bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Von Abstinenz bis Zerstreuung. Wenn Wissenschaftler:innen das Fernsehen einschal- ten… Surrogat einer Mediennutzungsstudie
Authors: Wilke Jürgen
Published: March 2021

Ob und wie Wissenschaftler:innen das Fernsehen nutzen, darüber wissen wir wenig. Repräsentative Umfragen dieser Berufsgruppe liefern dazu keine Daten. Um diesem Defizit zu begegnen, wird im Folgenden systematisch ein Fragebogen ausgewertet, der sechs Jahre lang jeden Monat von „Forschung und Lehre“, dem Organ des Deutschen Hochschulverbandes, eingesetzt wurde. Von Januar 2014 bis Dezember 2019 wurden insgesamt 72 zumeist prominente Wissenschaftler:innen gebeten, den Satz „Wenn ich das Fernsehen einschalte…“ zu ergänzen. Die Antworten werden nach der Intensität der Fernsehnutzung und der Bewertung dieses Mediums in eine mehrstufige Rangfolge klassifiziert. Die Wissenschaftler:innen geben großenteils an, das Fernsehen nicht oder allenfalls randständig zu nutzen. Als gewählte Programminhalte nennen sie am ehesten noch Nachrichtensendungen und „Tatort“-Krimis. Als Mittel sozialer Beobachtung scheint es so gut wie keine Rolle zu spielen.
Gesellschaftlicher Zusammenhalt: Annäherung an einen komplexen
Authors: Forst Rainer
Published: March 2021

Mit dem Zusammenhalt ist es wie mit anderen Begriffen auch - je genauer man ihn betrachtet, umso facettenreicher wird er.
Frauen*, Mütter, Querdenken und Soziale Arbeit
Authors: Bock Vero , Lehnert Esther
Published: March 2021

Die Corona-Pandemie zeigt uns seit einem Jahr die Schwachstellen des sozialen Sektors auf, verstärkt die soziale Ungleichheit und führt zu einer weiteren Normalisierung und Verfestigung der Ideologien der Ungleichwertigkeit. Bereits diese Befunde sollten für die Soziale Arbeit als Menschenrechtsprofession, die laut Global Definition den Social Change fördert, Aufforderung genug sein, sich klar zu positionieren und zu intervenieren.
Bildungsarbeit gegen Antisemitismus und der Intersektionalitätsdiskurs
Authors: Özdoğan Mihri , Schulz Kathrin , Stief Antonius , Braun Elisabeth
Published: March 2021

Antisemitismuskritik und Intersektionalitätsdiskurse stehen bislang in einem ungeklärten Verhältnis. Dieses Nebeneinander wird im Beitrag hinsichtlich der Bildungsarbeit zu Antisemitismus aufgezeigt und theoretisch eruiert. Abschließend wird die Frage beantwortet, welche Potenziale durch eine wechselseitige Fruchtbarmachung der Theoriediskurse für die Praxis der Bildungsarbeit gegen Antisemitismus entstehen.
Workplace factors related to the well-being of employees in nursing: A mixed-methods study
Authors: Lorber Mateja , Treven Sonja , Mumel Damijan
Published: March 2021

The aim was to identified workplace factors related to the well-being of employees in nursing. A cross-sectional study was conducted in nine from twelve Slovenian hospitals. Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression analysis were used. According to a qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were used. The content analysis gave six main categories: Leadership style; Leaders' personal qualities; Leaders' knowledge and skills; Stress; Patients; Organization; that is important for employees' well-being in nursing. It was revealed that 93 % of employees' well-being in nursing could be predicted with leadership style, leaders' knowledge and skills, leaders' personal qualities, frequency of workplace stress, stress management working experiences, and education level. The study confirmed the importance of leaders' skills and knowledge, leaders' personal qualities, and leadership styles for higher employees' well-being in nursing.
Two new tanaidaceans (Crustacea: Peracarida) from Portuguese submarine canyons (NE Atlantic, West Iberian Margin)
Authors: García-Herrero Álvaro , Esquete Patricia , Cunha Marina R.
Published: March 2021

The Tanaidacea are ubiquitous and amongst the most abundant taxa in the deep sea. However, their diversity in submarine canyons remains largely unknown. Here, two new species and a new genus of Paratanaoidea are described. Paranarthrura cousteaui sp. nov. is distinguished by the combination of the following characters: post-cheliped sclerites not fused, presence of one seta in the maxilliped endite, one long midventral seta in cheliped, one penicillate seta in the basis of pereopods 4–6, uropod endopod bi-articulated and uropod exopod shorter than endopod article 1. This species was found at the upper reaches of three Portuguese canyons, Cascais, Setúbal and Nazaré Canyons, and the adjacent open slope, between 897 and 1001 m water depths. Tirana vallis gen. et sp. nov. presents a combination of the characters that define the other two genera of Paranarthrurellidae, Paranarthrurella and Armatognathia, but also unique characters within the family: the antenna, cheliped and uropod are more elongate than the rest of the species; the pereopods 4–6 carpus spines reach at least half of the length of the propodus and the propodus of pereopods 4–6 have ramified subdistal spines. This species was found at the middle reaches of Setúbal Canyon (3214–3219 m water depth).
Evolution of health social security expenditure in Chile: A review of financial aggregates from 2000 to 2018
Authors: Lenz-Alcayaga Rony , Páez-Pizarro Luciano
Published: March 2021

