bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lonely in the Dark: Trauma Memory and Sex‐Specific Dysregulation of Amygdala Reactivity to Fear Signals
Authors: Morr Mitjan , Noell Jeanine , Sassin Daphne , Daniels Jule , Philipsen Alexandra , Becker Benjamin , Stoffel‐Wagner Birgit , Hurlemann René , Scheele Dirk
Published: March 2022

Loneliness exacerbates psychological distress and increases the risk of psychopathology after trauma exposure. However, it is still unclear whether a lack of social connectedness affects trauma‐related intrusions and the neural processing of fear signals. Moreover, it is uncertain, whether loneliness plays a different role in women and men. A prestratification strategy is used and n = 47 (n = 20 women) healthy lonely individuals and n = 35 controls (n = 18 women) are recruited. Participants are exposed to an experimental trauma and evoked intrusive thoughts in daily life are monitored for three consecutive days. Functional magnetic resonance imaging is used to assess neural habituation to fearful faces and fear learning (conditioning and extinction) prior to trauma exposure. The results reveal a significant interaction between loneliness and sex such that loneliness is associated with more intrusions in men, but not in women. A similar pattern emerges at the neural level, with both reduced amygdala habituation to repeated fearful faces and amygdala hyperreactivity during the conditioning of fear signals in lonely men. The findings indicate that loneliness may confer vulnerability to intrusive memories after trauma exposure in healthy men and that this phenotype relates to altered limbic processing of fear signals.
Injectable Thermosensitive Hydrogels for a Sustained Release of Iron Nanochelators
Authors: Park Seung Hun , Kim Richard S. , Stiles Wesley R. , Jo Minjoo , Zeng Lingxue , Rho Sunghoon , Baek Yoonji , Kim Jonghan , Kim Moon Suk , Kang Homan , Choi Hak Soo
Published: March 2022

Deferoxamine (DFO) is an FDA‐approved iron‐chelating agent which shows good therapeutic efficacy, however, its short blood half‐life presents challenges such as the need for repeated injections or continuous infusions. Considering the lifelong need of chelating agents for iron overload patients, a sustained‐release formulation that can reduce the number of chelator administrations is essential. Here, injectable hydrogel formulations prepared by integrating crosslinked hyaluronic acid into Pluronic F127 for an extended release of DFO nanochelators are reported. The subcutaneously injected hydrogel shows a thermosensitive sol–gel transition at physiological body temperature and provides a prolonged release of renal clearable nanochelators over 2 weeks, resulting in a half‐life 47‐fold longer than that of the nanochelator alone. In addition, no chronic toxicity of the nanochelator‐loaded hydrogel is confirmed by biochemical and histological analyses. This injectable hydrogel formulation with DFO nanochelators has the potential to be a promising formulation for the treatment of iron overload disorders.
Branchitis and mortality in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss exposed to iron oxidizing bacteria: Diagnostics and management in a Colorado hatchery
Authors: Clift Annie K. , Malmlov Ashley M. , Wells Colby L. , Cadmus Pete , Schaffer Paula A.
Published: March 2022

A public trout hatchery in Colorado recorded repeat episodes of morbidity and mortality in early life stages of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) stocks. The water source for the affected tanks is a groundwater well with a pH of 6.3 and a ferrous iron concentration of 120 µg/L. Iron oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) were suspected as the underlying cause due to insoluble red particulate matter (iron oxide precipitate) in the water, and the presence of thick red slime (biofilm) that coated tanks and pipes of the facility and adhered to gills, opercula, and fins of fry. On necropsy, gill and fin clippings from moribund fish had mats of adherent red‐orange material. Histopathology revealed severe diffuse proliferative branchitis. There was abundant debris including granular to sheath‐like and stalk‐like pigmented material within the oral and branchial chambers, intimately associated with gill filaments. A Gram preparation demonstrated florid Gram‐negative bacteria within this debris. A Perls’ Prussian blue preparation revealed colocalization of abundant iron. Bacteria were identified morphologically to be of the iron oxidizing bacterial genera Gallionella and Leptothrix. This is the first known report of disease in fish associated with iron‐oxidizing bacteria.
Advances in pig models of human diseases
Authors: Hou Naipeng , Du Xuguang , Wu Sen
Published: March 2022

Animal models of human diseases play a critical role in medical research. Pigs are anatomically and physiologically more like humans than are small rodents such as mice, making pigs an attractive option for modeling human diseases. Advances in recent years in genetic engineering have facilitated the rapid rise of pig models for use in studies of human disease. In the present review, we summarize the current status of pig models for human cardiovascular, metabolic, neurodegenerative, and various genetic diseases. We also discuss areas that need to be improved. Animal models of human diseases play a critical role in medical research. Advances in recent years in genetic engineering have facilitated the rapid rise of pig models for use in studies of human disease. In the present review, we summarize the current status of pig models for human cardiovascular, metabolic, neurodegenerative, various genetic diseases and xenotransplantation.
IRMOF‐8‐encapsulated curcumin as a biocompatible, sustained‐release nano‐preparation
Authors: Wang Kai‐Xin , Cai Meng‐Ru , Yin Dong‐Ge , Hu Xue‐Ling , Peng Hulin‐Yue , Zhu Rong‐Yue , Liu Man‐Ting , Xu Yu‐Chen , Qu Chang‐Hai , Ni Jian , Yin Xing‐Bin
Published: March 2022

Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous coordination polymers formed by metal ions and organic ligands through coordination bonds. In drug delivery applications, MOFs can impart sustained release, targeting, protection of easily degradable drugs, and improved drug solubility. Isoreticular metal‐organic framework‐8 (IRMOF‐8) is a mesoporous MOF with a network topology bridged in the form of an octahedral cluster. Compared with other materials, it has the remarkable advantages of high porosity and a regular pore structure. Curcumin (CUR) is a diketone compound with potent antitumor effects. Due to its poor solubility and stability, its clinical application is limited. Therefore, we used IRMOF‐8 as a carrier for the encapsulation of CUR to overcome the shortcomings of CUR itself and expand its clinical application. In this study, IRMOF‐8 was synthesized through direct mixing of triethylamine (TEA). In vitro cell experiments demonstrated the biocompatibility of IRMOF‐8. Using the solvent adsorption method, CUR was encapsulated by IRMOF‐8 with a drug loading content of 58.86 ± 0.98 wt%. In vitro drug release experiments performed at pH levels of 7.2 and 5.5 showed that the preparation had a sustained‐release effect over 7 days. Through cytotoxicity experiments after drug loading, it was found that CUR@IRMOF‐8 had a strong cytotoxic effect on HepG2 cells, promoted cell apoptosis and intracellular uptake, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased reactive oxygen species. Hence, CUR@IRMOF‐8 is expected to become an excellent sustained‐release preparation for potential applications in tumor treatment.
Antimicrobial activities of two 1‐D, 2‐D, and 3‐D mononuclear Mn (II) and dinuclear Bi (III) complexes: X‐ray structures, spectroscopic, electrostatic potential, Hirshfeld surface analysis, and time‐dependent/density functional theory studies
Authors: Chai Yong‐Mei , Li Cheng‐Guo , Zhang Xiao‐Fang , Chai Lan‐Qin
Published: March 2022

Two mononuclear and dinuclear octahedral complexes, [Mn(L1)2Cl2] (1) and [Bi2(L2)2Cl8] (2) (L1 = 2‐(2‐pyridyl)‐4‐methyl‐1,2‐dihydroquinazoline‐N3‐oxide, L2 = 2‐(3‐pyridyl)‐4‐methyl‐1,2‐dihydroquinazoline‐N3‐oxide) were prepared by natural volatilization method. The ligands and both complexes were compared with spectroscopic methods, as well as characterized by elemental analysis. The photoluminescence behaviors of both complexes in different solvents were also investigated. The coordination possibility of ligands toward Mn (II)/Bi (III) was verified using X‐ray crystallography, and it revealed that the ratio of ligand to metal was 2:1 in 1, whereas 1:1 in 2. The adjacent molecules of six‐coordinated complex 1 constituted an infinite 1‐D chain, 2‐D network, and ladder‐like 3‐D supramolecular frameworks. Most strikingly, hexa‐coordinated complex 2 with dinuclear structure formed an infinite 1‐D chain, 2‐D layered and meter‐shaped 3‐D supramolecular skeleton. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation was used to optimize the geometry of complexes, compute the electrostatic potential diagrams, and evaluate the HOMO‐LUMO energy gap. The electronic transition simulated through time‐dependent (TD)‐DFT level of calculation rationalized the experimental data. The antibacterial properties of all compounds were evaluated against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacterial strains. In addition, the Hirshfeld surface was utilized to quantify some hydrogen bonding interactions and their contributions.
Synthesis of the ionic liquid 1,2‐dimethyl‐3‐butylimidazole bromide salt and its application in phenolic‐formaldehyde‐resin‐based conductive materials
Authors: Yao Shan‐Shan , Wang Hong , Jin Fan‐Long , Park Soo‐Jin
Published: March 2022

Herein, the ionic liquid 1,2‐dimethyl‐3‐butylimidazole bromide salt ([DMBIm]Br) was synthesized and its chemical structure was characterized via Fourier transform infrared and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. Moreover, to improve the electrical property of the phenolic formaldehyde (PF) resin, PF/[DMBIm]Br systems were prepared via a melt blending and compression–curing process. Furthermore, the effect of [DMBIm]Br content on the thermal stabilities, mechanical properties, electrical properties, and morphologies of the systems was investigated. The thermal stability of the systems increased with [DMBIm]Br addition. The impact strength of the systems improved with increasing [DMBIm]Br content. Additionally, the volume resistance of the systems significantly decreased from 1.02 × 109 to 1.64 × 107 Ω with increasing [DMBIm]Br content from 0 to 1 wt%.
Effective adsorption of cationic methylene blue dye on cellulose nanofiber/graphene oxide/silica nanocomposite: Kinetics and equilibrium
Authors: Abouzeid Ragab E. , Owda Medhat E. , Dacrory Sawsan
Published: March 2022

Development of new adsorbent based on anionic silica precursor, cellulose nanofiber (CNF), and graphene oxide (GO) has prepared via ionic reaction followed by a sol–gel process. Different instruments were used for the characterization of the nanocomposite: Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscope (SEM), Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Methylene blue (MB) adsorption on CNF/GO and CNF/GO/silica nanocomposites achieved during 60 min. A pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model was fitted to the adsorption process, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 588.23 and 625 mg/g in a slightly alkaline solution, respectively. It was found that the adsorption capacity of CNF/GO and CNF/GO/silica could regenerate the MB up to four cycles with slight decrease from 98 to 93%. This study showed that CNF/GO and CNF/GO/silica nanocomposites are effective adsorbents for organic pollutants in wastewater.
Gadolinium(III) Porphyrinoid Phototheranostics
Authors: Jin Guo‐Qing , Lai Haoqiang , Yang Zi‐Shu , Ning Yingying , Duan Linqi , Zhang Jing , Chen Tianfeng , Gao Song , Zhang Jun‐Long
Published: March 2022

