bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two zinc finger proteins with functions in m6A writing interact with HAKAI
Authors: Zhang Mi , Bodi Zsuzsanna , Mackinnon Katarzyna , Zhong Silin , Archer Nathan , Mongan Nigel P. , Simpson Gordon G. , Fray Rupert G.
Published: March 2022

The methyltransferase complex (m6A writer), which catalyzes the deposition of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) in mRNAs, is highly conserved across most eukaryotic organisms, but its components and interactions between them are still far from fully understood. Here, using in vivo interaction proteomics, two HAKAI-interacting zinc finger proteins, HIZ1 and HIZ2, are discovered as components of the Arabidopsis m6A writer complex. HAKAI is required for the interaction between HIZ1 and MTA (mRNA adenosine methylase A). Whilst HIZ1 knockout plants have normal levels of m6A, plants in which it is overexpressed show reduced methylation and decreased lateral root formation. Mutant plants lacking HIZ2 are viable but have an 85% reduction in m6A abundance and show severe developmental defects. Our findings suggest that HIZ2 is likely the plant equivalent of ZC3H13 (Flacc) of the metazoan m6A-METTL Associated Complex.
Ultralong phosphorescence cellulose with excellent anti-bacterial, water-resistant and ease-to-process performance
Authors: Zhang Xin , Cheng Yaohui , You Jingxuan , Zhang Jinming , Yin Chunchun , Zhang Jun
Published: March 2022

Herein, we present a phosphorescent cationized cellulose derivative by simply introducing ionic structures, including cyanomethylimidazolium cations and chloride anions, into cellulose chains. The imidazolium cations with the cyano group and nitrogen element promote intersystem crossing. The cyano-containing cations, chloride anions and hydroxyl groups of cellulose form multiple hydrogen bonding interactions and electrostatic attraction interactions, effectively inhibiting the non-radiative transitions. The resultant cellulose-based RTP material is easily processed into phosphorescent films, fibers, coatings and patterns by using eco-friendly aqueous solution processing strategies. Furthermore, after we construct a cross-linking structure by adding a small amount of glutaraldehyde as the cross-linking agent, the as-fabricated phosphorescent patterns exhibit excellent antibacterial properties and water resistance. Therefore, considering the outstanding biodegradability and sustainability of cellulose materials, cellulose-based easy-to-process RTP materials can act as antibacterial, water-resistant, and eco-friendly phosphorescent patterns, coatings and bulk materials, which have enormous potential in advanced anti-counterfeiting, information encryption, disposable smart labels, etc.
Phase separation on cell surface facilitates bFGF signal transduction with heparan sulphate
Authors: Xue Song , Zhou Fan , Zhao Tian , Zhao Huimin , Wang Xuewei , Chen Long , Li Jin-ping , Luo Shi-Zhong
Published: March 2022

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) plays important roles in various cellular processes, facilitating membrane-less organelles construction, chromatin condensation, signal transduction on inner membrane and many other processes. Current perception is that LLPS relies on weak multivalent interactions and crowded environments intracellularly. In this study, we demonstrate that heparan sulfate can serve as a platform to induce the phase separation of basic fibroblast growth factor on cell surface. The phase separation model provides an alternative mechanism how bFGF is enriched to its receptors, therefore triggering the signaling transduction. The research provides insights on the mechanism how growth factors can be recruited to cell surface by heparan sulfate and execute their functions, extending people’s view on phase separation from intracellular to extracellular proteins at cellular level.
Effects of high fructose corn syrup on intestinal microbiota structure and obesity in mice
Authors: Wang Xiaorong , Zhu Liying , Li Xiaoqiong , Wang Xin , Hao Ruirong , Li Jinjun
Published: March 2022

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS)-associated health problems have raised concerns. We investigated the effects of HFCS-containing drinking water on body fat, intestinal microbiota structure of mice, and the relationships between them. HFCS drinking water significantly increased body fat content and altered the intestinal microbiome. The Christensenellaceae R-7 group negatively correlated with body weight, perirenal fat, epididymal fat, and liver fat percentage.
Pandemic-response adenoviral vector and RNA vaccine manufacturing
Authors: Kis Zoltán , Tak Kyungjae , Ibrahim Dauda , Papathanasiou Maria M. , Chachuat Benoît , Shah Nilay , Kontoravdi Cleo
Published: March 2022

Rapid global COVID-19 pandemic response by mass vaccination is currently limited by the rate of vaccine manufacturing. This study presents a techno-economic feasibility assessment and comparison of three vaccine production platform technologies deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic: (1) adenovirus-vectored (AVV) vaccines, (2) messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, and (3) the newer self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccines. Besides assessing the baseline performance of the production process, impact of key design and operational uncertainties on the productivity and cost performance of these vaccine platforms is quantified using variance-based global sensitivity analysis. Cost and resource requirement projections are computed for manufacturing multi-billion vaccine doses for covering the current global demand shortage and for providing annual booster immunisations. The model-based assessment provides key insights to policymakers and vaccine manufacturers for risk analysis, asset utilisation, directions for future technology improvements and future epidemic/pandemic preparedness, given the disease-agnostic nature of these vaccine production platforms.
Centrin-deficient Leishmania mexicana confers protection against New World cutaneous leishmaniasis
Authors: Volpedo Greta , Pacheco-Fernandez Thalia , Holcomb Erin A. , Zhang Wen-Wei , Lypaczewski Patrick , Cox Blake , Fultz Rebecca , Mishan Chelsea , Verma Chaitenya , Huston Ryan H. , Wharton Abigail R. , Dey Ranadhir , Karmakar Subir , Oghumu Steve , Hamano Shinjiro , Gannavaram Sreenivas , Nakhasi Hira L. , Matlashewski Greg , Satoskar Abhay R.
Published: March 2022

