bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid green synthesis of non-cytotoxic silver nanoparticles using aqueous extracts of 'Golden Delicious' apple pulp and cumin seeds with antibacterial and antioxidant activity
Authors: Jahan Israt , Erci Fatih , Isildak Ibrahim
Published: January 2021

A simple, facile and rapid microwave irradiated system was applied to synthesize silver nanoparticles using 'Golden Delicious' apple pulp (Malus domestica) and cumin (Cuminum cyminum) seed extracts. The phytosynthesized AgNPs were characterized by Ultraviolet–Visible Spectroscopy (UV–vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Zeta sizer analysis. In the study, the presence of face-centered cubic crystalline structured metallic silver in AgNPs from apple and cumin extracts and the monodisperse nature of AgNPs with the size distribution range of 5.46–20 nm and 1.84–20.57 nm were confirmed, respectively. This study established an efficient green synthesis approach that created so far, the smallest silver nanoparticles by using these two extracts. According to the results obtained, AgNPs synthesized using both extracts were non-toxic against L929 mouse fibroblast cells, while they were effective against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria with a greater effect on S. aureus. Moreover, AgNPs synthesized through cumin extract exhibited a higher ABTS scavenging ability (96.43 ± 0.78% at 160 μg/mL) in comparison to apple pulp extract mediated AgNPs, while both AgNPs showed lower activity for DPPH (27.84 ± 0.56% and 13.12 ± 0.32% from cumin seed and apple pulp extracts, respectively). In summary, our results suggest the green non-cytotoxic AgNPs synthesized in this study could be a promising template for further biological and clinical applications.

Graphical abstract
Mechanochemically synthesized mesoporous alumina: a smart new-generation sorbent for preparation of chromatographic 188W/188Re generator
Authors: Chakravarty Rubel , Bahadur Jitendra , Lohar Sharad , Jadhav Sachin , Sen Debasis , Chakraborty Sudipta
Published: January 2021

In an effort towards affordable availability of chromatographic 188W/188Re generators for widespread clinical use, we report the mechanochemical synthesis of mesoporous alumina as an advanced sorbent material for preparation of the generator. The synthesized material exhibits remarkably high sorption capacity (550 ± 12 mg W/g), which is adequate for preparation of clinical-scale generators using low specific activity (LSA) 188W produced in medium flux research reactors. Sorption of 188W in mesoporous alumina follows Freundlich adsorption isotherm and pseudo second order kinetics, indicating that the process is chemisorption. A clinical-scale (~ 14.0 GBq) 188W/188Re generator was developed and its performance was evaluated over a period of 6 months. Rhenium-188 could be consistently obtained from the generator with high yield (> 80%) and it met all the requirements for clinical use. The present strategy is expected to increase the scope of separation chemistry for availing clinical-grade 188Re for the benefit of millions of cancer patients world over.

Graphic abstract
Long-term monitoring of cropland transformation in Kolkata Metropolitan Area, India using open-source geospatial technologies
Authors: Mazumder Shrabana , Saha Joydeep , Nandi Gouranga , Naskar Mrinmoyee , Gayen Jibananda , Datta Debajit
Published: January 2021

Urban and peri-urban agricultural practices are degrading throughout the developing world owing to unprecedented urban sprawling and consequent expansion of built-up areas. This study attempted to assess the changing land use/land cover patterns of Kolkata Metropolitan Area, India from 1990 to 2020 with special emphasis on the transformation trajectories of its urban and peri-urban agriculture as a case study using free and open-source software and multi-temporal geospatial database. It also aimed to project the transformation scenario of croplands in 2030 through application of the artificial neural network algorithm of the freely available Modules for Land Use Change Evaluation plugin. Results revealed a persistent spread of built-up areas by engulfing croplands, wetlands, vegetation and water bodies throughout the assessment period. An overall loss of 181.11 sq. km of croplands between 1990 and 2020 was estimated and found to be more prominent in the northern, eastern, and south-eastern parts of the study area. If the existing socio-economic framework and administrative mechanism would prevail as usual, then the projected land use patterns of 2030 would predict a further decrease of 15.46 sq. km in cropland area thereby culminating to a total 37.39% of it original extent since 1990. A theoretical three-stage model of land use conversion was developed from the empirical results as well as field observations and validated with the findings of the projected scenario. It indicated two primary conversion patterns for the study area, viz. (1) natural area to cropland to fallow land and then to built-up, and (2) natural area to fallow land to built-up. Few necessary management measures were suggested to mitigate this persistent loss of croplands and other natural areas.
Solving time-dependent heat conduction problems using metaheuristic algorithms extended with a novel local search strategy
Authors: Turgut Oguz Emrah
Published: January 2021