Molecular phototheranostics as an emerging field of modern precision medicine has recently attracted increasing research attention owing to non‐invasiveness, high precision, and controllable nature of light. In this work, we reported promising gadolinium (Gd3+) porphyrinoids as phototheranostic agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and photodynamic therapy (PDT). The synthesized Gd‐1‐4‐Glu featured with meso‐glycosylation and β‐lactonization to endow good biocompatibility and improved photophysical properties. In particular, β‐lactonization of glycosylated Gd3+ porphyrinoids substantially red‐shifted Q band absorption to near‐infrared (NIR) region and boosted generation of reactive oxygen species including 1O2, and some radical species that engaged in both type II and type I PDT pathways. In addition, the number and regioisomerism of β‐oxazolone moieties was observed to play an essential role in improving longitude relaxivity (r1) of Gd‐1‐4‐Glu of up to 4.3±0.2 mM−1s−1 by affecting environmental water exchange. Taking Gd‐4‐Glu as a promising complex, we further achieved real‐time T1‐weighted MRI and PDT on HeLa tumour mice in vivo, revealing the appealing potential of Gd3+ porphyrinoids in phototheranostics.
Formation control for unmanned surface vessels: A game‐theoretic approach
Authors: Fang Xiao , Wen Guanghui , Yu Xinghuo , Chen Guanrong
Published: March 2022

Two types of formation control problems for a group of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) are investigated by using a game‐theoretic approach. In the two formation frameworks, the USVs have the group formation objective of minimizing the formation errors with their local neighbors. Different from the existing formation control schemes for USVs with only the group objective, the formation control framework in this paper takes into account the individual objectives of the USVs in addition to the collaborative formation requirement for the USVs. Specifically, each USV in the first formation framework has the individual objective of aiming to be located at a given static reference target according to its own interests. And the USVs in the second formation framework have the individual objectives of following a given time‐varying reference target. Considering that the individual objectives of the USVs may conflict with the group formation objective, the formation problem of USVs is transformed to a noncooperative game among multiple USVs. Two controllers based on the Nash equilibrium seeking strategy are designed to solve the formation problem of USVs with conflicting objectives. It is proved that the USVs' states form an equilibrium formation pattern driven by the designed controllers. Simulations are performed to verify the theoretical results.
The role of microvesicles as biomarkers in the screening of colorectal neoplasm
Authors: Eddama Mohammad M. R. , Gurung Rijan , Fragkos Konstantinos , Lorgelly Paula , Cohen Richard , Loizidou Marilena , Clapp Lucie
Published: March 2022

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second cause of cancer death worldwide. The role of circulating microvesicles as a screening tool is a novel, yet effective approach that warrants prioritised research.

Methods

In a two‐gate diagnostic accuracy study, 35 patients with benign colorectal polyps (BCRP) (n = 16) and colorectal cancer (CRC) (n = 19) were compared to 17 age‐matched healthy controls. Total annexin‐V positive microvesicles and sub‐populations positive for selected biomarkers relevant to bowel neoplasm were evaluated in patients' plasma using flow cytometry. Statistical methods including factor analysis utilising two component factors were performed to obtain optimal diagnostic accuracy of microvesicles in identifying patients with colorectal neoplasms.

Results

Total plasma microvesicles, and sub‐populations positive for CD31, CD42a, CD31+/CD42a‐, EPHB2, ICAM and LGR5 (component factor‐1) were able to identify patients with BCRP and CRC with a receiver operator curve (AUC) accuracy of a 100% (95% CI: 100%–100%) and 95% (95% CI: 88%–100%), respectively. To identify patients with BCRP, a cut‐off point value of component factor‐1761 microvesicles/μl demonstrated a 100% sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value (NPV) and a 93% positive predictive value (PPV). To identify patients with CRC, a cut‐off value of component factor‐13439 microvesicles/μl demonstrated a 100% sensitivity, specificity and NPV and a 65% PPV. CEA+ microvesicles sub‐population were significantly (p < 0.02) higher in CRC in comparison to BCRP.

Conclusions

Microvesicles as biomarkers for the early and accurate detection of CRC is a simple and effective tool that yields a potential breakthrough in clinical management.
Searching for a cure on Facebook: Patterns of social media use amongst caregivers of children with brain tumors
Authors: Miller Tyler T. , Maurer Scott H. , Felker James T.
Published: March 2022

Objective

Social media (SM) is ubiquitous in modern society. How SM provides information, advice, and community to families coping with childhood brain tumors is poorly understood. We sought to understand how caregivers of children with brain tumors use and are affected by SM.

Methods

A survey was administered to caregivers of children who were receiving or within the last 5 years received chemotherapy for pediatric brain tumors. Differences in variables across groups were evaluated using nonparametric tests and chi‐square tests.

Results

Thirty‐five of 36 caregivers acknowledged use of SM. Facebook was the most used platform (86%). Fifty‐eight percent and 47% used SM to read and share information about their child's cancer, respectively. Thirty‐four percent were comforted while 40% were bothered by cancer‐related information on SM. Eleven participants (31%) sought a second opinion based on information from SM. Caregivers of children with a poor prognosis were more likely to use a treatment from SM that was not initially recommended by their oncologist (p = 0.043).