Leishmaniasis is a neglected protozoan disease affecting over 12 million people globally with no approved vaccines for human use. New World cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by L. mexicana is characterized by the development of chronic non-healing skin lesions. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique, we have generated live attenuated centrin knockout L. mexicana (LmexCen−/−) parasites. Centrin is a cytoskeletal protein important for cellular division in eukaryotes and, in Leishmania, is required only for intracellular amastigote replication. We have investigated the safety and immunogenicity characteristics of LmexCen−/− parasites by evaluating their survival and the cytokine production in bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and dendritic cells (BMDCs) in vitro. Our data shows that LmexCen−/− amastigotes present a growth defect, which results in significantly lower parasitic burdens and increased protective cytokine production in infected BMDMs and BMDCs, compared to the wild type (WT) parasites. We have also determined the safety and efficacy of LmexCen−/− in vivo using experimental murine models of L. mexicana. We demonstrate that LmexCen−/− parasites are safe and do not cause lesions in susceptible mouse models. Immunization with LmexCen−/− is also efficacious against challenge with WT L. mexicana parasites in genetically different BALB/c and C57BL/6 mouse models. Vaccinated mice did not develop cutaneous lesions, displayed protective immunity, and showed significantly lower parasitic burdens at the infection site and draining lymph nodes compared to the control group. Overall, we demonstrate that LmexCen−/− parasites are safe and efficacious against New World cutaneous leishmaniasis in pre-clinical models.
Label-free metabolic and structural profiling of dynamic biological samples using multimodal optical microscopy with sensorless adaptive optics
Authors: Iyer Rishyashring R. , Sorrells Janet E. , Yang Lingxiao , Chaney Eric J. , Spillman Darold R. , Tibble Brian E. , Renteria Carlos A. , Tu Haohua , Žurauskas Mantas , Marjanovic Marina , Boppart Stephen A.
Published: March 2022

Label-free optical microscopy has matured as a noninvasive tool for biological imaging; yet, it is criticized for its lack of specificity, slow acquisition and processing times, and weak and noisy optical signals that lead to inaccuracies in quantification. We introduce FOCALS (Fast Optical Coherence, Autofluorescence Lifetime imaging, and Second harmonic generation) microscopy capable of generating NAD(P)H fluorescence lifetime, second harmonic generation (SHG), and polarization-sensitive optical coherence microscopy (OCM) images simultaneously. Multimodal imaging generates quantitative metabolic and morphological profiles of biological samples in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. Fast analog detection of fluorescence lifetime and real-time processing on a graphical processing unit enables longitudinal imaging of biological dynamics. We detail the effect of optical aberrations on the accuracy of FLIM beyond the context of undistorting image features. To compensate for the sample-induced aberrations, we implemented a closed-loop single-shot sensorless adaptive optics solution, which uses computational adaptive optics of OCM for wavefront estimation within 2 s and improves the quality of quantitative fluorescence imaging in thick tissues. Multimodal imaging with complementary contrasts improves the specificity and enables multidimensional quantification of the optical signatures in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo, fast acquisition and real-time processing improve imaging speed by 4–40 × while maintaining enough signal for quantitative nonlinear microscopy, and adaptive optics improves the overall versatility, which enable FOCALS microscopy to overcome the limits of traditional label-free imaging techniques.
Quantifying traffic noise pollution levels: a cross-sectional survey in South Africa
Authors: Moroe Nomfundo , Mabaso Paballo
Published: March 2022

Despite the alarming increase in environmental noise pollution, particularly road traffic noise, in developing countries, there seems to be no awareness regarding the long-term impacts of noise, specifically traffic noise, on the health outcomes of individuals exposed to excessive noise. Additionally, there is a dearth of studies on noise and its effects utilising the pollution modelling technique known as Pollution Standard Index (PSI) to analyse the impact of noise pollution on exposed individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate the noise levels commuters are exposed to and to apply PSI to determine the level of exposure. We conducted a cross-sectional study at two taxi ranks, over 28 days. Eighty-four noise measurements were collected using a sound level meter and a dosimeter at different times of the day and month, peak vs off-peak hours and busy days vs quiet days. Data were collected between April and July 2019. We used the Pollution Standard Index to analyse the data. Noise levels were above the permissible commercial noise levels as they fell within the extremely dangerous noise sensitivity zone as determined by the PSI. Furthermore, the noise levels fell below the WHO maximum permissible level of 90 dB. There was no statistical difference between the means of the open and closed ranks. Dosimeter noise level recordings fell within the satisfactory zone as measurements were below 300 PSI, which is considered unhealthy. There is a need to raise awareness on the dangers and effects of noise pollution in developing countries, as their populations are exposed to road traffic noise.
Salivary S100 calcium-binding protein beta (S100B) and neurofilament light (NfL) after acute exposure to repeated head impacts in collegiate water polo players
Authors: Monroe Derek C. , Thomas Elizabeth A. , Cecchi Nicholas J. , Granger Douglas A. , Hicks James W. , Small Steven L.
Published: March 2022

