bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Activation of NF-κB and induction of proinflammatory cytokine expressions mediated by ORF7a protein of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Su Chia-Ming , Wang Leyi , Yoo Dongwan
Published: June 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that emerged in human populations recently. Severely ill COVID-19 patients exhibit the elevation of proinflammatory cytokines, and such an unbalanced production of proinflammatory cytokines is linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome with high mortality in COVID-19 patients. Our study provides evidence that the ORF3a, M, ORF7a, and N proteins of SARS-CoV-2 were NF-κB activators. The viral sequence from infected zoo lions belonged to clade V, and a single mutation of G251V is found for ORF3a gene compared to all other clades. No significant functional difference was found for clade V ORF3a, indicating the NF-κB activation is conserved among COVID-19 variants. Of the four viral proteins, the ORF7a protein induced the NF-κB dictated proinflammatory cytokines including IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, and IFNβ. The ORF7a protein also induced IL-3, IL-4, IL-7, IL-23. Of 15 different chemokines examined in the study, CCL11, CCL17, CCL19, CCL20, CCL21, CCL22, CCL25, CCL26, CCL27, and CXCL9 were significantly upregulated by ORF7. These cytokines and chemokines were frequently elevated in severely ill COVID-19 patients. Our data provide an insight into how SARS-CoV-2 modulates NF-κB signaling and inflammatory cytokine expressions. The ORF7a protein may be a desirable target for strategic developments to minimize uncontrolled inflammation in COVID-19 patients.
Subjective time compression induced by continuous action
Authors: Ueda Sayako , Shimoda Shingo
Published: June 2021

Increasing evidence indicates that voluntary actions can modulate the subjective time experience of its outcomes to optimize dynamic interaction with the external environment. In the present study, using a temporal reproduction task where participants reproduced the duration of an auditory stimulus to which they were previously exposed by performing different types of voluntary action, we examined how the subjective time experience of action outcomes changed with voluntary action types. Two experiments revealed that the subjective time experience of action outcomes was compressed, compared with physical time, if the action was performed continuously (Experiment 1), possibly enhancing the experience of controlling the action outcome, or if the action was added an extra task-unrelated continuous action (Experiment 2), possibly reflecting different underlying mechanisms from subjective time compression induced by the task-related continuous action. The majority of prior studies have focused on the subjective time experience of action outcomes when actions were performed voluntarily or not, and no previous study has examined the effects of differences in voluntary action types on the subjective time experience of action outcomes. These findings may be useful in situations in which people wish to intentionally compress their own time experience of daily events through their voluntary actions.
A survey of monitoring tap water hardness in Japan and its distribution patterns
Authors: Hori Mayumi , Shozugawa Katsumi , Sugimori Kenji , Watanabe Yuichiro
Published: June 2021

We conducted a comprehensive overall tap water hardness assessment for Japan. Tap water was collected from 665 points throughout Japan, and its standing position was quantitatively clarified by prefecture. The mean and median hardness of tap water in Japan was 48.9 ± 25.8 (1σ SD) and 46.0 mg/L, respectively. Compared with 27 other countries, Japan exhibited soft water with low-mineral content. Water hardness tended to be high in the Kanto region and low in the Hokkaido and Tohoku regions. The impact of the distribution system’s water pipes on tap water hardness is discussed using a unified index to evaluate variations in hardness from raw to tap water. A comparison of the variations in hardness showed that hardness variations from raw to purified water and from purified to tap water exhibited a 20% variation range. Furthermore, tap water hardness and its fluctuations in any region of Japan were found to be caused by raw water hardness. It was demonstrated that the distribution pipe system had no large impacts on water hardness.
Insights into antioxidant activities and anti-skin-aging potential of callus extract from Centella asiatica (L.)
Authors: Buranasudja Visarut , Rani Dolly , Malla Ashwini , Kobtrakul Khwanlada , Vimolmangkang Sornkanok
Published: June 2021

Formation of oxidative stress in dermal fibroblasts plays crucial roles in aging processes of skin. The use of phytochemicals that can promote capacity of fibroblasts to combat oxidative stress is an attractive strategy to prevent skin aging and promote skin beauty. Centella asiatica has been used to treat multitude of diseases for centuries. Previous investigations demonstrated that extracts from C. asiatica have a broad range of beneficial activities through their antioxidant activity. Hence, the extract from this medicinal plant could be a great candidate for anti-skin-aging agent. Callus culture offers a powerful platform for sustainable, rapid and large-scale production of phytochemicals to serve extensive demands of pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industries. Here, we demonstrated the application of callus culture of Centella asiatica to produce bioactive metabolites. The 50% ethanolic extract of callus culture has distinctive features of chemical compositions and biological profiles. Information from HPTLC-DPPH and HPLC analysis suggested that the callus extract comprises distinctive antioxidant compounds, compared with those isolated from authentic plant. Moreover, results from cell culture experiment demonstrated that callus extract possesses promising antioxidant and anti-skin-aging activities. Pre-treatment with callus extract attenuated H2O2-induced-cytotoxicity on human dermal fibroblasts. The results from RT-qPCR clearly suggested that the upregulation of cellular antioxidant enzymes appeared to be major contributor for the protective effects of callus extract against oxidative stress. Moreover, supplementation with callus extract inhibited induction of matrix metalloprotease-9 following H2O2 exposure, suggesting its potential anti-skin-aging activity. Our results demonstrate the potential utility of C. asiatica callus extract as anti-skin-aging agent in cosmeceutical preparations.
Fenofibrate promotes PPARα-targeted recovery of the intestinal epithelial barrier at the host-microbe interface in dogs with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Crakes Katti R. , Pires Jully , Quach Nina , Ellis-Reis Riley E. , Greathouse Rachel , Chittum Kathyrnne A. , Steiner Jörg M. , Pesavento Patricia , Marks Stanley L. , Dandekar Satya , Gilor Chen
Published: June 2021

