bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cannabis Exposure and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Related to Placental Function
Authors: Metz Torri D. , Allshouse Amanda A. , McMillin Gwendolyn A. , Greene Tom , Chung Judith H. , Grobman William A. , Haas David M. , Mercer Brian M. , Parry Samuel , Reddy Uma M. , Saade George R. , Simhan Hyagriv N. , Silver Robert M.
Published: December 2023

Importance

Cannabis use is increasing among reproductive-age individuals and the risks associated with cannabis exposure during pregnancy remain uncertain.

Objective

To evaluate the association between maternal cannabis use and adverse pregnancy outcomes known to be related to placental function.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Ancillary analysis of nulliparous individuals treated at 8 US medical centers with stored urine samples and abstracted pregnancy outcome data available. Participants in the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be cohort were recruited from 2010 through 2013; the drug assays and analyses for this ancillary project were completed from June 2020 through April 2023.

Exposure

Cannabis exposure was ascertained by urine immunoassay for 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol using frozen stored urine samples from study visits during the pregnancy gestational age windows of 6 weeks and 0 days to 13 weeks and 6 days (visit 1); 16 weeks and 0 days to 21 weeks and 6 days (visit 2); and 22 weeks and 0 days to 29 weeks and 6 days (visit 3). Positive results were confirmed with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The timing of cannabis exposure was defined as only during the first trimester or ongoing exposure beyond the first trimester.

Main Outcome and Measure

The dichotomous primary composite outcome included small-for-gestational-age birth, medically indicated preterm birth, stillbirth, or hypertensive disorders of pregnancy ascertained by medical record abstraction by trained perinatal research staff with adjudication of outcomes by site investigators.

Results

Of 10 038 participants, 9257 were eligible for this analysis. Of the 610 participants (6.6%) with cannabis use, 32.4% (n = 197) had cannabis exposure only during the first trimester and 67.6% (n = 413) had ongoing exposure beyond the first trimester. Cannabis exposure was associated with the primary composite outcome (25.9% in the cannabis exposure group vs 17.4% in the no exposure group; adjusted relative risk, 1.27 [95% CI, 1.07-1.49]) in the propensity score–weighted analyses after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, body mass index, medical comorbidities, and active nicotine use ascertained via urine cotinine assays. In a 3-category cannabis exposure model (no exposure, exposure only during the first trimester, or ongoing exposure), cannabis use during the first trimester only was not associated with the primary composite outcome; however, ongoing cannabis use was associated with the primary composite outcome (adjusted relative risk, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.09-1.60]).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this multicenter cohort, maternal cannabis use ascertained by biological sampling was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes related to placental dysfunction.
Study on recognized space on plane surface and psychological evaluation in the tea ceremony room
Authors: Shio Ataru , Suzuki Hiroki
Published: December 2023

This study is aimed to clarify the characteristics of changes and psychological evaluation in guest's personal space and solidarity spaces during the tea ceremony. (1) The personal space hardly change, while the other's personal spaces increase. The solidarity space increases in the middle and decreases after exiting the tea ceremony. (2) The most influential factor of spatial recognition is “delivery of the tea and desserts.” (3) The common psychological factors that change simultaneously among thick tea and thin tea are spatial factor, variability factor, richness factor, and impression factor, while comfortable factor, tension factor, and peculiarity factor change differently.
Psychometric Properties of Frailty Instruments in Adults With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Loecker Courtney N. , Schmaderer Myra S. , Wysham Katherine D. , Pozehl Bunny , Zimmerman Lani , England Bryant R.
Published: December 2023

Objective

Examine psychometric properties of frailty instruments used in adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to inform selection of frailty instruments for clinical and research use.

Methods

A systematic review was registered in PROSPERO. Studies measuring frailty in adults with RA published before May 25, 2022, were searched in six electronic databases. Level of evidence of psychometric properties were synthesized and graded for each frailty instrument using Consensus‐Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments methodology.

Results

There were 22 articles included in the review, and psychometric properties of 16 frailty instruments were examined. RA cohorts were predominantly female with moderate RA disease activity, mean age was 60.1 years, and frailty prevalence ranged widely from 10% to 85%. Construct validity was the only psychometric property routinely examined for frailty instruments in RA, and nearly all (14/16) performed favorably in this domain. Frailty correlated most frequently with older age, higher RA disease activity, and worse physical function. Internal consistency, measurement error, and content validity were examined infrequently. Reliability and responsiveness data were not reported. Six frailty instruments were rated highest in adults with RA: three adaptations of Fried's Criteria, 32‐Item and 45‐Item Frailty Indexes, and the Comprehensive Rheumatologic Assessment of Frailty.