Blood-based biomarkers of brain injury may be useful for monitoring brain health in athletes at risk for concussions. Two putative biomarkers of sport-related concussion, neurofilament light (NfL), an axonal structural protein, and S100 calcium-binding protein beta (S100B), an astrocyte-derived protein, were measured in saliva, a biofluid which can be sampled in an athletic setting without the risks and burdens associated with blood sampled by venipuncture. Samples were collected from men’s and women’s collegiate water polo players (n = 65) before and after a competitive tournament. Head impacts were measured using sensors previously evaluated for use in water polo, and video recordings were independently reviewed for the purpose of validating impacts recorded by the sensors. Athletes sustained a total of 107 head impacts, all of which were asymptomatic (i.e., no athlete was diagnosed with a concussion or more serious). Post-tournament salivary NfL was directly associated with head impact frequency (RR = 1.151, p = 0.025) and cumulative head impact magnitude (RR = 1.008, p = 0.014), while controlling for baseline salivary NfL. Change in S100B was not associated with head impact exposure (RR < 1.001, p > 0.483). These patterns suggest that repeated head impacts may cause axonal injury, even in asymptomatic athletes.
Portable SA/CMC entrapped bimetallic magnetic fly ash zeolite spheres for heavy metals contaminated industrial effluents treatment via batch and column studies
Authors: Angaru Ganesh Kumar Reddy , Choi Yu-Lim , Lingamdinne Lakshmi Prasanna , Koduru Janardhan Reddy , Yang Jae-Kyu , Chang Yoon-Young , Karri Rama Rao
Published: March 2022

Heavy metals are perceived as a significant environmental concern because of their toxic effect, bioaccumulation, and persistence. In this work, a novel sodium alginate (SA) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) entrapped with fly ash derived zeolite stabilized nano zero-valent iron and nickel (ZFN) (SA/CMC-ZFN), followed by crosslinking with CaCl2, is synthesized and applied for remediation of Cu(II) and Cr(VI) from industrial effluent. The characterization of the adsorbent and its surface mechanism for removing metals were investigated using advanced instrumental techniques, including XRD, FT-IR, SEM–EDX, BET, and XPS. The outcomes from the batch experiments indicated that monolayer adsorption on homogeneous surfaces (Langmuir isotherm model) was the rate-limiting step in both heavy metals sorption processes. The maximum adsorption capacity of as-prepared SA/CMC-ZFN was 63.29 and 10.15 mg/g for Cu(II) and Cr(VI), respectively. Owing to the fact that the wastewater released from industries are large and continuous, a continuous column is installed for simultaneous removal of heavy metal ions from real industrial wastewater. The outcomes revealed the potential of SA/CMC-ZFN as an efficient adsorbent. The experimental breakthrough curves fitted well with the theoretical values of Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models. Overall, the results indicated that SA/CMC-ZFN is a viable, efficient, and cost-effective water treatment both interms of batch and column processes.
Identification of a novel immune-related long noncoding RNA signature to predict the prognosis of bladder cancer
Authors: Ren Wenjing , Zuo Siyu , Yang Liang , Tu Renyuan , Wang Ping , Zhang Xiling
Published: March 2022

Tumour immune regulation has attracted widespread attention, and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in this process. Therefore, we evaluated patient prognosis by exploring the relationship between bladder cancer (BLCA) and immune-related lncRNAs (IRlncRNAs). Transcriptome data and immune-related genes were analysed for coexpression, and then, the IRlncRNAs were analysed to determine the differentially expressed IRlncRNAs (DEIRlncRNAs) between normal and tumour samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas. The screened lncRNAs were pairwise paired and combined with clinical data, and finally, a signature was constructed by Lasso regression and Cox regression in 13 pairs of DEIRlncRNAs. According to the Akaike information criterion (AIC) values of the 1-year receiver operating characteristic curve, BLCA patients were stratified into high- or low-risk groups. The high-risk group had a worse prognosis. A comprehensive analysis showed that differences in risk scores were associated with the immune status of BLCA-infiltrated patients. The identified signature was correlated with the expression of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related molecules and sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs. We also identified three BLCA clusters with different immune statuses and prognoses that are also associated with immunotherapy response and drug sensitivity. In conclusion, we constructed a powerful predictive signature with high accuracy and validated its prognostic value.
Evaluation of phototoxicity induced by the anticancer drug rucaparib
Authors: Mateos-Pujante Alejandro , Jiménez María Consuelo , Andreu Inmaculada
Published: March 2022

Rucaparib (RCP) is a potent selective inhibitor of both PARP-1 and PARP-2 enzymes that induces synthetic lethality in cancer cells. It is used for the treatment of breast and ovarian tumors harboring deleterious germline or somatic cancer susceptibility genes mutations. Although RCP has an indole chromophore in its structure, it displays a bathochromic shift of the absorption band towards the UVA region of sunlight, thus extending the active fraction of solar light able to produce photosensitivity reactions. In this context, it is highly interesting to study the photo(geno)toxicity disorders associated with this drug, bearing in mind that, for dermatologists it is crucial to understand the toxicity mechanism to improve clinical management. In the present work, RCP has shown to be potentially phototoxic, as observed in the neutral red uptake phototoxicity test. Moreover, this significant phototoxicity is attributed to both proteins and genomic DNA, as revealed in the protein photooxidation and comet assays. The results obtained are highly relevant concerning RCP photosafety and become clinically important in the context of identification of the cutaneous adverse events that can be associated with the targeted therapies. Interestingly, this is the first example of a PARP inhibitor able to induce photosensitized damage to biomolecules.
Statistical distortion of supervised learning predictions in optical microscopy induced by image compression
Authors: Pomarico Enrico , Schmidt Cédric , Chays Florian , Nguyen David , Planchette Arielle , Tissot Audrey , Roux Adrien , Pagès Stéphane , Batti Laura , Clausen Christoph , Lasser Theo , Radenovic Aleksandra , Sanguinetti Bruno , Extermann Jérôme
Published: March 2022