Conclusion

SM is commonly used by caregivers to obtain and share care‐related information. Many noted positive and negative effects of SM on emotional wellness. SM influenced treatment decisions, and this effect was stronger with poorer prognosis. Our results demonstrate the dichotomous impact of SM in medicine—it is a source of both solace and anxiety, a place to confirm treatment decisions and to create doubt in the treatment decisions of the oncologist. This illustrates the importance of discussing SM with caregivers of children with brain tumors.
Quality of life in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma undergoing concurrent chemoradiation withonce‐a‐weekversusonce‐every‐3‐weekscisplatin
Authors: Menon Nandini S. , Noronha Vanita , Patil Vijay Maruti , Joshi Amit , Bhattacharjee Atanu , Kalra Devanshi , Laskar Sarbani Ghosh , Mathrudev Vijayalakshmi , Nawale Kavita , Bhelekar Arati S. , Prabhash Kumar
Published: March 2022

Introduction

This trial was conducted to compare the efficacy of low dose once‐a‐week cisplatin and once‐every‐3‐weeks cisplatin with radiation in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LAHNSCC). The current analysis focuses on the quality of life (QoL) of patients in this trial.

Methods

In this phase III randomized trial, patients with nonmetastatic LAHNSCC were randomized to receive cisplatin 30 mg/m2once‐a‐week or 100 mg/m2once every‐ 3‐weeks concurrently with radiotherapy. The primary endpoint was locoregional control. QoL was a key secondary endpoint. QoL was assessed using EORTC QLQ‐C30 and QLQ‐H&N35. QoL data were assessed at baseline, days 22 and 43 during treatment; and at 6, 12, 24 months. The linear mixed‐effects model was used for longitudinal analysis of QoL to determine the impact of treatment (arm) and time on QoL.

Results

Three hundred patients were enrolled, data of 150 patients with available baseline QoL were analyzed. There was no significant difference in the global health status/QoL of the two treatment arms (p = 0.8664). There was no significant difference in the longitudinal QoL scores between the two treatment arms in all scales except constipation (p = 0.0096), less sexuality (p = 0.0002,), and financial difficulty (p = 0.0219). There was a worsening of the QoL scores in all scales in both arms during treatment, which improved after treatment completion in most scales.

Conclusion

The use of once‐every‐3‐weeks cisplatin did not adversely impact QoL as compared to once‐a‐week cisplatin in combination with radiotherapy in LAHNSCC.
Chemical Composition, Antibacterial, Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of the Essential Oil from Leaves of Psidium guajava L.
Authors: Zhang Xiaonan , Wang Jiali , Zhu Hongwei , Wang Jianhao , Zhang Huajiang
Published: March 2022

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) leaf essential oil (GLEO) was extracted by water distillation, and its in vitro antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antibacterial properties were evaluated. Using GC/MS to determine the chemical components of GLEO, 27 constituents were identified, accounting for 74.90 % of the total oil content, among which L‐caryophyllene (24.46 %), L‐calamenene (10.82 %), (−)‐globulol (10.69 %), and α‐copaene (8.71 %) were the main components. Subsequently, the antioxidant activity of GLEO was determined by DPPH, ABTS, and β‐carotene bleaching tests. The half maximal inhibitory concentration of GLEO for three free radicals were IC50=17.66±0.07 μg/mL, IC50=19.28±0.03 μg/mL, and IC50=3.17±0.01 μg/mL, respectively. Moreover, GLEO exhibited remarkable α‐amylase (IC50=13.99±0.34 μg/mL) and α‐glucosidase (IC50=5.50±1.02 μg/mL) inhibitory activities. It was effective against Streptomyces acidiscabies (MIC=1.25 μg/mL), Ralstonia solanacearum (MIC=5 μg/mL), and Erwinia carotovora subsp carotovora borgey (MIC=2.5 μg/mL), showing significant antibacterial properties. Based on the findings, given the high biological activity of GLEO, it is a biological preservative for food, medicine, and cosmetics and is valuable in natural therapy and crop disease management.
Ainslides A−F, Six Sesquiterpenoids Isolated from Ainsliaea pertyoides and Their NLRP3‐Inflammasome Inhibitory Activity
Authors: Zhang Jing‐Jing , Xu Yao‐Jun , Li Rui , Zhang Yu , Yue Chen‐Fang , Bi De‐Wen , Cheng Bin , Wu Xue‐Wen , Zhang Rui‐Han , Zhang Xing‐Jie , Li Xiao‐Li , Xiao Wei‐Lie
Published: March 2022

Six new sesquiterpenoids, named as ainslides A−F (1–6), including one carotene‐type sesquiterpene (1), one eudesmane (2), four guaianolides (3–6), together with eight known sesquiterpenoids (7–14), were purified from the whole plants of Ainsliaea pertyoides. The structures of these sesquiterpenoids were characterized based on spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR, HR‐ESI‐MS, UV, and IR spectra, together with ECD calculations and X‐ray diffraction experiments. The anti‐inflammatory activity of all the isolated compounds was screened and compounds 3 and 7–13 exhibited NLRP3‐inflammasome inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 1.80–4.33 μM.
Using Anion‐Exchange to Induce the Formation of Edge Defects in CoNx to Enhance ORR Activity
Authors: Wang Kun , Chai Hui , Cao Yali
Published: March 2022