Conclusion

Six frailty instruments possessed the highest‐rated psychometric properties in RA. These instruments demonstrated construct validity of frailty with important outcomes in RA. Frailty assessment shows promise to inform risk stratification in RA, but studies are needed to evaluate reliability, responsiveness, and validity to support accuracy of frailty measurement in adults with RA who may have disease‐related features that differentially impact outcomes.
Adaptive sliding mode observers‐based dissipative Hamilton finite time optimization control for the speed and tension system of reversible cold strip rolling mill
Authors: Shao Nuan , Liu Le , Lin Zhipeng , Fang Yiming
Published: December 2023

For the complex time‐varying uncertain nonlinear speed and tension system of reversible cold strip rolling mill, an adaptive sliding mode observers (ASMOs)‐based dissipative Hamilton finite time optimization control method is given in this article. First, the ASMOs are developed to observe rolling mill system's unmatched uncertainties, and their observation errors can converge to the origin in finite time. Second, combined with rolling mill system's physical structure characteristics, its dissipative Hamilton model is established by pre‐feedback processing, and then the dissipative Hamilton finite time controllers are designed based on interconnection and damping configuration and energy shaping method, and the system states can converge in finite time. Third, the adaptive mutation particle swarm optimization algorithm is adopted to optimize the controller parameters, which can further improve rolling mill system's control performance. Finally, the simulation results verify the validity of the given method based on actual field data.
Improved performance and robustness of synchronous reluctance machine control using an advanced sliding mode and direct vector control
Authors: Selma Belkacem , Bounadja Elhadj , Belmadani Bachir , Selma Boumediene
Published: December 2023

This article focuses on improving the control approach for a synchronous reluctance motor (SynRM) drive powered by a two‐level pulse width modulation (PWM) inverter. While classical sliding mode control (SMC) has been extensively used in control system design, it comes with various drawbacks such as pronounced chattering effects, considerable transient state errors, and reduced robustness. These limitations hinder its practical applicability. To enhance the performance of the SynRM, this paper introduces a novel strategy that combines direct vector control (DVC) with advanced sliding mode control (ASMC), here referring to third‐order sliding mode command (TOSMC), for regulating speed and dq‐axis stator currents. The primary objective of this approach is to achieve precise and efficient control while minimizing total harmonic distortion (THD) in current and reducing output torque fluctuations. Notably, this strategy capitalizes on the strengths of TOSMC and DVC. The efficacy of the proposed control scheme is verified through two sets of thorough simulations realized in MATLAB/Simulink environment. The first set of simulations encompasses the load–torque test, where the motor is subjected to two different levels of load torque. The results from these tests showcase the control scheme's performance under varying load conditions. The second set of simulations involves the speed variation test, where intentional changes are applied to the motor's speed. This test assesses the control approach's ability to handle dynamic speed changes effectively. The proposed control strategy is further compared with conventional control methods, including proportional–integral and second‐order sliding mode command (SOSMC) controls. The results consistently demonstrate the superior performance of the novel approach in terms of accurate control, robustness, and overall stability. The combination of DVC and TOSMC offers a promising avenue for achieving enhanced motor control in the presence of load disturbances and speed variations.
Bone Organoids: Recent Advances and Future Challenges
Authors: Zhao Ding , Saiding Qimanguli , Li Yihan , Tang Yunkai , Cui Wenguo
Published: December 2023

Bone defects stemming from tumorous growths, traumatic events, and diverse conditions present a profound conundrum in clinical practice and research. While bone has the inherent ability to regenerate, substantial bone anomalies require bone regeneration techniques. Bone organoids represent a new concept in this field, involving the 3D self‐assembly of bone‐associated stem cells guided in vitro with or without extracellular matrix material, resulting in a tissue that mimics the structural, functional, and genetic properties of native bone tissue. Within the scientific panorama, bone organoids ascend to an esteemed status, securing significant experimental endorsement. Through a synthesis of current literature and pioneering studies, this review offers a comprehensive survey of the bone organoid paradigm, delves into the quintessential architecture and ontogeny of bone, and highlights the latest progress in bone organoid fabrication. Further, existing challenges and prospective directions for future research are identified, advocating for interdisciplinary collaboration to fully harness the potential of this burgeoning domain. Conclusively, as bone organoid technology continues to mature, its implications for both clinical and research landscapes are poised to be profound.
Asymmetric Metal‐Templated Approach to Amino Acids with a CF3‐Containing 3,2’‐Pyrrolidinyl Spirooxindole Core via a Michael/Mannich [3+2]‐Cycloaddition Reaction
Authors: Gugkaeva Zalina T. , Stukalova Maria P. , Smol'yakov Alexander F. , Tsaloev Alan T. , Maleev Victor I. , Larionov Vladimir A.
Published: December 2023

We report here a practical protocol for the asymmetric synthesis of amino acids (AAs) with a CF3‐containing 3,2’‐pyrrolidinyl spirooxindole skeleton with three defined carbon stereocenters via a sequential Michael/Mannich [3+2]‐cycloaddition reaction. The coupling of a robust and stereochemically stable chiral dehydroalanine Ni(II) complex with various N‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethylisatin ketimines in the presence of triethylamine afforded a library of single diastereomeric complexes with a 3,2’‐pyrrolidinyl spirooxindole moiety in 36–71% yields. In particular, the change of base to LiOH allowed to obtain predominantly the Michael addition product in 76% yield. Finally, the decomposition of the obtained Ni(II) complexes with 3 N HCl provided the target complex AA with a 3,2’‐pyrrolidinyl spirooxindole core and (2S,4R)‐2,4‐diamino‐5,5,5‐trifluoropentanoic acid – an (S)‐norvaline derivative, together with easy recovery of the chiral auxiliary ligand for the synthesis of the starting dehydroalanine complex.
Regulating Chondro‐Bone Metabolism for Treatment of Osteoarthritis via High‐Permeability Micro/Nano Hydrogel Microspheres
Authors: Zuo Guilai , Zhuang Pengzhen , Yang Xinghai , Jia Qi , Cai Zhengwei , Qi Jin , Deng Lianfu , Zhou Zhenhua , Cui Wenguo , Xiao Jianru
Published: December 2023