Introduction In Chile, there is controversy regarding the magnitude of financing for the health system. Some experts state that more resources are needed, while others refer to the problems that may arise in managing a growing pool of resources. Aim This article aims to offer evidence to encourage critical discussion through a time series analysis of the leading financial aggregates in constant 2018 Chilean pesos of the Chilean social security in the period from 2000 to 2018. Methods We did an observational, descriptive, longitudinal, and time series trend analysis study. Financial aggregates are organized according to social security definitions and by financial administrators—the public National Health Fund and the private health insurers. Results Social security health spending has increased almost four-fold in the study period. After enacting the Explicit Guarantees in Health, the National Health Fund expanded more than the private health insurance system due to government allocations to the National Health Fund. In contrast, individual contributions decreased steadily every year during the study period. Per capita expenditure was higher in the private health insurance system. However, the per capita expenditure of the private insurance system over the public health fund has gradually decreased over time. Conclusion Firstly, Chile increased its health spending at a rate higher than observed in other Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Secondly, it transitioned from financing health mainly through workers’ contributions to growing prominence of the government’s overall contribution. In the wake of the announced health reform, the discussion of health funding will include employers’ role in health financing.
Spatio‑Temporal Model of Extreme Rainfall Data in the Province of South Sulawesi for a Flood Early Warning System
Authors: Bakri Bambang , Adam Khaeryna , Rahim Amran
Published: March 2021

In this study, we model extreme rainfall to study the high rainfall events in the province of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. We investigated the effect of the El  Nino South Oscillation (ENSO), Indian Ocean Dipole Mode (IOD), and Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) on extreme rainfall events. We also assume that events in a location are affected by events in other nearby locations. Using rainfall data from the province of South Sulawesi, the results showed that extreme rainfall events are related to IOD and MJO.
PRIVILEGED MOBILITY AND UN‑MEDIATED CHOICE? THE CASE OF YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING IN TRANSNATIONAL LONG-DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS
Authors: Stasińska Antonina
Published: March 2021

In postmodern times of emphasized fluidification, individualism and cosmopolitanism, mobility becomes self-evident and naturalized, yet socially desirable and anticipated. Therefore it is valuable to use ethnography to look at individual experiences. They are young, educated, and mobile, pursuing their dreams and goals while living in big cities: Poles and other (not only) European citizens who maintain transnational long-distance relationships create perfectly suitable representatives of the category of ‘privileged mobility’. This article is based on ethnographic fieldwork I conducted in 2016–2018, and it employs an auto-ethnographic perspective in order to examine the notion of privilege (Amit 2007), with its borders and limitations, through the analytical lens of mobility. The article puts forward the perspective of my research participants and thus provides a detailed portrait of the researched group, in order to show how mobility is rooted in their everyday lives and how privileged they really are. I argue that mobility, defined as one of the most stratifying factors (Bourdieu 1984), can be applied as a mirror that reflects position in the social strata. In this specific ethnographic context, spatial mobility can be seen as a useful tool, which exposes social and individual dimensions of being privileged while living in transnational long-distance relationships
„KULTURA PRZEGRYWU” I [BEEP] GENERATION NA PRZYKŁADZIE TWÓRCZOŚCI POETYCKIEJ TOMASZA BĄKA
Authors: Sadowska Martyna
Published: March 2021

W artykule pragnę skupić się na zjawisku, które w potocznej świadomości społecznej funkcjonuje jako „kultura przegrywu”. Ponadto celem niniejszych przemyśleń będzie charakterystyka nietypowej społeczności „ludzi przegrywów” oraz jej najbardziej rozpoznawalnego antybohatera, przez Tomasza Bąka określanego mianem „człowiek pizda”. Przykładem, na którym pragnę oprzeć interpretację poruszanych zagadnień należących do szeroko pojętego „przegrywu” będzie twórczość poetycka współczesnego, polskiego poety, wspomnianego już Tomasza Bąka. Punktem wyjścia moich przemyśleń będą następujące pytania o charakterze fundamentalnym: (1) Czy zjawisko „kultury przegrywu” faktycznie zaistniało w Polsce? (2) Jeśli tak, to czym jest i jakie są jej cechy charakterystyczne? (3) Kim są bohaterowie społeczności „przegrywu” oraz „człowiek pizda”? (4) Jakie konsekwencje społeczne, ekonomiczne, polityczne i kulturowe niesie ze sobą omawiane zjawisko? Mam nadzieję, że odpowiedź na wyżej wymienione problemy pozwoli na wydobycie nietypowości zjawiska wciąż rozwijającego się w Polsce.
THE CRISIS OF RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE IN CONTEMPORARY INDONESIA – A PHENOMENON OF THE ISLAMIC HOUSING INDUSTRY AND ITS IMPACT ON SOCIAL LIFE
Authors: Piosik Monika
Published: March 2021

In the last few years Indonesia has been experiencing a new wave of Muslim revival. In addition to the growing popularity of conservative and even radical Muslim ideologies such as Wahhabism and Salafism, this de facto multi-religious society is facing a strong trend towards religious segregation. Indonesians are looking for new forms of their religious manifestation and expressions of their piety. One of the most vivid examples of Muslim separation from other religions is the perumahan syariah, a new form of gated communities in Indonesia. The article describes the growing phenomenon of closed neighborhoods where residents’ lives are restricted by Sharia law. The paper first describes the roots of the current religious revival and its impact on the social situation, then deepens the definition of gated communities in the context of perumahan syariah as well as controversies linked to the topic. In conclusion, the possible implications for social life in Indonesia are presented.
Development of an in vivo technique for dose verification at the prone breast board / skin interface
Authors: Loughery Brian , Chan Dennis , Burmeister Jay , Dominello Michael
Published: March 2021