Developing high‐efficiency non‐noble metal based electrocatalysts to promote oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is critical for the popularization of energy conversion devices. Herein, a facile anion exchange‐pyrolysis two‐step strategy is reported to synthesize hierarchical CoNx/Co@NC electrocatalyst with abundant edge defects. The introduction of edge defects not only alter the configuration of N species in carbon skeleton, but also can effectively trap metal Co atoms to form CoNx sites that can afford more adsorption sites for oxygen molecules. Furthermore, the incorporation of edge defects can trigger the change of electronic structure CoNx/Co@NC, which optimize the binding energy between oxygen intermediates and catalysts. Benefit from the increased active sites and the optimized electronic structure, the obtained edge defects‐rich CoNx/Co@NC demonstrates superior electrocatalytic activity, high durability and methanol tolerance with negligible decay after 40000 s, superior to Co@NC and commercial Pt/C. This job offers a valid anion exchange strategy for designing highly active non‐noble metal electrocatalysts for ORR.
Augmented Reality in inclusive chemistry education
Authors: Kempke Tom , Zeidler Juliana
Published: March 2022

Das Verständnis der submikroskopischen Ebene und der damit verbundenen Tatsache, dass alle Stoffe aus kleinsten Teilchen aufgebaut sind, stellt Schüler:innen im Chemieanfangsunterricht vor eine kognitive Herausforderung. Um diese Ebene verständlicher zu gestalten sind Augmented Reality (engl. erweiterte Realität, abgekürzt AR) ‐Anwendungen ein unterstützendes Medium und werden zunehmend in den Unterricht eingebaut. In dem folgenden Beitrag werden die Aggregatzustandsänderungen auf Teilchenebene in einer AR‐Anwendung vorgestellt.
Immunoregulatory effects of Lactococcus lactis‐derived extracellular vesicles in allergic asthma
Authors: Lee Dong‐Hyun , Park Han‐Ki , Lee Hee‐Ra , Sohn Hyeukjun , Sim Soyoon , Park Hyeon Ju , Shin Yoo Seob , Kim Yoon‐Keun , Choi Youngwoo , Park Hae‐Sim
Published: March 2022

Background

Probiotics have been shown to prevent various allergic diseases by producing extracellular vesicles (EVs). However, the role of EVs in allergic asthma has not yet been completely determined.

Methods

Gut microbial composition, mainly genera related to probiotics, was investigated in allergic asthmatic mice. Moreover, EVs were isolated from Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis, a selected bacterium) and EV proteins were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting. EV functions in immune responses were evaluated in vivo or ex vivo. Furthermore, the levels of specific IgG antibodies (an alternative marker for EV quantification) to L. lactis‐EVs were measured by ELISA in the sera of 27 asthmatic patients and 26 healthy controls.

Results

Allergic asthmatic mice showed a lower proportion of Lactococcus compared to healthy mice. L. lactis was cultured and its EVs abundantly contained pyruvate kinase. When allergic asthmatic mice were intranasally treated with EVs, airway hyperresponsiveness, eosinophil number, cytokine secretion, and mucus production were significantly decreased. Moreover, L. lactis‐EV treatment shifted immune responses from Th2 to Th1 by stimulating dendritic cells to produce IL‐12. In addition, significantly lower levels of serum specific IgG4 (but not IgG1) to L. lactis‐EVs were noted in asthmatic patients than in healthy controls. A positive correlation between the levels of EV‐specific IgG4 and FEV1 (%), but a negative correlation between the levels of EV‐specific IgG4 and IL‐13 were observed.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that L. lactis‐EVs may have immune‐regulating effects on airway inflammation mediated by dendritic cell activation, providing a potential benefit for allergic asthma.
Combination of micro–macro and spatially hybrid fluid‐kinetic approach for hydrogenic plasma edge neutrals
Authors: Horsten Niels , Groth Mathias , Dekeyser Wouter , Van Uytven Wim , Carli Stefano ,   JET Contributors
Published: March 2022

A new hybrid fluid‐kinetic approach for the hydrogenic neutrals (atoms and molecules) in the plasma edge is presented. The hybrid approach combines a fully kinetic model for the atoms in the low‐collisional regions near the vessel wall, and for the molecules in the whole plasma edge domain, with a micro–macro approach for atoms originating from recycling at the divertor targets, volumetric recombination, and dissociation of molecules. With the micro–macro approach, the originally scattering‐dominated collision term due to charge‐exchange collisions in the kinetic equation is transformed to an absorption‐dominated term, while a large part of the neutral population is treated through a fluid approach. For JET L‐mode plasmas, the premature termination of Monte Carlo particle trajectories in the hybrid approach leads to a reduction of the CPU time by approximately a factor 3 for a high‐recycling case and by approximately a factor 11 for a partially detached case compared with a simulation with fully kinetic neutrals and the same amount of particles. For coupled fluid plasma – hybrid neutral simulations – the hybrid approach predicts the plasma divertor target profiles with a maximum hybrid‐kinetic discrepancy of approximately 30%.
Under my skin: Parenting behavior and children's cortisol in the Los Angeles family and neighborhood survey
Authors: Tighe Lauren A. , Birditt Kira S. , Turkelson Angela E. , Sastry Narayan
Published: March 2022