Destruction of cartilage due to the abnormal remodeling of subchondral bone (SB) leads to osteoarthritis (OA), and restoring chondro‐bone metabolic homeostasis is the key to the treatment of OA. However, traditional intra‐articular injections for the treatment of OA cannot directly break through the cartilage barrier to reach SB. In this study, the hydrothermal method is used to synthesize ultra‐small size (≈5 nm) selenium‐doped carbon quantum dots (Se‐CQDs, SC), which conjugated with triphenylphosphine (TPP) to create TPP‐Se‐CQDs (SCT). Further, SCT is dynamically complexed with hyaluronic acid modified with aldehyde and methacrylic anhydride (AHAMA) to construct highly permeable micro/nano hydrogel microspheres (SCT@AHAMA) for restoring chondro‐bone metabolic homeostasis. In vitro experiments confirmed that the selenium atoms scavenged reactive oxygen species (ROS) from the mitochondria of mononuclear macrophages, inhibited osteoclast differentiation and function, and suppressed early chondrocyte apoptosis to maintain a balance between cartilage matrix synthesis and catabolism. In vivo experiments further demonstrated that the delivery system inhibited osteoclastogenesis and H‐vessel invasion, thereby regulating the initiation and process of abnormal bone remodeling and inhibiting cartilage degeneration in SB. In conclusion, the micro/nano hydrogel microspheres based on ultra‐small quantum dots facilitate the efficient penetration of articular SB and regulate chondro‐bone metabolism for OA treatment.
De novo variants identified by trio whole exome sequencing of bladder exstrophy epispadias complex
Authors: Jelin Angie C. , Wohler Elizabeth , Martin Renan , Di Carlo Heather , Isaacs William , Ko Joan , Michaud Jason , Blakemore Karin , Valle David , Sobreira Nara , Gearhart John
Published: December 2023

Bladder exstrophy epispadias complex (BEEC) encompasses a spectrum of conditions ranging from mild epispadias to the most severe form: omphalocele—bladder exstrophy—imperforate anus—spinal defects (OEIS). BEEC involves abnormalities related to anatomical structures that are proposed to have a similar underlying etiology and pathogenesis. In general, BEEC, is considered to arise from a sequence of events in embryonic development and is believed to be a multi‐etiological disease with contributions from genetic and environmental factors. Several genes have been implicated and mouse models have been generated, including a knockout model of p63, which is involved in the synthesis of stratified epithelium. Mice lacking p63 have undifferentiated ventral urothelium. MNX1 has also been implicated. In addition, cigarette smoking, diazepam and clomid have been implied as environmental factors due to their relative association. By in large, the etiology and pathogenesis of human BEEC is unknown. We performed de novo analysis of whole exome sequencing (WES) of germline samples from 31 unrelated trios where the probands have a diagnosis of BEEC syndrome. We also evaluated the DECIPHER database to identify copy number variants (CNVs) in genes in individuals with the search terms “bladder exstrophy” in an attempt to identify additional candidate genes within these regions. Several de novo variants were identified; however, a candidate gene is still unclear. This data further supports the multi‐etiological nature of BEEC.
Empowering Site‐Specific Bioconjugations In Vitro and In Vivo: Advances in Sortase Engineering and Sortase‐Mediated Ligation
Authors: Zou Zhi , Ji Yu , Schwaneberg Ulrich
Published: December 2023

Sortase‐mediated ligation (SML) has emerged as a powerful and versatile methodology for site‐specific protein conjugation, functionalization/labeling, immobilization, and design of biohybrid molecules and systems. However, the broader application of SML faces several challenges, such as limited activity and stability, dependence on calcium ions, and reversible reactions caused by nucleophilic side‐products. Over the past decade, protein engineering campaigns and particularly directed evolution, have been extensively employed to overcome sortase limitations, thereby expanding the potential application of SML in multiple directions, including therapeutics, biorthogonal chemistry, biomaterials, and biosensors. This review provides an overview of achieved advancements in sortase engineering and highlights recent progress in utilizing SML in combination with other state‐of‐the‐art chemical and biological methodologies. The aim is to encourage scientists to employ sortases in their conjugation experiments.
Electroluminescent Clusters
Authors: Zhang Xiaojun , Xu Hui
Published: December 2023

