. Collectively, these proposals focus on agrarian populations influenced by old or new forms of land enclosure, investigating possible scenarios that may lead to more equal power relationships between the scientific and indigenous knowledge regimes.
Consolidating and Contesting Authoritarian Neoliberalism in Turkey: Towards a Framework
Authors: Borsuk İmren , Dinç Pınar , Kavak Sinem , Sayan Pınar
Published: September 2021

During the early years of the ruling Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (Justice and Development Party, AKP), Turkey was seen as a burgeoning democratic power propped up by economic prosperity in line with the reforms for European Union (EU) accession and International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditionality. However, 20 years later, it is considered an emblematic case of democratic backsliding in line with rising poverty and inequalities that have been amplified as a result of sweeping neoliberal reforms and authoritarian consolidation in the country. The recent literature has identified these concomitant and complementary modes of authoritarian governance and neoliberal policies in Turkey as ‘authoritarian neoliberalism’. In this chapter, we discuss the dynamics of consolidation of authoritarian neoliberalism in Turkey as well as the acts of contention against it. Building mainly on the eight case studies presented in this volume, we put forward a framework that explains the consolidation of authoritarian neoliberalism in Turkey through the mechanisms of executive centralisation, autocratic legalism, cronyism, violence-fuelled rentier accumulation, criminalisation and stigmatisation, and contestations against authoritarian neoliberalism through strikes, protests, demonstrations, network building, litigation, everyday struggles, and armed acts of contention.
2D holography beyond the Jackiw-Teitelboim model
Authors: Ecker Florian , Valcárcel Carlos , Vassilevich Dmitri
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Having in mind extensions of 2D holography beyond the Jackiw-Teitelboim model we propose holographic counterterms and asymptotic conditions for a family of asymptotically AdS2 dilaton gravity models leading to a consistent variational problem and a finite on-shell action. We show the presence of asymptotic Virasoro symmetries in all these models. The Schwarzian action generates (a part) of the equations of motion governing the asymptotic degrees of freedom. We also analyse the applicability of various entropy formulae. By a dilaton-dependent conformal transformation our results are extended to an even larger class of models having exotic asymptotic behavior. We also analyse asymptotic symmetries for some other classes of dilaton gravities without, however, constructing holographic counterterms.
Long-range vector models at large N
Authors: Chai Noam , Goykhman Mikhail , Sinha Ritam
Published: September 2021

Abstract

We calculate various CFT data for the O(N) vector model with the long-range interaction, working at the next-to-leading order in the 1/N expansion. Our results provide additional evidence for the existence of conformal symmetry at the long-range fixed point, as well as the continuity of the CFT data at the long-range to short-range crossover point s* of the exponent parameter s. We also develop the N > 1 generalization of the recently proposed IR duality between the long-range and the deformed short-range models, providing further evidence for its non-perturbative validity in the entire region d/2 < s < s*.
The C-terminal peptide of CCL21 drastically augments CCL21 activity through the dendritic cell lymph node homing receptor CCR7 by interaction with the receptor N-terminus
Authors: Jørgensen Astrid Sissel , Brandum Emma Probst , Mikkelsen Jeppe Malthe , Orfin Klaudia A. , Boilesen Ditte Rahbæk , Egerod Kristoffer Lihme , Moussouras Natasha A. , Vilhardt Frederik , Kalinski Pawel , Basse Per , Chen Yen-Hsi , Yang Zhang , Dwinell Michael B. , Volkman Brian F. , Veldkamp Christopher T. , Holst Peter Johannes , Lahl Katharina , Goth Christoffer Knak , Rosenkilde Mette Marie , Hjortø Gertrud Malene
Published: September 2021

The endogenous chemokines CCL19 and CCL21 signal via their common receptor CCR7. CCL21 is the main lymph node homing chemokine, but a weak chemo-attractant compared to CCL19. Here we show that the 41-amino acid positively charged peptide, released through C-terminal cleavage of CCL21, C21TP, boosts the immune cell recruiting activity of CCL21 by up to 25-fold and the signaling activity via CCR7 by ~ 100-fold. Such boosting is unprecedented. Despite the presence of multiple basic glycosaminoglycan (GAG) binding motifs, C21TP boosting of CCL21 signaling does not involve interference with GAG mediated cell-surface retention. Instead, boosting is directly dependent on O-glycosylations in the CCR7 N-terminus. As dictated by the two-step binding model, the initial chemokine binding involves interaction of the chemokine fold with the receptor N-terminus, followed by insertion of the chemokine N-terminus deep into the receptor binding pocket. Our data suggest that apart from a role in initial chemokine binding, the receptor N-terminus also partakes in a gating mechanism, which could give rise to a reduced ligand activity, presumably through affecting the ligand positioning. Based on experiments that support a direct interaction of C21TP with the glycosylated CCR7 N-terminus, we propose that electrostatic interactions between the positively charged peptide and sialylated O-glycans in CCR7 N-terminus may create a more accessible version of the receptor and thus guide chemokine docking to generate a more favorable chemokine-receptor interaction, giving rise to the peptide boosting effect.