This study proposes a novel and dexterous local search scheme for improving the exploitation phase of a generic metaheuristic algorithm. The proposed local search considers a twofold probing mechanism, which takes advantage of a chaotic number generated by the hybrid chaotic map composed of Logistic map and Kent map to move around the so-far-obtained global best solutions to reach feasible candidate solutions. Also, an iterative local search scheme inspired by a variant of the differential evolution algorithm is incorporated into the proposed manipulation scheme to enhance intensification on the promising regions. The proposed scheme is included in the well-reputed metaheuristics of differential evolution, crow search, whale optimization, and sine–cosine algorithms to assess the resulting improvements made on the optimization accuracy. Forty optimization benchmark functions composed of unimodal and multimodal test problems have been solved by the local search improved and basic forms of these optimizers to identify the amelioration in terms of solution accuracy and robustness. Two different real-world constrained optimization problems have been solved by these algorithms to analyze the improvement in solution qualities maintained by the utilization of the proposed local search method. Furthermore, these mentioned optimization algorithms along with their improved forms have been applied to one-dimensional transient heat conduction problems to obtain accurate temperature distribution across the heat transfer medium. Optimization results reveal that utilizing local search enhanced metaheuristic algorithms can be considered a favorable alternative to conventional solution methods for solving transient heat conduction problems.
Norm-based user selection algorithm for single-RF space modulation techniques with geometric mean decomposition based precoding scheme
Authors: Elganimi Taissir Y. , Alfitouri Feras F.
Published: January 2021

Joint user selection algorithm and fully digital geometric mean decomposition (GMD)-based precoding scheme is considered in this paper for single radio frequency (RF) space modulation techniques (SMTs), namely, spatial modulation (SM) and space shift keying (SSK) schemes. The objective is to jointly perform the Frobenius norm-based user selection algorithm and design GMD-based precoded SMTs with single-RF chain in order to reduce the cost and the power consumption in multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems, and to avoid the complicated bit-allocation problem of singular value decomposition (SVD)-based precoding technique. Based on these schemes, the GMD-based precoding transmission carried out in the context of a single-user SMTs can readily be extended to the multi-user (MU) case. Simulation results demonstrate that single-RF SMTs with GMD-based precoding scheme is capable of outperforming SMTs with SVD-based precoding technique. Meanwhile, MU-SMTs with GMD-based precoding scheme provide significant performance gains over the conventional SM- and SSK-MIMO counterparts and single-user SMTs with GMD-based precoding algorithm, which increase the energy efficiency and the reachability using these schemes. Furthermore, better error performance in MU-SMTs with fully digital GMD-based precoding technique is obtained by selecting any number of users. Therefore, MU-SMTs with GMD-based precoding scheme can be effectively used in various 5G wireless networks.
Experimental and finite element analysis of hybrid fiber reinforced concrete two-way slabs at ultimate limit state
Authors: Khan Qaiser uz Zaman , Ali Muhammad , Ahmad Afaq , Raza Ali , Iqbal Muhammad
Published: January 2021

Concrete is a brittle material that is weak in tension and is prone to internal microcracking. With the constant demand for improvement in concrete’s durability and mechanical proprieties, the use of fiber reinforcements has shown promising results. The findings of this paper are based on test results on hybrid fiber reinforced concrete (HFRC) samples of simply supported two-way slabs, produced with a selected volumetric proportion of steel fiber (SF) and polypropylene fibers (PPF). A total of twenty-one specimens were fabricated. Concrete slab specimens were tested under flexural loading and their response in terms of strain, deflection, first crack, and ultimate failure loading was determined. The dosage of SF in concrete ranged from 0.7 to 1.0%, whereas 0.1–0.9% PPF was used by volume of concrete. It was found that a combination of 0.9% SF and 0.1% PPF gave favorable results for loading capacity, ductility, and cracks. A Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of the proposed HFRC two-way slabs was also performed via ABAQUS. The outputs from numerical modeling showed a close agreement with the experimental results. Using the selected FEA model, an extensive parametric study was also done to examine the effect of various parameters including longitudinal reinforcement ratio, compressive strength of concrete, and the concrete cover of specimens. The proposed FEA model presented a close agreement with the experimental outcomes.
Methanol addition after glucose depletion improves rPOXA 1B production under the pGap in P. pastoris X33: breaking the habit
Authors: Ardila-Leal Leidy D. , Poutou-Piñales Raul A. , Morales-Álvarez Edwin D. , Rivera-Hoyos Claudia M. , Pedroza-Rodríguez Aura M. , Quevedo-Hidalgo Balkys E. , Pérez-Flórez Alejandro
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that methanol addition after glucose depletion has a positive effect on improving rPOXA 1B production under the control ofpGapinP. pastoris.Four different culture media (A, B, C and D) were used to cultureP. pastorisX33/pGapZαA-LaccPost-Stop(clone 1), containing a previously optimizedPOXA 1Bsynthetic gene coding forP. ostreatuslaccase, which after glucose depletion was supplemented or not with methanol. Enzyme activity in culture media without methanol (A, B, C and D) was influenced by media components, presenting activity of 1254.30 ± 182.44, 1373.70 ± 182.44, 1343.50 ± 40.30 and 8771.61 ± 218.79 U L−1, respectively. In contrast, the same culture media (A, B, C and D) with methanol addition 24 h after glucose depletion attained activity of 4280.43 ± 148.82, 3339.02 ± 64.36, 3569.39 ± 68.38 and 14,868.06 ± 461.58 U L−1at 192 h, respectively, representing an increase of approximately 3.9-, 2.4-, 3.3- and 1.6-fold compared with culture media without methanol. Methanol supplementation had a greater impact on volumetric enzyme activity in comparison with biomass production. We demonstrated what was theoretically and biochemically expected: recombinant protein production underpGapcontrol by methanol supplementation after glucose depletion was successful, as a feasible laboratory production strategy of sequential carbon source addition, breaking the habit of utilizingpGapwith glucose.
Tip relief designed to optimize contact fatigue life of spur gears using adapted PSO and Firefly algorithms
Authors: Guilbault Raynald , Lalonde Sébastien
Published: January 2021