Optoelectronic cluster materials emerge rapidly in recent years especially for light‐emitting devices, owing to their 100 % exciton harvesting and unique organic–inorganic hybrid structures with tunable excited‐state characteristics for thermally activated delayed fluorescence and/or phosphorescence and inheritable photo‐ and thermo‐stability. However, for efficient electroluminescence, excited‐state compositions of cluster emitters should be tuned through ligand engineering to enhance ligand‐centered radiative components and reduce cluster‐centered quenching states. Nonetheless, the balance of optoelectronic properties requires delicate and controllable ligand functionalization. On the other hand, in addition to balancing carrier fluxes, it showed that device engineering, especially host matrixes and interfacial optimization, can not only alleviate triplet quenching, but also modify processing and passivate defects. As consequence, the record external quantum efficiencies of cluster light‐emitting diodes already reached ≈30 %. Herein, we overview recent progress of electroluminescent cluster materials and discuss their structure–property relationships, which would inspire the continuous efforts making cluster light‐emitting diodes competent as the new generation of displays and lighting sources.
meta‐C−H Arylation of Aniline Derivatives via Palladium/ S,O‐Ligand/Norbornene Cooperative Catalysis
Authors: Sukowski Verena , van Borselen Manuela , Mathew Simon , de Bruin Bas , Fernández‐Ibáñez M. Ángeles
Published: December 2023

Aromatic amines are ubiquitous moieties in organic molecules and their direct functionalization is of great interest in many research areas due to their prevalence in pharmaceuticals and organic electronics. While several synthetic tools exist for the ortho‐ and para‐functionalization of anilines, the functionalization of the less reactive meta‐position is not easy to achieve with current methods. To date, the meta‐C−H arylation of aniline derivatives has been restricted to either the use of directing groups & templates, or their transformation into anilides & quaternary anilinium salts. Herein, we report the first general and efficient meta‐C−H‐arylation of non‐directed aniline derivatives via cooperative catalysis with a palladium–S,O‐ligand–norbornene system. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions with a wide range of aniline derivatives and aryl iodides, while being operationally simple and scalable. Our preliminary mechanistic investigation–including the isolation of several palladium complexes and deuterium experiments–reveal useful insights into the substituent‐effects of both the aniline‐substrate and the norbornene‐mediator during the meta‐C−H activation step.
Photochromic performance optimization of polyurethane microcapsules by interfacial polymerization method
Authors: Yang Mengfan , Yu Weidong , Han Weiyi , Wang Chaoxia , Yin Yunjie
Published: December 2023

Spiropyran photochromic materials have been widely studied in military camouflage, optical data storage, information encryption, and fashion ornaments. The non‐photochromism and low endurance of solid spiropyran make the challenges of their application. Photochromic microcapsules with a butyl acetate solution of spiropyran as core and polyurethane as shell are synthesized via interfacial polymerization. The optimized polyurethane photochromic microcapsules are prepared with a Tween 20 concentration of 4 wt%, core–shell ratio of 16:5, and spiropyran concentration of 0.40 wt%. Polyurethane photochromic microcapsules with a mean particle diameter of 0.33 μm are obtained. The morphology shows smooth spheres, and the core–shell structure is observed. Butyl acetate in the microcapsule core does not evaporate at a temperature lower than 218.01°C as the microcapsule shell insulates heat. The polyurethane photochromic microcapsules are mixed with adhesive, thickener, and water into a paste and screen‐printed on cotton fabric. The printed fabric shows the ΔE of 17.56, 11.93, and 6.96 after 80s irradiation with the xenon lamp intensity of 102, 68, and 34 mW cm−2. The light stability of the photochromic fabric is excellent as ΔE decreases about 8.28% after 20 cycles of UV‐Vis irradiation.
Thermal Transients to Accelerate Cyclic Aging of Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Cloos Lisa , Queisser Oliver , Chahbaz Ahmed , Paarmann Sabine , Sauer Dirk Uwe , Wetzel Thomas
Published: December 2023

Cyclic aging tests of lithium‐ion batteries are very time‐consuming. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the testing time by tightening the testing conditions. However, the acceleration with this approach is limited without altering the aging mechanisms. In this paper, we investigate whether and how thermal transients accelerate the aging. The tests are performed on NMC/graphite pouch cells by applying temperatures in a range of 5 °C to 45 °C to the cell surface. The results show, that an accelerated capacity loss can be achieved in comparison to the reference cell at a steady‐state temperature of 25 °C. However, capacity difference analysis (CDA) prognoses a covering layer for the transient cells, which is confirmed upon post‐mortem analysis. We suspect the origin to lie in the dynamics of temperature fields and current distribution during temperature changes when charging. More specifically, areas of higher temperature in the cell lead to high local current densities and plating. Subsequently, high temperatures promote the reaction of the plated lithium with electrolyte. The results show that thermal transients are a critical condition for lifetime and safety and should be treated with caution as they can occur during real life operation.
Dimensionality reduction in diffusion–reaction systems
Authors: Park Kihyun , Kim Taejun , Kim Hyojoon
Published: December 2023

The generalized solutions of the dimensionality reduction problem in diffusion–reaction systems have been found for the first time by rigorously decoupling probability functions. Numerically exact results are obtained by straightforwardly applying the generalized solution to three models: protein‐DNA binding model (3D‐1D reduction), surface‐mediated diffusion (3D‐2D reduction), and line‐mediated diffusion cases (2D‐1D reduction). The results are confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations.
NSDUH finds substance use, depression, suicidality high among youth
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: December 2023