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with a dysfunctional intestinal barrier and an increased risk for systemic infection and inflammation in people, though the pathogenic mechanisms leading to this are poorly understood. Using a canine model of DM, we showed that the peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-α agonist fenofibrate modulates plasma lipid profiles and markers of intestinal barrier function. A 3-week course of fenofibrate reduced fasting interstitial glucose and inflammatory cytokine IL-8 and TNF-α concentrations, which correlated with reduced triglyceride levels. The lipidomic profile exhibited significantly lower levels of triacylglycerols, phosphatidylethanolamines, diacylglycerols, and ceramides following fenofibrate administration. On histopathological analysis, we observed an aberrant amount of intraepithelial CD3+T lymphocytes (IEL) in the small intestine of dogs with spontaneous and induced-DM. Fenofibrate reduced IEL density in the duodenum of dogs with DM and enhanced markers of intestinal barrier function in vivo and in vitro.There were minimal changes in the intestinal microbial composition following fenofibrate administration, suggesting that repair of intestinal barriers can be achieved independently of the resident microbiota. Our findings indicate that lipid metabolism is critical to functionality of the intestinal epithelium, which can be rescued by PPARα activation in dogs with DM.
Increased colonic expression of ACE2 associates with poor prognosis in Crohn’s disease
Authors: Toyonaga Takahiko , Araba Kenza C. , Kennedy Meaghan M. , Keith Benjamin P. , Wolber Elisabeth A. , Beasley Caroline , Steinbach Erin C. , Schaner Matthew R. , Jain Animesh , Long Millie D. , Barnes Edward L. , Herfarth Hans H. , Isaacs Kim L. , Hansen Jonathan J. , Kapadia Muneera R. , Guillem José Gaston , Gulati Ajay S. , Sethupathy Praveen , Furey Terrence S. , Ehre Camille , Sheikh Shehzad Z.
Published: June 2021

The host receptor for SARS-CoV-2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), is highly expressed in small intestine. Our aim was to study colonic ACE2 expression in Crohn's disease (CD) and non-inflammatory bowel disease (non-IBD) controls. We hypothesized that the colonic expression levels of ACE2 impacts CD course. We examined the expression of colonic ACE2 in 67 adult CD and 14 NIBD control patients using RNA-seq and quantitative (q) RT-PCR. We validated ACE2 protein expression and localization in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded matched colon and ileal tissues using immunohistochemistry. The impact of increased ACE2 expression in CD for the risk of surgery was evaluated by a multivariate regression analysis and a Kaplan–Meier estimator. To provide critical support for the generality of our findings, we analyzed previously published RNA-seq data from two large independent cohorts of CD patients. Colonic ACE2 expression was significantly higher in a subset of adult CD patients which was defined as the ACE2-high CD subset. IHC in a sampling of ACE2-high CD patients confirmed high ACE2 protein expression in the colon and ileum compared to ACE2-low CD and NIBD patients. Notably, we found that ACE2-high CD patients are significantly more likely to undergo surgery within 5 years of CD diagnosis, and a Cox regression analysis found that high ACE2 levels is an independent risk factor for surgery (OR 2.17; 95% CI, 1.10–4.26; p = 0.025). Increased intestinal expression of ACE2 is associated with deteriorated clinical outcomes in CD patients. These data point to the need for molecular stratification that can impact CD disease-related outcomes.
COVID-19 positivity associated with traumatic stress response to childbirth and no visitors and infant separation in the hospital
Authors: Mayopoulos Gus A. , Ein-Dor Tsachi , Li Kevin G. , Chan Sabrina J. , Dekel Sharon
Published: June 2021

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread globally, a significant portion of pregnant and delivering women were infected with COVID-19. While emerging studies examined birth outcomes in COVID-19 positive women, knowledge of the psychological experience of childbirth and maternal wellness remains lacking. This matched-control survey-based study included a sample of women recruited during the first wave of the pandemic in the US who gave birth in the previous six months. Women reporting confirmed/suspected COVID-19 (n = 68) during pregnancy or childbirth were matched on background factors with women reporting COVID-19 negativity (n = 2,276). We found nearly 50% of COVID positive women endorsed acute traumatic stress symptoms at a clinical level in response to childbirth. This group was more than twice as likely to endorse acute stress and to have no visitors during maternity hospitalization than COVID negative women; they were also less likely to room-in with newborns. The COVID positive group reported higher levels of pain in delivery, lower newborn weights, and more infant admission to neonatal intensive care units. Our findings suggest COVID-19 affected populations are at increased risk for traumatic childbirth and associated risk for psychiatric morbidity. Attention to delivering women’s wellbeing is warranted during the pandemic.
Combined deep CNN–LSTM network-based multitasking learning architecture for noninvasive continuous blood pressure estimation using difference in ECG-PPG features
Authors: Jeong Da Un , Lim Ki Moo
Published: June 2021