This paper examines the dynamic performances of circular profile modifications designed to optimize the contact fatigue life of spur gears. It combines the PSO and Firefly metaheuristics to a gear dynamic/degradation model. The objectives are to analyse the ability of optimal corrections to reduce dynamic loads and dynamic transmission error (DTE), and to describe the influence of the modification variables. To reduce computation efforts, the study modifies the original metaheuristics. In the proposed adaptation of the Firefly algorithm, the particle movement hinges on the brightest firefly perceived through the light-absorbing medium. This change reduces the number of function evaluations per iteration. The analysis shows that while the correction length is more influential, both modification amount and length alter the gear behavior, whereas the curvature radius influence remains modest. Curved corrections are more effective in ameliorating contact fatigue life, whereas larger curvature radii are better at reducing the DTE. Compared to the original gear set, the PSO and Firefly versions showed that optimized modifications engender substantial enhancements of the fatigue resistance. Moreover, optimal profiles also reduce both DTE and dynamic factors, but the inverse cannot be assumed.
Improving the nonlinear seismic performance of steel moment-resisting frames with minimizing the ductility damage index
Authors: Dadkhah Masoud , Kamgar Reza , Heidarzadeh Heisam
Published: January 2021

In this paper, the parameters optimization of a tuned mass damper (TMD) is presented to enhance the seismic performance of a six-story steel structure based on the ductility damage index. Herein, the six-story frame is modeled nonlinearly in the OpenSees software by a concentrated plasticity model. Finally, the most suitable algorithm is selected among several optimization algorithms based on the convergence rate and the objective function's values. In this process, the water cycle algorithm has shown the best results. Therefore, the optimal parameters of the TMD are calculated by this algorithm in such a way that the ductility damage index is minimized in the six-story structure under earthquake loads. For this purpose, the nonlinear dynamic analysis of the structure is performed under earthquakes loads using the OpenSees software. Also, the optimum parameters of the TMD are computed to minimize the ductility damage index under the earthquake loads by linking the OpenSees and Matlab software. The results show that the optimum parameters of the TMD system obtained by the water cycle algorithm could appropriately decrease the ductility damage index. It can simultaneously increase the structure's seismic performance to reduce the displacement, stories damage, and drift ratio.
Understanding the dynamics emerging from infodemics: a call to action for interdisciplinary research
Authors: Leitner Stephan , Gula Bartosz , Jannach Dietmar , Krieg-Holz Ulrike , Wall Friederike
Published: January 2021

Research on infodemics, i.e., the rapid spread of (mis)information related to a hazardous event, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, requires integrating a multiplicity of scientific disciplines. The dynamics emerging from infodemics have the potential to generate complex behavioral patterns. To react appropriately, it is of ultimate importance for the fields of Business and Economics to understand these dynamics. In the short run, they might lead to an adaptation in household spending or to a shift in buying behavior towards online providers. In the long run, changes in investments, consumer behavior, and markets are to be expected. We argue that the dynamics emerge from complex interactions among multiple factors, such as information and misinformation accessible to individuals and the formation and revision of beliefs. (Mis)information accessible to individuals is, amongst others, affected by algorithms specifically designed to provide personalized information, while automated fact-checking algorithms can help reduce the amount of circulating misinformation. The formation and revision of individual (and probably false) beliefs and individual fact-checking and interpretation of information are heavily affected by linguistic patterns inherent to information during pandemics and infodemics and further factors, such as affect, intuition, and motives. We argue that, to get a deep(er) understanding of the dynamics emerging from infodemics, the fields of Business and Economics should integrate the perspectives of Computer Science and Information Systems, (Computational) Linguistics, and Cognitive Science into the wider context of economic systems (e.g., organizations, markets or industries) and propose a way to do so. As research on infodemics is a strongly interdisciplinary field and the integration of the above-mentioned disciplines is a first step towards a holistic approach, we conclude with a call to action which should encourage researchers to collaborate across scientific disciplines and unfold collective creativity, which will substantially advance research on infodemics.
Inhomogenous risk exposure in dual insurance system: selection effects in Germany’s long-term care plans
Authors: Neusius Thomas
Published: January 2021

Long-term care (LTC) gains attention in ageing societies. Making LTC insurance affordable for the wide public is a primary objective of politics and insurance companies alike. Germany’s LTC insurance, introduced 25 years ago, is split in two branches, a private and a public one. The per-capita claims diverge in the two systems. This study is dedicated to explain the difference in average claims seen in the German LTC system. Based on publicly available claims data, we decompose the contributions to the difference in claims and we quantify the advantage gained by the private LTC insurance through selection of low-risk enrollees. Furthermore, the study provides simulation results of the development of the claims’ differences over the next 40 years. In order to level off the claims differences, transfer payments from the private to the public LTC insurance have been suggested as a matter of fair risk sharing. However, it turns out that such a payment scheme does not necessarily work in favor of the public system troughout the next 40 years. Therefore, it seems unlikely that such a financial transfer is able to substantially ease the public LTC insurance’s financial burden.
The student mental health crisis: Assessing psychiatric and developmental explanatory models
Authors: Andersen Robert , Holm Anders , Côté James E.
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Student mental health problems are now commonly understood using a psychiatric model in which diagnosed anxiety and mood disorders are viewed to be so widespread as to constitute a crisis. Less attention is given to the role of developmental processes, such as identity formation and purpose, in understanding the types of distress current university students can experience. We fill this void by simultaneously assessing the effectiveness of both psychiatric and developmental variables in predicting how often students feel emotional distress in the form of frequently feeling too anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed to study.