Last fall's release of the federal 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that substance use, suicidal thoughts, and depression are high among adolescents and young adults. Highlights are below.
PCIT: How to help the parent interact with their child
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: December 2023

The biggest fear of parents when referred to Parent‐Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is that the therapists will validate that the parent isn't good at parenting, so if the parent ever thinks the therapist is judging or blaming him or her, the therapy won't go well, said Melanie M. Nelson, Ph.D., presenting this topic at the AACAP last fall. “How would if feel if you were told you should go to parent training?” she said. “The message is that you need to go to remedial classes. So, we emphasize that we are working on specialized parenting, or therapeutic parenting.”
Treating ADHD: Information for parents from FDA, CDC, and AAP
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: December 2023

Attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD, is a condition that often begins between ages 3 and 6, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (https://bit.ly/3sUSkXw). And it's not just a childhood disease. ADHD may continue through the teenage years and into adulthood.
An uncommon problem: Overcoming the challenges of rectal foreign bodies—A case series and literature review
Authors: Maddah Ghodratollah , Abdollahi Abbas , Tavassoli Alireza , Mashhadi Mohammad Taghi Rajabi , Mehri Ali , Etezadpour Mohammad
Published: December 2023

Key Clinical Message

Although rectal foreign bodies are rare presentations, this condition should be considered in patients with preanal pain, lower pelvic pain, or rectal bleeding.

Rectal foreign bodies are a rare occurrence and can pose a therapeutic challenge for surgeons. These objects may be inserted through the anus or ingested orally. This study presents a retrospective review of all cases of trapped rectal foreign bodies at a single university hospital. From 2001 to 2020, twelve cases of rectal foreign bodies were diagnosed and treated at Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad. Demographic information, type of foreign body, clinical presentation, and removal method were collected retrospectively. All cases of rectal foreign bodies entered through the anus. Twelve cases involved male patients, with a mean age of 47.5 years (ranging from 24 to 70 years), and two cases involved female patients, with a mean age of 29.5 years (ranging from 29 to 30 years). Patients' main complaint was defecation disorder, accounting for 57% of cases. The types of rectal foreign bodies included two body sprays, two wood pieces, two glass bottles, glasses, eggplants, cucumbers, squash, and anal dilators. One case involved surgical gas. In five cases, rectal foreign bodies were removed under general anesthesia through the rectum by dilatation. Rectal foreign bodies were removed by rectosigmoidoscopy in three cases, forceps in two cases, and abdominal maneuvers in one case. Only one case required laparotomy. Minor complications such as scratches or small mucosal tears were observed in some cases after removal of the foreign body, but no deaths were reported. Although rectal foreign bodies are rare, this condition should be considered in patients with preanal pain, lower pelvic pain, or rectal bleeding when no justification for recent endoscopic examinations is found. Most rectal foreign bodies are removed through the anus under appropriate anesthesia. Rectosigmoidoscopy is a good alternative if needed. Surgical measures are necessary for cases that lead to peritonitis or are likely to cause serious injury.
Towards a General Access to 1‐Azaspirocyclic Systems via Photoinduced, Reductive Decarboxylative Radical Cyclizations
Authors: Kiprova Natalia , Desnoyers Marine , Narobe Rok , Klufts‐Edel Arthur , Chaud Juliane , König Burkhard , Compain Philippe , Kern Nicolas
Published: December 2023

A convenient and versatile approach to important 1‐azaspirocyclic systems relevant to medicinal chemistry and natural products is reported herein. The main strategy relies on a reductive decarboxylative cyclization of redox‐active esters which can be rapidly assembled from abundant cyclic azaacids and tailored acceptor sidechains, with a focus on alkyne acceptors enabling the generation of useful exo‐alkene moieties. Diastereoconvergent variants were studied and could be achieved either through remote stereocontrol or conformational restriction in bicyclic carbamate substrates. Two sets of metal‐free photocatalytic conditions employing inexpensive eosin Y were disclosed and studied experimentally to highlight key mechanistic divergences.
Intracellular RNA Labeling Technologies for the Analysis of RNA Biology†
Authors: Zhao Ruiqi , Fang Xin , Weng Xiaocheng
Published: December 2023

Comprehensive Summary

As a cornerstone of the central dogma of molecular biology, RNA plays vital roles in living organisms. Over the past few decades, many RNA labeling technologies have been developed to elucidate the biological function of RNA. These technologies have significantly advanced our understanding of RNA secondary structure, localization, and turnover. Additionally, taking advantage of these innovative RNA labeling approaches, plenty of tool kits have been devised for the regulation of RNA‐related biological process, such as gene expression and gene editing. In this review, we primarily focus on an array of intracellular RNA labeling methods, encompassing chemical probes‐based labeling, metabolic labeling, and proximity‐dependent labeling. We also provide a brief overview of their applications in the research of RNA biology. Finally, the perspectives of RNA labeling are also discussed.