Due to the limited height of commercial prone breast boards, large or pendulous breasts may contact the base layer of the board during simulation and throughout the course of treatment. Our clinic has historically identified and marked this region of contact to ensure reproducible setup. However, this situation may result in unwanted hotspots where the breast rests atop the board due to electron scatter. In this study, we performed in‐vivo dosimetric measurements to evaluate the surface dose in regions of contact with the immobilization device. The average dose and hotspot were identified and evaluated to determine whether plan modifications were necessary to avoid excess skin toxicity at the skin/breast board interface. The film method results were validated against a commissioned in vivo OSLD dosimetry system. Radiochromic film measurements agreed with OSLD readings (n = 18) overall within 1%, σ = 6.4%, with one deviation of >10%. Pertinent information for the physician includes the average, maximum, and minimum doses received at the film interface. Future readings will not require OSLD verification. Physicians now have access to additional spatial data to correlate skin toxicity with doses delivered at the skin/breast board interface. This new technique is now an established procedure at our clinic, and can inform future efforts to model enhanced methods to calculate the dosimetric effects from the prone breast board in the treatment planning system.
Multi‐Responsive Biodegradable Cationic Nanogels for Highly Efficient Treatment of Tumors
Authors: Li Xin , Sun Haitao , Li Helin , Hu Chaolei , Luo Yu , Shi Xiangyang , Pich Andrij
Published: March 2021

The facile preparation, modular design, and multi‐responsiveness are extremely critical for developing pervasive nanoplatforms to meet heterogeneous applications. Here, cationic nanogels (NGs) are modularly engineered with tunable responsiveness, versatility, and biodegradation. Cationic PVCL‐based NGs with core/shell structure are fabricated by facile one‐step synthesis. The formed PVCL‐NH2 NGs exhibit uniform size, thermal/pH dual‐responsive behaviors, and redox‐triggered degradation. Moreover, the NGs can be employed to modify or/and load with various functional agents to construct multipurpose nanoplatforms in a modular manner. Notably, the novel hybrid structure with copper sulfide (CuS) NPs loaded in the NGs shell is prepared, which leads to higher photothermal conversion efficiency (31.1%) than other CuS randomly loaded NGs reported. By personalized tailoring, these functionalized NGs display fluorescent property, r1 relaxivity, strong near‐infrared (NIR) absorption, good biocompatibility, and targeting specificity. The superior photothermal effect of hybrid NGs (CuS@NGs‐LA) is presented under NIR II over NIR I. Importantly, hybrid NGs encapsulated doxorubicin (CuS@NGs‐LA/DOX) show endogenous pH/redox and exogenous NIR multi‐triggered drug release for efficient photothermal‐chemotherapy, which can completely eliminate advanced tumors and effectively inhibit recurrence. Overall, the pervasive nanoplatforms based on intelligent cationic NGs with tunable responsiveness, versatility, and biodegradation are developed by engineered modular strategy for precision medicine applications.
3D‐Printing to Mitigate COVID‐19 Pandemic
Authors: Kumar Kandambath Padinjareveetil Akshay , Pumera Martin
Published: March 2021

3D‐printing technology provided numerous contributions to the health sector during the recent Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. Several of the 3D‐printed medical devices like personal protection equipment (PPE), ventilators, specimen collectors, safety accessories, and isolation wards/ chambers were printed in a short time as demands for these were rising significantly. The review discusses some of these contributions of 3D‐printing that helped to protect several lives during this health emergency. By enlisting some of the significant benefits of using the 3D‐printing technique during an emergency over other conventional methods, this review claims that the former opens enormous possibilities in times of serious shortage of supply and exceeding demands. This review acknowledges the collaborative approaches adopted by individuals, entrepreneurs, academicians, and companies that helped in forming a global network for delivering 3D‐printed medical/non‐medical components, when other supply chains were disrupted. The collaboration of the 3D‐printing technology with the global health community unfolds new and significant opportunities in the future.
Intrinsically Polar Piezoelectric Self‐Assembled Oligopeptide Monolayers
Authors: Petroff Christopher A. , Cassone Giuseppe , Šponer Jiří , Hutchison Geoffrey R.
Published: March 2021

Flexible, biocompatible piezoelectric materials are of considerable research interest for a variety of applications, but many suffer from low response or high cost to manufacture. Herein, novel piezoelectric force and touch sensors based on self‐assembled monolayers of oligopeptides are presented, which produce large piezoelectric voltage response and are easily manufactured without the need for electrical poling. While the devices generate modest piezoelectric charge constants (d33) of up to 9.8 pC N−1, they exhibit immense piezoelectric voltage constants (g33) up to 2 V m N−1. Furthermore, a flexible device prototype is demonstrated that produces open‐circuit voltages of nearly 6 V under gentle bending motion. Improvements in peptide selection and device construction promise to further improve the already outstanding voltage response and open the door to numerous practical applications.
Highly Efficient Heavy Ion Acceleration from Laser Interaction with Dusty Plasma
Authors: Zou Debin , Yu Mingyang , Jiang Xiangrui , Zhao Na , Yu Tongpu , Zhuo Hongbin , Pukhov Alexander , Ma Yanyun , Shao Fuqiu , Zhou Cangtao , Ruan Shuangchen
Published: March 2021