Methods

Binary logit models were fitted to online survey data collected from a cross‐sectional, nation‐wide sample of 1010 Canadian full‐time university students aged 18 to 24 (63% female).

Results

Our findings confirm that the psychiatric and developmental models both explain variance in academic distress. We also found that a developmental model operationalized using key measures of identity formation and purpose significantly accounted for academic distress, over and above variance explained by psychiatric diagnoses. In other words, not only do many students with a psychiatric diagnosis experience distress linked to problems with identity/purpose that interferes with studying, but so do a considerable proportion of students without any diagnosis. This impact persists after controlling for a host of variables assessing demographic/family background, academic preparation and performance, and a number of factors believed to aggravate emotional distress.

Conclusions

Universities can respond to the mental health crisis by approaching some forms of distress as developmental problems associated with identity and purpose.
Randomized controlled trials evaluating adolescent dating violence prevention programs with an outcome of reduced perpetration and/or victimization: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Russell Katie N. , Voith Laura A. , Lee Hyunjune
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Adolescent dating violence (ADV), including psychological, physical, threatening, and/or sexual abuse between adolescent romantic partners, is an epidemic in the United States, with youth report rates ranging from 15 to 77% for perpetration and 14–73% for victimization. ADV victimization is associated with multiple adverse outcomes in both adolescence and adulthood (e.g., suicidal ideation, substance use, bullying), as is ADV perpetration (e.g., sexually transmitted infections, intimate partner violence in adulthood). Given the high prevalence and profound impact of ADV on youth in the US, many prevention efforts have emerged in the past 20 years. Previous reviews of these efforts have focused primarily on school‐based interventions or have broadly reviewed programs including all research design types and outcomes. This review is the first to provide a comprehensive, quantitative synthesis of all existing ADV prevention programs tested using randomized controlled trial designs with a control group, specifically measuring ADV perpetration and/or victimization as outcomes.

Methods

Employing a systematic literature search and screening protocol, nine studies were identified for meta‐analysis.

Results

Results indicate that ADV prevention programs may decrease the risk of emotional, physical, and sexual perpetration, as well as emotional and physical victimization.

Conclusions

This is the first review to uncover significant intervention effects on the actual occurrence of ADV, with previous reviews only finding effects on outcomes such as ADV knowledge and attitude. Findings suggest that ADV prevention programs are promising and may warrant implementation more broadly with youth, and this review provides methodological suggestions for future research evaluating new ADV prevention programs.
Brief report: Identified barriers and proposed solutions for recruiting young Black sexual minority men in HIV‐related research
Authors: Parchem Benjamin , Molock Sherry Davis
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Young Black sexual minority men represent a high priority population for HIV prevention research yet the existing literature is not proportional to the current health disparity observed. The challenge of engaging this intersectional population in research on a stigmatized topic likely contributes to the dearth of literature.

Methods

This brief report examines the current recruitment strategies for engaging sexual minority men in HIV‐related research and identifies individual and system‐level barriers that contribute to the underrepresentation of Black sexual minority men in HIV‐related research. Qualitative data is integrated from Project HATCH (Helping African American Teens Combat HIV), an ongoing recruitment effort of 14‐21‐year‐old Black sexual minority men in Washington D.C., United States.

Results

Identified barriers to recruiting young Black sexual minority men include cultural stigma, mistrust of research institutions, the ‘coming out’ process for queer youth, assent procedures for youth, and others.

Conclusions

We propose several solutions for recruitment including geospatial technology, social media, and community spaces of trust (i.e., churches and schools). Additional larger scale solutions include destigmatizing youths’ sexuality and prioritizing the advancement of Black scholars in academia and research endeavors.
REASON-GIVING AND THE DUTY TO OBEY: PERSPECTIVES FROM CLASSICAL ISLAMIC JURISPRUDENCE
Authors: Farahat Omar
Published: January 2021

The duty to obey juristic injunctions in Islamic law is often assumed to follow a simple model: God commands, the jurists discover the meaning of those commands, and the faithful follow the jurists’ interpretation. By examining the arguments advanced by some prominent classical Islamic jurisprudes in support of the claims for law's normativity, I show that the jurists saw themselves as representatives of their communities in the quest to formulate opinions about actions in a way that is faithful to revelation. This model can be summarized as follows: (1) the jurists, by virtue of their knowledge, inform individuals of how to act according to revelation; (2) the pronouncement of a jurist who is knowledgeable and fair may be followed without revisiting their justifications; (3) everyone has a duty to act according to revelation and to rebuke those who do not. A reasonable individual should be motivated to follow juristic pronouncements when all these conditions are present. My main claim is that the basic model wherein God is an authoritative commander and the jurists are informants is unsatisfactory. The jurists saw themselves as more than mere discoverers and informers. This Islamic model has unique features when it comes to understanding authority in general. The uniform commitment to a formal moral source, coupled with the contingent nature of the robust reasons given by the system, make the Islamic model distinct from some modern accounts. The Islamic model offers a view of legal authority that is specific to a cohesive community that shares a basic moral commitment. This model fits the classical need for a theory of authority that is both persuasive and authoritative.
U–Pb geochronology and trace-element composition of zircons from the Jinchang Au–Ni deposit, SW China, and their implications for tectonics
Authors: Xu Lingang , Kong Zhigang , Qu Jianfei , Qiu Zhiyin , Gao Jianfeng
Published: January 2021