The pulse arrival time (PAT), the difference between the R-peak time of electrocardiogram (ECG) signal and the systolic peak of photoplethysmography (PPG) signal, is an indicator that enables noninvasive and continuous blood pressure estimation. However, it is difficult to accurately measure PAT from ECG and PPG signals because they have inconsistent shapes owing to patient-specific physical characteristics, pathological conditions, and movements. Accordingly, complex preprocessing is required to estimate blood pressure based on PAT. In this paper, as an alternative solution, we propose a noninvasive continuous algorithm using the difference between ECG and PPG as a new feature that can include PAT information. The proposed algorithm is a deep CNN–LSTM-based multitasking machine learning model that outputs simultaneous prediction results of systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressures (DBP). We used a total of 48 patients on the PhysioNet website by splitting them into 38 patients for training and 10 patients for testing. The prediction accuracies of SBP and DBP were 0.0 ± 1.6 mmHg and 0.2 ± 1.3 mmHg, respectively. Even though the proposed model was assessed with only 10 patients, this result was satisfied with three guidelines, which are the BHS, AAMI, and IEEE standards for blood pressure measurement devices.
Compressive dual-comb spectroscopy
Authors: Kawai Akira , Kageyama Takahiro , Horisaki Ryoichi , Ideguchi Takuro
Published: June 2021

Broadband, high resolution, and rapid measurements of dual-comb spectroscopy (DCS) generate a large amount of data stream. We numerically demonstrate significant data compression of DCS spectra by using a compressive sensing technique. Our numerical simulation shows a compression rate of more than 100 with a 3% error in mole fraction estimation of mid-infrared (MIR) DCS of two molecular species in a broadband (~ 30 THz) and high resolution (~ 115 MHz) condition. We also numerically demonstrate a massively parallel MIR DCS spectrum of 10 different molecular species can be reconstructed with a compression rate of 10.5 with a transmittance error of 0.003 from the original spectrum.
Leveraging network analysis to evaluate biomedical named entity recognition tools
Authors: García del Valle Eduardo P. , Lagunes García Gerardo , Prieto Santamaría Lucía , Zanin Massimiliano , Menasalvas Ruiz Ernestina , Rodríguez-González Alejandro
Published: June 2021

The ever-growing availability of biomedical text sources has resulted in a boost in clinical studies based on their exploitation. Biomedical named-entity recognition (bio-NER) techniques have evolved remarkably in recent years and their application in research is increasingly successful. Still, the disparity of tools and the limited available validation resources are barriers preventing a wider diffusion, especially within clinical practice. We here propose the use of omics data and network analysis as an alternative for the assessment of bio-NER tools. Specifically, our method introduces quality criteria based on edge overlap and community detection. The application of these criteria to four bio-NER solutions yielded comparable results to strategies based on annotated corpora, without suffering from their limitations. Our approach can constitute a guide both for the selection of the best bio-NER tool given a specific task, and for the creation and validation of novel approaches.
Alkaline extract of the seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum stimulates arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and their endomycorrhization of plant roots
Authors: Hines Sarah , van der Zwan Timo , Shiell Kevin , Shotton Katy , Prithiviraj Balakrishnan
Published: June 2021

Ascophyllum nodosum extracts (ANE) are well-established plant biostimulants that improve stress tolerance and crop vigour, while also having been shown to stimulate soil microbes. The intersection of these two stimulatory activities, and how they combine to enhance plant health, however, remains poorly understood. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate: (1) the direct effect of ANE on the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis, and (2) whether ANE influences endomycorrhization in plants. ANE enhanced development of R. irregularis in vitro, showing greater spore germination, germ tube length, and hyphal branching. Greenhouse-grown Medicago truncatula drench-treated with ANE formed mycorrhizal associations faster (3.1-fold higher mycorrhization at week 4) and grew larger (29% greater leaf area by week 8) than control plants. Foliar applications of ANE also increased root colonization and arbuscular maturity, but did not appear to enhance plant growth. Nonetheless, following either foliar or drench application, M. truncatula genes associated with establishment of mycorrhizae were expressed at significantly higher levels compared to controls. These results suggest that ANE enhances mycorrhization through both direct stimulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus growth and through stimulation of the plant’s accommodation of the symbiont, together promoting the establishment of this agriculturally vital plant–microbe symbiosis.
Exposure to (Z)-11-hexadecenal [(Z)-11-16:Ald] increases Brassica nigra susceptibility to subsequent herbivory
Authors: Brosset Agnès , Islam Monirul , Bonzano Sara , Maffei Massimo E. , Blande James D.
Published: June 2021

It is well established that plants emit, detect and respond to volatile organic compounds; however, knowledge on the ability of plants to detect and respond to volatiles emitted by non-plant organisms is limited. Recent studies indicated that plants detect insect-emitted volatiles that induce defence responses; however, the mechanisms underlying this detection and defence priming is unknown. Therefore, we explored if exposure to a main component of Plutella xylostella female sex pheromone namely (Z)-11-hexadecenal [(Z)-11-16:Ald] induced detectable early and late stage defence-related plant responses in Brassica nigra. Exposure to biologically relevant levels of vapourised (Z)-11-16:Ald released from a loaded septum induced a change in volatile emissions of receiver plants after herbivore attack and increased the leaf area consumed by P. xylostella larvae. Further experiments examining the effects of the (Z)-11-16:Ald on several stages of plant defence-related responses showed that exposure to 100 ppm of (Z)-11-16:Ald in liquid state induced depolarisation of the transmembrane potential (Vm), an increase in cytosolic calcium concentration [Ca2+]cyt, production of H2O2 and an increase in expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated genes and ROS-scavenging enzyme activity. The results suggest that exposure to volatile (Z)-11-16:Ald increases the susceptibility of B. nigra to subsequent herbivory. This unexpected finding, suggest alternative ecological effects of detecting insect pheromone to those reported earlier. Experiments conducted in vitro showed that high doses of (Z)-11-16:Ald induced defence-related responses, but further experiments should assess how specific the response is to this particular aldehyde.
Real-world efficacy and safety of pangenotypic direct-acting antivirals against hepatitis C virus infection in Taiwan
Authors: Chang Kao-Chi , Tung Shui-Yi , Wei Kuo-Liang , Shen Chen-Heng , Hsieh Yung-Yu , Chen Wei-Ming , Chen Yi-Hsing , Chen Chun-Hsien , Yen Chi-Wei , Xu Huang-Wei , Tung Wei-Lin , Hung Chao-Hung , Lu Sheng-Nan , Chang Te-Sheng
Published: June 2021