The growth of data throughput in optical microscopy has triggered the extensive use of supervised learning (SL) models on compressed datasets for automated analysis. Investigating the effects of image compression on SL predictions is therefore pivotal to assess their reliability, especially for clinical use. We quantify the statistical distortions induced by compression through the comparison of predictions on compressed data to the raw predictive uncertainty, numerically estimated from the raw noise statistics measured via sensor calibration. Predictions on cell segmentation parameters are altered by up to 15% and more than 10 standard deviations after 16-to-8 bits pixel depth reduction and 10:1 JPEG compression. JPEG formats with higher compression ratios show significantly larger distortions. Interestingly, a recent metrologically accurate algorithm, offering up to 10:1 compression ratio, provides a prediction spread equivalent to that stemming from raw noise. The method described here allows to set a lower bound to the predictive uncertainty of a SL task and can be generalized to determine the statistical distortions originated from a variety of processing pipelines in AI-assisted fields.
Development and validation of a new risk scoring system for solid tumor patients with suspected infection
Authors: Chae Bora , Kim Seonok , Lee Yoon-Seon
Published: March 2022

This study aimed to develop a new prognostic model for predicting 30-day mortality in solid tumor patients with suspected infection. This study is a retrospective cohort study and was conducted from August 2019 to December 2019 at a single center. Adult active solid tumor patients with suspected infection were enrolled among visitors to the emergency room (ER). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify potential predictors for a new model. A total of 899 patients were included; 450 in the development cohort and 449 in the validation cohort. Six independent variables predicted 30-day mortality: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), creatinine, bilirubin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and lactate. The C-statistic of the new scoring system was 0.799 in the development cohort and 0.793 in the validation cohort. The C-statistics in the development cohort was significantly higher than those of SOFA [0.723 (95% CI: 0.663–0.783)], qSOFA [0.596 (95% CI: 0.537–0.655)], and SIRS [0.547 (95% CI: 0.483–0.612)]. The discriminative capability of the new cancer-specific risk scoring system was good in solid tumor patients with suspected infection. The new scoring model was superior to SOFA, qSOFA, and SIRS in predicting mortality.
A self-defense hierarchical antibacterial surface with inherent antifouling and bacteria-activated bactericidal properties for infection resistance
Authors: Wang Lu , Sun Liwei , Zhang Xu , Wang Huiyan , Song Lingjie , Luan Shifang
Published: March 2022

A hierarchical polymer brush modified surface that can self-adapt to bacterial stimuli for synergistic antibacterial activities was constructed, and consisted of upper pSBMA brushes and antimicrobial peptide (AMP) tethered bottom brushes.
6″-Modifed α-GalCer-peptide conjugate vaccine candidates protect against liver-stage malaria
Authors: Meijlink Michael A. , Chua Yu Cheng , Chan Susanna T. S. , Anderson Regan J. , Rosenberg Matthew W. , Cozijnsen Anton , Mollard Vanessa , McFadden Geoffrey I. , Draper Sarah L. , Holz Lauren E. , Hermans Ian F. , Heath William R. , Painter Gavin F. , Compton Benjamin J.
Published: March 2022

Candidate vaccines comprised of peptide antigen conjugated to 6″-modified α-GalCer analogues generate potent hepatic TRMresponses in mice with a single dose inducing protective immunity against malaria in aPlasmodiumsporozoite challenge model.
Untangling the controversy on Ce3+ luminescence in LaAlO3 crystals
Authors: Pejchal Jan , Babin Vladimir , Buryi Maksym , Laguta Valentyn , Hájek František , Páterek Juraj , Procházková-Prouzová Lenka , Havlák Lubomír , Czerneková Vladimíra , Vaněček Vojtěch , Doležal Václav , Havlíček Jan , Rubešová Kateřina , Zemenová Petra , Falvey Alexandra , Král Robert , Pankratov Vladimir , Chernenko Kirill
Published: March 2022

The photoluminescence of a Ce-doped LaAlO3 single crystal is not related to the material itself, but to Al-rich micro-inclusions, which is demonstrated by matching their cathodoluminescence spectrum with the photoluminescence spectrum of the crystal.
Polyamidoxime grafting on ultrahigh-strength cellulose-based jute fabrics for effectively extracting uranium from seawater
Authors: Mi Zhiming , Zhang Dexing , Wang Junman , Bi Shiman , Liu Jing , Gao Xiyu , Zhang Dawei , Jiang Yuanping , Li Zuojia , Zhu Yean , Liu Zhixiao
Published: March 2022

Ultrahigh-strength cellulose-based jute fabric (jute–TMC–PAO) for the highly effective extraction of uranium from seawater.
Facile synthesis of ZnO/SnO2 hybrids for highly selective and sensitive detection of formaldehyde
Authors: Du Liyong , Sun Heming
Published: March 2022

The ZnO–SnO2 hybrids show high gas responses and good selectivity to formaldehyde.
One-pot synthesis of benzo[b][1,4]diazepines via the carbonylative Sonogashira reaction and aza-Michael addition cyclocondensation
Authors: Zhang Kan , Yang Mingming , Yao Yanxiu , Yu Binxun , Wang Yanyan , Sun Huaming , Zhang Weiqiang , Zhang Guofang , Gao Ziwei
Published: March 2022

Benzodiazepines are essential structural motifs commonly found in biologically active compounds and pharmaceutical agents.
Confined self-assembly of SiOC nanospheres in graphene film to achieve cycle stability of lithium ion batteries
Authors: Liu Wuming , Jiang Miaomiao , Zhang Fangzhou , Chen Xinqi , Yang Jianping
Published: March 2022