Situated between the South China Block and the Simao Block, the Ailaoshan Belt is a significant component of the Jinshajiang–Ailaoshan tectonic-magmatic-metallogenic belt of southwestern China. The formation of the Ailaoshan Belt is closely related to the evolution of the Palaeo-Tethys Ocean. In this study, we constrain ages of sedimentation in the Jinchang Au–Ni deposit in the Ailaoshan Belt, using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U–Pb ages of the youngest populations of detrital zircons separated from a chert layer and two uncomfortably overlying meta-sandstones. The combined data of the meta-sandstone samples from the Yiwanshui Formation yielded a concordant age of 250.8 ± 0.6 Ma (mean square weighted deviation (MSWD), 2.8; n = 26). The chert sample from the Jinchangyan Formation yielded a concordant age of 347.0 ± 1.5 Ma (MSWD, 2.8; n = 16). Detrital zircons from the meta-sandstone are characterized by low rare earth element contents (∑REE) and low Y, and high U and U/Yb ratio, suggesting a continental crustal origin. Zircons in the meta-sandstones were derived mainly from pre-collision subduction zone magmatic rocks related to the closure of the Palaeo-Tethys Ocean. In contrast, detrital zircons from the chert contain relatively high ∑REE and Y, and low U and U/Yb ratio, suggesting an oceanic crust origin. Zircons in the chert bed were derived mainly from ophiolites related to seafloor spreading in a branch of the Palaeo-Tethys Ocean.
Austerity and the Rise of the Nazi Party
Authors: Galofré-Vilà Gregori , Meissner Christopher M. , McKee Martin , Stuckler David
Published: January 2021

We study the link between fiscal austerity and Nazi electoral success. Voting data from a thousand districts and a hundred cities for four elections between 1930 and 1933 show that areas more affected by austerity (spending cuts and tax increases) had relatively higher vote shares for the Nazi Party. We also find that the localities with relatively high austerity experienced relatively high suffering (measured by mortality rates) and these areas’ electorates were more likely to vote for the Nazi Party. Our findings are robust to a range of specifications including an instrumental variable strategy and a border-pair policy discontinuity design.
Transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation in tetralogy of Fallot and Ebstein’s anomaly with one and a half ventricular repair
Authors: Guzeltas Alper , Ugan Atik Sezen , Tanidir Ibrahim Cansaran
Published: January 2021

The coexistence of tetralogy of Fallot and Ebstein’s anomaly is extremely rare. There are only a few case reports in the literature, and surgical options for the treatment are controversial. There is insufficient data on long-term follow-up of patients and management of complications. In this case report, we present a 20-year-old adult with operated tetralogy of Fallot, Ebstein’s anomaly, and Glenn anastomosis who underwent transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation for severe pulmonary insufficiency.
Aortopulmonary window with anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk
Authors: Atalay Atakan , Soran Turkcan Başak , Kulahcioglu Emre , Eris Deniz , Ece İbrahim , Aydın Hakan
Published: January 2021

Anomalous origin of coronary artery originating from the pulmonary artery in conjunction with the aorticopulmonary window (APW) is a rare but a significant anomaly in the era of congenital cardiac diseases. The occurrence of anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery among the associated anomalies is less than 5%. The severity of the clinical condition of these patients depends on the degree of left–right shunt and compromise of the pulmonary blood flow. We report surgical management of a case of a 45-day-old infant with APW, ventricular septal defect, and anomalous origin of coronary artery originated from the pulmonary artery.
A Brief Period of Wakeful Rest after Learning Enhances Verbal Memory in Stroke Survivors
Authors: Evans Felicity A. , Stolwyk Renerus J. , Wong Dana
Published: January 2021

Objective:

Accumulating evidence suggests that wakeful rest (a period of minimal cognitive stimulation) enhances memory in clinical populations with memory impairment. However, no study has previously examined the efficacy of this technique in stroke survivors, despite the high prevalence of post-stroke memory difficulties. We aimed to investigate whether wakeful rest enhances verbal memory in stroke survivors and healthy controls.

Method:

Twenty-four stroke survivors and 24 healthy controls were presented with two short stories; one story was followed by a 10-minute period of wakeful rest and the other was followed by a 10-minute visual interference task. A mixed factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) with pairwise comparisons was used to compare participants’ story retention at two time points.

Results:

After 15–30 minutes, stroke survivors (p = .002, d = .73), and healthy controls (p = .001, d = .76) retained more information from the story followed by wakeful rest, compared with the story followed by an interference task. While wakeful rest remained the superior condition in healthy controls after 7 days (p = .01, d = .58), the beneficial effect was not maintained in stroke survivors (p = .35, d = .19).

Conclusions:

Wakeful rest is a promising technique, which significantly enhanced verbal memory after 15–30 minutes in both groups; however, no significant benefit of wakeful rest was observed after 7 days in stroke survivors. Preliminary findings suggest that wakeful rest enhances early memory consolidation processes by protecting against the effects of interference after learning in stroke survivors.
An exploration of key barriers to healthcare providers’ use of food prescription (FRx) interventions in the rural South
Authors: Coward Kara Beth , Cafer Anne , Rosenthal Meagen , Allen David , Paltanwale Queenie
Published: January 2021

Objective:

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the attitude towards food prescriptions (FRx) interventions among clinicians and identify potential barriers to their use in clinical practice.