Clinical trials showed pangenotypic direct-acting antivirals’ (DAAs) excellent efficacy and safety when treating hepatitis C virus (HCV). Two pangenotypic regimens were examined, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL), in a real-world Taiwanese setting, including all HCV patients treated with GLE/PIB or SOF/VEL from August 2018 to April 2020. The primary endpoint was sustained virologic response 12 weeks after treatment cessation (SVR12), including adverse events (AEs). A total of 1,356 HCV patients received pangenotypic DAA treatment during the study: 742 and 614 received GLE/PIB and SOF/VEL, respectively. The rates of SVR12 for GLE/PIB and SOF/VEL were 710/718 (98.9%) and 581/584 (99.5%), respectively, by per-protocol analysis, and 710/742 (95.7%) and 581/614 (94.6%), respectively, by evaluable population analysis. Eleven (GLE/PIB: 8, SOF/VEL: 3) did not achieve SVR12. The most common AEs for GLE/PIB and SOF/VEL were pruritus (17.4% vs. 2.9%), abdominal discomfort (5.8% vs. 4.4%), dizziness (4.2% vs. 2%), and malaise (3.1% vs. 2.9%). Laboratory abnormalities were uncommon; only < 1% exhibited elevated total bilirubin or aminotransferase levels with both regimens. Five drug discontinuations occurred due to AEs (bilirubin elevation: 3; dermatological issues: 2). Pangenotypic DAAs GLE/PIB and SOF/VEL are effective and well tolerated, achieving high SVR12 rates for patients with all HCV genotypes.
SCD2-mediated monounsaturated fatty acid metabolism regulates cGAS-STING-dependent type I IFN responses in CD4+ T cells
Authors: Kanno Toshio , Nakajima Takahiro , Yokoyama Satoru , Asou Hikari K. , Sasamoto Shigemi , Kamii Yasuhiro , Hayashizaki Koji , Ouchi Yasuo , Onodera Taishi , Takahashi Yoshimasa , Ikeda Kazutaka , Hasegawa Yoshinori , Kinjo Yuki , Ohara Osamu , Nakayama Toshinori , Endo Yusuke
Published: June 2021

Host lipid metabolism and viral responses are intimately connected. However, the process by which the acquired immune systems adapts lipid metabolism to meet demands, and whether or not the metabolic rewiring confers a selective advantage to host immunity, remains unclear. Here we show that viral infection attenuates the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in murine CD4+ T cells, which in turn increases the expression of antiviral genes. Inhibition of the fatty acid synthesis pathway substantially increases the basal expression of antiviral genes via the spontaneous production of type I interferon (IFN). Using a combination of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing technology and a global lipidomics analysis, we found that the decrease in monounsaturated fatty acid caused by genetic deletion of Scd2 in mice was crucial for the induction of an antiviral response through activation of the cGAS-STING pathway. These findings demonstrate the important relationship between fatty acid biosynthesis and type I IFN responses that enhances the antiviral response.
Structure and lipid dynamics in the maintenance of lipid asymmetry inner membrane complex of A. baumannii
Authors: Mann Daniel , Fan Junping , Somboon Kamolrat , Farrell Daniel P. , Muenks Andrew , Tzokov Svetomir B. , DiMaio Frank , Khalid Syma , Miller Samuel I. , Bergeron Julien R. C.
Published: June 2021

Multi-resistant bacteria are a major threat in modern medicine. The gram-negative coccobacillus Acinetobacter baumannii currently leads the WHO list of pathogens in critical need for new therapeutic development. The maintenance of lipid asymmetry (MLA) protein complex is one of the core machineries that transport lipids from/to the outer membrane in gram-negative bacteria. It also contributes to broad-range antibiotic resistance in several pathogens, most prominently in A. baumannii. Nonetheless, the molecular details of its role in lipid transport has remained largely elusive. Here, we report the cryo-EM maps of the core MLA complex, MlaBDEF, from the pathogen A. baumannii, in the apo-, ATP- and ADP-bound states, revealing multiple lipid binding sites in the cytosolic and periplasmic side of the complex. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest their potential trajectory across the membrane. Collectively with the recently-reported structures of the E. coli orthologue, this data also allows us to propose a molecular mechanism of lipid transport by the MLA system.
Global strain-induced scalar potential in graphene devices
Authors: Wang Lujun , Baumgartner Andreas , Makk Péter , Zihlmann Simon , Varghese Blesson Sam , Indolese David I. , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Schönenberger Christian
Published: June 2021