A confined self-assembly process has been proposed to encapsulate boron doped SiOC nanospheres into a conductive graphene film with excellent cycle stability in lithium ion batteries.
Copper coordination compounds with (5Z,5Z′)-2,2′-(alkane-α,ω-diyldiselenyl)-bis-5-(2-pyridylmethylene)-3,5-dihydro-4H-imidazol-4-ones. Comparison with sulfur analogue
Authors: Finko Alexander V. , Sokolov Anatolii I. , Guk Dmitry A. , Tafeenko Victor A. , Moiseeva Anna A. , Skvortsov Dmitry A. , Stomakhin Andrei A. , Beloglazkin Andrei A. , Borisov Roman S. , Pergushov Vladimir I. , Melnikov Mikhail Ya. , Zyk Nikolay V. , Majouga Alexander G. , Beloglazkina Elena K.
Published: March 2022

Mono- and binuclear Cu(+1/+2) complexes of bis-5-(2-pyridyimethylene)-2-selenohydantoins were obtained by the reactions of corresponding ligands with copper(+2) chloride or perchlorate in BuOH/DCM mixtures.
Photostable fluorescent probes based on multifunctional group substituted naphthalimide dyes for imaging of lipid droplets in live cells
Authors: Li Xinwei , Bian Jiqing , Fu Mingyang , Zhang Yan , Liu Hongmei , Gao Baoxiang
Published: March 2022

Multifunctional groups provide naphthalimide dyes with colorful emission, high photoluminescence quantum yields, large Stokes shifts, live-cell permeability, and lipid droplet specific staining ability.
Highly efficient synthesis of novel bio-based pentamethylene dicarbamate via carbonylation of pentanediamine with ethyl carbamate over well-defined titanium oxide catalysts
Authors: Hui Xiang , Wang Liguo , Cao Yan , Xu Shuang , He Peng , Li Huiquan
Published: March 2022

Highly efficient synthesis of bio-based pentamethylene dicarbamate from pentanediamine and ethyl carbamate was successfully achieved over the well-defined TiO2 catalysts, which provides a green and sustainable way for the production of bio-based isocyanates or polyurethane.
Quench–drive spectroscopy of cuprates
Authors: Puviani Matteo , Manske Dirk
Published: March 2022

We calculate the nonlinear signal of a cuprate superconductor when subjected to a quenching and a driving field, showing transient features of the generated higher harmonics, as well as the enhancement of coherence in incoherent Cooper pairs.
Community Leaders: Ramon M. Barnes
Authors: Hieftje Gary M. , Szpunar Joanna
Published: March 2022

Guest Editors Gary M. Hieftje and Joanna Szpunar introduce this themed collection in honor of Ramon M. Barnes.
Correction: Quantification of local zinc and tungsten deposits in bone with LA-ICP-MS using novel hydroxyapatite–collagen calibration standards
Authors: VanderSchee Cassidy R. , Firer David , Kuter David , Mann Koren K. , Jackson Brian P. , Bohle D. Scott
Published: March 2022

Correction for ‘Quantification of local zinc and tungsten deposits in bone with LA-ICP-MS using novel hydroxyapatite–collagen calibration standards’ by Cassidy R. VanderSchee et al., J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2021, 36, 2431–2438, DOI: 10.1039/D1JA00211B.
Exploring the structure and electronic properties of germanium doped boron clusters using density functional theory based global optimization method
Authors: Anis Insha , Saleem Dar Mohd. , Rather Ghulam Mohammad , Dar Manzoor Ahmad
Published: March 2022

Density functional theory calculations to investigate the effect of single and double germanium atom doping on the geometric structure and electronic properties of boron clusters with 10 to 20 atoms.
Tessellated N-doped carbon/CoSe2 as trap-catalyst sulfur hosts for room-temperature sodium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Wang Hao , Qi Yuruo , Xiao Fangyuan , Liu Pan , Li Yi , Bao Shu-juan , Xu Maowen
Published: March 2022

Well-designed multi-functional tessellated N-doped carbon/CoSe2 composite materials with excellent electrochemical performance in room-temperature Na–S batteries.
Radical hydrotrifluoromethylation of ynamides: a route toward β-CF3enamides
Authors: Huang Wanqiao , Zhang Ruzhong , Zhang Ruxue , Yu Jianxin , Wang Mang
Published: March 2022

We report here a radical hydrotrifluoromethylation of ynamides to provide an alternative route toward β-CF3enamides.
Correction: A hybrid blue perovskite@metal–organic gel (MOG) nanocomposite: simultaneous improvement of luminescence and stability
Authors: Mollick Samraj , Mandal Tarak Nath , Jana Atanu , Fajal Sahel , Ghosh Sujit K.
Published: March 2022

Correction for ‘A hybrid blue perovskite@metal–organic gel (MOG) nanocomposite: simultaneous improvement of luminescence and stability’ by Samraj Mollick et al., Chem. Sci., 2019, 10, 10524–10530, DOI: 10.1039/C9SC03829A.
A chiral column core surrounded by peripheral emitting moieties: a novel strategy for constructing columnar liquid crystals with circularly polarized luminescence
Authors: Fan Tianwen , Chen Xiaohong , Liu Denghui , Su ShiJian , Guo Hongyu , Yang Fafu
Published: March 2022