Energetic heavy ions with short duration can be generated in the interaction of ultrashort ultraintense (USUI) laser pulse with solid matter. However, the energy conversion efficiency from laser to heavy ions is usually very low. Herein, a novel scheme for efficient transfer of USUI laser energy to the heavy ions of microscopic dust grains in dusty plasma is proposed. Due to the resulting ultraintense space‐charge field, the heavy ions expand isotropically together with the laser heated and expelled grain electrons as a plasma cloud on roughly the ion acoustic timescale. It is found that with 3.1 × 1020 W cm−2 USUI laser, one can produce hundreds‐megaelectronvolt C6+ ions with ≈60% energy transfer efficiency. In fact, up to 300 GeV Au79+ ions with ≈30% energy transfer efficiency can be obtained by using 8.8 × 1023 W cm−2 laser. This result suggests the possibility of using hundreds‐petawatt laser facility to investigate heavy‐ion collisions for nuclear state detection and quantum cardiodynamics phase transition.
Visible Light Enabled Formal Cross Silyl Benzoin Reaction as an Access to α‐Hydroxyketones
Authors: Ma Liyao , Yu Yinghua , Xin Luoting , Zhu Lei , Xia Jiajin , Ou Pengcheng , Huang Xueliang
Published: March 2021

In this work, a visible‐light enabled coupling of acylsilanes with aldehydes to give a range of cross‐benzoin type products α‐hydroxyketones is described. The reaction could proceed at ambient temperature, with the irradiation of low energy visible light, and without addition of photosensitizer or any other additives.

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Thermal imaging to evaluate wheat genotypes under dryland conditions
Authors: Bhandari Mahendra , Xue Qingwu , Liu Shuyu , Stewart B. A. , Rudd Jackie C. , Pokhrel Pramod , Blaser Brock , Jessup Kirk , Baker Jason
Published: March 2021

Thermal imaging has been used to determine canopy temperature and study plant water relationships. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential use of infrared thermal imaging to determine crop canopy temperature (Tc) and evaluate wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes under drought conditions. Thermal images were acquired at anthesis and grain‐filling stages from 17 genotypes grown under dryland conditions in 2015 and 2016 winter wheat growing season at Bushland, TX. A handheld thermal camera was used to acquire thermal images and the images were processed using customized image processing software. The customized software filters out the background soil from the thermal images and calculates the mean Tc. A significant difference (p < .05) in Tc among genotypes was found during grain filling in 2015 and at anthesis in 2016. Genotypes TAM 111, TAM 114, PlainsGold Byrd, and Jagalene had cooler canopies, and Billings, TAM 304, and TAM 105 had warmer canopies in both years. There was a significant negative correlation between grain yield and Tc measured at anthesis (r =–.48, p < .05) and grain‐filling (r = –.33, p < .05). Infrared thermal imaging showed a promising method to obtain Tc, which can be used to evaluate genotypes for drought tolerance.
Artificial Intelligence in Process Engineering
Authors: Thon Christoph , Finke Benedikt , Kwade Arno , Schilde Carsten
Published: March 2021

In recent years, the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is experiencing a boom, caused by recent breakthroughs in computing power, AI techniques, and software architectures. Among the many fields being impacted by this paradigm shift, process engineering has experienced the benefits caused by AI. However, the published methods and applications in process engineering are diverse, and there is still much unexploited potential. Herein, the goal of providing a systematic overview of the current state of AI and its applications in process engineering is discussed. Current applications are described and classified according to a broader systematic. Current techniques, types of AI as well as pre‐ and postprocessing will be examined similarly and assigned to the previously discussed applications. Given the importance of mechanistic models in process engineering as opposed to the pure black box nature of most of AI, reverse engineering strategies as well as hybrid modeling will be highlighted. Furthermore, a holistic strategy will be formulated for the application of the current state of AI in process engineering.
Extractive distillation of benzene, toluene, and xylenes from pyrolysis gasoline using methylsulfonylethane as a cosolvent
Authors: Gao Siliang , Tang Wencheng , Zhao Ming , Qie Siyuan , Pang Weiwei , Tian Longsheng
Published: March 2021

Highly efficient separation of benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTXs) from pyrolysis gasoline is very important in petrochemical industries. Though the extractive distillation (ED) process is simpler and consumes less energy compared with liquid–liquid extraction process, it is difficult for a single solvent, for example, sulfolane, to achieve both high purity and high yield of BTXs. In this work, methylsulfonylethane (MSE) was chosen as a cosolvent to improve the selectivity of sulfolane after solvent screening, and factors that may affect the selectivity of the composite solvent were fully investigated, such as the content of cosolvent, solvent to feed ratio, the composition of the feed, and temperature. Furthermore, 240 h of continuous extractive distillation and solvent recovery experiment was carried out using sulfolane (85 wt%)–MES (15 wt%) mixture as solvent. The purity of mixed aromatics obtained was 99.83%, and the yield was as high as 99.7%.
Measure of polymer performance based on correlated physical parameters
Authors: Gowtham Guttikatte Kariappa , Somashekarappa Hanumanthappa , Bharath Karthik , Somashekar Rudrappa
Published: March 2021