By mechanically distorting a crystal lattice it is possible to engineer the electronic and optical properties of a material. In graphene, one of the major effects of such a distortion is an energy shift of the Dirac point, often described as a scalar potential. We demonstrate how such a scalar potential can be generated systematically over an entire electronic device and how the resulting changes in the graphene work function can be detected in transport experiments. Combined with Raman spectroscopy, we obtain a characteristic scalar potential consistent with recent theoretical estimates. This direct evidence for a scalar potential on a macroscopic scale due to deterministically generated strain in graphene paves the way for engineering the optical and electronic properties of graphene and similar materials by using external strain.
Use of nitrogen-doped amorphous carbon nanodots (N-CNDs) as a fluorometric paper-based sensor: a new approach for sensitive determination of lead(ii) at a trace level in highly ionic matrices
Authors: Boonruang Siwaluck , Naksen Puttaraksa , Anutrasakda Wipark , Chansaenpak Kantapat , Promarak Vinich , Saenmuangchin Rattaporn , Phechkrajang Chutima , Jarujamrus Purim
Published: June 2021

This work reports a facile synthesis of nitrogen-doped amorphous carbon nanodots (N-CNDs) and their use as a fluorometric paper-based sensor for the determination of Pb2+ at a low concentration.
Collagen and the effect of poly-l-lactic acid based materials on its synthesis
Authors: Ray Subarna , Adelnia Hossein , Ta Hang T.
Published: June 2021

Poly(lactic aicd) particles stimulate collagen production through foreign body reaction, contributing to the formation of fibrotic tissues which is beneficial for variety of tissue-related therapies such as facial rejuvenation and wound healing.
Biosafe, self-adhesive, recyclable, tough, and conductive hydrogels for multifunctional sensors
Authors: Fan Ling , Hu Lizhen , Xie Jinliang , He Zhongjie , Zheng Yaping , Wei DaiXu , Yao Dongdong , Su Fangfang
Published: June 2021

A recyclable flexible conductive hydrogel, which integrates strength, biosafety, adhesion and multi-functional sensing, has been successfully applied to the detection of various scales of human activities.
3D printing of Cu-doped bioactive glass composite scaffolds promotes bone regeneration through activating the HIF-1α and TNF-α pathway of hUVECs
Authors: Dai Qiyuan , Li Qingtao , Gao Huichang , Yao Longtao , Lin Zefeng , Li Dingguo , Zhu Shuangli , Liu Cong , Yang Zhen , Wang Gang , Chen Dafu , Chen Xiaofeng , Cao Xiaodong
Published: June 2021

A 3D-printed Cu-BG composite scaffold promoted subsequent angiogenesis and osteogenesis coupling behavior through the HIF-1α and TNF-α pathway of hUVECs.
Computational design and experimental characterization of a photo-controlled mRNA-cap guanine-N7 methyltransferase
Authors: Reichert Dennis , Schepers Helena , Simke Julian , Lechner Horst , Dörner Wolfgang , Höcker Birte , Ravoo Bart Jan , Rentmeister Andrea
Published: June 2021

Guided by computational design, we engineered a light-dependent 5' cap guanine-N7 methyltransferase by bridging the substrate-binding cleft with an azobenzene derivative.
Lactonization with concomitant 1,2-aryl migration and alkoxylation mediated by dialkoxyphenyl iodides generated in situ
Authors: Zhang Jingran , Jalil Ayesha , He Jiaxin , Yu Zhenyang , Cheng Yifu , Li Guangchen , Du Yunfei , Zhao Kang
Published: June 2021

Alkoxylated isobenzofuranones were synthesized mediated by PhI(OR)2, generated in situ from the reaction of PhIO with alkyl alcohols. This one-pot transformation was postulated to involve lactonization, 1,2-aryl migration and alkoxylation processes.
Nanoporous gold electrodes modified with self-assembled monolayers for electrochemical control of the surface charge
Authors: Hengge Elisabeth , Hirber Markus , Brunner Philipp , Steyskal Eva-Maria , Nidetzky Bernd , Würschum Roland
Published: June 2021

Nanoporous gold is modified with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of different length. The point of zero charge and the protonation/deprotonation reaction are investigated revealing precise charge control for long-chain SAMs.
Sustainable one-pot preparation of fully crystalline shaped zeolite catalysts
Authors: Luan Huimin , Lei Chi , Wu Qinming , Sheng Na , Wang Yeqing , Meng Xiangju , Xiao Feng-Shou
Published: June 2021

Fully crystalline shaped zeolite catalysts with MFI, MTT, and TON structures have been successfully prepared via a sustainable one-pot route.
The red light emission in 2D (C4SH3CH2NH3)2SnI4and (C4OH7CH2NH3)2SnI4perovskites
Authors: Jung Mi-Hee
Published: June 2021

We report the Sn-based 2D perovskites, which include (TPM)2SnI4(TPM = C4SH3CH2NH3) and (TFF)2SnI4(TFF = C4OH7CH2NH3), as red emission materials.
Unique cation-template three-dimensional hybrid material demonstrates dielectric switchable response
Authors: Zhang Tie , Song Shuang-Teng , Zhu Hao-Nan , Chu Lu-Lu , Fu Da-Wei , Zhang Yi
Published: June 2021

A unique three-dimensional hybrid material [MeHdabco]K(BF4)3 was obtained through a temperature-selective method, and demonstrates a switchable dielectric response.
Effects of daidzein and genistein on markers of cardiovascular disease risk among women with impaired glucose regulation: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Ye Yan-Bin , He Kai-Yin , Li Wan-Lin , Zhuo Shu-Yu , Chen Yu-Ming , Lu Wei , Wu Shang-Ling , Liu Juan , Li Yan-Bing , Zeng Fang-Fang
Published: June 2021