Design:

The current study employed an exploratory research design using in-depth semi-structured interviews. Research participants were selected from primary care facilities, family practice offices and obesity clinics located in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Setting:

Providers selected for participation in the current study serve predominantly rural, low-income communities in the US South.

Participants:

From an original population of fifty healthcare providers that included physicians, registered dieticians and nurse practitioners, from Oxford, Tupelo, Batesville, Jackson, and Charleston, MS and New Orleans, LA. Fifteen healthcare providers agreed to participate, including three physicians, four registered dieticians, three nurses and three nurse practitioners.

Results:

The current study found that while healthcare providers expressed a desire to use FRx interventions, there was a universal lack of understanding by healthcare providers of what FRx interventions were, how they were implemented and what outcomes they were likely to influence.

Conclusions:

The current study identified key bottlenecks in the use of FRx interventions at the clinic level and data provided evidence for two key recommendations: (1) development and validation of a screening tool to be used by clinicians for enrolling patients in such interventions and (2) implementation of nutrition education in primary professional training, as well as in continuing education.
Legitimacy and public opinion: a five-step model
Authors: Noyon Lucas , de Keijser Jan W. , Crijns Jan H.
Published: January 2021

To date, in Western jurisdictions, many criminal justice reforms are devised and implemented with a close eye on public opinion. These are typically intended to regain or foster legitimacy. However, within this context, there is no common understanding of this concept. This essay aims to provide such a conceptualisation of legitimacy, to enable a consistent and systematic evaluation of attempts to accommodate public opinion. To this end, five levels of legitimacy research are discussed that could structure evaluations of public-opinion-targeted reforms: (1) the normative dimension, (2) the ‘audiences’ addressed, (3) the purpose of the reforms, (4) trust and distrust, and (5) dialogic, or longitudinal effects. Furthermore, since research departing from these five levels of analysis is likely to result in observations that are, by nature, incommensurable, it is argued that an overall assessment of legitimacy always requires ajudgment, rather than mere measurement.
Frühgeburtlichkeit und langfristige Folgen bis ins Schulalter
Authors: Hüning Britta Maria , Jäkel Julia
Published: January 2021

Zusammenfassung. Theoretischer Hintergrund: Frühgeborene (FG) haben ein erhöhtes langfristiges Entwicklungsrisiko. Dennoch gibt es in Deutschland kein konzertiertes Vorgehen zur Nachsorge bis ins Schulalter. Die heutigen Erkenntnisse zu Entwicklungsstörungen sind Grundlage einer qualifizierten Förderung. Fragestellung: Wie hoch sind Schulrückstellungsraten bei FG? Wie wird den schulischen Bedürfnissen FG Rechnung getragen? Methode: Evaluation der Schulrückstellung in einer aktuellen Kohorte sehr kleiner FG und qualitative Befragung von Lehrer_innen. Ergebnisse: Das Risiko für Schulrückstellungen ist bei FG erhöht. Lehrer_innen haben ein limitiertes Wissen zu Bedürfnissen FG und gleichzeitig hilfreiche Vorschläge für spezifische Förderung im Unterricht. Diskussion und Schlussfolgerung: Langfristige entwicklungsneurologische Nachsorge für FG ist dringend empfohlen, um potenzielle Probleme früh zu identifizieren, Interventionen zu initiieren und eine optimale Entfaltung des Entwicklungspotentials zu fördern.
Die Kortexdicke bei Autismus-Spektrum-Störung wird moduliert durch eine komorbide Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivitätsstörung
Authors: Schäfer Tim , Mann Caroline , Bletsch Anke , Zimmermann Jennifer , Seelemeyer Hanna , Herøy Njål , Ecker Christine
Published: January 2021

Zusammenfassung. Theoretischer Hintergrund: Autismus-Spektrum-Störung (ASS) ist eine neuronale Entwicklungsstörung und tritt häufig gemeinsam mit der Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivitätsstörung (ADHS) auf. Bisher wurde jedoch nur selten untersucht, wie sich Personen mit ASS von Personen mit ASS und komorbider ADHS, sowie von einer gesunden Kontrollgruppe (KG) auf neuroanatomischer Ebene unterscheiden. Fragestellung: In der vorliegenden Studie wurde an 101 Jugendlichen untersucht, ob die Kortexdicke bei ASS von komorbid auftretenden ADHS-Symptomen moduliert wird. Methode: Für jeden Proband_innen berechneten wir auf Basis struktureller T1-gewichteter Magnetresonanztomographie Scans die Kortexdicke an jedem Punkt der Gehirnoberfläche. Ergebnisse: Es zeigten sich signifikante Unterschiede zwischen autistischen Proband_innen mit und ohne ADHS im posterioren Cingulum, der Lingualwindung sowie dem Precuneus der linken Hemisphäre. Diskussion und Schlussfolgerung: Die Ergebnisse implizieren, dass die kortikale Dicke bei ASS durch das gleichzeitige Vorliegen einer ADHS moduliert wird. Diese Erkenntnisse könnten in zukünftigen Studien zur Untersuchung neuroanatomischer Ursachen von ASS und der Unterteilung von Proband_innen in homogenere Subgruppen von Nutzen sein und so der zukünftigen Entwicklung individualisierter Therapien dienen.
CREBBP/EP300 mutations promoted tumor progression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma through altering tumor-associated macrophage polarization via FBXW7-NOTCH-CCL2/CSF1 axis
Authors: Huang Yao-Hui , Cai Kun , Xu Peng-Peng , Wang Li , Huang Chuan-Xin , Fang Ying , Cheng Shu , Sun Xiao-Jian , Liu Feng , Huang Jin-Yan , Ji Meng-Meng , Zhao Wei-Li
Published: January 2021