Key Scientists

4SU was first used in1978 as a safer way to directly examine RNA synthesis. However, the enrichment of 4SU‐labeled RNA seriously relied on mercurated cellulose columns, which are toxic. In 2005, Boothroyd et al. introduced a novel covalent‐modification method of 4SU based on thiol exchange reaction. Then, Salic et al. applied 5EU, which is clickable, for RNA metabolic labeling in animals. Later, Spitale et al. designed 5EC and 2’AzU, which enabled cell specific RNA metabolic labeling under the help of specific enzyme. In 2013, directly chemical RNA labeling in living cell for RNA structure mapping was realized by Chang and Kool et al. using SHAPE reagent, which was further modified with an azide handle in 2015. Weissman, Bevilacqua and Assmann et al. introduced DMS probe that targets adenine and cytosine of RNA for RNA structure mapping in 2014. Then, Chang et al. exploited psoralen for RNA duplex mapping in 2016. Later, He, Zhou and Zhang et al. described another clickable probe N3‐kethoxal targeting guanine for RNA secondary structure mapping. Besides, Chang and Ting et al. described a proximity‐dependent RNA labeling method based on APEX in 2019, revealing subcellular RNA localization. Meanwhile, Zou and Wang et al. achieved proximity‐dependent RNA labeling using miniSOG oxidase, which provided an alternative method to investigate the spatial transcriptome. Spitale et al. utilizing photosensitizer dibromofluorescein (DBF) to realize proximity‐dependent RNA labeling and sequencing.
Sodium‐Substituted Tungsten Oxide Nanoflowers: An Efficient Electrode Enhancing the Pseudocapacitive Storage in Aqueous Asymmetric Supercapacitors
Authors: Nishad Harishchandra S. , Gupta Shobhnath P. , Kotha Vishal , Magdum Vikas V. , Gawade Vinayak V. , Patole Shashikant P. , Biradar Ankush V. , Walke Pravin S.
Published: December 2023

Electrode materials engineering at the nanoscale is essential to improve the electrochemical performance for next‐generation energy storage devices. Herein, a novel approach of sodium substitution in the tungsten oxide matrix is highligting the enhancement of the pseudocapacitor performance of the electrode in an aqueous asymmetric supercapacitor. The sodium‐substituted tungsten trioxide (NWO) and pristine tungsten oxide (PWO) nanoflowers prepared by a single‐step hydrothermal process has presented. The tetragonal crystal structure and nanoflower morphology has maintained even after Na substitution. The electrochemical properties of PWO and NWO have investigated with three‐electrode setups in 1 M H2SO4 aqueous electrolyte. The specific capacitance of PWO and NWO exhibits 104 F g−1 and 476 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, respectively. Furthermore, an aqueous asymmetric supercapacitor (AAS) of NWO demonstrates a specific capacitance of 41 F g−1, an energy density of 13 W h kg−1, and a power density of 3750 W kg−1. An excellent stability of AAS has achieved with 100 % capacitance retention from 1000 to 5000 cycles. The sodium substitution significantly enhanced the pseudocapacitive behavior, attributed to enhanced electroactive sites, conductivity, surface area, and chemical stability. It shows the potential of NWO nanoflowers as a promising candidate for next‐generation supercapacitor devices.
An Algebraic Blueprint for Predicting Turnover Numbers and Endpoints in Photocatalysis
Authors: Klingler Sarah , Hlavatsch Michael , Bagemihl Benedikt , Mengele Alexander K. , Gaus Anna‐Laurine , von Delius Max , Rau Sven , Mizaikoff Boris
Published: December 2023

Photocatalysis is a contemporary research field given that the world's fossil energy resources including coal, mineral oil and natural gas are finite. The vast variety of photocatalytic systems demands for standardized protocols facilitating an objective comparison. While there are commonly accepted performance indicators such as the turnover number (TON) that are usually reported, to date there is no unified concept for the determination of TONs and the endpoint of the reaction during continuous measurements. Herein, we propose an algebraic approach using defined parameters and boundary conditions based on partial‐least squares regression for generically calculating and predicting the turnover number and the endpoint of a photocatalytic experiment. Furthermore, the impact of the analysis period was evaluated with respect to the fidelity of the obtained TON, and the influence of the data point density along critical segments of the obtained fitting function is demonstrated.
The impact of digital transformation on ESG performance and the moderation of mixed‐ownership reform: The evidence from Chinese state‐owned enterprises
Authors: Zhang Shenshen
Published: December 2023

This article selects state‐owned enterprises listed on the A‐share market of China from 2010 to 2021 as the research sample, and adopts the Ordered Logistic Model to analyze the relationship between digital transformation (DX) and environment, social and governance (ESG) performance of enterprises, and studies the moderating effect of mixed‐ownership reform. The study found that: the DX of state‐owned enterprises can indeed improve ESG performance, and its time lag effect is significant; for state‐owned enterprises located in high‐tech industries, with higher level of marketization, or in the maturity stage, their DX has a significant promoting effect on ESG performance; In addition, mixed‐ownership reform can amplify the positive impact of DX of state‐owned enterprises on ESG performance.
Measuring museum sustainability within the framework of institutional theory: A dictionary‐based content analysis of French and British National Museums' annual reports
Authors: Cerquetti Mara , Sardanelli Domenico , Ferrara Concetta
Published: December 2023