We introduce a novel measure of performance of polymer composites based on physical parameters whose behavior depends on levels of dopant concentration used during their preparation. The performance measure is based on a joint analysis of measurements of the physical parameters exhibiting non‐trivial correlations that vary across different levels of dopant concentrations. In contrast to traditional multivariate analysis, we treat data from parameter measurements as being obtained from functional parameters, and develop the performance measure based on the joint average function of parameters that encodes the correlation structure. An optimal level of dopant concentration is then ascertained with respect to the performance measure. While the proposed measure is general enough to be applicable to any chosen physical parameters, we demonstrate its utility in the context of assessing performance using microstructural and nonlinear optical parameters. Computing of the measure and optimal dopant concentration are carried out using Monte Carlo sampling, which further facilitates uncertainty quantification.
Mycophenolate Mofetil Versus Cyclophosphamide for Remission Induction in Childhood Polyarteritis Nodosa: An Open‐Label, Randomized, Bayesian Noninferiority Trial
Authors: Brogan Paul A. , Arch Barbara , Hickey Helen , Anton Jordi , Iglesias Este , Baildam Eileen , Mahmood Kamran , Cleary Gavin , Moraitis Elena , Papadopoulou Charalampia , Beresford Michael W. , Riley Phil , Demir Selcan , Ozen Seza , Culeddu Giovanna , Hughes Dyfrig A. , Dolezalova Pavla , Hampson Lisa V. , Whitehead John , Jayne David , Ruperto Nicola , Tudur‐Smith Catrin , Eleftheriou Despina
Published: March 2021

Objective

Cyclophosphamide (CYC) is used in clinical practice off‐label for the induction of remission in childhood polyarteritis nodosa (PAN). Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) might offer a less toxic alternative. This study was undertaken to explore the relative effectiveness of CYC and MMF treatment in a randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Methods

This was an international, open‐label, Bayesian RCT to investigate the relative effectiveness of CYC and MMF for remission induction in childhood PAN. Eleven patients with newly diagnosed childhood PAN were randomized (1:1) to receive MMF or intravenous CYC; all patients received the same glucocorticoid regimen. The primary end point was remission within 6 months while compliant with glucocorticoid taper. Bayesian distributions for remission rates were established a priori for MMF and CYC by experienced clinicians and updated to posterior distributions on trial completion.

Results

Baseline disease activity and features were similar between the 2 treatment groups. The primary end point was met in 4 of 6 patients (67%) in the MMF group and 4 of 5 patients (80%) in the CYC group. Time to remission was shorter in the MMF group compared to the CYC group (median 7.1 weeks versus 17.6 weeks). No relapses occurred in either group within 18 months. Two serious infections were found to be likely linked to MMF treatment. Physical and psychosocial quality‐of‐life scores were superior in the MMF group compared to the CYC group at 6 months and 18 months. Combining the prior expert opinion with results from the present study provided posterior estimates of remission of 71% for MMF (90% credibility interval [90% CrI] 51, 83) and 75% for CYC (90% CrI 57, 86).

Conclusion

The present results, taken together with prior opinion, indicate that rates of remission induction in childhood PAN are similar with MMF treatment and CYC treatment, and MMF treatment might be associated with better health‐related quality of life than CYC treatment.
Performance of the DETECT Algorithm for Pulmonary Hypertension Screening in a Systemic Sclerosis Cohort
Authors: Young Amber , Moles Victor M. , Jaafar Sara , Visovatti Scott , Huang Suiyuan , Vummidi Dharshan , Nagaraja Vivek , McLaughlin Vallerie , Khanna Dinesh
Published: March 2021

Objective

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is one of the leading causes of mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study was undertaken to assess predictive accuracies of the DETECT algorithm and the 2015 European Society of Cardiology/European Respiratory Society (ESC/ERS) guidelines in SSc patients who underwent right‐sided heart catheterization (RHC) for pulmonary hypertension (PH) evaluation.

Methods

Patients with SSc who had diagnostic RHC, had no PH or had PAH, and had available data on variables to allow application of the DETECT and 2015 ESC/ERS guidelines were included for analysis. PH classification was based on hemodynamics using the 2018 revised criteria and extent of lung fibrosis shown on high‐resolution computed tomography. Sensitivity and predictive accuracies of the DETECT algorithm and 2015 ESC/ERS guidelines were calculated, including analysis of subjects with a diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco) of ≥60% predicted.

Results

Sixty‐eight patients with SSc had RHC, of whom 58 had no PH and 10 had PAH. The mean age was 60.0 years, and 58.8% had limited cutaneous SSc. The DETECT algorithm had a sensitivity of 1.00 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.69–1.00) and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 1.00 (95% CI 0.80–1.00), whereas the 2015 ESC/ERS guidelines had a sensitivity of 0.80 (95% CI 0.44–0.97) and an NPV of 0.94 (95% CI 0.81–0.99). In patients with a DLco of ≥60% (n = 27), the DETECT algorithm had a sensitivity of 1.00 (95% CI 0.29–1.00) and an NPV of 1.00 (95% CI 0.59–1.00), whereas the 2015 ESC/ERS guidelines had a sensitivity of 0.67 (95% CI 0.09–0.99) and an NPV of 0.94 (95% CI 0.71–1.00).

Conclusion

The DETECT algorithm has high sensitivity and NPV for diagnosis of PAH, including among individuals with a DLco of ≥60%.
Regulation of Monocyte Adhesion and Type I Interferon Signaling by CD52 in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Rudnik Michał , Rolski Filip , Jordan Suzana , Mertelj Tonja , Stellato Mara , Distler Oliver , Blyszczuk Przemysław , Kania Gabriela
Published: March 2021

Objective

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by dysregulation of type I interferon (IFN) signaling. CD52 is known for its immunosuppressive functions in T cells. This study was undertaken to investigate the role of CD52 in monocyte adhesion and type I IFN signaling in patients with SSc.