This study examined links between aspects of parenting behavior and children's cortisol and whether those links varied by child behavioral problems and ethnicity. Participants included children ages 9–15 (N = 159, 75% Latinx) and their primary caregivers from the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey (L.A.FANS; Wave 2). Children provided saliva upon waking, 30 min after waking, and at bedtime which was analyzed for cortisol. Analyses revealed associations between parenting behavior and cortisol were greater among children who had behavioral problems and these associations were stronger among non‐Latinx White children compared to Latinx children. This study moves beyond the current literature by investigating these important associations in a predominately Latinx urban sample of children.
Using near‐term forecasts and uncertainty partitioning to inform prediction of oligotrophic lake cyanobacterial density
Authors: Lofton Mary E. , Brentrup Jennifer A. , Beck Whitney S. , Zwart Jacob A. , Bhattacharya Ruchi , Brighenti Ludmila S. , Burnet Sarah H. , McCullough Ian M. , Steele Bethel G. , Carey Cayelan C. , Cottingham Kathryn L. , Dietze Michael C. , Ewing Holly A. , Weathers Kathleen C. , LaDeau Shannon L.
Published: March 2022

Near‐term ecological forecasts provide resource managers advance notice of changes in ecosystem services, such as fisheries stocks, timber yields, or water quality. Importantly, ecological forecasts can identify where there is uncertainty in the forecasting system, which is necessary to improve forecast skill and guide interpretation of forecast results. Uncertainty partitioning identifies the relative contributions to total forecast variance introduced by different sources, including specification of the model structure, errors in driver data, and estimation of current states (initial conditions). Uncertainty partitioning could be particularly useful in improving forecasts of highly variable cyanobacterial densities, which are difficult to predict and present a persistent challenge for lake managers. As cyanobacteria can produce toxic and unsightly surface scums, advance warning when cyanobacterial densities are increasing could help managers mitigate water quality issues. Here, we fit 13 Bayesian state‐space models to evaluate different hypotheses about cyanobacterial densities in a low nutrient lake that experiences sporadic surface scums of the toxin‐producing cyanobacterium,Gloeotrichia echinulata. We used data from several summers of weekly cyanobacteria samples to identify dominant sources of uncertainty for near‐term (1‐ to 4‐week) forecasts ofG. echinulatadensities. Water temperature was an important predictor of cyanobacterial densities during model fitting and at the 4‐week forecast horizon. However, no physical covariates improved model performance over a simple model including the previous week's densities in 1‐week‐ahead forecasts. Even the best fit models exhibited large variance in forecasted cyanobacterial densities and did not capture rare peak occurrences, indicating that significant explanatory variables when fitting models to historical data are not always effective for forecasting. Uncertainty partitioning revealed that model process specification and initial conditions dominated forecast uncertainty. These findings indicate that long‐term studies of different cyanobacterial life stages and movement in the water column as well as measurements of drivers relevant to different life stages could improve model process representation of cyanobacteria abundance. In addition, improved observation protocols could better define initial conditions and reduce spatial misalignment of environmental data and cyanobacteria observations. Our results emphasize the importance of ecological forecasting principles and uncertainty partitioning to refine and understand predictive capacity across ecosystems.
Eyes on the herd: Quantifying ungulate density from satellite, unmanned aerial systems, andGPScollar data
Authors: Graves Tabitha A. , Yarnall Michael J. , Johnston Aaron N. , Preston Todd M. , Chong Geneva W. , Cole Eric K. , Janousek William M. , Cross Paul C.
Published: March 2022

Novel approaches to quantifying density and distributions could help biologists adaptively manage wildlife populations, particularly if methods are accurate, consistent, cost‐effective, rapid, and sensitive to change. Such approaches may also improve research on interactions between density and processes of interest, such as disease transmission across multiple populations. We assess how satellite imagery, unmanned aerial system (UAS) imagery, and Global Positioning System (GPS) collar data vary in characterizing elk density, distribution, and count patterns across times with and without supplemental feeding at the National Elk Refuge (NER) in the US state of Wyoming. We also present the first comparison of satellite imagery data with traditional counts for ungulates in a temperate system. We further evaluate seven different aggregation metrics to identify the most consistent and sensitive metrics for comparing density and distribution across time and populations. All three data sources detected higher densities and aggregation locations of elk during supplemental feeding than non‐feeding at the NER. Kernel density estimates (KDEs), KDE polygon areas, and the first quantile of interelk distances detected differences with the highest sensitivity and were most highly correlated across data sources. Both UAS and satellite imagery provide snapshots of density and distribution patterns of most animals in the area at lower cost than GPS collars. While satellite‐based counts were lower than traditional counts, aggregation metrics matched those from UAS and GPS data sources when animals appeared in high contrast to the landscape, including brown elk against new snow in open areas. UAS counts of elk were similar to traditional ground‐based counts on feed grounds and are the best data source for assessing changes in small spatial extents. Satellite, UAS, or GPS data can provide appropriate data for assessing density and changes in density from adaptive management actions. For the NER, where high elk densities are beneath controlled airspace, GPS collar data will be most useful for evaluating how management actions, including changes in the dates of supplemental feeding, influence elk density and aggregation across large spatial extents. Using consistent and sensitive measures of density may improve research on the drivers and effects of density within and across a wide range of species.
Insights from shotgun metagenomics into bacterial species and metabolic pathways associated with NAFLD in obese youth
Authors: Testerman Todd , Li Zhongyao , Galuppo Brittany , Graf Joerg , Santoro Nicola
Published: March 2022