The chiral transfer from the nucleus to the periphery was observed for constructing columnar liquid crystals with excellent circularly polarized luminescence.
Enhanced photo-response performance of Cu2O-based graded heterojunction optoelectronic devices with a Ga2O3 buffer layer
Authors: Xiao Meng , Dong Kailian , Liang Jiwei , He Jin , Fang Guojia
Published: March 2022

Heterojunctions with gradient energy bands confirmed via Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) are confirmed to be effective in accelerating charge transport and suppressing carrier recombination in Cu2O-based-film photodetector and solar cell devices.
Quantifying the long-term interplay between photoprotection and repair mechanisms sustaining photosystem II activity
Authors: Saccon Francesco , Wilson Sam , Morey-Burrows Felix S. , Ruban Alexander V.
Published: March 2022

The photosystem II reaction centre (RCII) protein subunit D1 is the main target of light-induced damage in the thylakoid membrane. As such, it is constantly replaced with newly synthesised proteins, in a process dubbed the ‘D1 repair cycle’. The mechanism of relief of excitation energy pressure on RCII, non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), is activated to prevent damage. The contribution of the D1 repair cycle and NPQ in preserving the photochemical efficiency of RCII is currently unclear. In this work, we seek to (1) quantify the relative long-term effectiveness of photoprotection offered by NPQ and the D1 repair cycle, and (2) determine the fraction of sustained decrease in RCII activity that is due to long-term protective processes. We found that while under short-term, sunfleck-mimicking illumination, NPQ is substantially more effective in preserving RCII activity than the D1 repair cycle (Plant. Cell Environ.41, 1098–1112, 2018). Under prolonged constant illumination, its contribution is less pronounced, accounting only for up to 30% of RCII protection, while D1 repair assumes a predominant role. Exposure to a wide range of light intensities yields comparable results, highlighting the crucial role of a constant and rapid D1 turnover for the maintenance of RCII efficiency. The interplay between NPQ and D1 repair cycle is crucial to grant complete phototolerance to plants under low and moderate light intensities, and limit damage to photosystem II under high light. Additionally, we disentangled and quantified the contribution of a slowly reversible NPQ component that does not impair RCII activity, and is therefore protective.
Multi-omics strategies for personalized and predictive medicine: past, current, and future translational opportunities
Authors: Ahmed Zeeshan
Published: March 2022

Precision medicine is driven by the paradigm shift of empowering clinicians to predict the most appropriate course of action for patients with complex diseases and improve routine medical and public health practice. It promotes integrating collective and individualized clinical data with patient specific multi-omics data to develop therapeutic strategies, and knowledgebase for predictive and personalized medicine in diverse populations. This study is based on the hypothesis that understanding patient's metabolomics and genetic make-up in conjunction with clinical data will significantly lead to determining predisposition, diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers and optimal paths providing personalized care for diverse and targeted chronic, acute, and infectious diseases. This study briefs emerging significant, and recently reported multi-omics and translational approaches aimed to facilitate implementation of precision medicine. Furthermore, it discusses current grand challenges, and the future need of Findable, Accessible, Intelligent, and Reproducible (FAIR) approach to accelerate diagnostic and preventive care delivery strategies beyond traditional symptom-driven, disease-causal medical practice.
Learning Words in Two Languages: Manipulating Exemplar Variability for Within- and Cross-Language Generalization
Authors: De Anda Stephanie , Ellis Erica M. , Mejia Nayelli C.
Published: March 2022

Purpose:

This article aims to describe how exemplar variability can manipulate the word learning environment to maximize within- and cross-language generalization in Spanish–English bilinguals. Furthermore, we examined sources of individual variability that predicted word learning.

Method:

Nineteen Spanish–English bilingual children participated in a word learning task presenting words in both languages. Children learned words either in a high variability condition (in which multiple exemplars are introduced with the target word) or in a no variability condition (in which the same referent is used with the target word). Word learning was tracked over the course of the training, and retention was examined once the training was discontinued. Children's generalization of referents within and across languages was also examined.

Results:

The exemplar variability effect was observed in within-language generalization trials, whereas cross-language generalization was less robust. Nevertheless, cross-language associations emerged in examining the role of language proficiency, such that semantic skills in English predicted word retention across languages. Similarly, children's propensity to code-switch during language production was positively correlated with retention of words learned in the high variability condition.

Conclusions:

The findings show that Spanish–English bilingual children may make use of exemplar variability to support word learning in different ways compared with monolinguals. The exemplar variability effect interacts with children's acquired language skills and word learning abilities at the start of the intervention. This study provides preliminary evidence from which future research can develop word learning interventions that are responsive to the needs of multilinguals.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.19241856
Shifting Landscapes of Practice Patterns for Pediatric Feeding and Dysphagia in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Edwards Donna , Davis Stephanie L. , Hvizd Laura , Larocca Amy
Published: March 2022

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic required a shift in the landscape of practice patterns regarding management of pediatric feeding disorders. The challenging limitations impacted routine service delivery models and deemed it necessary for abrupt transition to optimize professional care to best meet the needs of clients and families. Telepractice platforms were explored across practice settings and often integrated new technology, telehealth practices, and family support systems.

Purpose:

The purpose of this clinical focus article was to consider the impact of COVID-19 on modifications in clinical practice related to pediatric feeding disorders and dysphagia.