Methods

Transcriptome profiles of circulating CD14+ monocytes from patients with limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc), patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSs), and healthy controls were analyzed by RNA sequencing. Levels of CD52, CD11b/integrin αΜ, and CD18/integrin β2 in whole blood were assessed by flow cytometry. CD52 expression was analyzed in relation to disease phenotype (early, lcSSc, dcSSc) and autoantibody profiles. The impact of overexpression, knockdown, and antibody blocking of CD52 was analyzed by gene and protein expression assays and functional assays.

Results

Pathway enrichment analysis indicated an increase in adhesion‐ and type I IFN–related genes in monocytes from SSc patients. These cells displayed up‐regulated expression of CD11b/CD18, reduced expression of CD52, and enhanced adhesion to intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and endothelial cells. Changes in CD52 expression were consistent with the SSc subtypes, as well as with immunosuppressive treatments, autoantibody profiles, and monocyte adhesion properties in patients with SSc. Overexpression of CD52 led to decreased levels of CD18 and monocyte adhesion, while knockdown of CD52 increased monocyte adhesion. Experiments with the humanized anti‐CD52 monoclonal antibody alemtuzumab in blood samples from healthy controls increased monocyte adhesion and CD11b/CD18 expression, and enhanced type I IFN responses. Monocytic CD52 expression was up‐regulated by interleukin‐4 (IL‐4)/IL‐13 via the STAT6 pathway, and was down‐regulated by lipopolysaccharide and IFNs α, β, and γ in a JAK1 and histone deacetylase IIa (HDAC IIa)–dependent manner.

Conclusion

Down‐regulation of the antiadhesion CD52 antigen in CD14+ monocytes represents a novel mechanism in the pathogenesis of SSc. Targeting of the IFN–HDAC–CD52 axis in monocytes might represent a new therapeutic option for patients with early SSc.
Insights Into Thermal Runaway of Li–Ion Cells by Accelerating Rate Calorimetry Coupled with External Sensors and Online Gas Analysis
Authors: Abd‐El‐Latif Abdelaziz A. , Sichler Peter , Kasper Michael , Waldmann Thomas , Wohlfahrt‐Mehrens Margret
Published: March 2021

Besides high energy density, fast‐charging capability, and costs, safety of Li‐ion batteries is fundamentally important – even after long‐term usage or abusive conditions. In this paper, a new combination of accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC) coupled with a mass spectrometer (MS), as well as cell resistance and audio recording was applied to study commercial 18650‐type Li‐ion cells. This novel ARC‐MS setup allows following the electrochemical and thermal behavior simultaneously to the evolved gases during cell venting and thermal runaway. The tested cells were (i) unaged, (ii) aged by low temperature cycling (main mechanism: Li deposition), as well as (iii) overcharged. The aged and the overcharged cells show an early onset‐of‐self‐heating at 36 °C whereas the self‐heating started at 96 °C for the unaged cells. The rank of the time until explosion of the cells is in the order of overcharged cell<aged cell with Li deposition<unaged cell. The simultaneous recording of 13 individual values allows drawing conclusions on processes like separator pore closure, cell venting, explosion, and gas formation. Due to electrolyte decomposition by anodic and cathodic exothermic reactions, the amount of formed gases such as CO2, ethylene, and POF3 are depending on the history of the cell, i. e., aging mechanism or overcharging. Additional gas sensors in the battery pack for improved battery safety are indicating venting of the cells and therefore might be a low cost solution.
Blood retinal barrier and ocular pharmacokinetics: Considerations for the development of oncology drugs
Authors: Williamson Beth , Pilla Reddy Venkatesh
Published: March 2021

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are an example of targeted drug therapy to treat cancer while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. In contrast to traditional oncology drugs, the toxicity profile of targeted therapies is less well understood and can include severe ocular adverse events, which are among the most common toxicity reported by these therapeutics. Inhibition of Mer receptor tyrosine kinase (MERTK) promotes innate tumor immunity by decreasing M2‐macrophage polarization and efferocytosis. This mechanism offers the opportunity for targeted immunotherapy to treat cancer; however, the ocular expression of MERTK increases the difficulty for developing a targeted drug due to toxicity concerns. In this article we review the pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters and in vitro absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) assays available to evaluate ocular disposition and assess the relationship between clinical PK and reported ocular events for TKIs to allow backtranslation to preclinical models. Understanding the ocular disposition in the context of PK and safety remains an evolving area and is likely to be a key aspect of developing safe and efficacious oncology drugs, devoid of ocular toxicity.
The role of transcription factor Ap1 in the activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway through TET1 in diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Tan Yongshun , Cao Huaimin , Li Qingfei , Sun Jianjun
Published: March 2021

TET1 mediates demethylation in tumors, but its role in diabetic nephropathy (DN), a prevalent diabetic complication, is unclear. We attempted to probe the possible mechanism of TET1 in DN. A DN rat model was established and verified by marker detection and histopathological observation. The in vitro model was established on human mesangial cells (HMCs) induced by high glucose (HG), and verified by evaluation of fibrosis and inflammation. The differentially expressed mRNA was screened out by microarray analysis. The most differentially expressed mRNA (TET1) was reduced in DN rats and HG‐HMCs. The upstream and downstream factors of TET1 were verified, and their roles in DN were analyzed by gain‐ and loss‐function assays. TET1 was decreased in DN rats and HG‐HMCs. High expression of TET1 decreased biochemical indexes and renal injury of DN rats and hampered the activity, fibrosis, and inflammation of HG‐HMCs. Ap1 lowered TET1 expression, and enhanced inflammation in HG‐HMCs, and accentuated renal injury in DN rats. TET1 overexpression inhibited the effect of Ap1 on DN. TET1 promoted the transcription of Nrf2. The Ap1/TET1 axis mediated the Nrf2/ARE pathway activity. Overall, TET1 overexpression weakened the inhibitory effect of Ap1 on the Nrf2/ARE pathway, thus alleviating inflammation and renal injury in DN.
P53 long noncoding RNA regulatory network in cancer development
Authors: Aravindhan Surendar , Younus Laith A. , Hadi lafta Methaq , Markov Alexander , Ivanovna Enina Yulianna , Yushchenkо Natalya A. , Thangavelu Lakshmi , Mostafavi Seyed Mojtaba , Pokrovskii Michail V. , Ahmadi Majid
Published: March 2021