Soy protein and soy isoflavones have been suggested to be associated with improved cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., lipid profiles and uric acid (UA)), but few studies have been conducted among women with impaired glucose regulation (IGR).
Relationship among oral health status, bolus formation and food comfortability during consumption of model cheeses in elderly
Authors: Lorieau L. , Floury J. , Septier C. , Laguerre A. , Le Roux L. , Hazart E. , Ligneul A. , Dupont D. , Vigneau E. , Hanafi M. , Feron G. , Labouré H.
Published: June 2021

We found no correlation between perception of bolus formation and rheological properties of the bolus. Saliva is more important for bolus formation in elderly individuals with poor dentition.
Correlation between surface chemistry and magnetism in iron nanoparticles
Authors: Haim Lorraine , Robert François , Peres Laurent , Lecante Pierre , Philippot Karine , Poteau Romuald , Respaud Marc , Amiens Catherine
Published: June 2021

Amido and hydrides ligands govern stability and magnetic properties of iron nanoparticles: magnetization could be an indicator of reactivity.
Novel 1,3,5-triazine-based pyrazole derivatives as potential antitumor agents and EFGR kinase inhibitors: synthesis, cytotoxicity, DNA binding, molecular docking and DFT studies
Authors: Raghu M. S. , Pradeep Kumar C. B. , Prashanth M. K. , Yogesh Kumar K. , Prathibha B. S. , Kanthimathi G. , Alissa Siham Abdulrahman , Alghulikah Hanan Abdulrahman , Osman Sameh M.
Published: June 2021

The development of new 1,3,5-triazine-based pyrazole derivatives as effective anticancer agents.
Correction: Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of a fluorescent phenanthrene–rhodamine dyad for ratiometric measurements of acid pH values
Authors: Srivastava Priyanka , Fürstenwerth Paul Christian , Witte Jan Felix , Resch-Genger Ute
Published: June 2021

Correction for ‘Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of a fluorescent phenanthrene–rhodamine dyad for ratiometric measurements of acid pH values’ by Priyanka Srivastava et al., New J. Chem., 2021, DOI: 10.1039/d1nj01573g.
Structural reconstruction and visible-light absorption versus internal electrostatic field in two-dimensional GaN–ZnO alloys
Authors: Liang Hanpu , Duan Yifeng
Published: June 2021

We point out a structural model to improve the visible-light absorption by overcoming the internal electrostatic field in two-dimensional nonisovalent alloys.
Selective oxidation of alcohols by graphene-like carbon with electrophilic oxygen and integrated pyridinic nitrogen active sites
Authors: Li Jiaquan , Sun Hongqi , Wang Shaobin , Dong Yu , Liu Shaomin
Published: June 2021

N-Doped graphene-like carbon was prepared via a metal-free method. Electrophilic oxygen and nitrogen species functioned as dual active sites to activate peroxymonosulfate to convert alcohol into aldehyde or ketone by radical and non-radical routes.
Cobalt and vanadium co-doped FeOOH nanoribbons: an iron-rich electrocatalyst for efficient water oxidation
Authors: Wang Xin , Liu Wei , Wang Jingnan , Li Chuanming , Zheng Rongkun , Zhang Hongxiu , Liu Jingquan , Zhang Xingwang
Published: June 2021

An iron-rich (Co,V)-FeOOH nanoribbon electrocatalyst is synthesized by a primary battery powered method for a highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction.
A novel carbon dot/polyacrylamide composite hydrogel film for reversible detection of the antibacterial drug ornidazole
Authors: Wu Weizhen , Wu Xiaoyi , He Miao , Yuan Xiaolin , Lai Jiaping , Sun Hui
Published: June 2021

A novel carbon dot/polyacrylamide composite hydrogel film with stable blue fluorescence performance was fabricated by merging a hydrogel film and carbon dots, which was used for highly selective and quantitative detection of ONZ in real samples.
Electrocatalytic and structural properties and computational calculation of PAN-EC-PC-TPAI-I2gel polymer electrolytes for dye sensitized solar cell application
Authors: Chowdhury Faisal I. , Islam Jahidul , Arof A. K. , Khandaker M. U. , Zabed Hossain M. , Khalil Ibrahim , Rahman M. Rezaur , Islam Shahidul M. , Karim M. Razaul , Uddin Jamal
Published: June 2021

In this study, gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) were prepared using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymer, ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC) plasticizers and different compositions of tetrapropylammonium iodide (TPAI) salt.
Synthesis of ZnO sol–gel thin-films CMOS-Compatible
Authors: Ben Moussa Nizar , Lajnef Mohamed , Jebari Nessrine , Villebasse Cedric , Bayle Fabien , Chaste Julien , Madouri Ali , Chtourou Radouane , Herth Etienne
Published: June 2021

A low-cost sol–gel spin-coating technique is used in this study for the simple synthesis of eco-friendly ZnO multilayer films deposited on (100)-oriented silicon substrates ranging from 150 to 600 nm by adjusting the spin coating rate.
Catechol oxidation promoted by bridging phenoxo moieties in a bis(μ-phenoxo)-bridged dicopper(ii) complex
Authors: Mukherjee Debojyoti , Nag Probal , Shteinman Albert A. , Vennapusa Sivaranjana Reddy , Mandal Ujjwal , Mitra Mainak
Published: June 2021

A bis(μ-phenoxo)-bridged dicopper(ii) complex capable of oxidizing catechol with the highest efficiency amongst any bis(μ-phenoxo)-bridged dicopper(ii) complexes is reported.
Improved mechanical performances of unidirectional jute fibre composites developed with new fibre architectures
Authors: Hasan Mahmudul , Saifullah Abu , Dhakal Hom N. , Khandaker Shahjalal , Sarker Forkan
Published: June 2021