In the context of increasing attention on museum sustainability, this research adopts a dictionary‐based, content‐analysis approach to measure the degree of sustainability disclosed in European museum annual reports and similar documents. The analysis is carried out through the lens of institutional theory, assuming that the presence of formal and informal regulations positively affects the level of sustainability in annual reporting practices. Furthermore, the paper discusses the level of sustainability disclosed by different types of museums and the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the extent of sustainability‐oriented reporting. The article compares top public museums in the UK and France, the European countries where accountability practices are most deeply rooted for legal and cultural reasons, and where the most visited museums in the world are located. The findings show that the type of museum and the country significantly affect the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) score, whereas mentioning COVID‐19 or the year of publication does not.
How uncertainty can determine corporate ESG performance?
Authors: Bin‐Feng Chai , Mirza Sultan Sikandar , Ahsan Tanveer , Qureshi Muhammad Azeem
Published: December 2023

Using Sino‐Securities Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings data, we examine how environmental uncertainty affects the ESG performance of Chinese A‐share non‐financial listed firms from 2008 to 2020. Our findings show that environmental uncertainty harms corporate ESG performance. In particular, when environmental uncertainty increases, a firm's ESG score and ESG ratings decline due to factors such as financial constraints and industry competition. We argue that as the environmental risk premium rises, it increases the real options value of postponing sustainable investment for a firm. Consequently, the firms tend to cut down their ESG investment by weighing the long‐term benefits and short‐term direct costs. The value of real options changes with the investment opportunities available to the firms and the financing constraints and competitive pressure changes the size of investment opportunities. We argue that higher financing constraints and industry competition restrict available investment opportunities and dilute the negative impact of environmental uncertainty on corporate ESG performance. These results add to the existing literature investigating the impact of uncertainty on corporate ESG performance and offer insights to regulators and enterprise managers. These results are robust to alternate proxies of ESG performance and alternate regression techniques.
Design and analysis of an improved voltage‐lift‐based extended quadratic gain boost converter with reduced voltage stress across components
Authors: Shaw Priyabrata , Garanayak Priyabrat
Published: December 2023

Increasing the voltage gain of traditional boost converter topologies necessitates an unsustainable increase in the operating duty ratio. Because of their inherent architecture, these topologies are incapable of shielding their individual components from the detrimental effects of extreme duty cycle operation, resulting in increased power loss and inefficient performance. With the objective of attaining a higher voltage gain at a lower duty cycle, this research presents a new quadratic type boost converter derived from an improved voltage‐lift (IVL) cell and the conventional boost converter (CBC). By including an IVL cell in CBC, the voltage conversion ratio is quadratic in nature, and the steady‐state performances are improved over those of CBC. This proposed architecture includes a few new parts, such as capacitors, diodes, and an inductor but no controllable switches, thus the close loop control stays the same. During the entire range of the duty cycle, the proposed boost topology outperforms the conventional quadratic boost converter (CQBC) in terms of dc voltage gain. In addition, the voltage stresses on devices (such as switch and diodes) and intermediate capacitors are reduced compared with CQBC. In steady‐state conditions, the voltage gain and design expressions of the storage elements are determined using time‐domain analysis. The suggested extended quadratic gain boost converter (EQGBC) stands out because of its multiple benefits over existing step‐up converter topologies. The suggested EQGBC has been tested by simulation and hardware implementation to ensure its key performance features. A laboratory‐scaled prototype is developed, which has the capability of boosting the low input voltage of 12 V to a higher value of 48 V at a switching frequency of 100 kHz. The experimental outputs are in close accord with the simulation findings and mathematical analysis.
Enhanced and complementary benefits of a nalfurafine and fingolimod combination to treat immune‐driven demyelination
Authors: Robichon Katharina , Bibi Rabia , Kiernan Mackenzie , Denny Lisa , Prisinzano Thomas E , Kivell Bronwyn M , La Flamme Anne Camille
Published: December 2023

Objectives

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by inflammation and damage to myelin sheaths. While all current disease‐modifying treatments (DMTs) are very effective at reducing relapses, they do not slow the progression of the disease, and there is little evidence that these treatments are able to repair or remyelinate damaged axons. Recent evidence suggests that activating kappa opioid receptors (KORs) has a beneficial effect on the progression of MS, and this study investigates the effects of KOR agonists treatment in combination with two current DMTs.

Methods

Using the well‐established murine model for immune‐driven demyelination of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, the effect of KOR agonists in combination with DMTs fingolimod or dimethyl fumarate on disease progression, immune cell infiltration and activation as well as myelination were analysed.

Results

Fingolimod in combination with the KOR agonist, nalfurafine, significantly increased each individual beneficial effect as measured by increased recovery of mice and reduced relapses. These beneficial effects correlated with a reduction in immune cell infiltration into the CNS as well as peripheral immune cell alterations including a reduction in autoreactive CD4+ T‐cell cytokine production as well as increased myelination in the spinal cords of co‐treated animals. In contrast, while the use of dimethyl fumarate in combination with nalfurafine did not adversely affect the benefits of nalfurafine, the combination did not significantly enhance those benefits.