The protein p53 as a transcription factor with strong tumor‐suppressive activities is known to trigger apoptosis via multiple pathways and is directly involved in the recognition of DNA damage and DNA repair processes. P53 alteration is now recognized as a common event in the pathogenesis of many types of human malignancies. Deregulation of tumor suppressor p53 pathways plays an important role in the activation of cell proliferation or inactivation of apoptotic cell death during carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Mounting evidence indicates that the p53 status of tumors and also the regulatory functions of p53 may be relevant to the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA)‐dependent gene regulation programs. Besides coding genes, lncRNAs that do not encode for proteins are induced or suppressed by p53 transcriptional response and thus control cancer progression. LncRNAs also have emerged as key regulators that impinge on the p53 signaling network orchestrating global gene‐expression profile. Studies have suggested that aberrant expression of lncRNAs as a molecular‐genomic signature may play important roles in cancer biology. Accordingly, it is important to elucidate the mechanisms by which the crosstalk between lncRNAs and p53 occurs in the development of numerous cancers. Here, we review how several classes of lncRNAs and p53 pathways are linked together in controlling the cell cycle and apoptosis in various cancer cells in both human and mouse model systems.
Fulminant hepatorenal syndrome due to Acetaminophen toxicity: A case report
Authors: Nekoukar Zahra , Moghimi Minoo , Zakariaei Zakaria , Fakhar Mahdi , Tabaripour Rabeeh
Published: March 2021

HRS is a rare and poor prognosis complication of chronic acetaminophen toxicity, which presents by progressive decline in renal function secondary to liver failure.
Development of Thermoelectric Power Generation from Waste Heat of Buildings and Domestic Appliances
Authors: Omkar Billa Lalitha Ramesh , Tula Abhinav , Gadi Srikanth , Thangavel Venugopal
Published: March 2021

Green energy from waste heat is one of the major areas of research in current focus for power generation. This project aims at reusing the heat energy produced from chimneys and solar panels to generate electricity for domestic applications through thermoelectric generators (TEGs). TEGs are cost‐efficient, durable, and low‐maintenance due to no moving parts. Mountings of TEGs on a chimney and a solar panel were designed and fabricated along with TEGs. The experimental results show that a typical house can generate electricity corresponding to about 20–30 % of its total power consumption. The new design is more effective and durable for environment sustainability and will lead to an alternative source to generate electricity.
The value of small airway function parameters and fractional exhaled nitric oxide for predicting positive methacholine challenge test in asthmatics of different ages with FEV1 ≥ 80% predicted
Authors: Hou Lili , Hao Huijuan , Huang Gang , Liu Jinkai , Yu Li , Zhu Lei , Shen Huahao , Zhang Min
Published: March 2021

Background

Small airway function parameters (SAFPs) combined with fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) can predict a positive methacholine challenge test (MCT) for asthma diagnosis. However, their predictive utility in patients with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) ≥80% predicted within different age ranges remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the utility of SAFPs, alone or combined with FeNO, to predict a positive MCT in patients in two age groups (<55 and ≥55 years) with asthma‐suggestive symptoms and FEV1 ≥80% predicted.

Methods

We enrolled 846 Chinese patients with suspected asthma and standard spirometry, FeNO, and MCT findings. Using the area under the curves (AUCs), the utility of SAFPs, alone or combined with FeNO, for predicting a positive MCT was analyzed in a discovery (n = 534) and validation cohort (n = 312) in both age groups with FEV1 ≥80% predicted.

Results

In the discovery cohort, the optimal cut‐off values for predicting a positive MCT in patients aged <55 years (74.2% and 74.9% for forced expiratory flow (FEF)50% and FEF25%–75%, respectively) were higher than those in patients aged ≥55 years (65.0% and 62.9% for FEF50%, FEF25%–75%, respectively). However, the optimal FeNO value in patients aged <55 years (43 ppb) was lower than that in patients aged ≥55 years (48 ppb). FeNO combined with SAFPs (FEF50%, FEF25%–75%) significantly increased the AUCs in both groups (≥55 years [0.851 for FEF50% and 0.844 for FEF25%–75%]; <55 years [0.865 for FEF50% and 0.883 for FEF25%–75%]) compared with a single parameter (p < 0.05). These findings were confirmed in the validation cohort. Compared with patients ≥55 years, those aged <55 years had higher and lower optimal cut‐off values for SAFPs and FeNO, respectively. The AUCs of FeNO combined with SAFPs for predicting a positive MCT for asthma diagnosis were significantly higher than those of the individual parameters (p < 0.05) in both age groups.