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common form of liver disease and is often the precursor for more serious liver conditions such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. Although the gut microbiome has been implicated in the development of NAFLD, the strong association of obesity with NAFLD and its effect on microbiome structure has made interpreting study outcomes difficult. In the present study, we examined the taxonomic and functional differences between the microbiomes of youth with obesity and with and without NAFLD. Shotgun metagenome sequencing was performed to profile the microbiomes of 36 subjects, half of whom were diagnosed with NAFLD using abdominal magnetic resonance imaging. Beta diversity analysis showed community‐wide differences between the groups (p = 0.002). Specific taxonomic differences included increased relative abundances of the species Fusicatenibacter saccharivorans (p = 0.042), Romboutsia ilealis (p = 0.046), and Actinomyces sp. ICM47 (p = 0.0009), and a decrease of Bacteroides thetaiotamicron (p = 0.0002), in the NAFLD group as compared with the non‐NAFLD group. At the phylum level, Bacteroidetes (p < 0.0001) was decreased in the NAFLD group. Functionally, branched‐chain amino acid (p = 0.01343) and aromatic amino acid (p = 0.01343) synthesis pathways had increased relative abundances in the NAFLD group along with numerous energy use pathways, including pyruvate fermentation to acetate (p = 0.01318). Conclusion: Community‐wide differences were noted based on NAFLD status, and individual bacterial species along with specific metabolic pathways were identified as potential drivers of these differences. The results of the present study support the idea that the NAFLD phenotype displays a differentiated microbial and functional signature from the obesity phenotype.
Telomere maintenance mechanism dysregulation serves as an early predictor of adjuvant therapy response and a potential therapeutic target in human cancers
Authors: Zhang Yajing , Luo Shangyi , Jia Ying , Zhang Xue
Published: March 2022

Telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMMs) rescue cells from telomere crisis, endow cells immortal property, stabilize genomic integrity. However, TMM‐associated molecular profiles and their clinical outcomes in cancer remain elusive. Here, we performed a pan‐cancer and integrated analysis of TMM gene expression profiles from 10 107 unique samples with clinicopathological, molecular and outcome features across seven malignancies from the same microarray platform (Affymetrix GPL570 platform). This resource was divided into case‐control datasets for obtaining dysregulated TMM genes and survival datasets for evaluating clinical outcomes. Multidimensional data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were used to elucidate associations between TMM dysregulation and survival, genomic instability. Our results demonstrated that TMMs had a consistent dysregulation spectrum across cancers, based on which we developed the TMM‐dysregulation signature TMS score (TMScore) that was positively associated with various tumor adverse features. Two opposite prognostic patterns of TMScore independent of clinicopathological and molecular characteristics were identified, which might be explained by genomic instability: breast and lung cancer patients with elevated TMScore had inferior outcomes, suggesting TMScore‐related genes as potential therapeutic targets, on the contrary, colon and stomach cancer patients had superior outcomes. Most important, the prognostic value of TMScore was still significant regardless of whether patients had received adjuvant therapy, which was valuable for discriminating nonresponders from responders, and could predict the effectiveness of adjuvant therapy. In summary, our resources delineate TMMs dysregulated landscape across cancers, shed light on the impact of TMMs dysregulation on patient outcomes and adjuvant therapy, and provide novel therapeutic opportunities for cancer treatment.
Wireless retransmission timeout algorithm for multi‐hop vehicular network
Authors: M Joseph Auxilius Jude , V C Diniesh , D Aarthi , S Abirami
Published: March 2022

In multi‐hop vehicular links, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) timer algorithm plagued forecasting during impulsive Round Trip Time (RTT) delay results in early timeout, adversely affecting TCP's throughput performance. The Wireless Retransmission Timeout Plus (WRTO+) algorithm proposed in this letter introduces an additional timer parameter and adaptive weights to fix future packet duration's timer value. During each iteration, the WRTO+ computes a variability factor to fix the weights. The WRTO+ simulation outcomes substantiate the considerable drop in the early timeout and improve average throughput, transmission efficiency, and packet latency performance of TCP traffic in vehicular networks.
Negative DAT‐SPECT in Old Onset Parkinson's Disease: An Additional Pitfall?
Authors: Palermo Giovanni , Giannoni Sara , Depalo Tommaso , Frosini Daniela , Volterrani Duccio , Siciliano Gabriele , Bonuccelli Ubaldo , Ceravolo Roberto
Published: March 2022

Background

Scans without evidence of dopaminergic deficit (SWEDDs) refer to patients clinically diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD), but showing normal findings on dopamine transporter single‐photon emission computed tomography (DAT‐SPECT). This entity remains highly debated, but recent findings suggesting that DAT‐SPECT does not reflect either nigral cell bodies or striatal fibers of dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons could improve our understanding of SWEDDs. Notably, compensatory downregulation of DAT in the early stages of PD seems to be less efficient in older‐onset than in young‐onset patients.

Cases

We report eight patients with old‐onset clinical parkinsonism and a positive response to levodopa in which DAT‐SPECT was normal both visually and semiquantitatively. Two subjects demonstrated an abnormal scan when repeated later.