Conclusions:

The COVID-19 pandemic demanded modification of clinical service delivery to pediatric clients having feeding disorders and dysphagia. The service challenges prior to the pandemic were further complicated by challenging limitations in service delivery, client accessibility, and family support resources. Telehealth offered a hybrid model for quality care when access to traditional in-person sessions was limited. Future research on this dynamic framework will guide us in evaluating the benefits and limitations in clinical practices. Ongoing research and development of resources are needed to ensure equitable and accessible services across settings.
When Cleft Lip and/or Palate and Antenatal Opioid Exposure Intersect: A Tutorial
Authors: Proctor-Williams Kerry , Louw Brenda
Published: March 2022

Purpose:

A new clinical subpopulation of cleft lip/palate (CL/P), which includes infants and children antenatally exposed to opioids, is increasingly appearing on CL/P teams and speech-language pathology caseloads. The purposes of this tutorial are to describe neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), to offer a review of the NOWS feeding and neurodevelopmental outcomes literature, and to discuss the clinical and research implications for this new clinical population.

Conclusions:

Recent literature has pointed to a higher prevalence of CL/P in infants with NOWS, as compared to the live birth population. In addition to the typical feeding problems of infants with CL/P, other challenges emerge during the first several days of life for opioid-exposed infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). These feeding problems are characterized by disruption of the suck–swallow–breath process and are further complicated by the infant's state during withdrawal from opioids. There are trends across studies that suggest good reason for concern about adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in opioid-exposed children. This includes evidence that children post-NOWS are at greater risk than children with typical development for speech; language and literacy impairments; and/or other cognitive, sensory, and behavioral problems. Children with CL/P already are at risk for speech, resonance, language, and feeding disorders. A history of antenatal opioid exposure may increase and add further complications. The SLP plays a key role in the management of and attitudes toward children with NOWS and CL/P in the NICU, on CLP teams, in early intervention, and in schools. This tutorial provides clinical guidelines for intervention with this new and growing population.
Sharing medical data using a blockchain‐based secure EHR system for New Zealand
Authors: Huang Jack , Qi Yuan Wei , Asghar Muhammad Rizwan , Meads Andrew , Tu Yu‐Cheng
Published: March 2022

In New Zealand, the demand for healthcare services has grown gradually in the last decade, and it is likely to increase further. This had led to issues such as increasing treatment costs and processing time for the patients. To address the growing pressure in the healthcare sector, and its fragmented IT landscape that compounds the problems further, the New Zealand Ministry of Health aims to establish a shared Electronic Health Record (EHR) system that integrates all the major healthcare organisations such as hospitals, medical centres, and specialists. Due to its characteristics, blockchain technology could be a potential platform for building such large‐scale health systems. Here, MedBloc, a blockchain‐based secure EHR system that enables patients and healthcare providers to access and share health records while providing usability, security, and privacy is presented. MedBloc captures a longitudinal view of the patients’ health story and empowers the patients to regulate their own data by allowing them to give or withdraw consent for healthcare providers to access their records. To preserve the patients’ privacy and protect their health data, MedBloc uses an encryption scheme to secure records and smart contracts to enforce access control to prevent unauthorised access.
An ensemble approach to deep‐learning‐based wireless indoor localization
Authors: Wisanmongkol Juthatip , Taparugssanagorn Attaphongse , Tran Le Chung , Le Anh Tuyen , Huang Xiaojing , Ritz Christian , Dutkiewicz Eryk , Phung Son Lam
Published: March 2022

The authors investigate the use of deep learning in wireless indoor localization to address the shortcomings of the existing range‐based (e.g. trilateration and triangulation) and range‐free (e.g. fingerprinting) localization. Instead of relying on geometric models and hand‐picked features, deep learning can automatically extract the relationship between the observed data and the target's location. Nevertheless, a deep neural network (DNN) model providing a satisfactory accuracy might perform differently when it is retrained in the deployment. To mitigate this issue, the authors propose an ensemble method where DNN models obtained from multiple training sessions are combined to locate the target. In the authors' evaluation, several DNN models are trained on the data, which consists of the received signal strength (RSS), angle of arrival (AOA), and channel state information (CSI), used in the existing hybrid RSS/AOA and RSS/CSI fingerprinting, and their root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) values are compared accordingly. The results show that the proposed method achieves the lower RMSE than the existing methods, and the RMSE can be lowered by up to 1.47 m compared with the ones obtained from a single model. Moreover, for some DNN models, the RMSE values are even lower than the minimum RMSE obtained by their single‐model counterparts.
Antimicrobial usage in Swiss fattening pig farms: is there still potential for improvement?
Authors: Ngom Ronald Vougat , Silva Laura Cunha , Carmo Luís Pedro , Schüpbach Gertraud , Sidler Xaver , Kümmerlen Dolf
Published: March 2022

Objective The aim of this study was to analyze antimicrobial usage (AMU) in fattening pig farms that took part in the SuisSano/Safety + Health Programme in Switzerland over the year 2020 and to discuss the potential for further improvement. Usage was examined according to the antimicrobial’s class and indication for use, with emphasis on highest priority critically important antimicrobials (HPCIAs).

Methods Data on AMU from 1411 farms, reported in an electronic treatment journal, was used. AMU was quantified through treatment incidence (TI) based on Swiss Defined Daily Doses (DDDch). Indication of use for each antimicrobial class was analyzed with particular focus on HPCIAs.

Results The total TI of all antimicrobials used in the farms corresponds to 8.9 DDDch per 1000 pig-days at risk, of which HPCIAs represented 2.6 %. A total of 140 farms (9.9 %) partake in HPCIAs usage, with tylosin (73.8 % of total HPCIA TI) and colistin (22.8 % of total HPCIA TI) being the most frequently antimicrobials used. The most common indication for treatment with HPCIAs was gastrointestinal disorders (62.1 % of total HPCIA TI).