This study detailed two novel processes, the use of stitching and PVA sizing based jute fibre UD preforms, with bamboo slice hybridization for the manufacturing of high-mechanical-performance jute composites, and significant improvement was found.
Development and comparison of UPLC-ESI-MS and RP-HPLC-VWD methods for determining microcystin-LR
Authors: Jin Peng , Yang Kai , Bai Ruining , Chen Mei , Yang Shilin , Fu Kebo , He Jieli
Published: June 2021

UPLC-MS and HPLC-VWD methods were used together for MC-LR determination in a wide concentration range. UPLC-MS can be applied in trace MC-LR determination, whereas HPLC-VWD is more suitable for high concentration range detection.
New phenol and chromone derivatives from the endolichenic fungusDaldiniaspecies and their antiviral activities
Authors: Zhang Dewu , Gu Guowei , Zhang Bingyuan , Wang Yujia , Bai Jinglin , Fang Yuang , Zhang Tao , Dai Shengjun , Cen Shan , Yu Liyan
Published: June 2021

Eight phenols including three new ones (1–3) and four chromones including two new ones (9and10) were isolated from endolichenic fungusDaldiniasp. CPCC 400770, and some of them showed significant antiviral activities.
Rapid one-pot iterative diselenide–selenoester ligation using a novel coumarin-based photolabile protecting group
Authors: Kambanis Lucas , Chisholm Timothy S. , Kulkarni Sameer S. , Payne Richard J.
Published: June 2021

A method for the rapid one-pot iterative assembly of proteins via diselenide–selenoester ligation (DSL) chemistry is described that capitalises on a novel coumarin-based photolabile protecting group for selenocysteine.
Adhesive and tough hydrogels: from structural design to applications
Authors: Zhang Wanglong , Zhang Yiwei , Zhang Yuchen , Dai Yu , Xia Fan , Zhang Xiaojin
Published: June 2021

In this review, the research progress of adhesive and tough hydrogels in recent years is outlined.
Benefit of Musical Training for Speech Perception and Cognition Later in Life
Authors: Merten Natascha , Fischer Mary E. , Dillard Lauren K. , Klein Barbara E. K. , Tweed Ted S. , Cruickshanks Karen J.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the long-term associations of musical training with speech perception in adverse conditions and cognition in a longitudinal cohort study of middle-age to older adults.

Method

This study is based on Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study participants. We asked participants at baseline (1993–1995) about their musical training. Speech perception (word recognition in competing message; Northwestern University Auditory Test Number 6), cognitive function (cognitive test battery), and impairment (self-report or surrogate report of Alzheimer's disease or dementia, and/or a Mini-Mental State Examination score ≤ 24) were assessed up to 5 times over the 20-year follow-up. We included 2,938 Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study participants who had musical training data and at least one follow-up of speech perception and/or cognitive assessment. We used linear mixed-effects models to determine associations between musicianship and decline in speech perception and cognitive function over time and Cox regression models to evaluate associations of musical training with 20-year cumulative incidence of speech perception and cognitive impairment. Models were adjusted for age, sex, and occupation and repeated with additional adjustment for health-related confounders and education.

Results

Musicians showed less speech perception decline over time with stronger effects in women (0.16% difference, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.05, 0.26]). Among men, musicians had, on average, better speech perception than nonmusicians (3.41% difference, 95% CI [0.62, 6.20]) and were less likely to develop a cognitive impairment than nonmusicians (hazard ratio = 0.58, 95% CI [0.37, 0.91]).

Conclusions

Musicians showed an advantage in speech perception abilities and cognition later in life and less decline over time with different magnitudes of effect sizes in men and women. Associations remained with further adjustment, indicating that some degree of the advantage of musical training is independent of socioeconomic or health differences. If confirmed, these findings could have implications for developing speech perception intervention and prevention strategies.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14825454
The “Counseling+” Roles of the Speech-Language Pathologist Serving Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia From Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Lanzi Alyssa M. , Ellison James M. , Cohen Matthew L.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Persons with dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are major consumers of services provided by speech-language pathologists (SLPs). These services include not only direct assessment and treatment of communication and swallowing but also counseling, collaboration, prevention, and wellness. These “counseling+” activities can be especially challenging for SLPs to deliver because of the lack of evidence, as well as the complex nature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other conditions that cause MCI and dementia.

Method

This tutorial is written by a speech-language pathologist, a neuropsychologist, and a geriatric psychiatrist to provide education, resources, and recommendations for SLPs delivering counseling+ activities to patients with MCI and dementia from AD and related disorders.

Results and Conclusions

We describe counseling+ activities across the continuum of care ranging from educating and conducting cognitive screenings with adults experiencing age-related cognitive decline to supporting end-of-life wishes. Because of their expertise in communication, SLPs can provide an array of important leading and supporting services to patients, their family, and other health care professionals on the care team, such as providing patients with appropriate feedback following a cognitive screening and helping caregivers identify the communicative intent of a responsive behavior. The demand for SLP services for patients with MCI and dementia will grow significantly over the next few decades, necessitating more systematic research and clinical evidence in this area.
Real‐time automatic helmet detection of motorcyclists in urban traffic using improved YOLOv5 detector
Authors: Jia Wei , Xu Shiquan , Liang Zhen , Zhao Yang , Min Hai , Li Shujie , Yu Ye
Published: June 2021