Epigenetic alterations play an important role in tumor progression of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, the biological relevance of epigenetic gene mutations on tumor microenvironment remains to be determined. The core set of genes relating to histone methylation (KMT2D, KMT2C, EZH2), histone acetylation (CREBBP, EP300), DNA methylation (TET2), and chromatin remodeling (ARID1A) were detected in the training cohort of 316 patients by whole-genome/exome sequencing (WGS/WES) and in the validation cohort of 303 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL by targeted sequencing. Their correlation with peripheral blood immune cells and clinical outcomes were assessed. Underlying mechanisms on tumor microenvironment were investigated both in vitro and in vivo. Among all 619 DLBCL patients, somatic mutations in KMT2D (19.5%) were most frequently observed, followed by mutations in ARID1A (8.7%), CREBBP (8.4%), KMT2C (8.2%), TET2 (7.8%), EP300 (6.8%), and EZH2 (2.9%). Among them, CREBBP/EP300 mutations were significantly associated with decreased peripheral blood absolute lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratios, as well as inferior progression-free and overall survival. In B-lymphoma cells, the mutation or knockdown of CREBBP or EP300 inhibited H3K27 acetylation, downregulated FBXW7 expression, activated the NOTCH pathway, and downstream CCL2/CSF1 expression, resulting in tumor-associated macrophage polarization to M2 phenotype and tumor cell proliferation. In B-lymphoma murine models, xenografted tumors bearing CREBBP/EP300 mutation presented lower H3K27 acetylation, higher M2 macrophage recruitment, and more rapid tumor growth than those with CREBBP/EP300 wild-type control via FBXW7-NOTCH-CCL2/CSF1 axis. Our work thus contributed to the understanding of aberrant histone acetylation regulation on tumor microenvironment as an alternative mechanism of tumor progression in DLBCL.
Pantothenate mediates the coordination of whitefly and symbiont fitness
Authors: Ren Fei-Rong , Sun Xiang , Wang Tian-Yu , Yan Jin-Yang , Yao Ya-Lin , Li Chu-Qiao , Luan Jun-Bo
Published: January 2021

Intracellular symbionts in insects often have reduced genomes. Host acquisition of genes from bacteria is an important adaptation that supports symbionts. However, the function of horizontally transferred genes in insect symbiosis remains largely unclear. The primary symbiont Portiera housed in bacteriocytes lacks pantothenate synthesis genes: panB and panC, which is presumably complemented by a fused gene panB-panC (hereafter panBC) horizontally transferred from bacteria in Bemisia tabaci MEAM1. We found panBC in many laboratory cultures, and species of B. tabaci shares a common evolutionary origin. We demonstrated that complementation with whitefly panBC rescued E. coli pantothenate gene knockout mutants. Portiera elimination decreased the pantothenate level and PanBC abundance in bacteriocytes, and reduced whitefly survival and fecundity. Silencing PanBC decreased the Portiera titer, reduced the pantothenate level, and decreased whitefly survival and fecundity. Supplementation with pantothenate restored the symbiont titer, PanBC level, and fitness of RNAi whiteflies. These data suggest that pantothenate synthesis requires cooperation and coordination of whitefly PanBC expression and Portiera. This host–symbiont co-regulation was mediated by the pantothenate level. Our findings demonstrated that pantothenate production, by the cooperation of a horizontally acquired, fused bacteria gene and Portiera, facilitates the coordination of whitefly and symbiont fitness. Thus, this study extends our understanding on the basis of complex host–symbiont interactions.
Reconfiguration of metabolic fluxes in Pseudomonas putida as a response to sub-lethal oxidative stress
Authors: Nikel Pablo I , Fuhrer Tobias , Chavarría Max , Sánchez-Pascuala Alberto , Sauer Uwe , de Lorenzo Víctor
Published: January 2021

As a frequent inhabitant of sites polluted with toxic chemicals, the soil bacterium and plant-root colonizer Pseudomonas putida can tolerate high levels of endogenous and exogenous oxidative stress. Yet, the ultimate reason of such phenotypic property remains largely unknown. To shed light on this question, metabolic network-wide routes for NADPH generation—the metabolic currency that fuels redox-stress quenching mechanisms—were inspected when P. putida KT2440 was challenged with a sub-lethal H2O2 dose as a proxy of oxidative conditions. 13C-tracer experiments, metabolomics, and flux analysis, together with the assessment of physiological parameters and measurement of enzymatic activities, revealed a substantial flux reconfiguration in oxidative environments. In particular, periplasmic glucose processing was rerouted to cytoplasmic oxidation, and the cyclic operation of the pentose phosphate pathway led to significant NADPH-forming fluxes, exceeding biosynthetic demands by ~50%. The resulting NADPH surplus, in turn, fueled the glutathione system for H2O2 reduction. These properties not only account for the tolerance of P. putida to environmental insults—some of which end up in the formation of reactive oxygen species—but they also highlight the value of this bacterial host as a platform for environmental bioremediation and metabolic engineering.
Oxygenated phosphatidylethanolamine navigates phagocytosis of ferroptotic cells by interacting with TLR2
Authors: Luo Xiang , Gong Hai-Biao , Gao Hua-Ying , Wu Yan-Ping , Sun Wan-Yang , Li Zheng-Qiu , Wang Guan , Liu Bo , Liang Lei , Kurihara Hiroshi , Duan Wen-Jun , Li Yi-Fang , He Rong-Rong
Published: January 2021