Conclusion and clinical relevance This study shows that the efforts made in recent years to foster prudent use of antimicrobials and, especially HPCIAs in Swiss pig production, have been successful. Indeed, 90.1 % (1271 of 1411) of the farms did not use any HPCIAs over the year 2020. Of the recorded treatments, HPCIA’s represented only 2.6 % of the total TIs used in fattening pigs. Since many farms do not use any HPCIAs, knowledge can be obtained from these farms to identify practices which can further reduce or even stop HPCIAs usage. Moreover, information concerning indications for HPCIAs usage provide input concerning where treatment options other than HPCIAs should be explored by both farmers and veterinarians.
Lebensbedrohliche, akute neutrophile Vaskulitis bei einem Shar Pei-Welpen
Authors: Weingart Christiane , Kershaw Olivia , Kohn Barbara , Rohwedder Thomas
Published: March 2022

Ein 3 Monate alter, männlicher Shar Pei-Welpe wurde wegen Mattigkeit, Fieber und Hautödemen vorgestellt. Durch weiterführende Untersuchungen konnten eine oberflächliche Pyodermie mit Streptococcus canis und eine akute neutrophile Vaskulitis diagnostiziert werden. Es erfolgte eine symptomatische und antibiotische Therapie in Kombination mit Immunsuppressiva (initial Prednisolon, später Ciclosporin) Therapie. Im weiteren Verlauf traten Komplikationen in Form von Dyspnoe, Anämie, großflächigen Hautulzera, Nekrosen und eine Sekundärinfektion mit multiresistenten Bakterien auf. Durch intensivmedizinische Betreuung konnte der Hund nach 38 Tagen entlassen und in den folgenden Wochen die Dosis der Immunsuppressiva reduziert und die Medikamente nach 4 Monaten abgesetzt werden.
Mein einer Fuß ist so warm
Authors: Häger Alexa , Dafotakis Manuel
Published: March 2022

Der 51-jährige Patient wurde uns konsiliarisch aus der Klinik für
Unfallchirurgie vorgestellt.
Validierung des telemetrischen BioHarnessTM 3-Brustgurtes für die Messung der Herzratenvariabilität (HRV) bei Schweinen
Authors: Radeisen Marlene , Lahrmann Karl-Heinz
Published: March 2022

Ziel Ziel dieser klinischen Studie war es, die Messgenauigkeit des telemetrischen, für den Menschen konzipierten und auf die Analyse der Herzratenvariabilität (HRV) spezialisierten Brustgurtes BioHarnessTM 3 (Zephyr Technology, Medtronic, Annapolis, USA) für die Tierart Schwein zu überprüfen.

Methoden Hierzu wurden die Abstände der R-Zacken (RR-Abstände) des BioHarnessTM 3 Elektrokardiogramms (EKG) mit denen des etablierten, telemetrischen EKG-Gerätes Televet®100 (Engel Engineering GmbH, Heusenstamm, Deutschland) verglichen. Die Messungen erfolgten wegen des Risikos der Ablösung der Klebeelektroden beim Televet®100 unter Allgemeinanästhesie, um eine kontinuierliche Datenaufzeichnung zu gewährleisten. Bei zeitgleichem Start der Geräte wurden 6 Messdurchgänge à 5 Minuten in Folge bei 5 männlichen Aufzuchtschweinen durchgeführt. Nach Artefaktkorrektur bzw. -bereinigung konnten insgesamt 5321 RR-Messdatenpaare im dreistelligen Bereich (ms) statistisch analysiert werden.

Ergebnisse Nach den Ergebnissen der Konkordanz-Korrelations-Analyse nach Lin (Korrelationskoeffizient 0,95) und der Bland-Altman-Analyse (RR-Abstandsdifferenz + 0,3 ms) ergab sich eine sehr gute Übereinstimmung beider Messgeräte.

Schlussfolgerung Der BioHarness-Brustgurt kann demnach am Schwein für eine kabellose HRV-Analyse genutzt werden, wie dies in einer Folgestudie auch an nicht betäubten Schweinen gezeigt werden konnte.
Bildgebung der Muskulatur bei Neuromuskulären Erkrankungen
– von der Initialdiagnostik bis zur Verlaufsbeurteilung
Authors: Mensch Alexander , Nägel Steffen , Zierz Stephan , Kraya Torsten , Stoevesandt Dietrich
Published: March 2022

Die bildgebende Diagnostik hat sich zu einem integralen Element der Betreuung von
PatientInnen mit neuromuskulären Erkrankungen entwickelt. Als
wesentliches Diagnostikum ist hierbei die Magnetresonanztomografie als breit
verfügbares und vergleichsweise standardisiertes Untersuchungsverfahren
etabliert, wobei die Sonografie der Muskulatur bei hinreichend erfahrenem
Untersucher ebenfalls geeignet ist, wertvolle diagnostische Informationen zu
liefern. Das CT hingegen spielt eine untergeordnete Rolle und sollte nur bei
Kontraindikationen für eine MRT in Erwägung gezogen werden.
Zunächst wurde die Bildgebung bei Muskelerkrankungen primär in
der Initialdiagnostik unter vielfältigen Fragestellungen eingesetzt. Das
Aufkommen innovativer Therapiekonzepte bei verschiedenen neuromuskulären
Erkrankungen machen neben einer möglichst frühzeitigen
Diagnosestellung insbesondere auch eine multimodale Verlaufsbeurteilung zur
Evaluation des Therapieansprechens notwendig. Auch hier wird die Bildgebung der
Muskulatur als objektiver Parameter des Therapieerfolges intensiv diskutiert und
in Forschung wie Praxis zunehmend verwendet.