In traffic accidents, motorcycle accidents are the main cause of casualties, especially in developing countries. The main cause of fatal injuries in motorcycle accidents is that motorcycle riders or passengers do not wear helmets. In this paper, an automatic helmet detection of motorcyclists method based on deep learning is presented. The method consists of two steps. The first step uses the improved YOLOv5 detector to detect motorcycles (including motorcyclists) from video surveillance. The second step takes the motorcycles detected in the previous step as input and continues to use the improved YOLOv5 detector to detect whether the motorcyclists wear helmets. The improvement of the YOLOv5 detector includes the fusion of triplet attention and the use of soft‐NMS instead of NMS. A new motorcycle helmet dataset (HFUT‐MH) is being proposed, which is larger and more comprehensive than the existing dataset derived from multiple traffic monitoring in Chinese cities. Finally, the proposed method is verified by experiments and compared with other state‐of‐the‐art methods. Our method achieves mAP of 97.7%, F1‐score of 92.7% and frames per second (FPS) of 63, which outperforms other state‐of‐the‐art detection methods.
A two‐stage neural network prediction of chronic kidney disease
Authors: Peng Hongquan , Zhu Haibin , Ieong Chi Wa Ao , Tao Tao , Tsai Tsung Yang , Liu Zhi
Published: June 2021

Accurate detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) plays a pivotal role in early diagnosis and treatment. Measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) is considered the benchmark indicator in measuring the kidney function. However, due to the high resource cost of measuring mGFR, it is usually approximated by the estimated glomerular filtration rate, underscoring an urgent need for more precise and stable approaches. With the introduction of novel machine learning methodologies, prediction performance is shown to be significantly improved across all available data, but the performance is still limited because of the lack of models in dealing with ultra‐high dimensional datasets. This study aims to provide a two‐stage neural network approach for prediction of GFR and to suggest some other useful biomarkers obtained from the blood metabolites in measuring GFR. It is a composite of feature shrinkage and neural network when the number of features is much larger than the number of training samples. The results show that the proposed method outperforms the existing ones, such as convolutionneural network and direct deep neural network.
Non-local thermodynamic equilibrium effects determine the upper atmospheric temperature structure of the ultra-hot Jupiter KELT-9b
Authors: Fossati L. , Young M. E. , Shulyak D. , Koskinen T. , Huang C. , Cubillos P. E. , France K. , Sreejith A. G.
Published: June 2021

Context. Several observational and theoretical results indicate that the atmospheric temperature of the ultra-hot Jupiter KELT-9b in the main line formation region is a few thousand degrees higher than predicted by self-consistent models.

Aims. Our aim was to test whether non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) effects are responsible for the presumably higher temperature.

Methods. We employed the Cloudy NLTE radiative transfer code to self-consistently compute the upper atmospheric temperature-pressure (TP) profile of KELT-9b, assuming solar metallicity and accounting for Roche potential. In the lower atmosphere, we used an updated version of the HELIOS radiative-convective equilibrium code to constrain the Cloudy model.

Results. The Cloudy NLTE TP profile is ≈2000 K hotter than that obtained with previous models assuming LTE. In particular, in the 1–10−7 bar range the temperature increases from ≈4000 to ≈8500 K, remaining roughly constant at lower pressures. We find that the high temperature in the upper atmosphere of KELT-9b is driven principally by NLTE effects modifying the Fe and Mg level populations, which strongly influence the atmospheric thermal balance. We employed Cloudy to compute LTE and NLTE synthetic transmission spectra on the basis of the TP profiles computed in LTE and NLTE, respectively, finding that the NLTE model generally produces stronger absorption lines, particularly in the ultraviolet, than the LTE model (up to 30%). We compared the NLTE synthetic transmission spectrum with the observed Hα and Hβ line profiles obtaining an excellent match, thus supporting our results.

Conclusions. The NLTE synthetic transmission spectrum can be used to guide future observations aiming at detecting features in the KELT-9b transmission spectrum. Metals, such as Mg and Fe, and NLTE effects shape the upper atmospheric temperature structure of KELT-9b, and thus affect the mass-loss rates derived from it. Finally, our results call for checking whether this is the case also for cooler planets.
Performance of solar far-side active region neural detection
Authors: Broock E. G. , Felipe T. , Asensio Ramos A.
Published: June 2021

Context. Far-side helioseismology is a technique used to infer the presence of active regions in the far hemisphere of the Sun based on the interpretation of oscillations measured in the near hemisphere. A neural network has recently been developed to improve the sensitivity of the seismic maps to the presence of far-side active regions.

Aims. Our aim is to evaluate the performance of the new neural network approach and to thoroughly compare it with the standard method commonly applied to predict far-side active regions from seismic measurements.

Methods. We have computed the predictions of active regions using the neural network and the standard approach from five years of far-side seismic maps as a function of the selected threshold in the signatures of the detections. The results have been compared with direct extreme ultraviolet observations of the far hemisphere acquired with the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory.

Results. We have confirmed the improved sensitivity of the neural network to the presence of far-side active regions. Approximately 96% of the active regions identified by the standard method with a strength above the threshold commonly employed by previous analyses are related to locations with enhanced extreme ultraviolet emission. For this threshold, the false positive ratio is 3.75%. For an equivalent false positive ratio, the neural network produces 47% more true detections. Weaker active regions can be detected by relaxing the threshold in their seismic signature. For almost the entire range of thresholds, the performance of the neural network is superior to that of the standard approach, delivering a higher number of confirmed detections and a lower rate of false positives.

Conclusions. The neural network is a promising approach for improving the interpretation of the seismic maps provided by local helioseismic techniques. Additionally, refined predictions of magnetic activity in the non-visible solar hemisphere can play a significant role in space weather forecasting.