Conclusions

There were age‐group differences in the utility of SAFPs combined with FeNO for predicting a positive MCT. Patients with an asthma‐suggestive history and a normal FEV1 should be stratified by age when using SAFPs combined with FeNO to predict a positive MCT.
Interface‐ and Surface‐Engineered PdO−RuO2 Hetero‐Nanostructures with High Activity for Hydrogen Evolution/Oxidation Reactions
Authors: Samanta Rajib , Mishra Ranjit , Barman Sudip
Published: March 2021

Active catalysts for HER/HOR are crucial to develop hydrogen‐based renewable technologies. The interface of hetero‐nanostructures can integrate different components into a single synergistic hybrid with high activity. Here, the synthesis of PdO−RuO2−C with abundant interfaces/defects was achieved for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). It exhibited a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at 44 mV with a Tafel slope of 34 mV dec−1 in 1 m KOH. The HER mass activity was 3 times higher in base and comparable to Pt/C in acid. The stability test confirmed high HER stability. The catalyst also exhibited excellent HOR activity in both media; in alkaline HOR it outperformed Pt/C. The exchange current density i0,m of PdO−RuO2/C was 522 mA mg−1 in base, which is 58 and 3.4 times higher than those of Pd/C and Pt/C. The HOR activity of PdO−RuO2/C was 22 and 300 times higher than those of PdO/C in acid and base. Improvement of HER/HOR kinetics in different alkaline electrolytes was observed in the order K+<Na+<Li+, and increase of HER as well decrease of HOR kinetics was observed with increasing Li+ concentration. It was proposed that OHad‐M+‐(H2O)x in the double‐layer region could influence HER/HOR activity in base. Based on the hard and soft acid and base (HSAB) theory, the OHads‐M+‐(H2O)x could help to remove more OHads into the bulk, leading to increase in HER/HOR activity in alkaline electrolyte (K+<Na+<Li+) and increasing the HER with increasing Li+ concentration. The decrease of HOR activity of PdO−RuO2/C with increasing M+ was due to M+‐induced OHads destabilization through the bifunctional mechanism. The high HER/HOR activity of PdO−RuO2/C could be attributed, among other factors, to interface engineering and strong synergistic interaction. This work provides an opportunity to design oxide‐based catalysts for renewable energy technologies.
AMD1 upregulates hepatocellular carcinoma cells stemness by FTO mediated mRNA demethylation
Authors: Bian Xinyu , Shi Dongmin , Xing Kailin , Zhou Hongxin , Lu Lili , Yu Dahai , Wu Weizhong
Published: March 2021

Background

S‐adenosylmethionine decarboxylase proenzyme (AMD1) is a key enzyme involved in the synthesis of spermine (SPM) and spermidine (SPD), which are associated with multifarious cellular processes. It is also found to be an oncogene in multiple cancers and a potential target for tumor therapy. Nevertheless, the role AMD1 plays in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unknown.

Methods

HCC samples were applied to detect AMD1 expression and evaluate its associations with clinicopathological features and prognosis. Subcutaneous and orthotopic tumor mouse models were constructed to analyze the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells after AMD1 knockdown or overexpression. Drug sensitive and tumor sphere assay were performed to investigate the effect of AMD1 on HCC cells stemness. Real‐time quantitative PCR (qRT‐PCR), western blot, immunohistochemical (IHC) and m6A‐RNA immunoprecipitation (Me‐RIP) sequencing/qPCR were applied to explore the potential mechanisms of AMD1 in HCC. Furthermore, immunofluorescence, co‐IP (Co‐IP) assays, and mass spectrometric (MS) analyses were performed to verify the proteins interacting with AMD1.

Results

AMD1 was enriched in human HCC tissues and suggested a poor prognosis. High AMD1 level could promote SRY‐box transcription factor 2 (SOX2), Kruppel like factor 4 (KLF4), and NANOG expression of HCC cells through obesity–associated protein (FTO)‐mediated mRNA demethylation. Mechanistically, high AMD1 expression increased the levels of SPD in HCC cells, which could modify the scaffold protein, Ras GTPase‐activating‐like protein 1 (IQGAP1) and enhance the interaction between IQGAP1 and FTO. This interaction could enhance the phosphorylation and decrease the ubiquitination of FTO.

Conclusions

AMD1 could stabilize the interaction of IQGAP1 with FTO, which then promotes FTO expression and increases HCC stemness. AMD1 shows prospects as a prognostic predictor and a therapeutic target for HCC.
Generation of no‐yellow‐pigment Xenopus tropicalis by slc2a7 gene knockout
Authors: Nakajima Keisuke , Shimamura Masaki , Furuno Nobuaki
Published: March 2021

Background

Amphibians possess three kinds of dermal chromatophore: melanophores, iridophores, and xanthophores. Knockout Xenopus tropicalis that lack the pigmentation of melanophores and iridophores have been reported. The identification of the causal genes for xanthophore pigmentation or differentiation could lead to the creation of a see‐through frog without three chromatophores. The genes causing xanthophore differentiation mutants are slc2a11b and slc2a15b in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes).

Results

To obtain a heritable line of X tropicalis mutants without yellow pigment, we generated slc2a7 and slc2a15a knockout animals because they have the greatest similarity to the O latipes slc2a11b and slc2a15b genes. The slc2a7 knockout frog had a bluish skin and there were no visible yellow pigments in stereo microscope and skin section observations. Furthermore, no pterinosomes, which are characteristic of xanthophores, were observed via transmission electron microscopy in the skin of knockout animals.

Conclusions

We report the successful generation of a heritable no‐yellow‐pigment X tropicalis mutant after knock out of the slc2a7 gene. This finding will enable the creation of a see‐through frog with no chromatophores.