During cancer therapy, phagocytic clearance of dead cells plays a vital role in immune homeostasis. The nonapoptotic form of cell death, ferroptosis, exhibits extraordinary potential in tumor treatment. However, the phagocytosis mechanism that regulates the engulfment of ferroptotic cells remains unclear. Here, we establish a novel pathway for phagocytic clearance of ferroptotic cells that is different from canonical mechanisms by using diverse ferroptosis models evoked by GPX4 dysfunction/deficiency. We identified the oxidized phospholipid, 1-steaoryl-2-15-HpETE-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine (SAPE-OOH), as a key eat-me signal on the ferroptotic cell surface. Enriching the plasma membrane with SAPE-OOH increased the efficiency of phagocytosis of ferroptotic cells by macrophage, a process that was suppressed by lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2. Ligand fishing, lipid blotting, and cellular thermal shift assay screened and identified TLR2 as a membrane receptor that directly recognized SAPE-OOH, which was further confirmed by TLR2 inhibitors and gene silencing studies. A mouse mammary tumor model of ferroptosis verified SAPE-OOH and TLR2 as critical players in the clearance of ferroptotic cells in vivo. Taken together, this work demonstrates that SAPE-OOH on ferroptotic cell surface acts as an eat-me signal and navigates phagocytosis by targeting TLR2 on macrophages.
ABCA8-mediated efflux of taurocholic acid contributes to gemcitabine insensitivity in human pancreatic cancer via the S1PR2-ERK pathway
Authors: Yang Chunmei , Yuan Hui , Gu Jinyang , Xu Dengfei , Wang Mingwei , Qiao Jie , Yang Xi , Zhang Jian , Yao Ming , Gu Jianren , Tu Hong , Gan Yu
Published: January 2021

The development of resistance to anticancer drugs is believed to cause chemotherapy failure in pancreatic cancer (PC). The efflux of anticancer drugs mediated by ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters is a widely accepted mechanism for chemoresistance, but for ABCA subfamily members, which are characterized by their ability to transport lipids and cholesterol, its role in chemoresistance remains unknown. Here we found that the expression of ABCA8, a member of ABCA subfamily transporters, was significantly increased in human PC cells after gemcitabine (GEM) treatment, as well as in established GEM-resistant (Gem-R) PC cells. Importantly, ABCA8 knockdown reversed the chemoresistance phenotype of Gem-R cells, whereas ABCA8 overexpression significantly decreased the sensitivity of human PC cells to GEM, both in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating an important role of ABCA8 in regulating chemosensitivity. Moreover, our results showed that treatment with taurocholic acid (TCA), an endogenous substrate of ABCA8, also induced GEM insensitivity in PC cells. We further demonstrated that ABCA8 mediates the efflux of TCA out of PC cells, and that extracellular TCA activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling via the sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2), which is responsible for ABCA8-induced GEM ineffectiveness. Together, these findings reveal a novel TCA-related mechanism of ABCA subfamily transporter-mediated chemoresistance that goes beyond the role of a drug pump and suggest ABCA8 or the TCA-S1RP2-ERK pathway as potential targets for improving the effectiveness of and overcoming the resistance to chemotherapy in PC.
GDF15 promotes glioma stem cell-like phenotype via regulation of ERK1/2–c-Fos–LIF signaling
Authors: Zhu Shan , Yang Ning , Guan Yi , Wang Xue , Zang Guoxia , Lv Xinping , Deng Shuanglin , Wang Wan , Li Tete , Chen Jingtao
Published: January 2021

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a member of the transforming growth factor β family, is associated with tumor progression, metastasis, and cell apoptosis. However, controversy persists regarding the role of GDF15 in different tumor types, and its function in glioma stem cells (GSCs) remains unknown. Here, we report that GDF15 promotes the GSC-like phenotype in GSC-like cells (GSCLCs) through the activation of leukemia inhibitor factor (LIF)–STAT3 signaling. Mechanistically, GDF15 was found to upregulate expression of the transcription factor c-Fos, which binds to the LIF promoter, leading to enhanced transcription of LIF in GSCLCs. Furthermore, GDF15 may activate the ERK1/2 signaling pathway in GSCLCs, and the upregulation of LIF expression and the GSC-like phenotype was dependent on ERK1/2 signaling. In addition, the small immunomodulator imiquimod induced GDF15 expression, which in turn activated the LIF–STAT3 pathway and subsequently promoted the GSC-like phenotype in GSCLCs. Thus, our results demonstrate that GDF15 can act as a proliferative and pro-stemness factor for GSCs, and therefore, it may represent a potential therapeutic target in glioma treatment.