Conclusions

We suggest that old‐onset patients may truly have dopaminergic degeneration despite normal imaging results, presumably because they are diagnosed in the early stages confirming less efficient striatal compensatory strategies in old‐age onset PD.
Impedance boundary conditions for acoustic time‐harmonic wave propagation in viscous gases in two dimensions
Authors: Schmidt Kersten , Thöns‐Zueva Anastasia
Published: March 2022

We present impedance boundary conditions for the viscoacoustic equations for approximative models that are in terms of the acoustic pressure or in terms of the macroscropic acoustic velocity. The approximative models are derived by the method of multiple scales up to order 2 in the boundary layer thickness. The boundary conditions are stable and asymptotically exact, which is justified by a complete mathematical analysis. The models can be discretized by finite element methods without resolving boundary layers. In difference to an approximation by asymptotic expansion for which for each order 1 PDE system has to be solved, the proposed approximative are solutions to one PDE system only. The impedance boundary conditions for the pressure of first and second orders are of Wentzell type and include a second tangential derivative of the pressure proportional to the square root of the viscosity and take thereby absorption inside the viscosity boundary layer of the underlying velocity into account. The conditions of second order incorporate with curvature the geometrical properties of the wall. The velocity approximations are described by Helmholtz‐like equations for the velocity, where the Laplace operator is replaced by
, and the local boundary conditions relate the normal velocity component to its divergence. The velocity approximations are for the so‐called far field and do not exhibit a boundary layer. Including a boundary corrector, the so‐called near field, the velocity approximation is accurate even up to the domain boundary. The results of numerical experiments illustrate the theoretical foundations.
A contribution to MRI safety testing related to gradient‐induced heating of medical devices
Authors: Arduino Alessandro , Bottauscio Oriano , Chiampi Mario , Zanovello Umberto , Zilberti Luca
Published: March 2022

Purpose

To theoretically investigate the feasibility of a novel procedure for testing the MRI gradient‐induced heating of medical devices and translating the results into clinical practice.

Methods

The concept of index of stress is introduced by decoupling the time waveform characteristics of the gradient field signals from the field spatial distribution within an MRI scanner. This index is also extended to consider the anisotropy of complex bulky metallic implants. Merits and drawbacks of the proposed index of stress are investigated through virtual experiments. In particular, the values of the index of stress evaluated for realistic orthopedic implants placed within an ASTM phantom are compared with accurate heating simulations performed with 2 anatomic body models (a man and a woman) implanted through a virtual surgery procedure.

Results

The manipulation of the proposed index of stress allows to identify regions within the MRI bore where the implant could affect the safety of the examinations. Furthermore, the conducted analysis shows that the power dissipated into the implant by the induced eddy currents is a dosimetric quantity that estimates well the maximum temperature increase in the tissues surrounding the implant.

Conclusion

The results support the adoption of an anisotropic index of stress to regulate the gradient‐induced heating of geometrically complex implants. They also pave the way for a laboratory characterization of the implants based on electrical measurements, rather than on thermal measurements. The next step will be to set up a standardized experimental procedure to evaluate the index of stress associated with an implant.
Genomic profiling identifies genes and pathways dysregulated by HEY1–NCOA2 fusion and shines a light on mesenchymal chondrosarcoma tumorigenesis
Authors: Qi Wenqing , Rosikiewicz Wojciech , Yin Zhaohong , Xu Beisi , Jiang Huihong , Wan Shibiao , Fan Yiping , Wu Gang , Wang Lu
Published: March 2022

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma is a rare, high‐grade, primitive mesenchymal tumor. It accounts for around 2–10% of all chondrosarcomas and mainly affects adolescents and young adults. We previously described the HEY1–NCOA2 as a recurrent gene fusion in mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, an important breakthrough for characterizing this disease; however, little study had been done to characterize the fusion protein functionally, in large part due to a lack of suitable models for evaluating the impact of HEY1–NCOA2 expression in the appropriate cellular context. We used iPSC‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (iPSC‐MSCs), which can differentiate into chondrocytes, and generated stable transduced iPSC‐MSCs with inducible expression of HEY1–NCOA2 fusion protein, wildtype HEY1 or wildtype NCOA2. We next comprehensively analyzed both the DNA binding properties and transcriptional impact of HEY1–NCOA2 expression by integrating genome‐wide chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP‐seq) and expression profiling (RNA‐seq). We demonstrated that HEY1–NCOA2 fusion protein preferentially binds to promoter regions of canonical HEY1 targets, resulting in transactivation of HEY1 targets, and significantly enhances cell proliferation. Intriguingly, we identified that both PDGFB and PDGFRA were directly targeted and upregulated by HEY1‐NCOA2; and the fusion protein, but not wildtype HEY1 or NCOA2, dramatically increased the level of phospho‐AKT (Ser473). Our findings provide a rationale for exploring PDGF/PI3K/AKT inhibition in treating mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. © 2022 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Excellent effect of lubrication performance of chitosan/polyethylene glycol/palygorskite as water‐based lubricating additive on 304 stainless steel and polymer pairs
Authors: Liu Tao , Lu Hailin , Li Chengzhi , Chen Lu , Feng Ziqin
Published: March 2022

In this work, Palygorskite (Pal) nanorods, chitosan (CS), and polyethylene glycol (PEG) are used to prepare new composite lubricants in order to improve the lubrication performance of water. The tribological experimental results showed that the composite lubricant composed with 1 wt% Pal, 10 wt% PEG and 2 wt% CS has excellent lubrication performance. The tribological data showed that the friction coefficient reached 0.021, and the composite lubricant lubrication performance was about 4 times higher than that of deionized water. The materials were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which revealed that the composite lubricant contained many oxygen‐containing functional groups, and there was no chemical reaction between these functional groups. Instead, a lubricating film that can reduce friction and wear was formed through the hydrogen bond effect between functional groups. In this paper, a general and simple preparation method of new composite lubricant was proposed, which can be wildly used in many fields such as water‐based lubrication.