Conclusion

This study indicates that KOR agonists can be used in combination with fingolimod and dimethyl fumarate with the nalfurafine–fingolimod combination providing enhanced benefits.
FTO up‐regulation induced by MYC suppresses tumour progression in Epstein‒Barr virus‐associated gastric cancer
Authors: Xu Yun‐Yun , Li Ting , Shen Ao , Bao Xiao‐Qiong , Lin Jin‐Fei , Guo Li‐Zhen , Meng Qi , Ruan Dan‐Yun , Zhang Qi‐Hua , Zuo Zhi‐Xiang , Zeng Zhao‐lei
Published: December 2023

Background

Epstein‒Barr virus‐associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC) is regarded as a distinct molecular subtype of GC, accounting for approximately 9% of all GC cases. Clinically, EBVaGC patients are found to have a significantly lower frequency of lymph node metastasis and better prognosis than uninfected individuals. RNA N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) modification has an indispensable role in modulating tumour progression in various cancer types. However, its impact on EBVaGC remains unclear.

Methods

Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP‐seq) and m6A dot blot were conducted to compare the m6A modification levels between EBVaGC and EBV‐negative GC (EBVnGC) cells. Western blot, real‐time quantitative PCR (RT‐qPCR) and immunohistochemistry were applied to explore the underlying mechanism of the reduced m6A modification in EBVaGC. The biological function of fat mass and obesity‐associated protein (FTO) was determined in vivo and in vitro. The target genes of FTO were screened by MeRIP‐seq, RT‐qPCR and Western blot. The m6A binding proteins of target genes were verified by RNA pulldown and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and Luciferase report assays were performed to investigate the mechanism how EBV up‐regulated FTO expression.

Results

M6A demethylase FTO was notably increased in EBVaGC, leading to a reduction in m6A modification, and higher FTO expression was associated with better clinical outcomes. Furthermore, FTO depressed EBVaGC cell metastasis and aggressiveness by reducing the expression of target gene AP‐1 transcription factor subunit (FOS). Methylated FOS mRNA was specifically recognized by the m6A ‘reader’ insulin‐like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1/2 (IGF2BP1/2), which enhanced its transcripts stability. Moreover, MYC activated by EBV in EBVaGC elevated FTO expression by binding to a specific region of the FTO promoter.

Conclusions

Mechanistically, our work uncovered a crucial suppressive role of FTO in EBVaGC metastasis and invasiveness via an m6A‐FOS‐IGF2BP1/2‐dependent manner, suggesting a promising biomarker panel for GC metastatic prediction and therapy.
Task offloading in an optimized power‐performance manner
Authors: Naseri Rojin , Abdollahi Azgomi Mohammad , Naghash Asadi Ali
Published: December 2023

The cloud computing systems, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), are usually introduced with a three‐layer architecture (IoT‐Fog‐Cloud) for the task offloading that is a solution to compensate for resource constraints in these systems. Offloading at the right location is the most significant challenge in this field. It is more appropriate to offload tasks to fog than to cloud based on power and performance metrics, but its resources are more limited than the resources of the cloud. This paper tries to optimize these factors in the fog by specifying the number of usable servers in the fog. For this purpose, we model a fog computing system using the queueing theory. Furthermore, binary search and reinforcement learning algorithms are proposed to determine the minimum number of servers with the lowest power consumption. We evaluate the cost of the fog in different scenarios. By solving the model, we find that the proposed dispatching policy is very flexible and outperformed the known policies by up to 31% and in no case is it worse than either of them, and the overall offloading cost increases when fog rejects tasks with a high probability. Our offloading method is more effective than running all fog servers simultaneously, based on simulation results. It is evident from the similarities between the simulation results and those derived from the analytical method that the model and results are valid.
Derivation, validation, and comparison of a new prognostic scoring system for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding
Authors: Smith Christopher , Leggett Gillian , Jayaprakash Anthoor , Khan Mohammed , Thomson John M. , Vijayan Balasubramaniam , Fraser Andrew , Leeds John S.
Published: December 2023

Objectives

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding is a common presentation with little data concerning risk factors for adverse outcomes. The aim was to derive and validate a scoring system to stratify risk in lower gastrointestinal bleeding and compare it to the Oakland score.

Methods

A total of 2385 consecutive patients (mean age 65 years, 1140 males) were used to derive the score using multivariate logistic regression modeling then internally and externally validated. The Oakland score was applied and area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves were calculated and compared. A score of <1 was compared with an Oakland score of <9 to assess 30‐day rebleeding and mortality rates.

Results

Rebleeding was associated with age, inpatient bleeding, syncope, malignancy, tachycardia, hypotension, lower hemoglobin and mortality with age, inpatient bleeding, liver/gastrointestinal disease, tachycardia, and hypotension. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves was 0.742 for rebleeding and 0.802 for mortality. A score <1 was associated with rebleeding (0.0%–2.2%) and mortality (0%). The Oakland score had a significantly lower area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for rebleeding of 0.687 but not for mortality; 0.757. A score <1 was associated with a lower 30‐day rebleeding risk compared to an Oakland score <9 (4/379 vs. 15/355, p = 0.009) but not mortality (0/365 vs. 1/355, p = 0.493).

Conclusions

Our score predicts 30‐day rebleeding and mortality rate with low scores associated with very low risk. The Aberdeen score is superior to the Oakland score for predicting rebleeding. Prospective evaluation of both scores is required.